Birthday Wishes of a One Year Old

It was Sam's 1st birthday today. One year of joy! He is a very sweet baby, and the perfect addition to our family. Every birthday child gets to choose the events for the day (if the requests are reasonable), and if Sam could talk it would go something like this:

Eat
Acrobatics off the high chair
Swish in the toilet
Play in the dirt from the last remaining potted plant
Eat
Swish in the toilet
Climb the stairs
Nap
Eat
Play in dirt
Eat
Sleep

Because I find a few of these activities objectionable, we compromised. Instead of toilet water, he splashed in a clean bowl of water and bubbles:

* This activity had it's advantages. After using every last towel to wipe the floor, it sparkled! Just in time for the next event.

In lieu of playing in dirt, I let him eat dirt (chocolate dirt):

After a good bath, I think we both came out of this pretty happy.

Unintentional Insults

First, let me just say that Chad is a very sweet child. Recently he has taken to making me breakfast (toast with water in a goblet), when he noticed I was always the last one to eat. But sometimes the child hurts my feelings without intending to.

Example #1: "Back in the '80's - they didn't make clocks, or electricity." I'm hoping he's referring to another century.

Example #2: "Did they make Laurel and Hardy movies when you were younger?"

Example #3: "It must be fun to be very old. Do you like being old?" What's with all the age comments? I've never had an age complex, but I'm beginning to think I should.

Example #4: When playing Scooby Doo, I asked if I could play Daphne. Chad's reply:"No mom, you're more like Velma." I suppose we both have brown hair and glasses, but does pretend play have to be so realistic? And just for the record, I would never wear an orange turtleneck.

Example #5: When Chad asked me if I wanted to play trains, I gracefully declined. He then asked: "What do you like to do for fun, clean?" Note to self: clean less, have more fun.

On the rare occasion that Chad does intend emotional harm, he draws me a picture, an angry picture.


Is that a heart crossed out? I especially like the tiny angry Chad head. I will tell you this, next time I'll think twice before asking him to clean his room.

Parenting Milestone

Today I did something I have never done in all my days of parenting: I put my crawling baby on the ground, outside. It only took me 3 children, and five and a half years to overcome my fear of dusty knees and grimy baby fingers. There Sam was, strapped in his stroller, watching the other two run at will. I felt sorry for the poor chap, so I set him down to see where he would go. He played with foliage for a bit, tested out the dirt for a spell, then went for something I believe he has had his eye on for some time: the go kart. And there Sam stayed for at least a half hour, not making a sound. Occasionally he would glance back at me, possibly questioning my decision making skills. But I could tell he enjoyed every minute as he he ran his hands over each wheel and tested out every gear. My men love their wheels.




Hence the shirt.

And the frequent visits to car dealerships.

As for this one, she has no need for speed.

Oprah-esque

Do you think Oprah reads this blog? I'm beginning to think she might. Did you watch the show today? Read this, if you missed it. Really, how enlightened am I to try something before Oprah tells me to?

Retraction

Oh snap - my first retraction! In an earlier post, I had a recipe for cooking microwave popcorn in a brown paper bag. While researching the use of plastics in the microwave, I found this on the USDA website: "Never use thin plastic storage bags, brown paper or plastic grocery bags, newspapers, or aluminum foil in the microwave oven."

Looks like one of my first March purchases will be an air popper. Should we be concerned about licking envelopes? Or maybe just microwaving and then licking envelopes. Although, there was that Seinfeld episode . . . I must stop thinking about this.

Just one more distraction

I found something today that is not helping my situation. It's called swag bucks (click here to try) - if you search for something on their site, you randomly win points that can be redeemed for things like amazon gift cards. It's kind of fun and really addicting. I already earned 7 swag bucks! Is this a relapse?

Ending the Addiction

I hate the thought that I may be addicted to anything. Although I can name a few, if I take just a moment: hot chocolate, my children, The Office. Perhaps I can overlook these, they can't really be classified as harmful addictions. But there are others...

I worked my way through college in the newborn unit working the graveyard shift, hence a healthy (unhealthy, I mean) addiction to Dr. Pepper. I had to endure a few headaches to rid myself of that one.

As of lately, I have taken to online shopping. I love that I can compare prices all from the convenience of my own home, in my pajamas, without lines to wait in, or children to control. And then some nice man in a brown suit just delivers it to my front door. It's heaven. I did all of my Christmas shopping online, mostly with free shipping. I know, I'm good. But I fear I may have become a bit addicted to it. Even after Christmas, I was still online and looking at toys. Toys! The things my children looked at for a week or so and then abandoned.

I knew something must be done. I had read somewhere about an idea, perhaps a solution to my problem - spend nothing but essentials for one month. That's right, one month, and this has been my month. I have been very good, and only tried to cheat a few times - each time denied. Once, I accidently left my stroller in the library parking lot and someone decided to take it home. Good reason to shop, right? No, my friend Wendy was more than happy to give me two! The Children's Place was having an amazing online sale (Why was I even looking? Addiction is a very bad thing). But by the time I got it all in my cart, I was informed that all items were out of stock. Sam has just found his sea legs and had latched onto a walker at a friend's house. To develop properly, he really should have one. Shop? No, once again a friend (thanks Stephanie) offered hers.

I have one week left, and the shakes have all but stopped. I think I'm going to make it. Perhaps I could even end my sugar addiction, or maybe I'll wait until I am fully recovered.