A Mothers Guilt and Redemption

I don't feel guilty often but when I do, it's for good reason and he can get his way in just about anything. Since I wasn't able to get him his MMR back in September I had to reschedule for October to make sure he was healthy and prepared. The doctors visit didn't go too well since he remembered the last visit when they pricked his finger and he didn't want anyone to touch him. His major cute moment was when we first got into our exam room and I put him up on the table to let him know it was his appointment. He promptly laid down and exposed his belly, something he sees me do at all of my recent visits to the OBGYN. But once the doctor came in he quickly hid behind the chair and didn't want to be touched. After barely allowing the MD to look in his ears and listen to his lungs we were cleared to get the shot.
The nurse came in and helped me struggle to expose his leg. I held him down and braced myself. 2 seconds later the most horrible scream I've ever heard came out of his mouth as he received his last inoculation. The nurse was quick and after a few minutes of both of us crying we left the office, Hunter carrying a lollipop and in each hand and me promising him ice cream and a long trip to the park.
Well, when I got in the car and began our trip home I went the wrong way down Roswell Rd and passed by a trap....more commonly known as Chuck E Cheeses. I was able to brush off the requests with more promises of the park but I had to make a U turn and in passing it again I caved and we made our way into the parking lot. The happy "YAY" I heard from the backseat was enough to lighten my heart so I figured a few hours spending too much money on bad pizza and games was worth it if it made my son rejoice like that.
2 hours, 3/4 of a pizza, a bag of free cotton candy, 40 tokens and 258 tickets later (grrr, Hunter kept climbing on the skee ball machine and erasing my score!) we walked out with a few packs of pop rocks and more lollipops. Hunters first experience with pop rocks was hilarious! He understands that candy tastes good but wasn't ready for the different sensation. After one try though he was hooked and helped me demolish the rest of our hard earned prizes. I'm so glad I got to spoil him and I'm even more thankful he won't have to get another shot for at least 2 years.

My Mom Visits!

It was so wonderful having my mom come to town. For one, I love having someone there to take care of me and no one pampers you like the woman that gave you life. For two, she pampers my kid (even as resentful as he was to give up his room so she had a bed to sleep in) and no one spoils a child like a grandparent.
I greatly appreciate that even though she was coming to "vacation" with us she worked her butt off to help me out. Bragging about my mommy time! I know she loves it but in the 4 days she came to visit she painted my living room and Hunters bedroom all by herself. They look gorgeous and I love that I come home to a place where I actually got to pick the colors I'm looking at. She cooked or provided every meal we ate while she was here (I guess I don't keep enough food in the house to her liking, hehehe, I actually am just awful about grocery shopping). Together we cleared some major bushes and ugly over grown areas of my new yard. And I won't forget to mention the hours and hours of shopping. She is a powerhouse in the grocery and Ikea departments and I debated over throw pillows for an hour.
Just having her company in the evening hours was a blessing. I get very lonely since Danny works nights and the companionship of a little boy is only so fulfilling. I love that we can chat for hours about the upgrades she wants to make in her home and how we could reorganize everything.
The never ending rain actually stopped briefly while she was here but she experienced the days of rain with us, shocked at how different it is in FL where it rains every day but it's barely noticed.
Now that she's gone, Hunter keeps asking where his Grandma Lisa is even though he gave her the cold shoulder because of the bedroom wars. She doesn't take any of his crap and doesn't get offended that he was being a little stinker towards her at times. She even laughed when he climbed into his bed one night as he was attempting to bully his way back in and promptly threw up in the middle of the bed and floor. My poor baby. We took him to finally get his MMR and we discovered that he had an ear infection.
I'm so glad she came to visit us and I can't wait until she comes back again (we're going to paint the dining room next!) which will probably be around the time I have my baby shower. I can't wait to go back down to Orlando. I know Hunter will look forward to seeing her again and playing in her garden and with her chickens and bunnies.

I heart you Mom!

First Doctors Appointment for Baby #2

Everything went really well. It was a lot of fun to go back and see the doctor that delivered Hunter. He is still as energetic and complimentary and I remember and I thoroughly enjoy visiting with him. The babies heartbeat is strong and fast and easy to find. After some very simple calculations we concluded that my due date is officially March 26th. I'm very proud of my son and how well behaved he was at our appointment. One of the other doctors gave him a lollipop and everyone cooed over how adorable and well mannered he is. I have a feeling my kid is going to hunt down that doc every time we go. Once Hunter gets candy from someone, he is very persistent about getting it out of them again.

Superheroes

It's been a rough couple of months since getting knocked up. Being tired and nauseous is not my idea of a good time but this pregnancy so far is significantly easier than my first. However, I'm starting to feel really good again and being in the new house makes a world of difference. Now that we have plenty of room to run and I have the energy to play, Hunter has discovered a new game I call Superheroes. Essentially we tie blankets around our necks and chase each other around the house pretending to fly. Danny loves to sit back and laugh at the 2 of us because apparently we are hilarious. After about 20 minutes I'm done, its amazing to me how long a little boy can run in circles and laugh without running out of breath and passing out.

I Do It!

Every single mom at some point is going to hear these words come out of their children's mouth. Its finally my turn. Since moving into our new home a week and a half ago, we haven't gotten the cable connected yet or set up any of our major electronics besides the PlayStation 3. We did stumble upon an old TV we forgot about, the VHS and a little DVD player that I thought would be nice to put in Hunters playroom. Over the last few days we've been teaching him how to use it so we aren't constantly having to go in there and change tapes and DVDs and since it's all extra stuff we don't care about, why not teach the 2 year old how to do it? He has already mastered the iPod Touch better than me so what's the harm? Every so often, he's asked for my help but unless he specifically requests me, all I hear is "I Do It, Mommy!" (And not in a snotty tone, I wouldn't put up with that. He's just so proud of himself for being able to put on his videos whenever he wants them)

What's Yo Name?

At 2 years old my little man is already practicing his pick up lines. He finally grasped the concept of learning peoples names and is constantly making a game of it. Everyday he asks me over and over again "what's yo name?" to which I reply "Mommy, What's your name?" He returns with "Hunter...what's yo name?" and the cycle continues. Just for fun I'll switch up the names and call myself by my first name or I'll refer to myself as Daddy or Hunter, just to see if he's paying attention.
I do think it's sweet when we go out in public and he has to ask everyone he sees and when they walk away from us he says goodbye and calls them by name! I'm impressed since I usually forget their answer in 3 seconds and he'll engage them for several minutes.
The hardest part for me is watching him approach the little girls on the playground. On good days they want to play but they don't realize he's too young to continue the conversation (he loves the 5 yr old ladies) and on the bad days they run off and I can see the confusion on his face. I do love his confidence though and I hope it stays with him into adulthood. Then again, I'm terrified because he is going to be a major heartbreaker.

We're Expecting!

I know a lot of people don't read my blog and I mostly write it for me to remember the little things in life that happen. This isn't one of those things I'm likely to forget any time soon but one day I'm going to look back and remember exactly how I feel at this very moment knowing that we are going to add another addition to our family. I'm due in mid-late March and between you and me, I think it's a girl. I'm not nearly as sick as I was with the boy and I have a lot more energy.... it may just be that I have no choice but to follow small children around all day every day but call it a feeling. Now the great debate begins....what to name this special bundle of joy that is coming our way. We haven't decided on a possible boy name because we both have felt from the moment we suspected I was pregnant that its a daughter. Now we're trying to choose between two names that I really like.....Lydia or Ayla. I think the final choice will be Hunters but Lydia has been at the top of my list for years now. We have no patience to wait until she comes out for confirmation so we'll find out at that 20 week check up!

Childrens Logic

I nanny for a terrific family that will occasionally let me bring Hunter along for a few hours here and there. They know that Danny and I work opposite schedules so if I need to stay late, they have no problem with Super being dropped off for that extra hour. Now that the boy I watch is getting older, the kids have a great time playing together and my job has gotten much easier now that the little one is walking and will spend that whole hour just following around my son. Hunter was with me today and I noticed what I thought was Super staring off into spaces until he comes running up to me and pointing at a small nude statue that's in the home.... "Mommy, Mommy...where is his diaper?.... he needs a diaper Mommy!"

Advertising Works

Those smart people in advertising. They know exactly what they're doing when they create those catchy little songs and phrases. For months now Super has been able to identify money and the numbers on that money. Lately as we've driven around at different times, he'll randomly bust out with "five dollars!" I have no idea what that means but I see signs that say various amounts all over the place so I assumed he was just reading what he can understand....until today. We were driving to the park and I hear "Mommy, five dollars!" I don't understand why he's asking for five dollars again until he finishes his sentence...."five, five dollar, five dollar footlongs.....at Subway!" The poor kids been asking for food and I just didn't know it! Now I can't help but call it Five Dollars as well. He'll eventually learn that it's called Subway so I'm going to milk the adorable saying for as long as I can.

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

Danny and I just celebrated our third year of marriage by going to a great restaurant called Canoe. It's right on the Chattahoochee and the food is amazing, the service is attentive and the drinks are amazing. We warmed with lamp chops and shrimp dumplings (well, I got both. Hubby won't touch seafood) and both were delicious. Danny had the best long island iced tea we've both ever tried and my apple martini was pretty good (no raspberry that day *sad face*). Dinner was the rabbit for me and the veal porterhouse for him. Both made my taste buds sing a great song. We finished off our lovely meal with a yummy special occasion cake and a quiet walk/sit along the river. We were both so glad we went and very happy to have celebrated our 3rd year together as man and wife.