Bits and Pieces

A totally random blog for today -


Wesley Wrestling Entertainment - who says the WWE is fake?








Wesley ate a cupcake last night and made a bigger mess with that single cupcake than he did with his 1st birthday cake. Note the yellow icing around his lips - at least he matched his shirt.





We went to the grocery store and ran some assorted errands today. I told Wesley it was time to get his shoes on because we were going to go. "Go circus!" he exclaimed. Too bad Target doesn't have trained bears. I think he was sorely disappointed.

Wesley watches a lot of Dora (probably a bit too much). As Duane was putting Wesley in his car seat today, Wesley said "Seat belt. Be safe." Only parents who also watch too much Dora will see how Wesley's statement relates to the show.

We also went to the park today. Wesley was a mud magnet, a dog stalker and a crank pot while we were there. His favorite dog to chase was a German Shepard puppy. He splashed in every mud puddle he could find and threw a fit when we tried to walk him towards the car. The thing that ended the fit was a guy playing the guitar and singing a hundred or so yards away. Wesley quit the fit and stared at the guy for a long time. I asked Wesley if he wanted to learn how to play the guitar. "YES!" he replied.

Here are some pictures from the park. I did shoot some video (and learned how to post it on the blog) but it's pretty dull stuff. I tried to tape the temper fit, but I got about 3 seconds of it before he started listening to the guitar player. I also shot some cute video of Wesley running up and down a ramp at the playground. The problem is that Duane is in the video from the waist down and he's wearing Wesley's baseball cap on his belt and...well...to be pefectly blunt it looks like he has a codpiece on. So, no video today!

Score: Wesley 0, Mud Puddle 1

Running up the hill.

Is that music I hear?










Hummm....bet I could play guitar like that!

Circus Report

Turns out that taking Wesley to the circus at 18 months, wasn't quite as bad as I feared. Now don't get me wrong, it definitely had some rough moments, but for the most part, he did really well. He even woke up from one of his naps yesterday and said "Daddy. Circus."

Duane and Wesley met Grandma and Grandpa P. at the circus (I had to work and arrived a little bit later). The building they held the circus in was different than in past years and even had a small midway filled with rides, games and - my favorite - fair food! Grandpa P. has a friend who is a clown with the Shrine Circus, so the guys got a picture taken with a bunch of the clowns.

I cannot put into words how much I love this picture. My three favorite men on the planet in one photo together!! I'm very much a Daddy's Girl, so this shot means the world to me. Oh! That's Grandpa P.'s friend in between Duane and Grandpa. Notice that although Wesley isn't exactly smiling, he isn't upset. There was nothing at the circus that scared him!

We played in the midway for a while before the show started. Wesley discovered a bubble machine near one of the clown booths and spent a lot of time there. This kid is obsessed with bubbles! In fact, several times before the show actually started, Wesley would take off and head back to where he saw the bubbles. Even if the machine wasn't on, He'd stop and say "Bubbles! Bubbles!"

Since I hadn't eaten dinner Duane and I indulged in some delicious, greasy, totally bad for you fair food! Wesley was fairly content to munch on our french fries, but then he spied a smoothie booth. At first he tried to swipe a banana from their display of fresh fruit, but then we noticed they were giving out samples. I snagged a sample for the boy and we went back to our picnic table. Wesley downed that smoothie in no time flat and asked for "More juice please," so Daddy went back and bought him one. I guess I should impressed that Wesley wanted the healthiest thing on the midway. After eating, we went to look at the ponies and elephants. Wesley was pretty darn impressed with seeing a real live elephant. He kept saying "Phant" and making his elephant noise.

When the lights went down for the show to start Wesley went "Ooooooooooohhhhhhh." He was pretty good for the first couple of acts. It helped that the very first act was the tigers and we were really close. Maybe a little too close, because Wesley wanted to go visit the tigers. He kept trying to scootch out of the row onto the steps. The trained dogs followed the tigers and again, Wesley sat enthralled for a few mintues, then wanted to go visit. The picture to the right is during the enthralled stage. Grandpa spent a lot of time walking around with Wesley during the show. Overall though Wesley's favorite things about the circus were the animals, the motorcycles, the steps and the cotton candy. I think the balloons and the inflatable Dora he got rank pretty high up there too.

What about the aftermath of the circus? Well, the ride home was pretty amusing. Wesley was WOUND up and kept bouncing his legs up and down and talking about the "phants." One of his balloons popped in the car, but it didn't phase him at all. By the way, having a balloon pop in the car while you are driving is a great way to test your bladder control. I passed! Wesley went to bed pretty easily, but we could hear him talking to his stuffed wolf "Frank" and our best guess is that Wesley was telling him about the circus.

Wesley woke up this morning in our bed, thanks to an early morning bad dream. He rolled over, gave me a hug and said "Hi Mommy." Then he saw Sanders and said "Hi Sanders. I circus." When Gus jumped up on the bed, Wesley greeted him with "Hi Gus. I circus." Wesley talked about the "phants. tigers. baoon (balloons)" so I guess it made a good impression on him. We're going to spend some time going through the photo program today while we finish the cotton candy. I'm really glad we went. What a great way to start my vacation.

A OK

Wesley learned "OK" the other day and it is now his favorite thing to say. He "answers" absolutely any question or statement with it. It's a little maddening, but mostly cute.
In other Wesley news, we are going to the circus with Grandma and Grandpa P. tomorrow night. He's probably too young, but we can't resist! I've been trying to prep him for the big event by talking about it. I told him that we were going to go to the circus and we would see clowns and elephants and lions. "Circus. 'Phants. Lions" he replied. I told him that I would get him some cotton candy and a balloon at the circus. "Circus. Candy. Balloon." Guess we'll just have to see what happens.

The Parent Contract

I was just checking my friend Kate's blog. She mentioned in her post that mommies aren't allowed to cry. I would like to invite all of you to pull out your Parent Contracts and look for the paragraph that addressed parental crying. WHAT!? You don't have a Parent Contract!? Well of course you don't! The Parent Contract is a fictitious document that Duane and I have created to keep our sanity as parents. Need to take a shower, but your child is whining and pulling on your leg. Do not feel bad about getting in the shower. It is in the contract that you are allowed to take a shower every day (or at least it's in ours). Want to sit and read a book/check your email/blog/talk on the phone for a few minutes? You are allowed - it's in the contract. We use the pretend contract to justify having a little bit of a life as individuals and not just parents. Our contract says that Duane gets to go play poker sometimes and I get to go out with the girls. It also says that Wesley has to sit in his highchair while we eat (even if he is on a hunger strike), that we are allowed to go out without the boy sometimes.

Of course, I'm waiting for the day that Wesley asked to see this fictional contract! Hummmmm.....any fictional lawyers out there?

Movin' On Up

Everybody say "Yay!" Cathy closed on her condo today!!! We spent this evening helping her move a bedroom set into the new place. I had the job of keeping Sho and Kai and Wesley out of the way. Luckily that was very easy. The new condo has a HUGE hill next to it and we ran up and down the hill until we were all out of breath. The boys spent the rest of the time running in circles in the empty living room. I felt so sorry for the people next door because they sounded like a herd of elephants - thank goodness Cathy got a end unit.

I really let Wesley rough and tumble around with Sho and Kai - something I haven't really done before. They ran and tackled and rolled around and hugged each other. Yes, I was a little worried about Wesley since he is quite a bit younger than the other two, but he did great. Plus his "cousins" really like him and don't want to hurt him. If I asked them to stop doing something or to let Wesley up, they did immediately. Of course, my favorite part was not them playing, but when Kai decided he was Wesley's babysitter. He held on to the back of Wesley's shirt whenever Wesley started to walk away, so he could go too. Kai would also hold Wesley's hand and lead him around the new place.

After all the furniture was moved we went out to eat to celebrate. Duane was easily the most popular grown up to the kids. Kai even refused to have Cathy help him with his coat, he wanted "Uncle" to do it. Duane had to hold Sho and Kai's hands as we went into the restaurant too. We ate at Cheeseburger in Paradise because we figured it would be very kid friendly. Wesley was QUITE impressed with the decor. As soon as we walked in the door, Wesley stopped in his tracks and said, "Oooohhhhh!"

It was a long day, since we didn't get home until 9:45 (and yes, Wesley was still awake), but we had a lot of fun and we are so happy for Cathy and boys!

My Treat Mommy

Wesley treated me to breakfast at Starbucks this morning. Well, not really, Daddy's gift card treated me to Starbucks, but it was Wesley's fault. The little darling woke up at 5:00 this morning. Sometimes Wesley will fall back asleep if we put him in our bed, but this morning was not one of those days. At 5:20 I plopped Wesley back in his crib with a bunch of books, hoping he'd read and keep himself busy. NOPE!! We got to listen to him cry for 40 minutes, so Mommy stopped at Starbucks on the way to Grandpa and Grandma P.'s.

I skipped the line in the drive thru and opted to take Wesley inside with me (a little revenge for the 5:00 wake up call), where all the women in the store began to coo over him. "He's so cute!" they all said. I responded that what he is, is ornery! "Yes, but he's so cute! He could get away with anything," they said. And of course, by this time he was being perfectly charming.

As we left the store I told Wesley he had to hold my hand while we crossed the parking lot. Apparently Wesley has selective hearing because all he heard was the word park. "I go park. Doggies!" he exclaimed, leaving me to explain that we certainly were not going to the park at 7:30 in the morning while it was raining. We were not going to see any doggies. Of course, the next traffic light proved me a big fat liar. A Chemlawn truck with a HUGE picture of a Dalmatian on the side pulled up next to us. Guess Wesley got to see a doggy after all.

St. Patty's Day

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!! Hope everyone had a great day and didn't drink too much green beer! I didn't have to worry about green beer today since I worked. After I got off work, I met Duane and Wesley at Grandma and Grandpa H.'s for the traditional March 17th dinner of corned beef and cabbage. Dinner was yummy, but what was really fun was watching Wesley, Sho and Kai after we ate. Wesley has finally decided that his "cousins" are pretty cool dudes and are acceptable playmates. They have been a little overwhelming for him before, but not anymore! We spent a good part of the evening singing "Old MacDonald," "Umm Ah Went the Little Green Frog," and "The Wheels on the Bus." As Duane said "This is a happening Saturday party." Well, it is when you've got three boys under 5 there!



You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose. Or can you?

Wesley decided he would hug Sho, whether or not Sho wanted hugged. Or maybe it was revenge for the nose picking.

Kai, Wesley and Sho - "cousins" and buddies wearing o' the green!

Wow Wow Wesley

The best thing about being the parent of a toddler is that everyday brings something brand new - a new word, a new discovery - it's magical!!

Today Wesley and I did a lot of errands. He got a haircut, then I dragged him to Target and Old Navy. I desperately wanted some spring clothes, so I bought a couple of things without trying them on (bad idea - nothing fits right and I need to return it all). Wesley was so so good through all of that! Then we went to lunch with Grandma and Grandpa P.

It was after lunch that the toddler magic kicked in. Wesley and I got in the car to go to Grandma and Grandpa's for a little while. I told Wesley where we were going and he shook his head. "I go park. Doggies!" I couldn't believe how clearly he told me what he wanted. I told him that it was too cold to go to the park and that we were going to play at Grandma and Grandpa's. That was ok too.

We beat Grandma and Grandpa to their house, so Wesley and I ran around the front yard a little. All of a sudden he stopped and said, "Hear bird. Tweet tweet." We looked all around and finally found the bird in the tree that Wesley heard. Right after that Wesley decided that he was ready to go inside. He marched up the steps to the door (saying "March, march, march" the whole time) and insisted I ring the doorbell. He just didn't understand that no one was home yet. He kept peeking in the window by the door and wondering why no one was answering.

When Grandma and Grandpa did get home Wesley swung into full entertainer mode. He played in the pillows (poes), played the piano and ran around. I started crawling around the floor pretending to be a lion. I'd roar and stalk him, then pounce and tickle him. I was a little worried he was scared at first, because he wedged himself between Grandpa's chair and the coffee table. I worried for nothing though because after I pounced the first time, Wesley shrieked "AGAIN!" When I finally got tired of being a lion, Wesley took over. He'd crawl around and say roar. That's the second time I've really seen Wesley pretend and it still astounds me. We showed off our lion skills to Daddy tonight. He was properly impressed. What can I say, but "Roar!"

Toddler Love

Thanks to Elaina's mommy, I think I have a new way of entertaining (or bribing) Wesley. She posted a cute video of Elaina talking to camera over at her blog. Wesley has fallen head over heels in love with it! He'll watch that 30 second video over and over and over and over and over and...well, you get the idea. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if his next word was "'Laina" Move over Laurie Berkner and Dora the Explorer. There's a new girl to watch!

Hygiene Help

I could use some advise from any parents reading this. How on earth do you brush a toddler's teeth without it turning into a wrestling match?? Wesley HATES to have his teeth brushed. He runs as soon as he sees his toothbrush and we have to literally hold him down in order to clean his pearly whites. Putting him in a straight jacket would be easier! Duane and I are starting to dread it as much as Wesley! Please help us turn the toothbrush from an instrument of torture to one of oral hygiene!

See Food Diet

I am beginning to see the danger of Wesley being an only child surrounded by parents who think he hung the moon, five doting grandparents and countless aunts and uncles who think he's the greatest. Wesley LOVES all the attention he gets - maybe too much. And yes, I do see the irony of me lamenting about this on a blog I have posted for the world to see.

Tonight at dinner, Wesley was sitting in his highchair contentedly eating pineapple. All of a sudden he started pushing partially chewed pieces out of his mouth and laughing. "Wesley!What are you doing?" a slightly exasperated Mommy said. "I funny. Ha ha ha," was the oh-so-proud response.

Seriously, is this a boy thing, a toddler thing or an only child thing?

Little Charmer

So I know it's probably not a good thing that Wesley is taking a nap at 6:00 in the evening, but we've had such a busy day that I just don't have the heart to wake him up.

We celebrated Uncle Kirk's birthday with Grandma and Grandpa P. today. The whole gang headed to brunch after church. Duane and I absolutely pigged out! Wesley didn't eat too much except strawberries. Whenever anyone went up to the buffet we had to ask them to grab a couple more strawberries for Wesley. Good thing he's well loved. The only other thing he was interested in eating was chocolate from the chocolate fountain. Aunt Susan introduced him to this very important piece of machinery and it was love at first sight, um....taste.

Open wide.......

Wesley, you are supposed to eat it, not wear it!

After brunch we went back to Grandma and Grandpa's house for awhile. As usual, Wesley provided the bulk of the entertainment.

Time for piano practice!

A duet with Grandpa

Storytime!

What a full day! Is it any wonder the boy is wiped out!?

What's Cookin'?

We bought Wesley his very own kitchen set today. I have this warped dream that by putting a kitchen set in our kitchen, Wesley will be so enthralled with his toy that he'll leave us alone to cook or wash dishes or whatever. I'll let you know how that works out.

Grandma and Grandpa H. came down for dinner and so Grandma and I could start working on Uncle Kirk's birthday dishes for later this week. While she and I cooked, Duane and Grandpa worked on putting together the new kitchen. Wesley was so cute about it. At one point Grandpa was laying on the floor trying to figure something out and Wesley was kind of in the way. When I went to move him, he said "No. I help Pa!"

Of course, one of the coolest features of Wesley's new kitchen (and it has MANY features) is the cordless phone. It looks scarily real and has batteries so it makes all kinds of noises. Wesley was carrying it around and whenever he put it up to his ear he'd say "Hi dare" (hi there) and start jabbering away. I don't think he put the phone down for almost an hour. Why do I have visions of never ever being able to use the phone when he is a teenager? :-)

Overall, the new kitchen is a hit. Once it was fully assembled and in place Wesley kept himself busy checking it out. Grandma brought down some plastic fruit and veggies so Wesley spent quite a while sitting on the floor, taking all the food out of the storage drawer and putting it back in - repeatedly. He also liked pretending to fill up a cup with juice and drinking it. He'd make little gulping sounds and then say "Ahhhh!" He did share his delicious juice with me and Grandma. I can't wait to see what else he creates. Who knows, maybe we have a future chef on our hands.

More New Words

Wesley is adding new words every single day, but I thought I'd highlight a few for you.

Grasshopper - one of Wesley's new favorite books has a grasshopper in it. So now when we turn to that page he says "s-popper"

Shadow - Grandma H. took advantage of the sunny day today and took Wesley for a walk outside. She pointed out the shadows and they talked about them. Tonight I reached across his highchair tray and my arm cast a shadow. He pointed and said "shadow"

Then tonight after supper Duane and I were each eating a piece of chocolate. Wesley looked at us and said "Chocolate cake please" Come on, who could resist that?

How to Freak Out a Mom

In order to properly tell this story I need to back up to last night. When I got home from work around 9:20 Wesley was still awake. Duane was sitting in Wesley's room rocking him and Wesley was acting generally pathetic. Apparently, Duane had put Wesley to bed at his normal time, but instead of falling asleep, Wesley whined and whined and cried out "Daddy!" We decided it might be a family bed night, so I changed into my pjs and we all climbed into bed together.

It was right about this time that Wesley had a miraculous recovery (go figure!) He stared talking and walking on the bed and trying to hug the cats. In Mommy and Daddy's world a miraculous recovery equals sleeping in one's own bed, so we put Wesley back in his crib. What followed was a screaming fit that lasted until 10:10.

Now we get to the how to freak out a mom part. This morning I went into Wesley's room and discovered blood all over his mattress. Not massive amounts, but any blood in a toddler's bed is not a good thing. Once my heart slowed down I checked Wesley over for his injury. Let's see, ears? Nope, all clear. Mouth? Clear too. Nose? Lots of boogers, but no blood. Hands? Face? Neck? Nope! So Wesley bled somewhere during the night, but from no place that I can discover. My experience mom friends tell me that it was almost assuredly a nose bleed. I've decided to believe that and not think on it anymore. But I'd prefer not to ever be freaked out like that again.

Sweet Dreams

After we tucked Wesley into bed last night, I was very tempted to run back downstairs and add another blog entry for yesterday. I managed to convince myself that 3-4 postings for a single day is a little obsessive and decided to wait until today.

Part of Wesley's bedtime routine is to say prayers with his Prayer Puppy. After we finished the traditional "Now I lay me down to sleep.." I said "Bless Mommy and Daddy and Grandmas and Grandpas " Wesley looked at me and added "Sho. Kai." How sweet is that!? He added his cousins! Despite my melting heart and the fact that Wesley was being super cuddly, we put him in his crib. Wesley immediately rolled over and grabbed Frank then began to fake snore! We've taught him, the ever important fake snore, but had no idea he knew when to use it! Very tricky!

The picture below isn't from yesterday, it's from the weekend, but a sleepy toddler picture is always worth including.

Country Bumpkin

We learned something very important about Wesley tonight. He likes country music. How did we discover this previously unknown preference? Let me explain....

Tonight was my night to do the dishes (100+ year old house = no dishwasher) For some reason I am incapable of doing the dishes without music blaring. Some of you may not know that I have...shall we say..."varied" taste in music. The only thing I really don't care for is rap and my CD collection contains (among many many others): Brad Paisley, Kiss, Meatloaf, Amy Grant, the Cure, Weird Al, Toni Braxton and Billwho. If I am in my car and not listening to a book for some reason I will most likely listen to contemporary christian music. Tonight I was scrubbing away to the soundtrack to the musical "The Secret Garden" but switched to Trick Pony to dry.

The first song on Trick Pony's debut CD is called "Pour Me" I don't think I was 30 seconds into the song when Wesley came tearing into the kitchen and started dancing - or in Wesley world, running around the kitchen. It was hilarious! We listened to the song 3 or 4 times, with Duane and I dancing and clapping along. When the dishes were done, we turned the CD player off and headed into the living room. Wesley promptly took Duane by the finger and led him back into the kitchen. Wesley stared at the CD player until we listened to "Pour Me" one more time. Poor little guy danced so much he could hardly walk - but he had a great time!

How to Tell When Your Toddler is Sick

Wesley actually told me he didn't feel well today. He was kind of whining at me this morning and I asked him to tell me what was wrong. Wesley immediately touched his nose and said "Nose. Ow." Then he pointed to his teeth (he has two more coming in on the bottom) and said "Teeth. Ow." Well, I guess that explains it, huh?

Two More Sickies

Duane had a horrible cold a little over a week ago. He's feeling much better, but Wesley and I both have it now. I guess that explains the howler monkey that appeared on Sunday. It's kind of funny, but Wesley and I have the opposite kind of colds. He has a runny nose and will sometimes touch it and say "Nose. Ow." I have severe congestion and a cough. Put us together and we are a mess.

While I spent yesterday at work in a sudafed induced haze, Wesley charmed the socks of Grandma and Grandpa P. When I arrived to pick Wesley up, he was busy with a game of "Ready. Set. Go!" He barely glanced at me. Of course, when it was time to put shoes and coat on he threw a fit. Guess he wanted to stay with Grandma and Grandpa longer. Can't say I blame him.

Howler Monkey Continues

Well folks, it hasn't gotten any better since this morning. Unless he's watching a DVD Wesley has been screaming up a storm. He was hitting his head on the high chair during dinner and has just been a screaming banshee! Trust me, I want to hit MY head on something right about now. Of course, having a serious sinus headache doesn't help.

Duane just ran out to the store for a couple of things we need. He took Wesley with him so 1) I could have some peace and quiet and 2) maybe Wesley will fall asleep and we can plop him in his bed when he gets home. I am so climbing into a bubble bath with a good book as soon as Wesley goes to bed. I'm going to soak until I prune, then I'm going to pop some cold medicine and fall into a coma and hope tomorrow is better. Much better.

The Howler Monkey Has Returned

Wesley has been screaming and crying for nearly an hour and a half! Is he in pain? Is he sick? No - he wants to "push the button" which means play his video game (leap frog). Or course, he is a toddler, so he wants what he wants now, even if Mommy says there is no way we are playing videos games at 7:00 in the morning.

Wesley is usually such a happy boy and when he does throw a fit, it's usually incredibly short. Normally he'll hit his head on the floor once or twice and be over it in 3 minutes tops. Not this morning! Today he is screaming at various decibel levels to see which will be the most effective in making Mommy succumb to his demands. He's banging his head on the floor, on the desk, on the couch. He's throwing his sippy cup. Really, it's a pretty impressive tantrum, too bad I don't care. If he manages to keep it up for another half hour, I'm going to wake Daddy up and hide in a hot shower. Could be an interesting day.

March Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the most annoying?

a) an attention starved cat who refuses to let you drink a cup of tea and look at the paper in peace

b) a toddler who woke up too early, says "Mama, no" as you are getting dressed for work and refuses to let you drink a cup of tea and look at the paper

c) The Upside Down Show (for Noggin viewers only)

Let me tell you, before 8:00 in the morning on a Saturday you have to work (and wear pantyhose) they are all pretty darn annoying!

Culinary Mishap

As some of you may know, I consider myself something of a foodie. I love trying new foods - there's nothing I won't try once. I enjoy Food Network and my cooking magazines. I love cooking new things too, but sometimes things just don't go as planned. Take tonight for example. Duane and I are both trying to watch our weight, so I picked a recipe from a diet cookbook I have. We have made many recipes out of this cookbook and have almost always been pleased with the results. Not tonight. Tonight I made Fettuccine with Walnut Blue Cheese Sauce, or as Duane called it - wallpaper paste. He managed a few more bites than I did, but we both agreed that it was just not worth eating. I mean, how bad does a meal have to be to throw it out and eat a frozen dinner instead?

On a slightly related note, we had lunch with Grandma H., Sho and Kai at McDonald's today. When Sho and I went to the counter to get Wesley a second milk, the woman working the register nodded at Sho and asked me how old my son was. Kind of cute.

He's a Genius!

There's a story in my family about me learning to read. I used to memorize my books and "read" them to my family. When I was really little I "read" a book to my Grandma D. She was amazed and told my dad that she couldn't believe I was reading. My dad tried to explain to her that I has memorized the book and wasn't really reading yet. My grandma snapped back "She's reading!"

I think I know how my grandma must have felt now. I was putting clothes away in Wesley's room and he was sitting on the floor looking at books. All of a sudden I heard a little voice say "Night moon....balloon....bears, chairs....comb, brush...hush" I turned around to see Wesley with his Goodnight Moon book. He was "reading" the story out loud. Now I know my eighteen month old was not reading, but I will admit, my eyes teared up. He may not be reading, but he's on the fast track with those ever important pre-reading skills. My little genius.

Ready....Go!

Somehow Wesley has learned "ready....go!" This morning he was standing in the front room and said "ready...go!" then took off running. I guess you'd call it more of a sprint, because after a few feet he stopped, said "ready...go!" and took off again. The way he was laughing, it must have been a very fun game for him, but it was even more fun for me to watch! We played "ready...go!" when it was time to go upstairs to get dressed too. I usually count to three then lift him over the baby gate. Today I said "Ready?" and he shouted "Go!" I lifted him over the gate and he scrambled up the stairs as fast as his little arms and legs would carry him. What fun!

Fashion Emergancy

I should know better than to leave the house without a spare outfit for Wesley. I've been a mom for one day shy of eighteen months now. I should know better, but I don't. Nope I am content to live dangerously and tempt fate. The result - Wesley had a leaky diaper while we were on the other side of town. Grandma H. and I made an emergency stop at Target today between doctor's appointments and changed Wesley into a brand new outfit in the restroom at the store! Is that what it takes to get new clothes? I'm not sure I'm willing to go there, but there is this dress I have my eye on... Nah!

OK- on with the cute story. We ate lunch out today and Wesley entertained himself by feeding OSB. He charmed the waitress and the couple in the next booth with his parenting skills. What a good boy! And what a cute outfit (for something that was picked out in less than five minutes!)

Home Sick

I'm home sick today with a tummy/intestinal problem. I seem to be doing a little better than I was during the night (read: no longer running to the bathroom every 10 minutes) so that's good.

Wesley has been impressing me with his sentences this morning. So far, I've heard "I need help" when he was stuck behind his toy box, "Hello Gus" when Wesley went to pet Gus, and "Chocolate milk please" when his sippy ran out of nutrasure. Not too shabby.

Wesley and I both have doctor's appointments tomorrow, so more then.

Getting to Know You (and Me!)

OK - I totally stole this from Elaina's mommy, but it seemed like such a fun idea!

2007 Version of Getting to Know Your Friends:

1. What time did you get up this morning? Got up at 7:07 after a couple snoozes

2. Diamonds or Pearls? I love pearls because they are so classy, but I do wear a pair of diamond stud earrings every single day.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Happy Feet - which is really pathetic when you consider it was a "date night"

4. What's your favorite t.v. show? I hate to say this, but I am addicted to some reality tv. I adore America's Next Top Model, Top Chef and Dancing with the Stars. Other than that, I watch Noggin.

5. What did you have for breakfast? I treat myself to Starbucks one day a week. Today I had a tall, sugar-free vanilla, non-fat, extra-hot latte and a reduced fat cranberry oat bran muffin.

6. What is your middle name? Pendleton

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Any and all. I love spicy food though and had some fantastic szechuan duck last night.

8. What foods do you dislike? I'm not a huge seafood fan. I don't care for squid, mussels, oysters, or salmon. I'll try most anything else though

9. Your favorite Potato chip? Jones' Honey BBQ

10. Favorite CD you've been listening to lately? I listen to books on CD when I am in the car. Right now I'm listening to "Gods in Alabama" and just finished a fantastic teen novel.

11. What kind of car do you drive? Hyundai Elantra

12. Favorite sandwich? I am a sucker for a Reuben. LOVE THEM!!!

13. What characteristics do you despise? Racism and compulsive lying

14. What are your favorite clothes? I'm a jeans and v-neck shirt kind of gal. But I would so dress in head-to-toe Coldwater Creek or Ann Taylor if I could afford it.

15. If you could go anywhere in on vacation where would it be? A cruise! If it was just me and Duane it would be to Greece and Italy. A family Disney cruise would rock too.

16. What brand of clothes is your favorite brand? the brand that is marked 50% off!

17. Where would you want to retire? Near my son

18. Favorite time of day? I am such a morning person, it isn't even funny.

19. Where were you born? Same hospital Duane was born in and that I gave birth to Wesley in.

20. What is your favorite sport to watch? Football (Buckeyes and Browns) and Hockey (Blue Jackets)

21. Pepsi or Coke? Pepsi One (although I drink Coke Zero too)

22. Beavers or Ducks? WHAT?!?

23. Are you a morning person or a night owl? We established this in Question 18

24. Pedicure or Manicure? Pedicure- I'm less likely to chip my toenails.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Nope! I'm an incredibly dull person!

26. What did you want to be when you were little? A teacher

27 . What is your best childhood memory? Nothing in particular, but knowing I was loved no matter what sure ranks up there.

28. Ever been toilet papering? YES!

29. Been in a car accident? Yes, several - but nothing major and only one when I was driving (fender bender)

30. Favorite restaurant? Depends what I'm in the mood for

31. Favorite flower? daffodils and yellow roses

32.Favorite ice cream? pistachio

33. Favorite fast food restaurant? see question 30

34. How many times did you fail your drivers test? Passed it on the first try!

35. From whom did you get your last e-mail.. ? Old Navy

36. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Coldwater Creek, Ann Taylor, Gap

37. Last person you went to dinner with? Ann, Ann, Astrid and Michael

38.How many tattoos do you have? Two - just kidding, Dad!

39. Favorite magazine? Well, I have subscriptions to Every Day with Rachel Ray, Paula Deen, and Bon Appetit

40. If you could meet any famous person, who would it be? Natalie Maines from the Dixie Chicks, I just think she'd be a blast to hang out with.

42. If you could choose another first name, what would it be? Don't know, I never really felt like a "Heather" though.

43. If you could change your profession right now, what would it be? Stay at home mom - or a Disney expert!

As Han Solo Would Say...

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Wesley is very aware of the fact that he has two bears now. This morning he woke up to find NSS in his chair with milk. This was OK for about ten minutes. Then he grabbed me my the finger, walked into the laundry room and said "Bear." I asked if he wanted his other bear (OSB) and he said, "Yes." The problem is that he refused to relinquish NSS. "So I suppose you want both bears," I said sarcastically (BTW - sarcasm is lost on toddlers). Wesley responded with a resounding "YES!" He's been carrying both bears around ever since.

I guess I don't mind it so much in the house, but this could be a problem when we head to Sam's Club later. I refuse to take two stuffed bears to keep track of. Wonder which he will want to take with him? Wonder how I'm going to get the other one away from him?

Can You Find the Original Stinky Bear?

Wesley sure can! Not-So-Stinky Bear (NSS) arrived yesterday and Wesley is not fooled for one moment. When Duane got home, he asked Wesley if he could see his bear (Original Stinky Bear - OSB) and did a quick behind the back swap. Wesley grabbed for NSS and immediately flipped him over to suck on the tag. However, when he examined the tag area, he could tell something was off. Maybe it was the lack of disgusting scent, maybe it was the absence of slightly yellow crust that no amount of washing will remove, but Wesley wasn't buying it.


Duane let Wesley see both bears together. Instead of causing confusion, Wesley was thrilled. Two bears!?! How cool is that!? In fact, we have discovered that although NSS can't be a replacement for OSB, they can be traded back and forth a little. NSS is good for big hugs and for using as a pillow, but not for tag sucking. OSB is good for tag sucking and MUST be available if Wesley is feeling anxious or sad.

We figure that after a week or so, NSS will be gross enough that he might be able to be confused for OSB. We'll just have to see (or smell as the case may be.)

Definately the Child of a Librarian

Wesley and I just got back from a trip to Target. While we were there I picked up a couple of board books for him. One was an Elmo book from the dollar section and one was a puppy valentine's book that was on clearance for .10. Let me tell you, that was a dime well spent! Wesley couldn't put the book down while he was in the cart and whined when I had to put it on the counter to pay. When it was time to go, I had managed to get the Elmo book in the bag, but Wesley would not let go of the puppy book. I finally told him that he had to let go of the book or his bear because I needed to hold his hand in the parking lot. HE LET GO OF HIS BEAR!!!!! I can't believe it!! He read his new puppy book all the way home, while Bear rode in the bag. Poor Bear.

Best Kitty in the World

I know there are some faithful readers out there who really don't like cats. I try to be respectful of their opinions, but if they had a wonderful cat like my Sanders, they might feel differently. Sanders was adopted from Cat Welfare about 10 years ago. He had been adopted by a family when he was a kitten. They kept him for a year, then returned him because he was "vicious" and would "bite the children". Sanders' vicious nature has become somewhat of a family joke because he is an extremely docile cat and puts up with so much from kids. When he gets sick of the attention, he walks away.

Last night Sanders was sitting on my lap having some good snuggle time when Wesley decided he needed to be on my lap too. Below are the pictures that tell you exactly how vicious Sanders is.

What you don't see in these pictures are the many kisses Wesley bestowed on Sanders furry little face. Vicious, indeed.

Wesley's New High Chair

Think he likes it? It's a great exercise tool for Duane too!

Year of the Boar

Tonight we celebrated the Chinese New Year with Grandma and Grandpa H., Aunt Cathy, Sho and Kai.

A restaurant in town had a special Lion Dance tonight, so that's where we decided to dine. It was a lot of fun, but Wesley forgot his restaurant manners once again. He cried anytime we put him in his highchair and refused to eat even a morsel of the delicious food. He spent most of the evening wandering around the restaurant with either me, Daddy or Grandma H. Why does he do this? Most of the time he is fine at a restaurant, but if it's a special occasion of any sort, he refuses to cooperate! He wasn't bad, but it's hard to have a nice family dinner when someone is always off walking the toddler.

The Lion Dance portion of the evening was a lot of fun. It was loud with drums and cymbals and there were three separte lions throughout the restaurant. Sho and Kai were a bit scared (especially Sho) but Wesley didn't seem to mind the whole thing. He even reached out and petted one of the lions. My brave boy!

The Deception Has Begun

I just logged off amazon.com after purchasing a new Stinky Bear. In 3-5 days we should have a brand-new, stink-free version of Wesley's most beloved toy. Now I just have to decide if we will rotate the two bears, or wait until the original Stinky Bear has some sort of accident. I'm fairly certain it won't be long until that happens. This weekend Wesley started grabbing the tag between his teeth and pulling it - an act almost certain to shorten a toy's life span. Here's hoping this works!

Love Fest

Wesley and I are having a little love fest this morning. I've been showering him with loud, "smacking" kisses all over his face and neck. He rolls around an laughs and grins. When I stop, I say "I luvvvvv you," and he giggles some more. Then I ask if he wants more kisses. Wesley will wait for a moment, then say "Yes!" and the whole game begins again. I think the best part of it is that he's starting to say "I love you" after I say it to him. Sigh!

Happy Valentine's Day

I used to really hate Valentine's Day. I hated that there were all these expectations to have this incredibly romantic day and nothing you did could ever live up to the hype. When Duane and I got together he promised me that I would never have another bad Valentine's Day and he's been able to keep that promise each year.

Duane gave me a vase of beautiful yellow roses and a heart shaped box of chocolates on Tuesday night. He said he was going to hide them in the basement, but since we have an outside entrance to the basement, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to get to them this morning! I thought that was wonderful and more than I needed since we were also going out to dinner. But he had another surprise up his sleeve. When I turned the computer on, I noticed my background was totally different. Instead of a picture of Wesley, the screen was red with two arrows pointing to a new icon and the words "Try this! Happy Valentine's Day!" Duane waited until I went to sleep last night and downloaded my favorite computer game for me. I am totally addicted to the free version of Zuma, but I can beat it with my eyes closed. So Duane paid for the "real" version! You thought I had a Zuma habit before!

The weather is still pretty stinky and the library was closed again (I had already taken the day off though, so all that meant for me was that I didn't have to go in for a meeting.) Wesley and I spent the day hanging out together and it was so much fun! His Valentine's treat was a sippy cup of strawberry milk - yummy. I got to be the coolest mom in the world for awhile this morning too. I broke out the Gymboree bubbles and let loose in the kitchen. Wesley was running around saying "Bubbles! Bubbles!" and laughing up a storm. I think we had the whole room covered in bubbles! It was a perfect diversion for an inside day (even if I did have to mop the floor afterword)

Wesley gave me a great Valentine's Day gift too. We took a two hour nap together on the couch. I count this as a gift because for two whole hours I got to have my best little guy snuggled up against me. Wesley doesn't like to sit still for too long, so I know those moments are going to start coming less frequently. It was perfect for today though. I would have stayed there with him for hours more if I could have.

We ended our Valentine's Day by going out to dinner with Grandpa and Grandma H. There used to be a completely over the top Polynesian restaurant called the Kahiki. It closed several years ago, but some of the former employees have opened a smaller restaurant featuring many of the same dishes, tropical drinks and slightly more refined decor.For two hours we escaped the ice and snow. We wore leis, drank tropical beverages, listened to a guitar player sing Hawaiian songs and ate yummy food. It was like a mini vacation. Wesley wasn't overly interested in sitting to eat. He wanted to look at the fish tanks and dance to the music and jabber away to the guitar player - that's why he looks so thrilled in the picture. No one cared though. Everyone in the restaurant was there to have romantic getaway, but it was just loud enough that Wesley's occasional whines didn't interfere with any one's evening. The highlight for us, was the desert we ordered. It was called the Big Fat Mamasan and was a gigantic concoction of fruit and ice cream. It arrived at the table flaming and then the waiter poured water on a tray of dry ice it was sitting in. Wesley loved the "fog" rolling over the table from our dessert almost as much as he loved the ice cream. It was a perfect evening.

Snow Day part 2

What a wonderful lazy day it has been! Wesley and I have done a whole lot of nothing and I have loved every second of it. I even took two naps! Duane came home a little early too. Wesley and I went outside for all of two minutes as Duane shoveled the ice and snow, but what fun those two minutes were!

It's a SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I woke up this morning with a horrible feeling of dread. After my two hour commute home last week, the mere word "snow" makes me sick to my stomach. However, when the phone rang at 7:00 this morning and the caller ID said it was my boss, I knew exactly what was happening - SNOW DAY!!!!!! I had to call the six people I supervise to give them the news and it was so much fun! Everyone was so happy to hear from me!

Let the snow come falling down today! I am comfy in my jeans and sweatshirt. I get a whole day with my boy! We are going to drink hot chocolate. We are going to play in the snow. We are going to read books and play and watch TV and it's going to be terrific!!! I called Duane at work to let him know (he goes in at 7:00 and only has a 2.5 mile drive). He's a little bit jealous and said, "well, I wish I hadn't cleaned off your car," but I could tell he was kidding. He knows how much I hate driving in the snow and I know he's glad I'm home today.

HOORAY! HOORAY! IT'S A SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blueberry Boy

I am losing my battle of wills against Wesley. Remember when I said I was not going to fight with Wesley over food? I lied. I lied BIG TIME! Wesley has become the stereotypical toddler who will only eat some of the time and only some of the food offered. The problem is, there is no rhyme or reason to it. Yesterday he ate like a pig, today he's barely touched food all day. Some bites of food are acceptable to eat, but some bites of the same food must immediately be thrown on the floor. I am starting to dread mealtimes!

Duane and I have instituted a rule that Wesley does not have to eat the food on his plate, but he does have to sit with us during dinner. Of course, we aren't real good about that rule. We desperately want him to eat and can't leave well enough alone. Tonight we waited until he started whining, then stuck a forkful of mashed potatoes in his mouth. Once Wesley tasted them, he decided they were acceptable for at least a few forkfuls. We cheated though and sneaked bites of pork chop and broccoli in the potatoes. That worked for while. Then, when he started whining again, I popped a blueberry (previously frozen) into his mouth. That worked for awhile too. Wesley suddenly remembered that he likes blueberries and ate several. Good thing it's bath night! He also worked on a piece of bread and butter. It was a far cry from a meal, but at least I know he got some food in him.

Super Hubby Strikes Again

Have I told you all lately how wonderful, incredible and all around terrific my husband is? Well sit back, because here comes another "Super Hubby" story. I woke up this morning a little after 8:00 and headed downstairs. I arrived in the kitchen to find Duane at the counter, cooking. "You ruined the surprise!" he said. "It's hard to bring you breakfast in bed when you are already up." So he sent me into the living room (where Wesley was) to read the paper and relax while he finished breakfast. A few minutes later he presented me with Raspberry Chocolate Chip Pancakes and a mug of hot tea. After I finished eating, he rubbed my back and shoulders too! I am so spoiled! The spoiling continued as he went to Panera for me this afternoon and kept Wesley busy while I did some creating in the kitchen. I just can't get over that this amazing guy is really my husband!

Self-Control or Secret Plan

Wesley amazes me on a daily basis. I love to watch him and listen to him because I never know how he's going to astound me next. I guess that's part of the joy of being a parent.

We went to the memorial service for a family friend today. Wesley did pretty well at first. He had just woken up from a nap in the car and was busy taking in the sights (including Grandma and Grandpa H.) The service started and I broke out the Taiwanese candy from Aunt Cathy. Wesley loves that stuff and since I break it into tiny pieces, a little lasts for a long time. Eventually Duane did have to take Wesley out of the room, but the little guy continued to behave.

After the service ended, everyone stood around and talked for awhile. It was during the social time that Wesley discovered the nifty carpeted steps in the hallway of the funeral home. There were only about six steps and Wesley had a grand time climbing up them. "Climb!" He'd say and start up them! However, mean ol' Mommy wasn't sure that was the best thing for Wesley to be doing at a memorial service, so I pulled him off the steps, told him no and carried him down the hall way. The first chance he got, Wesley ran back over to the steps - but he didn't climb them!! He stood at the foot of the stairs and babbled away. He'd point to the steps, he'd say "Steps" and he'd say "I climb steps." But if I told him no, he didn't put so much as one foot on the step. We repeated this for a good five minutes How impressive is that!? That's the self control part. The secret plan part is as soon as my eyes were averted, he climbed the steps. Guess he figured he had lulled me into a false sense of security and it was time to make his move. Toddlers is tricksy!

He's Got Your Number

Wesley surprised me tonight by saying a number other than two. We were counting his Weebles and he said "six" right after I said five. Mind you, he didn't say any other numbers but I've still decided it's progress.

A "Must Buy" Book

Since I am a children' librarian, it's amazing that I don't post about books more often. I have volunteered to update our Baby and Toddler book list at work, so I've been on the search for new books that Wesley enjoys and I could recommend to others. This week we discovered "Dog" by Matthew Van Fleet. It's part touch and feel book, part pull tab and all cute! Grandma bought it for Wesley yesterday and the boy is in love! The first thing Wesley did when he woke up this morning was get the book off the table and say "Uff! Uff!" - which is Wesley for "Woof! Woof!" The book is adorable! If you have a dog fan at your house, you MUST check it out!

Snow STINKS!!!!

I always say that I like winter through New Year's and then I'm done with it. I've been a little more lenient this year until this week, but I'd officially like to say I am DONE with winter. It just took me two hours to drive home from work (normally a 20 minute drive in rush hour traffic). ARGH!! The good news is that I didn't slide and I didn't see accidents and everyone was being very cautious, but two hours to get home is too much! I barely got 1/2 hour in with the boy before it's time to get him ready for bed. At least tomorrow is my late day. If I had to go in at 9:00, I think I'd cry.

I Dub Thee Sir Wesley!

Wesley is in love with the Weebles castle that his Aunt Judy gave him for Christmas. The other night he didn't want to listen to any books at bedtime, he only wanted his castle. When we put him in his crib he cried and cried and reached out for it. Wesley played with his castle for nearly 4 hours yesterday with only a couple short breaks! I had no idea that toddlers could have an attention span that long. Although the music it plays started to annoy me somewhat, it did allow Duane and I to watch the Super Bowl. Wesley sat three feet away from us, played with his castle and almost never looked up. In fact, the poor guy played with the castle until he was so tired, he could only lift one finger to press the button. I think I'll have to get him some more Weebles play things!

Random Thoughts

1) I knew that having a little boy was going to expose me to a certain amount of grossness. It goes along with being a boy. Wesley already thinks burps are hilarious, but I didn't think I'd be telling my 17 month old to stop picking his nose!

2) Remember that post about Prairie Dawn's nose? Well, it started an avalanche of comments on my friend Kate's blog. Duane asked that I air his children's show complaint. On "Blues Clues", why is Blue (who is blue) a girl? Shouldn't she be pink? Also, Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper have a little boy named Cinnamon, which Duane firmly believes is a girls name - funny, I always thought it was a spice. Of course, we just a had a discussion on whether Linny on "Wonder Pets" is a girl or a boy. I say girl, he says boy. Anyone care to weigh in?

It's COLD!

I don't mean to sound like a whiner, but it's COLD!!!! I like living where we do because I enjoy experiencing four seasons. I was actually a little bummed out when it was near 60 degrees a couple of weeks ago. I guess I'm paying for it now.

We have gone into hibernation mode. Our furnace doesn't like to heat our 100 year old house very well when it's in the single digits outside. We woke up to the high 60's inside, which is about 3-4 degrees colder than normal and kind of noticeable. Duane lit a fire in the fireplace, Wesley pulled all the blankets out and we all (even the cats) congregated in the front room. I made a cold weather breakfast of banana chocolate chip pancakes (Weight Watchers) and the guys have thick sweaters on. The plan is for them to stay inside all day. I have to go to work, but the boys need to stay nice and cozy. Sometimes hibernation is good.

Cousins

I feel bad that I haven't posted any pictures of Wesley's cousins, Sho and Ki. We spent a little time with them at COSI yesterday. Here are a couple shots from the ever popular water table.
Sho is the older boy in the yellow raincoat, while Ki is in the blue.


Sho had a great time leading me around the Kidspace and showing me all his favorite things. For the most part, Ki hung out with Wesley. Poor Ki has been trying to give Wesley a kiss on the cheek ever since they arrive in Ohio. He finally succeeded yesterday. It just tickles me how much they like their little cousin. They even call me "Wesley Mama" most of the time!