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.