Did You Miss Us?

So...we are back! My mom is doing well (of course since my mom is one of the 3 people reading this I'm really telling her (you) that she (you) are doing well...and hopefully she (you) know that)!

As tiring and hard as it was to see my mom go through everything we really enjoyed being with my family. I was able to talk to my sisters, brother and neices more than I maybe ever have. It feels a little strange and a little wrong, but I really enjoyed our (frequent) breakfasts together at The Whistle Stop Cafe before we headed to the hospital. I think I ate there 6 times in 11 days! It just became our familiar safe comfortable place since mom wasn't around to cook!

So much has happened...so here is my recap...this is going to be a long post. My mom said she's bored and needs something to read :)

Kylie graduated from Junior High and turned 14! (NOOOOOO...when did she get that old?) ! I think that is the same "Class of" sign they used when I graduated from Junior High

Ian's sleep schedule got a little messed up!

Ian and Lainie initiated the new swing in Mumzy and Gramps' front yard. "Mowa swing, mowa swing"

We spent a morning at the City Park. Mumzy and Ian liked the slide!

Ian and Lainie picked flowers

Mom had surgery. We spent a lot of time in the hospital hallway with Ian! He loves playing with his Gramps.

Shea had a birthday! Poor Shea...it was almost forgotten. But being the good sport he is it worked out okay. Mumzy coming home from the hospital was a great gift. When we got home we found out that Shea now also shares his birthday with Raj and Colleen's new little guy! (don't you love baby toes?)

Kelly and Ian planted flowers for Mumzy's homecoming. Ian also learned his new "uhhhhhhh" sound (imagine great effort going into a digging motion)

We came home...as we pulled into the driveway Ian said with a big sigh, "hooooooooooooooome".

And since we've been home we have been laying kind of low resting and regrouping. It was good to be with family but always nice to be in our own home again.

We had a great father's day...Shea got a shiny new toy that we'll show off here soon. Just think moooovies :)

Oh...and if you've made it this far and are still bored...go here to see what I've been doing for fun!

Squinty Eyes

This silly kiddo can make me laugh when I need to most! For the last 6 months or so he's made this face when we say "squinty eyes". We think it started as his way of winking at us! He now has taken it to a new extreme putting his entire body into the action! He cracks me up.

This is also a really good shot of his chipped teeth!

He also slept through the night without any problem last night! Sprawled across Shea's side of the bed while dad slept in the living room! Oh my! What has our world come to! Tonight he's in his crib!

Busy Weekend

This was one of the most busy weekends we've had since Ian was born! One activity after another...kept him out until 9PM last night! We NEVER do that...and won't do it again soon! Although he did sleep completely through the night.

I did get this great picture of he and my dear friend Becky. He got to spend the entire weekend outside with his Team In Training friends so he was a happy little guy!

A Day Out With Thomas

Ian and I ventured out to see Thomas the Tank Engine on Friday! I was sooo excited about it for him and for me!

As soon as we pulled into the parking lot I think he new something special was happening. He squealed with delight just with my opening the van door...and the fun hadn't even begun!

The plan had been to meet Charleen and Leo and ride the bus from the parking lot to the train together. But...when Ian saw the first bus leave without him on it he broke into tears! I couldn't bear to see him watch another bus pass so we hopped on. He oohed and ahhed and said bus about 50 times. He sat in the seat on his own and didn't even attempt a wiggle.

the bus ride

We met up with Charleen and Leo and got to see Thomas in the station and then climbed on board for the ride. (must add they really didn't understand the standing in the long line to wait to get on...but I don't either so...) I just have to say the bus ride was his highlight! He liked the train and the entertainment and the company, but he LOVED the bus. We hung around after the train ride and stamped, played with trains, got a tattoo, played in the sandbox and the really dirty water fishing game. BUT the bus was where it was at!

I'm taking more $1.25 city bus trips with him!

Happy Mother's Day

I can't believe that this is my second mother's day...in fact today I used the words "next year when he goes to preschool" How did this happen?

For the last two years I've had an amazing group of women in my life who have helped provide perspective, advice, confidence, and friendship. I am a better mother because of you all and certainly couldn't have made it through some tough times without your patience and support! Ian will appreciate it someday! I made this silly little video for Valentine's Day and had a bit of an issue getting it to you all! So...here it finally is! Enjoy = ) And thank you for being my friends!



(and thank you Mom...all of the above applies to you too)
(and thank you Sarah for all the trips to Selland with and without child)

Cutie Pie

One Year Ago

Oh how I wish we were there now!

He perfected crawling while we were there...just a year ago...time is flying by.

I Hope It's Not Too Late

Charleen had said it Praise Junkies: Part Deux
But NOOOO I can't even clicky click on the link to read it. So today I'm exploring del.icio.us, my new favorite way to avoid doing anything productive and I find and read this...
Smart Kids/

I certainly hope we aren't too late...

Next time I will read Charleen's links!

BTW I'm KatrinaKennedy over there if you want to join my network...more like a phone with no charge than a network though!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...well at least Reuse

So our street's 10th annual yard sale happened this weekend. I was too busy taking pictures and playing with those pictures to actually organize anything for a yard sale...so we purchased things instead!

Ian is now the proud new owner of...

A sandbox (that will probably hold water instead of sand if we can get him to give it up as a bed)

A slide/house combination thing

An indoor mini slide

A very loved basketball hoop and slowly deflating ball

Not bad for $25 -- I love our neighborhood!

Failed?!

I've failed to post in a while not because I've been working so hard or taking Ian to the park every moment or organizing my desk or cleaning my house or washing my car or paying bills or working out or volunteering my time or taking phone calls or designing training programs...

No...I've been addicted to all things Photoshop. I can't stop myself. I can't get up out of this chair. I can't breathe fresh air. I can't do anything but resize, adjust hues, crop, create new layers, rinse and repeat. I'm addicted. My poor child!

But I am a real mom now...I bought a laminator on ebay.

Looking Back

I'm ignoring the fact that Ian is playing with Shea's dvd player...probably breaking it beyond repair to upload this! I'm really enjoying getting Ian's babybook together. Laundry? Clean house? Who needs it?

One Year Ago...

Ian crawled for the first time! He's come a long way since then!

Rocking Chair Test

Found this today...I hope I can remember it and pass it on to Ian.

This I Believe

Remember

I hope I can always remember the great things about Ian at 20 months old.

• the funny way he neighs like a horse
• the squishy hand gesture that is his wave
• his delight at seeing me when he hasn't for a while
• his lion roar
• his tiger roar
• his dinosaur roar
• his pig moo
• the way he talks to himself in what must be little stories that only he can understand
• waking up at 6am and immediately saying "book"
• his cute little steps and his funny little run
• automatically adding "y" to words creating daddy and justy on his own!
• "what's that"
• "bye-bye"
• "hi"
• "uh-oh" after he's deliberately thrown something on the ground
• his excitement when he hears a plane, or sees the moon, or can see the garbage truck out our front door
• "e-i-e-i-e-i" when he plays with his barn
• "night-night" to let us know he's sleepy

Rediscovered

Yeah! I'm finally progressing on Ian's Scrapbooks. I'm working on his baby book and his current book at the same time to try to catch up! This was from over the weekend. He just cracks me up with the funny things he does lately. Something new everyday!

BTW -- Auntie Sarah got a job! She won't be leaving town! YEAH!

He Amazes Me!

We bought Ian several "I Spy" books at Beers Bookstore a few months ago. He has always loved to look at them with us. We point out things and ask him where things are and he finds them most of the time. This morning he was playing quietly with one while I called the dentist (ahhh another blog post).

I looked over and he was pointing from the picture on the right hand side to it's match on the left hand side! Over and over page by page!

He just amazes me...everyday he is learning something new.

Miles of Eggs

swinging with Taylor

After driving about 200 miles each of the last 4 days, we're all pooped! Ian was a good sport and actually seemed to enjoy his car time. On the way to Exeter he talked a lot and pointed to every truck, bus, and motorcycle that went by. He refused to sleep though until we were about 40 minutes from Mumzy & Gramps' house. After an afternoon of dying eggs, playing with Taylor, Kylie and Lainie, and of course "practicing" for the real egg hunt he crashed for the night! Yeah! We got an uninterupted night of sleep.

Then began his three days of instantly falling asleep once he was in the carseat.

We headed to Morro Bay on Easter Sunday where Ian got to meet many of his "second" cousins for the first time. This time he was ready for the egg hunt and only needed a little guidance to run and grab them before tossing them into his bucket. He had a great time playing with everyone!

Next morning back in the car for the trip back to Exeter for a quick family dinner and little rest before the next mornings final car trip for the week. Back to Sacramento...again sleeping even while his somewhat psychotic mother experienced the jitters of riding in the car after drinking her fully caffeinated "decaf" latte. Silly SB... don't they know I haven't had caffeine in about 5 years?

If you've made it this far...my apologies for such a boring post!

Finally!

I was inspired today and finally finished the first page of Ian's Baby Book!

What do you think?

Pre Easter...Eggs

What a great weekend! The weather was perfect and EVERYONE was in a great mood! We spent part of Saturday at an Easter Egg hunt -- Ian's first since last year he slept through all the festivities!
He made a cute little bag to carry his eggs in complete with 4 yellow chickens that Uncle Justin said it needed. Dying eggs was enjoyable for him although a little nerve racking for the 4 year old whose eggs he kept stealing and throwing into the yellow dye. I think he died his fingers more than any eggs.

The actual hunting of the eggs was a little more successful! He found one and was quite content with it. He just stood shaking it as we all watched. He ended up with a few more but one was all he really wanted! I bet that changes next year.
He topped off the day with a yummy cupcake...and a nap! Should be good practice for next weekend.

Frustrated

I'm frustrated! My life is a bit in limbo -- working a little and staying home with Ian. I love being able to spend so much time with him; it just seems that my schedule never matches anyone elses. And when my schedule does seem to match...his nap schedule doesn't! Do I have the only 20 month old child who still takes two naps? Does he sleep abnormally? And how do all of these questions ultimately make me just question whether or not am I good mom?

We ventured to Gymboree today for a free preview. Poor little guy thought I was going to leave him there and he wouldn't leave my side. Then when all the other kids arrived he really freaked out! He hit a little girl which made me wonder if everyone thought I was a bad mom...who must hit her son! (thank you random woman who put that into my head)Where does the hitting come from...and how do I make it stop?

This is Ian's blog not his insane mothers...so enough of this! I guess I need to dig out all of the parenting books I put away because they were making me insane too!

Can A Boy Have Enough To Do?

Just a little something I'm doing in my "spare" time

Where Did My Baby Go?

12K Across The Bay

Each year Sacramento's Team In Training Chapter loads up charter busses and heads out at 5am to run the 12k Across The Bay from Sausalito to the waterfront in San Francisco. It's a great race over the Golden Gate with time afterwards for a little leisure time before piling back on the bus and heading back to Sacramento. Shea and I have gone a few times before always enjoying the race, the friends, and of course the traditional Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista when the race is over.

This year my friend Becky asked if I was going to go to take pictures, getting an early start on the $6,200 fundraising goal we'll have for the triathlon team this year. It seemed just a little strange to put Ian on a bus without seatbelts or a carseat. It just doesn't feel legal or safe! After a call to the bus company who assured us it is "the safest wheeled transportation" we reluctantly agreed to hop on the bus and head over with "the team."

Getting him up and out of the house at 4:45am was not much fun, but the instant he saw the bus he was happy! I think he was just a little overwhelmed with the people, the seats, and the sounds! The bus company had advised us to sit in the last row so he could have more room if we needed it. I was less than excited about that idea as the last row is also by the restroom...never a nice place on a bus! Lucky for us we were on a brand new 2007 giganto "take your grandmother" gambling in style bus. Plush, clean, BIG and nonsmelly!!

After only a short outburst of crying he slept a little and we arrived in San Francisco faster and easier than any car trip I've ever taken. It was a nice semi foggy mild morning -- perfect for pictures. The wet overly long grass on my preferred hill in Fort Mason Park was not perfect for his little shoes so he spent a bit more time than he wanted in the stroller, but was a good sport about it. Once runners started to arrive he was distracted enough to forget where he was sitting as he clapped for each of them! After about 45 minutes we realized he was also saying "good job" in Ian-ese.

He got to cheer for Uncle Justin who sped by pretty quickly looking at Ian and not the camera!
The highlight of his day was definitely "Auntie Becky" stopping her race long enough to grab his hand and take him with her the last 1/4 mile of the race. It was a pretty funny site! (although I have to wonder what it did to her race time!) I wish I could have been at the finish line to see his face. We finished off the day with a little lunch Ian style -- outside with pickles and french fries, ice cream, and a stroll along the water front in hopes he would nap. No luck!

We hopped back on the bus after lunch and as soon as the engine started he was out! He didn't move the entire ride home and for about two hours after we got home. Poor little guy was tired out!

No Buena Vista Irish coffee for us this year, but it was a great day!

Moms...

So I'm beginning to understand this mom gig...

If he's unhappy, mom will fix it
If he's snotty, mom will wipe it
If he's crying, mom will make it stop
If he's hungry, mom can get him to eat healthy stuff
If he's awake, mom can get him to go to sleep

If mom is unhappy, she gets over it
If mom is sick,she ignores it
If mom is crying, he probably made her
If mom is hungry, she'll grab the gold fish, fruit roll, or half eaten bagel laying around
If mom is awake, she'd rather be sleeping.

One Year Ago Today

Charleen has been doing great "one year ago today" posts for Leo...so I've decided to copy her!

He couldn't even crawl yet...just sat there and played with toys. I can't even remember why that seemed so hard or what it was like to not have toys everywhere!

599.9 Miles Wih A Toddler In The Backseat

Ian and I have just returned from our outing to visit my parents aka "Mumzy & Gramps." Since Ian now refuses to sleep in the car the drive was a bit interesting. With the help of 4 kids CD's, a bag full of toys, Starbucks and strategic bottle or two we made the 3 1/2 hour trip in just 4 hours! It was actually a bit faster than when Shea goes with us! I do however either need a smaller car or a longer arm so that I can pass toys back to Ian after he throws them on the floor or tires of them.

We had a great time! We visited Lainie and Mandy's new house where Lainie took Ian on a tour of the backyard in her Barbie Jeep. He didn't want to get out!

Cousin Kylie went for a drive too although we all think she might have outgrown it just a bit!
The highlight of our trip was the new addition that Ian and I got to witness! Taylor's FFA project pig Miss Piggy had 5 little pigs right before we left town! Ian loved seeing the pigs although he still insists that they "moo" no matter how we try to convince him otherwise. Kylie (who got to skip 1/2 day of school for the new arrivals) took him on a tour of the school's farm.

After watching their arrival, packing up the car, and stopping by Mumzy's office on our way out of town Ian was well past his nap time. Turned out to be a good thing for me though! He slept the first half of the trip and was fairly easy to entertain the last half.

It was great seeing family when we didn't have holiday plans, family events, or a tight schedule to stick to! We'll have to make a trip for no reason again soon...if only I can figure out to lengthen my arm.

Copy Cat

After seeing Leo's new hair cut and hearing how easy it was we had to head to Cool Cuts too. We were lucky to be there during the week on a rainy afternoon so it was very calm. I can't imagine what the place would be like on a weekend full of kids. Just a little overstimulating!

Ian loved the fire truck and...I caved and let him watch an Elmo video.

The Bird Bath

Pictures of the previously mentioned bird bath!

Party with a Princess

Four!

We visited Mumzy and Gramps over the weekend for Lainie's 4th birthday "Princess Party". Everything was pink and purple with lots of glamour down to her tiara and slippers.

Cupcakes served by the princess herself

Even a princess can be surprised by her fancy new kitchen

"My job is done here peasants...clean up!"

Ian enjoyed the party and seeing family, but found greater joy in Gramps' new bird bath! Yes it is new and as yet untainted by bird poo. He splashed in it until his hands were frozen! I think he's going to be ready for summer swimming!

Noooooooooooooo!

So after months of so proudly being able to say, "Ian doesn't say no," the day has passed. Yesterday he ran around the house saying "no, no, no" Not to anything in particular, just to hear the sound of it. Now he somewhat emphatically says no to anything you ask him. Of course we did get about 3 months of "yeah, yeah, yeah" to everything. So maybe this too shall pass!