A whole lotta goings on going on

My lack of blogging is not due to a lack of stuff to talk about. Quite the opposite, in fact. Kenny and I are in the process of buying our first house (our first house!!), so between that, being very busy at work and trying to squeeze in family time it's been too nuts to find the time to write.

We're scheduled to close on the house on the 29th and then Brendan and I are leaving on the 30th for a weeklong trip to Maine with Mima, Papa, Aunt Lauren, Uncle Keith and Aunt Shannon. We're going up for a family reunion on my mom's side and seeing folks we haven't seen in many, many years. We're all super excited! Daddy is saving his vacation time for our big move so unfortunately he won't be able to come with us. :(

We had Brendan's birthday party at Mima and Papa's house two weeks ago with family and some friends. I still can't believe my little man is two years old already.

His two-year check-up was yesterday; he's up to 35.5" tall and weighs 28lb 7oz. So back to the 75th percentile for height and the 50th percentile for weight.

B started the visit in very good spirits. He played with some toys and read me a few books while we waited to be called in. When we were called back he led the way, then decided that maybe he remembered this place and maybe he didn't want to be here after all when he saw we were going into one of the exam rooms. "Up, Mama." I picked him up and he clung to me for dear life. It's not easy getting a lanky two-year old undressed while he suctions his body to yours and pleads with you not to let go.

I wanted nothing more than to just scoop him up and run out of there but I figured one of us had to act like an adult and since technically, I'm that person, I played the role of the Stepfordesque Mommy and smiled while I told him in my most pleasant voice that everything was going to be all right. After crying and saying "no, no, no" and looking at me with crazy eyes while he was measured and weighed, he finally calmed down and got distracted by books and a few toys that someone had blessedly left in the room.

Now, I very clearly remembered the doctor saying at his 18-month appointment that he wouldn't be getting any vaccines at this appointment. So you can imagine my surprise when she said that someone (who obviously has no children) made the decision that toddlers should get an extra dose of a particular vaccine. Ugh. In walks the nurse who tells me to lay him down and HOLD HIS HANDS OVER HIS HEAD like some sidekick in a torture routine while she sticks his meaty little thigh. Brendan cried and cried and cried.

Next up: down to the lab for bloodwork. In all honestly, I considered calling it quits at this point. Then I had a little pep talk with myself where I told me to man up and get this over with. So down to the lab we went. He had calmed down at that point and was flirting with all the lovely ladies in the lab while we waited. They called us in and I was told to have him sit on my lap, then BLOCK HIM IN WITH MY LEGS AND HOLD HIS ARM OUT SO THEY CAN STICK A NEEDLE IN HIS ARM AS THICK AS A BANANA AND DRAW TWO VIALS OF BLOOD. Yes, I'm shouting. Yes, it's necessary.

Thankfully his veins drain faster than his Mama's. Screams and cries and Mama's heart breaks but I kept my Stepford grin on and mustered up all the pleasantness I had left to hold him and tell him that the torture was done and everything was going to be all right. He cried all the way out to the car then passed out.

I told Daddy the next check-up is all him. Mama's done.

Here are some pics from B's birthday party. I haven't taken a whole lot of pictures lately but am going to try to remember to bring the camera this weekend.

Wearing his adorable shirt that Auntie Jilly found on etsy.com


Blowing out the candles with Uncle Scotch







Brendan is 2 years, 2 weeks and 3 days old today!

December

I've been a very bad blogger. Let's see...

Brendan had his very first sleepover at Grandmama's house without Mommy. Kenny and I had a party to go to and didn't want to worry about what time we came home and waking up at the crack of dawn after a night out. Despite all my worries about him being devastated when I left and then waking up every hour on the hour crying for his Mama, he did wonderfully well. In fact, I'm not sure he missed me one bit. But I suppose that's a good thing.

We had our first real snow storm last weekend and Brendan got to go on his first sleigh ride. I bundled him up in his snow pants, snow boots, hat, gloves and puffy jacket like a little burrito. He was a little wary at first once we got outside--I think he's like his Mama and doesn't care too much for the cold. But once he warmed up he had a lot of fun.

Almost ready!










Having a snack after the sleigh ride






Look at those lashes!




We've had presents under our tree for a good two weeks and Brendan has not even acknowledged them. So I assumed that he wouldn't be terribly interested in opening them just like when we opened presents after his birthday. But he LOVED it! I can just see him now going to other people's parties and opening all their gifts when no one is looking. Of course, being the only grandchild on both sides, Sir made out like a bandit.

Christmas Eve was spent at Grandmama & Grandpapa's house:
The pointer finger attacks!











Christmas morning at home:







Christmas day at Nana's house:
Opening presents with Uncle Scott


A slide! In the house!









Ho ho ho!



Brendan is 5 days away from 18 months old today! (OMG!!!!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year we spent Thanksgiving at Grandma Annie's house. She had a nice crowd and Brendan got to spend some QT with his Aunt Lauren and spread some holiday cheer with his cute self.

As I look at pics from last Thanksgiving, I'm noticing that B has a blue plaid shirt uniform thing going on for this particular holiday.

Goofing around with Daddy






Investigating the contents of Grandma's drawer


And a random bathtub shot, just because. I'd post a bootylicious shot of him but there are too many creepy interwebz out there.



Brendan is 3 days away from 17 months old today!

Lions and tigers and bears... oh my!

Behold the absolute cuteness of our ferocious little lion! Grandma Annie worked with B all day to get him to hold his bag and say "trick or treat." He actually did say it ('ti-cheat") a few times but never quite at the appropriate moment. More like, after the person closed their door and we were walking away from the house.

Ready to make his debut!






Checking out the loot


I just want to smell it Mommy, honest.


All done. Now waiting for the big kids to come so I can give them candy.



Brendan is 16 months and 2 days old today!

Stuff and other stuff

Not much new to report. Brendan is still a cruising fool though he allegedly took a few steps last week. I say allegedly because I wasn't present to witness either one, thus then it did not happen. Right? Right. Mommy sees all the firsts, that's the rule.

I've been enjoying a nice, long weekend with my little lovebug. My job gives us a 4-day weekend for Labor Day and Brendan's babysitter is away this week so I've been home with him since Friday and will be again tomorrow. Today we took a ride to the mall so I could drop my car off at Sears and get some new tires. My mom's neighbor pointed out that the front ones were basically bald over the weekend, which totally freaked me out. So while we waited for the new tires, B and I did some shopping. I was hoping to get him some new shoes but didn't find anything we liked in his size. We stopped and had some lunch and I took a chance by ordering something off of the kids' menu for B. I was all prepared to whip out the purees from the diaper bag but Mr. Finicky actually chowed down on some chicken fingers. My little boy is finally eating table food like a real, live person! Sure, it's greasy and deep fried but it's progress people, and that's really all that matters at this point. Right? Right. (I'm loving that you're so agreeable!)

After the mall we met Daddy at the barber for B's second haircut. I made sure to arrange this on my day off so I could be all paparazzi-like and take eleventy billion pictures. Below are some recent pictures, some are from a visit at Grandma Annie's, some are from a birthday party we went to over the weekend and some are from today's haircut. Enjoy!

Aren't they supposed to save this look for when they're teenagers??


Oh, the chub on those legs!


More chubby deliciousness


Giving a smooch to Uncle Scott


Swinging


Taking a tour of the backyard with Daddy




With Nana


Hanging out with Daddy


Haircut:
Before


Watching the progress in the mirror


Starting to get a little uneasy


I don't like this anymore!


And... apparently I forgot to take an "after" shot. We'll have to do that tomorrow before we head to the aquarium. YAY!


Brendan is 14 months, 1 week and 2 days old today!