Can't take my eyes off of you

Today I went to the gym (and you went to the kids care) for an hour.

When you have to go to the day care (dad's out of town) I like going when it's not too busy. I also like watching in the camera. They have one camera that's set in one of the corners of the room, so you kind of come in and our of the shot.

Since you're too young to really play with other kids, you walk around and look at them. Especially the older ones, and especially when they have game boys, or as I'm sure you were referring them to as, 'buttons'. It makes the time go by quickly as I watch you, or stare at the TV waiting for you to come into view.

I could tell you were fine the whole time I was away, but as soon as I walked in to pick you up, you started crying. I'm sure you were having a good time and didn't really notice I wasn't around -until I suddenly was there. It was pretty cute.

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Reason # 2 that I 'can't take my eyes off of you' happened after we got home from the gym. And HOW I wished I had my camera with me at that moment.

I was in the kitchen emptying the dishwasher and you were playing the piano. This isn't our normal arrangement, you're not normally out of your 'cage', or gate, when I'm not with you. I heard you playing, so I didn't think you were into anything you shouldn't be. Up until today you stand next to the piano and have never tried or at least succeeded in climbing anywhere.

I heard the music (or pounding) stop, so I hurried over to make sure you weren't climbing the stairs. You weren't. You were however, climbing. I found you on the key's of the piano, getting into the piano student treats. Just standing there as happy as you could be.

Man, I've got my work cut out for me for the next few years.

A short do

I went a little crazy with the clippers yesterday. It looks cute once you get used to it, but I miss your long hair. I guess next time I'll have to pay the money and take you to a real hair salon.

A Maui owie

You won't remember anything about our trip to Hawaii, but believe me, your dad and I will!

After a quick dinner at the Condo (you did remarkably well for the EIGHT hours we on the plane) you were tired, but running off some energy before we put you down for the night. I guess we let you run a bit too much, because you went off running, tripped, and lunged toward a sharp corner.

I saw you do it, Papa picked you up first and handed you off. You were literally gushing blood, and we were both covered quickly. I got you into the kitchen and Mimi and Dad helped get a rag up to your little forehead. I knew immediately that we were hading to the emergency room.

Mimi called down to the front desk and they met us on our way to the car with directions. It seemed to take FOREVER to get there (the islanders don't like driving very fast, most of the speed limits didn't exceed 30 MPH). Luckily, you calmed down in the car and the bleeding pretty much stopped. We actually had to try and KEEP you awake on the ride because we were already 3 hours past your normal bedtime.

It was a small emergency room, and after triage we were in the back about 15 minutes after we walked in. Our nurse was really nice, the doctor was really busy. You screamed more when we put on the gauze with a numbing solution than you did when you hit your head.

We held you down again for the doctor to inject some lidocaine (luckily it didn't look like you felt it, just hated being held down). After another 15 or 20 minutes the doctor came in, we strapped you down to a papoose board and held you head while the doctor stitched. You screamed the entire time; it just broke our hearts.

Again, it seemed like forever, but I'm sure the doctor worked as quick as he could. We were out of there after discharge instructions, and a bit of weird chatting with the doctor. You fell asleep immediately, and never looked back.

You seemed oblivious the rest of the week to the wound, and didn't cry or even get upset when Shondel took your stitches out 5 days later.

The rest of Maui was a lot of fun.

You LOVED spending every day with family. Every time you woke up you were asking for Laila and Papa. You learned Kris' name and Tia (Spanish for 'aunt', which is what you and Laila call Marime).

When we finally got in the pool and the ocean you couldn't have been happier. You even forgave me for letting a couple of waves crash into us in the ocean.

We had a red eye flight coming home. Once again, you did pretty good. You didn't sleep really well, but you were mostly quiet for the whole time -which I'm sure our travel neighbors appreciated.

Nothing slows you down!

You're a little sick right now and will have your first try at an antibiotic in the morning (we couldn't wait for the amoxicillin, so you came home to go to bed and we sent dad out to get it).
Mmmm... brownies.



You love to knock down towers.

We had a really fun weekend, and you discovered how much LOVE snow! You refused to walk on the sidewalk the few times we went outside and would only walk right in the snow. You liked trying to eat it, falling down on it (I'm not kidding) and playing right in it. Plus, you looked so dang cute in your puffy pants and coat, we loved letting you play.










The plan was to have you stay at Grandma and Grandpa Hardcastle's through the weekend but your sleepover was cut short because you are sick.


Even though it was VERY obvious you felt crappy, you still tried to be happy and play. And talk. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this enough on your blog, but you also LOVE to talk! You talk constantly, and lately you just love trying new words and copying what others say.


Here's a list of some of the things you say (alot).


Dad


Mama


Grandpa (papa)


Jodi (jodo)


Ball

Bread

Diaper

Snack


Buttons (this refers to anything that has buttons -cell phones, computers, atm machines -anything)


Bottle


Bath


Baby (bubba) You also 'rock the baby' when you hold your little baby doll. I love it!


Light


Jess (this one is new, and it's super cute)


Gordon (this one is hard to figure out, but it's definitely your word for Gordon, and it sounds different from anything else)


Eat


Thank You


Banana (another one of my favorites)

Laila (waywah)


I might be missing a few, but I have to tell you, I'm beginning to get the impression that this is quite an impressive vocabulary for your age. It's not often that we're out and I don't get at least one comment from people (strangers or people we know) about how much you talk and can be understood. But, to have the insta care doctor say it 2 or 3 times tonight, including asking me if I spend a lot of time practicing talking with you.

I'm not sure if we really practice talking, as much as you never stop talking and I try to respond to you and repeat words you're interested in.


I'm not saying you're going to be a genius or anything, but you're quite vocal at the moment!

You like pickles! Lemons, limes, and now pickles! You're a strange kid.

Dancin' Man

Dance from Melanie Lafeen on Vimeo.