Day 82: A Day of "Gilled Teezes"

Little Buddy and I started out the day with a few errands at the mall.  He behaved very well in his stroller while I took care of business, so I decided that he had earned a trip to the play area.  We did have to make a quick stop at Gymboree though, since he was wearing sandals and I had forgotten extra socks.  He didn't mind the quick side trip, as he was quite pleased to get to play on the slide!

"Give me a hand please Momma!"

"I'm ready to slide!"

He was so pleased in fact, that he didn't want to leave, even though I told him we were leaving to go get lunch.  The way he was yelling, I think people thought I was trying to kidnap a child.  Then I told him that we could get a grilled cheese at lunch.  That's all it took!  He stopped screaming, smiled, and started chanting "gilled teez, gilled teez!"  Obviously I know what to lead with next time. 

We headed over to meet some friends at Jason's Deli for lunch.  The lunch was in honor of our good friend, Ms. D, who was back in town after her recent move to California.  It was great to be able to see her again, even if she was back to supervise the movers getting everything out of her old house.  It was a lovely lunch catching up with her and talking to everyone else.  I lost track of time, however, because Little Buddy started to fall asleep at the table!  Naptime it is!  He feel asleep in my arms on the way out to the car, and stayed asleep through a diaper change on the tailgate of the truck.  Such a tired boy!  Then we headed home.

Once he woke up, we went out in the backyard to water our garden.  After pouring the majority of his little water can down his chest in an attempt to drink the water himself, Little Buddy did start to get the concept and began to water the plants.  It is going to be fun to watch him see the food grow over the course of the season. 

Later on, after Daddy got home, we left to meet Uncle C and his friend Ms. L for dinner.  A well-rested Little Buddy was in rare form, giggling and playing all through dinner.  He enjoyed his Mexican "gilled teez" (quesadilla) too.

Cutie pie

Peek-a-boo...

 I see you!

Following dinner, it was time to head home for bed.  Little Buddy is really starting to get stubborn as a toddler.  Again, Daddy had to read him one of his five favorite books (tonight was I Love You Through & Through), and no substitutes would be accepted.  Anytime Daddy offered a book that deviated from the Little Buddy approved list, the suggestion would be denied with a vigorous head shake and exclamation of "No!"  I guess he knows what he likes.  :)

Have a good night, 

VTB

Day 81: Buddy Buddy Misses Mommy

So ever since I got back from my trip to Kentucky, Little Buddy has kept a pretty close eye on me.  I think he's afraid I'm going to run off on him again!  It wasn't too difficult keeping my little guy close last week, since it was Spring Break for both of us.  Today though, he started back to school, and he wasn't too happy about it.  The normal smile he gives his teachers was replaced by tears, cries of "Momma!", and clinging to me.  Poor baby and poor mommy!  I hate leaving him when he's sad, but I kept calm.  I assured him that I loved him, that he would have fun, and that I would be back in a bit.  We did our hugs, kisses, and goodbyes and then I left while his teachers began to play with him.

I'll admit, it was hard trying to do work since I kept thinking about his sad little face.  I was relieved when it was time to pick him up.  Of course, there he was, cool as a cucumber in his classroom.  He was just fine and I had been fretting for nothing (as I rationally knew that I was.  But since when is motherhood rational?).  But I did love the smile and hug I got when he saw me. 

We then went and played at Wonderwild with our friends.  We almost have our punchcard finished!  Little Buddy had fun on his old favorites:  the slide, the kitchen set, and the Cozy Coupe.  Oh, and pushing the water fountain button and trying to catch the stream of water is his new favorite game.  Conversely, it is also my new least favorite game.  Soaking wet toddler anyone?

The other notable item of the day was that my phone (which had resurrected itself from the washing machine incident and had been working just fine) up and died on me.  *Sigh*  Again, this wouldn't be so bad except that it hampers my picture taking opportunities.  We did manage to get this picture of Little Buddy playing this evening after dinner.

"What's better than one musical singing dog?  TWO musical singing dogs!"

Goodnight, 

LBM

Little Buddy's Mommy

Day 80: Rainy Day Messes

Today may have been the first time in 21 months that I got to wake up in my own home of my own volition, no crying baby or alarm jarring me from much needed sleep.  Little Buddy slept in!  And by slept in, I mean that he is still protesting Daylight Savings since he woke up at 7 AM on the dot, willing it to be the old 6 AM.  Crazy kid.

We had several errands for this morning, but tornado warnings when we woke up changed our plans.  Instead, we were stuck inside.  Little Buddy attempted to entertain himself.  I caught him trying to hilite one of my textbooks...obviously he watches me pretty closely!

 

Just like Mommy!

To keep him out of my books, I tried offering a new distraction.  He really liked coloring on plates!

 

 Unfortunately, the plates couldn't keep his attention forever.  I found this in the bathroom:

He currently has some weird fascination with putting our cowboys boots in the bathtub.  This time he picked one of mine and one of Tim's for the honor.

It was quite the busy morning for my little destruction machine...

After I dropped Little Buddy off with Daddy so I could head to class, it seems that our little guy kept up with his messy agenda with a squash applesauce shampoo.

What a kid! :)

Night everyone, 

VTB

Day 79: Giving Thanks

It's been awhile, but Little Buddy and I made it back to BBC this morning.  Oh what a welcome back workout!  Of course Little Buddy enjoyed watching me run and jump all over the place.  He loves to laugh and cheer me on.

Then we had lunch with Daddy after his dentist appointment.  We went to Cafe Express, where Little Buddy happily munched on his fruit and grilled cheese.  And sundried tomatoes.  Cafe Express had a relish cart with jalapenos, olives, pickles, etc.  I always get some sundried tomatoes to add to my sandwich and offered one to Little Buddy once.  He loved them!  He now eats handfuls of them eat time we are there.  What's really funny is that he won't have anything to do with regular sliced tomatoes.  Crazy kid.

He took another good nap once we got home, but when he woke up and I put him on my chest, he still fussed and cried for another half hour.  I hate when he gets worked up like that, but sometimes it just seems that he needs a good fuss.  Once he worked it out of his system, everything was good again.

We played and hung at until Daddy came home for dinner.  At dinner, Little Buddy made sure to remind us to pray.

We always pray before dinner, but Little Buddy also likes to pray before breakfast, lunch, and any snacks.  And by "likes to pray", I mean fussing at Daddy and I until we pray too.  It was cute at the beginning, but now I realize it is more than that.  Little Buddy is learning to be continuously thankful and, because of this, he is making us take more time each day to be thankful for what we have.  The lessons we learn from our children. :)

Happy baby after dinner!

Once dinner was done, someone decided to run around the house without any pants.  It's a regular animal house around here!

Until tomorrow everyone!  Good night!

LBM

Little Buddy's Mommy

Day 78: Muddy Buddy

It's been quite the dirty day around the house today!

It started off this morning when I went to get Little Buddy up and realized I forgot to remind his sitter last night to use the overnight diapers.  Whoops!  Needless to say, had to start the day with a crib sheet change.

Due to the heavy wetting clean up, we were a bit late to church, but hey, better late than never!  Little Buddy was pretty good during church, but still his excitable little self.  Again, we're in the back, so few are bother by his laughs and squeals of delight.  It is always amazing for me to see him at church, since I spent so much time praying for him here.  It was in this church that I prayed weekly for God to grant us the blessing of a child if it was His will.  It was in this church that I sent up prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for continued health when we finally did get pregnant.  And it is in this church that I still give thanks, still pray for health and safety, and now also pray for guidance to be good parents to our little miracle.  I will never take this blessing for granted. 

Afterwards Daddy kept him busy with a Home Depot trip and some swinging, while I worked on school stuff until lunch.

We lucked out after lunch, since Little Buddy fell asleep as we set him in his stroller.  We didn't even get the door open for the walk before he was out!  I am really thinking that my baby has finally settled into a predictable nap schedule--it only took 20 months!  However, part of the napping pattern includes waking up enough to be picked up and then falling back asleep on Mommy.  Oh well, as long as I have some shows on the DVR I don't mind. :)

Later on we went outside to play while Daddy and Uncle C worked on the pirate ship.  At first I tried to get Little Buddy to help me water the garden, but he didn't really get the concept...

"Hmm...a can of water, huh?  I know what to do with this!"

"Water!"

Then he starting playing in the mud, which didn't bother me too much, until he started to eat it.  *sigh*  Clean up time!

Loving the mud!

And loving the clean up too!

We went in and took an immediate bath and got our jammies on.  Little Buddy decided he wanted to wear his Astros hat and put it on.  He was pretty cute running around in Cookie Monster PJs and a baseball cap, especially when he flipped his cap around backwards.

Now it is time for bed.  Night all!

LBM

Little Buddy's Mommy

Day 77: My Little Leprechaun

Top of the morning to ya!

It is St. Patrick's Day, and Little Buddy decided to celebrate his heritage in style.

Since it was Saturday, that meant it was time for swim class.  With my half marathon done (thus ending my way-too-early Saturday morning training runs) and my eye surgery probation period over, I finally was able to get into the pool and swim with him!

 Jumping in!

After swim class we ran a few errands and caught some lunch at Chipotle, because there is nothing like Mexican food on St. Patty's Day.  Anyway, Little Buddy got a case of the giggles when I would try to feed him his fruit.

Obviously nectarines are the funniest fruit of all!

Love this smile!

Once we got home, Little Buddy napped as Mommy and Daddy frantically got ready for the Rodeo!  Ms. A was coming over to babysit so that my husband and I could go see our favorite country singer, Brad Paisley.  It was the first date night we had been able to schedule in a while, but like true old lame people, we were debating if we should go or not!  Familiar thoughts of "we have so much to do around the house," "I have so much homework to finish," and "we are too tired to stay out late" made us seriously consider just working around the house while the sitter was there.  Thankfully, our love for Brad Paisley won out and we went and had a great date together.

That's the hard thing sometimes about being parents:  We get so caught up in being good parents and providing a good environment for Little Buddy that we forget that besides being Mommy and Daddy, we are also Husband and Wife.  Well, we don't forget, but it definitely regulates itself to the back burner sometimes.  I'm glad that we both recognize when it happens and that we both work to make sure we don't neglect each other.  It was nice to be out together without having to worry about changing a diaper every five minutes and being able to hold a hand that was not attached to a protesting toddler.  Being that it is St. Patrick's Day, I feel even more appropriate in saying that I am lucky that this man is my partner.

Good night!

VTB

Day 76: Picture Perfect

So today started out a bit nerve-wracking since we had scheduled something a bit scary...family pictures at Picture People.

We normally try to do private picture sessions with friends who are working in photography.  It seems to work out better since we've had bad experiences with photography chains.  They don't start promptly at the time we scheduled (turning Little Buddy from a giggling kid into a fussy madman), they don't know how to develop a relationship with kids (leaving Little Buddy apprehensive of them and a bit shy or unsure), and they don't seem to care about what we want to focus on during our session (leaving us to choose from pictures that don't fit what we wanted).  However, there was a really good Groupon for Picture People, so we decided to give them another chance.

And are we happy we did!  We got some great pictures of Little Buddy today!  We completely didn't expect it.  Our photographer (named Kyle...I will be requesting him if we ever shoot there again) was great.  He was quick, efficient, and worked to make friends with Little Buddy, leading to lots of adorable smiles.  My husband and I were dumbfounded at the sheer amount of great pictures.  We got some great family shots and even some pictures of Little Buddy in his cowboy gear!  While we still intend to do most of our pictures with local photographers, it is good to know that if we need to schedule a last minute session, we don't have to be so apprehensive of Picture People (as long as Kyle is there).

 

"So these are my initials?"

"I'm so cute!"

 

Ride 'em, cowboy!

He was even energetic after the photo shoot!  While my husband waited for the pictures, I walked around the mall with Little Buddy.  Well, I fast-walked in order to keep up with his toddler short-legged run.  He was so excited just to run around and look in stores.  Then, something more exciting happened, we found the Easter Bunny!  He was just hanging out in the mall, waving to everyone.  Turns out that Easter Pictures had just started.  And there was no line.  And Little Buddy was still happy.  And in a cute outfit.  Needless to say, we got our Easter pictures done today!  We didn't managed to get a big smile out of him, but he didn't scream bloody murder like at Santa Claus, so I consider it a success.

We then went to P. F. Chang's for lunch.  It was good, but Little Buddy was so exhausted that he was falling asleep at the table.  The plan was to take him to Stride Rite and get him new sandals after lunch, but they can't fit him when he is asleep, so I sprinted over to the store with him while Daddy paid the check.  However, he passed out in my arms instead.  *Sigh*  We managed to find some other errands to occupy us while he took his quick power nap (somehow I got wrangled into looking at tools at Sears).  But when Little Buddy did wake up, we found him some great sandals and a pair of blue boat shoes to match Daddy's.

 

Baby's first Sperry's.  Yes, we are those people. (They were on sale!  What could I do?  Plus Daddy was wearing his blue boat shoes today.  Fate I tell you.)

After such an exciting day, you'd think Little Buddy would really pass out on the long drive home.  Nope.  He sang and laughed the whole ride.  We had to talk a walk to get him down.  Even then, he woke up enough to warrant picked up, and then settled back to sleep on me again.  I guess I can handle another nap together.  :)

 

Love him so much!

The rest of the day consisted of dinner, lots of readings of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (our current favorite book), and Little Buddy still not adjusting to the time change.  One day he'll get his 7 PM bedtime back, just maybe not until the fall.  :)

Night all,

VTB