Tuesday, October 30, 2007

The Great Pretender

On the way to pick up my mom this afternoon my son starts wailing in the backseat, "Oh no! Oh nooo! We're outta gas! What are we gonna dooooooo?"

He was with me when we filled the tank this very morning, which I reminded him over and over again, in my loud voice, as to be heard over the racket from my backseat.

"No Mommy! We gonna run outta gas! What are we gonna do!? The car is gonna DIE!" Which all sounds very dramatic, it really sounded like he thought we were just going to come to a stop, right there in the middle of the road.

I started to explain to him again that I did indeed fill the tank and that we were in no danger of running out of gas before I dropped him safely off at Grandma's when he hissed from the backseat...."I'm pretending!"

He is a very convincing pretender.

Just Another Example of How My Mom Rocks!

My mother has been my one and only caregiver/babysitter for my son Lucas since the day he was born. He's never been to daycare and I can count the numbers of times I've left him with another person other than my mom on two fingers. They spend all day outdoors, in her gardens, on walks around the town and on trips to his favorite convenience store for ring pops. As if all of that wasn't enough, she has instituted a new Fun Thing for her and Lucas to do together. The two make a new craft every week and send it home in his backpack as a surprise for me. This weeks' craft was a sock puppet...

And last weeks' were mom-and-son matching turkeys!
I will never have to think for more than just a second for all the things I'm thankful for.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Quote of the Day

"I'm Grandma's TROPHY...she told me I was!"

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Go Figure.

We had a great day today. Lucas and I were invited to a friend's house for a big family dinner of lasagna and garlic bread and decorate-your-own sugar cookies. The kind of everyone's-invited sort of thing that most families reserve for the holidays, but she does just about every Sunday. Lucas had a blast playing with two boys a tiny bit older than him...and I was happy to see him having a good time, and getting dirty, and letting this crisp fall day pink his cheeks while I helped in the kitchen. Of course he didn't want to leave when it came time for us to go, I already hadn't really left enough time to get ready for work without a hustle. He sort of fell asleep in the car on the way to Grandma's, which I knew would happen, but Lucas surprised me completely with a full blown meltdown after I left, because his little overtired self felt like he didn't get to say good-bye. This poor child who normally plants his hands on my bottom and pushes me towards the door saying, "It's time for you to go to stinky work now, Mom!" He was still a mess when I called almost an hour later. Makes me want to pack up and go back home. My poor kid...and my poor Mother!

Saturday, October 27, 2007

We Enjoyed Nature...



One of our best buddies introduced us to this nature walk yesterday...and we spent two hours enjoying the trees, the leaves, a picnic and of course good friends!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

If Only You'd Been Here...

you could have seen the sorry state of affairs that was me on a treadmill today. It started when I went to put on a pair of pants this morning and they were, shall we say, snug. And I, in a fit of delirium thought, "Oh darn, I must have put these in the dryer by mistake." Ha! After trying on several other pairs and looking a muffin is each one, I stripped down and stepped on the scale, because surely my flannel pj bottoms weigh enough to give me a false reading, so I should take them off. I'm sure my face turned red. Even though I was all alone, I was quite embarrassed with the readout. Moving the scale around to different parts of the floor didn't help any, in case you wondering.

So I got on the treadmill. It took me almost 18 minutes to travel ONE. MILE. Pathetic! I was "jogging" at the blistering pace of 3.5 miles per hour. And at the end I was covered in sweat. I would have taken a picture of myself, just for the amusement of all of you...but I couldn't get my hands to stop shaking long enough for a clear shot.

Monday, October 22, 2007

At Least I Enjoyed Them

I made my son these waffles this morning....
because I love him and I want him to be happy...and because I love waffles. Even though I didn't get home from work until 3:30am this morning, I was back up at 6:30am watching cartoons and making us some de-licious, from-scratch waffles in our brand spanking new Farmyard waffle maker. I have had my eye on this baby for almost a year, and it must have been discontinued recently, because I found it at a local store for 60% off. I was probably disproportionately (it that really a word?) happy to have found it, but I've wanted it for so long! I made a beautiful hot batch of waffles for us with real maple syrup and berries and presented it to Lucas, and he was genuinely happy and thanked me for making him such a nice breakfast. After a few bites he looked at me and said, "You know what I really want for breakfast, Mom?" And I sweetly asked back, "What, honey?" And he replied, "Spongebob waffles, you know, from the store." Um, yeah. Thank God I got up at the crack of dawn to make waffles from scratch when he would have been happier with the frozen kind from the grocery store...because they have pictures of Spongebob and Patrick and Gary the Snail on them...and that's SO much better than homemade. He's lucky he's cute.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

I Haven't Seen My Kid Much...But I'm Well Rested!

Well, yesterday I got ready for work, showered, cooked dinner, packed dinner, packed my work bag, put Lucas in the tub, packed his overnight bag, dropped him off at Grandma's house and headed off to work. It wasn't until I had walked into the hospital from the parking garage (approximately three miles) and tried to sign in that I realized my name wasn't on the sign-in sheet. In fact, it wasn't on the daily assignment sheets, either. How odd, you may ask? Why yes, it is odd that I would go through all of that on a day that I had requested off several months ago! Ghaaaa! I went to work on my DAY OFF! Who does that? I have GOT to start writing things down! The reason I had asked for the day off was because I was invited to a Halloween party. If you are now thinking that I probably had no costume planned since I was dumb enough to go to work instead...you would be right! I called my poor mother on the way back out to the parking garage and I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes, because my brain might be addled but my sense of humor is spot on!

I put together a rather funny costume if I do say so myself...a deviled egg, if you must know...and although many people at the party confused me for a devilish bunny (what? I was not wearing ears) I still had a great time. And since I knew Lucas was sleeping over at my mother's, I left the party early and went home to bed! Because I am both wild and crazy like that!

In other news, when I picked Lucas up this morning, he came at me super excited and started squealing, "I CAN SPELL, I CAN SPELL!" He and my mom had worked on his letters and he spelled M-O-M all by himself. It was a GIANT M and a teeny-tiny o and another GIANT M. I got all weepy when I saw it, I'm thinking about putting it in a frame, because I am cheesy like that.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Once in a While, He Throws Me a Bone

My boy was so good today!

I wanted...no I needed...to get my hair cut, and that's something I just always put off, because it's not really a necessary expense. Not that I have any problems blowing money on plastic trains or Matchbox cars, but...you know...those things aren't for me. Lucas has a bit of an aversion to the hairdressers, so I didn't tell him we were going until this morning, because if I had told him, say, yesterday, it's all I would have heard about until today anyway, so I save myself the trouble. He was not having it. The whining started, and then the wailing until I spoke loud enough for him to hear that we weren't going there for him, but for me. And that, my friends, made all the difference.

When we pulled into the parking lot of my very favorite hairdresser in the whole wide world, he started getting nervous, and I explained to him one more time that I was getting my haircut, and that I LOVE LOVE LOVE to get my haircut, and I was EXCITED to be there. He walked around the car to hug my leg and gazed up at me so sweetly and said, "Mommy, I'm so proud of you!" and trotted right in the salon...where he was a perfect angel while I got my hair cut. Forty-five minutes of peace and quiet in the chair with a lovely little shoulder massage and a fantastic cut...I feel like a new person.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Quote of the Day

I took Lucas for a walk once my ears started bleeding today, what with all the whining and whimpering that occurred after his friend left. I thought we might enjoy some outdoor time together, it was beautiful and crisp out, a perfect fall day, so I put him in his stroller and set out for a walk. Lucas would not stop complaining. Every time we came to a new street corner he would insist that we use it to go back home. After 3 hours of this (it might have been 10 minutes...but it seemed like 3 hours) I snapped at him. "Can you just relax, we are enjoying nature!" And he snapped back, "I only enjoy nature with my 'Amma!"

Enough said. I wanted to watch MTV anyway.

Playdates Are Fun

My little guy had a buddy over today...a friend he's been talking about all week. He was so excited to have him come over this morning that he stood in the open door saying, "I think I see them" over and over...in just his pajama top. It wasn't until he saw their red van pull into the driveway that he realized he had no pants on and went shrieking through the apartment to find some bottoms.

They scampered off to play and they got along so well and at some point they disappeared upstairs to explore in Luke's room. There was no yelling or crying or arguing so we let them be, my friend and I, and continued watching HGTV and talking about, well, everything. After a bit, I hear my son say he has to use the bathroom so I went upstairs to make sure everything was going okay, and what do you suppose I find? My son and his friend standing at the sink brushing their teeth... because they are wild and crazy like that, and when left to their own devices they will practice good oral hygiene. WACKY! How will I ever reign him in as a teen?

It seemed like they had just arrived and then it was already time to go, and his buddy Sam didn't want to leave. While Sam's mom buckled his sister into the car, I called to Sam to come downstairs and Lucas had a fit. He threw his arms wide at the top of the stairs and yelled down, "If you take him you have to go through me first!" Which I have to say, made me laugh...until he started crying...and then kept crying for next hour, which definitely wiped that smile right off my face.

But he had a good time, and he appreciates his friends, and we can't wait to have them over again, although next time I might send him right out the door with them!

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Last Week...Before Winter Started in New England.


This is the miserable-I-don't-want-to-smile-for-you-anymore face I get when ask him to actually smile for the camera. This face is why most of his pictures are action shots.


Master of the Board



Lest anyone be outraged by his lack of a helmet...he has one, he wears it, he's just posing for a picture. ;-)

Pumpkins!

Our two pumpkins, sitting on the porch steps.Pumpkin By Summer.

Pumpkin By Brian.
Pumpkin By Me. I've got my eye on you!
Pumpkin by Gina.

We had great time...we even roasted the pumpkin seeds with olive oil, garlic and salt and pepper. Yum! I am getting excited for Halloween. Time to dust of the old fly swatter and get ready to accompany my little bug Trick-or-Treating.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Oh Darn!

I have the BEST pictures to post here...pumpkin carving and fallen leaf piles and little guys on skateboards...but alas, my camera and cord are not in the same place so no pictures tonight. Definitely tomorrow.

Luke and I attended a super fun pumpkin carving party last night, where the other party guests were treated to nice long run-on sentences from my boy. Also, the hostess promised to burn me a song for Lucas, Leanne Rimes' "Nothin' Better to Do", as that is his new "favwit" song. I told him she was going to send him home with a copy and he was so excited. He has been asking perfect strangers this week, "You got nuthin' better a do?", meaning do they have his favorite song...but that's not really how it comes out...so it's nice to finally have it on hand to play whenever he'd like.

Also, he was so very polite during the party, which me very happy. Also, we are kick-ass pumpkin carvers, as I'm sure you will all agree when you see the pictures!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Watch Out Ryan Sheckler

My three year wants to be a skateboarder. I got some great pictures today and I was so excited to post them...but my camera is all the way out in the car, and I am here...so next time. But they're really cute. Also, if he gets to be any good at it...he should buy me a BIG house with a BEAUTIFUL and HUGE kitchen, because I spent three years changing his diapers and I have earned it. Just sayin'.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

All the Things I Can Do for Lucas

My boy, he is thoughtful. Today he offered up all of the wonderful things that I could do for him tomorrow, our first day off this week (even though I'm actually working overtime tomorrow night...but I don't want to tell him that yet...because he will be so excited to go back to Grandma's...and there is no reason for him to be so happy to be rid of me a whole day early). For example; I can buy him a new BIG Thomas the Train, if I want. I can get him the Candy Land with the Castle, if I want. I can take him to play at all of his friend's houses, if I want. And last but not least, I can take him to the grocery store for cheese sticks, if I want. That's an awful lot of stuff he's willing to let me do for him tomorrow...maybe if I can fit all of that in one day I'll come out on top in the race for His Most Favorite Person in the Whole World. Riiiiight. Or I could just sack out on the couch all day and let Grandma keep her 1st place trophy...second place ain't half bad, 'ya know? ;-)

Monday, October 8, 2007

I've Been Replaced

Lucas spent 90% of the weekend with my Mom, and when I picked him up today and buckled him in his car seat he started to wail. He wanted to stay at 'Amma's. This is after we went to Costco with her today, mind you...it's not like he hasn't been attached to her hip all weekend (during which she LOADED us up with goodies-love you Mom!). He just kept saying over and over on the ride home..."But I wanted to hang out with 'Amma for just a few more minutes...how 'bout you turn around and bring me back?" I've always known that we two run neck and neck as his most favorite person in the whole wide world. Apparently one weekend at Grandma's is enough to tip the scales in her favor. But that's OK. Because they love each other so much, and that makes endlessly happy. Besides, he might love me best again next week...I've got a few tricks left up my sleeve!

Sunday BBQ



Sitting in a tree, happy as can be.

An Oldie But a Goodie!


I found this picture while going through old email tonight...
Lucas at the fair...pre-big-boy-haircut. Chowing down on maple ice cream from the Sugar Shack...yumm...maple ice cream!
Also testing out the watermark...just a safety feature. I don't want anyone taking his pictures and claiming them for their own!

Sunday, October 7, 2007

I'd Like to Make a Shout Out

Hooray for Moms...and for mine in particular. My very own sweet mother who kept my kid last night so I could sleep, and then took me out to breakfast this morning...and then offered to keep him again and told me sleep in tomorrow! Man, I love my Mom!

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Because I'm Me...

Instead of going to the post office on any one of the beautiful days we've had this week...beautiful 80 degree days in New England in October...I insist on going to the post office today, while it's POURING! 'Cause it's more fun that way...to go in the rain. Every time a break in the downpour would happen I'd hurry Lucas into his raincoat! and boots! and umbrella! It doesn't matter that we park our car two feet from the front door, it requires full monsoon gear for him to leave the house in the rain now that he has his own umbrella. And then he'd have to pee. Or the phone would ring. And then the rain would pour down again and I'd decide to wait a second, but we finally got there, and Lucas was of course chatty as always. He had a lovely conversation with the Post Office Lady while I had to tear apart the little box I'd packed everything in, because their box was cheaper...which is my favorite price...cheaper.

On the way home we got to see three helicopters, which is unusual, even though we live near an airport, so Lucas was happy. It had stopped raining by the time I pulled into the driveway but he still insisted on using his umbrella (or raincoat, as he kept calling it) and he got inside and shrugged everything off at the door and sighed a big sigh. "I'm a'hausted from my big day!" Which is funny...because going to the post office was the only thing we did today, but I felt the same way.

Oh! And we're almost over our colds. But we still feel a little yucky. ;-)

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

I'm Sick

Maybe some of you know this about me already, but maybe you don't. I can normally jump right up and dust myself off when things come my way...I tend to be a glass half full kind of person and I NEVER feel sorry for myself. Until I get sick. When I get a cold I turn into a BIG BABY and I feel miserable and I want my Mommy. Well...it might not get that bad, but pretty darn close. I have a coooold and my throat is sore. Did 'ya catch the whine there? Yeah. When I don't feel well, I want everyone to feel bad for me like I'm the only person in the whole wide world that has ever had a cold. That's not too much to ask, right?

The silver lining on my cloud of sickness is that Lucas is independent enough and creative enough to keep himself busy. I lined up a few sippy cups and layed out a few snacks on the coffee table, and then spent the rest of the morning half passed out on the couch...recovering. Because my cold is so bad that I need to recover, and not just get over it. Feel bad for me yet? Didn't think so.

Monday, October 1, 2007

So Good to Me

Monday morning is my least favorite time of the week. I don't get out of work until 3:30am, and Lucas usually gets up around 7am. But not today! Today he woke up at 8:45am...because he loves me. And also, he kept glancing at me out of the corner of his eye and saying "Don't even think about it." All slow, and Clint Eastwood-y. Which I don't get. But was still very funny.