Kovixen

And I thought pink eye was bad

Andy woke up at 6:30am (early for my late sleeper) screaming yesterday. I ran into his room, and he was sweating and burning up. I took his temp, and it was a whopping 103.5. Not quite sure how high it should go up before I should freak out, I called the pediatrician (and Peter and my mom, I was freaking out anyway). Turns out 105 is where we worry. So there were to be no trips to the pediatrician again (good thing since the nurse admitted he could have gotten the fever after going there on Wednesday) or the hospital. But I had a feverish baby who needs eye drops and is almost as strong as me so they are damn near impossible to put in alone, is not able to go anywhere, and is not able to go for a walk because it was damn cold out. My day was fun to say the least. Whenever I feel like I have a handle on this whole parenting thing, something like this happens. I comment to my mom that Andy's naps have been consistent for months, and he stops napping for a week. I tell my mom I can totally handle Peter being away, and my baby is the sickest he's ever been. I need to keep my mouth shut. Right now I'm on hold with the pediatrician to see if we need to bring him back in as his temp has gone back up to 102.5. Peter's finally home (2am last night), so at least I don't have to struggle alone. I must say how great it is to have tv. Dora and Blues Clues have been my saviors. I don't know how people did this 100 years ago.

Pink eye

What was supposed to be a relatively easy time while Peter went away is not turning out to be so simple. I had Andy scheduled to see his babysitter for all three mornings. And now he has pink eye, so not only can I not take him there, I can't take him anywhere. I have drops for his eyes that he refuses to let me put in, so we literally are wrestling on the floor. And I'm now beginning to suspect that I have pink eye too. I'm thinking about going on vacation this weekend to anywhere that will be relaxing. I am totally stressed, as usual.

In my previous post, I neglected to say how awesome Dave was for driving one of our cars down here full of cats when we moved down here last year. Thank you again Dave. Without you, we would have had to sell the cats on the street for money, or else put them all in one cage and let it be survival of the fittest. And we all know that Fat Tony would have then sat on the girls, and it would have all been over. Ziggy thanks you mightily.

One Year

Peter beat me to our anniversary post. We moved down here a year ago today. We'd never been to the Charlotte area before, and as we drove by the city and all the tall buildings, it really hit me what we had done. How could I move to a place I didn't recognize? A year later, I still probably couldn't pick out the skyline, but I love it here. I really love it here. I was so afraid that everyone would be super southern, asking me which church I belonged to, saying "Bless Your Heart" all the time, all extremely conservative, and I'd be the freak in the mix. And I've found quite the opposite. I may not fit in as perfectly as I did in RI, but there are so many people like me down here, with more moving down every day. It is a great place to raise a family, the weather is awesome (what a year to not be in Boston!), and we have an awesome house. I am so happy, I can't express how I feel. This was one of the hardest things I've ever done, moving down here. I was so scared of it all, terrified I was making a huge mistake and messing things up not just for me and Peter, but for the most important person ever, Andy. I'm so glad I took the risk.

In other news, I want to clear up something from my previous post. I'm NOT pregnant. Just really tired. Sorry to anyone who wants me to be, but we are very far from taking that leap again. One day....

Valentine's Day

I'm quite the romantic. After a lovely dinner of cheese fondue and pots de creme (probably spelled wrong), I graciously told Peter that I was exhausted, and he carried me upstairs and put me to bed before 9pm and went into another room to read. I couldn't even make it to our romantic Lost watching we had planned. Sorry I conked out Peter! Seriously, I don't know what is wrong with me. I slept until 7:30am, and I'm still super tired and slightly dizzy. I've been sleeping like the dead since I got home, but shouldn't I be caught up by now?

At least he knows who I am

Andy's started saying a few words. They are pretty random ones like roar and yay, but he does say mama and dada finally. Everything he says in the cutest little voice you've ever heard. Well, except for mama. That he says as if a demon took over his body. You next expect him to say that I'm in the "pits of despair" like in The Princess Bride. I am not sure why I am the lucky one for the devil voice. Hopefully it's a passing phase, much like his velociraptor phase.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love today. Ever have those days that things seem to go right? As I was turning around after dropping Andy off, I saw the first apple blossoms of the year. Got me so excited for the warm weather. I heard good Alpha Phi news and also feel great about what I'm working on right now. It's been a tough year for my relationship with the sorority, and I'm so glad I stuck it through. And now one of my favorite bloggers is pregnant after lots of infertility issues, and for some reason I'm so happy I'm crying. I just feel lucky I have a great life with a great family and great people and organizations around me. And I once again am struck by how happy I am that I moved down here. There are almost no negatives to North Carolina. Today is one of those great days where you can sit back and be happy with your life. I try to find these moments often and really appreciate them, and today is one of them.

Tomato

Peter got out a tomato for the BLTs we were having for lunch. He puts it on the counter, then turns his back to get something out of the fridge. When he turns again, the tomato is gone. Andy had taken it off the counter and taken a huge bite out of it. It was so funny, we gave it to him for the rest of lunch, and he ate about half of it. Just like an apple.

Whoops!

I forgot to post yesrterday. Oops. Oh well, I knew I wouldn't make it through the entire month because I will be on vacation and have very limited computer time (that I plan to use almost exclusively on work), but I still wish I could have made it until then. The reason I didn't was because I had a horrible night sleep and pulled a muscle in my back that was very painful. I just got thrown off and was barely functioning all day. And no, it had nothing at all to do with Mom's Night Out being the night before. I only had one drink that night. I swear. I also left with a new nickname. Any night when that happens is a good night. Stevie anyone?

I now have two Christmas presents to buy besides Peters. That's right. And the Christmas cards are ordered and coming in tomorrow, my packing list for vacation is written out, as is my to do list for before our trip. I am almost done blogging for one blog through the rest of the month, and the other has all my entries started for the upcoming two weeks after this one, which is already done. See how prepared I am? It's like a sickness really. But after two breakdowns this year, I now feel like I can get through the holidays with relatively little pain. And I don't have to deal with any crowds!

I am hoping to send out an email, but if anyone wants to see me when I'm up in the NE, let me know!

Words

Peter changed Andy's diaper after lunch today (3rd poopy one of the day so far), and then he went downstairs to leave for work while we stayed upstairs. I sat at the top of the stairs behind the gate with Andy on my lap repeatedly saying goodbye in different ways, making sure to say the word Daddy each time. It's a word that Andy has sort of said in the past, so I try to encourage it. And then he said it, perfectly clear for the first time. Da-dy. It was amazing and wonderful and I loved it. Peter heard too, I was so happy about that. While Andy is normal and healthy, he's been on the later side of talking (and everything else), so this was quite exciting.

This evening at dinner, Peter finished early and went to finish mowing the lawn for the last time this year. Andy could see him doing it through the windows, and he kept saying "Mom mom mom." He knows I'm the mommy, but he didn't want to make eye contact while saying it. And he was really separating the words, it wasn't "mamamamamamma" like he's done. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. I could hear him saying it for years to come in that beautiful sweet little voice, and I actually started to cry. I guess this made him uncomfortable though, as he changed to G's and started the "Got ga ga got" words instead.

Have I mentioned I love him? I just can't contain it, I want to scream it every chance I get. I want to talk about him all the time. Because he is perfect and the best baby ever. Today is his 19 month birthday. Happy birthday to the most handsome and sweet person to ever exist!

Hello city

Last night I had a meeting inside the loop in a place I'd never been before. Driving home, I took a new route and ended up on the same road that I first came in on when we moved here. Back then it was my first time in the area, and it was an exciting yet creepy feeling seeing the place that I would live and raise Andy for the first time. Last night, it was cozy and familiar and felt totally right. I loved that feeling. We made a good decision moving here, we are happy, we are thriving. It was such a hard decision to make, but we are making a great life for ourselves down here. The culture can be a little weird now and then, but there are so many more normal people down here than I was expecting. The weather is great, driving and getting around is so much easier, the neighborhoods are safe and all have nice yards, schools are good, people are friendly. It felt really great knowing that what was once scary is now no longer.

In Andy news, he suddenly hates to go to bed. Daddy will tell him he's on the last book, and we know he understands this. Yet when the last book is done and it's time to say goodnight to Mommy, he starts crying. If we put him in the crib, he's okay. But he wants more books. He is obsessed with reading. At a consignment fair I recently picked up a box of 26 mini board books, one for each letter. He loves these books like they are his life. And his other books get carried around the house with him from room to room. He is too cute for words, I just lovelovelove him.

Holidays cards were ordered yesterday, and I also have ordered about 90% of my gifts this year. I am starting to be able to breath again! A friend may be hosting a holiday card writing party too, so that will be the perfect way to get them all addressed, organized, and sent! No more crying fits for me hopefully!

Strike the strikers

Raise your hands if you are unhappy about the writers strike! I have no idea what the issues are or who is right or wrong, but if my television watching is going to be disturbed, I'm not a happy camper. And if my movie watching is going to be disturbed, I'm seriously put out. I'm hoping this doesn't last long, but what am I supposed to do if the strike does go the distance? Read a book? Browse the web? Maybe get a little extra work in? Ugh. All horrible options. I may just have to actually start watching repeats. What is next, watching commercials too???

In other news, our trip up north is finally coming together. Preparations for selling the Jetta are working out we think (we've had lots of title problems, but Peter's taken the reigns with that issue), we have worked out all our hotels except for on the drives which we will do last minute (Boston was the hard one as we never thought about hotels when we lived there), and I even have a bit of a schedule for when we are in RI (still have to work one out for Boston). It'll be a long and tiring trip, but I think it's also going to be a ton of fun. I cannot wait to see everyone! And to show off the greatest creature on earth, who I think is finally old enough to be able to handle such a trip.

A reminder that I don't like public speaking of any kind

My junior year of college, I had a presentation that was totally freaking me out because the material was way over my head and I was scared to present in front of everyone who understood this deep weird material. I could barely breath beforehand, and everyone in the room knew how terrified I was. I got up there, read my notes, did the presentation, and then the professor started asking me complex questions and to compare the person I was doing the presentation on to other people's presentations. I was so overwhelmed and flustered, I couldn't read my notes or overheads. I threw up my hands, said I don't know, and I have never been so embarrassed in my life. Until now of course. I just lead a conference call that was a comedy of errors, and I have no idea what I said or what others said or what happened on it. But I am thoroughly embarrassed and am considering getting into bed and never leaving. Nov 6 will go down as one of the worst evenings I have had. And there is no wine in the house to comfort me.

Zoo

I mentioned that we went to the zoo on Saturday. I took a lot of pictures that didn't come out very well, saw a lot of animals who were kind enough to show their faces (probably because the weather was quite comfortable) in between their snores, and walked about 8 miles because the park does not go in a circle. The ride started out ominously because we saw first a dead cat on the side of the road, then a dead cow in a field on the side of the road. Creepy.

But once we got there, things went beautifully. Our friends Dawn and Brian found our car and parked right next to us about a minute after we got there. Their new baby and Andy were as happy as could be, naps weren't an issue, and we were able to see the entire park and a ton of animals including bears, gorillas, rhinos, baboons, lions, and more. Andy seemed to like the fish the best. He was easily distracted by leaves and other kids.

Andy also took his first carousel ride and loved it. I think he's going to be a fan of rollercoasters like his mother!

Go Pats

When Peter said that today's game vs the Colts was the "game of the century," he really meant it. There hasn't been a match up like this in decades. Which means the pressure is on. And pressure is one thing I cannot stand, in case you haven't noticed. Whenever things get stressful in football, the room gets very very quiet. Andy luckily hasn't noticed this yet, so he's continuing to play with his toys, oblivious to the Colts currently running the ball down the field. Or throwing the ball? I'm not paying attention, I cannot deal with this stress. What I do know is that I am strongly considering leaving the room and watching something else in the bedroom so I can pretend that no game is going on right now. There are only a few weeks between the Superbowl and spring training every February, but I really think that those few days are the most stress free of the year. Or they would be if it wasn't rush season.

Andy just turned the tv off on Peter. I think he must feel the same way I do.

Holiday cards should come in boxes of eight

Yesterday's jury duty situation got a lot worse before it got better. Many other things went wrong, and after many tears and words I will not use on this blog and a fight or two, it got faxed. Not by our fax machine. But at least it got there. And now I'm also sending it via the mail, so I am crossing my fingers that no other issues arise from this.

Because we have no nice friends offering to take pictures for our holiday cards this year (although feel free to come down here and take pictures for us Jeff, we'll buy you lunch :) ), we are having an issue with what to do. Peter really wants to try to take the pictures himself, even though he has not bought his super perfect yet very very expensive camera yet. I refuse to be in the card if this is the case, so we are going to try putting Andy outside in nice-ish clothes and hope that we get a good picture out of it. Peter has been told that we need holiday cards ordered and all set by the time we go up to RI for the holidays, so that is less than two weeks for it all to work out. If it doesn't, I'm buying some cute ones at B&N, and maybe we'll print a few pictures of Andy for the people we think would want one. That seems the easier option to me, but I know picture cards are important to Peter. Last year I ended up crying hysterically the day of picture taking because I was just too overwhelmed with life and baby, and after yesterday's ordeal, I need easy. Everything that is not family related is totally getting hard and stressful right now, so I can't handle anything else. So in that respect, it's probably good that most of the picture taking/holiday card responsibility is now not really on me.

We went to the zoo today, more later on that!