Just another little update

Took Tyler to that amusement park Friday. It was fun, and real cheap. For all 3 of us - entertainment and food for about 2.5 hours - around $11. Not bad. We planned on trying to get to his job place, but Tyler was pretty tired at that point. It was real muggy that day. Saturday was really gorgeous. Tyler has finally warmed up pretty good to them. Dad takes him and Woody (dog) for walks around the property, which gives me a pretty good break - usually long enough to at least get my shower without Tyler in the shower with me. :)

This morning Tyler watched that Baby Mozart DVD. Dad's cooking pancakes right now. Carol is hanging out laundry. Such a simple life here. Flies are swarming like crazy, so we've been going nuts with that. Tyler usually piles into bed with me in the twin bed. My back is killing me this morning because he slept with me all night and I couldn't hardly move. Not sure what we'll do today.

Still in Wisconsin

Well, considering Dad's computer has been down for most of the time I've been here, I haven't done much blogging while here. All the best laid plans..... you know how that goes.

It's been quite a challenging trip for me. Just being out of my environment, and Tyler being away from his routine, has made it quite difficult at times. He has finally started warming up to Dad and Carol, and even Chris, the last few days. It took him about 4-5 days before he would even leave my side for a few moments, which was very stressful for me. I had planned on taking a "vacation" if you know what I mean. Not that I don't love Tyler to death, but having him stuck to me like glue has been very trying. Thankfully, on Day 5, he was able to go for a walk with Pop-Pop, and since then it has been a little easier. I mean, I couldn't even pee without taking him in the bathroom with me, and then the whole time I'm in the bathroom, he is into the cabinets or into Carol's jewelry box, or trying to pull stuff off the wall (my hanging bag).

Friday night I went to the casino with my brother (Chris) and his girlfriend (Christina). I had left Tyler with Carol and Dad of course. I called when I first got to the casino, and he had already woken up screaming. Dad was very good with him though, and was able to comfort him somewhat with feeding stuff to Woody (cheese, licking popsicle) (Tyler gets SUCH a kick out of feeding that dog), so he managed to keep him pretty comforted. He read books to him, that sort of thing. Turned on the Noggin tape. When we got back around midnight, I peeked through the front door, and there's Dad in the chair, Carol on the airbed, and Tyler standing up, watching Noggin. That boy. Talk about stamina. Then when I did walk in, he started crying this very angry cry, like "Why did you leave me? I'm mad!" I was then able to lay down next to him on the airbed, and within a minute or two, he was fast asleep. Go figure. Amazing how long he could hold out just because I wasn't there.

There's more to tell, but Dad is back from taking Tyler for a walk, so I must find something else to occupy him.

More later.

Sleeping Habits

I've always known that Tyler is a wild sleeper. He moves around a lot. The first night I was here, I slept on the air bed with him. He continued to "pop up" all night long, look around, play with his bunny's ears, then "plop" back down. Needless to say, I got little sleep that first night. Last night I decided I'd sleep in the twin bed close to him, rather than trying to sleep next to this squirmy worm boy. I watched him for a little while. He would do the same thing...about every 5 minutes. Up and down, up and down, looking around, calling "mama", playing with bunny, nodding back off sitting up sometimes, plopping back down for another 5 minutes or so. I thought the first night it was new surroundings, but after last night I'm convinced it's probably just something he does no matter what. He rolled off the air bed twice. Once time, I told him to get back on the bed, and he did. The next time, he got halfway back onto the bed, knees on the floor, head on the bed, and started nodding off right there in that position. I had to get up and put him back onto the bed that time. Trying to keep covers on him is also a challenge. Usually Tyler sleeps with NO covers whatsoever. He is very warm-blooded. It isn't as warm here, so I'm also having to get up periodically to put the covers back on him. He just rolls around so much and gets into these weird positions.

So, I'm sleep deprived.

In addition to the weird sleeping habits, he has also decided to stick to me like glue. I cannot even leave his sight without him crying. Last night was especially strange. As it started getting later, it started cooling off to where I needed a jacket. As soon as I put the jacket on, he would freak out, tugging on it, NOT wanting it on me. I don't know what is up with that. So then, we tried on a poncho of Carol's. Same thing. Then a white sweater of Carol's. Same thing. I don't know what he is associating jackets/sweaters with. The last time I wore a jacket was last winter, and I cannot see how he could remember that. And even if he could remember it, what is the association that is so distressing for him? Does he think I'm leaving to go somewhere? If so, how does he know you put on a jacket before leaving? All I wanted to do was go outside and have a cigarette! I can barely even take a trip to the bathroom. He is just all over me.

So much for having Dad take over for a little while. He just wants to stick next to me. Maybe he'll calm down with this stuff in the next day or two!

Made it to Wisconsin

Well, here Tyler and I are in happy Wisconsin. The weather is absolutely beautiful this time of year. I think we are going to have a great time! The plane ride went just fine for the most part. Tyler only had a couple of mild meltdowns. One was on the way to Chicago. He just didn't want to sit in the seat, plus he was getting tired. So I walked him up and down the aisle a couple of times. Then, we were about 15 minutes from landing, and he decided to fall completely asleep, sitting up in the chair. So I had to hold his head up - literally a dead weight there. I thought my arm would fall off. But I couldn't undo the seatbelt and lay his head in my lap, because we were landing. So that was definitely a first for that boy to fall asleep like that.

He then slept a little on the way home from the airport. When I went to put him down to sleep tonight, I tried reading him a book. He kept wanting "dow..." (which means "down"), and I just kept telling him, no, it is night-night time, just like at home when I read you books and it's time for nighty-night. He got a little fussy, but soon calmed down and fell asleep, right there! It is such a good feeling to have him be able to calm down next to me. I've never had that with him. I always wanted to be able to rock him to sleep, but he has never been that type of kid. I hope it is like this every night. I have been so worried about how he'd do sleeping somewhere besides his crib.

He did wake up a short while ago, and I had to run in here. He probably woke up and got scared not knowing where he was. Then Woody (the dog) had come in. We think it was AFTER he woke up though. But I think Woody then stole his bunny. All I know was I was in brushing my teeth, and Dad knocked on the bathroom door, said Tyler was crying, so when I got in there, Tyler was crying and Woody was there. Dad thought Woody had gotten out of the room when he had come out of the room to get me. Probably so, but in that small length of time, he had stolen bunny, which probably freaked Tyler out even more than waking up and not knowing where he was. Dad had bunny in his hand when he came back in, so I can only guess Woody stole it. I'll have to ask. Pretty funny! We do have a light on in there, but still, new surroundings. It was so sweet though....he then calmed right back down. Made me feel good that I could actually comfort him back to sleep again. Then he would roll over on his tummy/knees, and want to sort of cuddle up next to me. SO SWEET I can hardly stand it.

:)

Other Use for TV Trays

I forgot to mention the other use for the upside-down TV Tray: it's a great place to stand and watch TV. Maybe that's why it's called a TV Tray!

TV Trays

Ok, it's all clear to me now why my son continues to tip over the TV trays in the living room. See pictures below.


How silly of me not to see that this is the TRUE use of a TV tray! ;)

Wigged Out Child

Tyler wigged out big time for no apparent reason this afternoon. It lasted for about a half hour. I had gone into the front bathroom for something. He was in the hallway. All the doors were shut (so no little fingers or toes caught in anything) and he started completely freaking out. Thank God Robert was home too. We were both at a loss, trying everything we could to calm him down. At one point I even got my pants on and said we need to take him to the ER - something is hurting him! He was rolling around, kicking, screaming, stomping his feet, pushing me away (he seemed to be more comforted by Robert for the majority of this, which upset me even more). Twice I almost broke down, and Robert just sort of looked at me and told me to stay calm, so I did. For someone who didn't want kids, he sure can be good with them. Anyway, I have got to get a handle on dealing with this stuff better. After about a half hour, Robert turned the tv over to a cartoon, and poof! Tyler was back. I had, in the meantime, called my Mother and told her that Tyler was "possessed by demons" and could she PLEASE stop by on her way home from work. Luckily, she was just leaving work so she came on over. By then, he was already calmed magically by the cartoons. It is a puzzle to me. The only thing we can figure is maybe he had gas pains or something? I thought at one point maybe he had appendicitis or something terrible like that, which was why I wanted to go to the ER. Robert said if it were that, he'd have been running a fever. I just know it FREAKED ME OUT. I have never seen him act like that. He seems fine now.

Tagged! Oh No!

Well, my friend, Kami, has tagged me because SHE got tagged. How fortunate for me. The deal is I'm supposed to list 10 songs that I'm really diggin' right now. What she doesn't understand is I'm so totally out of the music loop these days. But I'll give it a shot. These may just be all-time favorites, vs. ones that I'm listening to currently. All I listen to currently is stuff that Robert plays, which are usually like classic rock and older.

Here's the deal:

List ten songs that you are currently digging. It doesn't matter what genre they are from, whether they have words, or even if they're no good but they must be songs you're really enjoying right now. Post these instructions, the artists, and the ten songs in your blog. Then tag five other random people to see what they're listening to.

Here goes:

1. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (all-time favorite)
2. Rush - entire 2112 album (all-time favorite)
3. Creed - My Own Prison (all-time favorite) (actually that whole CD is great)
4. Bo Bice - I Don't Want To Be (current one, believe it or not)
5. Train - Drops of Jupiter (fav.)
6. Van Halen - any of their original stuff like Jamie's Cryin'
7. Cher - Believe
8. Basia - entire London Warsaw New York CD
9. Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street CD
10. CSN&Y - Southern Cross

There you have it. There are way more than that, but it's what I could think of right now. Oh, and the other people I'm tagging are my Mother, and Jan. I don't know anyone else who does blogging, so that's it!

Cheesy Grin

I just have to throw this picture out here. This is Tyler's "cheesy grin" which he proudly displays (most of the time) when asked.




This is not to be confused, however, with his "normal" grin which is displayed here.


Are they not two of the most precious pictures you've ever seen? Oh, and the bunny behind his head is because he thinks it is funny when we put bunny on our heads, so he was trying to do the same thing that day. Not only with bunny, but with other items as well. Everything had to go behind his head in the carseat that day.




This is another cute picture!




I love this shot!

Update on the funeral

My mother summed it up beautifully here, so I will not go into the details of the service itself. Afterwards, Christina and Chris were of course in the front of the funeral home, hugging people, etc. Chris broke down, pretty big time, just sobbing in my arms. I think it was probably all that they've been through in the last few days. Christina held up remarkably well. Not to say she wasn't upset, but she wasn't sobbing or anything. At least not when we left, she wasn't. We didn't hang around long afterwards. It was pretty grueling for me too. I guess between Dad, me, Chris, and my Grandma Horne, we got most people beat on the crying thing. Too emotional sometimes. I whispered in Chris's ear that he had been doing a great job being a rock for Christina, and to keep it up, but that didn't mean he couldn’t cry too. He was already sobbing at that point, but I think then, he really felt like he could let loose. He had to sit down on the bench at one point and just put his head in his hands. I hated to leave him (and Christina) but at that point, it just wasn't appropriate to hang around. That was the family time. We went to be there for Christina. She was hugging people and stuff when we left. She's a strong girl. I know she'll get through it just fine.

Oh, and by the way, I wish I had known her mother better too. So sad.

Yellow Bracelet

Tyler loves this yellow bracelet that Kami gave to him. He has been wearing it and playing with it for 2 days! Sweet Baby!

No one loves a funeral

Well, today Mother and I must attend a funeral. It is for my "SIL's" (Christina's) mother, Kelly Quillen. I am so upset by all of this, for Christina's sake. I think of Christina like a sister. So, today, we will go show our respect for her mother. The sad part is that she was only 41. She died of a massive heart attack. Toxicology reports came back clean, so it was natural causes. Who would've thought? She is the same age as me. Really makes one stop and think.

I hope that she is happy in her new "life" in heaven. I know she dealt with a lot of depression in recent years. I only met her like twice. I know that Christina had some problems with her over the years, but I am glad that they sorted through some of them when Christina visited about a month ago. I know that must be a small bit of comfort that she saw her just a short time ago.

God be with you both. I know that Christina will pull through it just fine. She is a strong girl.

IKEA - I LOVE YOU!

Kami and I went and visited the new Ikea store in Frisco today. OMG it was so fabulous! First off, when you are driving down 121 and you SEE it in the distance, it's like a looming, glorious, mystical, desert mirage. You can almost hear the chorus singing that "ahhhhh" sort of majestic sound. They have everything there that you would want and more. And it's nearly impossible to see it all in one day, much like a visit to the amusement park. Which now means, I have to go back! Oh No! Tragic! :)

I bought some new silverware (Mother will be extremely pleased). I also bought Tyler a piggy bank, a big soft ball, some kid-sized bowls and plates, and 2 hanging shoe storage things. One is for Tyler of course, and the other is for me. I might take my current shoe rack and put in his room to store stuff on. Not sure yet what I'll do about that. Anyway, the stuff in this store is SO inexpensive and wonderful. It just makes your skin tingle with delight.

They have fabulous displays of their items, and things are very well thought out. The crowds were still there from the grand opening last week, but not nearly as bad as when they first opened. I wouldn't have been there for the grand opening for anything! We probably waited in line for 30-45 minutes just getting out of there. So, in the meantime, you can gaze at a HUGE picture of a hot dog in front of the registers, and go buy yourself one while you wait. Or a frozen yogurt, soft drink, whatever. I didn't succumb though. Not after the meal we had already had in their CAFETERIA. That's right. You basically don't ever have to leave the store. Outside the checkout, there are parking spaces specifically allocated as "Loading Zones" so you can go pull your car around if you want, and load your stuff up. They've thought of everything.

One of the best parts was the AS-IS section located right near the checkouts. While we waited in line, Kami and I took turns going and looking at the stuff. I bought a table for $6! It's a small square, plain, pine table, and I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but -- SIX DOLLARS!?!?


Bargain of the day - $6 table


After taking a triple glance at the price, yep, it still had only two zeros.





So, we stayed there for 4.25 hours, and both of our boys were pretty darned good most of the time. Tyler got a little whiny for a short bit, and Nik threw one fit, but after that he was fine. He even apologized to me for swatting me on the head during his rage. :) Can't really blame him though. What man would want to shop for 4.25 hours and not throw a fit? Huh?

I can't wait to go back!

Here are some other pictures of some stuff I liked.


This is a possible Tyler Table

Another possibility for Tyler's room. It won't match his crib though, but I'm finding it hard to match the dark wood. Maybe I just need to settle for a contrasting white?

This is a 3-piece cabinet, which I just love! Another possible Tyler thing, but then again, the wood???

Just another shot of their stuff

Another bookcase

Trecherous Driving!

OMG. I thought I was going to die tonight, and take Tyler with me. Well, that may be exaggerating a little bit, but at the time I wasn't so sure. I had taken one of the ladies (Becki) in the mom's club a dinner since she just had a baby. We have all signed up to do a certain night to take them a meal. So I left my house around 3:00. She lives in McKinney, which is a decent drive from here. I made it there just fine, but then on the way back, all hell broke loose from the clouds. I was blinded most of the way back by the torrential downpour. And people were still flying by me! I don't get how they could even see where they were going. I was white-knuckle driving at a maximum speed of like 30 mph most of the way back. Then I'd see someone pass me, and I couldn't understand it! How is it that THEY could see, and I couldn't?!? And the whole time, Tyler is whining in the backseat. I'm feeding him Teddy Grahams or animal crackers one at a time, reaching behind me, trying to get him to STOP WHINING. It was SO adding to my stress level, and I needed to concentrate. I've NEVER driven in anything that bad. Then this big tanker truck even passed me in the right lane, and you know the right lanes are usually the worst with the water flooding it. So when he passed me, it literally blinded me for a good 10 seconds. I flipped him off at the next stoplight when I hobbled up to it finally. I doubt he saw me, which is probably a good thing, considering some of these good ol' boys have guns. I figured I was safe considering the amount of rain coming down.

I literally said a thank you out loud to God when I got safely back in my garage.

My son loves lime

Have you ever known an 18-month-old who likes to suck on lime? Well, here's the proof that it does actually happen. Actually, anything sour, he loves it.

Round Houses!

On the way to Waxahachie last weekend to see Robert's grandmother, I found Mother's round houses. She has always said she wanted to live in a round house, so here you go, Mother! You can buy them here! ;) Here are some pictures of them.

Not exactly my idea of his first "potty" experience

So, after dinner tonight, Robert went to give Tyler his bath while I was cleaning up the kitchen. The next thing I know, there's a naked boy standing next to me at the sink. He paused for a moment, then proceeded to begin peeing right on the carpet. I scooped him up real quick, and the stream stopped for a moment. I said, "If you're going to finish peeing, go ahead and do it in the sink." I held him up to the sink, leaning him forward, and he then resumed his peeing, in the sink, with a cute smirk on his face. I know HE thought it was funny, but it just wasn't my idea of his first potty experience outside of a diaper, if you know what I mean. Little naked pervert, hahaha! I wasn't about to go running through the house with him peeing all the way to the bathroom though. Kitchen sink is better than the rug I guess.