"here it comes!"

i feel like there's always a lot of pressure on the first blog after a long hiatus.  do i discuss recent events?  go back to where we left off?  somewhere in between?  the month of december was a whirlwind with gobble's birthday, christmas, and an end of the year cold / flu that seemed to knock my whole family on our butts.

they were all so exciting to see gobbles enjoy all of the holiday events, but i'll catch up on them another time.  right now it's a milestone i want to discuss. 

the big P.  spelled P-E-E.  yup.  in what was likely a fluke, my boy peed on the toilet on sunday night.  for a few months now, we've had the potty chair out in the bathroom and occasionally offered it to gobbles at random times.  more recently, every time i've gone, he's sat down on his potty and played with the flusher.  we tried a few times to get him to take his diaper off while he sat, but he always refused. 

my mom had him at her house on sunday during the day and he asked her to use the potty.  she doesn't have one yet, so she offered him the toilet.  she told me he sat there for a minute or two but nothing happened and they were on their way.  later that night, back at our house, gobbles went to the steps and asked to go potty.  hubs and i took him upstairs and got out the potty, but he refused to take off his diaper.

i offered gobbles the "big boy potty", aka toilet, and he ran over, ready and proud to sit on the throne.  i sat him up there, made sure his aim was downwards, and we waited.  of course in my pregnant state i got uncomfortable squatting in front of the toilet helping him balance, so hubs took over.  less than a minute later, our son proclaimed Here it comes!!! Here comes the water!!!  and promptly started peeing.  it was both hilarious and shocking.  my boy, the toilet man.  we cheered for a few minutes and then i had to ruin it by telling him how exciting it would be to not have to wear a diaper anymore.  with that, he started shrieking at me to Put diaper back on!  Diaper back ON, mommy! 

so, it most likely was a fluke, he hasn't asked since, and daycare doesn't really start to push the potty training until the next classroom (2 1/2 year olds).  all this coupled with the fact that the lil lobster roll will be here in the next few weeks, i'm sure any progress he does make will be halted and reversed as soon as she arrives.

nevertheless, i'm quite proud of my little gobbles.  and of course later on that night i shed a tear for another milestone gone, and the shock of just how big my boy is getting.

and since we wouldn't go as far as taking pictures of potty training, i'll leave you with pics of gobbles and his new big boy bed.  we had to reclaim the daybed and convert it back to a crib, so he gets a regular ol' twin bed.  and until we move, any guests will be sleeping in princess sheets and sharing a room with a newborn.

oh just reading a book, hangin out!

'scuse me spoonsie da bear, you're on my bed!

cheese!

i suppose there's room for two of us - but no more pictures please!

all pinked out and ready to go... hoping the princess room will be the clincher to sell the place!

2 YEARS!

Dear Mr. Gobbles,

I don't even know where to begin son.  You are two years old today.  TWO.  All day when I was writing the date on documents, I kept writing 12/9/09 instead of 12/9/11.  It's a date that changed my life forever - every second of the past two years have been a blessing.  I barely even remember the time before you came into our lives or the person I was before I became a mother.  But at the same time it seems like just yesterday when your Daddy and I were in the hospital, waiting with bated breath, not knowing what was ahead of us. 

A few months ago when we were at the same hospital for your sister's ultrasound, the scent of the soap in the bathroom flooded my mind with memories and took me right back there.  Your Daddy went home for sleep a few hours after you were born and I was getting some much needed shut-eye myself.  The nurses brought you in for me to feed you, and when you were done we sat there together, just the two of us, for hours.  I told you all about the life waiting for you at home and marvelled at your teeny fingers and little dark eyes.  I never imagined you as a two year old, my favorite little sidekick.

This morning we threw off your routine by having me wake you up - I was so excited to say Happy Birthday to you that I couldn't wait.  You climbed out of your bed and crawled into my lap where I was kneeling on the floor, and you buried your head in my shoulder.  I held you tight and rubbed your back telling you how much I love you, not unlike the day you were born.  You looked up at me and I kissed your cheek, which is less and less like a chubby lil baby cheek every day.  And of course, like every crazy mother, I began to cry.  Your Daddy walked in and said "yup, next thing you know he'll be driving".  It's true, time is going so fast and with every milestone you make, I decide that this is the age I love the best.

The twos can't be that terrible, right?  I mean, sure, you threw your greatest tantrum ever this morning right after the emotional scene I describe above.  You just weren't in a Daddy mood and would rather me help you get dressed, instead I left to get a shower to get ready for work.  It was probably my own fault for throwing off your routine anyway.  As I hurried through my shower I could hear you wailing, I'm sure you were kicking and waving at your Daddy too - with your most emphatic NO NO NO! 

As soon as I got dressed and gave you a reassuring hug, you flipped a switch and started chatting about your upcoming breakfast.  You were still shaking from the intensity of the tantrum, and I realized I was looking into a mirror.  Daddy has never gotten upset like that, me, on the other hand, I get that way a lot when I'm upset.  Trying to catch your breath and still snorting snot long after you feel better.  Sorry Gobbles, you got that from me. 

As we made our way down the stairs I grabbed a cup off the banister to bring down to wash.  You threw another fit, telling me that the cup belonged on the banister.  True, we leave it there when you go to bed for quick access when you cry for water (we can't leave your water cup in your room just because you're then up and down up and down for hours sipping, dumping, and splashing instead of making your way to dreamstreet).  And when we got downstairs, you ran into the kitchen to tell me exactly where to put your high chair.  I do not know why you are so. particular.  But I think I'll blame that OCD on your dad, because c'mon, I'm pretty laid back, right?  **Note to those of you who have known me for years.  Ok, fine, I used to be a giant control freak, so really it could come from me... but that is a part of my former self that I feel has been refined since motherhood - I'm more prone to rolling with the punches now... I think you have to be once you have kids**

Anyway Gobbles, back to you and the magnificent twenty-four months we've had with you.  I hope your birthday party goes well tomorrow, and that you and your friends enjoyed your school celebration and mini cupcakes today.  Your teacher told me all about how excited you were for your birthday to bring in treats, and I wish I could have been there to watch you celebrate.  You have a whole other world at school, and when you tell me about all you do I am so proud.  The other day when you told me about Laila giving you a hug, I asked if she was your girlfriend.  Sure Mom.  Yup, in the last week or so all of the sudden you're too cool for Yes Mommy, now it's just Sure Mom, Sure. 

Like I told you this morning Gobbles, I love you so much, more than you will ever know, at least until maybe you have kids of your own someday. You mean the world to your Daddy and I, and we are so so proud of the caring, friendly, happy, super-smart little guy that you have become.  You may only have a few weeks left of being our only child, but you will ALWAYS be my little boy, my baby.  I love you.

Love, Momma.

ps.  We were so excited and happy for our birthday today (Mommy- I TWO.  TWO!) That you couldn't sit still for a picture.  So all of my phone pics are blurry, but they capture the mood just right :)

No pictures, please Mom!

Let's twist and JUMP instead!

Ok, ok CHEESE!

Now lets go clean the kitchen floor!  We have a showing today!

Not only am I particular about where things go, I'm also the best helper ever!

Alright Mommy, All done!  Let's go to school for Happy Birthday Gobbles!

tis the season

Last weekend we dove into the Christmas season in full force.  The decorations had already been hung since two days after Thanksgiving, and our tree ornaments were aching for a place to be hung.  It was our anniversary weekend (6 YEARS!), so grandma & grandpa were ready and willing to take Gobbles so that hubs and I could relax, have a nice dinner, and sleep in on Sunday morning (fail on the latter - Lil Lobster roll had me up and alert by 6... the woes of pregnancy).  Anyway, we crammed a weekend's worth of holiday fun into the hours before noon on Saturday.

C'MON Mommy!  Let's GO!!

As soon as Gobbles was finished breakfast, we got him dressed and headed to the mall to get in line for Santa.  We received a special surprise for being among the first 20 kids in line and got a free muppets music CD, which will become our staple car ride anthem as soon as the Christmas Music Season is done.  Gobbles was pretty well behaved waiting in line for almost a half hour, the morning is his best time of day.  He counted the presents, went off about the snow (which the kid behind us gently reminded him was cotton), and asked to ride the carousel horses.  Funny, he is petrified of real carousels!  I was surprised to hear some parents a few parties back yelling his name.  Their boy, probably about 7 or so, was misbehaving.  Gobbles' name isn't terribly popular, but it's been on the rise the past few years.  Here's to hoping it tapers before getting too high...

Things were going swimmingly until we were next in line and the child in front of us wailed, A Christmas Story style, upon being placed on Santa's lap.  Gobbles turned to us with wide eyes Santa scares me, he said.  I shrugged it off and told him "well just tell Santa that you want a choo choo and a basketball hoop!  you'll be fine".  We decided since hubs is the less stressful parent, he'd approach the big guy and I'd stand back with encouragement.  As soon as they approached Gobbles face tightened and he wrapped his legs tightly around his daddy's waste.  He began screaming No no no Daddy!  Mommy!  Please!  but it was too late - his face was red and his mind was made up - no sitting on Santa's lap this year.  Thankfully, the photogs had an alternative for this (hmm, it happens a lot I take it?), hubs was to kneel down in front of Santa and place Gobbles on his lap.  The result?  Priceless!

Close!  But our Santa was a lot nicer...

Yup.  Pure Torture.

After the Santa trauma, we calmed our boy with his favorite food of the moment - a soft pretzel.


Ok - so we tortured him a wee bit more with his cool antlers.



Better Now?  Good!

After the mall, we headed out to get our tree!  Gobbles didn't really know what was going on at first, but he was thrilled to run around the nursery at the store checking out all of the goods... He darted back and forth among the trees, stopping to tickle some of them along the way...?...Yea, he's got an imagination of his own!

At least I'm wearing my hat, so what if it's crooked, right?

Find the toddler

Hey Mommy - Catch me if you CAN!

Here I go!

Tickle Tickle TICKLE TREE!!!

After we successfully found our tree, we loaded up the car and headed home.  My parents were waiting for us when we got there to take Gobbles for lunch and his nap.  Thank God, because I don't know how we'd set up the tree with him running around - being 32 weeks pregnant I wasn't much help.  Hubs gently reminded me that two years ago I was 41 weeks along and helped him just fine.  "You were nesting, we had to have all the Christmas stuff up, remember??"  Boy how quickly I forget!

By the time we got the tree standing and lights strung (the fun decorating would wait for Gobbles' return Sunday afternoon), I was ready for a nap.  Afterwards, it was off to Marigold Kitchen for our anniversary dinner.  We've only had a handful of date nights in the last year, but somehow keep returning to this restaurant, it does not disappoint.  We spent hours eating good food and drinking wine (well one of us drank wine), a wonderful night in all.  My husband must have set something off though, because the next morning when I woke up, I began to clean, organize, and make lists.  The nesting has begun early this time, I'm hoping it's not an indication of an early baby.  Stay put till February girl, you can do it!

quips from the road

As the days are getting shorter and it's getting darker earlier and earlier, our commute is changing.  For the past month I've been working a 5 day week as opposed to the 4 day / longer schedule I enjoyed for the past 18 months.  The one good thing about that is now I get to pick up Gobbles on the way home every day.

He has just finished the transition from Young Toddlers to Older toddlers, and long gone are the days where he's had to be ripped from my arms screaming and yelling.  Each morning we discuss which friends he'd like to see today - most of the time it's Laila and Abbey, the two little black girls with whom he is infatuated.  The other day Laila was upset when her dad left the room, but promptly ran over and gave Gobbles a big hug which seemed to make her feel better.  Glad my son can comfort.

This morning, after a rousing round of "Wheels on the bus", as we discussed his friends, Gobbles pointed out that, No, he did not want to see Noah this morning.  Curious, I asked why.  Noah take Gobble glasses off.  I told him, just say "Noah, that's not nice".  I smiled as I heard my son repeat to himself, whispering in concentration Noah, that's not nice, trying hard to memorize this response.  It sux hearing that the children like to play with his precious "eyes", but they're just kids and they don't know any better... last week it was Diana, who is a good 6-8 months younger than Gobbles.  Hubs and I just keep reminding our son to use his words - last week there were two days in a row where he bit another child - once in a squabble over a chair and once while trying to claim a block.  My reaction was sheer horror and apologies, but hubs had no surprise - our kid's been bit at least 20 times in the last year, he probably thinks it's an acceptable reaction. 

Thankfully he fared better this week, with a stellar (so far) report.  I think it's been a good week partially because the transition from November to December yielded TWO pizza days this week.  Gobbles loves his pizza days and the addition of free fruit to go along with it has made him so happy.  Well, until yesterday - on the way home I asked him about his pizza and pears.  I was reading his daily report and it stated that he ate all his pizza but did not like the fruit.  It's disgusting Mommy.  I don't like it, I put in the trash.  I don't know how he got disgusting correct in context, but I find it even more hysterical that he remembers both his reaction and what he did with the food.

The rest of the rides, both to and from school, consist of counting school buses, pointing out the "Sep-A-Ta" buses, and discussing all of the different trucks we see.  Earlier this week we had an exciting ride home - we got to see two fire trucks and a handful of police cars.  Stop Mommy - Listen?  Hear it?  Fire Truck!  proclaimed my son when I started talking about Christmas music.

Christmas Music?  Of course it's been a part of our commute for two weeks now.  Gobbles enjoys Frosty, Rudolph, The little drummer boy, and Dominic the Donkey.  But Hall & Oates? Stay away from my boy.  Every time they come on No Jingle Bell Rock Mommy!  Turn it OFF!  Don't know what these guys did to deserve it, but they are not a part of his Christmas catalog this year.  Oh and the actual holiday Christmas?  It's name is Christmas Music.  Mommy, look - Christmas Music Lights!  or Christmas Music Presents or Christmas Music Tree. I guess I've been a little too overzealous with my "Hey Gobbles - let's listen to some Christmas music!!"

The final part of our evening commute is turning left at the McDonalds.  We turn left mommy! (ps - he's not a super genius - he just picked up that every night I tell him we're turning left, he doesn't know his left from right yet).  A few weeks ago he was still calling the McDonalds "Mickey-Donalds", but someone at school must have corrected him, because the other night, we pulled up and he proclaimed McDonalds!  French Fries Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs (etc etc, he runs through all of his fave foods, not necessarily what's served there).  And I said "Yup, that's Mickey-Donalds".  No Mommy, it's MCDonalds.  Seriously, he's correcting me now!

I could talk about our commutes all day, because sadly, on Monday thru Friday, for those 35 minutes (15 in the morning and 20 at night), that is the most relaxed time for Gobbles and I.  We chat and chat, either recovering from the chaos that was the breakfast rush out the door, or anticipating the ever looming bedtime which so quickly follows the rush to get dinner on the table to fill hungry tummies.

The most bittersweet time (for me anyway) of the commute is every morning, when I walk away from the building.  While he's still in the toddler room I can peek in and see Gobbles rush off to find a toy, play with his friends, or hug a teacher.  Sometimes he'll be waiting at the window for me for an extra goodbye, or sometimes he'll already be engaged in the morning gossip with his buddies.  Either way, the guilt that tugs at my heart strings always makes me pause as I pull out of the parking lot, trying to shift my brain from mommy-mode to work mode.

Bye Mommy.  I love you!

Now Please, 'Scuse me Mommy.  Friends and I want to see the Garbage Truck!  That's really why we're at the window!

to give thanks.

. for having the means to buy the food to host a dinner that lends to wonderful leftovers that are filling my belly as i write this.

. for having the home to hope to sell to be able to have more room to have more people at our gatherings.

. for having the family and friends to fill a house with love and warmth at said gatherings.

. for learning the patience to deal with not getting all that i want all of the time.

. for having my wonderful husband to continue to amaze me with his love and support in all aspects of my life.

. for cheese sticks to feed my son to quench his appetite on days when he will tolerate nothing else.

. for our soft puppies to provide hugs and cuddles when no one can find the words to comfort.

. for the coincidental string of seemingly painful events to lead us to doctors to enlighten us on our son to provide the necessary means to see correctly to thrive and develop like the rest of his peers.

. for sidewalk chalk to entertain on unseasonably warm days.



. for the survival of a miracle dog to be the canvas for my son to place his stickers.

. for the little reminders to stop and enjoy the preparation for a day to feasting and giving thanks...and to lend a helping hand

Mr. Gobbles

. for having survived a tumultuous year only to come out stronger and more appreciative of the little things in order to conquer all else as it comes...