Why He's Hoarse, of Course

We had a lovely but quickity-quick Easter Sunday, thanks to the fact that I cram 25 of my 40 work hours into every weekend, most of them in the night. It doesn't leave a lot of time for holiday activities in the middle of day. Or maybe it just doesn't leave a lot time for me to sleep. Whatever.

Lucas had a lovely day dueling his Uncle Ben with their new light sabers. Like he really needed another one...one that makes action sounds and light displays and hurts like the dickens when it comes in contact with a finger or two. Lately all his days are spent reenacting looong battle scenes he's seen in the movies, and others he's made up on the go. By the time my son's head hits the pillow at night, he's talked himself hoarse...and that's no joke. I call to say goodnight from work and his little raspy voice answers and tells me, "Mommy? I love you a thousand. Here's Grandma." And I have to laugh...because even though he can't be bothered to linger on the phone with me for more than a second, it's because he can't shut off the Star Wars movie that's constantly running in his mind. I can hear him pick right up where he left off in the background, narrating as he goes and begging for his Grandma's attention.

I get these babycenter.com updates every week that offer up ideas of where your child might/should be developmentally for their age. I started getting them when I was pregnant. I lived for those updates and the pictures of how big your baby probably was on that day. I haven't ever figured out how to stop those updates...I'll probably still be receiving them when he's 18; This week's update: Your child is off to college! Today's email told me that in order for my son to become a good listener, I have to model that behavior for him. He needs my undivided attention when telling me something, so that he'll in turn model that behavior towards others. While I agree with that wholeheartedly, there's is no way on earth that I could stare into his eyes and listen intently to his words when they simply never stop. I can't figure out how to redirect him to a silent different activity. He is a man on mission and can not be deterred. I'm thinking kindergarten is going to be tough at first. I'd like to wish his teacher good luck.

Best Day Ever

(Photos taken with a cell phone may appear blurrier ((totally a word)) than they actually are.)

Luke's 15 year old Uncle Ben (my little brother) pulled out just a wee tiny bit of his massive Lego collection this week for Lucas to only gaze upon play with gently, and according to Lucas, it was his Best Day Ever. Nothing is as surreal as gazing into your own boy's future simply by seeing your brother's very recent past sprawled out across your mother's carpet.

Out of the Mouths...

So I was back at Target this week (because I'm weak in the knees for that store and the mere fact that I have to travel to another state via an overpriced ferry ride cannot keep us apart!!) Sorry, that was overly dramatic, I apologize.

Anywho.

I was shopping for a new purse while I was there because my coworkers seem to think the one I'm carrying around now is akin to a "murse" aka man-purse and should be burned. They are a tough crowd, indeed. I was browsing in the handbag section and told Lucas to sit on the floor beside me so that I could concentrate on the inventory without having to worry that he might wander off on me. He was chopping on ice cubes and more than happy to plop on the carpet and chew on his ice.

"I want to 'rake up with you, Mom."

Huh? "You want to wake up with me? You want to sleep in my bed tonight?

"No...I want to 'rake UP with you."

"I still don't get it, buddy...swallow what's in your mouth and then tell me again."

"I want to break up with you, MOM!"

"Well, I'm sorry, you can't break up with me...like or not we're together forever. I'm gonna be your Mama for the rest of all time. No breaking up aloud."

"Well, then, I want to date you 'cause I love you so much!"

That's better...still not quite right, but better. I think he's been eavesdropping on my brother's conversations with his buddies...people forget that for the most part he understands everything he hears. And his ears? They are big.

Mmmmmm...Target

My new "local" Target didn't let me down. By "local" I mean the next state over, which is still 100 miles closer than my previous "local" Target, although it is plus one ferry ride. It technically doesn't open until tomorrow, but like a chain-store junkie I gave them a call to see if they were opening earlier, and wouldn't you know it?! They were. So I loaded the family up for a road trip. And what a trip it was, easily a one hour car ride split up nicely in 20 minutes chunks: 20 minutes to the ferry, 20 minutes over, 20 minutes on the other side. Also split up nicely by the DHL delivery truck that went up in flames at the ferry dock, easily chopping 10 years off my life, but also giving me something engaging to talk to my (miserable) 15 year old brother about...so it's almost an even trade.

I got this lovely little beauty, which is now nestled in happy harmony next to my cherry red Kitchen Aid, along with some really cool graphic snow pants for the kid. We totally raided the $1 dollar section and the Halloween stuff. In the end, we ended up fitting 4 people, 3 microwaves and various (multiple) other bags in a Honda Civic and drove home. Not a bad trip (minus the terrifying near-death truck fire)!

Baby Adaline!

BIG Sister!
She's very beautiful, very sweet and we love her to pieces already!

Welcome Baby Adaline!

He Is Lucky I Didn't Leave Him There

We got the chance to see some friends of ours today that we haven't seen in a very long time because they moved far far away. Lucas was a beast of a boy. Everything started out so well with hugs and presents and playing. Then it came time to go out to lunch and he just unraveled. The crying and whining and snot could be seen and heard for miles around...I just know it! And here I am, always bragging to these same people how well behaved my child is and he goes all postal on me at lunch. In his very weak defense, we got up really early and we'd been on the road all day up until that point. But it didn't make me want to strangle him any less for the scene he caused. We left early and we walked to the car in silence. I didn't start lecturing him until the first traffic light, and I glanced in the rear view mirror to make sure he understood how angry I was at the rotten behavior...and can you believe that little devil was sound asleep? Yeah...he could really care less about my sermon on good behavior...he was snoring. I dropped his sorry self off at Grandma's house nice and early and came to work...and I got to hold my new baby cousin! She's just a few hours old and if her mom doesn't mind I'll post the sweetest picture of her later. That baby fix was just what I needed to get me out of my crabby mood!

I'm Hooked

Okay...beautiful, wonderful Christmas pics are important and all that...but let's take a moment to talk about something else. I am addicted to Guitar Hero III. My brother got an xBox 360 for Christmas, and we rocked out from 6am until noon. Because we are rock stars...especially me. And now I'm sore...but happy. Actual Christmas pictures to follow.