New mystery

C has woken the last two mornings screaming well before his normal wake time.  Mon: 5:15 and today 6:00.  He won't let me put him down when I go get him, and he wants SERIOUS cuddling.  While this is very sweet since he isn't all that cuddly normally I do not want to encourage this new habit.  This is hard when you have other people to be considerate of other than yourself.  I might just let him cry at home--I don't really know what I'd do--I can't stand crying in the middle of the night.  This is why I hated life until C slept through the night continuously--around 6-7 months.  I need sleep.  I mean NEED sleep.  10 hours is preferable, but this rarely, if never, happens.  I feel perpetually tired.  I can't even imagine how moms with more than one small child cope, let alone moms of multiples.  But back to my self-pity and complaining--b/c complaining in some small way makes me feel a teensy bit better.  I hope I get to sleep to a more normal time.  I can't believe I ever got up at 5:15 every morning to get to my job at my St. Louis teaching job.  I guess that's why I used to fall asleep Friday nights at 6:30 pm. 

The best gift I could get--a really looooong night's sleep.  To all you other sleep deprived mothers out there--and there are tons--I sympathize, and I hope we all get a good night's sleep tonight.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas (belated, albeit) to everyone.  We had a good one, but many of the family are feeling or were feeling under the weather.  Our Christmas spirit was dampened by the prolonged sickness and death of Scott's uncle.  We are rejoicing that he is no longer suffering, but he will be greatly missed by his family. 

On a much lighter note, C had a blast xmas morning.  He absolutely loved, loved, loved his first two gifts he opened, and really couldn't be torn away from them to open any more gifts.  I don't think he barely looked at the other gifts, but will enjoy them all in the near future.  What are these favorite gifts?  Auntie La-la and Uncle Dave gave him a Melissa and Doug stir fry kit (you can cut the meat, toss the veggies, and stir, and use chopsticks).  They also gave him a bag of fruit and veggies that peel and slice and velcro back together.  I think I'll reintroduce him to the other new toys each week.  He got so much--thanks to everyone in the family, and we still have another Christmas in about 10 days. 

Here is the final gift project revealed--wine charms.

Laura really wanted blue and brown wine charms which were impossible to find, so I decided to make them myself.  Earring hoops serve as the ring, and I got five different types of beads and a different charm for each one--thank you, Hobby Lobby.

The Grinch Doesn't Scare this Girl

Well, as you can tell by this post, I am still alive.  I survived my Craigslist purchased, where the dude tried to sell me various other toys, tricycles, etc.  The slide looks good though.  When I pulled in front of his house, I texted Scott the address and general location.  I said if I didn't text back in 10 min. send help.  I texted I was safe, and he said I would make a good spy, but seriously it's kind of scary to go to a complete stranger's house alone.  Though when he was giving me directions, he said he had a blow up grinch in his yard, thus alleviating any real fear I had.  His lawn also had a blow-up Bart Simpson peeking out of a present--hardly frightening.  I know he could have still been an axe murderer, but I wasn't feeling overly paranoid walking into a home with tacky yard decor.  Fear it might rub off on me...maybe...but not fear for my personal safety. 

The slide looks good, but it unfortunately doesn't fold up...but it is only $10.

First time for Craigslist

So I'm about to buy my first thing, and I'm feeling a bit apprehensive.  It's a folding slide for C--$10.  Quite a steal in my opinion.  I'm kind of nervous about going to get it.  Should I take someone w/me?  It was a man that answered the phone, so that was surprising.  I think I probably should have support.  Now I have to get cash, too.  I never have cash b/c if I have it, it's only for a mili-second b/c I spend it before it warms my wallet.  Sure I might have a $1 or $2 from time to time, but it usually disappears before I can say Nantahala National Forest (a great vacation spot by the way). 

I'll let you know how it goes.

Already wishing Christmas would slow down

I'm already thinking about how little I'm going to enjoy my Christmas decorations.  It's already almost time to take them down, and it seems I've just put them up.  I know it's still like 2 weeks away until I HAVE to de-Christmas, but it makes me sad.  Every year it makes me sad.  It's especially disappointing this time b/c I will be gone for so long, so I just don't get to enjoy it as much as I'd like.  Sniff, sniff.

Part of Christmas Projects Revealed

For all of you who've been waiting for the big reveal (chuckle), here they are.  I made some of my Columbia girlfriends aprons.  For their little girls I made barrettes that coordinated with their mommy's apron.  Sorry for all the pictures.  I'm very proud of my handiwork.  It's not perfect, but it was a lot of fun. 

The Twelve Days of Christmas

With a little help from my friend HL (to non users--this is Hobby Lobby) me, my Singer, and my trusty glue gun got really crafty this holiday season. I still can't say too much about my projects, but some have been given already, so I'm not ruining any surprises.  Some are purposely cryptic b/c they haven't been gifted yet. 

On the first Day of Christmas I crafted happily---a crafty picture frame
On the second Day of Christmas I created sleepily --two calendars
On the third Day of Christmas I collaged away ---three pictures

On the fourth Day of Christmas I crafted happilyy--four ornaments

On the fifth Day of Christmas I sewed endlessly---five pretty things
On the sixth Day of Christmas I wrapped cheerilyy---six small group presents
On the seventh Day of Christmas I hung outside--seven strand
s of lights (and garland)

On the eighth Day of Christmas I crafted quickly--eight silver trinkets (I'll let you know about this after Christmas

On the ninth Day of Christmas I crafted and sewed--nine barrettes/(slash) pins
On the tenth Day of Christmas I traveled between---ten annoying stores (not crafty--not fun)

On the eleventh Day of Christmas I crafted tiredly--eleven grueling hours

On the twelfth Day of Chrismtas I thought up this long blog -12 goofy entries

This is all true*, but not in the correct order. 
 
*Ten is an exaggeration for one day--I did't do 10 stores in one day--eight has been my record followed by  another day of 7 stores--and I'm a speedy shopper)
 
Christmas just wouldn't be the same this year w/out a glue gun.  Maybe I should ask for a really cool one next year--or I could just bedazzle my old ones w/scrapbook letters, buttons, wrapping paper, ribbon, fabric, pictures, beads, raffia (my stand bys), and whatever else I find calling my name in Hobby Lobby.  I promise I haven't put all of these things into one project.  I swear!
 
Dear Crafter's Anonymous--please help me admit I have a problem if I start painting Christmas figurines and Christmas themed sweatshirts (flashback to the early 90s thank you very much!)  A little craftiness might go a long way.  Ya think? 
 

First haircut

So I took the plunge and decided to get C's haircut.  It was so cute, but he was starting to work a rat tail, so it was time.  On Tuesdays you can get a haircut for $3, so I decided to try (since it's not my hair).

Getting the weird thing they put around his neck in the above picture.  He tried to promptly remove it. 

Before the cut-but ready!

With wet hair, and the back being cut.  He was SOOOOOO good.  He stayed still up in the seat. The only time he moved was when she would talk from behind him.  He would look back like--Hey what are you doing sneaking around back there?  He was a gem.  This is hard to believe b/c he hardly sits still, but he's getting better.  He will sit still for part of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer movie, so he's learning. 

Enjoying the dum dum he was given by the stylist.  They finished so quickly I didn't get a good "after" picture.  I'll take one tomorrow.  He has really short bangs--looks like he got a haircut.  Oh well, what a deal!

Cute story

Last night we went to Barnes and Noble to see a friend's little girl's preschool carol.  It was fun for C to play w/ other kids around the train play area.  He didn't even hit any other kids.  I think this is b/c he was the smallest one there.  He did the cutest thing though.  We were sitting down for story time w/the preschool teacher, and the little girl in front of us had a Santa Claus hair clip.  C saw it, and went right over to her and started pointing at it, saying, "Ho, ho, ho."  Super cute.  It's pretty much quiet except for C's little voice repeating, "Ho, ho, ho."  I say yes it is Santa Claus, and pull him on my lap.  Then he sees her little girl white tights have Santa all over them.  More ho hoing ensues.  He lasted through one story-flitting b/w my lap, little girl's hair and legs, and back over to Carla (my friend--also C's old sitter).  Pretty cute stuff.  All in all he did well.

Amazon is lightning fast...and not in a good way

So I'm laying in bed--sleepless.  Why?  I'm pondering the order total of my recent Amazon purchase at 5:50pm today.  I'd had trouble w/my purchase and canceled my first order to get a better deal. I was trying to watch C and Scott arrived home w/Mexican, so I was very distracted.  I thought my total was high, but didn't pay much attention the second time around.  So I must have know it was wrong subconsciously but pushed it to the recesses of the mine--thus sleeplessnes.  I get online at 11:30 to amend/cancel my order just 6 hours later, and I can't do it.  It's preparing to ship, so it can't be changed.  How can they prepare to ship on a weekend night.  So irritating, so now I'll have to pay to ship something back I don't want (I ordered 2 of something I only wanted one of--I don't know how--so don't ask). 

So frustrating.  My hands/fingers are aching from marathon sewing over the last couple of days.  Can't say too much--don't know who all reads my blog, and I'm working on gifts.  I've backed myself into a corner b/c I need to finish a lot of projects by this week.  I'm so over ambitious for a novice.

Christmas prepping

At the tree farm selecting the perfect tree.

Enjoying the tree farm's store

 

Back at the grands'

Hanging an ornament on his tree.  C loves Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, the song and movie.  He also loves Santa Claus, and he says Ho, ho, ho.  It's really cute.

"But I can't put my arms down."

They say the camera adds 10 pounds.  This snow suit makes C look about 15 lbs bigger than normal.  He's a little fella, but you wouldn't know it in this.  I cracked up when we tried it on him and had to snap a picture.  I just need a really long scarf, mittens, and hat to make a good Randy.  Has anyone else wondered why the mom in A Christmas Story bundles up Randy, but just sends Ralphie in a coat, gloves, and ear muffs?

Things I once loved, but now hate!

I used to LOVE wrapping gifts.  Now--it's a major chore.  Once I became a mom it just seems an annoyance.  My skills have been dwindling over the last 4 years anyway, but the last couple years have been terrible.  2007--TERRIBLE morning sickness; 2008-- tired from a 5 months old; 2009--more tired from a 16.5 month old all by myself most of the time.  It's sad to lose something I once loved, but I don't think I'll really like it ever again.  Now I know why my mom was always excited when I wanted to wrap gifts in high school.  I need a daughter to do this and about 16 years or so to pass by, so whe would be old enough.  That's a lot more Christmas wrapping in the meantime. 

Cooking.  This has not been so much fun w/ little C running around and mostly demanding my attention the entire time he is awake.  He hates for me to be engaged in anything except himself.  I think I will regain this one though if Scott and I ever live together again (Side note--still no lookers for our house--not even one showing in 2 months).

Too tired to think of other things right now.

Been Busy

Been on a blog drought.  I've been busy working on sewing projects.  Here's one of my projects in completed form.  This was a holiday apron for my mom.  I'm really pleased with the way it turned out.  Here she is on Thanksgiving Day modeling it.

Tired and sick

That's pretty much the sum of things.

C has had a fever for over 4 days.  Three of those days we were over 101, and even up to 103.  It's been sad.  He seems to be feeling a bit better, but he's still not eating like I would like. 

Now I feel tired and sick. 

15 month update

Went to the doctor yesterday for C's 15 month checkup, but it's really more like 16 month b/c we had to delay due to insurance coverage w/new job. 

Stats:

Height: 31.5 in. (50-75th percentile)
Weight: 22.5 lbs (10-25th percentile)

Head: 47.5 cm (50-75th percentile)

He's doing well.  On target for all the things he's supposed to be able to do.  His language is a little behind, but not much.  He says a few things like What's a cow say?  "Mooo" and What's a rooster say?  "cocka cocka oo"  He also says here, hi, and ball.  I think that's about it w/any frequency.

Dance it out

I got Colin a keyboard/microphone thing today.  He likes to sit on it and make it play.  Most importantly he enjoys dancing to the tunes it plays.  We haven't even explored the microphone portion.  The only problem is it's a cat keyboard, so it has this annoying Meow feature for the keyboard sound.  It keeps getting pushed.  It's irritating like nails on a chalkboard.

Get Thee Behind Me Ski Ball

Last night my mom, Colin, and I trekked to Kansas City to meet my brother and his family at--of all places--Chuck E. Cheese.  We wanted to meet them while my mom was visiting, and KC is a half way point.  I thought Chuck E Cheese would be good b/c it's over 90 min. in the car 1 way for all the kids, so they could get out and run around before getting back in the car. 

It was a good call.

Two points of interest though.

1. Colin LOVES ski ball.  Not a surprise since he loves balls.  Whoever invented ski ball must be related to the Devil. Colin was hypnotized by the flashing lights, flying red balls, and computerized sounds. I really couldn't get him to stay away from it.  I mean really.  It it resulted in several tantrums and a lot of scooping him up and trying to find other things for distracion--not easy when he's really too young for most of the stuff.  The ski ball area was scary when it was crowded b/c I was afraid he'd get hit in someone's windup.  Once it got less crowded we let him crawl all over the ski ball lanes. 

2. Colin HATES the Chuck E Cheese figure that walks around.  CEC came toward our table to high five Wyatt.  C saw him coming from his high chair at end of table.  He looked surprised and apprehensive.  As CEC got close and looked down at him, C started shaking and then started to cry and climb into my lap while he was strapped in.  Like a good mom, I burst out in laughing.  I couldn't stop laughing b/c of the shaking part.  The look on his face was HILARIOUS.  Bad mommy.   But happiness came later w/an ice cream sandwich!

Cousins unsucccessfully posing--my mom got in the way, but sadly this is the ONLY one where all the boys are facing the camera.

Enjoying the sunshine!

Thankfully it has dried out over the last 6 days or so.  I thought we were going to need an ark.  Here's a photo of C enjoying the one nice day last week.  We had a great time playing at the park.  Here he's running back to the car.  He was actually okay w/leaving.  Usually it's tears to go inside or leave the park. 

Here's our little guy giving love to his bunny.  This rarely happens, but we are seeing a more loving side, but at the same time I'm experiencing the rage side as well.  In the last three days I've been hit and scratched multiple times, but this picture captures his sweet side.

Halloween!

I'm catching up on my blogging today.  Computer was on the fritz, so just trying to get updated.

At our small group party.

Getting ready and playing w/his firetruck.

Enjoying the escalator and trick or treating at Crestwood Mall.

K-wood Farmer's Market

Ready set, go!

New Blog Launch

Just want to invite anyone that's interested in my new blog project.  It's totally different than this blog, and might only be entertaining to college friends.  If you have an offbeat sense of humor you may find it funny as well.  It's sort of like The Onion, but all articles revolve around one person.  If you're interested the site is http://theyearofphil.blogspot.com/

Halloween Cookies

So we needed a project today. So many of my friends have sick kids that we didn't have any play dates that week. For me this equals BORING. I think Colin feels the same. He might not know it, but he does. It's difficult to think of things to do w/a 15 month old. The weather hasn't been all that cooperative and I don't want to drag him all over the place w/him not feeling that great himself.

My answer in these situations is usually cookies. He likes to watch me stir. He likes to sit up on the counter and attempt to mimic me if possible. So I decided we would make some homemade butter cookies to decorate for Halloween.

I got the cookie dough mixed before he woke from morning nap. I got it rolled out while he played after lunch. This was a major success b/c C usually hates me doing anything that takes my attention away or anything he can't join. So I was thrilled when I got the rolled dough back in the fridge w/o any major difficulties. Except I had to wash my hands about 50 times b/c C has a bit of a cold and majorly icky, runny nose. So now my hands feel like they might fall off, but I avoided getting snot on most of my furniture b/c now he climbs all over everything and he knows how to use the back of his hand to wipe his nose. So it's a battle as you other moms know to keep the nose clean w/o making it raw.

Then I had to wait 10 min and here is where the trouble began. C and I went to his room to start packing for the trip to St. Louis this weekend. C was thrilled to be in his room to play. Then I had to go back to kitchen to cut out the shapes of cookies. Mini-meltdown 1. Easily traversed. First batch in oven--we return to pack. We get through the second batch w/a slightly more peeved C, but no major meltdown. Then the dreaded third batch (from the remains of the dough re-rolled). Now this is at least 3o min into this part of the process and he's starting to freak out. Why aren't you playing w/ me, mommy, pick me up, mommy. Waaaaa! He can't really say any of that, but his motions express his feeling. How does a great mom counteract this? I don't know. I put him over my back and shoulders (I kind of drape him over my back and hold on to him by his arms), and we look for balls that he's been throwing. This makes C very happy and buys me 2-3 min a time.

Finally, cookies are done and we finish packing while cookies cool. If you haven't noticed these are time consuming cookies you decorate. Well, as well as I can decorate w/ or around a toddler. So it's time to decorate. I set C up on the counter w/ a measuring cup, a plastic fork, and a spice container. I start whisking milk and cream cheese. He wants to put his fork in the start of the frosting. BAD IDEA! Remember the nose. Yuck! So I successfully avoid the fork by putting a tiny bit of water in his measuring cup so he can stir his own "icing." I finally get this combined, which took forever and added the powdered sugar. He's watching and copying, but now he's growing bored. I start to apply my icing to the pumpkins. C would like to help, so I play keep away trying not to knock over my various sprinkles and colored sugars. I use the orange sugar I made to decorate. I put the bowl back down and move the plate of pumpkins. I turn back and C has found the bowl w/extra orange sugar--which I had a spoon in it I'd left--I see him eating the dyed sugar w/the spoon. Nice. I let him be. Throwing caution to the wind that he needs to take a nap any minute and he's eating straight sugar. Shoveling it in, but in my selfishness I let him continue b/c he's not bugging me. I get to the ghosts and he keeps trying to grab them, but finds his sugar again. Then I move on to the witches. At this point he tried to get to the knife block--I moved it. Then he has the food coloring and is using the blue as a spoon? He's found some other sugar I had mixed--he puts the dye (w/the cap on) in his mouth and then uses it sort of like a spoon to attract the sugar. Disgusting but entertaining to him. I get the rest decorated w/little more calamity except he knocks my container of dyed sugars off the counter, which evidently wasn't tightly closed over the blue, and now I have blue on my floor. So I get on the floor to clean it. I look up and C is not moving to his belly (up on the counter) to better see me. NOOOOO! I yell--I mean quietly mention, and he just looks at me. I tell him to get back on his bottom and he does. He finds various other things on the counter I didn't even know were there and put them in his mouth while I started to clean. Then he started crying b/c he wanted cookies. I let him have a couple bites and then decided it was time for a nap. He was exhausted and I'm exhausted, but I'm not really a napper. Wish I was.

First words and the Corn Maze

So Colin has been a bit under the weather this weekend, which sucks since Scott came home, but we went ahead and ventured out to the Shryock's Callaway Farms and Corn Maze this afternoon. Our friends are owners and it's a "Mid-Missouri Tradition," so we didn't want to leave the area w/o partaking. The corn maze was REALLY MUDDY due to all the rain last week, so we had to carry Colin most of the time, but he seemed to enjoy it--especially the kettle corn.

On a side note we have our first legitimate word from Colin. Drum roll please...any guesses? Not mommy, not daddy, but ball, which sounds like buh. To Colin ball is an all encompassing noun for any variety of ball as well as football or soccer on television as well as a verb meaning to throw.

Ahhhh...Sunshine

It's been 1 week since I'd seen the sun, but today it's back. Prior to today 6 out of 8 days had been without sun--either raining or gloomy overcast. Looks like we may have turned the corner. I was starting to feel like the itsy bitsy spider--in the first part of the song. Why am I thinking itsy bitsy spider? It's Colin's new favorite song. We sing it before nap, and he's not satisfied unless we/I sing it 3 times at least. Now I'm on the topic what's the deal w/the book the eensy weensy spider--don't they know it's itsy bitsy. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

First Bonfire/Weenie Roast

Marshmallow face
So much fun!

Helping roast a weenie.

Enjoying the dog.

So I know I said we wouldn't be eating hot dogs in the near future, but we had a weenie roast to celebrate all the Dankel family October b-days. So, Colin had his second and third hot dogs this weekend. I sort of shudder to think of this, but I'm going to press on and pretend it's okay I fed my child mystery meat (even though it's not all that much of a mystery anymore).

Colin loved the fire, but had a healthy since of caution.

Ladies and Gentleman--we have a cheeser

Easy as Apple Pie

So you know I LOVE to cook and sometimes bake. Here's my perfected apple pie. It tastes good and it comes out looking like it's supposed to look. I've made good ones before, but I've found the best crust recipe--literally. It's from the book The Best Recipe. The crust is crunchy, but not dry. I made a fresh blueberry pie with the recipe also this summer. These are the apples we picked at Eckert's. The Jonathan apples worked beautifully in the pie.

Side note--if you're not sure what the bird in the middle is for--it's not decoration.--though it does look pretty cute--even though I hate birds. It lets the steam escape from the pie.

Eckert's Last Weekend

Fun from last weekend. Colin loved going to Eckert's, and so did I. Maybe next time we'll pick a pumpkin too.

Obviously doesn't understand how to drive w/o cutting off your head.
One of these weighs almost double Colin's weight.

Picking up apples or at least a stick?

You looking at me?

Yummy, apple. I still can't get this apple juice out of his shirt. Any ideas? I've tried Non-chlorine bleach, shout, and naptha soap