Adios Amigo

In August it will be two years since Big Daddy and I have lived in our house. We are quite proud of our home and are regularly reminded that owning your own home is the way to go, if it is at all feasible.

But since we do live in "semi-detached" housing aka townhouse it is pretty close quarters sometimes. We purposely purchased an end unit so that we would only have one "attached" neighbor. Did we luck out! Our neighbor is a single guy who travels for work. Best neighbor to have... The guy was almost never here. Not that I didn't like him, but I could feel less guilty about the noise my kids make and the fact that they may set foot on a portion of his lawn.

Big Daddy and I always used to talk about "you know, that single guy who lives next door" and we got tired of calling him that. I suggested we name him. We chatted about some common names that could be his title... Mark, Sheldon, Mike, Jason, Brad... We settled on Fred. Our children even started calling him Fred.

Low and behold as time went on Big Daddy and Fred would once in awhile meet on the front step for a smoke. In the darkness of the night with their burning ambers through their quiet conversation they learned a little about one another. Most of all... his name is not Fred. Well, try to tell Joseph that Fred is actually Mike. It didn't fly. To this day we still call him Fred.

Recently Fred's family was here for a visit, the kids and I came home one day to find Fred's Mom and Fred's niece and nephew perched on the front step enjoying the weather. Joseph introduced himself to the little boy and proceeded to invite him to share in our abundance of toys stashed in the back yard. Joseph and Eric hit it off and were instant buddies. I chatted up Fred's Mom while they played. I mentioned to her that we called her son Fred. She thought that was pretty funny and I think by the end of their visit here they were calling him Uncle Fred. Joseph at one point looked up and asked Eric "So, your Fred's Kid eh?" Poor Eric really didn't know what to make of that.

If life could only be so easy and a sweet boy like Eric could live next door for Joseph's playmate. But now we have learnt that even Eric won't be coming to stay as Joseph's once in awhile playmate anymore. Fred sold his house and is moving away.

So, on to some new neighbors to name. But nothing will ever be the same as Fred. Adios Fred, we'll miss you.

Hola!

Summers here are hit and miss. We are getting some decent moisture this year with the odd hot day in between. I wish we had a string of hot days so we can sit on the patio and eat popsicles.

Trent had his 18month immunization today (ok I realize we are behind as his is 22mos old). He was such a trooper through two needles... one in each arm. Poor little guy. But he cried for a millisecond of the 2nd needle. Weighing in at 29lbs 4oz and is 33.5inches tall. He is very average on the growth charts and is really healthy. He was really cute for the health nurse too and said some of his words for her. His favorite is Hola (hello in Spanish)... He thinks he is funny if you say "Trent can you say Hello" he will laugh and say "Hola".

Our only concern is that at this age he should have 25+ words and Trent has maybe 5. So the health nurse suggested a referral to speach and language to rule out any problems. I know I have a ton to be thankful for since my family is so healthy and happy, but just thought of something being wrong tugs on my heart strings. But admittance is necessary. I would rather have things checked and dealt with if needed. Trent's comprehension of what people say to him is amazing, he just doesn't like to talk much. I am ok with that, I think the first time around I was soooo anxious for Joseph to talk, and with Trent I know it will come, and when it does it won't stop. So what's the rush, right?

Babies are only babies once.

I have to admit that I love the whit that comes out of Joseph's mouth sometimes. This morning I was explaining to him that I would take him to school then I had to take Trent for his needles. Joseph looked at me and said "Sure am glad it's not me" ROFL. He has the funniest tones to his one liners too. *sigh*
How boring life would be if I didn't have my boys. They really are the spice of life.

A Little Help Here Please.

The other day my Mom and I went shopping. She wanted to get me something for my birthday. I had a few things in mind and we went to a few different stores. I had mentioned a book I would like to read called "Confessions of a Shopaholic". So we hop in the car and head off to McNally Robinson to find it. I say "hmm, I don't know what section it would be in" knowing full well it is a novel really about nothing, not classified as romance or anything. My Mom turns to me and says "Well i'd think it's in the self help section". I thought it was a riot and stiffeled a laugh. But granted I will give my Mom that it does sound very well like a "self-help" type of book, I knew a little of what it was about so I guess my bad for not being clearer. But what has me worried is do I NEED a self help book on my shopping habits? Ok, don't even ask Big Daddy because I know damn well what his response will be. He thinks I am a shopaholic. Anyways, I had a laugh over the self help thing. And to be fully clear I wasn't laughing at my Mom I was really laughing at myself for the fact that she thought I might even need "help".

Sacredness of Motherhood

It has finally decided to stop raining for awhile. But now the mosquito's are out full force. Ahhh at least we have bug spray to combat those... but if someone only invented rain spray.

Joseph and Trent are all moved in together now. Everything is in one room. It's neat to see them rooming together. I have a few plans to spruce up the room. It is a safari/jungle theme. Very cool if you ask me. Its funny how you don't realize how much safari/jungle garb is out there until you look for it.

So. Is anything sacred once you become a mother? Riiiiight. Didn't think so.
I can handle someone banging on the bathroom door, whipping open the shower curtin when I am in there, crawling into my bed, drinking out of my cup, eating some of my snack... but the one thing that sends me around the bend is my toothbrush. It is sacred... or at least should be. Trent is in a brushing his teeth phase. Its the first place he heads when we come upstairs. So he will open the drawer and usually digs out his toothbrush. But every so often he digs out someone elses and has no qualms about shoving it into his mouth *shiver* GROSS. As much as I love my kids I don't want his gnarly spit on something that is supposed to clean my mouth. I need to invent some sort of secret locked comparment to hid my glistening fresh toothbrush in.
It would be like sharing a towel. Again, GROSS. Do I dare want to pick up a towel that someone else has dried off with? What if I dry my face with the part of the towel they dried their butt with. My kids have already come acustom to their own towels and will not use anything else. If they could only catch on to the toothbrush thing we'd be set. Next months lesson, not peeing on the toilet seat.

Wind in my hair and bugs in my teeth

Happy Birthday to ME!
A few days ago was my birthday. It was a pretty good day. I got my major gift a few days before my actual birthday but that was ok. Big Daddy splurged and bought me a brand new bicycle. It is red... it's nice. I have never had a brand new bike before. It was a great gift. So I have ridden it a few times and it is weird to ride a bike again. I do enjoy it a treamendous amount. But as a kid you had purpose for biking, it was your mode of transportation. Now where do I go? I can't go get groceries with it, and work is much too far away. So I just ride around. It was a muggy day, a small breeze, I was peddelling away trying to half-assed look like I knew what I was doing. Then I feel the need to yawn. Not thinking, I yawn. Big mistake. Mosquitos saw it coming from miles away and were waiting in the wings to dive bomb into my open mouth. It wasn't pretty. Thank goodness it has rained for the last few days so "wheels" and I have had good reason to take a break and recover.

But I must admit that the best part of my birthday was cake. Dairy Queen ice cream cake.. YUM YUM.

Also for my birthday my friend Kelly blessed the world with a sweet baby girl. Delainey joined the ranks of the human race on June 1st. She missed my birthday (the 2nd) by about 6 minutes. Oh well. Delainey is as sweet as can be and really deserves a birthday of all her own. Holding Delainey was like riding a bike. You know how to do it, you have done it a million times before but just as that confident mother is handing you her child to greet for the first time your pulse races, you forehead beads up, your focus goes blurry, then wham your riding the bike... I mean holding the baby and all is well. I guess the motto for a lot of things in life is just to watch out for speed bumps.