Mother's Day 2013

 

 

Happy Boy, Happy Mommy!

 

 

Mother's Day was not so warm, but understandable for May.  We decided to venture to Sandbridge to get some outside time.  Wesley had been very timid when it came to the sand.  He didn't want to be put down and was very apprehensive to walk in it.  We snapped a few photos of him enjoying himself and giving Mommy another wonderful Mother's Day.  We finished off the day with dinner at "Baja", one of our favorite and only restaurants on Sandbridge---a great local spot!



You would never know I didn't like sand!!!

Best Mother's Day Gift!!!

The Cleaning Authority

 

 

A Habit We Can Live With!

 

Wesley loves toys, no doubt about it.  And he definitely has his favorites.  However, when it comes to vacuum cleaners, swiffers, fan brushes, laundry baskets and brooms...there is no competition.  These items are very popular around our house and I wish I could say it was because he saw us using them frequently!  He loves to climb on them, ride them, push buttons, pull and push.  If he had a choice between a vacuum and a toy car, hands down the vacuum would win! 

Proof...

 

 



Don't Tell Me I Missed a Spot!

 

 

 



Some Updates...

Never a Dull Moment!!!

Here are a few photos to show what Wesley has been "up to" lately...never boring and always keeping us busy!  He is SO fun right now.  He is big enough to "rough house" with Daddy, gentle enough to give the cutest, sloppiest kisses, and the highlight of our days.  He is doing some not so great things...just learned to hit and he likes to throw things when he doesn't get his way.  We are doing our best to curb these behaviors and he knows when he has been bad.  He will quickly give you a hug and say "tickle tickle" as if he is trying to make amends and make you happy.  I guess this is his way of saying, "sorry"!

The photo below is a true testament to Chris' patience!  He is amazing with Wesley especially when it comes to teaching.  Wesley loves keys and really loves putting them in the keyhole...here is Chris one afternoon with the chair pulled up to the front door (Wesley will try to pull the chair now) spending time putting the key in and out of the lock...



 

 We have three great playgrounds in our neighborhood and each are different...this is the day that Wesley discovered the "piano" at one of them.  He was so excited banging on the keys!  He just loves being outside!!

 

 

Same day at the park...Daddy was nice enough to get his pants wet on the slide...it was a little early in the morning and it was still dewey!

 

 

"Daddy was out of town this morning so Mommy let me do almost whatever I wanted so that she could get dressed.  This particular morning, I rummaged through the drawers in the bathroom and found a bandage!  It occupied me for at least 5 minutes and that was a long time for Mommy!"





 

This picture was taken from my phone and does not do justice...but the photo below is Wesley in his WBJ embroidered boxer shorts.  They were a gift from his "Aunt" Elizabeth, "Uncle" Andrew and friends Olivia and Charlotte when he was born but they are now great for his leisurely weekend mornings!

 

 

Another couple of photos to show my love for keys and my love for the bandage...maybe I will grow up to be a doctor!!!  Or maybe I will marry a pretty doctor b/c I am so cute!

 

 

Easter 2013

 

Holidays Make Me Sick!

 

We have are two for two with Christmas and Easter as far as fairly big "throw up"events.  Wesley woke up Easter Morning very chipper and happy.  He was excited about his basket...matchbox cars, coloring book and crayons, Peeps, fishing pole for the bath, and a few other items.  While he isn't really into chocolate or candy yet, it was still very difficult and discouraging to find ANY candy that didn't have peanuts or wasn't made in a factory that processes peanuts.  It didn't really matter because within about an hour of him waking, he started with some sort of bug.  We had plans to go to brunch as Mimi and Pops were in town but that quickly changed to a home cooked breakfast as Wesley wasn't going anywhere!  You can see below that he did have some better moments to the day but overall, he was not feeling great and had a rough couple of days. 

 

Thanks Mimi and Pops for all of your help! 

 

 

 

Happy Easter to Me!!!

 

Pops is helping me with my "downtime" and showing me the old Disney films on YouTube!  (Wesley usually just wants to push all of the keys but was very interested in the video instead!)



I do LOVE Peeps!!!

 

ER Visit #2

Nursemaid's Elbow!

 

The only thing I can say about this (and I hope I am not jinxing me or the family) is that we have only been to the ER twice, and both for fairly odd occurances.  The first visit was when Wesley contracted "Hand, Foot and Mouth" which if you look back at photos was horrendous.  He looked pathetic and probably felt as bad.

The second visit was for an issue that I CAUSED and could not have felt worse about.  I picked Wesley up from daycare and unlike most days where I have to beg him to leave, this day he came over and put his arms up asking to be picked up.  I grabbed his hands, he put his little hands around my thumbs and I pulled him up to me.  I heard him whimper and then looked at Sheila and said, "I think I just hurt him".  She grabbed him (under his arms) and assured me he was fine.  We got out to the car and when I put him in his car seat, he whimpered/cried again.  He would not move his left arm.  We got home and the same thing happened when I got him out of the carseat.  By this point, I knew something was wrong.  He laid on my shoulder and would not move his arm.  It was limp and laying down by his side.  I called Chris frantically and told him that "I had hurt Wesley" and that we needed to go to the ER.  Luckily he was in the driveway when I called so we quickly agreed that Wesley needed to be seen and got back in the car.  I rode in the back seat all the way to Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk.  While I am so grateful for this hospital, our need was not really deserving of an ER visit--I really wish we had an Urgent Care for Pediatrics.  The waiting room was full to say the least and unfortunately, we were probably the only ones there who were insured!  Very sad scene.  There were some very nice people waiting including a family who was from Belgium-we think the father worked for NATO as he was in uniform.  They asked why we were there and then in a very nice way chuckled--the mom with her broken english called it "Sunday Arm".  She said it was "what parents do on Sunday, grab a hold of their children on each side and swing them on a Sunday afternoon" it is very common!  I appreciated her diagnosis as it made me feel much better and that I might not be questioned for child abuse!  Anyway, we didn't have to wait too long and when we got back to the room, Wesley seemed to be doing better.  He still wasn't using his arm at all, it was still limp by his side but he was moving around a bit. The doctor finally came in and without even looking at Wesley, told us what was wrong.  It is called "Nursemaid's Elbow" and is apparently very common in little ones.  The tendon that is around his elbow pops off to the side (don't quote my medical description) but basically prevented Wesley from moving his arm.  It sounded a lot like a dislocation but far less severe.  Anyway, as she was talking to us and telling us how Wesley would be in pain for only a minute while she "popped" it back in, we turned around and he had started using his arm!  Little scoundrel somehow figured out how to fix his own arm--which was great.  We were not looking forward to the doctor having to do it nor did we want Wesley to be in pain. So, we spent the evening in the ER for almost no reason.  There is no doubt in my mind that we did the right thing but I have to chuckle that this is how it was resolved.  Wesley must have a 6th sense!

 

So...with all of that being said, the video below is probably concerning!  I took this video on Feb. 20th which is about a month prior to our ER visit.  Needless to say, Wesley will not get to enjoy the jumping up and down he did with his Daddy like this again.  Children grow out of this "nursemaid elbow" around 3 but the doctor said the age is 3 mostly b/c parents stop picking up their kids like this because they are too heavy! 

 

This video is so fun, though.  The kind of laughter that is contagious and makes you smile! 

Until Next Time, Costa Rica!!!

We'll Be Back!!!

 

This trip was awesome!  We really didn't seek out Costa Rica.  The "Hilton" points determined where we would go on this vacation.  We were very, very pleased with our decision.  The all inclusive feature was not really something we were looking for-in fact we were a little nervous about it.  Turns out it was great.  We knew we wouldn't be venturing too far and if so, it wouldn't be simple with Wesley in a 2nd world country so this worked out really well.  I guess I have/had a bad assumption about 24 hour, all you can eat types of places and the people that go along with them....this was not the case here.  We realized when we got home that we ate 3 meals a day and never once ordered food or snacks between meals!  We didn't overindulge at the meals either...I did partake in dessert each night but what the heck, I was on vacation!  We even gave in to the "Howler Monkey" frozen drink a couple of times.  Besides fresh bananas and rum, I am not sure what else was in it but they were certainly yummy.  The "all inclusive" wasn't what we expected but in a good way.  There were plenty of restaurants to have variety and all were good.  I think we would give the all inclusive a go again, but would normally prefer to get out and "do as the locals do".  With Wesley, this was perfect and that is something we would consider again with a little one. 

 

Wesley seemed to enjoy himself on the vacation as well.  He loved the pool the most.  He never got used to the beach enough to enjoy it but it wasn't without trying.  The sand was so hot and we didn't have the proper shoes for him so not his fault! 

 

We did learn that Wesley loves Ketchup while on this trip.   The kids menu was the same at all the restaurants but even with 6 nights, he had a variety.  He had french fries several times and eventually started dipping just his fingers in the ketchup, without the fry!

 

On the last day, we had one more great breakfast, said goodbye to our Canadian friends, our lovely friends from CT/Netherlands and then headed back to finish packing.  We were greeted by Alonzo, one of our favorites who made sure we met our transport.  The airport was a ZOO!!  We were so lucky and grateful for a porter to notice Wesley (or a young child).  He gave us some preferential treatment and we found ourselves at the front of the huge line to check in!  We gained time in the airport and were able to have one last sit-down lunch.  We had a long day ahead of us and wouldn't really get much else in the form of meals so this was great. 

 

Wesley did pretty well on the flights.  The second and last flight out of Atlanta to home was supposed to leave at 9 which was late anyway but then we got delayed.  There was actually a felon being escorted by important looking people that boarded ahead of us.  They started to board us and then made us leave the plane...it was a mess and needless to say, Wesley was also.  Once we took off, he finally fell asleep after a bit of crying and basically slept until we landed.  Overall, he was a great traveler.  I learned a bit about what we can do to make him a bit more comfortable and what may/may not work better next time.  For the first time, I think he did great! 

 

Now we are trying to think of where we want to go next! (Chris has switched his travel benefits to Marriott-they have a lot more properties in more desirable areas plus, we will make my little brother proud.  He is a GM for the Marriott in Richmond!)

 

 

 

Last day...happy boys!

 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the 4-wheeler!

The view down the cove.



Wesley never "loved" walking in the sand.



Here he is "dancing" so he doesn't get his feet dirty!

All Cleaned Up---Ready to Go Home!

Going Backwards---Valentine's Day!!

Valentine's Day 2013

So it is more than obvious that I am way behind in posting...I got carried away with our trip to Costa Rica (thankfully) and as a result, skipped a few things.  I still have the last day of that vacation to post but luckily I keep written notes of what I "should" be posting to the blog and just haven't gotten around to getting on the computer.  I hope to get caught up soon.  One reason for my delay is the learning curve on uploading vidoes.  Hopefully I have figured it out and this will work!

My family has always had a "Valentine Lady" much like a Santa Claus.  She comes each year on Valentine's Day morning and still visits us, but now it is via the US postal service!  This year Wesley received a Dancing Dog.  It dances to a Justin Beiber song (did not know that until I read the tag but I am learning!).  Anyway, he loves it and really loves dancing to/with his dog!  (Thank you Mimi & Pops-aka The Valentine Lady)

Wesley was also so spoiled to receive a special Valentine gift from his favorite babysitter-Kenzie.  She loves Wesley so much that she gave him a new stuffed animal Dog...here he is "loving" his friend and his present.

 

 

 

 Valentine's Day is a big deal at Mrs. Sheila's house...this was Daddy's idea and was a big hit!  I found small maracas and put the kids names on each one with a tag..."you ma-rock-a my world".  They loved them! 

 

This is my "red" Valentine outfit for the day!