A little bit of this. A little bit of that.

Apparently "Kim Kardash," got married over the weekend.  I was oblivious about any of it until my husband wondered out loud how it went.  I told him he lost serious man points for not only knowing she was getting married, but for actually caring.....and for calling her Kim Kardash.

We're going through a serious case of the Terrible Ones over at our house.  Like throw yourself on the ground while kicking and screaming kinda terrible.  Every time it happens I step over my flailing child and walk away.  They say it's best to ignore this behavior.  I say its best to walk away so you can laugh your ass off at how ridiculous your child looks.  Thankfully this behavior hasn't happened in public....yet.  Then I'm sure it won't be so funny.

Part of me thinks this new behavior is just a phase.  The other part of me thinks he's teething.  When in doubt blame teething right??  The drool is at an all time high, as is the chewing...but I don't see any other signs.  And believe me, I've looked in his mouth more times than he'd like.  I'm one click away from going all hippy on his ass and buying one of those Amber teething necklaces.  Thoughts?

Every single day I see a car with Ohio license plates.  Seriously, everyday.  My mom used to joke about it before we moved here how often she saw then, but I thought she was just exaggerating.  Nope, it's the truth.  Somewhere a long the line there was a mass exodus from the state of Ohio and they all came here.  I guess I can't talk, we're a part of "those people."

Now that Jamie is walking more, going outside is a lot more fun for all involved.  We've started a new Sunday tradish where we visit a new park around town.  Last weekend was a huge success and we had a blast.  This weekend we found a GIANT playground within walking distance from the house that we never even knew existed.  Jamie had so much fun!  He loves climbing up all the steps and coming down the slide!  I'm seriously loving this age.  Minus the tantrums, those I could do without.

We have a wedding this weekend and I'm so excited!  It's been years since we went to one!  The dress, the cake, the drinks.....the sending of your child to his future mother in laws house for the night.  Can't wait!  I had a gift card to JCPenney's so I treated myself to a new dress.  It's super cute AND has pockets.  Who doesn't love a dress with pockets?!?  Now if only I could find some shoes.  I hate having big feet.

Has anyone else noticed how advanced shopping has become?  While buying aforementioned dress I used a $10 off coupon....that I got through a text message....paid with a gift card....that got emailed to me....and when I was done the cashier asked if I wanted a paper copy or an e-receipt.  WTF. 

The mornings/nights have been cooler around here.  While I bitched and moaned for weeks during out triple digit streak......and I welcome fall with open arms, I'm always sad to see summer dwindling away.

Happy Monday Friends!

It's Ok.....

I'm linking up with Amber and Neely today for "It's OK Thursday!"

Head on over if you want to play along!

It's OK.....

To get excited when an old N'Sync song comes on the radio

To simultaneously love and hate my commute.  Sitting in traffic everyday is the pits, but it's the only time I have to myself during the day so I've learned to enjoy tolerate it

To enjoy being a working mom.  Guilt free.  (most of the time)  I love my son, but I also love my job.  I'm glad I get to do both.

That last week I had SIX posts related to Jamie's 1st Birthday.  It only happens once right?

That despite my occasional moments of baby fever, we aren't quite ready for #2.  So stop asking.

That last week we ate leftover BBQ from Jamie's party every.single.night.

That my son doesn't even sit in the front seat yet, but I consistently use my "mom arm" when I stop too fast.  You know, to save my purse.

That some days, I miss living in Ohio.

That I don't really get Pinterest.

That I went to the grocery store because "we didn't have any food" only to come home and make myself a grilled cheese for dinner using ingredients we already had.

To wish there were more hours in the day.

To be glad Fall is around the corner.

To procrastinate.  As long as it gets done on time, who cares how far in advance you did it.

What are you OK with today?
Happy Thursday!

From the desk of James David EyeCanSee

Hello all!

Jamie here for my monthly post!  Though mama says now that I'm a year old, she may not be doing these every month anymore.  Hmph.  No body asked me, so we'll just see about that!

I think she's just wussing out on trying to take my picture every month.  Apparently she doesn't like a challenge!

I had my big one year checkup yesterday!

Passed with flying colors!

I weighed in at 20.8 pounds (20%) and measured 31 inches tall (90%)!

Mama was surprised I didn't weigh more....she says I'm starting to get pretty heavy to carry around!

Shirt by Fly Duds

 I'm wearing a mix of everything these days.  12 mos.  18 mos.  My Birthday shirt was a 2T!  Though they did run 2 sizes small, so mama says it doesn't really count.  I think she's just trying to keep me a baby forever!  My diapers keep changing between the middle and the largest setting.  Mom just can't quite decide if I need to size up or not, seems I'm kind of in between right now.  One things for sure though is I've moved up in the ranks of shoes!  For 6 months I'd been a 3.  Or so mama thought.  Little did she know I'm really a 4.5 so the lady at the shoe store recommended buying size 5's.  Oops.  At least most of my summer shoes were sandals, so it's not like my toes were squished.  For that matter, they weren't even hanging over the edge so how was she supposed to know they were technically too small!

  This month was a big one at daycare.  I have officially moved from the Infant room to Toddler 1.  I'm so glad to be back with all my friends who'd graduated months before me!  No offense to the babies, but they're pretty boring for a busy guy like me!!  We do so much fun stuff in the big kid room!  We play outside and go out to the garden.  Friday is water day and I get to bring my swimsuit! I also made my very first finger painting for mom and dad!  It's pretty abstract, mama says I could be the next Picasso!  One of the biggest changes is we only take 1 nap a day and we sleep on a cots!  And even though mama can't believe it, my teacher says I do great and sleep like a champ!  She said not to be getting any ideas for at home though, that I may be sleeping in my crib until high school! 

 I'm still a pretty good eater which makes mama happy.  Waffles and watermelon are definitely two of my favorites!  Haven't really found any new foods I don't like, though some days, things I used to like get thrown on the floor.  Mommy doesn't really like this habit and she's trying really hard to break it.  Now that I've discovered all those things I throw get eaten by the dogs however, it's really a lost cause on her part.  Watching them scarf up my delicious peaches is WAY more fun than eating them myself.  Maybe one day she'll think it's as funny as I do.

 Now that I'm a big boy mama has put all my bottles away.  I'm officially off formula and 100% on milk.  I took it WAY better than mom expected.  In fact I pretty much kicked the bottle all on my own.  The pacifier however is another story.  I only use it a nap and nighttime....and sometimes in the car or when I decide to test my vocal skills in public.  Truth be told, mama is more afraid to give it up than I am....so she said we'll probably keep it around for a little bit longer.  For her sanity.

As you all heard, I took my first steps last week!  On my birthday no less.  I'm getting a little bit better at it everyday, but still prefer crawling as my main mode of transportation.  Mom guesses I'll be walking more full time in the next month or so.  First I have to figure out this standing up on my own business.  I'm still talking up a storm, and have added the words "no" and "ok" to the mix.  Other than that, most of it is still gibberish.  Well, to everyone else at least.  I seem to be the only one who knows what I'm saying which is a shame, cause I'm funny and crack myself up on a daily basis.  I'm still putting up a stink with diaper changes.  (pun intended)  Mom has figured out if she sings, I'll usually quiet down just long enough for her to wrestle a diaper on.  She has quite the variety of songs....and every time she finishes one I clap.  She's pretty flattered by this considering her high school music teacher told her she was tone deaf.  Said I'm probably the only person who applauds her singing.  She also said if I don't know the ABC's by the time I'm 2 she'll be amazed since that seems to be the one I love the most!

Well folks, that's about it!  Hope to see you all again sooner than later!

Peace out!

Not one of my finer mom moments

This weekend my bestie and her 15 month old little girl were in town to visit.

After a great morning at the park and an afternoon at the pool we loaded up the kids and went to dinner.

About 15 minutes in, Jamie decided he was DONE.

He did not want to eat, so he threw his food everywhere.

He did not want to be sitting in the highchair, so he did everything in his power to get up.

And most importantly, he wasn't going to do any of this quietly.  He wanted to make sure every last person in that restaurant knew he was there.

It was the worst restaurant meltdown I've personally experienced as a mom.

I tried all the usual tricks...but nothing worked.

To make matters worse, my friends daughter was the epitome of good child behavior.

She sat quietly.  Ate her food.  Played games when she was done.

Was my friend judging my mom skills?  Absolutely not.  But I was judging myself big time.

Embarrassed beyond belief, I lost my mom cool.

At one point I actually grabbed his arm and in my stern mom voice told him

"You're being ridiculous.  This behavior is unacceptable"

Which backfired completely and only magnified the screaming.

Duh. 

Not exactly sure how I thought my 1 year old was going to react to that.

His reasoning skills are pretty much non-existent.

And the word "no" is pretty much his least favorite word in the English language.

As I handed him off to my husband to be taken outside it dawned on me.

He had a busy day.  He's teething.  And he only had 1 nap.  It's now almost bedtime and I'm expecting way too much.  I'd pushed him too far, and then I yelled at him for acting out.

Mom fail.

This toddler business is tough work.  Just when I think I'm loving his new found independence, I'm reminded of the sometimes not so fun stuff that comes along with it.  I also have to tell myself it's normal.  He's testing his boundaries.  This is what kids do and it doesn't mean I'm a bad mom or that I'm doing something wrong.  It just happens. 

So this morning when I was in the pediatricians office for the big one year checkup, and we're going over all the things an average 1 year old should be doing, the nurse asks

"Does he demonstrate some negative behavior"

I actually laughed out loud and said, yep, he's got that one down.

The party don't start till I walk in.....

Birthday week is finally coming to an end!

And what better way to finish it off than with Jamie's 1st Bday Bash!

If you missed the invite last Saturday, the official theme was

"Guess Whooooo's Turning One!"

The house was decked out with lots of blue, green, brown & owls galore!

 

All paper products courtesy of Toadally Cute

 The man of the hour.

(Doesn't he look THRILLED to be turning 1??  Oh the joys of photographing a BUSY toddler!)

Owl Shirt from WeChooseJoy

MENU

BBQ Pulled Pork & Chicken

Baked Beans

Cheesy Corn

Coleslaw

Watermelon

and...

CUPCAKES!!

White Peach Sangria and Cranberry Lemonade to quench your thirst

(Both were new recipes and absolutely to die for.  The Sangria will be a staple at all our summer parties from here on out!!)

The infamous hat!  And matching bib.

From Sunshine Daydream

 Whoooo's ready for some cake??

This guy! 

(Note the matching diaper....you didn't think this cloth addict would miss an opportunity to buy new fluff did you??  LOL.  Truth be told, the diaper came first and kind of inspired the whole theme!)

 

 Notice the hat....propped precariously on the back of his chair?  Yeah, that's about as close to his head as we could get it.  I can't say I'm surprised.....

The EyeCanSee's

Look at us!  We survived an entire year of parenting and we're still smiling!

Too bad we can't say the same for our kid....oh well....2 outta 3 ain't bad!

Whew!  This turning one business is tough work!  Let me take a load off on my sweet new chair!

Thanks for coming!

Happy Friday friends!

Have your cake and eat it too

Ever wondered what happens when you give a cake to a 1 year old?

 Now you know!

 

One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind

I mentioned in passing that Jamie took his 1st steps on Friday.

I failed to mention it happened at daycare.

Every working mom's worst nightmare.

All weekend we tried to get him to take these supposed steps, but we got nothing.

Nada.
Not a thing.

So I decided, if mama didn't see it....it didn't happen!

Well yesterday, on the evening of his 1st Birthday, he did it.

He WALKED!

Not just a a step or two, but actually walked.

Across the living room.

Down the hall.

Actual steps, albeit a little drunk monkey looking, but hey, I'll take it!

What a perfect ending to a perfect day!

Here's the little bit I could catch on camera!

(Sorry it's sideways, mom fail)

My little man is growing up....somebody pass the wine!