E & E

When Jen told me she was going to visit, she asked what present she could bring Ewan. I told her nothing, but she insisted, so I asked E what he'd like. When given that broad, open question, E chose a Superman shirt. Jen found a fabulous one with a cape and a hat to go with it. (He ADORES hats.)

She gave it to Dibits to give to E. he was clearly star struck but wouldn't put it on while they were here. When Daddy got home, he wore it and carried out all his superhero duties (like helping us find things and posing heroically and only answering to the name "Superman.")

Superman is currently asleep in uniform with his cape draped near the bed for any emergency superhero needs.

Donut Jelly Beans

In case you were wondering what they're called.

From the Mouth of E

E: I'm singing a song Mommy! Want to sing it too?
Me: Sure! How does it go?
E: random song with the words "round up" sprinkled throughout.
E: Want to watch the song Mommy?
Me: Sure. Is it on the Kindle?
E: No. It's on the DVD player in my mouth!

Our Unexpected Valentine

For Valentine's Day, Hub searched around and made a reservation for 7:30 at a little Italian place nearby. We got home from work, rushed through some clean-up and headed out with the little man. 

When we got to the restaurant, there was no one at the check in podium and a long line of people waiting. After about 10 minutes, someone came by but still wasn't even addressing us. Hub managed to tell her we had reservations (at 7:40), and she looked frightened. That's pretty much what happened for the next 20 minutes. People would remind her that they had reservations, she would hardly answer their questions, looking frightened while she scribbled things on a pad and stared at the computer screen. I honestly don't think she had any system to what was going on. She finally told us that our table was being cleaned. I asked her to be honest with me about how long it would take to get food since we had a 3 year old with us. She said it would be quick. We sat down a little after 8pm. By 8:10, no one had even greeted us, so we got up and walked out thinking at this point it would be better to grab something on the way home. 

However, as we walked past a little pub type place in the same shopping plaza, a lady walked out and asked if we were looking for somewhere to eat. They had heart lights and balloons and a man was crooning R&B in the corner. We sat down at an outdoor table next to a heater and were treated to so much fun, kindness, and good service that we enjoyed ourselves immensely. The food was also amazing. I had a pressed turkey, brie, apple and mango sauce sandwich that slayed me with deliciousness. Hub had some roast beef with au jus. E bopped to the music, and when he finished, he got down and danced in an open space between tables, basking in the smiles of people nearby. The singer allowed a man to sing a few songs while he took a break. One of them was for his wife who video taped him with big smiles. 

The music was wonderful. The people were gracious. The food was divine. The unexpectedness of it made it perfect. 

Happy Valentine's Day. 

Thankful Prayer

Dear God,
Thank you for this amazing, miraculous, beautiful child and happy family. Even on bad days, the wonder of it floods me with joy and gratitude.

Eavesdropping

There's nothing better than listening to E and his fanciful bathtub play (complete with different voices) while I lie on our bed. I get a break, he enjoys himself, AND it's cute.

Out of the Mouth of E

His nicknames for R2D2 and C3PO:
Arty and Gold Boy

Mr. Sensitive

When we are watching Blue's Clues together, there is often a segment where Steve has to rearrange a sentence so that it makes sense. Of course he gets it wrong a few times before the pieces of the sentence fall into the right places. E runs into the hallway and peeks around the corner at the TV when he knows Steve is going to get it wrong. I guess he can't handle watching him make the mistakes. (Hub and I still do this with shows in which someone is horribly embarrassing him or herself. The Office comes to mind.)

**************

The other day I was home from work wondering if one could die of intestinal/stomach discomfort. It seemed to be a 24 hour bug because by the time late afternoon rolled around, I felt weak, but good enough to pick E up from daycare. (Hub had taken him in the morning while I huddled under the covers. We pretended I was already at work. Taking care of a toddler was NOT in the cards.) Anyway, I decided to pick him up earlier than usual and called daycare to tell them. 

When I arrived, I rang the doorbell and heard the general commotion from inside that always accompanies. When the door was opened, I walked in and saw E playing with all his little friends. He looked up, and when he saw me, his mouth dropped in shock. Then his face crumpled, his lip quivered and he started doing the "trying not to cry" pant. He was so emotionally overwhelmed by my early and unexpected presence. Oh the stab to the heart! I quickly knelt down and said, "Come on baby! You can come!" He ran to me, clutched me around the neck and buried his face in my shoulder saying, "Up?" I picked him up, and he began to calm. He maintained his death grip as I talked to Miss D. though and stroked my pony tail (a calming technique for him) throughout our discussion. My sweet sweet attached and sensitive boy. How he slays me. To use a favorite line of Jen's; I think we'll buy him a pony.

Flying Toddler Questions (The Paying Edition)

E and I (and occasionally Hub) are going to be flying a lot this year. I asked a lot of these questions last year, but some circumstances have changed, so you're on the hook again.


1. Pros and Cons of having E actually ride in the car seat on the plane? I know he'd be safer in a seat in the event of turbulence etc, but I also know he is going to flip his lid about sitting by himself during take-off and landing (and maybe during the flight itself) car seat or no.


2. Let's say he doesn't sit in the seat. Should I check it with some sort of fancy carrier/cover? I don't want them to ruin it. Anyone know of a good option for that? Or should I check it at the gate like last time? Are they still good about that? On one leg last time, they were kind of jerky about it.


3. Should I use the seat as a "stroller?" I'd need that stroller car seat conversion thingy right? We're flying lovely Southwest, so I won't be dragging much baggage with me. (So no strapping it to the suitcase.) 


4. Renting a car: No subcompacts right? I don't think our giant conversion seat is going to fit in them. :( More money. bleh.


I think that's all for now. When I get more, I'll be sure to let you know! Next up, let's talk reward credit cards. It took me years to find the ones we have, but I sure do love them.

Cute Baby Stories

Today in church, E was looking at "the baby" in my iPod photo album during the sermon. He was sitting on my lap facing me. I leaned over and whispered, "I love you." He was quiet for a moment and then began whispering something. I couldn't hear it well, so I leaned over again and just caught the ending of... "I wove you too." Then he peppered my face with kisses. 




When I tried on the dress I just found at Target for $7, E said, "Come sit by me Pwincess Mommy!" He continues to call me "Princess Mommy" when I wear dresses and often asks me to wear my "Princess shoes," (my heels.) 




E has decided that when Hub is scruffy, he's "dirty." He fusses about it often since Hub's scruff is quite uncomfortable to the face during kisses. Yesterday he'd decided he'd had enough and ordered Daddy to "Go to the bafroom and shave!" I paid him handsomely. 




Life is good.

Animal Kingdom smarts

E's interpretation of wildebeest and peccary: little beasts and Peter pipers.

Letters to Little Man

Dear E,
You aren't a baby anymore... at all! You are such a little boy it's incredible. At a little over 2, you show no sign of being terrible. In fact, you are loving, sweet, funny and so smart it scares me.
I love how you ask, "What's dat?" for every part of an object. You don't want to just know it's a hammer. You want to know it has a claw and a head and a handle. (Probably not the right term, but cut Mommy some slack.)
You count to 30 now. THIRTY. When you have your own kids, this will amaze you. Your memory is a steel trap. Three weeks ago, I showed you what an epiphyte was. Today you brought me one and said, "Can you say epiphyte Mommy?"
But my favorite is just how warm and kind you are. You hate seeing distress even in people on cartoons. You hug and kiss us all the time. When you want comfort, you rub my hair or arm. You thank us for things and again days later when you see it. You get very worried when we don't seem ok, and if we apologize to you for something, you are in a hurry to reassure with a, "Don't worry Mommy. It's OK."
Your humor is blossoming too, and I love it. You try to trick us and are starting to think bodily noises are funny.
Daddy and I just said to each other again last night, "How were we so blessed with such a wonderful child?" I know everyone says that if their children, but you really are wonderful and amazing E. I really truly believe that... Even when you mimic me saying, "Dat SUCKS!"

Love,
M

Decode the baby term

E last night:
It's white cwoud bwoccwy!

And the Barnyard Prepares For a Seige

Yes he arranged them.

E this Morning

I have you Mommy! (smiling warmly and in sing song speech) and then, "Mommy I missed you!"
Happy "Bawentime's" Day to me.

Valentine's Card

For Hub: I love you! Happy Valentine's Day!  

For E: This song is meant as a romantic song, but it reminds me much more of how I feel and felt as your mother. I love you forever.

Sick Sucks

Isn't it the crappiest when someone you love feels miserable? After a particularly bad coughing fit I ask E, "Are you ok?" He says, "Yeah." Than a short while later, "Mommy can wipe my eyes?" They were streaming with tears from coughing. argh.

Thanks Caillou

Yesterday in the dairy section of the grocery store, E suddenly said, "Those are farm fwesh eggs!"
Not sure if I heard correctly, I said, "Did you just say farm fresh?"
E: "Yes! Farm fwesh eggs!"

Letters

And in three minutes, it will be two years since I delivered you, and my life changed forever.
Always,
M

Halloween!

Oh my gosh what a fun night! E enjoyed himself immensely. The Dosts! The SKELS! The PUNKINS! The WITCHES! And of course we cannot forget the CHOCWIT. He also calls it "bar." He was an adorable little "Supoman" who "flew" from house to house. Daddy even gave him Superman's hair do.

Aside from all that though, his favorite moments of the night were receiving a pencil with a pumpkin eraser on top and seeing our next door neighbors dressed as a family of pirates. At one point, when they drove away to go trick or treating elsewhere he said, "No! Come back pirates!" He then proceeded to ask about them every 10 seconds or so. The drawback to a super fun night was the fact that E never ever wanted the night to end. We had to be very creative toddler parents to get him inside with a minimum of drama. But it was so worth it.

Now on to Thanksgiving and Christmas! I love Holidays.