Happy Turkey Day

Today was big guy's second turkey day and it was awesome! The day was relaxed- finally we all had a good night's sleep. We played in the morning while I prepared the bird. We ate an early lunch, big guy actually ate with very little fuss- perhaps secure that hubs and I were really staying the whole day. Then big guy and I went up for a little nap and passed out! I woke up and couldn't remember if it was morning or afternoon. Then I went downstairs while hubs snuggled with big guy.

I very casually put in my sweet potatoes, cut up potatoes for mashed, and chatted with Grandma J and Aunt B. Then Grandma C, Grandpop J, and Uncle I came in and the real fun began. Hubs and big guy got up. Big guy was super clingy and tired- giving me great bear hugs for about a half hour. I finished cooking- still unstressed- I think b/c yesterday I heard an interview on NPR about aiming to just have all food room temperature instead of piping hot. TOok some of the pressure off of me.

We sat down and big guy was so excited to have everyone around. He ate turkey and munched on steamed string beans like a champ! After dinner we ran around outside in the crisp fall air. playing ball, stepping on the rotting pumpkins ( I mean why won't those squirrels eat them?), and generally screaming with joy. Following our romp outside- we played wii- the ABBA dance game- so fun! Uncle I was really getting those moves down. And big guy was dancing right along with him. That right foot was stomping up a storm with joy. dessert brought with it an obsession with hershey kisses and baby carrots. All in all a great turkey day!! full of fun, food, and family!

get off my purse

THis was the line I heard for most of my childhood from my mom (gmom Dino). She always had a black purse with a long strap that hung to her waist. And it happened to be just the right height for my sis and I to pull, hang on, grab when we needed her. And she would say, get off my purse. I never really understood why it bothered her so much, until I had a toddler.

Big guy is in some kind of super clingy phase. He will run over and raise his arms while grunting to be picked up. and if I don't pick him up, he'll grab onto my legs and hang on me. If I'm wearing pj bottoms, he will actually pull them down sometimes b/c he's hanging on that hard. When he does that I'll let him pull them all the way down and then step out of them! Then he's all annoyed on the floor with a pile of pants. Probably not nice but it does make me laugh.

He just wants to be on me all the time. And on the one hand, I love all the snuggles- he gives the best hugs. But then sometimes, I'm just like, GET OFF! stop grabbing at me, hanging on me, whining when you aren't on me, just let go! ah, that felt good. I know the time for him to want to hug and love me will be short lived- at least this is what I tell myself to get through the times when I feel like running away and perhaps replacing myself with a giant stuffed monkey. Damn- can't afford a giant stuffed monkey!!!

taking out the trash

big guy has recently become obsessed with the trashcan. He loves throwing things out and so far he's only thrown out trash or recyclables. If there is a paper towel I've just used, I can hand it to him and say, "please throw the paper towel into the trash." And he'll gladly take the paper towel, run to the trashcan, lift it up, put it in, and close the lid. then of course he is very proud of himself! And this morning I heard the lid open, I look over and he is putting the recyclables, which are right next to the trashcan in. very cute. I wonder if throwing things in the toilet is next, which would definitely not be cute!

shutterfly

I use shutterfly for pictures now of the big guy. Mostly b/c when he got his pics taken in Feb for school, if I paid online I got a free photobook for big guy. And then they starting sending me all these freebies- like free shipping and handling on any purchase- boo-ya, I got a free photobook and didn't pay for shipping. Then I got some ridiculous 200 pictures for free and only paid like $5 for shipping on some easter promotion.

Love it! And most recently I got a free 75 prints for sharing with friends, so, the past few days I've been uploading all 1,000 photos since february so I could choose some prints. In looking over the past eight months, I can't believe how much he's grown and changed. I decided to make a photobook every year for big guy to see his life, since I am terrible at ordering prints (except when I get free promotions). And I clearly cannot be counted on to make a photo album or scrapbook. I've yet to finish my scrapbook from my bridal shower- that was in 2008! But I'm doing my best to keep a log of how big guy has grown- through pics and obviously through his blog! but seriously, join shutterfly and get some free prints!

and we're back!

following our accident on thursday, we had a rough couple of days/nights. big guy was essentially miserable which makes for a miserable mamabear. big guy's teeth hurt- he couldn't chew, he was tired, and essentially a crank. But each day brought back a little of my big man to the fun loving boy he is. Saturday we took an epic three hour nap and then went to the zoo in the afternoon. We watched turtles, saw monkeys, went on the little train ride, ran around the treehouse, and ended the trip with the big cats. And big guy ate a great dinner and slept 12 hours!

Sunday we went to NJ to visit Aunt K, Uncle E, and cousin C for the day. We ran around, played with cousin C's trucks and trains, and then melted b/c he was so tired, but of course refused to nap. But we took an hour walk in the chilly air and felt much better. big guy ate a huge dinner and fell to sleep quickly. and although he didn't sleep well at night, he woke up in a very good mood this morning. Chatting happily, eating, and playing. Same goes for tonight- we went for a walk, saw some trains, ate yummy white pizza- and he really ate- a slice of pizza, a fruit/veggie bag, and a bunch of dried strawberries. And he was back to being my happy bubba. And so we're back!!!

and then I unloaded

yesterday when I picked big guy up from school- his face looked weird. And he was covered in blood that apparently his teacher didn't notice. Then I learn that he smashed his face into the concrete sidewalk and no one called me. ok...not good. We were home and he was being such a crank. I moved his nose back and forth- didn't feel like rice krispies, so not broken. Then we went to eat dinner- he freaked. And while we were relaxing after some yogurt he was biting a train track and burst into tears, ah-ha! After checking out the teeth I saw all around his two front teeth his gums were bruised all around them. defintely not good.

Anywho- a trip to the Dr's office later- he's fine, but he really hurt his teeth b/c they slammed into his gums. And there is the possibility he could have damaged his nerves. WTF! I'm pissed. Especially since big guy got up at 2:45 friday morning and wouldn't go back to sleep. hubs and I gave him some tylenol and went to watch the early morning news. Ah, like those beginning days again.

Hubs stayed home with big guy. And I called the daycare to say he wasn't going to be there and then unloaded all of my frustrations on the director. About his teacher, reports I get that say he's tired and sensitive every day, how I need people in there to be more cognizant of him b/c he's injury prone, how I cringe every time I walk into that building to hear how the teacher has nothing nice to say. Clearly not what she thought the call was. She's got some work to do to try to fix the problem. More on that later. Most importantly, I feel better getting it all out, even if his teacher is going to give me and hubs serious stink eye!

clean up

this morning big guy was running around naked before getting dressed from school. He ran over to hubs who was washes some dishes and was reaching for the paper towel roll. Hubs helped him grab a paper towel and then big guy dashed away. Curious, hubs looked around the corner and saw that big guy had peed on the floor and was cleaning it up! I guess kids really do pay attention to everything you do.

Another couple of "cleaning" things big guy does- if you give him a tissue or napkin, he'll wipe his nose and face. And when he gets something on his hands he'll rub them together to get off what's on there- like the move when you are finished with something and are cleaning your hands of it.

so cute!!!! And he's started to like putting things away in their respectful buckets. He'll pretty much put anything away once I start, except for his crayons- he's obsessed with coloring recently. He needs to have the crayon container empty at all times. Big guy's favorite crayon? The jumbo yellow crayon- might explain his sunny disposition!