This age forever

Ok I'm having one of those moments. Chase had MDO this morning and had his first Christmas program. Pete and I got to see it. It was 15 minutes & so cute and Chase really got into it with following the arm motions and singing Jingle Bells. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST MY BABY IS GROWING. Pete took a picture from his blackberry. Not so clear but it's a keeper for sure. I know he has to grow up but gosh how I wish they could stay this age forever.

The tree ~ Is that for me?

The Christmas tree that is and just the one in our basement. I wanted to make it a little more festive for Thanksgiving so, I decided to put out a few decorations early. When Pete and Chase came home tonight, Chase came downstairs and saw the tree and said, "oohhh my gosh mom, THANKS, is that for me???" It was so cute. It's just a little tree but his eyes were so big when he saw it. He had to go around and look at every santa and snowman. This is the first year for him to be so vocal and excited. I love it!

Goodbye Glasses

I'm getting lasik - After years of holding off for this, my husband just set up a flex spending account through work where I can get Lasik done in January. I've worn glasses since grade school. I can't believe I will be seeing without them. I'm really excited!!

Weekend

Pete had plans with some buddies so Chase and I bought out the blankets on the floor and camped out with pizza and a movie. We ordered a free movie off on-demand...BARNEY... he loves Barney. Pete's off the rest of the weekend and just trying to decide what we're doing.

First visit to Busch Stadium

Chase had so much fun! One of Pete's clients backed out at the last minute so he had an extra tix. When we first got there, Chase's eyes were so big and a total glaze. He quickly got right into it too and was cheering and dancing and screaming...YAH!!! COME ON!!! We went to the play area before we left and I think he made a few girlriends there too. (ha-ha)This morning he said, "Can we go to the ballpark mommy?" I know he's only 2 but I think he'll remember that moment for a long time.

the Good Ol' Days

I remember these :-)

Subject: FW: Remember these good ol' days?Close your eyes...And go back.......Before the Internet or PC or the MAC..........Before semi-automatics and crack........Before Playstation, SEGA, Super Nintendo, even before Atari.......Before cell phones, CD's, DVD's, voicemail and e-mail........way back........way.....way.....way back.....I'm talkin' bout hide and seek at duskRed light, Green lightRed Rover....Red Rover.....Playing kickball & dodgeball until the first...no...second...no...third streetlight came onRing around the RosieLondon BridgeHot potatoHop ScotchJump ropeDuck....duck.....GOOSE!!! YOU'RE IT!!Parents stood on the front porch and yelled (or whistled) for you to come home - no pagers or cell phones Mother May I?Hula HoopsSeeing shapes in the cloudsEndless summer days and hot summer nights (no A/C) with the windows openThe sound of cricketsRunning through the sprinklerHappy MealsCereal boxes with that GREAT prize in the bottomCracker jacks with the same thingIce pops with 2 sticks you could break and share with a friend...but wait.....there's more....Watchin' Saturday Morning cartoonsFat Albert, Road Runner, Smurfs, Picture Pages, G-Force & He-Man, Schoolhouse RockWatchin' Sunday morning oldies (Abbott & Costello, Three Stooges)Wonder Woman & Super Man UnderoosFONZIE.....AYYYYYYYYPlaying Dukes of HazardCatchin' lightning bugs in a jarChristmas morningYour first day of schoolBedtime Prayers and Goodnight KissesClimbing treesSwinging as high as you could to try and reach the skyGetting an Ice Cream off the Good Humor TruckA million mosquito bites and sticky fingersJumpin' down the stepsJumpin' on the bedPillow fightsSleep-oversA 13" black and white TV in your room meant you were RICHRunnin' till you were out of breathLaughing so hard that your stomach hurt Being tired from PLAYINGWORK: meant taking out the garbage or doing the dishes Your first crushYour first kiss (I mean the one that you kept your mouth CLOSED and your eyes OPENRainy days at school meant playing "Heads up 7UP" or hangman" in the classroom, remember that?Oh, I'm not finished yet....Kool-Aid was the drink of the summer; so was a swig from the hoseGiving your friends a ride on your handlebarsWearing your new shoes on the first day of schoolClass Field Trips with soggy sandwichesWhen nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got thereWhen a quarter seemed like a fair allowance; and another quarter a MIRACLEWhen ANY parent could discipline ANY kid, or feed him, or use him to carry groceries...aRend nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it.When your parents took you to McDonalds and you were COOLWhen being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited you at home.Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because of drive by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc.Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! And some of us are still afraid of em!Didn't that feel good? Just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember that!"Well, let's keep going!!Let's go back to the time when...Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo" Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!""Race issues" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "monopoly"Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire eveningIt wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.Being old, referred to anyone over 20. (CRAP! I'm officially old!)The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties.Nobody was prettier than MomScrapes and bruises were kissed by mom or grandma and made betterIt was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the amusement park.Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare"Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles.The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.Water balloons were the ultimate, ultimate weapon.Older siblings were your worst tormentors, but also your fiercest protectorIf you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!Pass this on to anyone who may need a break from their "grown up" life......I TRIPLE DOG DARE YA!!!!!!

Getting Old

Finally my mom's out of the hospital and into a new nursing home. It's Delmar Gardens in South County and it's really great care so far. So, this is where she'll be for the rest of her life. Although the home is nice where she's at, I look around and see all these old people that can't function and are so dependant on others. As much as I love to help people, I think to myself there's no way I could ever work there. It's so sad but I see all those nurses and aids with smiles on their faces and I think what incredible every day heroes they are. I also think how can we come into this world and live such a great life but yet, at the end, leave in such an undignified way. My mom feels completely helpless. It breaks my heart.

How fast they grow

Chase and I were leaving and as soon as we headed out of the drive way, Chase says "Go this way mommy" so I went (we had to go that way anyway). Then he said, "Thank you for listening mommy". I just cracked up. Now anytime I do something when he asks, he says 'thank you for listening'. It's so funny. Also, we were walking down the stairs and holding hands. He turned to me and said "you walk down the stairs really good mommy!". I laughed and said "thank you". Pete and I were just saying last night, we can't believe how big he's getting. It's like almost overnight.

Boogie Down Icecream Man

Today we had lunch in Soulard with an old co-worker of mine. Afterwards, we drove by the Arch. I parked at the Old Cathedral lot and we walked over. Went down the steps and walked toward the riverfront. We started back to walk up the stairs and an icecream truck rode by with his music playing. Chase has no idea there's icecream on that truck or he would been running after it. Instead, he just stopped walking up the Arch stairs, turned around and started dancing to the ice cream music....I mean he was boogeying down!! The icecream lady yelled out the window, laughing and saying look at him just dancing. It was funny.

The changing of the beds

What a morning. Chase wouldn't sleep last night and got up at 4:30 this morning because he wanted breakfast. It was one of those mornings where he just wouldn't go back to sleep. The toddler bed has been going OK but like every other night he'll get up and ask for me and he'll want to sleep in our bed. So, this morning, I decided to convert his crib into the full size bed thinking 'maybe' he might sleep better. When I got it together, he was very excited (and so was I). And when it came to nap time, we did our routine for bedtime. I said, hunny, this is where you'll be sleeping now. He said, mommy, I not nap! Well, it took all of 5 minutes for him to fall asleep. I decided to video tape him with his first sleep in the big bed. I walked in his room and wouldn't you know it, he had fallen asleep on the floor. It took me all this morning to get the bed together. I've had little sleep, my back hurts and I'm sore but when I saw him sleeping on the floor, I just had to laugh. Ohhh.. the trials of motherhood (hee-hee)....

Dad

Today is the 1 year anniversary of dad's passing. I can't believe it's been a year already. It's still hard. I still cry for him a lot especially when I see things that remind me of him. Last week at Schnucks there was an older gentleman bagging our groceries. He was playing with Chase and joking around (dad was always a joker)...I thought it was so sweet and how it reminded me of dad. Then, when I saw his name tag, I held back my tears. His name was Glen. It was so real...even down to his hands...they looked like dads.

We're going to his gravesite this afternoon. Pete's taking off work early...he's so thoughtful. I just wanted to acknowledge this day, May 10...what a great father he was and how much I loved him.

Goodbye Crib

I just put Chase down for his nap in his CRIB and then I hear someone in the kitchen. I go upstairs and it's Chase!! He climbed out of his crib and thank goodness didn't hurt himself. I've been wanting to get him into a big boys bed but Pete felt we should wait. Well, now's the time I guess. My baby just keeps growing! The next morning... Chase made it....or should I say "mom & dad" did. I don't know what came over me but I was a wreck and Pete was a little stressed too ... I guess because we weren't prepared for this. Last night was the first night in the toddler bed. He did great. He was scared and a little out of sorts at first. He wanted me to stay with him until he fell asleep. I did. I also did more babyproofing in his room, took out the changing station (one less thing for him to climb) and put a gate at his door. I felt bad having the gate there but I knew it was for his safety. I don't know why this was such a big deal for me but it was. That afternoon's nap didn't go as well. He just refused. As with any new phase, I keep telling myself what someone told me... learning is painful. Eventually, he'll pick this up and hopefully soon.

Zachary

My nephew died in a car accident last night. I'm still in shock. He was 19 and driving the car and was driving at a high rate of speed and lost control going around a curve. He had a friend with him and his friend died too. It's been on the news. It was over here off Hwy. N. The coroners office is still conducting an investigation so we won't be sure when the funeral will take place but we're guessing midweek. I was in fuzzy haze most of the day yesterday until I saw his car on the news...and that's when it hit me. I last spoke to him about 2 weeks and we had always finished our calls with an 'I love you'. I'm so thankful I got to tell him I loved him. I always felt close to him and I felt like a protector of sorts. I know it was impossible to predict, but God, how I wish I could have protected him from this. It's just not natural losing your child. The funeral is this Wed./Thurs up here and then they'll head down to Festus where they'll bury him next to dad.

Favorite Summer Memory

With the weather changing, I'm starting to crave summer time and think about my favorite summer moments growing up. I used to love to go boating & skiing. We went every Sunday during the summer. My dad had a boat, my older brother, my brother-in-law, family friends, and we'd meet up, set up a canopy, have hotdogs & pork & beans on the grill - wow, I can still taste the sand on my plate :) and ski & ride the water all day. I hope to pass that tradition to our family. I showed Chase some boats in a magazine recently and now everytime he sees them, he wants to go "boat ride mommy". I think I might take him out this summer on one. Well that's my trip down memory lane (thanks). What's your favorite summer memory?

We've got a climber!

I'm in a pickle. Chase will not stop pushing the kitchen chairs to get around the kitchen. He's figured out there's more to explore with a kitchen chair. I'm constantly having to redirect him away but I'll leave the room and then hear the scrapes going across the floor...thank goodness for ceramic tile. I thought about hiding the chairs in a bedroom for a while but that would be a drag to have to do that every day. Someone suggested to tie the chairs together by rope. Not too crazy about that either. I found some of those plastic wrap ties...the long ones that slide through and lock. I used those yesterday and so far they work. As I was doing it, Chase was looking at me and said "what you doing mommy?" I said "tieing the chairs so we don't move them." I think I hurt his feelings. I felt bad but I just kept thinking...I'm keeping him safe.

My Little Skater

March 4, 2006 -
I just had to comment about our little adverture today. We went to a skating party for a good friend of mine's son who turned 5. I thought it would be a quick stop in and out because I didn't think Chase, only 2, could be around the big boys and skate. Well, I was completely surprised. He and I put on skates and we were both having the best time. I let him go and and he skated by himself. Ofcourse it was with those little plastic skates that don't go backwards or anything but I couldn't believe my eyes. The owner was saying that at this age, they have no fears like when we get older and get scared that we'd fall. I wish I had my camera with me. It was such a neat moment.

He's 2

He's 2 already!I can't believe how times flies by but here it is - his 2nd birthday! We went to Chuck E Cheese this morning and Chase had a really good time. It just amazes me to think it's already been 2 years. Well, thanks for letting me brag and reminisce. My baby is now a little boy!

Everyone Poops!

I was on the phone with my mom today and Chase came in and said "mommy poopy diaper" and gave me a diaper with poop in it. It was opened and I was worried thinking, did I leave a poopy diaper sitting some where and worse yet, "why is it opened and did it get over anything else"? I asked where did you get this and looked under his shirt and sure enough, he pooped and took off his diaper. My mom and I were laughing and then I took him to clean him up. I decided to go ahead and give him a bath after I wiped him down. He was still without his diaper. Then, he decided to take a potty on his bedroom floor. I startled him and said "wait Chase" - he stopped and then I took him to the toilet. He couldn't go. He said "Chase's potty". So I went to get his potty and sat him on it. I gave him a little book to read so he wouldn't feel pressured to try to go. I left for a minute to grab some towels and came back and he got up from his seat and I saw that he pottied!!! I got so excited and congratulated him on being such a big boy. Is this a sign that he's ready to be potty trained? He's 22 months but I hear boys take longer to potty train. Should I try to continue potty training or was this just a freaky coincident? It was just a great moment for me and it was so neat to see that he peed-peed in his potty. He even got up to grab some toilet paper. Gosh, my baby is growing up and I'm so thankful that I'm able to stay home with him to share these special moments.

A Mother's Heart

This came as an email ~ something I love

A Mother's Thankful Heart

I come before You Father - To thank You for this life - The blessings You have given me - As a mother and a wife - I'm thankful for my children - As I watch them grow and play - Knowing that each moment - Will live for just today - I'm thankful for the laundry - For the dust to wipe away - I'm thankful for the problems - That make me stop and pray - I'm thankful for my husband's job - The roof above our heads - I'm thankful for our daily food - For the comfort of our beds - I'm thankful for the errands - The phone that always rings - I'm thankful for the tears we cry - For the joy that laughter brings - I'm thankful for our family's love - The way we sit and talk - The simple games we often play - The picnics and the walks - I'm thankful for the little things - That make up every day - For therein lies Your love, Lord - And the wonder of Your ways - I'm thankful for the memories - That life has brought my way - I count it as Your blessing - To be a mother every day