Target

As I mentioned James loves to shop at Target. I know its because of the free kid's cookie, but yesterday I held off giving him the cookie for as long as I could. He hadn't had a snack, so I figured it was okay. He sits really well in the cart nowadays. I took these pictures with my camera phone yesterday.





Later, James wandered around the house in his Dada's shoes and golfed. He is back into golfing! Just in time for spring and trying out those new big boy clubs with his Dada!



On Saturday we took James to the mall. I think I mentioned this before. We tried the play area in the mall, and I thought it was just okay. These hard play structures make me nervous. And a lot of the structures had ramps/slides but no stairs. It made it hard for James to climb without slipping down in his socks.





These are older camera phone pictures. This first one is one of my favorites.





I am home on my spring break! Yesterday we didn't do much but run that errand at Target and hang out at home. I had lots of time at home to make a good dinner so I experimented and made Chipotle Lime Chicken tacos. Jim said they were the best tacos he ever had! We had leftover Chocolate Intensity cake from Grandpa Roger's visit, and that was also the "best" cake Jim ever had. He's already requested it for his birthday :) James really liked the cake too but he called it "pie". He switched between his Dada and me, asking for bites of pie. He had a chocolate face afterwards. Cute!

Funny thing: We were eating that delicious dinner last night when all of a sudden James said, "Oh my god!" and then farted loudly in his highchair. We looked at each other and bust out laughing! I guess someone (me probably) says OMG too much. I've switched to Oh My Goodness but James is still walking around saying OMG.

Other favorite phrases:
Watch this!
Be right back!
Just a second.
Look at this!
I found it!
________ (insert object), where are you? Oh, here you are!
Watch TV.
Hungry! Peanut butter and jelly.

This week's plans: Today we are solo. Jim has work and then pool. James and I are headed to the library this morning and then Bacon and Eggs tonight. Tomorrow we are going to Minneapolis to shop for a birthday present for Esme (Wonderment) and then we are meeting Grandma Rosie for lunch! No plans for the rest of the week yet, though we hope to see Tia Ana and Tio Rich this weekend for a visit!

Oops

Yeah, I jinxed us. James woke up at 3am and really didn't sleep much after that. Jim laid on the floor next to the crib, but James didn't really calm down. I must have dozed off eventually, but I remember watching the clock at 3:30, 4:15, 5:00, 6:00, and then finally at 6:45 I woke up and James was awake too. I didn't see any point in trying to sleep.

James woke up happy, of course! He ate two bowls of oatmeal, applesauce, and cinnamon. Yum. He's also become quite the snacker, which we will have to slow down. An hour after breakfast he was crying for PB&J! Growth spurt?

Grandpa Roger will be here soon for a visit!

Dreaming of cookies

James has been sleeping so much better. I will hate if I just jinxed us by writing that!

Last night I checked on James at about 10pm, right before I went to bed. He had rolled over, so his blankets were half under him and half on top of him. I gently pulled one of the blankets out and he rolled over slightly and mumbled, "Cookie..." I almost laughed out loud! I finished settling the blankets on him and he mumbled "Cookie.." again. So cute!

James must have had great dreams about cookies! He sure loves them. I think I've started a bad habit... Whenever we stop at Target for groceries or random items, he loves it. He will shriek "Target! Shopping! Cookie!" Yes, Target, like Cub Foods, gives a free cookie to kids. I take advantage of this most of the time because it helps keeps James busy in the cart while I shop. Sometimes I bring my own snack or I distract James with a random item (peanut butter jar or something like that) but the cookie is his favorite obviously!

We went shopping today at the mall. Jim had something to return to Macy's and I knew that James is growing out of his pants. The next size up is 3T and they seem SO LONG, but I know he'll grow into them in no time. He also needs some elastic waists because Sandra is teaching him to dress himself and be more independent. He doesn't do it for us, of course, but he is able to pull on his own pants, put on his boots, and put on his jacket! He does the neat trick of laying the jacket right side up, but upside down, he shoves his arms in the arm holes, and then flips the jacket up and over his head, and it falls into place. Its hard to describe and imagine, but it works.

So anyway, we found a few pants and then I also remembered that Grandma Julie had sent some sporty 3T pants, so I think we're good for a bit. We also found some VERY COOL spring/summer pajamas- STAR WARS LEGO! Wow! We would have paid almost anything for them, but lucky for us they were half off. Woohoo!

Everyone needs to laugh like this

Uh Oh

Dada is sick now. Jim came down the stomach flu too on Monday. He worked from home that day and was feeling queasy when I got home from work/daycare with James. He went to lay down and we didn't see much of him after that. Jim worked from home again today but while sick. I'm glad his job is understanding.

With Dada out of commission, James and I played and kept each other company. There was some TV, some drawing, some playdoh. The pictures below are of James and playdoh. He got the great idea to stack the balls of playdoh to make a "snowman". He also learned a new color- pink!

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I took James to the doctor today because he has had some funky smelling breath lately. If you search online, you could alarm yourself with medical information and self diagnosis. I refuse to do that anymore. I could worry myself silly. So we went to the doctor and it turns out that his tonsils are fine, his stomach, heart, lungs are normal, his eating and bathroom habits are all pretty typical for a two year old, so we ruled out a lot of things. James just needs to brush his tongue more :) So we leave it at that. James picked out two new toothbrushes at Target- Cookie Monster and Dora! He was very excited to open them but not too excited to let me attack his tongue!

A long weekend in pictures

This was Thursday, the first day James was sick. He was so sweet and mellow. He really didn't need to be this mellow, he thinks its fun to snuggle with a pillow and blanket. And of course watch TV.



On Friday morning, when he was quite normal, we went for a short trip to Target to get applesauce and Popsicles. He's sitting in his winter wear, waiting for Mama.





On Saturday, when I was still sick, I watched from the window as James and his Dada shoveled the driveway. Jim did most of it and then came inside to get James for the last bit of fun.









On Sunday Dada had to make an emergency diaper run and James got to play in the box. Fun!


This does NOT look like a sick little boy. He is quite well :)

Sunday night: All is quiet. Bedtime was quite easy again!

Sickness

James and I have been sick. On Thursday morning we found James in a crib full of vomit. My heart just broke thinking of the poor little guy sick through the night and then laying in his own vomit. I had to give him a bath immediately because it was all over his face, his hair, his hands... and I stayed home with him. Jim had an important work day, and I canceled my own work plans though I had to put James in the car that morning to deliver some materials to my coworker. Poor James vomited in the car :( He's such a good little boy... very mellow and calm all through his sickness.

When I talked to Sandra and called James in "sick" she told me that another of the kids was sick the last weekend and she had just found out from the parents, and also later that day I called to update her on James' progress, and she told me another kid threw up in the minivan. So it was a daycare sickness thing!

Jim came home at lunchtime that day, and I headed to work to meet my 120 students for our annual yearbook picture. I came home to the news that James was a good little boy all day- no problems, but the bad news was that he had thrown up all over his Dada that afternoon. Yuck.

So on Friday I stayed home with this sweet little boy. He was so good. So completely normal except he wouldn't eat or drink. (Slowly he's started to eat and drink now.) I ended up feeling sick during his naptime and ended up vomiting in the late afternoon. I was home with James, alone, so I would run to the small bathroom downstairs, do my thing, and then sink to the floor. As I laid there, James "helped" me. He came over to me and would say, "Help Mama" and extended his hand. He would help to pull me to an upright position. It was very cute, but I really just wanted to lay down on the floor and die! He also brought me several Ritz crackers, that he laid right by my head. Sweet boy.

I was truly miserable. I am so incredulous that James was such a sweetie during his whole sickness, because I was uncomfortable, in pain, and just miserable!

And tonight- a bedtime miracle! James cried at brushing his teeth, and his bath, but at bedtime I could hear him very sweetly telling his Dada "night night" and NO CRYING! None! Jim came down, also surprised by this change, and told me he is back to kissing his stuffed animals goodnight, laying down quietly, and saying goodnight. Wow! I hope this continues...

So I probably have tons of pictures and videos to post, but I switched to a new computer again and just don't have the energy to search for them. I will probably post again tomorrow?

Goodnight!

Grandpa

Grandpa Frank is here! He came to our house after his fishing trip, about 10:30 this morning. We had a quiet day at home.

After his naptime, Jim took James for a ride in the wagon. It was a beautiful mild day- almost spring-like :)









And then we heard a "Thump!" on the front door. Jim and James were throwing snowballs! I took these pictures from the safety of the front windows.






Uh oh! James spotted me!


A snowball at the window.


Another one!


And then Jim joins in the action.


Later, James and Grandpa share a laugh. I don't even know what they were laughing at. James really likes getting his Grandpa's attention!



After some homemade rocky road ice cream... bathtime! I tried to keep the pictures and video modest.

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James always tries to drink the bathwater. Yuck.


Cute shampoo mohawk.


This is James right as he's saying "Die...Die...Die!" and then he splashes. He doesn't mean any harm, I don't think he knows the meaning of "die".


Bedtime has been easier. Just a little crying and then silence. Let's hope for a peaceful night especially since Grandpa is sleeping in the next room!

Tomorrow we're headed to breakfast and then the park.

SuperDada

Dada and James had a great day together on Friday. Sandra needed the day off so Dada stayed home. The boys met Grandma Laura for breakfast and then a quick visit to the Eagle's Nest. I heard from Grandma Laura and Jim that James was a well-behaved boy. Grandma Laura was pleased and happy to hear James call her "Grandma".

On Saturday we spent the morning at home. James tried on my shoes in the picture below.



This is how I left my boys in the late morning. I met my friend Erin for lunch and a movie, so Jim and James had more opportunity to play together.




Jim told me that James had a great time playing with his assorted cups, bowls, utensils, etc. He also golfed a bit, and would yell to Jim, "Watch this Dada!" and hit the ball.

Later tonight, James smiled and laughed with his Dada as they had a burping contest of sorts in the car. Burping! It all started with James burping and saying "Burp!" We laughed and that started the fake burps and announcements of "Burp!"

What a happy boy!

Potty training has been postponed. James refuses to sit on the potty. Well, we'll try again soon.

We came home from our errand and it was bedtime. James did well! We heard crying for one minute only and then he must have fallen asleep. I think he's finally learning that crying gets him nowhere. It was a hard lesson for ALL of US. Yay James!

Bye Football

Its been a crazy week! Lots of work stuff and Grandpa Frank is visiting!

Well, just a quick post. I am so tired!

I made these cocoa krispie footballs for Jim's Superbowl party.


Debbie, Jim's friend, brought over this layered dip. The olive is a football!


James watches football.


Paul's daughter, Hannah, was so good with James! She played with and entertained James up until his bedtime.






James at bedtime. He always helps me pick up his dirty clothes and put them in the basket.

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Sleep update

James cried a bit at bedtime, but was sleeping within 20 minutes. He slept through the night and I had to wake him up at 7:30! He is happy happy happy this morning :) We are too!

We are getting ready for some football...

Blackmail

So again, if you are uncomfortable talking about poop or potty training, this is not the post for you.

Jim went out and bought a potty seat! He found the perfect seat- Sesame Street themed! So we tried it out and James was very excited about sitting on the "potty". He didn't actually use it, but we caught a few pictures to remember the moment :) I'm sure I can bring these out when he's 16 and relive the memory!



Notice how there is a little pee guard on the seat :)



As I write this James is crying himself to sleep once again. Last night was the worst. Two hours of off and on crying right at bedtime. And then 5-7 wakeups, where he would cry for 5 or so minutes. We didn't have to get up at all to soothe him, but we both woke up each time and it was hard. To top it off, I have a cold and I was my most miserable last night. Thankfully Dada and James let me sleep in this morning :)

I don't know what happened that James is now so miserable with bedtime. He is not a happy boy right now!

Cute!

James switches back and forth between wearing his favorite homemade hats from Tia ChaCha. Yesterday he wore this "Elmer Fudd" hat. Cute!



Good news: James slept through the night again! Yay! He went down quite easily after his bath. No peeps from him all night. We love our sleep :)