The Holiday Spirit

Keller makes his first wish in the wishing well...Hmm, I wonder what he wished for??  Of course a week later when I gave him coins to drop in the Salvation Army bucket, he refused to give them up.  He must know the difference between the brown wishing pennies and the silver coins that he gets to put in his piggy bank.  

Taking time to stop and smell the (fake) poinsettas...

I think it was the last weekend of November that we stuck Keller in a Christmas sweater and headed out to see Gillette Castle in all of its' holiday splendor:)  (Ulterior motive--to get a holiday card picture?  But mostly to have a family day:)  Although I've lived in CT my whole life, I'd never been there before.  It was a nice trip, although by the top floor, Keller had a bit of a tantrum, being "done" with the museum...luckily there was a toy train going around and around the Christmas tree in the next room so he was able to pull himself together a little:)  

And more photo-shoot opportunities...

How humiliating...

You want a smile...I got a smile for you alright!!!

Okay, okay...enough with the pictures already!!!

My favorite one of the season...

Dictionaries, Naps, Me, and Food

I've been meaning to write a catch up post on things around here, but the days just fly by it seems.  My priority now is to "record" Keller's crazy increase in talking over the past month...simply amazing to me!  He went from the basics of "nana"--banana, dada, and Bobo, and "buh"-book, to then pointing and calling everything "dat"...It was kind of odd that he went from having some words to then not naming anything, then all of the sudden he was like a word explosion!  While he doesn't quite have "nana" back, he has so many other words going on, it's okay:)  Here's a rundown of what comes to mind:

up

buh  (book)

oh-raaaange (orange...but really a clementine...loves these little things)

bli-bli-bli  (blueberry, also refers to raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and cherries)

ca-kah  (cracker)

cooo-kee  (cookie...can be used interchangeable with cracker...even points in books to "cookies" and names them)

man--(snowman, gingerbread man, and nutcracker man)

teeee  (tree)

bur  (bird)

duh  (duck...in fact, while shopping in a big antique center, he was quietly riding along in his stroller and all of the sudden after turning down a new aisle he starts screaming, "Duh, duh, duh!! and pointing straight down the aisle to these two big wooden ducks...very cute)

bah  (sheep)

nee nee (ie. neigh, neigh...for horse)

moo  (cow)

bok (block)

ha-ha (hot)

bwwww (brrrrr...for cold)

doh-geeee  (doggy)

ki-kah  (kitty cat)

squeak squeak (he makes the noise---mouse)

bah-by (bye-bye)

nah-night

hah  (hat)

beebee (baby)

blib-blib (boobie:) yeah, we joked earlier on that if you can ask for it, your too old for it, but alas...a couple more months through flu season and we'll be done...)

Mah--meeee (my favorite for now at least...took awhile, but he finally says it)

Da-da

owt (out--says this when we go in to get him from his crib or when he's done in the high chair)

tee-tah  (tick-tock, for clock or watch)

 

And how can I forget his favorite:  MORE... and he says it with a Long Island accent, like Mow-ah...this goes mostly for food since I would always say "more" to him when I gave him more of whatever.  He says this when he's hungry, too, or he'll say "oh-range" and point in his mouth.  After one of us says, "Are you hungry?" to him, he'll respond, "Huh--geee"---he definitely emphasizes the second syllable, especially if it's an "eeee" kind of syllable:)  

He seems to love new words and learning to use words to get what he wants and has even put two words together...Mow-ah crah-kuh...or sometimes he'll say "Peeees" (please)...it's neat to watch him try to figure out what to say---sometimes it's more, sometimes it's the food name, sometimes it's please and yes sometimes it's still that "ehhhhhh, ehhhhhh, ehhhhh" whine...ugh!  We are under strict orders in this household not to feed him when he whines...which makes sense, especially since we know he knows the words now.  

Then there's his receptive language which has impressed us for awhile now (because we just think he's this little baby when really he's a big boy now...what do we know!!?)  He'll point to his eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, ears (both), head, elbow, legs, hands/fingers, toes/feet, chin, beard.  And he's good at responding to "Get Mommy the _____" or "Give the _______ to Daddy."  And I'll stop there, I've just been meaning to get all of this in writing since there's no "baby book"---

Napping update.  Mommy got gypped.  I can't help but feel that way a little.  I have a delightful, healthy, happy, kind-spirited little boy who only sleeps 1/2 hour in the morning and 1/2 hour in the afternoon (not always).  I keep thinking and hoping, but I really just need to accept this and move on.  I do really feel like I have time issues because of this, but I guess rather than "fretting" I should just figure out ways around it, and just get used to getting more done with him literally under my heals...

Me Time.  I desperately need this.  I think that is why I brought up the nap thing.  I think my plan is going to be to join a gym again.  He's old enough now where I'm not as worried about him swapping germs in the daycare room for an hour here and there...I need that feeling of independence for a little bit, and probably more importantly, I need the exercise.  Exercise has always been an important part of my life and over the past year plus, it's been totally on the back burner.  I need it to help me feel good about me---it's my shut my brain off time--and it's good for you.

Eating Better.  I've been reading the book "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan and it has really reminded me of what I've been struggling with for awhile now...He says eat food, not too much, and mostly plants.  By Eat Food, he means the real food that people used to eat, not the processed pre-packaged crap that us westerners have come to regard as food.  I've been struggling with feeling like I eat crap everytime I eat "fake chicken" or whatever other meat-replacement we eat around here.  Especially in thinking about raising Keller and teaching him about food and food choices, I don't want to feed him crap and so why should I be willing to put it into my body on a regular basis?  This author also spends a lot of time explaining what a disservice it was to our diet once the food industry started breaking food down into individual nutrition components--meaning refine the crap out of your bread so it's pure and white and fluffy, but then "enrich it" by adding back some iron, niacin, etc. (that was in the whole wheat flour in the first place)--because he claims that the benefits of "enriched" foods are far less than when we consume the whole food in its natural form.  Makes complete and total sense, yet why is it so hard to follow this diet...Let's see, I'd actually have to plan ahead and Cook, which I'm very bad at and don't really enjoy at all...that's what it comes down to mostly for me.  But that's no excuse.  So I told Travis that our New Year's Resolution in this house needs to be to eat more veggies (although we probably eat plenty more than mainstream America--still, we need to eat a bigger variety and really we tend to only eat our veggies at dinner...)  Are we getting our minimum requirement of 5 fruits and veggies a day?  Are you?  So many benefits to doing this, really there's no excuses...So more fruits and veggies for us AND whole wheat pasta "most" of the time...we were doing good with that for awhile but somehow slipped back into the plain old white pasta...at the very least we should give the protein "enriched" one a whirl...

And so there it is ladies and gentlemen.  An update.  While my baby boy sleeps on his daddy--for at least an hour I might add--sleeps good and long ON someone, but...

The shoveling is done thanks to the neighbors for helping and post-nap and lunch, we'll hit the snow with our new (used) sled!!

  

Dear Bo,

I write you this letter because I just don't know how else to get my message across to you.  I have talked to you privately, quietly, and yes, even yelled about it.  I have escorted you to your crate, I have pointed you angrily in the direction of your crate, and yes, even spanked your rear or nose on occasion.  And still, we have the same problem.  

I understand that it is your unending and faithful desire to protect us and keep us safe from the predators out there in the wild (family neighborhood).  I truly appreciate your commitment to us, your adopted family.  However, I believe we are suffering from a bit of a misunderstanding as to what true danger might be.  Allow me to run through some scenarios to help clear things up.  

To begin.  The man who backs his truck into the driveway directly adjacent to ours is our friendly neighbor, Barney.  He lives in that white house next door.  He comes and goes from his house every day, as does his daughter Memorie and his grandson, Phillip.  They are good people.  We like them.  Barney makes us wine and while the wine might not be very yummy, it is still a kind and neighborly gesture for him to bring us some when he makes it.  We do not need to be protected from our next door neighbors.  They mean us no harm.  And frankly, your barking at them makes me feel terrible that they have to put up with us, yes us, because we are all one family whose behaviors all impact each other, each and every time you bark at them for simply carrying on their daily activities.  Please leave Barney and his kind family alone.

The next major topic shall be that of community helpers, namely, the mail delivery person.  I understand it can be a bit distressing that we have several mail carriers who are responsible for our mail delivery, however, these community helpers walk through the neighborhood every day, rain or shine, and bring us our mail.  I know they come so close to our house, even so far us up our front steps to our mailbox beside the door, however, this is their job.  Daddy and I WANT them to bring us our mail.  If you continue to charge the front door with ferocious barking followed by a body-slam into the door itself, they just might decide to deny us our delivery privileges.  This would be bad and would surely put you into the dog house, perhaps the dog house where we got you from...remember that one?  No ottoman to sleep on.  No heat vent directly into your crate.  Sure, also no little boy pulling your ears, lying on you, and stealing your toys, but also, no little boy handing you forbidden people food and certainly no delicious high chair to clean up after dinner.  Please do not continue to bark at the mail carriers.  Not when they are across the street delivering mail, next door, delivering mail, and not when they bring us our mail.  They give you treats.  They want to be your friend.  Please embrace them and their friendly white mail truck when it is parked across the street.  (Also note, this pertains too to the UPS delivery man and his big brown noisy truck...we LOVE to get packages!  You should too!  No more barking at these good kind people.)

Also to note, our home is located in the midst of a neighborhood filled with houses and there are people that live in all of those houses.  People go into their houses and come out.  Cars come and go.  And yes, in some of those house live other DOGS, too!  Just like you!  Some are big like you, some are medium, and some are small and cute.  And just like when we put your collar and leash on you and take you outside to walk down to the park or through the neighborhood, other dogs and their mommies and daddies do this too.  It's okay!  They probably just have to go make a poop or peepee down at the park just like you do.  They are not trying to steal your food or harm your pack.  They just need to go to the bathroom.  Please please let them and their masters pass the house in peace.  This also pertains to school kids who must walk past our house to get to their homes and families.  A big black dog like you can be rather intimidating.  Please only bark when someone is trying to climb in a window or break the lock on one of the doors.  In that case only is it okay to bark and yes, even attack!  But please first make sure it is not your father or myself climbing in the window because we locked ourselves out!  That's happened a few times, yes (and come to think of it, I don't recall a peep out of you...hmmmmm, perhaps we'll have to work on that one).  

I guess the driving force which finally persuaded me to write this letter to you is my exhaustion.  Yes, I'm awfully sleepy.  I sure could have used a nice long nap this morning.  I know, I know, he woke you up too this morning at 4:45, with all that racket coming from his room that kept going and going and going.  I'm not sure what that was all about but since I didn't get to go back to sleep after that, I was looking so forward to his nap which went off without a hitch beginning at 9:40.  While I put the groceries away for the next 10 minutes, my head hit my pillow by 9:50 which likely would have afforded me an approximate 50 minute nap.  Unfortunately, I was startled awake not 20 minutes later by a sudden burst of barking coming from the front of the house.  Was that you?  Don't answer that.  We both know the correct answer.  The worst part about this sudden barking is not so much that you awoke your tired mommy, but more importantly that you awoke your baby boy.  And so, now 2:41 in the afternoon, both he and I are miserable and exhausted, one of us refuses to sleep and the other wants nothing more than to crawl into bed and stare at the backs of her eyelids, and stop hearing the whining and crying that occur when a certain baby boy we both know and love is exhausted.  If this incident was an isolated one which occurred for your sincere fear for the survival of our family and species (yours and/or mine) it might be more forgivable, however this sudden barking during naptime seems to becoming more prevalent.  It needs to stop.  Seriously.  

And so as I finish composing this letter, you are locked in your cage away from any windows or door and Keller is in his cage (I mean crib) too, screaming his head off because he is just oh so tired but just won't sleep.  Perhaps he is afraid of being awakened abruptly again?  Or perhaps I'm being just a little too hard on you.  But really, I just wish you would cut the barking thing out, I'd accept half the amount as a compromise.  Please consider this plead.

Now I will dig some toothpicks out of the cabinet to hold my eyelids open, put the crying baby into the car and drive around in circles so he sleeps, which by the way is undesirable  because while the boy gets to address his much needed sleep needs, the mommy does not, which makes it only harder to handle the barking and contributes to a momma who is too tired to walk her doggy to the park.  Think about that.

I hope my next letter can be a bit friendlier and upbeat.  

Sincerely,

The Tired Mommy  

Giving Thanks

So much to be thankful for this year (and every year, really).  To begin, I am ever so thankful for my little boy who just amazes me every day.  I am thankful for his health (even runny noses and coughs are fine by me:) and for my own health so that I can be present and enjoy being his Mommy (sinus infections, too, are fine by me in the grand scheme of things)!  I am amazed too that such a little person can become such an integral component of my life, a life that for now, for most of the time, is based around this little boy.

I am thankful for my husband, too, for being the man he is and for being the father he is.  I am thankful that he supports my decision to be home with our son, and accepts dirty dishes, only sometimes dinner on the table, toys over which to step, etc.  I am thankful for his health and admire his passions.  

And my family, so lucky I am to have a family that I both like and love.  A family that I enjoy spending time with and spending holidays with.   Rather than a hassle, it is a blessing that both Trav and I have such wonderful families to spend the holidays with, even if it means racing from one house to the next.  We are blessed to have such special people in our lives, cheering us on, being there for us, and sharing our special memories and moments.

And yes my friends, too, though I don't see them nearly as often as I'd like.  I am thankful at least for their blogs that keep me at least artificially updated, though nothing beats real together time.  I continue to be thankful that my friends continue to accept me for me, for my opinions, for my aloofness, and for whatever else makes me, me.  Old friends and new alike are essential to maintaining a happy and healthy life.  

And finally, I am thankful for little things, too, like starting to be able to breathe through my nose again, like the sound of Keller's hysterics as Trav plays with him on the bed, and the freshly shaven husband as he emerges from the bathroom, for Bobo and his antics, but especially for his getting me off my butt and down to the park so I can appreciate the fresh air, crunchy leaves, quacking ducks, and hungry swans.  We rarely went to the park before Bobo, he deserves special thanks on that one, especially when I know he's felt less and less appreciated as of late.  *sigh*  More little things like a front steps face-lift I am grateful for, and for days spent home in my jammies, and for a little boy who wants nothing more than to sit on my lap and read books, that alone is like heaven (well, I'll confess to sometimes getting tired of the same books over and over, but he likes what he likes, don't we all!)  I am thankful to live in a comfortable home in a stable community and country.  I could go on and on but I'll end with being thankful that it is 7:50 pm, the baby is asleep, Trav is out jiu jitsuing, and I have the luxury of climbing into bed early to ready the "Christmas Club" book my mom left for me yesterday.

Wishing all 5 of you who read my blog (okay, may it's like 7 or 9) a wonderful Thanksgiving!  And thank you for taking a few minutes of your time to check in with the goings on in my little world!  xo

Drugs.

Yup, I got 'em.  Felt like crap yesterday so I dragged my butt to the Doctor, again, who "confirmed" my sinus infection (which I'm certain I had a week ago when I went, too and was told it was just a cold...grrrr)  But anyway.  I started Amoxicilian last night and actually was able to breathe through my nose for awhile last night...Now THAT's luxury!  Neti pot works wonders at clearing out the sinuses, too, if you haven't tried it, I recommend it when you're all stuffed up.  Now just waiting to feel better...

Trouble!!

Here's a photo essay of what Keller's been up to over the past couple of weeks...

Yummy black beans make a baby smile!

Naked heiny time to help the diaper rash...yeah, yeah, I know, sitting on the dog blanket not the best idea for naked heiny...butt...

What happens to the house when Mommy's not feeling good...

What happens to the dog when Mommy buys antlers...

Keller inhaling his banana...They're just soooooo good you just have to smoosh as much as you can in there!!!  Or perhaps he's practicing playing "Chubby Bunny"...

This is Keller's serious artistic side.  He did the painting while we were babysitting the other day:)

Keller figured out by himself that off road vehicles belong off-road and in dirt and mud.

Keller plays the paper towel game while Mommy organizes his drawers.

Sick of Sick

Enough already!  So what was it, 2 Fridays ago when I was at my Mom and Dad's and woke up to Keller's croupy cough...That was no fun having a sick baby with a bad cough, runny nose, and on and off fever.  That lasted for almost a week though his cough is still lingering.  Then cam my turn.  Last Thursday I started feeling sick, stuffy, head-coldy, sleeping with my mouth open kind of thing...ugh!  Did that wipe me out.  It hurt my head to blow my nose.  I thought my head might explode.  It hurt to bend over. And I literally had to pour water into my mouth frequently during the night so I could wet it and actually move my tongue/lips...yuck!  And just when I thought I was coming around the corner, bam, I'm back down again so on Sunday I went to the walk-in clinic just to confirm it wasn't a sinus infection or anything that required treatment and he sent me right out saying I had a bad cold.  That's it.  And still, I have a bad cold.  Yesterday I woke up feeling a little better and actually went out with Keller to Trader Joe's to buy some staples.  Came home to a cranky baby, which he has been practicing lately it seems, and finally had to put him down for a nap at 5:10, yes 5:10, that close to his bedtime because I desperately needed a nap.  (nose blow break here) So upon waking Keller up to get him into the tub, I see he has a rash all over his back and belly...ugh!  What's THAT from now?  Is it the milk?  Yogurt?  We had stopped milk and yogurt for a couple of weeks after Keller's poor heiny had been constantly diaper rashed which he never really had problems with.  So who knows if the diaper rash is from milk, or from having been sick and been pooping a lot??  Who knows, but that rash may very well have explained some of his crankiness.  Poor little man.  As for me, I'm now onto a sore throat.  Last night was a headache.  And stuffed up, still...UGH!  I just want to feel regular again!  I am sick of sick being in this house!!!

My Little House

So.  Decisions, decisions.  I'm using this blog in place of my journal on this one, so bear with me as I "think out loud."  I love my little house.  It's comfy and cozy with nice neighbors in a great neighborhood for walking with a little park down the street to run the dog and stroll and slide and swing the baby and watch the ducks in the pond.  It's really just been a great house that has truly served us well.  And I don't want to leave it.  That said, the reality is, is that it is indeed a small house.  Which has been fine in teaching us to keep things simple and to continuously get rid of what we don't need, etc, etc.  We have plenty of living space up front and in the kitchen, for now still, but alas, the bedroom thing is that lingering problem that we've known we were going to have to address sooner or later.  Is it finally that "sooner" time or can we continue to put it off until "later"...who knows.  We're resourceful people.  

The thought of moving is exhausting.  The thought of putting the house on the market (and keeping it nice and clean during that time:P ) turns my stomach.  The idea of spending more money on a mortgage than we already do is overwhelming.  But.  Change is looming...

Have you seen the attic lately...too bad we couldn't just remove the top portion of this house and move it to the next one.  ugh.  Between the wall of teacher-stuff, which has been downsized twice already in the past year, and the boxes and bins of baby clothes and related paraphernalia, on top of the section of "for the next house" goods from the wedding shower, the outdoor recreation department (backpacking gear, tents, sleeping bags, snowboards/boots, etc.) odds and ends of relics from our pasts, and possible tag sale merchandise...ugh!  It's a lot of crap!  

Then there's the basement.  Furniture odds and ends, a bed frame, my childhood bedroom set, bookshelves, random antique-like pieces, garage-related goods, soap-making bins, air conditioners, and plenty more tag-sale junk...and it's not even the Stuff down there that's overwhelming, it's the idea of cleaning up the basement a  little for putting on the market.  I mean, it's kind of spooky down there with all kinds of webs and such---could use a good sweeping, but the thought of the dusty air that would be produced...another ugh!!  

So really, we should just keep staying here.  Right?  We could stick another kid somewhere for awhile, right?  I mean, "in the event" that another child were to join the family, it would spend at least the first few weeks in me and Trav's room anyway.  We could stick a pack n' play up front somewhere...Heck, Trav's sister's baby only just got her room/crib at 6 months I think!  So anything is possible.  The thing that stinks is that eventually, yes, we will have to move.  It's really just a matter of figuring out the WHEN of that.  Maybe next fall.  That would give us the spring/summer months to have a few tag sales and to try to get rid of stuff.  and to clean out the basement.  and stain the porches.  By then, maybe the economy would be in a little of a better position and we'd be able to get even just a little more than what we originally paid for the house.  Who knows.  The other side of that is that if we buy by April (I think) we'd qualify for the $6500 upgrading tax credit.  That could be looked at as balancing out any loss we might take be selling now.  So much to think about.  I know the answer will come.  But not until we explore our options and get a better understanding of what our needs will be over the next few years, what we can honestly afford, where we'd like to be to officially raise our family, where Trav will be working, and all that good stuff.  In the meantime, if you know anyone that might be interested in buying a cute little yellow house, we would entertain a for sale by owner opportunity prior to "going on the market."  We'll figure it out eventually.  In the meantime, I'll just continue to enjoy my little house and continue to prepare for the next tag sales, the biggest of which will include the little house.  Boo hoo!   

Belated Fall Post

 Just some pictures from our trip to the Jones Farm pumpkin patch and winery a few weeks back:)

"Dah"...showin' off his two teeth.

He looks like such a "boy" in this one.

My Little Monkey

Okay, so most of you all have seen the monkey shots or the actual monkey himself before this post for sure, but for my personal record keeping, I'm obligated to post them here of course!  We didn't do to much as far as Halloween goes, except for Molly's birthday party which was Keller's one and only out and about in the costume experience.  Kind of warm that day for a full fleecy outfit, but he looked cute!  Back home here, he hung out in his costume for a little while as the trick-or-treaters came, though not too many, and Trav and I had out annual Take-Out Chinese on Halloween treat which has changed over the past few months from Szechuan Bean Curd and Broccoli to General Tsao's Bean Curd and Broccoli---yum!  Here's Keller on his new wheels!  Jill gave Keller a gift card to pick out his own ride-on toy which clearly a boy his age needs and so this is what we got.  He's good at getting on and off all himself and though he doesn't quite sit on the seat, he does  "walk it" around the house.  Not so good at steering yet though, but it's an oh so cute bike!  On the topic of walking, Keller is all over it.  It is officially his preferred method of transport at this time and I just love watching him waddle around with his arms up (in half guard?--jiu jitsu term) and ready to catch himself when he falls.  He's pretty good though--it's liberating for him to be up and about and able to use two hands to carry stuff around.  Every morning that we're home, he goes into the cabinet that has pots, pans, tupperware, and his cereal in it, takes out the cereal box and walks it over to me saying, "Nah, nah, nah, nah..." which means "Can I have some?" or "More" or a myriad of other possibilities!  So he gets a little bowl of cereal and has a picnic on the floor.  A cute little morning ritual!  

Keller is also big into books and being read to, which I love.  I told Travis the other day when Keller handed him a book saying "Nah, nah, nah..."--anytime Keller hands you a book, you're obligated to read it to him, at least for now!  Keep that love of books going!  So yes, he'll sit cozily on your lap looking at the pictures, and taking my finger to point at different things.  He was into the flap books for awhile (Where's Baby's Bellybutton, etc.) but now he's really liking the books with actual photos of animals and other real objects.  He'll just listen to the words and point to different things on his own.  He can point to the duck, dog, bike, ball, and car on his own now when prompted.  

On Thursday, Keller, Bo and I went up to my mom and dad's for a change in scenery and visit while Trav was out of town.  Keller stayed up late so he could have a visit with Grandpa and was a happy playful little guy and then went right to sleep when it was time.  Well not two hours later I was going in to check on him before I went to sleep and woke him up with the creek of the door.  That was the end of sleep for him for awhile.  He sounded all congested and was miserable so I held him, rocked him, laid down with him and he cried and slept on me on and off for about 2 and a half hours before being officially zonked out enough for me to stick him in the crib.  He slept a good stretch and then around 3 am I heard him coughing that lovely bark like cough.  He whined and fell back to sleep.  Then about every half hour or so it was the same, cough, whine, sleep.  He ended up sleeping until after 8 which is unheard of but considering how much he/we were up in the night it made sense.  Finally when I went in to get him, there were these rosy red cheeks and a feverish little boy.  102ish.  But by the time he ate and went downstairs he was happily playing and running around.  In the meantime, I made an appointment to see the doc later that afternoon---after all, cough and fever are THE symptoms to watch out for these days.  Keller stayed home with my mom while I worked for a couple of hours after which we went right to the doc who after hearing him cough said, yup, croup.  She immediately recommended a steroid to open up his airways a bit and sent us off with a scrip to continue the steroid and with explicit directions on what to do in the night when croup flairs up the worst.  She said "If you make it through tonight without having to call me and go to the ER than you're in the clear, but make sure to check on him regularly to be sure his breathing is okay."  Hearing how seriously she took it made me a bit worried, but I knew Trav would be home that night and as a team we could manage just fine.  We actually used the baby monitor for the first time so we could hear him, but still needed to go in and check on him.  He was just up with some coughs and whines like the night before so we were in the clear!  On Saturday his cough was better, not "croupy" and he was playing about happily.  And today he's been playing, although is coughing more and far more drippy/sniffly than he has been, which to me is a sign that things are clearing out I guess...It's no fun having a sick baby though:(  At the moment, he is out getting some fresh air with Trav and Bo at the doggy park while I relax and clear my brain a little..loooonnnngggg overdue!  

On top of all of Keller's feeling bad, I too have been feeling not well, but alas, who has time to be sick when you're the mommy?  And so it goes!  I'm just glad he's feeling better.

So Smart?...or Trouble...

So Keller has taken a travel mug from the cabinet, brought it over to Bo's bowl, filled it and made an attempt to drink from it...at least he's attempting to drink in a civilized manner and at least it wasn't toilet water...right?  Ugh!  Time to change the wet clothes!

Firehouse Visit

A couple of weeks ago, Keller had his first trip to the firehouse with his buddy Joe.  It was a Mom's Group thing that I had seen and although Keller is too little to get into it in any way, I knew that Joe was into trucks and firemen (or as he calls them, "mailman") so I made a date with Keller, Joe, me, and Jackie to attend the event.  I'm glad I'm technically part of the group and get all the emails and such, but I am a bad attendee for a variety of reasons but mostly because I feel rather busy in general and when I'm not busy, then I like to keep it that way!!  So far, the best thing to have come of the group is getting me signed up to be on Focus Group list.  I attended my first one on Tuesday and came home with $100 cash for an hour and a half of me giving my opinions (which as you know I'm very good at!)    

More On the One Year Thing

Here are a handful of pictures from Keller's "real" birthday party which we had on Sunday.  Of course the hope when originally inviting people was that we could be both inside and outside, but of course October is October and you never know what you're going to get.  So even after having kept the invite list short, Travis and I began to worry a bit when we realized it was going to be cold and rainy and windy so there was no chance of swinging a "cool guys hang out outside under the tent with the chiminea" to reduce the numbers inside.  Luckily I managed to offer and "opt out" option to a couple of good friends;) so while still a bit crowded in the little house, it worked out!  All the cousins got to hang out along with the rest of the family and friends.  Keller was a big ham all day long (with only a twenty minute nap in the morning) loving every ounce of attention he got from everyone but loving his special cupcake even more!!!

And after a long afternoon locked in the bedroom, BoBo loved being on the cake clean-up crew!  Having lots of kids and cupcakes sure makes for a yummy doggie treat!  And to top it off, the other day as Trav was leaving for work he said, "don't forget that Bo is out back" (8:00am) so at around 9:30 (oops) I realized it was so nice and quiet in the house and remembered I was supposed to have let Bo in, but there were no barks or anything coming from out back.  Well when I went onto the back porch I saw why he had been so content....Happy First Birthday trash, EVERYWHERE!!  He apparently had gotten into the bag and torn up each and every plate and licked clean any remaining frosting and cake bit to be found!  Sneaky dog!!

And our 1 year doctor visit was yesterday...He's grown an inch since our last visit (remember he was like shrinking or something last time...)  So he's 27.5 inches...10th percentile I think.  And after being weighed 3 times by the nurse, the doctor insisted on a fourth weighing because he's only gained 2 ounces since the last visit.  Uh-oh.  But although mildly concerned about the numbers she did say the he's more active now, he appears good and healthy, has lots of energy and is probably just falling into his genetic height/weight category so not to worry.  If we go back in three months and there's still very little gain then it will be looked further into.  Maybe I need to feed him more??  I mentioned that to the doctor and she didn't really think that was necessary...but she did suggest he start a multivitamin because his iron count is just a little below recommendation.  But anyway--he's healthy, happy, and on target overall!  (and trying desperately to sneak past my kitchen barricade--he's done it!  Gotta go get that little sneak!)

Down On The Farm

Last weekend while in VT with the family, we visited Adam's Farm with Jill and her crew and my parents.  Jill has been taking Chase for the past couple of years and now Keller and Cali are in on the fun!  You pay an entry fee and can pay extra for a basket of various foods to feed the different animals, along with a menu for who eats what.  Chase was in charge of feeding the animals (although I think Travis ended up doing most of the feeding;)  

Keller and Cali hang out in the wagon in the cold VT drizzle.  

Keller and Dad visit the chickens, I mean roosters, I mean hens...(big family discussion on this topic...we've got it all cleared up though!)  And I don't have a picture of the turkeys because I recorded it, but it was hysterical...they all came up to the fence and if someone said "gobble gobble gobble" to them, they all responded emphatically!  It was really funny:)

Keller and his sheepy friends.  Just after this picture was taken, he fell straight forward nearly doing a summersault...he was fine.

Driving the tractor with Daddy.

The family photo after having been spit upon by the greedy llama who didn't want to share food with the goats...we all got sprayed!  Blehhhh!!!The Crew, minus Cali, Grandma, and Grandpa.  Abby and Shan arrived later that day, and Jeff, Marisa, and Samantha couldn't make it:(

Trav took this cute little shot inside the little store.

The next morning, Keller and Cali share their favorite memories of the farm while lounging in their lazy boys...Fun times!