Wednesday, October 29, 2008

big boy bed

It's funny how you obsess over milestones. When will he roll over? Was that his first word? Will I ever stop changing diapers? But then they roll over and over and over and it's on to the next one. It's almost as if they have never not been able to roll. I remember when I thought Monkey would NEVER be out of diapers . . . and poof, he's a potty pro (okay, maybe "poof" is a bit extreme). Same with talking . . . now I wish he'd be quiet once in a while! The incessant questioning is exhausting (but still pretty cool - he's a smart little bugger).

We wait so anxiously for these events, not realizing that each one erases our baby and replaces him bit by bit with . . . a big boy! The last milestone on this crazy rocket ride was achieved last weekend - the big boy bed. Monkey was a bit late on this one (transitions are tough for my boy). My mom even tried a super-cool firetruck toddler bed. He talked about sleeping in it a lot . . . but it was all talk. Although it was a great toy for firefighter play - we rode to fires many times a day in that bed - no sleeping was ever done. But I guess we don't give him enough credit because all the wondering about how a teenager would fit in a crib was for naught. We came back from vacation and he told us he was ready to take apart the crib with daddy. So Friday evening they did just that and he slept in his new bed for the first time. He slept through the night and everything (although I certainly didn't - I was in and out of there like a jackrabbit). Around midnight I found his head and shoulders hanging off the bed. He spoke rapidly for about a minute while I moved him (something about a house) then sighed and drifted off. So here we are with a big boy. And yes Monkey, "I so proud-a-you."

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday


Fall

For more Wordless Wednesday check out 5minutesformom.com or Wordless Wednesday.


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P.S. I will start posting again . . . check back on Thursday!
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Friday, October 24, 2008

Poppy Rocks

Here's my latest pick (Dress For Success) at Seattle Picks.

We're back, we're tired and Monkey is whipped up into a frenzy! M and Monkey are currently taking apart the crib with tools . . . wish us luck with the big boy bed transition. YIKES!

I'll get back to posting if we get some sleep tonight (not likely!) but in the meantime check out where we stayed the past week: Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal and Colette's Bed & Breakfast near Port Angeles.

Friday, October 17, 2008

On the Road Again!

We are off for some much-needed R&R. I will return to blogging end of the month. See you soon!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Monday, October 13, 2008

Buyer beware

Monkey loves books so in order to not go into debt we go to the library a lot (and also because attention span is a bit short - his and mine!) Every time we go he insists on reading a bunch of books and then we scramble to pick out books to take home.

My advice to you? Pre-read your selections before checking them out! Aside from the annoying books we've brought home we've picked out some wonderful books but books that have made for some awkward discussions with a toddler. Now on to the books (which truly are great books and perfect for a child going through a tough situation):

A few months ago we got to discuss death after reading The Forever Dog. This is a touching story about a little boy whose dog dies. The premise is that he'd made a pact with his dog that they'd be "friends forever" and after the dog dies the boy is mad that the dog broke the pact. The mother talks with the boy and tells him that his dog will be forever in his heart (thus the forever dog). I think this is a perfect book for a child who has lost a pet . . . but not necessarily for MY child who has not! Let's just say we talked about lot about death and such while we had that book on loan. We probably read it at least twice a day - so it's a great book but know what you're getting into!

The most recent selection Now One Foot, Now the Other (down to once a day now) completely made me cry on first read. This book is a very sweet story about a little boy whose grandfather (his best friend) has a stroke. Luckily there's no death in this one because I don't think I could have handled introducing Monkey to the possibility that his grandfather might die. It really affected me much more than Monkey. Truly, I'm glad we got this book because it is very touching and we've had good discussions about how people are different, etc. (The grandfather "sounded like a monster" when he was first trying to talk after coming home). The premise is that the grandfather taught Bobby to walk (now one foot, now the other) and after he comes home they switch roles and Bobby helps his Grandfather. There's more about building towers, elephants and sneezing (which Logan loves) but I'll let you read it for yourself.

Friday, October 3, 2008

The Moose is Loose

Check out my latest pick (Senor Moose) in Seattle Picks. Have a good weekend!

P.S. I liked "dare we say dive" better but I'm definitely not an editor!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Nothing says Halloween like a sucker & a bucket on your head!

Monkey wants to be a pumpkin for Halloween this year. He talks about it a lot and I was able to find a cheap pullover deal at Target (2nd to last one!) so hopefully he will actually WEAR a costume this year.

Last year we fashioned a Bob the Builder costume (complete with a little tool belt I got at Top Ten Toys) but alas, he would have nothing to do with it when the day came around. We decided he'd go as "obstinate boy" instead. We still had fun and with the crush of kids and coats hardly anyone noticed he wasn't wearing a costume.

Every year I create calendars for my parents. I use pictures from each month the year before of (you guessed it) Monkey. Well, for October the year before I had very sweet photos of Monkey in his lion costume and with pumpkins, etc. Well this year all I could scrounge up were a photo of him as "obstinate boy" with his first sucker and one with a jack'o'lantern bucket on his head. The caption for October reads, "Nothing says Halloween like a sucker and a bucket on your head." Let's hope this year we'll have some better picture opportunities.


Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Purple Beans

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday


Did you know purple beans turn green when you cook them? Very confusing and a bit disappointing for Monkey (which is why I took these pictures so he would remember the before while looking at the after).

For more Wordless Wednesday check out 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.