The week in review

I have been carrying my camera around with me but not taking pictures, so I don't have a lot of pics to post. A week ago today, we got to see Grammy, Papa, Granddad, and Grandma during their 3-hour layover at RDU en route to Europe. It was so great to have Grandma and Granddad meet Colin. I took my camera, of course, to document the meeting, and then let them escape to catch their flight and completely forgot to get a picture. Sad. On Friday, Jason headed for the coast to compete in a triathlon. I wasn't there so...no photos. The surf ended up being so rough that they cancelled the swim, so he technically did a modified duathlon. He still had fun. While he was gone, the boys and I hung out with my brother Mark (also spouseless for the evening) and his kids. We took them out to dinner, where it looked like we were a couple with 3-year-old twins, a 2-year-old, and a newborn. Wouldn't that be fun? Or something. When we got home, the kids and I made a spider cake. I didn't get a photo of that, either, but I made the same cake 2 years ago:

Ours looked just like this, except for the little artistic variation that only 3 helpful toddlers could add. We slept over at my parents' house Friday night, and Saturday morning my angel of a mother took both boys while I slept in. It was wonderful! Jason got back just in time for us all to go to a pig pickin' thrown by his boss. I took Morgan's apple pie, but didn't get any pictures of that, or the event. Hmmm...not doing so hot this week.

We finally got a break from the drought today and yesterday. (Hurricane season? What hurricane season?) Since we can't play outside, my friend and I took our boys to Pump It Up today. It's an indoor play space with all inflatable play areas...slides, basketball court, obstacle course, etc. Ethan had a great time. He must have gone down the slide 30 times. Here he is playing with Jack:

Finally, today Colin turned 8 weeks old! I cannot believe it...I feel like he was just born. He doesn't look like it, though. He is almost 13 pounds and way too long to be a 2 month old. He is becoming more and more interactive and fun. He's being a doll at night...sleeping from 9:30 pm to 4:00 am most nights. The only issue with that...I am not going to bed when he does, so when he thinks that 4:00 am is morning and time to play, I am perhaps a little less than enthusiastic...maybe even borderline grumpy (I know, hard to believe...since I'm such a morning person). I need to start going to bed earlier. Maybe after the World Series is over.

Here is the not-so-little guy:

In perhaps the most exciting news of the week, Ethan pooped in an actual toilet instead of his little plastic potty. I never thought it would happen. I was so excited I ran to the phone to share the happy news with Jason. Then I thought, "Has it really come to this??" I can just imagine the conversation: Me: Honey, guess what? Ethan pooped in a toilet! One that flushes! J: Um, that's great, sweetie. [In my imaginary conversations, he calls me by endearments of my choice.] Me: I know. I never thought it would happen!! Should we go out tonight to celebrate? J: Uh, sure. I have to go save people's lives now. Bye. Luckily, I came to my senses just as I was about to dial, but then I plunged into a severe depression. I changed the channel from "Backyardigans" to "Price Is Right" to make myself feel better, which is perhaps equally depressing, but let's not dwell on that for too long. On a side note, I miss Bob. Drew Carey giggles too much. Oh, and...GO SOX!

GO SOX!!

Fun at the Fair

We went to the NC State Fair Wednesday night after Jason got off work. We could have spent several more hours (and dollars) there, but we have both weekends booked, so we had to squeeze it into one fun-filled evening. Ethan loved the rides. He loved the slide: And crashing with the bumper boats:

We had to drag him away from the rides to the food. We enjoyed grilled corn on the cob, lemonade, pizza, giant bbq turkey legs, deep-fried Twinkies and deep-fried Snickers. The food was so good...

...but the clear winner was the deep-fried Twinkie: The best way to wash down fried food? With an ice cream cone, of course.

Two tired boys and my pack horse...I mean, husband. Even carrying both boys back to the car, Jason outpaced me and I had to practically run to keep up with him. Showoff.

Punkin' in a Patch

Here's our requisite annual photo of Ethan in a pumpkin patch. When you're a parent, you have to document your child every year in certain poses (on Santa's lap, in front of a cake, in a pumpkin patch, first day of school, etc.). I wonder how many mom-blogs will feature a similar photo. See? 2005: Ethan with pumpkin. Check. And 2006...wait...I don't have a pumpkin patch photo from 2006! I'm a terrible mother! Luckily Morgan snapped this one of him in an apple orchard in the fall of that year. That totally counts. Whew. On a related note, Ethan helped me make pumpkin muffins for his preschool class. He's such a good little helper.

The recipe called for some orange peel, which meant I got to use my microplane. I love my microplane. It makes me happy inside. Even if I only use it every other year and Jason thinks it was a frivolous purchase. And Ethan got to do this: How does he know how to do this? Must have learned it at school. Or from his dad. Definitely not me.

On a completely unrelated note, Colin has been smiling a lot, but his smiles are so elusive and our camera is so slow that we haven't been able to document it yet. Jason did get this post-smile expression that made us both laugh: In my last post I mentioned we had a tough weekend. In the post before that I mentioned I have a great husband. As evidence of both, these were delivered to my door yesterday morning: Thanks, babe. These made me question my plans to jump out the window and head to Mexico. You always seem to know when I need flowers and I always appreciate it.

In closing, the Ethan quote from today:

"I'm done with Carolina. I want to go back to Boston. I miss Boston a lot."

Where the heck does he come up with this stuff??

Random Monday

We had a tough weekend around here. I decided to make a major toilet training push, and since we haven't mastered Ashley's water bottle trick, that meant staying near home watching a Potty Training DVD all weekend, which is enough to drive any mom crazy. In addition, Colin has decided life is too exciting to sleep (during the day or at night), and Jason worked more hours on call Saturday than he does on a normal day. Despite all that, we managed to get the house clean, have a fun evening at the park on Saturday, a great dinner Saturday night, and went for a nice long walk as a family last night, after which Ethan announced, "That was a really fun day today." It helps that the weather around here is gorgeous! Here are a few random photos from last week: I love the slightly mischievous look on Colin's face. I have a feeling this is not the last we've seen of this particular expression. This photo obviously has major exposure problems, but I love it because Ethan took it, and it reminds me of a sweet moment with my boys. Every day Ethan grabs the camera and says, "I need to take a picture of you and baby Colin." Cute. Here's what Colin looks like after he's eaten. He's not asleep here, just completely drunk on milk.

We have a busy but fun week planned with preschool, playdates, a 3-hour layover visit from Grammy, Papa, Granddad and Grandma on their way to Europe, and a possible visit to the NC State Fair, if we can squeeze it in. (Jason is dying to try some of the deep fried fare...they are featuring fried PB&J this year. It sounds gross.) Jason's running his 3rd triathlon this weekend on the coast and hurrying back in time for all of us to go to the annual pig pickin' put on by his fellowship director. It should be lots of fun!

Happy birthday Jason!

Jason turns 34 today. We met 10 years ago this month and he's even hotter now than when I first fell for him. I am so proud of all he has accomplished personally and professionally, and so grateful I am his wife. He is an amazing husband and father. Ethan adores him, and so do I. He makes our lives fun!! Here is Jason at 6 weeks old (Colin's age today), and a few pics from this year: Competing in his first triathlon in March. With Ethan on the Maine coast in April. Catching a "monstah" bonefish in Grand Bahama in June. At Plitvice National Park, Croatia (also in June). Happy birthday, sweetie! I hope the next year brings even more adventures. We love you!!

Blessings

We blessed our cute baby Colin this past weekend in our home. Grammy and Papa travelled down from New York, via Richmond, Virginia, due to a cancelled flight. We were very grateful for their persistence in getting here and had fun hanging out with them. We went out to a nice dinner on Saturday night, then I took a 4-hour nap on Sunday while Jason and his parents took the kids. It was so great!!

We had my parents, Jason's parents, and my brother Mark and his family over for the blessing, and celebrated with dinner and a birthday cake for Jason afterward (thanks again for the yummy cake, Mom!). It was a great weekend!

Cuddlebug

Grammy and Papa arrive in 2 days...hopefully these will tide them over until they can see Colin (and Ethan) in person. Colin doesn't have a wide variety of facial expressions yet. This about sums them up. First, here is how he looked after being left alone for FOUR minutes while I tucked Ethan in bed. Colin doesn't believe in being left alone in a room...ever...You can put him down as long as he can see and hear you. Here he is 15 seconds after I picked him up, trying to decide how quickly to forgive me.

Thirty minutes later, after a bath, massage, and snack...feeling a little better about life and his mother.

Ten minutes later...out cold on mommy's chest...his favorite place to sleep.

Brothers

The purpose of this post is to document the following so I can refer to it in a few years when the boys are trying to kill each other: Ethan has really warmed up to Colin. Yesterday, Colin was enjoying some tummy time while Ethan watched a TV show. I stepped out of the room for a few minutes at about the time Colin decided he was done with tummy time and started fussing. When I walked back into the room, Ethan was on the floor lying next to Colin, rubbing his back and saying, "It's okay, baby Colin. It's okay." Later that day, while I had Colin up on my shoulder burping him, Ethan came up and whispered to him, "Colin, do you want to play with me when you get bigger?" Tonight while we were in Target Colin decided he was starving (it takes him about 57 seconds to get from "Hmmm...maybe I'm a little hungry" to "I'm about to die here!"). We had a bottle of formula with us but rushed home so he could breastfeed. He was screaming in the car on the way, when Ethan reached across the middle seat, picked up the bottle and popped it in Colin's mouth, saying, "Here you go, baby Colin." He held it there for the 3 minute ride home. So sweet! (That's right...I live 3 minutes from Target, and that's if you get stuck at the light. And 4 minutes from Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano's, Pottery Barn, and countless other amazing stores, and 4.5 minutes from Cold Stone, Old Navy, Best Buy, REI, and P.F. Chang's. Luckily for my wallet, having 2 young kids with you on shopping expeditions limits your ability to do much browsing.) On other note, there has been a new social development at preschool. Here was the conversation on the way home today: Me: Who did you play with at school today? Ethan: Justin. Me: Did you play with Ryan, too? Ethan: Yes. Me: Did you play with Mason? Ethan: Yes. Me: Did you play with Bea? Ethan: No. She's a girl. Boys have to play with boys. Me (surprised): Oh....really? Um, okay. (A few minutes pass in silence.) Ethan: Mom, are you a girl? Me: Yes, I am. Ethan: Well, I can just play with you. Umm...thanks. I think. Finally, since I have no new pictures to post, here's documentation of my failed, pathetic attempt to get both boys to nap at the same time today so I could sleep, too. Since Ethan no longer naps, it's not like my chances for success were that great...