First Fish

August 23, 2011 will go down in the history books.  Charlie caught his first fish with the help of Daddy and Mr. Bob.  Amazingly, Miss Donna and I both wandered out of our kitchens just in time to see them reel it in. 

After some futile attempts in the past few weeks, it is clear that worms are the bait of choice for our resident Blue Gill, the boys had 2 catches in less than 5 minutes, but the second one got away.

As I type this, Charlie should be giving a play-by-play of his adventure (complete with pictures) to his friends during Circle Time at school.  Is it odd that we're even more excited about this than we were his first step???

Getting the feel for his rod and reel

About to hold his fish for the first time

Ewwww!  (a bit like Mama, after all...)

Coerced into touching it again

Showing Miss Donna "how big" it was

Ready for another

Reaction to the fact that it's bedtime

Begging Daddy for "just couple more minutes!"

A Thin Line

This parenting stuff is hard!  I know, I know, everyone told me it would be, but I have to admit, I didn't really appreciate the insight.  After all, everyone tells you how hard the sleepless nights, self-sacrifice, lack of free time, first days of kindergarten, college, etc, are...no one tells you how hard it is to make a simple decision.

Take discipline for example...half the time I feel like we let Charlie get away with murder; the other half the time I feel like our expectations are way too high for a two year old.  Unsure what to do, Jason and I decided that maybe this means we're striking a happy medium and are right on track...maybe?

Then you have the life and death decisions that we suffered through yesterday:
1 - What do you do when your 2 year old needs to be soothed to sleep for the 4th time at 3:30 in the morning?
     - Sleep deprived decision: Scoop him up and bring him into your bed without consulting your sleeping husband, resulting in three lost hours of sleep, but the bliss of cuddling in bed with your favorite boys
     - Verdict: So-so decision, no real decision making process to speak of

2 - What do you do when your 2 year old has no temperature but just isn't himself?
     - Selfish decision: Check your calendar, realize that your Monday is meeting-free and you finished your reports on Friday, so keep him home for the day -- during which he barely leaves the couch and spikes a fever in the evening...
     - Verdict: Right decision; seriously questionable decision making process

3 - What do you do when your 2 year old who never has a fever spikes a fever of 103 at 7:00 in the evening?
     - Lack of decision: Consult the internet which tells you that at 103 you should call the doctor if the child is exhibiting any other strange symptoms (i.e. coughing, nausea, diarrhea, lack of appetite).  Consult the Daddy to determine whether sleepiness at almost bedtime on a sick day is "strange" and whether or not refusal to eat dinner is "strange" or merely a result of too many orange slice candies...  Agree to see if he'll eat anything else and take his temperature in 30 minutes, at which time it is down a full degree (likely due to the additional orange slices he agreed to eat).
     - Verdict: Right decision; lucky decision making process (because had it been the wrong decision his fever could have continued going up causing brain damage or worse...yes, I spent too much time on the internet on this particular topic...)

4 - What do you do when your 2 year old who was very sick Monday greets Tuesday morning by jumping up and down in his crib and telling you that he wants to stay home and "rest" while chasing Louie up and down the sofa?
     - Self-preservation decision: Send him to school to burn off some energy while you complete a little bit of house, church and work-work, but let the teachers know they can call you if he takes a turn for the worse.  Five hours later: flower beds are weeded, sheets are in the dryer, Ladies Event communication is out, competitive report is started and naps are in full swing at school.
     - Verdict: Right decision; decision making process? who knows...

So, overall I have determined that more often than not Jason and I seem to luck and/or default into the right decision, but while our overall decision making process may not be perfect, we definitley do our best, and to date, Charlie seems none the worse for wear.

Feeling Crummy...

Daddy makes everything better!

Such a Helper

Setting: In car en route to town for a haircut, passing Summerville Baptist Church.

Charlie: What that, Mommy?
Mommy: That's a church, Buddy.
Charlie: No. It a barn. 
Mommy: No, Sweetie, it's Summerville Baptist Church.
Charlie: No. It a barn. It had a tractor.
Mommy: Oh, I see.
Charlie: What color the tractor, Mommy?
Mommy: I'm not sure, Buddy. I didn't see it.
Charlie: (in a whisper) Say "Blue", Mommy. Say "Blue".
Mommy: Blue?
Charlie: Yay, Mommy!  You got it!

So, is he helping me cheat or wanting to see me succeed....hmmmm????

To Train or not To Train...

Since Charlie was approximately two weeks old and really got the hang of nursing, the biggest anxiety in my life has been the knowledge that someday I would have to potty train him.  While nearly everyone I know over the age of 5 is an unequivocable success story, the thought of it terrified me.

So, I was thrilled when I realized that his daycare would start having him sit on the potty every couple of hours in the midst of all his friends, believing that repetition, peer pressure and his desire to be a big boy would do the trick and Voila! Charlie would be potty trained with little or no effort on my part.

I was wrong.  Charlie happily sits on the potty many times a day at school, and is thrilled to receive high-fives and praise when he tells people he used it.  He can't wait to get to flush the potty himself and loves the  idea of wearing the little boxer briefs I got him that look just like Daddy's.  He even enjoys reading books about other kids potty training (quick aside...there are many better options out there than Once Upon a Potty which is way too graphic and downright weird in my opinion).

But, despite the fact that Charlie is a poster child for the "Ready to Potty" set, he sees absolutely no reason to actually use the potty.  The kids loves his diapers, and I believe would be quite content to wear Pull-Ups through college.

Never one to back down from a challenge (at least one I can't justifiably ignore), I decided it was time.  This weekend would be Potty Training Weekend at the House.  All of the signs pointed to it being perfect:
1 - I have nursery at church on Sunday, so I wouldn't be asking some other poor soul to run him to the bathroom 4 times in 90 minutes.
2 - A lady at church recommended a great book by the BabyWise guy that she used to train her son in 2 days.
3 - Walmart had the special Pull-Ups with the potty watch on sale!

Clearly, we were meant to potty train this weekend, so I ordered the book, stocked up on supplies and even informed his teachers of our grand plans.  Then, I got to thinking about it and realized that assuming it worked, as of Monday I would have to be interrupt virtually every activity for the rest of my life to find a potty... ummm....

Well, and you see, then I remembered that we have a playdate on Saturday morning, a birthday party on Sunday afternoon, another birthday party (this one at a Jump place!) next weekend, and that Grandma is coming in less than 2 weeks, then my friend Rebekah just a week later....  Plus, despite the free 2 day shipping, our book isn't here yet.  Clearly, I was wrong about all the signs.  This would be a horrible weekend to potty train!

So...the current plan is to block off the second weekend in September (my next nursery weekend) for intense potty training...unless of course something important comes up...

Lesson Learned

First of all, feel free to roll your eyes at my thoroughly negligent parenting...but honestly I do have fairly valid reasons, if not viable excuses.

You see, Charlie is a library fanatic.  Wait three weeks to return our first bounty of books?  Heavens, no!  We shuttled back across town Saturday morning for Story Time and a new book hunt, much to his delight.

I'd give Story Time itself about a C.  Charlie was super excited, but really struggled to sit still.  I was somewhat surprised, because he does so well at Circle Time at school.  I honestly think it might have been because I was there, so I'm considering hiding in the stacks next time.   Anyway, Charlie only made it through introductions and one story before I felt like he was a bit too disruptive and convinced him it was time for our book hunt.

Thankfully, he agreed, and we slipped away (somewhat quietly) in search of books about fish.  This is where the problem started.  We have been encouraging Charlie to select a topic for at least some of the books we pick each week, but I have failed to figure out the library computer system and the only authors/books I'm familiar with are the ones we have at home (surprisingly enough, virtually the same ones I had as a kid....hmmmm....). 

So, the effort of trying to reign in 30 lbs of slightly hungry, slightly sleepy, far too noisy 2 year old while frantically scanning the covers of the display books had me sweating. 

Determined to track down at least one fish book, I was a bit distracted when Charlie handed me the book Changes, so I just read the first page which said, "When I was born, my family looked like this.  I was the biggest thing in my mom and dad's life." 

While I found the illustrations a bit odd and ugly, I assumed the book was about a second child coming into a family, and while it's not imminent in our house, we do still hope that it will happen someday, so I added it to the stack.

Eventually we tracked down Rainbow Fish, checked out our books and headed back home for lunch and nap.  Thanks to a stormy afternoon, we then settled onto the couch to read our books and Charlie handed me Changes. 

Imagine my shock when I turned to the second page and read, "Then things changed!  My mom and dad got a divorce..."  Ummmm....oops?  Sadly, I know that Charlie will learn about divorce long before 9 years old, which is when my first friend's parents split up, but I definitely see no need to introduce the topic now.  So I immediately, closed the book, told Charlie it "wasn't entertaining" (really?!?) and moved on. 

Thankfully, he believed me, even telling Daddy "We don't like this book" when he got home later that evening.  If only Charlie was always so agreeable... 

Anyway, I guess I really do need to preview all the books, along with the TV shows and movies that Charlie picks out and be prepared to address and/or veto any questionable or premature topics.  While it sounds pretty obvious, I have to admit I didn't realize it would start so soon...  Lesson learned.

Book Worm

It all started with Big Bird...as Charlie is finally starting to pay attention to TV (more than just Tropicana commercials, that is), I wonder how many times I'm going to type those 6 words, but anyway... It all started with Big Bird getting a library card last Monday. 

After insisting that I put on Sesame Street, Charlie actually watched rather than coming into the kitchen and begging for candy, and he was fascinated when Big Bird got a library card.  So much so, that he wanted to know all about the library, and once he heard that it was a huge building full of books, he was hooked and I was elated.  Having spent the majority of my formative years locked in my room gobbling up novels, I would dearly love for Charlie to be a little book worm -- and since he clearly inherited his Dad's social butterfly tendencies and charm, I think there is little risk of him crossing over into "nerd" territory as his mom did...

So we set a date, and Saturday morning Charlie and I set off for the library.  First, we applied for our library cards (yes, I'm embarassed to admit that we've lived here five years and this was my first time to step foot in the library...despite the facts that I'm incredibly cheap and never reread anything other than the Bible and Jane Austen, I like to own my books). 

Once the forms were filled out, we ventured into the children's book section and picked out 4 dinosaur books and "Diapers Aren't Forever".  Then, hoping to maximize both Charlie's library experience and his interest in the knight costume I just bought for the upcoming Fairy Tale Ball at school, we went back up to the counter to ask about any knight related story books.  While the librarian checked the computer, Charlie actually sat down in the middle of the floor to start reading...I couldn't have been more proud.

Finally, we added "The Kiss that Missed" to the pile, checked out our treasures and concluded our first trip to the library.  I'm fairly sure that we read each of our six books 15 or so times over the weekend, and when I wondered aloud to Jason what made these books so neat, Charlie immediately piped in, "They're from the library!"

Now, assuming that I remember to return and/or recheck our books by August 20, the entire experience will be a rousing success!

Filling out the application

Ready to Read!

We're Doomed...

Context:  To my knowledge, prior to yesterday Charlie had cried 3 times at school (not counting a few random tears at drop-off time early on). 

1. About 4 months after he started, I picked him up one afternoon and he promptly filled his pants.  He was going through an anti-diaper changing period at the time and he cried while I changed him in the classroom -- to the absolute shock of his teachers.  They had never heard him cry before!
2. During the transition to the 2 year old room this spring, he burst into tears after Miss Brenda took him outside to play with the big kids.  Stunned, she promptly took him back to the toddler room.
3. A couple months ago one of his teachers reprimanded him for something, and his lip began to quiver.  Immediately she apologized and gave him a hug. (LOL!)

Well, when I picked Charlie up from school yesterday, Nikita had quite the tale to tell while he finished his caterpillar.  Apparently, Charlie and his little friend Robert had been banging on the table earlier that morning when it was not table time.  Brittany B. came over and looked them in the eyes and told them both to stop banging and start listening. 

Now, to be clear, Jason and I tell Charlie to stop doing random things hundreds of times a day, often-times accompanied by a stern look, sometimes accompanied by a spanking...  This is not new or scary or unusal for him, but I digress.

Back to the incident, Charlie's lip immediately began to quiver again, and this time he burst into tears!  Apparently, Nikita came over and started to reprimand Brittany B, who was already feeling terrible.  In fact, she felt so bad that she went out to her car to find a quarter and took Charlie to the candy machine for a handfull of jelly beans!

I have to admit that I am completely torn about the whole thing.  My initial reaction is to thank God that Charlie has teachers that love him enough to react this way.  Next I have to wonder how in the world he can be such an angel at school when he's so ornery at home.  Then I am grateful that if he is going to have this split personality, at least he's good in public.  Finally, though, I realize that Jason and I are completely doomed...if Charlie can play the system this well at two, we don't have a chance!

He's Got A Ticket To Ride

In reality, we just returned from a vacation to Virginia Beach where we got to spend an awesome two days with the Tony, Lea & Lakely and a wonderful week with about 3/5 of our Kansas City family....but I am convinced that if Charlie were to look back on the past week, he would primarily remember the rides with some sand, lemonade, fish and a few famous faces sprinkled in...

While Jason and I were relaxing, enjoying time with friends and family and even (gasp!) taking a couple afternoon naps (I sometimes wonder if I'm not more cut out to be a lady of leisure, but anyway...) Charlie was running and jumping and laughing and screaming and riding and hopping and swimming and sliding, all while bonding with sweet Lakely and his cousins Landon, Ellie, Mallory & Alexis, under the watchful, if extraordinarily lenient, eyes of Mommy, Daddy, BaBa, PaPa, Uncle Stephen, Aunt Ashley, Nana & Grandad (an additional set of grandparents, care of Landon), Uncle Chris & Aunt Tara.

And yes, we spoiled him rotten, let him get away with murder, catered to his every whim, completely disregarded the schedule and had an absolutely fabulous time.  Yesterday he was too wiped out to completely show the effects of our laissez faire parenting, but I'm sure his teachers are paying for it today...sorry, Ladies!

Here is a glimpse of some of our fun...

Shades Trade with Lakely

Beach Babies

First of many naps

Where'd I go?

Silly Smiles

Good Luck Kiss for Mallory and all her dances this week

First of many rides...

...and it continues

Water Fun

Loving on Elmo

Touring Sesame Street with Landon

It's Big Bird!

I go by myself!

Flying with BaBa

Teacups (2 rounds again this week!)

Riding the Clydesdale

(at least 8 times in a row...we lost count!!)

Napping in Style

A boat with a bell

Scoping out the fish with Alexis

Shark Attack!

Fun with Aunt Tara

The whole crew

Daddy's Fun

Driving the Bus

Last Ride of the Week

(at our pitstop halfway home)

Just call me Macaroni...

No one ever tells you how much of parenting is bittersweet.  So many things seem to either be a blessing in disguise or great on the surface, but really complicated underneath-- and most the time, a bizarre combination of the two.

Take bonding, for example.  While I would never want anyone to call Charlie a "Mama's Boy", deep down, I would love to be his rockstar/hero/best friend/confidante/etc.  At the same time, there is absolutely nothing that compares to seeing him mimic Jason, pick out his clothes to match Jason's, or go into a rapturous dance when he hears Jason's truck in the evenings.

On the flip side, though -- when you're #1, you have a lot more work in store for you.  Right now, Charlie is going through an all-Daddy, all the time phase.  As in, Mommy tries to lift him out of his crib, "No, Daddy do it!" or Mommy tries to sit down next to him on the couch, "No, Daddy!  He's a boy!" 

Clearly, Charlie has recognized a bit of a physical difference between myself and him and his father -- and decided that I'm not in the club.

Yes, I'm changing waaaay fewer diapers, barely ever responsible for restaurant manners, and enjoying more free time than I've known since early 2009, but it's more than a little bit heart-breaking to realize that I'm not the "go-to-gal" in his life anymore.

After quite a bit of thought, though, I think I'm starting to understand the situation from a 2 year old perspective.  You see, Jason is pudding -- always special, always exciting, always a treat.  And me?  I'm macaroni -- a day to day favorite, comforting, sometimes even craved, but no match for dessert.  Looking forward to the next few decades, I think I actually prefer being the macaroni -- not quite as exciting as pudding, honestly, what is?!?

A Perfect Combination

Ahhhhh....

That is the sound of a perfectly easy vacation.  Last night as we rolled on home from Florida, I was in a state of perfectly blissful relaxation.  Crazy, right?  After sharing hotel room (and sometimes bed) with a 2 year old for 4 nights, spending my days at the Magic Kingdom, Monkey Joe's, arcades, Bass Pro and the beach, and suffering through a Time Share sale?  Yes!  I'm not sure I've ever had a more relaxing vacation.

We met Matt, Erin, Tyler and Elizabeth at Disney to share some of their summer vacation, and it was fabulous.  By the time we arrived they had the whole "Disney Experience" figured out, so we just packed our lunch, slathered on the sunscreen and followed along.  We spent a little over 4 hours at the Magic Kindgom on Friday morning and rode 9 rides (10 if you count the fact that Jason and Charlie did the Teacups twice.  In a row!  Blech!), waiting in no line longer than 10 minutes per ride...and we did the cool/fun rides (well, except Small World, which as Tyler said was "kind of dumb"!)

The rest of the time the boys swam in the pool at Matt & Erin's hotel and went down the awesome water slide approximately 615 times.  We threw in a couple of fabulous dinners, and it was the perfect vacation.

Jason and I struggled a bit on our own once Matt & Erin left Saturday.  We took Charlie to a petting zoo, arriving at 3:50, only to find out the last tour had already left, even though the zoo was open until 5:30!  Then we drove all the way across town to Dave & Busters only to find out that they don't open until Monday, even though the website shows them open.

Nevertheless, we finally landed at Monkey Joe's (which just happened to be in the same mall as Bass Pro, from which we'd started our journey about 3 hours before...) for hours of bouncing and jumping and flirting and laughing, topped off with some pretty good pizza and a lego party in bed.

We headed North around 9:00 Sunday Morning, meandering through the Ponce de Leon park where we made pancakes at our very own table (oh yeah, Charlie heaven!), and took a somewhat sprinkly paddleboat ride, then we drove on up to Daytona where we cruised down the beach before enjoying a meal at the one and only "Boondocks"!  Finally, the clouds parted and the sun came out just in time for the three of us to frolic on the beach a bit before loading our sandy selves up and leaving the Sunshine State.  A Dairy Queen stop in Georgia helped us survive the long drive back to Summerville and was the "icecream" on the cake. 

Relaxing spa vacation it was not, but you really can't beat  four days straight with my two favorite boys!

On the Road!

"Just one moe time, Unc Matt!"

And the Battle Begins!

The Pink Princess!

"Have a Magical Day!"

Brothers and Cousins

Captured!

Ugghhhh...

With the Beast

Dumbo Ride

All suited up...

...for the monsoon!

Tuckered Out

First Fishing Pole Shopping!

Making Friends at Monkey Joe's

Pancakes!

Braving the Falls on the Paddle Boat

Flipping Pancakes en route to Daytona

On the Beach

Teaching Daddy the Boondocks Dance

The Beach!