I Scream....

You scream...

We all SCREAM!!!

Unfortunately not for ice cream, but because we are going through that wonderful phase where we have found our voices. (And, man, are they LOUD!!!)

Pooped

I will start by admitting that I knew that it was bound to happen sooner or later, but I was definitely hoping for later. Muuuuuuuch later...

For the last couple weeks Dashell has only been napping every other day. It's not that he doesn't need a nap. Oh, trust me, he does! It's just that, although seemingly very tired when you put him down, once alone he gets a sudden burst of energy. He sings. He has his animals go on kissing rampages. He opens his shade and looks out the window. He reads books. He has long conversations. He practices shouting, "Allllll Aboooooard!!!" at the top of his lungs. He does just about everything but nap... every other day. On the "other day" he sleeps.... and sleeps.... and sleeps. Waking up somewhere around 4:30pm. So, if he was meant to have a playdate with you and he never showed up, there's a good chance it fell on that "other day" and, well, obviously in that case you would just be plum out luck.

Since this has now been going on for a while, I think that the multitude of fascinating things that you can come up with to do in your crib for a couple hours a day when you should be sleeping has gotten a little old. And consequently today, Dash decided to spice things up a little bit by adding something new to the mix.

After running through all the old favorites he decided to re-tackle something he attempted a few weeks ago... stripping. Why, you ask, was this fun-filled activity abandoned? Let's just say that the first couple times were not particularly successful. (In other words, all sweaters are not equally easy to liberate. Battles ensued and, well, Dash was sadly not the winner.) But, just like the pain of childbirth, even the memory of the agony of defeat can lessen with time. So, today Dash was at it again, but the boy wised up. Why go up, when you can go down? If a sweater is giving you attitude, go south, right? So off came the socks. Then the pants. Then, feelin' breezy and carefree, off to the far corner of the crib he trotted.

I must mention here that this particular corner of the crib is a blind spot for our video monitor. So who knows exactly how it went down, but after a few minutes Dash started swinging something in and out of the view of the camera. In and out. In and out. What could it be? Hmmm... Then he reached over with his other hand, clawed at the object, pulled back in disgust and... ah, yes, I bet you guessed! Our nanny who was watching all this transpire on the monitor (yep, I picked the PERFECT time to run to Target!), first with amusement and then with horror, charged up the stairs! But, too late. The damage was done. Poop! Everywhere! Gross!

And what did the little guy ask for when our nanny flung open his bedroom door??

"Tissue. Tissue," he cried helplessly. "Tissue?"

Like a little tissue would take care of that kind of mess! Silly boy.

All I have to say is, thanks for not picking a weekend day kid! And I swear, from now on, the little rascal will be napping (or not) in footy pajamas!


p.s. I am super behind in my blog reading. I am SO sorry! I haven't read or commented on anyone's in very long time because my crazy work schedule, but I hope in the next week to do a lot of reading. And I hope that there are no hard feelings. I am really looking forward to catching up with everyone very soon!! Sorry again for being so absent.

In The Smallest Things...

...the mysteries of the world reveal themselves.

The Letter Of The Week Is... P! (x2)

A few months ago when I found out that Diana and Alex had purchased potties for their little girls, I felt so out of it. I hadn't even considered it yet. (And probably with good reason, since boys are usually very late to potty train.) But trying to be diligent in my mothering duties I eventually ran out to the store and picked one up. (One can never have too many extra things in the house to collect dust, right?!)

I purchased a lovely 3-in-1 deluxe model (they only had two types of potties to choose from and the other looked like it would fall apart quickly), with it's own toilet paper holder and wipes container. (What will they think of next?!) Dash had a wonderful time, for a few days, disassembling it and putting it back together like a big puzzle before he became bored and forgot about it.

Then two weeks ago, right after I put him in the bath, I notice a little leak in his nether region and asked if he needed to pee in his potty, to which he replied,"Yes!" I promptly whisked him out of tub and place him on his throne. He peed like a champ. I cheered. He dumped and flushed. And much joy was shared by all! Then a couple nights later we had a repeat performance, followed by a joyous round of high-fives.

Then last week, while Dave was getting him ready for the bath Dash stated,"Dada... pee pee... potty." And low and behold, he did it again. And again. And again! Which brings us to tonight, where once again as I was getting him ready for his bath and taking off his diaper, he asked to use the potty. So off to the bathroom we trotted.

Six times in two weeks! I'm a little dumbfounded. I didn't think that this was supposed to happen for boys until 2 1/2 or 3. It's neat for now, but I'm not holding my breath that it will continue. We'll just have to wait and see. (Or maybe just... wait for pee! Right?!)

The Stuff Inbetween

I've been on a shoot all week. In at 2am, out the door the next morning between 8 and 10. I have to say it sucks, but it's part of the job and it's always amazing to watch art being created before your eyes.

Needless to say, I haven't seen much of Dashell this week. My heart breaks when I think about all I've been missing. And I think he's felt my absence as well...

The other day, he climbed up to the landing of our stairs and sat down. Our nanny asked him what he was doing and he replied, "Thinking." "What are you thinking about?" she continued. And the response..."Mommy."

I melted when I heard this story.

The next morning, when he woke up I went in to spend a little time with him before I had to run off. I gave him a kiss and said,"Do you know I missed you yesterday?" He replied, "Missing you... Mommy.... working. Hug." He then wrapped his arms around my neck and gave me the squeeze I needed to get through another day without him.

I'm looking forward to spending a little time at home next week.

I miss my son.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

What a FABULOUS Valentine's Day!! I got to spend it with my two loves, Dashell and Dave. It was the best!

Dash actually slept in until 8am. It's like he knew that it was a special day and gave me a couple extra hours of sleep as a fantastic (and much needed) present. And then shortly after I woke up, Dave surprised me with a couple of cute gifts...

Aren't the little cat and the handmade box adorable?! And I got a heart-shaped decision maker. The first thing I asked it was if we were going to have wonderful day. And it said...

 

I didn't know it yet, but it was right!

First we went to breakfast...

(Who picked out the hat? Dash... of course. Almost couldn't guess that one, could ya?!)

Then we piled in the car and headed off to the aquarium. Dash has gotten to the point lately where he can identify whales, sharks and seals, so we thought it was about time we made another trip. He had a great time!

 

He even learned about a new creature of the sea...

RAYS!!!! He loved pointing them out and talking about them. We even went outside to see if he could pet one... 

 

Unfortunately, none of them came up to him, but he still enjoyed checking them out.

He was also enchanted by the sharks...

 

Although he was very perplexed that they were "wake" but not "moving". Every time the sharks rested for a while, on the floor of the tank, he would stretch out his arms and then lift them up saying, "Move. Move. Wake. Move. Moving?" 

After the sharks we went to see the birds...

Dash was fascinated with the fact that the bird was on Dave's hand and asked if the bird could go on his arm. Sadly the bird was not particularly cooperative. But he did get to feed it...

 

...which he was very excited about!

Back inside Dave and Dash spied something very unusual...

...which looked to Dave like a huge puffer fish. Wow!

And then on our way out, Dash made a new friend...

...who he decided he wanted to "pet".

Then it was time to go home and take a nap before heading out for a lovely Valentine's Day dinner. 

Soon after we were seated, Dash got a little concerned that everyone else had "food" and he didn't. "Food. Food." followed by lots of pointing rang out from our table until Dash's mac 'n' cheese showed up. (He also talked a lot about how he wanted to "throw" the "candle" but luckily, for everyone, he didn't get his wish.) Dave and I both looked around the table several times and smiled contentedly. From now on it is three, just the way it was always meant to be. Valentine's Day is about love and I have never felt more surrounded by it than I felt at that moment.

After dinner, Dash insisted on signing for the check...

..and, of course, who are we to say "no" when our son wants to take us out to dinner!

Then it was time to head home to bed...

 

As I was drifting off to sleep, all I could think was... perfect.

Perfect sums up my Valentine's day. 

Absolutely, postively... perfect. 

p.s. My blog just turned 1!!! Wow! I never thought I'd make it this far.

All Aboard!