I should feel guilty about this…
June 27, 2007 | Filed Under Benny, Photos | 3 Comments
but I really don’t. Heck, I still can’t stop laughing.
Ben was playing in the bathroom this evening and pulled out a tampon. It was one of those new, cute little ones in a colorful wrapper. He brought it to me and asked me what it was, and I responded “It’s a tampon.”
“Special treat?” he asked sweetly.
I was stumped on how to explain exactly what it was and how very different it is from the candy he was hoping for, when I was struck by genuis (or at least as close to genius as I get).
“Go ask daddy for help” I suggested.
Of course, Jason was as confused as Ben and also assumed it was a sweet treat. I laughed wildly when I heard the realization hit him and the panic as he assured Ben it was no treat.
Between tantrums, life with a 2 year old is so much fun. Last week, I was using a public bathroom with Ben practically on top of me in the tiny stall. When I pulled my pants down, he yelled, ” I see Mommy’s penis!” The snorts from neighboring stalls assured me that everyone heard him.
Yeah, he’s a turkey, but have you ever seen a cuter turkey?
Ninja warrior
June 27, 2007 | Filed Under Eaglet, General, TheDeuce | 1 Comment
Ninja Warrior has officially taken over the monster truck obsession in our house, and I was more than ready. Ninja Warrior is a crazy, Japanese show where contestants compete in ridiculously challenging obstacle courses. Jason discovered it with the boys while on his trip to North Carolina, and I’m so glad. Ben calls it the “crazy jumping show” and wants to see a new crazy jumping show each day after school (it isn’t on that often though, so we have to hoard them in tivo). Our little maniac now jumps all around the house, jumping over toys and flipping backwards onto the couch. If he falls, he says he “fell into the water” just like Ninja Warrior. He is such a boy.
To be more specific, he is a big boy (37.5 inches now) and doing very well in his new big boy class. He loves playing on the big playground, though he misses some of his friends (especially Kaitlyn, our little neighbor). This morning, he was whining that he didn’t want to go to school, until Jason reminded him that he gets to go to Barbie’s (the new teacher) room and the big playground. He was then revving to go. Yesterday, the people from the aquarium at the Mall of America came down and brought a bunch of animals to show the kids. Ben got to pet a shark. I bet “First time I petted a shark” isn’t a milestone in most baby books 
This morning, TheDeuce and I had our 16 week checkup. I’ve gained 3 pounds now, and the blood pressure is still good. We heard her (we have been referring to TheDeuce as a girl) heartbeat (150), but she was moving all over the place. I think she was doing her own Ninja Warrior crazy jumping…gotta be just like big brother The most exciting event was scheduling our ultrasound on July 18. We are eager to see our baby. The bad news is that we may not share hotdog or hamburger with y’alls. We’re not trying to be mean, but we wonder if it may be a little easier for everyone given our surprise with Benji. It’ll just depend on how good our view is…if she is as demur as Ben was, it’ll be better to keep it a surprise.
Guess that is it around here…counting down the days (2) until we head to the Yoop for a long weekend.
-R
Not again?
June 25, 2007 | Filed Under Eaglet, House projects, Photos | Leave a Comment
Going backward through the weekend
Remember when I was 8 months pregnant with Ben and we lost half our power? Last night was like deja vu all over again. Jason had gone to the stock car races to help pit for a friend’s brother. Shortly after he left, the power went out. No biggie, except to Ben who was watching “Pon Bob.” After a long eventually, the power came back…except the TV still wouldn’t work. I fiddled with the power strip and checked the breaker. There ended my electical expertise. In a mini-panic, I grabbed Ben and headed to the races to try to find J. Of course, Ben wasn’t allowed in the ‘pits’ so my effort was wasted. I returned home and searched Jason’s phone for his friend’s number…finally calling a random number that ended up being correct. From our conversation, and my experiments while waiting for him, I decided that again, half our service was out. The air conditioning nor random lights and outlets (including all the good stuff: TV, wireless router, and fridge) were out. Jason returned to determine the same thing, and promptly returned to the races. Nothing he could do, and Paul’s brother is an electrician, who gave him a great piece of advice–call the City first. Instead of calling an electrician, who will call the city to come out and find the break, which the electrician will then fix, charging all the while, find the break first. So, Jason tried the public works number, which surprisingly went to a machine at 9pm on a Sunday! Another call to Paul’s brother, who happens to have the City guys’ unpublished cell phone numbers, and poof! Here they are! As we were poking around, our neighbors came out and said they also had half power…which was the best news ever. It wasn’t a problem from the box to our house (our financial responsibility); it was on the main line. Oh happy days. By 11ish, we had full power once again….just in time to turn off all the lights and go to bed
Before the darkness
There was much light, as we had another great summer weekend. Saturday, we played outside and ate watermelon. Sunday, we had Paul and his family over for swimming and grilled pizza. Pictures:
The weekend is over
And today Ben went to school and straight to the big boy playground. He “graduated” from the toddler 2 class on Friday. Although we will really miss his teacher, it will be good for him to be the little kid again and have a new routine. We are hoping this new class helps clear up some of the behavioral problems he has been displaying at school lately (which we and the teachers are attributing to bordom). Still…my little baby is getting so big!
Happy Summer Solstice
June 21, 2007 | Filed Under Eaglet, General, Photos, TheDeuce | 7 Comments
RahRahRochester
So, I don’t believe that I have mentioned here the volunteer website that I am doing to support the city of Rochester, MN and their “Year of the Family.” Whether it is because this work keeps me more in the loop and gives me a stronger sense of civic pride, or because more friends have been advertising kid-friendly events around town, or because Ben is just old enough to enjoy more stuff now, I have been going to a lot more kid events in town.
This week is Rochesterfest. Jason and I went one day our first summer here to this yearly, week-long, community festival. I think it was back it the good ol’ days when our place of employment gave everyone a half day off and free bus rides to the event. We walked around scratching our heads…”So, it is just a bunch of fair food in the street?” We never returned…until last night. It was kid’s night! There was a free petting zoo! How could I say no? I picked Ben up from school (Jason drove separately because he had a meeting at 7 in town), and we began talking about our plans for the night. Dinner! Animals! Zoo! Yippee. Only the excitement at following Daddy on his motorbike all the way there overshadowed the zoo. Imagine 20 minutes of
“Daddy on momobike. Right there. Daddy fast. Daddy pass semi-truck. Daddy pass the Big Blue Tower. Mommy, pass Daddy? Daddy not on orange momobike. Orange momobike sleeping. Daddy on silver momobike. Daddy pass blue car!”
Anyhoo, we finally arrive at the Fest, and we begin hunting for food. It was 90 degrees and crowded with rude people (the kind that steal a table from a sweating, pregnant woman carrying a 35lb toddler), but we managed to find crab fritters (delish!), sweet potato fries, a gyro, a turkey leg, and mini donuts. Once we were suitably stuffed, we went looking for the petting zoo that didn’t exist. Defeated, we decided to end our RochesterFest experience, despite Ben’s pleading “We go zoo now?”
After saying our goodbyes to Jason, my stomach started the rumbling that can only mean “FIND A BATHROOM NOW.” Ben and I bee lined for a Kmart (hey, it was close), and he seemed to enjoy the adventure of running through the store. I did what I needed to do, while he wiped his nose over and over again with 1 square of TP at a time. Much relieved, I decided we’d better browse around for a while to make sure I was all the way better. Half and hour later, Ben and I went through the check out, rode the horsy outside (do you know those things cost 50 cents now!), and put our bag in the car, when the rumbling started again. Deja vu, as I urged Ben to run through the parking lot and into the store, where he yelled all the way to the bathroom “Momma’s got to poop again!” Thanks Ben…I don’t think we were enough of a spectacle. (Jason cracked up at this story and insisted I post it–blame him if it was TMI)
Something you don’t know about me
In another bid to build morale at work, we had to fill out an “about me” survey which we used to play a “getting to know you” game. I sound cynical, and truly I am, but I don’t mind this kind of stuff at all. (next month is bring in an embarrassing elementary school picture of yourself. I have plenty of material for that one! Debating between the 5th grade, laser, pearls, and afro shot and the 2nd grade science fair award ceremony with me in a little house on the prairie dress) Back to the topic, one question was
“One interesting thing about you that NO one knows… (obviously we will be sharing this so don’t share anything that you DO NOT WANT anyone else to know)”
My answer: I can not roll my tongue. I have received much ribbing for this throughout my life, but really, it is genetic. I can’t help it. I am much relieved that Ben (again) takes after Jason and has avoided this deformity.
16 weeks
TheDeuce is 16 weeks now, and I am feeling much better and bigger! All traces of morning sickness are gone, and my energy is much improved. I can stay awake until 10pm again! I’ve finally invested in a new body pillow, which I hope will help me sleep a little better. I’ve been trying to feel the baby moving, but I haven’t gotten anything yet. It won’t be long though. Jason thinks this pregnancy is going really fast, but I feel like it is taking forever. Benny usually hugs or kisses the baby (my belly) at least once a day, and likes to show it off (my lifting my shirt for the whole world). He still says the baby is the color of the shirt I am wearing, and insists he also has a baby (the color of his own shirt). When asked whether he wants a brother or sister, he is still consistent in answering “sister.” We shall see.
4 years
The summer solstice also marks Jason and my wedding anniversary. 2007 marks 4 years. Maybe it is just me, but this year seemed to go pretty quickly and smoothly. Either we are getting better at this, or we just didn’t have a new baby this year! I’m sure TheDeuce will bring another challenging year as we adapt to the changes in our life, but I’m up for the challenge. Bring on the adversity, right J? I love you Jason. I would marry you again.
