Trick & Tires

Kolton had his first Halloween event today; Trunk or Treat with the Mom's Club.  I remember going to this same event last year.  Its so hard to believe how fast the year really went.  If you can't tell he is a dragon this year.  I cannot get enough of him in this costume.  He looks like a real live muppet!  AND he tolerated it with the hood and everything; never mind the fact that it was 85 degrees!

While in the parking lot I became aware that I had a tire that was almost flat.  I actually knew about it yesterday but didn't put any more thought into it after I filled with air.  I guess it was something more than a little low.  I don't know what it is but I blow tires left and right.  Anyway, we made it to a nearby gas station for more air and then went straight to the closest garage.  Here is Kolton running amuck behind the counter.  They were all so nice and let him have free reign.  I think he had more fun there!

Size Matters

The weather here in Richmond has been absolutely B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!  And we've been enjoying it by being lazy and staying indoors.  I just don't know what to do outside besides take Sophie for a walk. Which I do for at least 1/2 hour once a day.  I could always drive to a park so little man can play.  But there is something about that that drives me crazy.  I mean the sunshine is right out side my door.  Do I really have to get in the car and go someplace else to get it?  Either way today was a windows open kind of day and I loved it!

We were able to get the garage reorganized this weekend.  That has been on my mind since we moved in.  I had to get at Kolton's boxes because I needed to dig out his 12 month pants.  I packed them away last spring thinking for sure he'd be into 18 months in the fall.  But I found myself having to constantly roll both the waist band and the bottoms.  Oh yeah, he is still in a size 3 diaper too.  Basically he has really thinned out.  His body now resembles a little boy and no longer a baby.  Thankfully he still has those deliciously round cheeks!  

I have really been struggling with size matters myself.  I'm like a size 8 in the waist but a size 4 in the butt/legs.  It's been incredibly difficult to find anything that fits but doesn't sag and make me look like a HoBo.  So I went back to an old favorite...$10 low rise stretch jeans from Forever 21.  I need to stock up.  I've been wearing them for the last 2 days and I'm still comfortable =)

Little Fighter

This is Kolton's pre-school picture.  It's a picture of the picture so I think you can see my shadow hovering over it.  Anyway, I am in love with it!  I think it captures his essence perfectly.

If you are my friend on Facebook then you know over the past couple of days I have made posts regarding pediatric cancer.  I wrote on here that I first started following Ronan Thompson's story on his mom's blog, www.Rockstarronan.com.  Ronan passed over a year ago but Maya continues to update the blog with her brutally honest feelings about losing a child to this awful disease.  She is on a mission to raise money for research and ultimately build a Neuroblastoma care facility.

She recently posted a link to another mom's blog, www.SuperTy.org.  Sadly 5 year old Ty Louis Campbell, who they called their Little Fighter, just lost his battle.  I can't explain it but I'm honestly forever changed.  Mike thinks I am too engrossed in this.  But I think that's exactly the problem.  Too many people looking the other way.

Here is the LINK to the petition for the NFL to wear gold next September to raise awareness for Pediatric Cancer like they wear pink in October for Breast Cancer.

I also signed up to volunteer for a local group here in Richmond called Connor's Heros.  I have an informational meeting next week.  Here's the thing about me; I'm still struggling to find my place in the world.  Living in Richmond still feels a little like wearing the Left shoe on the Right foot.  It's not just the town its me too.  I love staying at home with little man but I'm missing something...  But I don't have any career type aspirations that would make me want to put Kolton in daycare.  With Mike gone so much I think its important that I be with him.  I'm really not trying to make this all about me, but maybe by helping these kids and getting behind a cause I'll end up helping myself too.

Parting Gifts

My mom left early Sunday morning.  Like always she definitely spoiled us while she was here.  Is it sad that I sill feel delight when my mom buys me things?  It's like I'm 4 or something.  I know part of it is because she only sees us about 4 times a year and she sees my siblings a lot more.  And part of it is because I am her only daughter and I like stuff =)  This time she left us with two parting gifts to mark her fall visit.

The first is that carousel  you see in the photo.  We were at Castco looking at more of the "stuff' and less of the "bulk food".  Most of you know that I am a Christmas junkie so while I was getting lost in the isles looking mom disappeared with Kolton.  When I found them he was absolutely mesmorized by this carousel.  I think its supposed to be a Christmas decoration like you'd display in a Christmas village but it also plays non-Christmas music two.  Well it hit the trifecta for little man; Music, Blinking Lights, & Spinning!  Mom said he had been staring at it for at least 15 minutes, if not more, and wouldn't let her leave the area.  I just knew we HAD to get it for him and Mom was generous enough to offer to buy it...and it was kinda of pricey.  I'll leave it out for him through Christmas this year but then I think I'll pack it away and only bring it out in December.  It is pretty awesome.  Thanks Mom!

Her other parting gift was this brutal cold, sorry Mom!  She got sick on Thursday night and now all 3 of us have it too!  Mike is traveling and I barely got out of my pj's today.  It isn't the worst cold I've ever had but I'm a big baby when it comes to getting sick.  Thankfully Kolton has taken 4 hour naps both yesterday and today so I haven't been too stressed.  He's also figured out that when I come at him with a tissue I am trying to help him and not suffocate him or something.    I really wish I could take a dose of Nyquil and call it a night.  I just don't trust myself taking it alone in the house with Kolton.  Even though I'm pretty sure he'll sleep through the night;  that stuff knocks me out!  So I think I'll crawl in bed and turn on the Presidential debate.  My guess is that will work just as well =)

Anger Management

I remember the last time my mom left after a visit I had to re-sleep train Kolton.  I think the first couple of nights he cried for a 1/2 hour.  It looks like we will be entering that territory again.  It's honestly not her fault.  Inexplicably both times little man started to get incredibly clingy before she even set foot in the door.  But if memory serves me right I think it only took 4 or 5 days for him to settle back into a smooth bed time routine.  It breaks my heart but I refuse to be held hostage.  Especially when I know he can do it.

This past week I saw a lot of little changes in my baby.  He is definitely trying to communicate with his own version of words and even used signs independently for the first time.  He also expressed anger for the first time.  Of course he has been upset and frustrated in the past but this week on two separate occasions he was MAD!  I watched his face turn bright red when I couldn't understand what he was saying after repeated attempts.  Then one night I left the room so that my mom could put him to bed and he stomped the ground and threw a ginormous fit.  Like I said he has been so clingy to me it's almost embarrassing.  It's too bad that its so darn cute.

Well, its been twenty minutes, I think he might be tiring himself out.  Wait....yup, it's finally quiet.  Poor little guy.  I hope he still loves me in the morning.

No Naps

Don't be fooled...since my mom arrived on Sunday Kolton has not napped properly.  It is insane!  But I think this happened the last time she visited as well.  Oh yeah, and not to mention the day after she arrived he decided to wake up before 5am.  WTF!!!!  I've honestly feel like the past few days have been a week.  The crazy thing is he makes it through the day without melting down or throwing too much of a tantrum; just a little one here and there.  But OMG do I miss MY naps!  We painted his room today so we put him down for the night in the pack & play in our room.  This might be interesting.

On a side note today was the first time Kolton got hit by another kid.  We were at the play area at the mall and this other little boy just came up and slapped him in the back.  Kolton just looked up at me a little bewildered.  So I guess it wasn't really that bad.  But it was the first time I had witnessed a deliberate attack on my baby!

Pumpkin Patch 2012

 Isn't it funny the things you do once you have kids that you never cared about doing before.  Like going to the pumpkin patch  I think it's more about entertaining your child with something out of the ordinary.  And of course taking pictures!  The highlight was taking Kolton on his first pony ride.  We really contemplated doing it.  He had already acted scared of the tractor during the hay ride so we weren't quite sure how he would react to a horse.  But he was cool as a cucumber.  We came home with a few funky pumpkins and a lot of great memories.  Ha, ha, was that cheesy enough for ya!