4-13-11 Dinner and a Show

Day 103

This is what I walked into this morning. Who wouldn't love that???  <3

So we got up and headed out with Wendy and the girls. Gus and I went with them to preschool and then Wendy had Ashley and Kaitlyn take some pictures together (it's spring pictures) and then she left Kaitlyn and we headed to Crossroads for Toys-R-Us. While we were there I was able to get Gus some 12 month white onesies (can't find them at Wal-Mart) and then I got him four new Playtex sippy cups that are 100% spill/leak proof. I'm excited to use them. They also have the hard top which I like.

After we shopped around, we headed to Fuquay for Wendy to pick up this free double stroller that some lady was giving away. It was a great offer, and is perfect for having two kids. It'll be great for the zoo. There was a water/sand table out too, but we didn't take it because it was probably for someone else, AND the lady had a video camera hooked up in one of the windows... WEIRD.

We headed back here to the house so Wendy could drop off the stroller and I could change Gus, let the dogs out, and grab some yogurt for Gus to have for lunch. Then we went and got K and headed to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. 

I put Gus in one of their highchairs and then got out the yogurt to feed him. I opened it, and then walked over to Wendy to give her money to get my lunch, and when I turned around, Gus had taken the entire container of yogurt, and poured it all over his pants and the floor. So... I had to have her get me a fruit and yogurt from there.

I wasn't sure about it, since I've never had it myself, but it seemed the most baby-friendly. Well... it was 8 ounces of yogurt (his container is four) and had strawberries in it. HE ATE THE WHOLE THING. I couldn't believe that he ate all eight ounces!!! He also had some puffs and a few bites of ice cream.

After we finished eating, the girls went into the play area and Wendy and I sat and chatted. It was very nice and I asked her to clip Gus's nails for me when we got back home. He misses his manicurist. LOL

 

READY for a nap!!!

We left Chick-Fil-A and then went to Wendy's really quickly for her to clip Gus's nails. Then I brought him home and put him down for a nap and he slept for two and a half hours.  :)   While he napped I packed his stuff for our trip and then started to get my laundry and diapers ready.

I got all the diapers washed, so when we come home, we'll have 30+ diapers ready for us. Then I did his laundry and washed a few things for myself. Then I put my Kindle on the charger so that it'll be good for the trip. I also got the new Sweet Valley Confidential (it's Sweet Valley High ten years later)... I can't wait to read it after I finish The Help.

Gus was up around 4 and so I took him downstairs and we played for a bit. Steve got home and we had a few minutes to visit before he had to go to the community watch meeting. I fed Gus while Steve was gone and took a video of him... he was VERY chatty and very loud and screechy. It made me laugh.

Steve got home just after I put Gus to bed, and so we finished packing up. It's now well past my bedtime so I am going to sign off. I'm not looking forward to 12 hours in the car, but it'll be worth it!! I'm hoping to be able to blog and post pictures of the adoption finalization, but we'll see. It might have to wait until Monday.

Love, Peace, and Hair Grease!

>^..^<

Day 102

We had a really busy day today! We got up and then got ready for Judy to come over. I cleaned up the livingroom while Gus played. As I put a toy away, he grabbed a new one and brought it out. Yes... it was a fun little game.  :)

She got here around 9:30ish and we had a nice visit with her. Then right after she left, I called Kristen because we were supposed to meet her at Honeycutt Park in Fuquay, but it was raining here. She said it was cloudy but not raining. We decided that I should just head over to her house and then if it was raining the kids could play there, and if it was nice, we'd walk to the park. Well... right as I pulled into her driveway, it started to rain, so we stayed there.

It's always fun to watch Gus interact with Grace because of how close they are in age (four days). It's amazing to see that she can do some things that he can't (like imitate the sound of a cow when prompted) and vice-versa (walking). They were engaging in dialogue that made me laugh... they were talking in their baby language and Kristen and I were just laughing at them. They're so cute together.

It was also nice to talk to Kristen about developmental things and to compare notes about things like going from the bottle to sippy, and ditching the bottle and formula. It'll be strange for him to go from getting most of his nutrients from formula to drinking whole milk and getting all of his nutrients from solid foods. I don't know how I feel about all of it... part of me wants to keep giving him a bottle at bedtime, but then I don't want him to be dependent on it. We'll see. Time will certainly tell. 

One thing that I will be doing tomorrow is giving him the sippy with the straw that I bought. He was walking around with the bottle and sucking on it, and I think he can handle the straw sippy. We'll see if it's a hit or a miss.

Steve got home early and we were able to spend some quality time together before I made dinner. I made meatloaf (so good) and mashed potatoes and corn. I had my first tutoring gig tonight with Gulbike and it was wonderful! I got to work with her on her homework and then help her with division. She's really good at math, so it wasn't difficult to work with her. She just needs to gain some confidence and TAKE NOTES IN CLASS!!! I swear I beat it into my kids' heads last year and she must have forgot!!! Hopefully after tonight she'll start taking notes and asking questions!!

I finished with her around 8 and then I had dinner. Steve gave Gus his bath and put him to bed while I was in the FROG with Gulbike, so it was really nice. I didn't have to worry about anything. :)

Tomorrow I'm going with Wendy to Toys-R-Us and then to lunch. I have to do laundry and pack for our trip! I'm really getting excited!! Two more sleeps and I'll be on my way to Michigan to see my parents and Scott's family!!!! I'm also excited to see my cousin Jessica and her daughter B on Friday, and then also to see Gus's birth mom and her mom, and to finally meet his great-grandma!!!

See you tomorrow!!

>^..^<

Day 101

Gus turned 11 months today and I can't believe it. It's so funny to see how he's changed over the months. Each month on the 11th, I put a Picky Sticky on him and take pictures of him. I ordered them back in June before he was one month, and I've done it every month on the 11th, and I put his bear in the picture with him. I've used the bear in every picture to show growth. I remember taking the first set of pictures on June 11th and he couldn't sit (obviously) and kinda just laid there. Then each month he was cooperative and would sit and not move too much, and there were a few times that I had to keep propping him up so he wouldn't fall over. Then today, he was all over the place and a total wiggle-bottom! He wouldn't sit still!!

I'm amazed at how much has changed in just a few months and I'm sure a year from now when he's about to turn two, I'll be just as amazed at how much has changed from now to then. He amazes me daily and I'm in awe of all the things he's able to do. Sometimes when he's walking around I look at him and think that he's so tiny and doesn't look like he should be walking!

Anyway, here are my favorite pictures that I took this morning. I also did some in black and white, as I've learned that black and white adds a whole new dynamic to pictures!

Now here's the totally crazy thing... not only do I see a lot of Steve when I look at Gus, but there are a few of these pictures that actually resemble my twin brother. Obviously this is impossible, due to a lack of genetic connection, but it's amazing how much Gus resembles Steve and even Scott. 

So... besides taking pictures of Gus all day (lol) we played for a bit downstairs and then Gus took a nice two and a half hour nap this afternoon. I LIVE for nap time!!! I watched some tv and addressed more envelopes for our birth/adoption announcements. I'm thinking that the other pack won't come until we're back, so I won't get to deal with them until next week. I did get the 111 pictures for $1.11 today. I've got to go through them and figure out which ones go to which birth parent and which ones we're going to frame for my mom and dad's wall of fame.  :)

When Steve got home he mowed the lawn and then showered. When he came downstairs all he wanted to do was sit down and relax, but I made him help me with a special project for the grandparents, birth parents and for us. I had to get them done today so that we can take them with us on Thursday. Anyway... Steve was not happy about helping me, but I couldn't have done it without him. He can be a beast about things, but at least he does help me. :)

Wendy told me about this app for her phone that she got that tells her when to drink water. It got me curious and I found one for my phone too. According to it, I'm supposed to drink 5 24 ounce bottles of water a day. It seems VERY excessive... as the most I've been able to down in one day is three, but I guess it knows what it's talking about. My goal tomorrow is to actually drink all five. We'll see. I think if I drink more water, I'll be less hungry, and will feel better as I lose weight. That's my hope anyway.

Tonight as we were watching Sister Wives (LOVE IT), Steve decided to give Gus my ice cream cone that I didn't want. I took some pictures of him eating his very first ice cream cone. It was very sweet. I just wish Steve had checked his nose for boogers before I took a bunch of pictures. GROSS. I guess that's reality though... he's a baby, he gets boogers.

Anyway, as you can tell, he LOVED the ice cream. He had a bit of a sugar buzz after and we were laughing at how crazy he was acting. He was screeching and walking in circles and chasing the dog and cats. It was funny.

Let's see... tomorrow Judy is coming over for a visit in the morning, and then we're supposed to go to Kristen's for a park playdate, but it's supposed to rain, so I don't know if that's going to happen or not. Then tomorrow night from 6:30-7:30 I'll be tutoring one of my former students. I have three kids that I'll be tutoring here soon, and hopefully it'll give us some extra money. If anything, it'll give me money to spend and let me not touch the money in our checking or on the credit card. :)

See you tomorrow!!

>^..^<