Family Fuller

Last night we were driving home from REI after chasing Colin and Holden through every tent they had, and Colin asked if he was going to have a baby sitter. The reason he wants one is so he can watch TV at night, which is his “special treat” with a baby sitter. Here’s the conversation:

Colin: Am I going to have a babysitter tonight?
Us: No Colin you are going home and going to bed.
Colin: But I really want a baby sitter.
Us: Well as much as we would love to go out you are not having a baby sitter (side note: about a week ago he asked if he was going to have a baby sitter and we told him how baby sitters cost lots of money so we don’t use them all the time)
Colin (after a brief pause): I know (very excited and hopeful voice) - I will go home and dump out my piggy bank for a baby sitter
Us: You want a baby sitter so bad you are going to pay for your own?
Colin: Yes, I will pay for a babysitter.

So we agreed - next time the baby sitter can be on him

Other Tidbits

We have finally made some strides in the potty training arena. Last week I spent two incredibly frustrating days trying to get Colin to use the potty. I put underwear on him and he went through about 7 pairs in one day. I would ask if he had to pee, suggest we try and he would say no, then pee 5 minutes later. The second day was even worse, pee everywhere - dining room, chair, his room, etc so I gave up. I didn’t bother him about it the next day, but then the day after that we were outside playing in the pool and he just decided not to wear a diaper all day. I also added the stickers, M&Ms and trains as incentives and he finally got it. He used the bathroom all day, even when we went out to dinner that night. I wasn’t even asking him every 20 minutes if he had to go or not.

Since then we have had some ups and downs, some days he doesn’t want to do it at all, some days he is dry all day. He even went to the zoo and out to lunch and asked to go to the bathroom at the restaurant again. I feel like we are getting somewhere even if it cost me a few bucks in Thomas trains.

Holden has been really clingy lately. He doesn’t like the idea of being left with a baby sitter and it is pretty much the only time he cries out “Mama! Mama!” We went out for our anniversary and he was a wreck - but apparently he did get over it pretty quickly.

Today while playing outside he fell of a little kids chair on his head on the concrete patio. I was standing right next to him and freaked out. He was crying so hard. I took him inside to calm him down and then Colin runs in saying “I have to poop. I have to poop.” You have to understand that Colin hasn’t pooped on the potty yet and he knows when he does he will get Rocky the train. So Holden is crying with a big red bump on his head and Colin is screaming “I am so excited, I have to poop and I am going to get Rocky!!!!”. Colin did it and was very proud of himself, meanwhile Holden has stopped crying but doesn’t want me to put him down, so here I am holding Holden while trying to wipe Colin’s butt. Nice. Holden seemed OK after a few minutes and just kept on playing and Colin got his Rocky.

Holden has become so emotional lately. He is a big drama queen at this point. Everything is just so traumatic. If he decided he wants a sweet potato and then has to wait for it to be cooked and cooled he just falls into a puddle at my feet crying until I end up giving him the hot potato which he just shoves in his mouth. What happened to my little, sweet laid back baby? Overall though, he is still pretty good.

We have been really busy beyond just the potty training. It was our 6th anniversary last weekend and Chuck and I went putt putt golfing and out to dinner which was fun. The next day we had a “Back in Seattle” party. It was an open house BBQ from 1 to 7. It was fun to see old and new friends, but it most definitely was not relaxing. Holden had a really bad diaper rash and wanted to be held, stiff legs and all, all day. Colin was having a great time with his friends running around in the sprinkler. He was absolutely freezing, teeth chattering and still would not stop and get dressed.

This week we have gone to the zoo, the beach, a concert, play date and a birthday party and that was all in just 3 days. We have been busy working on our yard as well, but that will have to be a separate blog.

Whenever we get the camera out Colin always wants me to take pictures of him. He does something totally random or sits in a funny pose (but he spends some time getting it just right), tells me to take the picture and then immediately wants to see it. Here are some of his best:

Photo #1

Photo #2

Photo #3 - this one he specifically told me not to take a picture of his face

Photo #4

Oh, and by the way, we do feed him

Last night Chuck and I were playing Scrabble and Colin was up late. He was playing with the letters and had Chuck rearrange them to spell “Max Poot” - meaningless, but when we told him what it said, he thought it was the funniest thing in the world. He had a total giggle fit and could not stop laughing. Chuck and I started laughing and it lasted for about 5 minutes - our stomachs hurt so bad. Colin’s true laugh is one of the best sounds in the world.

Last Wednesday morning Colin woke up and told me he didn’t really feel well and his stomach felt icky. I decided to keep him home from school and about 9 AM, when I was in the other room I heard him yell and say “Mommy, there is water coming out of my mouth” - in other words he had just thrown up all over the couch. I ran in there, picked him up and he threw up all over me. It was a mess consoling Colin, trying to keep Holden out of it and clean up all at the same time.

That is the first time Colin has ever thrown up so he had no idea what was going on. Later he kept saying he “spit up” - but it was more than spiting up He seemed fine later, and went to school the next day (for graduation), but later on Thursday he said he didn’t feel good again and didn’t eat dinner. He never had a fever, but didn’t have much energy on Friday so he missed his last day of school party at the park. All weekend he seemed happy, but didn’t really want to eat much. It was weird because he never asked for snacks, never complained and was pretty subdued. I can’t believe it but I was actually hoping he would have a crying fit over something so he would seem more like himself.

Over the past couple days he has been playing like normal, even had a few meltdown periods, but he still doesn’t ask for food very much. Hopefully he will get back on track over the next couple days because at sub 30 pounds he doesn’t have a lot to lose (side note to this Colin just ate a taco, chips and is now working on his second large banana)

Holden has been doing well - has a cold and a cough now, but happy. He just had his 15 month check up yesterday and the dr thinks he is doing great. He hasn’t gained any weight in 3 months (following in Colin’s footsteps) but he has grown 2 inches, and of course has a massive head (off the charts 99%). He is “saying” about 10-15 words now including:

da = Dad
ba = Colin
ma = Mom
mo = more
bye bye
ha = hi
dah = dog
ca = cat
bo = bowl

And all kinds of animal sounds, to say what a pig says he just opens and closes his mouth really wide. He does fishy lips for fish. The funniest thing is when he does this weird inhale laugh, I have to try to get it on video sometime. Also his comic timing is off so he laughs well after everyone else is laughing. He also recently learned how to stand on one foot.

Tidbits:

Over Memorial Day Weekend I went away for the first time since Colin was born. It has been almost 4 years since I have slept someplace without kids waking me up in the middle of the night. I have never left Holden for more than 5-6 hours and Colin was only apart from me while I was in the hospital having Holden plus one night while in Arizona. So it was well deserved I would say.

I left on Thursday night and flew down to San Francisco. I was meeting friends (Colleen, Tracy and Emily - friends from college) the next day but I wanted one night all to myself. I almost started to cry when Chuck dropped me off at the airport - and actually missed the boys when I saw other kids on the plane, although I didn’t miss having to entertain a one year old on a flight. I stayed in a hotel downtown, ordered room service, took a bath - but still had a hard time sleeping because it was kinda noisy. I also woke up at 6 AM anyway - the whole weekend actually. It stinks when you don’t have to get up at 6 AM but you still wake up.

Friday I met Tsinclair downtown and we shopped a bit and got lunch while we waited for Colleen and Emily to arrive. Once they go there we drove north to Healdsburg in Sonoma. The traffic was really bad and it took over 3 hours. We unpacked at our rental house and went out for a drink and to dinner at Scopa, a new italian resturant in Healdsburg. It was great to all hang out together without kids, etc.

On Saturday we hung around town in the morning and then we had hired a driver to take us to the wineries in the afternoon. Our driver “Jay” arrived at 1 PM and the tasting began. Colleen had the map and a plan. She kept us on a tight schedule, trying to fit as many tastings in as possible. As a result we went to 7 wineries in 4 hours - tasting about 5 wines at each one. You do the math - anyway you calculate it equals three sheets to the wind by 5 PM.

We had brought some bread, cheese and olives to eat along the way but never had any of it, so when we got home we sat outside and finished it all. We had dinner reservations at 9:15 at this really nice restaurant. We made it but never should have gone. I don’t think we said more than 3 words to each other, no one finished their drinks and barely ate the meal.

Sunday we had spa appointments and then went to one other winery on our way to a little hike in the redwoods. It was a beautiful day, the spa was great and the hike was nice. We went out to dinner again and afterwords we had to get a little pool in for old times sake.

We all went home on Monday afternoon. I had a great time, I missed the boys but it was a nice break. I have to say time goes much faster when I am with Colin and Holden.

When I got back Chuck and the boys picked me up at the airport and even had flowers for me. Holden didn’t know who I was for the first minute or two, until I picked him up and then he wouldn’t let go. Colin took it all in stride. Chuck did a great job with them over the weekend. It is nice to know that they don’t need me all the time and I can go away without worrying. You will have to ask Chuck how things went while I was gone and what he thinks of watching them full time for 4 days.