Ding, Ding --- round 2

Thanks to all friends and family who gave us well-wishes on Aiden being under the weather.  We went to see Dr. Martini yesterday and she says he is doing fine except an ear infection, impetigo, and fluid in his lungs.  He has this really bad cough that is getting worse and worse.  Joy.  He coughs and looks up at me like he has done something really cool and giggles.  At least he is a pleasant fellow who is doing better with Tylenol, antibiotics and this cream that cost $95!!! for his face.  Yikes.  This is when socialized medicine sounds tempting... tempting...

On another note - I can very well see why mothers of small children feel like they can't seem to get their spiritual bucket full.  This is week #4 that we will be home from church because of sick mom or sick baby.  (Mostly sick baby) and when we do get to church, I spend a lot of the meetings in the hallway.  We have 9am church and it is right in the middle of his naptime.  Being a first-born, there is not a lot of noise in our home, so any little noise wakes him up and he DOES NOT go back to sleep.  So, he is cranky the whole block of church and I get no interaction with anyone there.

Side bar comment - I also live in a ward where rude comments are the norm... I had a lady in my ward tell me that she and her husband made the decision not to talk to me because they disagreed with my choice to bring Aiden up alone - which is okay because I sit alone in Sacrament meeting and they are both in primary during the other meetings.  When do they talk to me anyway?  Yet, she sought me out to tell me this.  To be honest, I don't know her name or even know what her husband looks like, so (best 90's voice...) big whoop.    I don't think that she realizes that she is at church, of all places and it is a very hypocritical way to behave.  But this happens quite a bit.  Oh, well.  There are lovely people there, too, but the opinionated seem to seek me out.

Oh, well!!!  This too shall pass.

On a better note, the new treadmill that Chris bought is wonderful and I can walk while Aiden is sleeping.  Thanks Chris!!!

Jack Jack and the Beloved Abomination

Sounds like a fun Disney movie, eh?  Jack Jack and the Beloved Abomination?!  Actually, this post is about small observations about my son.  First, he looks like Jack Jack from Disneys' The Incredibles.  Second, the toy I bought him is the most beloved toy he has owned thus far, but is the most obnoxious, loud, ugly toy ever.  EVER!

Why did I buy this toy?  Because it was bright and piano-like... his favorite thing in the world.  It is like any other electronic piano.  It has different background beats and different sounds.  But Aiden prefers the "meow" sound (yes, all the notes end up being "meows") and the samba rhythm.  Lovely.

So, I have to think back to all the times I made snide, maybe rude comments about siblings, friends, and neighbors who have purchased toys that are so... UGLY!  I have become one of these.  

I have a hybrid piano Cheshire cat thing that Aiden, unfortunately, loves.  It is a good sign that he likes to practice, though.

Mardi Gras and Marilyn

I don't drink.  I don't party.  So, why celebrate Mardi Gras?  I really don't know, but if I don't find things to celebrate, why be alive?  Even if it is making Gumbo for the first time.  Uncle Chris, Aiden, and I did what we could think of - short of going to Bourbon Street.  We made dirty rice, gumbo, and "bead" cake.

Kilbasa Gumbo.  Turned out yummy...

Our purple and green Mardi Gras "beads".

Then we watched "Some Like it Hot" with Marilyn Monroe.  I am not quite sure how that fits in to the Mardi Gras theme, but it was so fun to see again.  I remember watching this movie often with my mother when I was a child.  My favorite line is when Jack Lemon gets engaged to the yaught-owning man... he says "I'm a boy.  I'm a boy.  Oh, boy, I'm a boy.  I wish I was dead."  Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon were HIDEOUS women.  Tony more than Jack.  Marilyn Monroe was so pretty (and I remember hearing once she was a size 14 in this movie ...hope for us chunkier women), but  I did not realize how scantily clad she is throughout the movie.

How did they get away with this??  Yes, it is a dress. But barely.

And I know that Mardi Gras is to release all a person's debauchery before Lent.  So, cupcakes are eaten, my debauchery is over.  Now for Lent.  What to give up?!   Fast food tacos.  Gooood luck with that...

Ugh...

Mondays are so hard for our little family.  This morning I had to practically drag the dog outside to go potty before I left for work.  Weekend play is so much fun and that makes dropping off little man to go to work harder than I had ever imagined.  He loves being there, they love him, he plays and naps just fine. 

It is all Mom's problem.  It was dark when the alarm went off this morning and my son was snuggled all cozy in my arms.  I kissed him until he woke up, grumpy.  Luckily, my new hairstyle from this weekend is NO work at all.  Wash, dry, brush.  That's about all the energy I had this morning.  Ugh. 

I have so much I should have done this weekend - laundry, cleaning, bills, taxes...  I didn't get any of it done.  But I did play with my boy, make Valentines, sleep in, and nap.  I will adjust the rest of my week to get things done.  Such is the life of a mom, I have decided.

I live for Thursday at 2pm when I can start my weekend. 

Valentines Fun

The puppy is as big as Aiden is!

Valentines Day is not far away and for the cousins, we made a fun, fun craft.  We made our own marbled crayons.  Okay, I made the crayons and Aiden sat in his high chair and banged a spoon.  Tomayto, tomaato.

They turned out nice, though.

I cut the wrappers off...

Broke them up to little pieces

Put them in the oven to melt

Let them cool and popped them out of the mold

Wrapped them up pretty

Next we will have to write a little clever something to make sure they know it is a crayon, not an edible something.

For better directions, check out the blog 

oneshetwoshe.blogspot.com

Those ladies - they are crafty!!

To my friends and family...

There are many of you right now that are struggling for many different reasons.  

Some of you are trying to conceive and can not.  

Some of you are trying to hold marriages and other relationships together.  

Some of you are trying to start relationships or find love.  

Some of you are trying to get past loneliness in your life.

Some of you struggle with your health.

Some of you struggle with someone else's health.

Some of you are unhappy in your job.

Some of you are jobless.

Some of you struggle in your relationship with God.

Some of you struggle with addiction.

Some of you struggle with dieting.

Some of you struggle with personality flaws.

Some of you struggle for reasons I do not know.

I am struggling with some of these too.

All of us go through tough times for various learning experiences.

Please know that you are loved.  

Mwaaaa....

Hearts and Teeth

Happy Valentines to Me!

Today was a good day.  More dental work.  Dustin put a post in my tooth.  He is such a good dentist.  I almost fell asleep during this root canal.  That is truly the sign of a good dentist.   Aunt Jodi watched little Aiden and was so cute with him.  Their little girls are so fun with him.

When I came home, I found that my Valentines gift to myself had been delivered.  This necklace is pretty, isn't it?  Well, besides beautiful, it has wonderful symbolism.  It is a heart (of course) of real rubies for Valentines Day and to celebrate the love of my life - my beautiful son, Aiden.  The heart comes to a point and has a pearl there.  That is Aiden's birthstone and since he probably will never wear pearl jewelry, I thought I would take that opportunity.  The necklace is not large, but it is priceless.

For those who think this is extravagant, let me tip you off to my dirty little secret:  bidz.com.   Very pricey jewelry that you bid on.  This same necklace is sold at Zales for $109.00.  I bid and won for $6.00 plus shipping.  For a little over $11, I bought a beautiful keepsake that will last forever.