I'm in love.

Spent some time today with M's extended family, and Bepah bought lunch at a kosher deli. In the spread he got was a jar of three types of pickles--Kirby (ew), "semi sour," and "sour." I was in love with the vinegary, garlicky sour pickle. It was wonderful.

Sick

I've been fighting off something for almost a week now (sore throat, constant sneezing, etc) but it seems to have hit me full force today. Having spent much of the morning sleeping, the only remedy we could find that seemed ok was Tylenol Cold (nighttime), which I'm not even positive is ok. So, this stuff just knocked me out, and here it is, 11:00, and I've achieved nothing on my list.

So, this is how I get to spend our time off/weekend. I can never figure out whether it's better to be sick during the week (which can be so awful, not getting the chance to sleep in and really recover, being exposed to even more germs) or to be sick on a weekend/day off (extra sleep, no real stress/pressure, but then, it's your OWN time).

At least I feel less sinus pressure and less headachy. I also think that once the sleep medicine wears off, maybe I'll be able to get something done.

Please vote for A!

Every day, please vote!
THANKS!

Hi,

I just entered my child in the "Parenting - Baby and Child Model Search contest" and we need your vote to help us win!

You can view my entry and vote for me here!

Thanks and wish me luck!

Please vote for A!

Hi,

I just entered my child in the "Parenting - Baby and Child Model Search contest" and we need your vote to help us win!

You can view my entry and vote for me here!

Thanks and wish me luck!

Commonly used words

Wordle.net is responsible for this nifty little thing. It's funny how it's changed when I made it last, in January 2009!

Stuff

A is very much influenced by what he sees and does at school. Today, he picked up a marker and starting making shooting noises. M said he saw this happen on the playground; a boy who is a little bit older did it, was scolded by the teacher, but it seems as though A has learned it too.

Then there's the famous "Don't talk to me," which A said to me one morning with a growl. He then said, "Don't say that word!" (I have no idea what the word was!)

As for #2, movement is getting stronger, and this week, can be felt on the OUTSIDE (occasionally).

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Imagination, stories, and other tales

A has come to love the movie Cars so much (he tells us it's his favorite), it has worked its way into his imaginative play. If you aren't familiar with the movie, this is Lightning McQueen:



And this is the truck who takes him where he needs to go, Mack:



A has a Matchbox race car that is blue and red that he calls Lightning McQueen.

And, he is hauled around by "Mack," last year's Hess truck:




Not sure why, but I started singing "Yellow Submarine" to A this morning while changing his diaper. He then asked to hear the Submarine Song, and has been asking for it all day.

We then read Maurice Sendak's In the Night Kitchen. There's a section in which they chant, "Milk in the Batter, Milk in the Batter!" and so A was looking through the book chanting "Milk in the Batter, Milk in the Batter! Yellow Submarine!!"

Another story

The other day, A said to me, "...all night long!" So, I started singing Lionel Richie.




He responded with, "Mommy, sing! Sing Lightning McQueen song!"
Ok. So, I sing this, which is the "Lightning McQueen Song"...


At the chorus, I realized the lyric is, "If you're going my way, I wanna drive it all night long."

Ah, my son and his obsession.
Strangely enough, we've reached a point where he no longer wants to wear his Cars hat. After wearing his yellow hat or his Cars hat every day for weeks, he no longer wants to wear it even when I offer... like yesterday, which was a TERRIBLE hair day. Alas.

Funny guy

A few funny stories this week.

Up first, my 2 year old locked me out of the house yesterday. I was in the garage, putting my school stuff in the car. He came out with me, then went back in. Despite my saying, "Don't close the door, A," he did. I then heard him lock the deadbolt, which I didn't even think he could reach. Turns out he can. It also turns out the rest of the house was locked, and my keys were in the house. We also have no key to unlock that door. SOMEHOW, I got him to unlock the deadbolt, and wasn't even late to work.

Also yesterday, my son decided to wake when I was about halfway through my shower... and after Daddy had left for the day. He came into the bathroom, cried when I told him Daddy had left for work, and left the room. I called to him to come back in and play with his (bath) toys, to no avail. I quickly finished up my shower and went to find him... I discovered A on the stairs. With a banana in his hand. Apparently, coming back UP. He had gone downstairs, pulled his stool over to the banana spot, pulled a banana off the bunch, and then came back upstairs.

I had another funny story, but at this time can't remember it.

The Aquarium!

We went to the aquarium in Camden today with Grampy and Grammi. After taking 333 pictures, here are the best of what I got...





And, since that posted so small, click here to see the slideshow larger.

Pumpkin Picking Pictures

Our pumpkin picking pictures. I didn't take out the bad ones, it was hard enough adding all of these to photobucket.

A bit delayed

A little late, but here's the ultra sound picture at 12 weeks on October 8, 2009!

We were just on our way home from voting when A started to say, "Go Mets!" then turned it into this:

SME

My friend from college took several pictures of A. You can see her story about how much of a ham he was on her blog, but here's the picture she shared! Go here for her blog!

Imagination.

It seems our son has discovered imaginative play. Today, he was reenacting the Cars movie, using his Hess truck (Mac) and red race car (Lightning McQueen). He even wanted to take "Mac" with us for our errands. He was playing with something this afternoon and said, "Bye bye, Thomas!"

Yesterday, we did not go trick or treating at all. Instead, we played in the rain and mud at the University of Delaware's homecoming game. The team lost. The band rocked. The alumni band was REALLY BIG!! A had a great time, and was the PERFECT CHILD ALL DAY (once we left the house, that is). He took about a 30 minute nap on the car ride home, and ultimately fell asleep during post game sometime. He was a little charmer, and did a great job yelling "Go Hens!" and "Blooooooooo Hens!" He had a great time pointing out that "they're running!" too.


In the parking lot after the game, the drum line came over to where we were and A got to see them drum. He was in awe, fascinated, and terrified, all at the same time.


A's first tailgate experience!




Having a blast in the drizzle and with the railing... more of these to follow.




The Band.


Some did not make it to postgame.



Running on a great big football field! (This is back to before the game)



Anticipation.... (Actually, I think he's talking with Aunt Jen here). Due to the way we were seated, A refused to allow our customary family photo.



A Puddle! Oh, boy!!



Ham!



From the field; In my Life!



Another puddle, OH BOY!




No longer at all shy with Mr. Puddle.






Maybe I do, maybe I don't, need to say that my son was wet from the bottoms of his feet to at least his knees. He, of course, had not a care in the world and would have happily left his socks, shoes, and jeans on. We nonetheless stripped him down to his diaper and took him promptly to Kmart for some quick new clothes.

In all, a fun day at the game was had by all!