Tiring...

They said three was harder than 2.

Here is how my Ben time looked today:
Woke him up with kisses.  A happy boy who slept from 8 to 6:30.  a lovely start.
As long as he gets to choose his own underwear we are good to go with the dressing and brushing and washing.
Down the stairs we go to pack the bag and get out the door to walk the dog by 6:45 (he eats a bit of breakfast in the car).
But it started to go bad quick.
Mama's keys were missing.  The one's that start the car.  Bad.  Very very bad.
Dude remembered playing combine operator the night before.  Right here mama.  They were here on the table.  Of course he had no idea where they were as the clocked ticked away this morning.
45 minutes.
I searched for 45 minutes.
Every surface in every room that is at or below ben's reach when standing on his stool.  Small house but lots of surfaces.
The phone was in my hand.  The VP's number was in my other hand.  I decided to pullout the couch and take one more look and there they were.  Nestled nicely onto the back of a farm tractor.

Tonight we arrived home, had our 90 minute walk the dog ride the strider around the neighbourhood so I'll sleep at 8pm exercise period.  A good filling dinner.  A visit with the neighbour, his buddy Tristan.  And then home to bed.
Except he was not a fan of going home.  At all.  I gave him about a million chances to walk on his own in a non-draggedbyanangrymama fashion as we traversed the 4 townhome space between our place and Tristan's but every single time I let go of his hand he started the bolt back to his buddy's place.
He had his most spectacular fit EVER once I got him in the door.  He kicked that door and screamed for a full 10 minutes.  Can't remember the exact words but he was essentially telling me where I could stuff his bedtime baba-and he wasn't telling me to put it back in the fridge.

So, closer to 9 by the time he wound up and then wound down again.

A few points to ponder.

The 123 Magic behavioural technique worked well with Ben UNTIL this week when he started counting in order to discipline me!  Um, no more counting buddy.  Now I say it once, give you a bit of choice (please put on your boots or your shoes) and then it happens.  Probably why the fit was special-er than normal.  Tonight's choice was "you may walk nicely to our home or I will hold your hand and help you walk".

The phase when every single utterance coming from his sweet mouth starts with "I NEED...."?  Not a pretty phase.  Not from the kid who was all pees, tanktoo, may I just last week.

And the me do it?  I get it.  And he can do so much of "it".  He really can.  And I encourage him to do"it" all day long.  However, if he asks me to carry him and snuggle him on the way to the bathroom in the morning where I put him down on the stool and he proceeds to scream "I DO IT" and has to walk all the way back into his room, climb up into the bed, get UNDER the flipping blankets, put his head down and pretend to snore and then head back into the bathroom all by himself...well it starts to grate on my nerves.  If I had encouraged him to walk by himself he would have melted down.

Yikes.  The little dude is so, so wonderful and very very tiring.  I find myself trying to guess his reaction to each and every request...

so much to say...

What a wonderful weekend!

It started Friday evening when Ben and I headed over to the home of The Two Anhs to help their mama out with Gala preparations.  Seriously.  I have no idea how that woman keeps so many balls successfully in the air at once.  I'm in awe and was so pleased that I could help out (in such a little way and so last minute).

Saturday was Gala Day!
The evening began with a seminar for waiting parents.   There is lots and lots of news in adoption land and it was a pleasure to meet and talk directly with 8 delegates including both the Head of the Department of International Adoption, the director of Administrative services for the Department of International adoption and 6 other visitors from Ben's homeland.  A question answer session was held and many important questions about the new laws and procedures were addressed.  The needed decrees and circulars were signed on March 21st and government training and agency training will occur in April. It will be interesting to watch the first months of the process as things unfold.

And then the Gala began!  What a marvellous celebration of my son's birth country!  A beautiful musical presentation and a lovely interpretive dance piece.   250 people were in attendance for dinner, dancing, raffles, auctions and fun-draising!  Such a great time!  Ben really showed his stuff out on the dance floor!

I am really looking forward to hearing about the total dollars raised and the difference that was made for the children of Vung Tau.

You can read about the project we are supporting here:  TDH Charity Gala

Today there was a light brunch at a play place.  A less formal opportunity for the delegates to interact with the children and the adoptive parents.  Think Ben had fun?  (Today I brought my camera...I forgot my camera last night, sorry)

I hope you will visit the gala website linked above and make a difference for the children of Vung Tau.  Charity receipts are issued for donations in excess of $10.  Every single dollar matters.

Funny Little Manh

Dude dumps all his play food on the kitchen floor.
As dinner time approaches (and rice is on the menu, a favourite) I ask the dude to come to the kitchen to tidy up his mess.  Here is the conversation...

Mama, I can't come.  I have no legs.  


Well sweetie, just pull yourself along using your arms.


Mama, my arms injured in combine assident.


Oh dear.  Well Ben, lay on your tummy and wiggle your way in here like a snake.


Um, mama?  


Yes Ben.


I can't.  My back broken.  I fell out of rock a bye baby treetop at bedtime las-night.


Oh well.  There is lots of rice out here.  I guess I'll have to eat it all.


Mama!  Wait!  I all better now.  It a miracle really.

And in other news the dude, who is not so little any more, is fully completely absolutely toilet trained (when awake).  The big transition happened over the march break but I held off on celebrating until I could be sure everything went smoothly at the sitters this week...and it DID!  Dry and clean all day every day!  Such a big big boy.

fall 2009 (16/17 months old)

Well, I'm continuing to dig through my PC photo archives and found a few favourites to share...

Looking like such a big boy in this one...

but if I could upload video successfully 

I could share that he was not saying

one single word at this point...

still such a baby boy.

This shot really shows the colour of his eyes,

I love that deep brown,

and the painful swollen gums in the height of teething time...

neither of us loved them so much

Can you resist that crooked little left ear?

I included this shot in honour of St. Patrick's Day.

I noticed his little elfin ear in the very first picture I saw of my sweet boy

at 19 days old.

He loved the kitties in this book to death...literally.

The book was ruined by teething drool and slime

but not before it was read and kissed hundreds of times.

Around 19 months or so...

one of his first words (but not before mama)

Meow

skating and sunshine and friends oh my

Busy day
Car makes a loud noise
2 days at the garage and they say...
yup...
makes a loud noise
could be the struts
probably the struts
but not sure
(and for about a thou I want them sure)
so we went skating
went walking in the glorious sunshine
tried to nap
went driving in the noisy car
to visit
had a (mostly) lovely visit
with a mid visit should have napped melt down of epic proportions
now he sleeps
well, actually he started to sleep at about 7
in the noisy car
and still, at 10 he sleeps.
may he continue to rest well
in his borrowed pink princess pull up
with an empty stomach
(cause the epic meltdown?  dinner time)
I'm thinking he may wake up
hungry
in a puddle
but if it happens at 6 am,
11 hours after he fell asleep,
I won't care much

give me a break...

I needed one.

A time to do nothing with Ben.

Nothing but...

Read books.
Watch too much T.V.
Watch digger videos on You Tube.
Walk the block comparing puddle depth
using a variety of methods
including falling
face first
into the deepest one you can find.

Get some vitamin D...
boy did we both need a little sunshine.
Or a lot.
If you think 4 hours out and about is a lot.

Also lost all of mama's photos,
found the photos,
reorganized the photos,
bought new shoes for the dude
ate Pho.
visited with Auntie K who came for a sleep over.

And now for the big "do nothing" finish...
Dude is potty trained.
Asking, going, accident free since Saturday.
Out and about, in the car, restaurants, etc...
Still in pull-ups for sleeping, obviously,
but big boy underwear rule at our house.

And half a week of the break left!

counting the minutes until summer...

Thank you

Thank you Philips, my apple Store genius bar god
Because of you I have 4998 photos of my life with Ben
Without you I would have had nothing but corrupted files
I was truly terrified when you asked me to leave the computer with you
You have earned my full confidence

I am, because of you, forever a MAC person.

I am also the owner of a brand new back up hard drive

and a spiffy new waterproof case

bought in an effort to avoid another disaster 

3.5 hours

his nap
at home today with mama
so I spent some time
moving photos to my mac...
wondering where the time has gone

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

very first step ever...

and a very lucky shot

12 months

13 months

14 months

15 months

The little fever that would not leave...

please go away little fever...

I am tired of 38 degrees
plus or minus half a degree
lingering.

4 days is too long.

Dude has bags under his eyes
and a crustier than usual disposition.

Today in the car I told him to stop throwing cheerios
or he would not be allowed to eat cereal in the car.
He growled at me.
I was reprimanded by my 2 year old...

"Bev G!))#0&3 (yes, he used my first and last name)
I no like the message you gibing me.
I growl at you!"

So little fever that will not leave?
Please go away
so I can work tomorrow afternoon
instead of visiting the doctor.

Please. Go. Away. By. Morning.

(Seriously, we all know he will have a fever at 8
when I drop him at the sitter,
I will order a pm supply teacher by 8:30,
and at 9 the fever will go away.

sunshine dreams

Two years ago today...

A photo update

please note...
in an effort to bring joy and happiness to blogger land I'm only going to post (mostly) joyful and happy photos of our less than completely happy and joyful weekend.

A new day...

I'm not going to lie and say the night was great...
it wasn't
and points to other things brewing
(other than allergy/immunization)
with the birth of a new cough
and snorting and snoring at exceptional volumes.

He did however go to sleep about 8:15
woke up for good at 7:15
lots of wake ups in between but mostly sleep.
I'll take it.
Fever is still lingering.
1 dose of benedryl eliminated the hives last night
and they have not reappeared.

Now the good news...
dude was diaperless ALL DAY LONG!
Well, unless he was sleeping.
Even in the car and at the clinic.
And he rocked the big boy tigger undies.
And never had a single accident.
Such a big boy.

And in bigger good news?
Dude loves shub-ble-ing
and the 1cm we were expecting is actually 8 or 9 inches
so out we will go to shuble up a storm.
And take a sled ride.

Hoping for a chance to take a few photos today.

Just came in, 2 full hours later.
Snow is lovely but heavy.
Lots of neighbourhood bonding 
as we shovel out
(hopefully for the last time).
Ben is in excellent spirits 
despite the lingering immunization fever...

3rd post today- read them in order...Ever seen shingles? and other good news...

Had em.  Seen em.
The way they radiate down the spine then climb around the body
from the spine towards the front
like nasty ribs in your rib cage.
They hurt.
They make you cranky.
Itchy.
You get feverish...

See where this is going?

Straight to the walk in clinic...with moments to spare.
In fact they unlocked the door for me.

Long story short...
fever of 38.8.
looks like shingles.
isn't shingles.
hives.

could it be the hep b shot?
maybe, but probably not.
other options?
who bloody knows.

And the benedryl?
bubblegum flavour?
prince cranky pants is not a fan.

eh....I'll save the good news for later.

Good Question Julia...

The happy Mickey watcher turned into the...well...other kind of kid 1/2 way back from our walk to Tim's about 9:30.  He wanted to go one way so we could walk up the slippery path like Diego on an iceberg (apparently).  Of course we went his way but half way up the block he wanted to go the other way.  I said no.  He screamed and carried on.  I continued to say no.  He continued to scream.  Eventually he walked along beside me, holding my hand lovingly, screaming "I am not a cranky boy!  I  am  HAPPY!" as tears streamed down his face.  He didn't want to be carried.  He didn't want to go slower or faster or  well anything...he just wanted the whole neighbourhood to know he was not cranky.

Then I did some reflecting, 9:30 is in fact early Saturday morning to be arriving home from Tims but it was also 4 1/2 hours after the last dose of tylenol.  My mistake.

He is awake now cuddled on the couch watching a bit of caillou and drinking a bit of warm milk.  His leg is aching.  He is feverish.  Poor little dude.

I'm 8 hours into what is turning out to be a very, very long day,
and it is only 1pm.

He is napping.

Hopped up on tylenol,
which he was begging for.
My scream until you gag and puke oral aversion medicine taker
actually begged.

May our post-nap time have fewer mood swings
and more stability.

May our post-nap time
start after 3pm.

Please?
Pretty please?

5 am?
I'm not so fond of you.

Disney channel?
I love you a whole lot.

2nd hour of Mickey
while dressed in a pirate hat
fire chief rain boots
and tigger underwear.

Life is good
even if it started way too early.