Say It Ain't So!

I read this article on my Yahoo! News page today:

St. Louis ranked most dangerous city

It can't be true!

Quash the Defiance or Support the Independence? That is the Question.

One of my many goals for Aaron right now is to get him down to one nap per day. One reason is pure selfishness - it's really hard to get out of the house and do anything if you have to plan around two naps. The afternoon nap invariably gets skipped because we are out running errands after lunch and get back too late, so now he's gone from about 11:30 a.m., when he woke up from his first nap, until bedtime without any sleep.

A second reason is that I think he sleeps better if I keep him busy in the morning and make him wait until after lunch to nap. I also think he sleeps better at night and, most importantly, later into the morning, thus ending the need for a morning nap.

That sounds all fine and dandy, right? The only problem is if he refuses to take the nap in the afternoon, like today. I laid him down around 2:00 and at 3:15, he was still awake, talking and rolling around. I refused to let him get up, though. I didn't not want to see Toddler Monster at 5:00 p.m. rear it's ugly head because it had not had a nap all day. The moral of the story is this:

This is what I found after I went in and checked on him around 3:3o after not hearing from him for a while. I just don't get it! He was obviously tired. Hello?! He fell asleep sitting up! Why does he fight it? It kills me.

Did I Mention That He's Climbing Now?

So the door to our dishwasher has officially been tested to hold 23 pounds, give or take a few ounces.

Do You Like My New Template?

Yesterday was my one year anniverary as a Blogger and I thought I would shake things up a bit and try out a new look to the ole' Blog. How do you like it? I was so excited when I saw it because it has two of my favorite colors together - light blue and brown. I still have a few kinks to work out that I don't particuarly enjoy but I wanted to get it up and running, so I'll work on those later.

A big thanks to Miss Zoot and her kickin' template designs!

And That's The World Series, Baby!!

Congratulations Cards!!!

Can You Say Catatonic?

What could leave my boy in such a cherub-like, blissfully peaceful state, with his legs crossed and his hands in his lap?

You guessed it - Little Einsteins on the TV.

It's Fun Playing in the Garage!

New Addition to the Blog!

One of my very favorite TV shows in the whole world is Scrubs on NBC. Three other networks are running reruns of it in syndication so I get six episodes recorded everyday thanks to my TiVo! Yahoo! My favorite character on the show is Dr. Perry Cox, played by John C. McGinley. His pessimistic, cynical and all around snarky personality brightens my world every day! Mostly because he actually verbalizes all the things that I wish I could, but don't have the guts to. I think I also like him so much because he reminds me of my husband in about ten years. I thought I would brighten your day too by including a particularly snappy quote from him during his many rants on the show. Check out the sidebar to your right to read them. Enjoy!

Do You Ever Have One Of Those Days...

...where the kids drive you insane? I had one of those today. Aaron and I have been cooped up in this house for the past couple days because it has been cold and rainy outside and I wanted him to get over this massive cold that he's had since the weekend (this cold developed into bronchiolitis, which involved breathing treatments, inhalers and oral steroids. So much fun for me.). I can sense the cabin fever in him because he's been extraordinarily clingy, whiny and just overall bad. Case in point:

What is wrong with this picture? Oh, let me count the ways:

1. He still has his pacifier in his mouth and his blankie at his side. The only place that he should have these two items in his possession is in his bed. However, when he woke up from his nap and I tried to take said items from him, he SCREAMED bloody murder. And you know, it's just that kind of day where it's much easier for me to let him be bad than fight it. You know what I'm talking about. You've had those days and you know it.
2. He is playing in our shower.
3. Even though our shower is relatively clean, it still grosses Mommy out so much that he has the blankie that he sleeps with at night in the shower with him that I have to immediately throw it in the hamper and get him a new, clean one to drag around the house.
4. Why must he always pull his socks off?

I have to love him, right?

Daddy's Alma Mater

Burkburnett, Texas, that is. Of course, you know the first place we're going when we get to Missouri in a few weeks is Key Sport to get some ROLLA Bulldog wear. Oh yeah! There's WAY too much Texas pride in this house as it is!

Fair Weather Baseball Fan

YEAH BABY!! GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!

A Very, VERY Good Day

Today Aaron actually let me work out for a whole hour without sending the nice ladies in the YMCA nursery to come get me because he was too hysterical to stay in there. We have not been having a very good time in the nursery over the past few weeks and I had given up hope of going all together. This week, however, I have been extremely restless for some reason with the idea that I needed to SWEAT! I guess I've had too much couch and TiVo time and my body was telling me to get up off my butt. So I decided to brave the nursery again and just crossed my fingers the whole time that I wouldn't hear a tiny voice behind me saying, "Um, are you Aaron's mom?" I'm pretty sure they have to hold him the whole time or he cries, but, man, the jogging was SO worth the guilt.

I hope I haven't just jinxed myself because we're going to try again on Thursday. Pray for us!

My Big Helper

Now if I can just keep him from wielding the broom like a lightsaber and knocking a hole in the T.V., we might have something here!

Don't worry, Daddy. Your precious is just fine.

We Have a New Blogger in the Family!

Bill's cousin Kris has just let me know that she too has her own Blog now! Apparently she was trying to comment on mine and ended up having to create her own (I hear that happens a lot. Sorry about that!). She said that she is going to keep it going, though, so be sure and check it out!

http://www.washingtonwithers.blogspot.com/

I Can Make Myself Giggle!

A few months ago, I wrote this post about the cork gun that Grandma and Grandpa Q bought for Aaron while we were in San Antonio. He got huge giggles out of it, but only if Mommy and Daddy were playing with it. Well, in yet another way that he is impressing me everyday, he has learned to operate the cork gun himself and crack himself up! My only concern now is that he doesn't pop Reagan (or me!) in the behind when he's playing with it. I guess that's when the whole "parenting" thing kicks in and I'm supposed to say something like, "It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye!" I hate being the party pooper.

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We Miss Daddy

Today Daddy left for a few weeks to go learn how to fly a smaller, faster airplane than he's used to (hopefully his landings will become "good" this time, rather than just "safe." he he). Yesterday we went down to the park and had some fun outside time since I'm sure the nice weather we have been having is not going to last for very much longer. We miss Daddy already and can't wait for him to come home!

Just Call Me "Beelzebub"

This is an evil, evil boy. One of his new favorite toys is the cordless phone in our bedroom (unplugged, of course, so he doesn't call China). You can change the ringtone pretty easily by pushing the buttons on the front and when he does this, it drives Reagan crazy! So Reagan gets going and it makes Aaron laugh even harder! Check out the video below of him torturing her. It's a little dark but you really only need the sound to get the idea.

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This is a Sad, Traumatized Little Puppy

My poor Reagan got put through the ringer today at the vet. The vet tech tried to give her the Bordatella vaccine for Kennel Cough, which I was all for since she got it last year and it was an injection. Apparently this year, however, they were out of the injectable kind and only had the intra-nasal kind. Hello?! She's a pug! How much of a sadist are you to make a pug snort anything up her nose! We actually had to walk out of there without the vaccine because between me, the vet tech and the vet, we could not hold her still long enough to shoot it up her nose. We were sent on our merry way with the recommendation, "Yeah, you might try Petsmart. They might have the injection." I love the military.

I Am My Father's Son

Here is Aaron gnawing on Daddy's most favorite thing in the whole world - bacon! I mean, we almost named Reagan "Bacon", that's how bad it is. I love bacon, too, but I do not like what it does to my thighs, so there you go. Our son is definitely a carnivore, though, so it's all good!

Fall is in the Air!

Lisa and I took the kiddos and the daddys and made our annual trip to a pumpkin patch so that we could take some fall pictures. We were also super-jealous of Arlene's post about taking her little ones to a pumpkin patch so this also motivated us! Last year we took the kids to a local farmers' market to take pictures with the pumpkins but this year, Lisa found an awesome farm that had all different kinds of pumpkins and gourds, a corn maze and a mini petting zoo!

I was having a little trouble at first getting good pictures of Aaron because all he wanted to do was walk around and check stuff out!

Walking...


Following Jalyn to see what fun stuff she's been up to...


More walking and not looking at the camera...


Too busy, Mom!


High-steppin' it!


After he was able to check everything out, I was finally able to get some good pictures:

I love pumpkins!


Best friends, Jalyn and Aaron

Look how tall I am! (Poor Coley wasn't in the mood for the picture-taking at this particular moment!)

Picture perfect fall!


Pickin' out my own pumpkin. Decisions, decisions!


Cheesin' for Lisa...

I can't believe how much he's changed since last year at this time. Take a look at a couple of the photos I took at the farmers' market last October:

He's such a big boy now!

Case No. 1001: Staci vs. BAD GIRL REAGAN

Exhibit 1:

Reagan in favorite sleeping spot: underneath the covers on Bill and Staci's bed.


Exhibit 2:

No visuals for this one, but just know that Staci had just given Reagan a bath SECONDS earlier so she is still very, very moist.

Exhibit 3:

Reagan coming up for air but still laying on aforementioned bed. The fur dampness can now be viewed.


Verdict:

This is a very bad dog.

Victim Impact Statement:

With the blankets, sheets and mattress cover thoroughly washed, I think I can go on to become a functioning, productive member of society.