Commericialized Kid

Logan's accompanied us on many various outings, and he's starting to pick up on a few things. Yesterday he was sitting at the kitchen table telling me he wanted a "hamburger with cheese and a small Diet Coke". I died laughing and immediately called my mom, whom he probably got that from (although my mom replied "I would never just order a SMALL Diet Coke").

Later on, he was rummaging through my bag from the Flying Pig Expo where he found the reusable grocery bag that I had gotten as a freebie. I heard him him mumbling something about Wal-mart and I asked him what he said. He said "It's my Wal-Mart bag. It says Wal-mart." Imagine my surprise, because the bag DOES say Wal-mart on it. I have no idea how me knew that.

Every day this kid blows me away with something new.

My cup runneth over

Bedtime has been mostly nightmarish as of late. Logan fights me every step of the way, and then stays up way too late. It's just no fun at all. Tonight though, my heart completely melted. My voice is gone due to some mysterious illness, so I told Logan he would have to read to me. So he did. He read me 4 books--a pop-up Mickey Mouse Clubhouse book, a couple of stories out of his Dora book, "Cat in the Hat", and "Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb." I was quite impressed actually. He knew the Mickey, Dora, and HHFT books almost verbatim (it helps that we've read them about a million times each). He knew a few exact lines from Cat in the Hat, but the rest he ad-libbed and it was just so adorable. Next, he sang me "Jingle Bells", made me "look like a princess" (this is where he piles all of your hair on top of your head like a crown) and then I kissed him goodnight and put him in his bed.

I hope I never forget this evening, what a sweet moment with my amazing little boy.

Lessons Learned

So I finally went and got my teeth cleaned today. The last time was, oh, September 25, 2008 (our 4th wedding anniversary). Logan was 3 months old and snoozed in his infant seat the entire time. Today that did not happen. I should have went over the summer or Christmas break (or ahem, last year's summer break), but I didn't. I tried to find a day where I would have someone to watch Logan, but they had no openings. The receptionist assured me it would be fine to bring him. I thought, maybe it won't be so bad. It wasn't bad, it was worse than I could have imagined. My little psycho tried to grab the hygenist's tools, moved her lamp, turned on the water fountain, and ran away during my x-rays, among other things. Then to add insult to injury the dentist told me I had "a couple" cavities. By "a couple" she meant 6. AYFKM?? 6?? I got my first cavity when I was 22. A teeny, tiny one. Then in 2008 I had 2 more. Now, in just one measly visit I had 6? I was devastated. She informed me that 2 of the cavities weren't my fault, that they were in grooves where microscopic particles get in. The other 4 were due to my lack of flossing regularly. ::::hangs head in shame:::: I do floss, but I certainly can't call it regularly. Well, that ends today. I am officially becoming a flossing mo-fo. And I'm never taking Logan to one of my cleanings again. Trust me, I am taking my lessons learned today to heart.

Logan-isms

Yesterday while we were eating lunch, Logan held out his piece of bread toward me and asked "you wanna try it?" Well, needless to say I about died laughing. I don't think he knows what it really means, he just knows people say that to him while offering him food. He also enjoys saying "no problem" except what he really means is just "no." I know every stage is cute, but I am LOVING this stage. He is just so conversational and he's starting to "get" it. My little ray of sunshine in an otherwise stormy season.

Loved

There's nothing like the love your child gives you. I wish every day could be filled with this much love. I've been getting it since Logan woke up this morning. He has given me no less than 10 hugs. And Logan hugs include him throwing his arms around my waste and saying "Aw Mommy." He also keeps asking for "nuzzles" which are also known as Eskimo kisses. I can never get too much Logan love and I need it now more than ever.

It's Days Like Today . . .

. . .that make me feel like Logan is going to be an only child. I have no idea how I will handle 2 screaming children. I just have the one now and I wanted to throw myself off a building this evening. Tantrums really are the devil's work.

Maybe I'm Amazed

Ok, no, I'm DEFINITELY amazed but that just happens to be one of my all-time favorite songs. :-) My kid can count to 15. Fifteen. Where the heck he learned to do that I don't know (I've never seen them count that high on Dora), but he can and I have witnesses. He did it twice in front of both my parents today. I am just in awe of him. Every day he does something new and it just amazes me to see him develop and watch him grow. He said his first phrase this week ("there you go") and he has been building some impressive Mega Block towers, preparing some fabulous pretend dinners in his play kitchen, and becoming a little Mr. Fix-it with his play tools. Of course he's also a rotten egg who gets into everything and throws tantrums, but nonetheless I love being Logan's mom more than I can say, and motherhood has fulfilled in ways I never imagined possible.

More Perspective

A nestie on one the national boards I frequent lost her little boy this week. He was a perfectly healthy, bright, little boy, just 3 months younger than Logan. I cannot imagine the pain she is feeling right now. Her loss has shaken me to the core. In honor of her precious little boy I am going to make the most of the time I have with my little boy. I don't want to take a moment for granted. My heart bursts with love for Logan and he's brightened my life more than I can say. I'm so thankful for every morning I get to walk into his room in the morning and see that sweet smiling face. I'm thankful for every good-night kiss, every giggle, every side-eye (that's his newest "trick"). I love you Logan. Being your mom is the greatest thing I've ever done.

Heaven

Kyle has put Logan to bed 95% of the time since he was born. I'd say of good half to 2/3rds of those times has been a struggle. Last night Kyle was mowing the grass so I put the boy to bed. It was the highlight of my week. As I was reading One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish he leaned into me more and more. It was so nice that I decide to put him up on my shoulder and rock him for awhile. Then I lay him in his crib, he rolled on his side, put his arms around his jaguar, and went right to sleep. Watching him put his arms around that jaguar turned me into total mush. It was possibly the sweetest thing I've ever seen. Tonight was more of the same, except this time it was Hop on Pop and Goodnight Moon and after the stories he actually turned around and reached for me so we could rock for awhile. My heart bursts with love for my little boy. Hopefully these warm and fuzzies will come washing back when he's pulling Pumpkin's tail, throwing his lunch to the ground, or picking on sweet little Kady.

Tag Team Parenting

From the minute Logan was born Kyle and I have been a parenting team. Actually before he was born. When we took the baby basics class at the hospital we diapered, bathed, and swaddled the doll together. That's pretty much how things have gone for the past 14 months. When I was in the hospital my cousin joked with me she never knew nursing was a team sport when she found Kyle positioning Logan on the boob. I am used to Kyle always being there. Today I went to my BFF's kid's birthday party sans the husband. Oh how I missed him. 2 of my other peeps were there with their kids and hubbies in tow. Oh how I envied them. I am not used to trying to feed myself and Logan without a high chair without that extra pair of hands. And nothing prepared me for the bath of red icing Logan gave not only himself, but me (note to self: NEVER have an Elmo themed birthday party!). Before I had even left BFF's house I was on the phone with my mother. Multiple times I have heard my mother and others say that Kyle is the best dad they've ever seen. I used to kind of get offended (especially when my mother was saying this the day I went through 14 hours of labor--what am I, chopped liver?), but now I just consider myself lucky. Especially since I've already told him his calendar should be cleared for the 2 parties we've got next week.

The Childrens Place

. . .Old Navy, Macy's, Carter's. The list goes on. These are just a few of the places I've gotten clothes for Logan since I bought that Carson Palmer jersey way back in December 2007. I just packed up the rest of his 9m clothes and most of his 12m clothes. He needs about 5 little brothers to wear all this stuff. Despite never paying full price for any of it (I've gotten some really good deals) I can't help but feel like between his closet and the 5 (yes 5) bins full of stuff he's outgrown we've got a nice down payment on a Ford Focus. Oh well. At least he looks good. ;-)

The Curse of the Odd Number

A friend of mine once told me that she only likes even numbers. I think there's something to that. For as long as I can remember as a rule even numbered years were mostly "good" years and odd years were "bad." 2009 is living up to its number. Here's a recap of just a few things that have happened this year:

• January--my car died

• February--our baby-sitter tells us she's knocked up and due at the end of the month, giving us little time to scramble and find a temporary replacement

• March--my husband lost his job

You get the idea. Yet, as down as I've been about these and other situations I can't bring myself to put 2009 in the "Worst Years Ever" category. The reason is simple--my kid. Even if he's in teething hell, tantrum hell, or just being plain onery my little boy makes me smile every single day. No year with Logan can be THAT bad. He brings me a constant joy I've never felt before. So as I'm continuing to muddle through this shit heap that is 2009 and all I want to do is crawl in a hole and cry, I think I'll go have a snuggle with my boy and read "Hop on Pop" for the millionth time.