Tuckered Out

Something I hate about winter, as I've said before, is that we can't get Hunter out to release the energy. He'll nap for everyone but his parents and I've come to terms with that so I quit trying. All that results from the attempts is a destroyed bedroom and a bored child.

We were on our way to visit friends (my life revolves around evening play dates now that Danny works nights) and I was chatting on the phone with my mom. I told my gal-pal that I'd meet her at Publix so we could do a little shopping before going back to her house for dinner. I was so prepared, found a good parking spot, got off the phone with my mom, turned off the car, got out and found my little man passed out.

I thought it was so sweet and completely necessary so I resigned myself to sitting in the parking lot, waiting for the word to head over to our destination. Thank goodness for Blackberrys! Or Crackberrys as a friends husband puts them. Yes, I'm addicted but in times like these, I'm glad I have the Internet, messaging and Tetris all in one handheld device. Not to mention the camera. It's also times like these that I wish we could hire a sitter to come over every day and put the little man down for a nap so we don't have to sit in an idling vehicle while he catches his ZZZZ's.

Storm Story

A friend of mine is leaving GA in the next few weeks and Super and I couldn't be more upset about it. She has a son a few months older than mine and our boys love each other. They even hug. Super isn't really a cuddly kid and doesn't hug much so this really surprised and delighted me. The other night I took the boys to Burger King so his mom could pack without a very active 2 year old in her way. We had a blast! It was the evening of the tornadoes here so it was raining and wet but the sky was lit up by lighting and the boys couldn't get enough. There would be a bright flash and then both of them saying "whoa!" The view from the large windows was very cool and they would see the lightening from way up high in the playground.

Two toddlers is a handful (especially when it comes time that I need to use the restroom) but so much easier than I thought. William is a bright and very easy child (with me, I know he gives his mama grief) and he made Super obey much better than he normally does. Since he can speak back in sentences and he listens to me if we needed to go somewhere (seats, out the door, the car) I'd call William and Hunter would just follow along.

We were there a few hours so they could play and I got to read a book. After a while, they got sick of the play place so they started dragging around chairs, high chairs and caution cones. Whatever works! They were being really good overall so I thought dessert would be a nice ending to the evening and boy was I right! Smiles and happiness all around. If the faux, self appointed aunt won't spoil, then who will?

Sa-weet!

Hunter is a hip little fellow. He has his reaction words that are so funny to listen to. He'll say cool, all right and yeah! My favorite though is when he says sweet. Its terminology that we use often so its no surprise he picked it up and he puts his own little sass in and makes the word "sa-weet". My most favorite is while we're driving and we head through the Starbucks drive thru (which Super now calls milk). Here is how the conversation goes "Hunter want chocolate milk?" "Ok!" We drive... As we approach Starbucks I hear "Milk! Milk! Yea!" From the time his milk is handed to me until I prep it and hand it to him... "Mommy, mommy, milk! Milk! Sa-weet!". "What do we say, baby?" *silence* "We say thank you, hunter." "You're welcome, mommy..."

Where is the Fork?

After our heart stopping experience on the highway, Super and I joined a good friend of mine for dinner. We had yummy orange chicken and rice with ice cream for dessert (which is something Super normally doesn't get so he was shocked by the coldness of it and made the most hilarious face before diving back into the sticky goodness).

Anyway, so after dinner we were cleaning up while the boys played. They are jumping around from their sugar rush, being loud and acting like normal 2 year olds. After getting all the dishes together, Rachael starts looking around because she can't find Hunters eating utensils. We both searched the table, under the chairs, everywhere. Finally I called Super over to me and started to pat him down. Sure enough, the fork was down his shirt, stuck in the onesie he was wearing underneath his clothes. It took some fight to get it away from him but his mother prevailed. Along with the fork I found a good number of stickers and something plastic that I couldn't identify. Does this mean he sees me tuck items into my bra and is now duplicating that? It's enough to make me rethink where I put my chapstick when we go outside and I don't have pockets in my pants. The last thing I want is a sharp eating tool impaling my spunky little man so maybe I need to straighten up.

Scariest Moment of My Life... So Far

Yet again Super has managed to stop my heart for a few seconds. We were driving to a friends house and on the way there I kept hearing wind in my car. I thought that maybe I just didn't close my passenger door all the way and it would be fine for 5 minutes until we got to our destination. We purchased a new car seat not long ago so mostly I watch Hunter to make sure he hasn't gotten out since it isn't a 5 point harness and he is Houdini reincarnated. My vehicle has automatic locks so I never thought in a million years that my 2 year old would be able to figure them out. Most adults just look at me with confusion when my car doesn't let them out and I guess I had a false sense of safety.

So we are driving down I-285, I'm on the phone, I hear wind... no big deal. After I go up the off ramp and stop, I hear more than wind, I hear cars and motors. I turned around, dropped my phone and yelled like crazy when my sons door was wide open! With him trying to get out! On the edge of a very high hill. We were in the middle of rush hour and there were 20 cars lined up behind me. No one stopped, they just tried to avoid hitting me as they zoomed around my car with me in a panic because my son put himself in grave peril... again. I'm sure the door just swung open because of the angle the car was at after he managed to unlock the door and pulled the handle but that doesn't stop the surge of adrenaline and the sudden mommy single mindedness to protect my child as I dodge traffic to close his door. I know I'm not alone out there and that this has happened to several other people and this is the reason they invented child safety locks (which were promptly put into place before I allowed Hunter out of the car).

I'm thankful I had to go through this if it was the warning I needed to prevent something worse in the future but, jeez kid!, just read a book or play with the 15 different toys you insist on being back there. Mommy doesn't need a heart attack in her 20's.

The Daily Grind

I hate being caught in situations like this one. Life is smooth sailing and slightly mundane but now I have nothing to write about. I can't have a blog every day about how much my son talks or sings. My job is wonderful but I care for a small child and aside from poopy diapers and recent developments of a child that isn't mine, there isn't much to say there either. I'm doing a minor kitchen remodel where I live and I'm really excited to paint soon and get the new refrigerator in. I have an open house coming up on the 1st and hopefully it'll be as warm as the forecast says. I've been really lucky to have the friends I do. I have playdates almost every day and Super loves seeing his friends. I love that he's finally picking up names and uses them often. When he came to visit me at work a few days ago he walked into the house and asked "Where baby?... Baby!" Every day when I come home, he asks for "Bye byes" and starts putting on his shoes, regardless of the fact that he isn't wearing pants or socks. He'll grab my hand and drag me to the door asking for Chase, Katie and William. Poopy diapers are now called "ickys" and balloons are "mets" or "moons" (even though he does know the real moon by the same name). Agh, I'll just have to write more at a later time.

Running in Circles

I currently have 2 really good friends that are going to be having babies in 3-5 weeks. Naturally, over the last few weeks I've gone to both of their baby showers. The first one, for Cecilia, I went to was a lot of fun, I got to bring my son, eat cake and see some familiar faces. There was one girl that I swore up and down that I knew from somewhere. She happened to be wearing a shirt that I own that I almost wore to this particular function so I used that as my opening line to get to know her better. At the very least we could shop together. ;-) After talking to her for a while, I didn't think twice that this was a "new" friend.


A few weeks later I walked into another baby shower and there she was! Only this time we put the pieces together. I met her while I was pregnant with Super at Wendy's house! We spent a couple hours talking and visiting back then and I thoroughly enjoyed her company but at the time I was getting ready to have a baby and was quite miserable. I love technology. In less than 72 hours we are now Facebook, Goodreads and Blogspot buddies. Check out Natalie!

We live on opposite sides of the Atlanta perimeter but I hope one of these days we can get together. With friends like Cecilia and Wendy, there is no way Natalie isn't totally awesome.

Love of Lingo

Sad but true, TV is a part of our lives (I'm not innocent, I have become addicted to Big Love). Especially during the winter when we can't go outside and play because of the rain or cold. I can tolerate kids shows for a good while but eventually SuperWhy, Curious George and The Backyardigans get old. They show the same ones over and over and by the end of the week, there is nothing on I haven't seen before. So I've looked all over the cable stations for something appropriate for kids that I can enjoy too. And I found that in Lingo! Its on the Game Show Network and so much fun. All of the letters flashing and changing puts Super in a trance-like state while he shouts out what he can keep up with. He does love his letters and I do love Scrabble... Its a match made in heaven.