O-HIO

About a week ago Sam and I took an epic roadtrip to visit his grandma and great-grandma in Ohio. This trip was epic for a few reasons, but mostly because it took us 10.5 hours to get there and I did it on my own. For those of you that know me, enough said. Long car trips are one of my LEAST favorite things, and typically while driving I am pretty convinced that one, or all, of my tires may be flat and/or the car could just die at any moment. Some of this is justified - my drive home from Houston last Fall was horrendous....my car stalled four times during the trip home. Not cool. The flat tire thing....well, that's probably just because I'm special. Also epic because I haven't been back to grandma's house in 5 or 6 years, so obviously Sam has never been. My mom and dad happened to be visiting the same weekend, so I thought that it would be the perfect time to see everyone. Oh, and I decided to make the trip Wednesday afternoon. And we left Thursday morning.

We got a pretty early start, which is tough with a 2 year old. Had toys, snacks, milk, and the DVD player charged and ready to go. Said goodbye to Ryan, which was really strange because he's usually the one leaving to go on a business trip. The first two hours on the road were pretty much me fighting the urge to turn around and just head home. The whole trip just felt so long and daunting. Made our first stop in Effingham, IL and it got a little easier from there on. Oh, I also became pretty proficient at changing Sam's diaper while he stood up in a MacDonald's bathroom stall. He refused to lay down on the icky plastic changing tables that are built into the wall. I can't blame him. Drove through Terre Haute and Indianapolis without any problems and then stopped for lunch. Yet another MacDonald's stop because, honestly, their bathrooms are usually relatively decent and you typically find quite a few families, etc. traveling through as well. MacDonald's just seems like a safe(er) stop....I don't know. Sam's a big fan of the chicken nuggets and goes crazy for the apple slices. Crossed the Ohio border and got pretty excited - but then after calling my grandma I realized we still had 5 hours to go. Oh well, through Dayton and then north around Columbus. I have family in Columbus and felt bad that I didn't make the time to stop and see them, but honestly - I kinda felt like if I stopped for anything other than gas, food, or a restroom I may not get back on the road. North to Akron, then East to Youngstown, OH - almost to the Pennsylvania border. Dear lord, we had made it. And without any rain, traffic, or (actual) car trouble.

It was really strange to be the one driving down the roads that I remember riding along as a kid to go to grandma's house. And even stranger to have Sam with me. But also really cool at the same time. Sam was such a trooper. He did so well, probably better than I did, and had such a good time while we were at Grandma's. Sam calls my grandma G.G. (since she's his great-grandma) and he just kept running around saying "G.G.'s house!" and "O-HIO!" the whole weekend. It was great and I know it really meant a lot to my grandma that we made the trip. Hell, it meant a lot to me. I'm really glad he got to spend so much time with her. We planted rose bushes, fed the giant mutant squirrels and the birds, opened and closed the screen door a million + times, visited our Uncle David, went to Molnar's, ate large quantities of Belleria pizza, had the pleasure of meeting quite the distinguished gentleman, attempted church (mostly we played in the nursery) and ate the best apple fritters I've ever tasted. Sam agreed - "mo doughnut!"Oh and the fresh corn on the cob and "floating salad" with every meal. Love it.

Apparently my mom used this rocking chair when she was little.....so sweet to see Sam in it.

The trip home was equally uneventful. At some point on Hwy. 71, Sam worked the cover off of his snack trap and dumped 2 cups of Apple Jacks all over himself. The birds in a MacDonald's parking lot north of Columbus had quite a tasty treat. We saw an Amish buggy driving along the hilly Ohio countryside and a blimp flying low over I-70 in Indiana. Also saw quite a few people pulled over along the way with flat tires.....I tried not to look. Sam told me to "Be careful, Mama" when we were driving through one of the many construction zones - Thanks for the heads-up baby boy. And we watched, well I listened to, plenty of movies on the glorious portable sanity saving DVD player. Even snuck Star Wars (ep. 4) into the rotation. Funny, that was when he slept for an hour. Oh well, I'm sure he'll grow to love it. 

Proud of myself for making the trip. Happy to spend time with my Grandma at her houe. Relieved that we made it there and back safely. Glad that Sam is such a good travel buddy.

No Face!

I had the pleasure of participating in swim lessons for two weeks with Sam. Sam participated too, but I'm not sure how pleased he was....

Signed us up for Toddler level swim class at the local community rec center. Stocked up on swim diapers and already had many different swim trunks for him to model at class. First day, Sam was a little unsure but warmed up pretty quick. He was even rather amenable to floating on his tummy and back and bobbing up and down. After many laps of "floating" we went to a different area of the pool to let them jump in off the side of the pool and practice going underwater. This is where things took a drastic change. Most of the kids  were standing at the edge of the pool, holding their mom's hands, and jumping in the water. They'd come up from under the water smiling and laughing. Sam sat on the edge of the pool with a death grip on my hands and after a joint "ready, set, go" he rigidly slid off the edge, stiff armed, while I guided him chest deep into the 85 degree bath, errr, pool water. That's it. We didn't progress much from there. Tried to dunk him under while I held him (as instructed.....trust me, I didn't want to do it) and after several tries his face went underwater to about eye level. He came up sputtering, gasping, and glaring at me. Thought about crying, changed his mind, and said "Nooo! No face!!!" I agreed. No more face. The saving grace of swim lessons were the last 10 minutes where the kiddos stood in the shallow end and played with various water toys. Sam always recovered from whatever indignity he had just suffered in time to happily play toys.

This was a two week class. Did things improve?? No. In fact, he regressed. The last two classes he whined and cried and just generally looked miserable and tortured the entire time. After the last class we got a certificate of participation. I proudly hung that sucker on the fridge.....those were two long weeks.

In all seriousness I'm glad we took the class. It was probably more fun for me than him, and I had a great time swimming with my buddy.

Sorry - blurry picture. One of the few I have, though, so thanks Papa!

I Two!

Ok. I can't seem to update this regularly, but oh well. I'll get to it when I get to it.  : )

Sam just turned two. I can't believe it but he keeps telling me "I two!!" so it must be true. We had a Sesame Street themed party, heavy on the Elmo, for him and it was a lot of fun. Grilled some dogs and burgers, opened a mountain of presents, and butchered an Elmo head cake. All in all, a very good day.

A LOT sad that I didn't get a picture with the birthday boy though. Stupid camera battery died right after the party started...

Family was in town for the event. My parents and grandma and grandma-by-choice all helped us celebrate. Their effort in getting to us is greatly appreciated. Parents drove in from Houston and Grandmas came from Ohio. Safe and uneventful travels were had by all, thank goodness.

Highlights: Sam saying "mail! mail!" when we'd open up his birthday cards, stopping everything to pull his new wagon around the basement while we wait for him to return and finish opening his presents, frosting an Elmo face cake for two hours, and, of course, "Banoons!!!!"

Oh, and I should add that the day before the party was his actual birthday. So naturally there were two days of presents. Sam is loved.

Mother's Day

So my second Mother's Day was fantastic. Woke up around 7am because I could hear Sam talking in his crib. Only had to wait a few minutes and then Ryan heard him and got up to get him. I pretended to be asleep. Listened to Sam ask for Gibson and then me (second place again, I see how it is) and then they went downstairs. About 30 minutes later they're headed back up the stairs and Sam is screaming Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Next thing I know Ryan is holding a plate of pancakes in front of my face and Sam is trying desperately to climb up on the bed. It may not seem like it, but the whole situation just struck me as hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing. Then Ryan tells me that he would've brought me some orange juice but he had to hold Sam's hand up the steps. Ohhhhh, my boys. Love 'em.

Spent the afternoon at Ryan's parent's house. Good times. His brother and grandma were there as well so it was really nice to spend time with everyone. Played outside - GORGEOUS weather!!! - and then had a delicious dinner. YUM. 

Oh, and my card from Sam had Capt. Jack from the Pirates of the Caribbean on it. (??) Which again made me laugh. So random. And there was a reference to what a treasure I am....esp. for all the times I had to wipe his poop deck. OMG. Shamefully ridiculous. Loved it. The best part is Sam's "signature" at the bottom done in crayon. Made me want to cry.

And it's really hard to see, but the little hear says A& R and then the tiny circle has an S on it. Perfect. Cards, and presents, and breakfast in bed - I was spoiled and loved every second of it.  : )

Mickey

This was an early morning.....and unfortunately I was up too late. Oh well. More time to get things done!

Flipping through TV channels and Sam happened to see a half second of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so naturally we had to go back to that channel. He's eating cereal and loving his Mickey! Mickey! Mickey! time. I try not to watch too much TV with him.....usually something in the morning and then when I am making dinner. I have mommy guilt whenever he sits quietly and watches a show. BUT HE'S SITTING QUIETLY!!!!! Oh well. It could always be worse.

Ryan comes home today. He spent the better part of the week in Tulsa, OK. Sam keeps asking for him and today I finally got to say Yes, you'll see him later! It's been a long week. I love having Ryan's help but I kinda like when it's just Sam and I as well. So I don't really mind that he travels, usually. Just thankful that he has a job that he loves and is great at.

Oh, the Hot Dog song is on. Mickey is wrapping up....

Usually more, but never less

OK blog. Here we go. To whom this may concern:

There are moments when I feel so happy and content I swear I can feel my heart swell. Sounds cliche - but it's so true. For instance, this evening when my son, of his own free will, stops racing around the house, climbs in my lap, and snuggles against me. He tipped his head back and said 'mommy' and just smiled at me. Then he went limp noodle, slid down to the floor, hopped up, and said 'Elmo, Elmo, Elmo'. This is his polite request to watch Elmo's World. My sweet, sweet, almost two-year-old. At least he said my name BEFORE Elmo. High praise indeed.

I'm also enjoying listening to Sam, my almost two-year-old, narrate my daily life. It's kind of like low budget closed captioning - mostly nouns with the occasional verb thrown in to spice things up. Scene one, interior: 'Shoes' 'Milk' 'Mommy' 'Dibby' (the family dog Gibson) 'Elmo' 'Nanee' (banana) 'Brush teeth' 'Daddy.' Scene two, exterior: 'Birdie!' 'Sammie' (neighbor dog) 'Truck' 'Bus' 'Bicycle' 'Bunny' 'Leaf' 'Papa's truck' (UPS truck), 'Doggie' 'Airpane.'  I've never been more aware of every bus and truck we pass/see while driving. And he never gets tired of announcing a new sighting. Each and every truck or bus is named gleefully and without preference. On a particularly momentous outing to the grocery store we saw two school buses, a mail truck, a semi, and a public transit bus. He could barely contain himself. Oh, and the grocery store itself.....well let's just say he can identify A LOT of produce. My favorite, and maybe his too, would be the 'Cel-ree-ree.' : )

So I guess I should've said this first, as it really is most important: I am a wife and mother. Sam's mom and Ryan's wife. I'm usually more, but never less. I work from home twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Holidays, too. I worked as a nurse in my previous life. I've been married in my heart to my best friend for almost eleven years - legally for three and a half. And I absolutely consider my dog my first baby. All 100lbs of him.