Best Intentions

I actually do think about updating the blog.
But then again I also think about abdominoplasty and if eating only ice cream would constitute a a liquid diet, not to mention practical things like taking a shower AND shaving my legs, or worldly things like eating Thai food. See. I'm a dreamer.
But occasionally I do put thoughts into action. Here is proof. A blog I started in June. Amazingly, even reading it now seems like it was written a hundred years ago. Callan's vocabulary has changed so much even in those three short months. Further proof that every second counts.


My Left Foot
What comes after ambidextrous? Is there a superdextrious? Callan and I were reading one of his favorite books a few weeks ago. It’s a Richard Scary book that has page after page of cars and trucks and planes…pickle trucks, cars shaped like hot dogs, all driven by cats and dogs. It’s a feast for the imagination. Even better that the content is the fact that it was a gift from Nini. So we “read” the book by talking about what is on each page and we ask him where’s the cherry picker? Where’s the dump truck? So the other evening while we were enjoying our book and I began to ask him where is the ice cream truck? He started pointing. With his feet. Cause that’s how we roll.

What name is?
Our boy is curious!!! He loves to know who people are and what they are doing. He loves to ask What Girl name is? When we go to the store, What guys name is? When we see a truck like Uncle GaGa’s “what gaga doing? Or the question he can ask a million times a day and never seems to get tired of hearing the answer to, What Moxie doing? Crazy Moxie dog is a hit at our house We love to know where he is and what he’s doing. If his activities are even one tenth as elaborate as the stories we tell, he’s a heck of a luck dog!

Go Outside!
Usually the second phrase out of Callan’s mouth every morning is ----“Nice day ! Go outside!” He cant’t seem to get enough of being outside. He will refuse breakfast in favor of getting out there and checking out his golf clubs or riding his bike or darn near anything just let him outside! And if you think going outside is important, staying outside is even MORE important. Coming inside is a punishment worse than death…there is lots of crying or bribing --- and sometimes I do both. : )

Callan--2 years!

Callan's second birthday was fabulous! We celebrated with our family and Callan was absolutely thrilled to see everyone and in love with every generous gift he received...he was quite the charmer.

Of course,

above all else...

he loved the CAKE!

(evidence attached.)

Other 2-year milestones that we achieved that week:

• Using "I" instead of Callan. Callan wants to golfing became I WANT to go golfing. What a big guy!




• Biting. Ugh. I think (fingers crossed) that we have since outgrown this...but Callan went through a bit of a biting spell. Thankfully (for me) a close eye and repeated time outs helped squelch it....I was fearing the pound of flesh approach. (if any of Callan's victims are reading this--we really are so, so sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And also, if you are a victim and are reading this---congrats on being a two year old who is literate.)




• Repeating/memory. This guy's got a memory like an elephant! Don't make up any details to answer a why question if you aren't going to be able to remember what you made up. And don't tell him some one's name if you aren't going to recall it yourself. Seriously. One of our biggest issues of confusion is which Bob we are talking about...Fireman Bob, Bed Salesman Bob, or Appliance repair Bob. All people we have met and Callan has a curiosity about.

Our guy is just growing and growing and growing. I can't believe what an amazing two years it has been. Eric and I feel so lucky to have Callan in our family, and unbelievably fortunate that we get to see him discover so many new things every day. He is kind and compassionate, sweet and funny. And, of course, he even has a bit of an arnery streak in him. He is a little bit daring and incredibly brave. I just love him to pieces. Every day I think how incredible it is to see those big eyes look back at me when I say I love you, not to mention the fabulous feeling of having those slightly chubby little fingers pat your back as they wrap around your back in a much needed hug. AH, love!

Hiatus.

Ok.
I've been a little busy.
You may ask "Too busy to record the precious memories of your children, Joslynn???"
Well...
not that busy I guess. But let us hope that in the absence of immediate recording, there is richness of story. Or something. Let's hope I remember 50% of what happened 50% correctly...and that will be a start!
So.
You might have heard....
since our last update we have a TWO YEAR old! and a new baby girl. So see--we have been busy!

Best Mother's Day Gift EVER!

Ok. First, I know I have a lot to catch up on! I will! I will! I will!
But first, can I just tell you about the amazing thing that happened on Friday???? Callan and I were in the kitchen working on our waffle dinner and he put his little hand on my back, gave me a pat and said "love you mama." I cried on the spot. Tears in the waffle batter. That was the first time he has ever told me he loves me w/out being prompted (or begged.:) I proceeded to reward him by allowing him to eat whipped cream on his waffles. Sweets for my little sweetie. Aw.
Luckiest girl alive=me! :)

Driving the fire truck

Golf Fever

Callan will be the first to tell you ----he's got the golf fever! It's an epidemic.

NoMoKing!

We had a great weekend, Ethan came to visit us! Callan enjoyed getting to see Ethan. Although he had some important advice to impart: NOMOKING Uncle Ethan! (No smoking Uncle Ethan!)

We also got to see Grant and Jo and spend time with NiNi and Papa! We capped off the weekend with a barbecue at Kimmy's house. Phew! Just typing it makes me tired!

*$#)@ DOG.

Grrr. There has been a lot of growling going on lately. It is not the dog growling at me, but me growling at the DOG.

Vegas has been trying my patience lately. It seems as though every time I turn around he has a new little shenanigan waiting for me.

Two nights ago I awoke in the middle of the night to a very strong smell. I was convinced (my imagination is super active at 3:30 a.m.) that I smelled an electrical fire. I sprang out of bed and was setting about to sniff out the problem and feel every cord in the house to make sure none of them were hot. Luckily, I was distracted by a pillow that had fallen on the floor. A pillow with a large mysterious spot on it. A wet spot. A freakin' dog pee spot. Grrrr. I think Vegas was lucky the Humane Society isn't open at 3:30. I put him in his kennel and went back to our room. Where I could then hear him trying to dig through the plastic bottom to China. So then I got up and put his kennel in the garage. Eric let him out in the morning or he may still be in there if it were up to me.

I know that might not seem like enough to set a person off. Even a person with swollen ankles and extra hormones. But perhaps this next story will help you see where I am coming from.

So last week, Eric had to go to work early in the morning. This left Callan and I to our routine...or a variation thereof. Callan hopped in the shower with me. After our shower Callan asked for a diaper reprieve. It feels like a small thing to give. A few minutes with out a diaper. I can handle it. Well, most of the time I can handle it. This particular morning in the blink of an eye we had a giant disgaster. (Disgusting Disaster) I will spare you the details. Just know it had lots to do with not having a diaper on and a dog who is undiscriminating about what he eats. Thank god my morning sickness is over or that would have set me about having a whole new problem on top of what I already had to deal with.

So see what I mean?

Vegas started it.

Today is Brought to you by the Letter "B"

Sometimes things that Callan says just get stuck in my head. This week he has been pronouncing all his B words with "BE" instead of bu for the sound...resulting in cute quips such as

BE nockles (binoculars)
and
BE nanas

It makes me smile just thinking about it.

Something Old,Something New, Something Borrowed, and something Bunnied.

What a fun and busy weekend we had! Eric's niece Stephanie got married on Saturday. Not only did she manage to find herself a super wonderful husband, she also scored an extremely handsome ring bearer. Although not an inactive one. Fortunately---Callan was the only one running. Tuxedos are the new workout wear. Sweatpants are so last year. My pictures turned out kind of horribly but not for lack of trying. I am hoping Beth can bail me out as I am sure her trained eye got lots of good ones! (HAPPY Birthday Beth!!!!!)

We had so much fun getting to see everyone. Callan loves all his cousins! Christine was back in town to be the MOH, it was great to see her! And Callan has been talking about Ryan, Luke and Rachael since last time we saw them--counting the days until we would see them again. Usually once he sees them he prefers to just kind of watch them instead of actually play with them, he gets a little shy but he warms up quickly and was eating chocolate out of their hands in no time! ; ) Callan had lots of fun and was provided with endless candy, cookies, chips and pop in order to help smooth the bumps of a weekend that doesn't exactly follow his normal schedule. He was a trooper! I think he would probably tell you the highlight of the weekend was that he learned to use a pop machine (not to mention, was allowed to drink pop). He did lots of funny things...two of which were launch the RB pillow across the alter during the rehearsal and yell "THROW IT!" and then when we were at the reception waiting in line for some roast beef, he put his hand squarely on the shoulder of the lady in front of us, gave her a small shove and yelled "GO!" I guess he really, really wanted some beef. Luckily she was a good sport and found the humor in this!

As for Easter, it was definitely our second tier event. We still managed to find time for some serious egg hunting. Luckily The Bunny (TB) came to Nini and Papa's house early so we could have a practice run on Saturday morning. Callan found a garden shovel and a rake immediately and couldn't be bothered to put them down--no matter what was inside the eggs. The only way he would pick up the eggs was if he could scoop them onto his shovel with his rake. He did allow my dad to feed him the occasional M&M or gummy---but only if he could keep digging! One track mind, that guy! By the time TB got to our place on Sunday morning Callan was mildly amused by some of the offerings but in large part 'over it' I think we had too much excitement already---TB couldn't compete. Although I did find out that the practice hunt helped us hone our skills as our Sunday evening egg hunt with the neighbors went much better---Callan was running around scooping them up like a pro.

So that was our weekend. Looking forward to a little slower pace next weekend when we get a visit from Uncle Ethan!

More One Peas.

This is Callan's new way of asking for more...of anything (if you are into ironic phonics, anything but peas...he never asks for more of those). Instead of more of that please, more one peas. His other slightly backwards phrase of the moment is 'mama hold you' instead of 'mama hold me'. It would figure world's sweetest boy has world's sweetest phrasing. What a guy!