Apparently He Was Hungry

I took the boys to Target this afternoon. Nicholas needed some pants and shirts, just a few. Items I thought I was buying big back in the winter, yeah, not so big anymore. I was really hoping they would hold through the fall but he looks pitiful with his wrists and ankles showing. I let him take the responsibility of picking items he liked: a couple pairs of pants - with elastic waists because time is of the essence for young boys in the bathroom, and a few long sleeve t-shirts.
We grabbed a few grocery items. Nicholas wanted corn dogs and french fries for dinner. And I had to get the exact same kind of corn dogs as last time, and I have learned from the past to not deviate from these kinds of things. Travis has a fascination with frozen foods. He holds them to his face and pretends to mend a boo-boo. So I let him play with the box of corn dogs while we shopped some more.
Nicholas and I were looking over the selection of umbrella strollers with our backs to Travis (the cart safely near by, don't worry). When we turned around the sight of Travis was truly something to behold. That boy managed to open the box of corn dogs, take out his pacifier, and begin licking a corn dog. He was genuinely pleased with his accomplishment and seemed to like the corn dog popsicle.
We headed straight for the check out line. The cashier wasn't even phased, maybe she's seen this happen before or worse. We went home and I promptly cooked corn dogs and fries for us. Someone really wanted to eat.

Officially 2

Exactly two years ago today started off as a normal enough day. Adrian took Nicholas to school while I stayed home. And then things went a little crazy. Every now and then I felt a little something in my belly. Nothing painful, just a very mild cramp. No big deal. I was supposed to swing by the doctor's office to check my blood pressure. Adrian came home, we put some stuff in the car, and went out for the day. We were planning to go by the doctor's, grab some lunch, walk around the mall. Yeah, didn't happen. The doctor detained us. After a brief discussion and a friendly examination to find out I was halfway there, 5 cm already. That was easy. The doctor ordered, "go directly to the hospital, do not run any lights, do not stop for food." It was game on. Go time. Long story short - water breakage by knitting needle, considerable pain, glorious epidural. And Travis was in the world in time for Adrian to pick up Nicholas before school closed. (Who knew people had babies during daylight hours? It's never like that on TV.) Travis graced us with a convenient day time labor and delivery and has made his presence known ever since.



After a dinner of his favorite foods: chocolate chip waffle, eggs, goldfish, apple, and strawberry milk; we had cake and ice cream. He played with his new toys and shared with Nicholas. At normal bedtime the boys went off for teeth brushing and a story. Nicholas, a good role model, went off to dreamland like a champ (after ratting out his brother a few times). Travis on the other hand, got up repeatedly. We found him upstairs on the couch helping himself to some Disney Channel. Several attempts back to bed failed and we relented. Two hours of grown-up TV viewing, playing with his toys again, he went to bed and stayed there. It's his way of reminding us that he is here and to enjoy it as much as he does. And that he has wrapped around his adorable little finger.

Birthday -1

Just as I planned, we did the usual Sunday routine with some fun extras. Dunkin Donuts, watching TV, crafts, yardwork, and errands. The undecided fall weather brought out the digger wasps again. Hopefully Adrian's efforts have taken care of them once and for all. Travis had solo time with me at Target and Harris Teeter to get food for the week. After we got back I finished off a craft project. Below is the view if you were to lie down on the table and look up.


I also made the cake today. We don't get Columbus Day off here and I knew tomorrow would be otherwise very busy with work and school. So tonight was cake night. Travis loves s'mores and pretty much chocolate in general.


He was so pleased when the cake was brought out and he realized it was for him!
Travis ate the cake with a fork and fingers. Much better than the face first and finger smearing technique used last year.
And this is the happy cake dance in your chair move he does. It means he likes it.

Birthday -3 & -2

Travis is turning the big 2 on Monday. Some of the typical 2 year old overly dramatic, throw yourself on the floor behavior has started. We're ready for when it really kicks in, because we know it will.

He is moving to the Teddy Bear 2 classroom on Monday, so he celebrated with his old classmates, the Monkeys, on Friday. I left my camera with his teacher to capture the cupcake mess. She also signed his card with his classmates and teachers' names.

The school rule is store bought, peanut free cake. He picked cupcakes with Sesame Street rings on top.

On Saturday we went to Marbles Kids Museum as a family. (The original plan was to go to the local pumpkin patch but rainy weather came earlier than predicted.) We usually start out together doing activities and then split up based on their interests. Nicholas was into the Mr. Potato Head exhibit. Travis was into driving the bus, building race cars, and making art.

Here they were in the multi-cultural section banging on the drums like the festival in the video. They also played in an igloo, ice-fished, and touched a real piece of the Berlin Wall.

Then it was on to Target for Travis to pick out a few birthday toys. Nicholas admitted he was jealous that he wasn't getting anything. We explained that these toys would intermingle with the existing toys just fine and they will end up sharing. Jealousy still defies logic.

Stay tuned for tomorrow, Birthday - 1. Nothing exciting planned yet, just the usual Sunday activities of hanging out, yard work, and grocery shopping.