Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Glass Cage of Emotion

Last week Lucy threw her prized binky in the trash. It was her idea. She has been talking about it for months.

"When I turn 3, I am going to throw my binky in the trash".

"On my birthday I say bye bye to the binky".

"Mommy, did Finn say bye to he's (yes, he's) binky"?
"Yes, Lucy he did".
"Aidan"?
"Yes".
"Alana"?
"Yes".
"Me too Mommy".
"Okay, Peas. I look forward to that".

So last week she did. She was super proud of herself. Talked about it all morning, even told the cashier at the Target.

Then it was time for nap and things got a little hairy. So I let her "borrow" one of Hayes' binks. Don't judge me. I thought there was a chance she might not like that idea and I really needed to do laundry not fight with her over a nap.

WRONG! She was pleased as punch.

So that went on for a few days. Until Sunday night, when we went cold turkey.

She has been doing okay. Naptimes have been a little shorter. It takes her longer to fall asleep. A couple days ago I found her at nap fast asleep holding a wand, wearing a tiara, having changed from jeans to a tutu and with her bathroom sink running.

And then there was last night. We were staying at my mom's house and she had the special treat of sleeping in Fancy's bed. From the living room we heard intermittent wailing and gnashing of teeth. And then all was quiet.

When my mom went to bed, this is how she found Lucy.















And here is a close up for good measure.



Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Happy Birthday, Dad

At my rehearsal dinner

Today you would have been 64.

You have been gone a month and still I find myself picking up the phone to call you or thinking, "I need to tell dad (fill in the blank)". Just yesterday Hayes was playing with the talking Elmo Live Doll you bought Lucy and I went to get my phone to take a picture for you.  You would have delighted in him flapping his arms back at Elmo.

On Sunday we went through a lot of your things, deciding what to keep and what to let go. Such a strange feeling to see your journals, books, jewelry, etc spread out on a table. While it was hard to see so much of it, what really set me off was a pair of cowboy pajama pants. All the other objects reminded me of you healthy. But those pants reminded me off all you had to go through to stay with us for as long as you did. And it was just too much.

Today I am wearing one the things I took, a pair of gold stud earrings. Nope, they weren't anything you bought for me or for mom. They were YOUR earrings from one 3 the times you pierced your ears. I smiled when  I put them on this morning because they reminded me so much of your spirit and approach to life.

Driving the boat, Tommy style



So I will try not to be too sad today and instead celebrate you.

I miss you so much but I am very thankful for the 32 years I had with you. I realize now that while you are gone far too soon, it never would have been long enough.

Happy Birthday, dad. I love you.  

Friday, February 24, 2012

Flashback Friday: Camp Pendleton Mud Run, 2010

I recently discovered that there is a mud run in Houston. Y'all, I could not be more excited. Upon discovering the run I immediately sent a challenge email to my family and friends compelling them to join me in costume for the race in costume.

I can't be sure if they are actually glad I moved back.

Anywho, in light of our new fitness challenge, let's flash it back now.

2010 WORLD FAMOUS Camp Pendleton Mud Run

This event is ridiculous. The course is military training course at Camp Pendleton near San Diego. It is offered 5 separate days and the event sells out in hours. Both times we ran it I stayed up until midnight when registration opened to make sure we got a spot.

During the 10K run you gets sprayed by water trucks, run through streams, trudge up a super fun hill, jump into mud pits, climb over walls and at the very end, crawl on your belly through a 30 foot mud pit.

And if you are awesome, you do it all in costume.

The whole group before the run.















Drew, Lucy and me before festivities.



















Mandi and Me after the run.



















The ladies















Dirty group shot.















Definitely find a mud run near you! They are a blast and a really neat way to push yourself!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Can I vent?

I love my son. I really do. He is sweet and snuggly and will eat anything I put in front of him (except raspberries) but he WILL NOT DRINK OUT OF A CUP.

Correction: He will sometimes drink out of certain cups IF I hold them up to his mouth. If I think I have a cup figured out, he will decide he doesn't like it anymore.

If I put the cup down in front of him he will scream, cry and yell. Then he will flop over on his face and continue the tantrum.

We went to the doctor for his 12 month check-up last Friday and the pedi told us that we shouldn't be using the bottle anymore. And if we have to use the bottle then it should be for only water. "Of course", I say dutifully. Fine by me, I cut Lucy off at a year and everything was fine. It is safe to say that Mr. Hayes does not agree with the new plan.

After a really long day of him crying, arching his back, and hitting cups away from his face, I gave up. The last 5 days we have been struggling with the cup and constantly worrying that he is going to get dehydrated and so tonight I fed him a bottle of milk.

Happy guy sucked it down. He looked so proud of himself.

I, on the other hand, was discouraged / frustrated and sucked down several bites of Ben & Jerry's Late Night Snack. and a cookie. ARRRRRGGGGGGGGH! I had been doing so well with the hiatus from sugar. Only a cookie on Valentine's Day and the occasional breath mint (which was more so I didn't offend Lucy's preschool teacher with my coffee breath than any kind of sugar craving).

I know, I know, tomorrow is another day. And I will go back to staying away from sugar until after the race on March 3. But tonight I am discouraged.

Okay, that's it.

Venting complete.

Over and out.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

This week...

We got a new toy for Hayes.
We realize that this looks super hobo and needs
another bag of balls. I have horrible space perception.
It is a daily struggle. 
I made heart shaped pancakes for Valentine's Day. 
Hooray pancake pen
Lucy got really excited about aforementioned pancakes. 

Hayes just ate them. 
Lucy wore a "very, very special heart birthday valentine dress" with a "coka dot" bow to school. 

We attended Lucy's school party where they decorated their own cookies.
She licked the knife between each frosting application.
Just something to be aware of if Lucy ever makes you cookies. 

















We had heart shaped grilled cheeses and red soup for dinner. 
Lucy had yogurt because her throat was "spicy". Meaning she has a cough.

Daddy brought Lucy 3 pink roses because he is her valentine. 

I sang "happy birthday" to Hayes at 6 AM. He was unimpressed. 
I asked him if he wanted to get up and he thought that was a good idea. 











Not a bad week, my friends. Not too shabby. 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Happy 1st Birthday Hayes!

A year ago today, we welcomed Hayes Thomas Dean into our family. He has blessed our lives beyond measure.

At one he...
Is an eating machine.
Picks up his food between his thumb and pointer finger - crab pincher style.
Loves steamed veggies, apples, lentils, beans, and cheese
Still loves climbing up the stairs. Especially while I am cooking dinner.
Thinks baths are super fun.
Thinks Lucy is the bee's knees.
Loves it when daddy comes home at the end of the day.

We love you Hayes-man.








Sunday, February 12, 2012

You have a baby...in a bar

(quick, name that movie)

Yes, we had Hayes' 1st Birthday Party in a bar.
In our defense:
1) They serve food, so it's basically a restaurant.
2) They have a couple highchairs
3) They have a kids menu
4) He's one and he doesn't know anyway

We celebrated Hayes' birthday with family and a few close friends at Armadillo Palace. We love AP because they have great food, cold beer and a stage for 3 year old girls to run in circles on / bands to play. Armadillo Palace is a fun place to have parties because they let you bring in your own desserts and will reserve tables weeks in advance.

We let AP take care of the appetizers, but I made Cherry Coke Float cupcakes and Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies for dessert. As for the party favor, Hayes treated his guest to scratch off lottery tickets. Gramma won $10! Don't spend it all in one place, Pam.

The dessert table: smash cake, cupcakes (before I put the cherries on top),
and sugar cookies
Hayes' smash cake was an homemade funfetti with vanilla buttercream.
 
Our best attempt at a family picture

The grandmas and grandkiddos


And the award for best picture of the night goes to....
Fancy and Hayes
Hayes and Molly enjoying their first dinner date. 
I'll trade you 3 cherrios for 1 french fry
















Let there be cake!






 The red eye in this place was crazy.
Here Lucy is trying to summon the cake
with her crazy vampire eyes.
 Iif I keep smiling, no one will notice". 


















Trying to get a picture with the birthday boy as he tries to leap from my arms. 
Also known as, "how I spend most of  my life".
 
That'll do


 Not a bad effort, Hayes-man



Our little man will be one in 4 days! It went by so fast.

Happy Birthday Week, Hayes!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Flashback Friday: Princessland

If you think princess mania is at an all-time high in your neighborhood then you should try living in Southern California. Our house in Long Beach was about 15 miles from the Princess Motherland aka Disneyland. We purposefully kept Disney princess talk to a minimum in our house. We knew we were moving and didn't want to create expectations we couldn't maintain.

Also, between you and me, some of the movies are scary and he princesses are way to skinny. And at the risk of sounding too "I am woman, hear me roar", I want Lucy to be her own princess not Cinderella Lucy.

All that being said, we did want Lucy to experience Dinseyland before we moved. Drew had already started working in Houston, so Fancy and I took Lucy to the Magic Kingdom. It was so fun to see the park through her eyes. She loved every minute of it, except for meeting Goof. "He be scary". And Gluto (Pluto). Also scary.
Seeing the castle for the first time




















We rode lots of rides. 
It was imperative to get a purple elephant
Riding the tea cups for the 5th time. 

Hayes-man  holding down the fort
Finn came to play.

The buddies waiting in line for the Princess Walk.

Oh, excuse me. I mean the "Princess Fantasy Faire", as we were informed / corrected by the grown man wearing a plume hat, tights and puffy shirt.

Basically it is a little path where you walk along and meet three princesses.

Sounds like a "princess walk" to me, ye ole royal attendant

The princesses rotate throughout the day, so you never know what ya gonna get. (That line is most effective read in a Forrest Gump voice.)

They decorated crowns.




I am sorry Eric and Drew. It really can't be helped. 



























Meeting the princesses for the first time.
For the record: She had never heard of these particular princesses or seen their movies
Also for the record: That didn't matter one bit.
Just look at the face. She is so excited. 
"Where my touch your hair"?
Showing Snow White her castle
After Finley left and we watched the parade there was a desperate plea to go back and visit the princesses again. 

Is it just me or is "princesses" starting not to sound like a real word anymore? From now on they shall be called Princi. 

We traded in the paper crown for a "real" one and we were off to meet more Princi. 
"Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. What's your name"?
She did not want to leave Cinderella. 
This is how Lucy preferred to wear her crown.
LBC style y'all. It's how we do. 






All in all, it truly was a magical day.

Right up until the 7:30 PM meltdown.

Side note: I don't know what's wrong with the spacing. Anyone having this trouble with Blogger?