Still a Happy Birthday

We wrapped up Wesley's birthday weekend with dinner at Grandma and Grandpa P.'s last night. We made grilled pizzas and Duane made a fabulous dinosaur cake! Check it out.

Wesley was really good once again. He took his new books from Saturday with him and everyone (me, Grandma P., Grandma Sandi, Grandpa P.) had to read them multiple times. I'm so glad he likes them. Who am I kidding? The kid has them memorized already so he can "read" them if no one is willing to. Just like his mommy.

Wesley is still infatuated with his new camera too. His favorite thing to take pictures of are plants and flowers - REALLY close up pictures of plants and flowers. Good thing it's a digital camera and we can just erase what looks like big blurs.

As an extra treat, the boys had an impromptu sleepover with Grandma and Grandpa last night. I'm not sure who that present was for the most - the parents, the grandparents or the boys, but it sure was nice to sleep in this morning.

Wesley's fourth year got off to a great start. I have high hopes for it. Of course, it can't be any more difficult than three. Year three was really really tough. Now we just have to get through the start of preschool in two weeks and the new rules for when you are four. What? You didn't know there are new rules when your turn four? In our house the new rules are 1) No more sippy cups unless you are in the car 2) No more swinging on the baby swings at the park and 3) No more conning the parents into hot dogs or grilled cheese or pizza every night for dinner (yes, we've been push overs). What you see is what you get. I'll let you know how all those rules work out.

Finally, a Happy Birthday!

My sweet Wesley turned four years old yesterday. FOUR! Can you believe it!? Even more amazing than the fact that my little boy is growing up is the fact that we actually had a really good birthday and a really good party. Wesley's birthdays are usually overwhelming and end up being less than fun for everyone involved, but this was great.

Saturday morning, Wesley woke up and come downstairs. I greeted him with a big, cheery, "Happy birthday, my four year old." Wesley looked at me with eyes wide and said, "Am I four now?" I laughed and told him he was. He must not have believed me though because he spread his arms wide and checked himself over before replied, "Huh! I guess I am!"

Wesley headed into the living room to see his dad and Ryan. Duane and I had decorated the dining room with balloons and streamers the night before, but Wesley walked right passed it without seeming to notice. We finally got him to turn around and look at it. He was really impressed and pronounced it "awesome!"

I had work all day, but that just meant that when I got home it was almost time to party. Cathy, Sho, Kei, Grandma and Grandpa H. were already there when I got home. We took the boys outside where they entertained themselves by playing ball and finger painting until the rest of the guests arrived (Grandma W., Uncle Kirk and Aunt Susan, and the H. family.)

After everyone feasted on Wesley's birthday dinner we ate cake and opened gifts. Wesley requested a strawberry cake with a green and orange brontosaurus on it, so that's what he got. He blew the candles out on his cake all by himself - although it did take a couple of tries.

For the first time ever, Wesley was really interested in his gifts and he opened them all by himself. He was most excited to get his every own camera! Once he opened it he had to take pictures of each of the rest of the gifts before AND after he opened each one. He ended up taking about 50 pictures and wore the batteries completely down.

By the time all the inside festivities were done, it was starting to get dark. We took the kids back outside and broke out some sparklers leftover from the Fourth of July. The boys had a great time running around in the dark until it was time for everyone to go home. Once the place had cleared out, Wesley and I sat on the couch and read his new birthday books over and over. Finally, Wesley turned to me, took my face in his hands and said, "Mommy, you belong to me." I told him that he was right and that I'd always be his mommy. "Mommy, you ALWAYS belong to me," he amended before planting a big kiss on my face. I guess it was a happy birthday for both of us.

Big Improvement

Today is going SO much better than yesterday. Of course, that could be because I told Wesley I'd cancel his birthday party for tomorrow if he acted like he did yesterday. Funny how effective a threat like that is. It also helps that he knows I'd follow through with it.

I've spent most of the day straightening up the house, packing up clothes that the boys have out grown and getting a pile of things ready to go to VOA. Wesley has been very helpful. He is picking up his toys after he plays with them and is letting me take "cleaning breaks" in between playing "I Spy" and coloring. I'm glad he's able to entertain himself.

Wesley really surprised me though when he made a puppet stage today. First he got his picture flash cards out of the desk. Then he asked me for a box. I thought he just wanted a box to play with, so I gave him an empty shoe box. He's pretty lucky because we don't usually have stuff like that around - Grandma just happened to buy them shoes yesterday. Then he asked me to cut to the bottom off. I was a little confused by his request, but I did it. Then he asked for a ribbon. Kiddo was out of luck there, but I was able to pacify him with a rubber band. He put the rubber band long ways around the box, then placed the flash cards inside one -by- one with the rubber band to hold them up. VOILA! Instant puppet stage and puppets. He put on a great little show for me too.

Open Wide

Today was Wesley's very first dentist appointment and it went about how I expected - BADLY!! We tried to do all the right things to prepare him for his visit to the dentist. I scheduled the appointment with a pediatric dentist who would know how to deal with a nervous little boy. We read books about going to the dentist. We talked about how the dentist would clean his teeth with a special toothbrush, take pictures of his teeth with a special camera, and look at his teeth with a teeny mirror on a stick. Yeah, none of that helped the slightest little bit.

Wesley was really anxious to get there, so we ended up at the office half an hour before the appointment time. The place was PACKED and loud and I was stuck trying to fill out the new patient paper work with Wesley trying to climb into my lap. We had a bit of an issue with the insurance too (isn't that always the case) but I won't go into that here.

When they called our name Wesley immediately tensed up. We went to the exam room and the hygienist could tell that he was really nervous. She suggested a K.I.S.S. cleaning (keep it simple stupid) for the first visit. I was all for that. So instead of sitting in the dentist's chair, Wesley sat on my lap and laid his head in the hygienist's lap for a cleaning. It didn't really help. I think leg and wrist straps might have. He just wouldn't cooperate at all! I had to pick out his toothbrush (green). I had to pick out his toothpaste (strawberry). He wouldn't pick out a prize and when the dentist tried to look in his mouth with the little mirror, BOTH the hygienist and I had to hold him down. The good news is that the dentist said Wesley's teeth looked wonderful and he had no cavities. They encouraged me to bring him back in 6 months and stay on a regular schedule to help his nerves.

Of course, we couldn't get out of the office that easily. Wesley kept trying to climb me while I was talking to the receptionist. I finally told him to go sit on a chair. He walked over to a chair, buried his head in the seat and burst into tears and screamed. Ah, good times.

The day continued downhill from there. Grandma H. and I headed to the outlets to do some fall shopping for the boys. Wesley was a whiny terror the entire time. He was so awful that at one point I dragged him out of the store and into the bathroom to "have a talk" - which means my hand talking to his tushie. It was AWFUL!!! I can't wait for bedtime tonight.

Where There's Smoke

I am anticipating some nightmares in Wesley's near future. We had a pretty good view of a couple houses engulfed in flames as we headed up the freeway to Grandma and Grandpa's this morning. Of course, the houses were on Wesley's side of the van so he got a really good view. His bottom lip popped out and he started making a small whining noise.

Wesley: Mom? Did you see those houses with fire on them?

Mommy: Yes Wesley. But the firefighters will be there to put the fire out.

Wesley: That was Fluffy and Sammy's house.

Mommy: Well, I'm sure they knew to get out of the house and go someplace safe.

Wesley: Yeah, they did. How do the firefighters know which house to go to.

Mommy: When you need a firefighter, or a police officer or an ambulance, you call 911 on the phone.

Wesley (after a moment of silence): Did you pack your phone?

Mommy: Yes, it's in my purse.

Wesley: Can you call 119?

I got my phone out and (since I had seen firetrucks at the houses) pretended to dial 911 and said, "Yes, I'd like to report an emergency. There are two houses on fire by the freeway and we need some firefighters to come right away." That seemed to satisfy Wesley - at least until we got closer to Grandma and Grandpa's and he saw a field covered in fog.

Wesley: Mommy! That place is on fire too!!!

I explained that it was just fog and that seemed to do the trick, but I could tell his mind was still on the fire when I picked him up this evening. He told me that Fluffy and Sammy had gotten hurt and police had taken them to the hospital to get better. I guess it was a teachable moment, but I still wish he hadn't seen it. I foresee a child in the big red bed tonight.

No Return Address

Ryan has a toy house that has a mailbox complete with plastic letters to deliver. Wesley handed me the letters and said, "Look. This one is from Aunt Sus and this one is from Uncle Duane." I looked at him and said, "Uncle Duane? Do you mean Daddy?" Wesley looked at the letter and said, "Oh. Yeah. I guess I can't read yet after all."

Not Me Monday

Following the lead of "My Charming Kids", it's another Not Me Monday!

I did not have what could only be described as a mini meltdown after a semi-disastrous dinner at home one night. Nor did I give up on trying to cook tasty and different meals and plan a week's worth of dinners using "back of the box" style cooking. Nope not me.

I know I did not have a second mini meltdown that lasted two days after learning that we cannot move right now. That would have been childish.

Speaking of childish, I did not become absolutely giddy at the thought of my dad returning from a 2 week vacation to the UK. I did not call him the second he got home with no regard to his jet lag and I certainly did not look forward to dropping the kids off at his house just so I could see him for a few minutes. I'm 35, not 5, right?

There's no way I would blast the radio in the van in an effort to drown out the sound of Wesley crunching a lollipop. What kind of person gets the heebie jeebies from listening to her kid crunch a lollipop?

I was not given an afternoon alone with the hubby, only to spend it sleeping. We could have gone to a movie, out someplace without kids, but instead I took a 2.5 hour nap. Aahhh!

Photo Recap

Low Expectations

I think Wesley may have low (read: realistic) expectations when it comes to his first car some 12-13 years down the road. We were on our way to Grandma and Grandpa P.'s this morning, when Wesley noticed a van passing us. "Look at that van, Mom! It has a green kiester and blue sides! AWESOME!!"

Mommy's Dream Dinner

I know the time will come when the boys will eat real food - and probably so much of it that I'll have to prepare meals for 6-8 instead of for 4. In the meantime, I just want one blasted meal where:

1. Everyone eats what I have prepared. Tonight I made pork chops with a grilled red onion and plum relish, basil couscous and green beans. I made Mr. Picky a hot dog, blueberries and green beans. Duane didn't eat the relish, Ryan refused the plums and the pork chop and Wesley only ate his green beans.
2. No one whines or cries. Every blasted meal feels like a battle with Wesley. We have to negotiate how many green beans he'll eat, he whines if his hot dog isn't cut right. Ryan whines if he runs out of whatever he wants to eat, until we give him some more.
3. No one throws up. I am a darn good cook, but Wesley has been getting sick nearly every night at dinner. He usually says his "tummy is full" at dinner time -regardless of the last time he ate. He'll eat a little bit, then start to whine, then get himself so worked up he vomits. Tonight I made him clean it up, then sent him to his room "until he felt better."

GRRRRR!!! I don't think I'm asking for a whole lot here - just one meal we all enjoy together as a family that doesn't involve fast food or pizza. Please tell me the day will come.

Summer is Slipping Away

I'm having a really hard time dealing with the passing of summer this year. It's strange for me, because autumn is by far my favorite season. I adore girly dresses, but I really think I was born to wear jeans and a sweater/long sleeve shirt. I don't like baseball, but love to watch football. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays (in fact, I already have some Halloween craft books checked out from the library). I love the colors. I love the smell. I love shopping for school supplies - still do. All the same, I'm having a really hard time giving up summer.

Maybe it's because for the first time in years I had something that resembled a summer vacation. Yes, it's because we had to work child care around Grandma H.'s surgery and recovery, but it was still fun. We've done so much this summer and I'm not sure I'm ready to give it all up.

Aside from the whole "I had fun and now it's time to get back to the real world" aspect, there is the fact that Wesley starts preschool in a couple of weeks. He NEEDS preschool so badly and I'm glad he's going to be going, but I can't get it out of my mind that next year at this time he'll be starting Kindergarten!!! And I'm so scared for him starting preschool. I know what an amazing kid he is, but what if the teachers and the other kids don't realize it? What if he doesn't make any new friends? What if he hates it there? I think what's hardest for me about it all is the fact that I feel like I'm giving up some kind of control. From the time he starts preschool there's going to be a whole facet of his life that I won't get to really be a part of. I won't know what really goes on - just hear about it through his filter and that of his teachers. It's a little scary for me. OK, Heather, deep breath. It's going to be fine. Better than fine. It's going to be great.

Back to my "summer is ending" lament. For some reason I'm having a hard time seeing autumn as anything but a prelude to winter this year. I hate winter. I hate being cold. I hate driving in the snow. I hate the fact that it is dark so much of the time. I craved spring in the worst possible way this year and I can almost feel winter weighing down on me with every sign of fall. UGH.

But before I give in to summer's end, I have a few more things to check off my "to do" list. I need to go to the bunny park. I need to go the farmer's market again. I want to make another batch of homemade ice cream. I must get back to the pool a couple more times. I need to eat a BLT with corn on the cob. I'm just not ready to let go yet.

Not Exactly Butterfly Kisses

WARNING: GROSS HUMOR AHEAD

I think the impossible actually happened yesterday. I think we fed Ryan to the point of explosion. After consuming more food than should be possible for a one-year-old, Ryan did a spectacular projectile vomit show for his Daddy. In fact, to (roughly) quote Duane, "I have been a parent for almost four years and I have never seen a kid puke like that!" Duane wiped Ryan off and brought him downstairs to me while he did damage control upstairs.

Ryan felt much better after emptying the contents of his belly and was very very lovey. All he wanted to do was kiss me - right on the lips. YUCK!!!!! The kid smelled really bad and he kept trying to kiss me! Every time I pulled away and told him how bad he smelled, he'd laugh and clap. It's like he reveled in how grossed out he could make his mom. I never thought the day would come that I would not want to kiss one of my sons, but yesterday was definitely it!

Happy Bouncy Birthday

The W. family headed to a birthday party at World of Bounce today. WOW! What a cool place! I had no idea it would be so much fun! The whole family bounced and went down slides and climbed and had a great time. I don't know about the kids, but I want to go back.

Not Like Daddy

Duane took the boys to get haircuts today. The stylist asked Wesley if he wanted his hair cut like his Daddy's. "No!" Wesley cried. "Daddy doesn't have any hair!"

One Man Job

It's no secret to any of my readers that potty training Wesley was a very long, very difficult process. Everyone told me, "Don't worry, the second one will learn much faster." I don't want to fool anyone into thinking that Ryan is any where NEAR preparing to potty train, but I have figured out why everyone said the second will be easier. It's because the second will be completely fascinated with the first one going to the bathroom.

Ryan will not stay out of the bathroom while Wesley in is there. We keep the door open because for some reason Wesley insists he can't pull up his pants AND his underpants and asks for help - but that's a whole other blog post. Anyhow, Wesley will be in the bathroom, happily attending to business and Ryan will wander in to......oversee the operation. Seriously, he's fascinated by it. Wesley, on the other hand, really resents this invasion to his privacy and will yell at Ryan to "Get out! I can go potty by myself!" Of course, Ryan doesn't listen, which only makes Wesley yell louder. Oh well, I'm sure the day will come with the swords will be drawn and the streams will cross. Just ask Jon Szieszka, or read "Knucklehead."

Green Eyed Monster

I have to admit that I'm fighting the green eyed monster a bit this week. I got so used to playing the part of a stay at home mom (SAHM) last week and I'm really missing it. The worst part is that Duane is home with the boys this week, so I spend my days trying not to think of all the fun things we could be doing. I try not to think about the naps I took everyday when Ryan took his afternoon nap. I try not to think about the smell of crayons and play dough and sunscreen on the boys as I work on my computer. I guess I need to look at the bright side. When I'm at work, I don't need to change any dirty diapers; I only have to clean up my own mess; I can use adult words in conversation; I get an hour to myself to read (at lunch). Not so bad I guess - but I still wish I could be a SAHM.

Not Me Monday

Following the lead of My Charming Kids, it's another "Not Me Monday"

I was certainly not mortified to learn that my almost four-year-old can't ride a tricycle. And if it was true, I'm sure it wouldn't boggle my mind at all.

I did not hand my screaming one-year-old to a total stranger at the state fair in hopes that she could calm him down. Oh wait! I already confessed to that one!

I heard a rumor about a mom that gave her one-year-old the parts of a sandwich and banana that her almost four-year-old wouldn't eat. Must be a total coincidence that my children are those ages and that the older one is a notoriously picky eater, while the younger one will eat anything that doesn't eat him first.

I did not dread going to a multi-year high school reunion and then have a wonderful time. It would have been silly go get all worked up about seeing people from over 15 years ago. Totally not my style.

I'm sure I did not start to regret buying Ryan a toy that he barely gets to play with because Wesley always plays with it and makes WAY more noise with it than Ryan ever would.

Road Trip

The boys and I must of been in the mood for a road trip yesterday. We picked up Grandma H. and headed up to Mansfield to visit Aunt Carol. After a really REALLY rough start, Wesley slept for the drive up, but Ryan as happy as a clam in his car seat. He played with some toys and chatted away to Grandma for most of the way there.

When we got to Aunt Carol's the boys were pretty excited to meet her new cat, Jersey. Unfortunately, I don't think Jersey was all that excited to meet Wesley and Ryan. He seemed equally curious and terrified of them. Ryan really wanted to pet Jersey and stumbled around after him saying, "Bat bat bat bat," which is what he says whenever he tries to pet one of our cats or Grandma H.'s cat. Good thing Jersey is quick, because Ryan is not the most gentle petter on the planet. Wesley had slightly better results when it came to befriendig Jersey. OK, befriending might be a strong term. Let's say "getting his hands on" Jersey. Once we told Wesley to move quietly and slowly he was able to pet the kitten. Jersey didn't stay out in the open too long (do you blame him?) and the boys had to find other ways to entertain themselves. Ryan found the stash of cat toys and was pretty content playing with those, while Wesley stretched out in a comfortable chair.

We didn't stay at Aunt Carol's too long - partly because I didn't want to do any lasting emotional damage to the cat, and partly because Wesley was ready for lunch. We headed into downtown and ate lunch at the Coney Island Diner. Ryan ate like a beast. He had TWO hot dogs (no buns, but still impressive), some potatoes and part of a milkshake. I'm telling you, that boy already knows how to use a straw with the best of them. Even a thick milkshake didn't pose a problem.

The carousel sits across the street from the diner, so we headed over there for a ride. Wesley couldn't wait to ride the giraffe even though it wasn't one of the animals that went up and down. Ryan and I rode on a bench seat and I spent most of the ride trying to keep him still. While Wesley continued to take rides on the carousel (5 or 6 in all - he had to ride all the cats) Ryan took a little self guided walking tour of the area before falling asleep on Aunt Carol.

Aunt Carol needed to drop off some things at the gift shop of the Ohio State Reformatory (the old, historic one where they filmed Shawshank Redemption) so we all drove out there. Luckily, Wesley didn't have any ghostly encounters this time and Ryan had a big time running up and down the halls. Too bad it didn't wear him out enough to sleep on the way home!

Overall it was a pretty nice day. Too bad it had to mark the end of my vacation.

Rolling in (Play) Dough

I felt brave this morning and broke out the play dough this morning. We had a great time and I only had to tell Ryan half a dozen times not to put it in his mouth. Luckily we did this in the morning, because Ryan had another major meltdown today - this time at the North Market. And yet, we're still planning to go out to dinner as a family!

Fair-ly Embarrassing

I have discovered that is possible to be embarrassed by your children at the state fair. Now considering the quality people watching opportunities the fair affords, the fact that I was mortified by my youngest son really says something.

Grandma and Grandpa H., the boys and I went to the fair today. We weren't there 15 minutes before Wesley announced that he was hungry, so we got a hot dog and some french fries and sat down to eat. I let Ryan out of the stroller to wander for a few minutes and he began to scream and cry and make himself go limp. I tried holding him - didn't help. Grandma tried holding him - didn't work. Grandpa tried holding him - didn't help. We set him back on the ground - didn't help. Finally we put him back in the stroller and made our way through the fairgrounds with a red-faced, snot-nosed, crying, screaming one-year-old in the stroller. You know your kid is making a scene when people at the fair, stop, stare and shake their heads in pity.

We finally came to the sheep barn. Grandma and Grandpa took Wesley in to see the sheep, but I stayed in a grassy area near the entrance with the screaming toddler. Mostly because I was afraid he would scare the sheep - that's how much noise he was making!! I took him out of the stroller again and offered him some juice, which he threw and then threw himself on the ground to continue his scream fest. After a few minutes large, grey-haired woman from one of the nearby picnic tables came over. "I can't stand this!" she said as she reached her arms out to him, "Can I try?"

There was a moment when I worried that I probably shouldn't let a stranger take my crying child from me, but he was SO upset, and I had tried everything I could think of, so I said, "Be my guest!" She picked him up and walked him and sang and patted him - everything we tried before - but something about her must have been comforting because Ryan began to calm down. "Can I walk him over here?" she asked. "I'm not going to try to take him." I nodded, thinking that a) no one would want to take a child screaming like that and b) I could easily take her if she tried to get too far. She walked him about 10 feet away and Ryan stopped crying. She brought him back over to me, he reached out his little arms to me, then nestled his head in my shoulder, completely calm. I don't know what she did, but she had the magic touch.

The rest of the fair was MUCH less eventful. Ryan ate his weight in fair food - throwing a fit must take a lot out of you. Wesley rode some rides and make a jar of sand art. Both boys crashed hard before we left. At least I got a cute picture out of it. Oh, people stared at us when we walked by and the boys were asleep like this too, but this time I knew they were staring for a good reason.

Summer Schedule

This summer I have developed a whole new respect for stay at home moms/parents. Not that I didn't respect them before, but I'm starting to feel like I can say I've walked a mile in their shoes. I have a (loose) schedule worked out for the days I've been home. It goes something like this:

6:30ish - wake up with Ryan, get him dressed, give him a cup of milk

7:30ish - Wesley gets up

8:00 - I take a shower and get dressed while the boys watch Special Agent Oso

8:30 - feed the boys breakfast

9:00 - 10:15 - whatever. Sometimes it's running to the store, sometimes putting laundry away, sometimes making lists.

10:15 - 12:00 - Ryan naps. Wesley is really self sufficient so he usually plays or colors or has computer time. I've been trying to carve out some reading time for myself too.

12:00 - 12:30 - Lunch

1:00 - 3:00ish - We're off! It might be the pool, or COSI, or the park, or shopping, or whatever

3:00 - Quiet time. Ryan goes down for another nap. Wesley and I usually sit on the couch with the lights off and watch tv/nap.

4:15 - Duane is home and I'm no longer doing the parenting thing by myself!

I'm off work this week since Grandma and Grandpa P. are in the United Kingdom. The boys and I are headed to COSI this afternoon. I think we're going to try a trip to Mansfield later this week and we may go to the fair again with Grandma and Grandpa H. I'm telling you, I could get used to this life!

More Fair Pictures

Why do I even bother posting pictures when the ones Aunt Susan takes are so much better!?

Here are some more shots from the fair that she took.