Clingy and cranky

This whole week, you've been w h i n i n g enough to make me want to pull all of the hair out of my head. Really, I love you, but could you stop already? I try all the tricks. I distract, I cajole, I trick, I plead, I yell, I ignore, I reason... nothing. Grrrrrrrr. You're really funny and really entertaining when you're being good, it's just that good this week is hard to come by. You've thrown a fit nearly every morning about getting dressed, getting in the car, going to daycare (enter the super clingy part), etc. Then in the evening, it's even worse because you're tired and cranky.

I wonder if you're getting a nap at school or not. I'm also not entirely sure you're enjoying it there right now. You're always playing hard when Daddy comes to get you, but there are just little worrisome signs. Last week, for instance, you were being clingy and didn't want me to go. This is unusual for you until very recently. I had talked you into letting go of me, and I was just waiting for the teacher to herd the two-year-olds in before stepping out. A little ugly runt of a boy (sorry, not PC but who cares?) walked up to you holding a ball (not offering, just holding), and you got the nastiest look on your face and yelled "NOOOO!" I was shocked. I guess you don't like him. Not that I blame you, but it was kind of weird, and a bit alarming.

Anyway, I'm going to have to keep my eye on things. I'd like to start getting things set up for Montessori or other school, but you need to be potty trained first. We're a LONG way from that.

Tonight, nothing exciting but tomorrow night you're going to go to Grandma's because Daddy, Uncle Chris, Uncle Mason and I are going to the cheap seats We're going to see Wonder Stuff and it should be great. I'm out of touch with them but a concert of theirs about 10 years ago is still on my top concerts list. Very definitely looking forward to it!

Fun stuffs

So, springtime in Arizona is when Everything Happens. Sure, you say that's the case everywhere but in Arizona you really cannot do anything at all in the summer, and I think most people from somewhere else just assume you can't do anything in the winter though in fact it's cool enough. No, everyone just schedules events for spring. Which means March ushers in a whole new world of busyness.

Last weekend it was Bike to BOB. The weekend before was National History Day in Arizona. The week before that was the March of Dimes WalkAmerica.

This coming weekend, it's the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Next weekend, my company's picnic. The following Saturday I get to train some folks for a test they're taking on Tuesday, and the following Saturday? Prescott's first annual Highland Games and hopefully a stay at the cabin in Flagstaff. Now we're up to Memorial Day, and it's time for a party at Uncle Chris and Mason's house. Fast forward just 10 days and we're off to DC.

Sigh. Something every weekend until mid-June. Some take up the whole weekend, some are just one day which means surely something else will come up to take up the rest. This just as work is ramping up to our busy season too, so any escape I need will have to be satisfied by an active engagement.

And all of these things include you too. Poor thing. I hate dragging you around so much, but you do seem to at least enjoy yourself. Thank God for that.

Flickr and On This Day

So, I started a Flickr account. More on that later. But what really got me was this...

My friend Stefani started a group called "On This Day" where people post pictures of what was happening with them on this day in history. So I went back in this journal to last year (not so exciting; about Aunt Flo), and then to the year before. Now that was a noteworthy day. Two years ago today you spent your very first day in daycare.

Whoever said "Time flies" was the King of understatements.

Better

You're feeling infinitely better. I am so thankful for that, because it really was a horrific time for everyone. Daddy doesn't even handle poopy diapers well, so holding you while you threw up into a towel I was holding was incredibly hard for him. The laundry room's probably glad you're feeling better too. You refused to hurl into a bowl or trash can after the first few times, so all you would use was a towel or blanket. Yeah, that took some serious washing.

Last afternoon I got a nice reprieve as you were feeling fine so Daddy watched you while Grandma and I went to play racquetball. That was really fun, and just what I needed. I hadn't been out of the house since Saturday afternoon.

Anyway, you're back at school today and I'm back at work. If I was busy before, I'm suicidally busy now. Seriously, it's insane. I don't know how I'm going to dig out. One project at a time, I guess.

Bike to BOB this weekend gives me something nice to look forward to.

U2 and sick, too

Holy crap that was an incredible concert. Absolutely awesome. I wouldn't have changed a single thing. You had fun with Auntie Chelle too, from what I heard.

Yesterday we got lots of things done, and it's a good thing. At 5:15 this morning, you were screaming at the top of your lungs, clearly the "something's very, very wrong" cry. Yep, vomit everywhere. So, we've spent today doing 5 loads of laundry and answering your slightest whimper between naps with a bowl and a towel. I hope this passes soon and I sure hope if we get it too it passes on quickly. I'm way too busy at work to miss much, but I'd bet a lot I'm missing tomorrow. Poop. (and no, you haven't been doing that, thank God)

Tonight

U2! U2! U2! You're going to spend the evening with Auntie Chelle while Daddy and I indulge in a little U2 enjoyment. I canNOT wait.

Quick update

Still swamped at work, but wanted to log in a few interesting things lately.

Last night you slept better, thanks to exhaustion and maybe a little Benadryl. The Benadryl wasn't just for sleeping, though. You have some very weird rash going on on your face. Anyone who knows you in real life knows you have uber-sensitive skin, and that Keratosis Pilaris thing, but this is different. You were incredibly itchy last night and no amount of Neosporin, Benadryl cream, aquaphor, vaseline, Lamisil, or hydrocortisone would stop you from scratching your chin. It was awful. You were scratching it in your sleep! Other than being raw this morning, it seemed better. I still don't know what it was.

Current favorite: Finding Nemo. You want to watch it when you wake up, when you get home from school, before going to bed - you even call out Nemo in your sleep! You will watch it from credits to credits without complaint. It's kind of freaky. I actually really like the movie, but it's scary that I really do think I have memorized the whole thing from beginning to end now. *sigh*

What else? Hmmmm. I guess that's it for the moment. Grandma's picking you up today because she feels she hasn't gotten to see you enough lately. Fine by me! Daddy's issuing the AIMS test at his school today so I'm sure he can use a break.

(Editors Note: I was getting a TON of hits for Keratosis Polaris here - because I had it misspelled. If you find this site from those keywords, please try searching for KERATOSIS PILARIS instead and you will find infinitely more useful information. Thanks!)

Tired

You shredded my last nerve last night. I don't know how I managed to stay so calm about the whole thing except by remembering that you couldn't help it. Your nap schedule got off enough that it resulted in an evening and night filled with alternate fitful sleeping and furious screaming. It was a LONG night.

Yesterday was fun though, and you got to see Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Angel, Thomas, little Brian, etc. The day before was NHD and you got to run around the capitol. That's always fun.

I'd elaborate but I'm exhausted and swamped. Hopefully I'll feel more chatty later this week. Oh, and I do have your newest photos up. New link to new album in the family and friends blog. Email me or post in comments for the password.

Sweaters in summer

So, the sweater story got far more complicated than expected. I drove all the way out there, and they couldn't find it. Anywhere. I waited over a half hour and they never could find it. So, I went home, getting there around 7 p.m. on Friday night. So much for my evening! Oh well.

Turns out they called on Saturday while I was at the walk and they found it. They Fed-Exed it and we got it in yesterday. Just in time for 90 degree temps. Oh, well. You still need it in the mornings.

Anyway, things are rolling along as usual. NHD is this Saturday and you'll be playing with Daddy all day since all of your babysitters and backup babysitters are unavailable. Grandma's not happy, but such is life. You'll get to come and see us all and be our mascot around lunch time though. My only worry is that's your nap time too, so you might be cranky.

You really are incredibly entertaining. You talk masterfully, with new words all the time and sentence structure that amazes me. I try to encourage the talking and I work really hard to understand you since you seem to throw less tantrums if you feel like you're getting your point across. Of course you still throw the no-you-can't-have-that tantrums, but those are unavoidable. I try the whole reverse psychology positivity thing, "Yes, you can have a cookie, but not until after dinner" and that does sometimes help.

No biting this week. Tomorrow you're taking pictures. Great. I still don't have the electronic copies of your three pictures from last month. Maybe I'll ask Grandma for those again.

March of Dimes - DONE!

It was a great day for a 6.2 mile walk. You did pretty well, just getting fussy around mile 5 when you finished a popsicle and wanted more. Generally though, I'm proud of the shape I'm in and had no trouble, and I'm more proud of the $295 I managed to raise (including my company's match). VERY AWESOME! Thank you everyone who participated with your donations. I'll enlist you to participate with feet next year. :)

Sweater fun

So I tried to find an example of your rhinestone initial sweater, but I can't. Anyway, you wore it to the wedding on Saturday and I've been sort of trying to find it since. Only last night did I realize it really is gone and freaked out a little.

I called the GORGEOUS resort where the wedding was held and said, "Hello, I attended a wedding there last Saturday, and I believe that I may have left my daughter's sweater behind." His answer? "Oh! Is it small and kind of maroon with..." "Yes, with an initial 'C' on it!"

"Finally! We know who the owner is! We've been trying to figure it out all week."

So apparently your sweater has been the source of some angst for them the past few days. I will be picking it up in FOUNTAIN HILLS *sigh* this afternoon at the front desk.