Elmo Love

Matthew has turned a corner. Yes - he's always a joy, but there have been some really challenging times these past few weeks as Matthew tests boundraries and expresses his dissatisfaction with everything being done on Mommy and Daddy's schedule.

These past few days have been pure joy. He is so much fun. We found a great wagon on Craigs List and the family takes a walk every evening to get some fresh air and Matthew gets to play outside while Mommy or Daddy cook dinner. Last night I was giving Matthew his bath and flinched as he splashed me. My goodness - you have never heard such a belly laugh from a little kid. Matthew thought this was the funniest thing ever - serious - he could barely catch his breath. We spent the next 5-10 minutes with him "flinching" as he tried to splash us. Too cute.

This morning he was in the best of moods and was looking for his dancing Elmo. We got Elmo out and he knew just want to do to get Elmo to move and groove. Matthew joins in with his own dancing, twists and turns. At the end, he gives Elmo a big hug. It was just too cute.

We don't know where he got into Elmo, but for now, it's a favorite. I am just so thankful we have such a happy, sweet boy.

What a haul!!!

OK - so I was SO excited about Divine Consign and I have yet to share with everyone the outcome. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to leave work as early as I had planned. I did make it out the door well before 5pm, but not soon enough to be one of the first people in line. I got to the Plano Convention Center around 4:40pm and found myself to be in the 3rd line to get in. Everyone was ready - laundry baskets, wheeled bags, wagons and strollers abound. The stroller didn't work for me last time, so this time I was prepared with a large laundry basket and a rolling duffel. As soon as I got in I went straight for the big items. I was really hoping my learning tower would be there, but it wasn't.

:(

Next - on to the wagons, but each one had a pink tag which meant someone was going to be purchasing it. :( I checked out some art easels, but Matthew isn't quite old enough and then I saw a Little Tikes Basketball Goal ($10). Yes - everyboy needs a basketball goal. I quickly filled out my pink tag staking my claim.

I had a different strategy this time around - I had always done strollers first, then clothes because I was too late for the big items. This time I decided to hit up the toys first. Christmas was on my mind. I really wanted to get some LeapFrog stuff - mini computer or something. They didn't have what I pictured in my head, but I did find a First Touch leapbook. This thing was in perfect condition - came with 6 books and a bag. $35 - can't go wrong!!! While I was checking out the Leapfrog stuff, I saw a backpack carrier for Matthew. Hello, we'll be going to the mountains twice this fall. We'll use it it and for $20, I figured it was more than worth it especially when they are $100+ in the store. On to the toys!!!

Now, Matthew is such a boy. He loves, loves, loves his cars. I found all kinds of cool cars, trucks and things that move. We got a Little Peoples Airplane ($9.50) and a Little People School Bus ($6). These are going to go great with the other Little People stuff I had found earlier this year that he'll be getting for Christmas.

Cars cars cars - We picked up a Tonka Speed and Go Funway ($8), Triple Track Tower ($6), a Fisher Price Tough 'N Rumblin' Front Loader and Tough and Rumblin' Dump truck. I also picked up a few small cars for us to take on our plane trips. A set of 4 stacking/nesting cars for $1.50 - you can't go wrong! I also got a little 3-piece Tonka car set for $2.50!

It wasn't just cars that I was able to pick up - I found a Rolling Crane for $5, a Dancing Elmo (yes, Matthew really likes Elmo now) for $5, a wheelbarrow ($6), a Fisher Price Toby the Totbot ($5), LeapFrog Shopping cart for $14.50 and a Lego table with Legos for $6!!!! Oh - and books and media. I added a few "lift and see" books to Matthew's collection as well as some books on his favorite thing - cars! When they are $1-$3, you just can't go wrong. I packed my laudry basket well and all of this fit - yes - everything - well, for the most part. Now, it wasn't light, but I was able to manage. Thankfully they held the items and I was able to do some clothes shopping. Matthew didn't need much other than PJs and jeans, but because so many of the items were paired as outfits I got a bit more. Matthew's wardrode for the fall is set - though he has a few more Santa outfits than I anticipated. :) Oh well!

While I won't share the grand total - It was great fun shopping and I feel like I got more than my money's worth for everything I found. Granted, some of it needs to be cleaned up and given a little TLC, but I am sure that Matthew will love and enjoy it all.

Giddy

Can I tell you how excited I am for this evening. When I was pregnant, some girls in my prenatal Yoga class turned me onto Divine Consign. This turned me onto the whole idea of consigning in general. Yes - kids are expensive and yes it is frustrating that the adorable outfit you spent $40 on only gets worn twice because when you go to put it on for a third time, surprise, they've outgrown it. Not to mention they toys. You never know what toy will end up being a favorite. (So far we've done well in that department. We may have bought some toys a little too early, but he plays with everything equally today - ok, everything but his stuff animals.)

Wouldn't it be great to be able to find all this stuff for 50-70% - more in some cases? Welcome to my Divine Consign joy!!! So, its basically a big garage sale, but the only items being sold are for babies and kids. I am talking everything under the sun from boppies to clothes to exersaucers to strollers. They have it all. I attended as a first time mom and found tons of great things - I found even more when I went back after Matthew was born. Now I volunteer so I can get into the presale and get first dibs! This is how bad my borderline obsession is - I was dreaming about the sale. The presale starts this evening and I will be going - as well as volunteering tomorrow....In my dream, I stopped by this morning to pick up my wristband and saw that women were in line at 6:30am for the 5pm sale. Of course that made my heart sink as had to head off to work. I know that people are not in line yet, but I do wish I could have gotten a shift that would have put me in the sale at 4:30pm. I have my eye on a few things. Let's just hope that they are still there when I finally get in.

I remember that old Mervyn's commercial - "Open, Open, Open..." That's me right about now!

One more "Not Me Monday" - even though it's Tuesday...

I did not cry as I put away the clothes that Matthew as outgrown. I mean, what kind of mom gets sentimental over things like that. :)

I have to say that I just love the stage that we are at right now. While Matthew definitely tests his boundaries (ie standing up in his highchair), he is so much fun!!! Last night he was in the best of moods. He is getting quite skilled at eatting with a fork and spoon - that is not to say that everything makes it into his mouth, but he tries - and loves to practice. The past few days he's taken to eating off of Marvin's and my plates. Even though he has the same thing I guess it tastes better when he's not eating off of plastic dinnerware. Is this the same thing as the calories don't count when I have a bite of Marvin's dinner at a restaurant? Anywho - It starts off with a point and then a reach to pull the plate closer and finally the sampling of the meal. Usually it's with what ever utensil he has that day, but yesterday it was a Mattie grabbing a fist full of rice and shoving it in his mouth as fast as he could. I couldn't help but laugh.

There is so much joy in the little things. I admit I will give up the struggles that ensue when we try to rinse his hair during bath time - or get him out of the bath all together for that matter, but even with the challenges parenthood is a blast!

"Not Me" Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week. Find comfort in knowing you are not alone!

First off, I am not writing this instead of working! Nope, I am focused on my job and being as productive as I can so I can spend time with my family in the evenings.

This past week I did not ignore Matthew's food allergy and serve him a side dish that was processed on equipment that also processes egg products - just because it was fast and because I knew he would eat it. Processed on products with egg isn't the same as having egg - right?

I did not brush off my child this weekend because I was trying to get work done. I really thought he would be more entertained by daddy than by hearing me freak out when he accidently pressed a button and deleted my presentation.

I did not let Matthew climb to the top of a two story slide and slide down by himself. Afterall, the teacher at Gymboree said kids are 3-4 years old before they have the muscle strength and dexterity to pull up with their arms while pushing up with their legs and really are really able to climb.

I did not forget to change Matthew's diaper for 5 hours because we were so caught up in our schedule. Come on, I am a highly dedicated mom who always makes sure that her kids are clean and dry.

I did not give Matthew a bath in the baby pool. Even though we were in the privacy of our backyard and the water was the same water that we would use in the bathtub, I am the kind of mom who always makes time for the evening bath.

I did not send Matthew to school today even though he had a small bout of diarrhea yesterday because I had an important meeting that I was leading. WebMD BTW said it generally runs its course after 24 hours afterall. If I do get the call from the school that he is not feeling well, I will not be the mama that sticks around work - no, I can promise you I will be there as fast as I can!

Getting cultured

I don't know how Matthew will really remember things, I mean the physical activities, but I but I do know that he is a complete and total sponge. I amazes me what he comes up with. Whether it's asking him if he is ready to see his pal Preston on the way to school and have him say 'Preston' back or watching him stomp his feet, clap his hands, bow, twist and turn as he follows direction to his "Barnyard Dance" book - he is always doing something that I never knew he could do before. This weekend we probably stretched Matthew more than he'd been stretched in a while - exposing him to a whole host of new things.

This weekend we had the pleasure to witness the marriage of a family friend and were guests at the fabulous reception. I love wedding, but have great appreciation for interracial marriages. Not just because I am in one, but because I love to watch how the couples blend their cultures for the wedding. At this wedding we were given the gift of a lion dance. While Matthew did great, sitting at a table while you wait for the formality of a wedding to unfold isn't easy for a 16 month old. After he finished his dinner, Matthew and I went for a stroll and ended up talking to people from the J.K Wong Academy who were performing that evening. They were kind enough to let Matthew get to check out the lion mask up close. Now - I need to preface this to say that Matthew is TERRIFIED of animals. A fake animal appeared to be no different. He was so scared of the lion head that they had to put it on the ground. After I touched it and the students pet it, he finally decided to check it out. Matthew loved the spring balls that were the lion's nose and would stroke the mane. When he got brave enough he even touched one of the eyes, making it close. It was so cute to watch him learn and explore. When the dancers came out, he was in awe. He was moving and grooving to the beat of the drum and was taking it all in! When we went to feed the lion for good luck, he wasn't so happy, but I am sure with time he'll over come these minor fears.

Picasa Web Albums - August 2009 - August 2009

Picasa Web Albums - August 2009 - August 2009

Picasa Web Albums - August 2009 - August 2009

Picasa Web Albums - August 2009 - August 2009

Picasa Web Albums - August 2009 - August 2009

Thank you Christine and Eric for a wonderful evening. We wish you all the happiness in the world and a life time of love!