Pictures

I haven't taken a sleeping picture in many, many months.  He usually wakes when I enter the room.  Not so yesterday.  Ahh, so still and quiet. Don't you love the books in bed.  Before nap we read, and then he takes a book or two to bed with him to read.

Look at that sagging.  Seriously, if anyone knows where to find a belt for an 18-24 mo old let me know.  His pants were actually falling down around his ankles w/o shoes to hold them up.

Doesn't everyone shower in their pjs w/headbands around their necks?  C thinks so. 

A colorful world

C loves to color I discovered today.  He says he draws.  I knew he loved to draw on his easel w/chalk in the basement, but he colored for over 1/2 an hour.  I had to stop him for nap time.  I think he would have just kept going and going.  He was very angry when drawing time was over.  He flung his crayons off the coffee table.  It was sweet until then.  It was a quick fit though. 

I obviously helped him w/his name (which he didn't want me to do at first)

We worked on 2 pictures at once.  You can't see it on this picture, but I labeled certain things.  He draws me, Scott, Cosmo, and Kona. If you didn't label them who would know what they are.  They're just squiggles.

Happy as a clam

Turning the Corner

Well, I think C is finally feeling a lot better--not 100% but much more normal.  He's actually eating again.  He still has a little cough and gunky nose, but his spirits are much better.  He continues to keep me on my toes (this is a euphemism for driving me crazy) begging to be held or whining for juice (his word for drink of any kind).  He has been throwing tantrums for the wildest things while he's sick.  Like he won't tell you what he wants to eat, but if he thinks it should be something else he will cry in his high chair until he calms down, and then eat his snack. 

I tried to feed him stir fry tonight w/brown rice.  He kept trying the rice, but he would spit it out--every single grain (this was funny to watch-he would get his fingers involved w/his tongue).  He wouldn't touch the rest of the stir fry--instead he ate a leftover biscuit.  Before bed he ate applesauce as well--b/c I didn't want him waking up starved in the middle of the night.

Ready for warmer weather and happier spirits

Long Days.  Yesterday was a marathon of appointments: chiro, straight to pediatrician (where we were for over 80 min.), home for lunch and nap, then straight to vet.  It was a whirlwind.  I felt really grumpy and displaced by C being sick.  He's still sick today, so all my plans fell through.  Selfishly I'm ticked.  It gets exhausting entertaining a grumpy, miserable 19 month old who doesn't want to eat.  He ate more today than yesterday, but about 50% or less of his normal intake.  Lotssssss of temper tantrums.  His newest fixation is saying he wants more drink (while he still has plenty of drink).  This blows my mind and I have little patience for this demand.  In fact it irritates me.  Of course my toddler isn't rational, so it isn't really rational for me to try to explain this to him and then get frustrated when he throws a tantrum. I've had to walk away A LOT today.  Headed to St. Louis for the weekend, so I hope the little guy feels better.  We shall see.  This medicine he is on makes him hyper and crazy for the first 2 hours or so after taking it.  Not a pretty sight.

Tired

C has come down w/ a cough and fever.  I'm sore and I'm tired and slightly hungry.  Blah.  The workouts don't seem that crazy hard while I do them, but I feel them the day after.  I'm expecting to barely be able to move tomorrow. 

A picture to brighten my day.  Thinking he's a big boy with all the other big kids.  He loves him some cookies.  Taking him to the doctor tomorrow.  Hope he's just got a little virus or something.

P90X

So all my future blogs regarding this subject will be denoted w/the P90x so you don't have to bore yourself reading them.  I'm just blogging about it as one more way to keep myself motivated.  I asked for this system for Vday.  If you don't know, it's an intense workout system intended to last 90 days which provides better than average results using muscle confusion to avoid plateaus  I really wanted it until I got it in the mail.  I was so overwhelmed by all the materials.  You are supposed to follow the diet, but it gives you three ways to do it, and it essentially comes down to calories anyway--but using good foods to fuel you.  They do have a specific stand on the protein/carb ration that will be difficult.  The really limit your carbs, but pump your protein the first month, but then ease up to more normal standards for the following 2 months. I was so overwhelmed Saturday when I got it I couldn't make heads or tails of the nutrition program.  With a cooler head this morning it all made sense.  You can choose to follow their menu or learn portion controls (based on their recommendations).  I'm opting on the portion control.  Getting enough calories and good protein is going to be hard for me.  They have you figure up how many calories you need based on the workout activities plus your added activities/lifestyle.  I didn't make it to my ideal calories today or my ideal proteins.  I need to go to the store to get some stuff.   I did pretty well on water today, but feel really thirsty--I guess from the workout.  I'm opting to do the lean course of the 90 days, and will see how it goes. I plan to modify a bit b/w the lean and the classic, so I can get in plyos.  The first workout was good.  I like how he gives levels, but it's definitely challenging.  Day 1 of 90 complete!

Retro Apron

Someone out there is getting a new, retro-style apron.  Could it be you? 

One tiny change to the apron: a small black button at the pink point on the pockets.

Friar Tuck...I mean Colin...I mean Popeye

He requested this apron and made me wear one too while we cooked dinner tonight.  I guess my working on an apron today put it in his mind.

Jewelry making

So I've been experimenting w/jewelry making at the request of my mom.  We saw some really cool necklaces in Poppy (a cool store in downtown CoMo), so I said I'd give it a try.  It's really hard.  I thought using fabric would be easier than it is.  It's just so floppy.  I'm not sure how to get it on the wire/string in a snug fashion.  So I forewent (real word?) the fabric inclusion on my mom's.  The stringing is easy.  The crimping to get the closures on-not so. I'm terrible w/knots so I tried the crimping.  Not hard except you have one shot to get it in the right spot or the whole thing is basically ruined- a ruined closure and/or you have to start over.  So the results (I don't believe in starting over unless absolutely necessary) one necklace that's longer than I would have liked and one shorter than I wanted. 

Here's the best, but blurry shot of overall effect.  Not the best shirt to pair it with--too much going on.

What I thought it would look like, but it never lays like that. This one ended up too long.

Not an asymmetrical person, so I can't decide if I love it or hate it.   I see strings I need to cut.

Mom's that is really shorter than she'll probably like.

detail picture

Can you see the weird sword fighting thing on the tv: Olympics Opening ceremony.  Who knew Canadians were so good as swashbuckling?  They also had a guy dressed like a punk kid tap dancing.  Scott said it looked like it should have been in Snatch.  Gypsy punk tap dancing/river dancing--I fail to see the Canadian connection.  I think they were really struggling to convey their culture.  Who knows anything about Canada though, right?  I couldn't even tell you truthfully what type of government they have or who is in charge or what that person is called.  Scary.

A whole lot of cuteness going on

Yesterday morning while I was changing C's diaper first thing, he saw his house shoes (where they'd been left from the night before).  He said "shoes," and started trying to put them on, so I stripped off his footie pjs and helped him get them on.  He walked around this way for quite a while.  I think he might have even eaten breakfast like this.  (side note: this morning he said breakfast, seriously and clearly over and over again--the fount has opened.  Today he also said bubbles w/pretend dish soap at the library and water.)

Then I got him partially dressed so he wouldn't freeze, but he didn't want to sit still too long.  Sesame Street was on, so his attention was locked in.  He's standing on that piece of plywood I brought out for his trains.  

Today we went to the library for story time again. This time was better, but he still can't sit still that long, but he enjoyed the songs more.  Afterward we went to the gym to play.  He was all about the basketballs, but he did better this time avoiding the bball game and water fountain.

Other cuteness...last night he found a little stuffed puppy rattle (that had been hiding in my purse who knows how long).  He started carrying it around, petting it, loving it.  He was ready for bed, so he started laying down with it, and pretending to snore.  It was adorable.  He did this until he was ready to go to bed.  Then we took his puppy in to read to him.  Which he did.  He has such an imagination.  Today we named him, well C named him...Max (since he loves Max of Max and Ruby I guess?)  That's what he calls him though.  Today he still played with him and then discovered he had more stuffed puppies, which he hugged.  He named another one so far...I think he named it Wags, but he was probably saying Max again, so I helped him w/a different, but similar sounding name.  He approved.  

He also will sing if you ask him.  He will sing to me or his puppy.  He mostly hums sort of, but he will sing Row, row, row your boat (minus the "your boat" part).  Sweetness. 

Valentine's Project

Well, here are the pics.  I'm pretty sure I tried a project way above my skill level.  I don't sew straight very well, so choosing something where things need to be straight proves challenging and leads to wavy results.  I wish I had made it longer.  I thought it was longer.  I'm pretty sure it came out about what I'd measured for, but it doesn't hang loosely, so it seems too short--I have a lot to learn obviously.  One or two more rows of blocks would have been better, but I honestly didn't want to cut any more blocks. 

The overall look.

Bowl o' hearts.  These were fun to make.  I think I'll add some more next year.  I'm not sure if you can really tell in this picture, but the rows have a decorative zig-zag top stitch running over each row, vertically and horizontally.   

Looks pretty good from this angle though you can see the bubbles on the left.

When you can't sew or cut straight you make waves.  Ric rac was a major pain in this.  I think had I not had to add straight pieces on either end for length (which should have been bigger still) I might have been able to prevent the wave more?  I wasn't precise enough on my blocks.  This is what comes of cutting and sewing until midnight.  You make dumb mistakes when you start using subtraction to figure out 5 inch squares instead of just turning your mat around.  It led to a lot of 4.5" blocks squeezed out.  Note to self, slow down, take care. 

I should have just gone w/simplicity my first try.  Though I think this side turned out really cute.  I had a major brain fart, when I got my material for the back side.  I was really incorrect when I asked for 1.5 yards instead of 2 yards.  I had to cut one long piece and then two short pieces and add ribbon as trim to hid my seams.  I think the effect is cute. 

This project used almost an entire spool of thread.  That's a lot of thread!

A perfect day

Today was about a perfect day as you can get for me and Colin.  We had a well baby doctor's appt that went welk.  Even though we had to wait for over half an hour C was amazing.  We played ball and looked through other toys I'd brought.  Then we went to the grocery store, where he continued to showcase his wonderful behavior.  I gave him a snack, and we headed to the mall for him to play in the kids court.  He was very good there.  Then we went to Target (in the mall).  He walked the whole way there w/minor distractions.  Not a single tantrum yet.  He was great in Target, so I told him we could get McDonald's on the way home.  He was excited.  Then he played a bit at home, and then went down for a nap w/no problems.  He only slept well, and woke up and played in his bed, reading his books.  I went in to get him as he was reading one of his favorites, Max's First Word.  Then we played upstairs and then in the basement.  I played w/our dogs a lot in the basement.  They were ecstatic, and C mostly played quietly (which is unusual in the basement).  Then he told me it was time to come upstairs.  We played trains--he really played.  I brought out some plywood, so they would roll easier.  Then we ate dinner, which he'd let me cook actually.  He ate it all--sweet potatoes, broccoli, and meat, so he got appesauce for dessert.  Then he had a bath--a favorite activity, and is currently dancing to music.  He was dancing after dinner, too.  I think we had no tantrums today, and minimal fussing/whining.  It was a beautiful thing.  Not sure when we'll have a day like this repeated.  Thank you, God for this amazing blessing of this wonderful day.  The only way it could have been better is if Scott could have been here, too.  He is currently trying to peek around the screen saying "papa. papa, nana?."  Last night we skyped w/my mom and dad, so he thinks they should be on the screen.  It's pretty cute.

19 month stats (for his 18 month check up)

Height: 33 in (50-75%)
Weight: 23 lbs. (10-25%)
Head: 48 cm (50-75%)

As you can see-he is tallish w/ a largish head, but very thin compared to others his age.  The doctor called him long and lean, but muscular.  He continues to be advanced w/his motor skills.  The doctor actually said you shouldn't be able to do that to Colin when he threw w/one hand a ball over-handed.  He also said his language is advanced for a boy his age.  I had always thought he was behind in language b/c he rarely talks (though he is saying more in the last 2-3 weeks).  When the nurse asked me if I thought he said 10-15 words I sort of paused and wasn't sure.  We've never written them down, and I always have trouble coming up w/his words when our Parents as Teachers coordinator comes.  I always was stretching to meet what she expected.  So while we waited I took out my pad and started to list his words.  I came up with 28--which I know I left off several since I spoke w/Scott afterwards.  I was shocked. I had no idea he said this much.  He's not always easy to understand, but his language has exploded.  He's still very controlling w/how much he will use his words, but he's finally making the connection that he can communicate better with words than ehhhhs and whines. 


Update: the perfection didn't last--bedtime not so easy.  He's fussing in bed.  Evidently he doesn't want his "perfect" day to end.

Pictures of other shower crafts

I never added these pics, but here's the diaper cake and banner I made for the shower 2 weeks ago.

Here's my art again, but I went ahead and added the lettering. This was the rough draft, so the final looked neater than this, but you get the gist.  I think it looks more nursery rhymish.

Weekend update

So you know I blog all at once it seems.  Sorry.  I get impatient w/loading the pictures, so I figure I will just blow one night with it.

This was a good weekend.  Scott came home for the weekend and surprised me by coming Thursday night instead of Friday evening as "planned".  He walked in at the end of small group--total shocker.  It was really sweet.  He was able to stay until this morning, so we were able to go to a Superbowl party (tears for the Colts) and we got our taxes done--score.  We owe both Missouri and Illinois.  Fabulous.  Neither recognizes that we lived in another state part of the year, so they want a piece of the total income--not just what is earned in that state.  This seems like double taxing to me, but I'm no tax expert.    But it's not bad--we still come out ahead w/federal. 

Here's a pic of C at the gym last week trying to ride a tricycle.  He had moderate success on it backwards.  He could walk it.  He didn't know what to do on it the correct way. 

I wasn't quick enough w/my camera and he's attempting a dismount here.  As a sidenote his favorite thing to play w/at toddler open gym...the water fountain.  De ja vu of the firehouse.  He was also drawn to the adult men playing basketball on the other side of the gym like a siren's song.  I could barely keep him away from either the basketball or water fountain.

Here's our fort/tent we played in Thursday and then recreated Friday.  At first C was apprehensive about it, but then he was all about it.  We did a lot of reading and flashlight playing in it.

Raise the roof

So all tasks take longer w/a little toddler about--like making the bed.  While making the bed, C decided to open a drawer and get out an old t-shirt of mine (circa Aug. 2000).  He wanted to wear it--I obliged.  Then he wiggled himself onto the halfway made bed. 

He was very proud of himself.

Craziness--rolling, falling, running on the bed ensued-w/oversized t-shirt.

The shirt came off and whoo-whoo.  I swear that's what it looks like he's doing here.

But he was falling--merrily!

Newest baby stuff

So I worked on another baby blanket for a high school friend who's having a little boy.  I made a blanket similar to one Colin has.  His nursery bedding is green and chocolate brown w/bunnies.  Not sure of wall colors, so I did this color and made bunny art for the walls.  They aren't framed b/c I had to mail them.  She can choose the ones she wants and frame/arrange them how she likes.  I think they turned out pretty cute.  Some are 5x7s and others are 8x10s.  They are different paper colors/patterns in the green and brown families.

Not the most observant person

I looked down at my feet this morning and discovered I had on two different house shoes.

I made this discovery 90 minutes after wearing them.  Hmm-not much time looking at my feet I guess, but you'd think I would have felt the differences.  One is a scuff (w/a slight back) and the other is a true moccasin. Never noticed. 

The saddest part was when I grabbed them this morning (in my dark closet) I think I put the correct one back.  I grabbed what I thought was the match and it felt wrong, so I put it back on the wrack.  Notice pic below.  My feeling in the dark was completely wrong as evidenced here.

Beware Gomer Pyle

He picked up this scale and moved it over to the tub for a better view.  He still can't turn on these faucets, but he's trying hard.

Begrudgingly brushing his teeth.  He prefers to use his tootbrush for cleaning (cleaning grout, cleaning the tub, anything--we run his toothbrush through the dishwasher a lot.  This brushing lasted for maybe 5 seconds.  Some days he will brush them forever--not today.

I think this is adorable.  He wore this hat I gave him this am for 20 minutes.  I had to chase him to get him to let me take his picture. 

Thinking of something to do

So I've got some Valentine's projects I'm working on, but have no desire to finish.  I think if I could leave my machine out all the time I wouldn't mind, but I hate pulling out my machine.  Thinking of something else more fun to work on.