Christmas!

Okay, so I realize that the great majority of you want to throw something at my head. HA! You can't. Yes. I realize there are two major holidays between now and Christmas. Thanksgiving and my birthday. Okay, okay, Thanksgiving.

Nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit like snow, and living in Alaska, that is easy to come by. It snowed in September, but thankfully melted away, or else I would have been singing jingle bells for months now. My husband and I have agreed that I won't decorate for Christmas until AFTER Thanksgiving. Forget Black Friday shopping, I'm getting up and decorating!

Just because I can't decorate, doesn't mean that I can't get ready to decorate right? Bug and I have been working on some gifts for Christmas, but since they are for family, and family reads this blog I can't show you those. Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. One thing I did make for myself was this ornament.

It is Bug's hat from when he was born and both of our wristbands from the hospital. I'm pretty excited to hang it on the tree. It's a plastic ball, so that means it's cat and kid proof.

Speaking of Kid, here is Bug in his new ride. He isn't quite tall enough yet, but thinks it is HILARIOUS. He has already been in his first hit and run. He knocked over a table, and thought it was the funniest thing ever. Once my heart started to beat again, I guess it was pretty funny.

On The Move...

The other day I was sitting in the chair and watching Bug play by himself. I encourage him to be as independent as possible because when he isn't independent, he ISN'T!

He doesn't crawl yet (but oh so close!) As he was playing with his moose (shutter) he rolled over to his belly...grabbed the table....and did THIS!

Shit. He's on the move! We are screwed. I had no idea that a 6 month old could be SO active! I really thought that other 6 month old babies were...well, more baby like. He's more like a Tasmanian devil.

What's really fun? Electric cords! Even more fun is when they are still plugged in. Sigh. (Mother of the Year here of course took a photo first before removing the cords from his hand.) He can have EVERY.SINGLE.TOY he owns out and he still goes to the cords.

For now I'm going to study up on childproofing. I think that step one is to watch Jurassic Park. Their dinosaurs got out, but I can just improve on their fences, right?

Here's what I'm thinking:

Learning to Be Grateful...

...even if it is for Broncitis.

Bug hasn't been feeling well for a week. He had a cold, but just didn't seem to be getting better, so this morning I took him in to see a doctor. Poor guy has an ear infection starting and bronchitis. He's on antibiotics and a host of other things. His dad is allergic to penicillin, so now I am sitting here staring at him to make sure he doesn't break out into a rash or anything else.

I learned early on in motherhood, be grateful for what you have, even if it's bronchitis.

BB (Before Blog)

When Bug was about 3 weeks old we were given a referral to go to Children's Hospital in Seattle. Bug was having a hard time swallowing and sucking and his primary car physician wanted to rule out any issues. (I loved her.)

I'll save you the long story of our appointment. At the end we were given a diagnosis of "low muscle tone" and sent on our way. The OT that we saw told me that it was at the low end, but still in the average range. We were given exercises to do, and that was it.

I was heartbroken.

I've taught Special Education for 10 years, and if something were to be wrong with Bug, I wasn't sure I had the strength or the heart that the parents of my students demonstrated on a daily basis. They were stronger than me.

As I walked out of the hospital going over the "what ifs" in my head, and feeling sorry for myself,  my attitude was quickly adjusted. It was a beautiful summer day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the warm breeze was blowing the scent of blossoms. It was a perfect day.

That's when  I saw them.

A mom and her son were sitting on a bench right outside the hospital.  He was hooked up to more bags than I could count without staring. He was thin and his skin was gray. He looked so frail.  His mom was sitting right next to him holding his hand with both of hers, he had his eyes closed staring at the sun. She kept staring at her son with a half smile on her face.

I realized what an ass I was for worrying about low muscle tone.

I wanted to walk over and hug that mom. I wanted to do something for her, but realized that the only thing she wanted, I could never give her. Before Bug, I would feel horrible when I would see a sick child. I would think how hard they had it, and wish them better. Now that I have Bug, I think about the parents too. I am also thankful for every cough, cold, and sniffle. I am thankful that Bug is healthy and he outgrew his problems.

The entire way home I cried. Not for Bug, but for the mom and her son and now every time we go to the doctor I think of them.

Facebook knows me well. It sort of freaks me out with what it places as "ads" and "Suggested Pages to Like" It always suggests blogs, baking or cooking sites, or sick kids. I always like the sick kids pages. Not that "liking" a page does anything, but if Bug ever (God forbid) had an illness, I would want everyone to pray for him. So I do.

Mr. Frog and the Great Adventure (aka-How I lost and found my mind.)

It amazes me on a daily basis how much life has changed with Bug. Things that upset me before, don't bother me now, and things that never bothered me before upset me now. Things I said I would never do that I ended up doing (that list is long.)

Enter Mr. Frog.

I can remember a few instances in my life where I've seen frantic mothers searching for their child's (insert item here). It never dawned on me what the big deal was, and why everyone seemed so frantic. They'd ask and I'd tell them "Haven't seen it." Not once did I offer to help.

When Bug was born he couldn't suck. We went to physical therapy at the Children's Hospital in Seattle (that was a humbling experience in itself, and another story.) We worked on his muscles and his "suck" but he really had a hard time. He also really wanted to suck. ALL THE TIME. I'll leave the details out, but no one was happy. Before Bug I said "no pacifiers." Anyone who wants to judge me for giving it to him....well, I'll leave those details out too.

Enter Mr. Frog.

Frog was AWESOME because Bug could grab him and hold him in his mouth. I could sleep for more than 20 minutes. Everyone was happy.

Long story short. Bug loves frog. We love Frog.

We lost Frog!

Sunday we went to Fred Meyer to pick up some groceries. Usually I watch frog like a hawk because he's not tethered to anything and losing him scares me (I like sleep.) Bug LOVES shopping. He sits in the cart now, and I'm pretty sure I could spend 3 hours walking around, and he would be totally happy. He usually keeps his little clutches on Frog at all times. At some point between the Artichokes and the Tomatoes we noticed that Frog was missing.

It was the same time that Bug started to get upset. We assumed that Frog was tucked into the cart somewhere. I looked...my husband looked...no Frog. Bug looked at me with his big brown eyes, with tears in them. My heart broke into a million pieces.

Damn you FROG!!

I asked the stock boy if he happened to see a small frog anywhere. He gave me the same look that I've give panic stricken moms in the past. The "what's the big deal" look.

My heart broke even more.
He didn't care.
He didn't get it.
He wouldn't get it until he had a baby of his own.
I didn't get it until I had Bug.

He mumbled something the customer service desk and that was it.

I ran around the vegetable displays again, without knocking over old woman.

I ran to the customer service desk. I looked behind the desk myself because the line was so long. I'm sure that violated some sort of rules, but at that point I didn't care. I left before getting yelled at by the store manager.

I ran back to an upset baby and my hubby. He hadn't magically found it. I took off again. After running around the store again, and giving the stare down to every single baby (because you know, other babies might have somehow taken it) I saw another person stocking fruit. I'm sure he thought I was nuts, but I ran up to him and in one breath said, "have.you.seen.a.frog.pacifier?" To my surprise he said, "Yes! It's on the bread display."

Tears of joy! I could have kissed the man.

Of course I didn't hand Frog over to Bug, but tucked him into the bottom of the diaper bag to be thoroughly cleaned later.  Bug smiled and like the Grinch my heart grew three times that day. I know that down the road I will continue to do ridiculous things for Bug. Things that he will not appreciate until he's a daddy himself. Here's hoping that I don't get arrested doing it.

Note: A friend of mine told me that if your baby loves something, buy two. Switch them out each week and that way if you lose one you still have a back up. Great advice. I need to follow it!

Holdiay Bazaar and Bug's Gift

Saturday Bug and I met up with our new friends to go to a Holiday Bazaar. It was super fun, and Bug LOVED checking everything out. He really enjoys when he isn't in his stroller, and I wear him. I had him in the Baby Bjorn facing out, which is pretty much his favorite thing ever.

While walking around I saw a sweatshirt that I thought was adorable. It was $44.00 though, and a bit steep for my blood. I talked to the owner about her designs and as I was talking to her, Bug reached out and grabbed the sweatshirt.... AND PROMPTLY WIPED HIS SNOTTY NOSE ALL OVER IT.

......silence.....

The owner just stared at me.

.....silence....

I smiled and quickly forked out $44.00 and made a mental note that he can now pretty much reach anything I have. Expensive lesson.

He has pretty good taste though don't you think!? I told him it's my birthday present from him.

I'll fill you in on my "Parent of the Year" behavior on Tuesday.

Santa Letters

I finally found a positive of living in Alaska! (Okay. There is more than this one.)  I live about 10 miles from North Pole, Ak. A few of my friends are mailing me letters to send from North Pole from Santa. One of my friends said, "You should charge people for this." 

Humm.... I looked online and saw that there are people who do this, but so far NONE are from North Pole (there is a store that does this BIG, but also a lot more money.) 

So, for $5.00 per letter ( with 10% going to the Wounded Warrior Project) I am writing letters from Santa. I won an award in 2nd grade for my handwriting, so this TOTALLY qualifies me to write letters. Right? 

A lot of my friends have been amazing and have share the link. I really appreciate that! So, you will rarely see me asking you to share stuff or like my Facebook page, BUT if you have friends, family, etc. that might be interested in it, feel free to share this. Click on the pictures above for the link. 

OR I have the link on my Facebook page. 

Oh So Lucky!

Bug is still sick. His runny nose is getting somewhat better...maybe...now he has a cough. It's so heartbreaking to hear him cough, cough, cough. I'm really hoping that he is feeling better SOON (AKA-NOT a snot factory.) I also wish he could understand that he shouldn't itch his face. If he rubs his face before I notice he is doing it, his entire face looks like he got slimmed. It isn't pretty!

In trying to be a good mom I went and bought him some natural cream that is LIKE Vic's Baby rub but without all the Petroleum....Great right?! WRONG. Well....great for Bug (and that's what this is all about) not great for me. I have really weird, random allergies to things. Sometime I will regale you with the story of Bath and Body Works Cucumber Melon and the horrible grossness that resulted after....but no one really wants to hear about that....

Anyway, I put the cream on Bug's feet and then about half an hour later my lips got itchy, my arms got itchy, my face is itchy. OH parenthood is so fun!

Speaking of fun, did I mention that Bug pooped UP the back of his pajamas and DOWN the sleaves in his pajamas? He did. He needs some sort of award, and I need a bottle of wine prize for cleaning it up. It was just so impressive.

Happy November!