Poor baby

My poor little Christopher is headed for more tubes in his ears and his tonsils to be taken out. The poor little guy can not catch a break. Even though he is in pain he still continues to be happy go lucky. He is so amazing. How a little guy can tolerate so much pain yet still be so happy and so much fun to be around amazes me. I can't wait to see how happy he is when the surgery is over and he is recovered. It's time for the things to start going right for this little guy.

Daycare

Christopher is about start a new adventure of his own - daycare! I think it will be good for him, I haven't been able to give him what I gave Nicholas - the trips to the Zoo and Aquarium, playgroup, gymboree, and playdates. I guess since the kids are so different the way they grow up is going to be different. I think that the exposure to other kids, the learning, the structure, it will all be good for him because that is what his little personality needs. Hopefully he won't grow up to resent me because he had to go to daycare and Nicholas never did. I guess only time will tell, and anyway, everyone needs something to talk to their future therapist with so they don't waste their money, so in the long run I am doing him a huge favor!

Swimming Lessons

Christopher is learning how to swim. Actually, he has learned how to swim underwater over the past week, he is still working on floating on his back and relaxing. He is going to see Miss Katja, the swimming guru, who taught Nicholas, Sebatien, and Hannah how to swim. It was really hard to watch him until he figured out how great it is to be able to swim by himself! He really hates floating on his back, I am not sure how she is going to get him to stop fighting her. She will though, she always does!

Similarities

Christopher is so his mother's son. While Nana was here, he put a bead up his nose. This is along the lines of the time I put raisins up my nose when I was small. When I was little, I ate a poisonous mushroom in the backyard. The other day, Christopher ate two antacids that I wasn't sure whether they would be poisonous or not. He ate only the frosting off of the piece of birthday cake he had, so like his me it isn't even funny! He eats candy all the time, just like me, though I really shouldn't let him, I know. Together we enjoy eating the frosting right out of the can with a spoon while we watch TV. I hope he doesn't become addicted to romance novels or need stitches - those are two things that we could do without!

Here is what we talk about all day every day -

C: Joe has snakes.
Me: Yes, Joe has snakes.
C: Mark has snakes.
Me: Yes, Uncle Mark has a snake.
C: Pop at work.
Me: Yes.
C: POP AT WORK!
Me: Yes, Pop is at work.
C: Mark at work.
Me: Yes, Mark at work.
C: Joe at work.
Me: Yes, Joe at work.
C: Joe boat.
Me: Yes.
C: JOE BOAT!
Me: Yes, Joe has a boat.
C: Mark boat.
Me: (sigh) Uncle Mark does not have a boat.

I could go on and on but I think you get the picture!

Was Christopher a Squirel in a past life?

Christopher and I went to the grocery store on Tuesday and picked out peanut M&M's as his treat. He at some of them in car on the way home. Alli ate a few of them as he watched TV. Then I found the empty bag on the floor and threw it in the garbage. I thought that was the end of the M&M's. On Wednesday, Christopher was riding around the house on his tricycle and chewing on something. I asked him to open his mouth and show me what he was eating. He was eating peanut M&M's. I asked where it came from and he opened the back of his tricycle where there is a little storage spot. He had hidden a bunch of the M&M's there. He rode around and ate the rest of them. I thought, what a smart little guy, hiding them and saving some for later. Today we had a playdate and the little boy opened the Elmo cash register. I look over because Christopher is pushing him away and closing the drawer. I go over to investigate and inside the cash register I see another stash of the peanut M&M's! So Christopher grabs the rest of them and eats them before he has to share them with the other little boy. I wonder where else I am going to find these M&M's . . .

The Fall

That little Christopher is just too much. While chasing his brother and Josh around the driveway, he took a nose dive into the pavement. The result is a mess on his nose, upper lip, and forehead. As if I can't see it for myself, every person that we see, whether it is at Cracker Barrell, the Y, or walking around the block, fills me in on just how terrible it looks. But it doesn't stop there, they keep going with - how did that happen, did it hurt (no, it felt great, lady), and does your mommy put something on it to make it feel better (no, my mom is the worst parent ever, she hopes it permanently scars my face, she isn't as smart as you, she didn't put anything on it). Enough with the comments already, people, don't you have anything better to do? Anyway, it is healing and he will back to new in no time!

Whales are in - Nemo is out

We have graduated from Finding Nemo to Free Willy. I think we have watched Free Willy more times than we watched Nemo! Christopher is even taking my killer whale slippers to bed with him for nap and bedtime. Uncle Markie bought him a set of sea creatures and many of those make into bed as well. Maybe this means he will be a marine biologist!

Full of it!

On the way to pick Nicholas up from school today, Christopher sat in the back seat and laughed the entire way. What was he laughing at? I have absolutely no idea. All I could hear was "ha, ha, ha" and then "ha, ha, ha" over and over. I looked around but I didn't see anything funny. While we were in JCPenney today, I was looking for a Christmas present for Uncle Markie, I won't reveal what it was in case he reads this, but let's just say Christopher insisted on picking it out. I could not get what I wanted, especially after he figured out how to undo the buckle. It was very interesting I must say.

The Birthday Party

Christopher had a wonderful birthday party if I do say so myself. There were 14 kids and they all enjoyed decorating and eating cookies as well as making ornaments. There was lots of running around as well. We had pizza and cake and then the party was over. He loved his presents, every single one was perfect! I think his favorite was the shark from the Starks, he even carried it to church this morning! The mess was not even that bad, plus I have great friends who helped to clean it up! Just a few more days and he'll officially be two!

Birthday Party Tomorrow

Tomorrow is Christopher's birthday party! He doesn't turn two until next week on Friday but that weekend he will be with his dad. So, tomorrow is party day! I am going to have two stations, one for decorating cookies and one for making Christmas ornaments. Then we'll have pizza and cake and home everyone will go. It should be interesting!

The Candy Cane King

Today Christopher and I helped Kristyn finish decorating her tree. Christopher's version of "helping to decorate" involved talking off every single candy cane he could reach. That came to a total of probably 20. He then carried them all around, opening a few, eating a few, breaking a few, dropping a few on the brand new hard wood floors. Then I started putting ornaments on the top of the tree from a step ladder while Kristyn directed me. Christopher put his candy canes between my feet and climbed on up with me. I finally talked him into "giving me a turn and sharing" so he climbed back down. The he started asking Kristyn where to hang the candy canes. "Oh, right here?" "Yes, right there." "OK!" So he would hang it on the branch he was in front of. The next time he asked her she replied, "A little to the left maybe." "OK!" And he went to the right and then hung it! It was the cutest thing ever! (Minus sweeping up the millions of candy cane crumbs at the end!)

Nemo again

Today he watched finding Nemo, again naked, while eating a basket full of lollipops. I am sensing a theme here . . .

Christopher is almost 2 years old and all this time he has not had any interest in watching TV. So, I introduced him to Finding Nemo about two weeks ago. Ever since then, we have watched the movie 1,000 times. I really do not think I am exaggerating, I really think we may have reached 1,000 today. He absolutely loves it! Today he watched it naked with my killer whale slippers on. I guess he wanted to feel like he was part of the movie!

Will He Ever Sleep Again???

Now that Christopher has graduated from his crib to the big boy bed, I don't think we are ever going to sleep again. After a week of all three of us being up all night, I have installed an eyehook lock on Christopher's door to keep him inside. After 30 minutes of non-stop screaming and crying, I settled him down and left again. After another 30 minutes of the crying, I put Nicholas to bed and then sat down next to Christopher's bed until he fell asleep. Why was I able to be tougher with Nicholas? Was I tougher, or am I just imagining it? When will I ever get to sleep again?

Growing Up

My little guy is not so little any more. He spent his first night in his big boy bed last night. He only woke up once, at about 2:30, and I laid down with him. We both fell asleep and I didn't go back to my bed until about 4:30. Nap time wasn't much fun this afternoon, it took me 30 minutes to get him to lay down and I fell asleep again. We will get the hang of it, hopefully I won't start crying since my baby is almost 2 and sleeps in a regular bed . . .

On a funny side note, Christopher has started to realize when he passes gas. Everytime it happens he points down, laughs, and says, "I burp!" and then laughs again!

Guinea Pig Sitting

We are watching our friend's guinea pig this weekend and in a way it's a good thing the boys are at their dad's house. When Christopher discovered that the guinea pig, Snowy, was here, he wouldn't move away from her cage. Every time she tried to peak her head out her house, he would scream and point to her. I think she might have had a small heart attack at one point. She stopped coming out of her house when Christopher started yelling at Nicholas for going near her. I guess he thinks he is the only one who can look at her! The poor thing hasn't gotten out of her house since Friday. She pokes her head out, grabs food, and scrambles back in. I hope she isn't too traumatized.

The Nudist

I don't know why but my children like to be naked. Christopher does not want to wear clothes. His playgroup came over today - Penelope, Clair, Cooper, Joshua, and Luke - and Christopher played with them for two hours while he was completely naked. I think he wore his pullup for maybe 15 minutes the whole time they were here. He just does not want to wear clothes or his pullup. He doesn't want to pee on the potty either, which does not make things easier for me! I cleaned up to messes today! Nicholas and Christopher are so similar and yet so different. Nicholas spent one summer in the pool naked and streaked at a Christmas party. I guess they just like to be free . . .

Tornado Christopher

This little boy is wearing me out! I know all kids go through this stage but I must say that I am getting tired of picking up after him and chasing after him! I don't know why, but I had more energy when Nicholas went through this. Christopher is like a tornado in every single room. I can't wait until my mom gets here this weekend. Then she can clean up after him for a few days!

Not Again

Poor Christopher has an ear infection. I didn't think he would be able to get one with the tubes in his ears. I think his ear infections have something to do with teething. He is getting the last four teeth in and his nose has been runny for weeks. Maybe after he turns two he won't get as sick . . .