The Armadillo Tales

Catfight

No matter how often we cut the lil' lamb's nails he still manages to scratch himself.   Sometime in the middle of the night he must have scratched himself.  He has this huge scratch in the middle of his forehead.  Ouch!   It's as if the lil' lamb got into a fight with the cats and one of them got him good.   

I never understood why the "powers above" decided to give babies nails as sharp as a knife.    Poor thing always has one scratch or another.    They disturb his beautiful face.      

Has it Been 4 Months Already?

Yes, yes it has ... 4 wonderful, superb, breathtaking months.    I can't believe that time has been so cruel in allowiing 4 months to have flown right on by.   My lil' lamb is becoming more aware of his surroundings lately.   He seems to be able to recognize if B-Dad or I have walked away from him, then becomes upset when we don't reappear.   My little one has forced his mommy to move up to the Baby Bjorn carrier.   He's getting so heavy that I have to use something with a little more back support.  Oh my aching back!   

[Damn neighbor is playing his stupid music right now ... very loudly in fact!   Why does the bastard play his music so that it is earsplitting?  On top of that, he leaves his sliding door open.   What for?!      To top it off, it's not even music I like.   Insolent fool!]

Getting back to the lil' lamb ... He's starting to hold up his head for longer periods of time.   He's also trying to sit up every now and then.   We also think he's teething.  Poor babe is drooling like a leaky faucet.   

I love him and my armadillo ... my boys ... my babes ... I love them with my whole heart.

Movie Picks

Here's a fabulous movie pick for the summer.   This is something you can definitely watch with the family.   You will laugh your pa-tooties off!    Paul Giamatti is hilarious!

Here's a brief snyopsis from Amazon.com:

A take on the classic tale 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf', 'Big Fat Liar' is about a 14-year-old boy named Jason Shephard (Frankie Muniz) who lies for the fun of it. Jason loses an important story assignment entitled 'Big Fat Liar' in movie producer Marty Wolf's (Paul Giamatti) limo, which Wolf then turns into a film. When Jason sees a movie preview of his story, he and best friend Kaylee (Amanda Bynes) go to Los Angeles to make Wolf confess to using Jason's story as well as to clear Jason's name and to get him out of having to attend summer school. The teen liar then has to match wits with Wolf, who also turns out to be a big liar.

Not You

Now that the armadillo is saying "Mama" and "De-dy", it's endearing to hear him call for us.  Both B-Dad and I have been waiting for so long to hear the armadillo say those words.   While we were at Old Navy today doing some needed summer clothes shopping, I hear the armadillo yelling, "Mama!  Ma-ma-ma-ma!".  I turn and see my precious little boy running towards me.  He's running at full speed and I am delighted.   I get down on one knee and spread my arms.  I am enthusiastically awaiting the exact moment when he is in my arms, hugging me back.   The armadillo is getting closer and my smile is getting bigger.  "Mama!  Ma-ma!"    I'm just about to enclose him in my arms when the armadillo looks at me.   With a straight face he says,

"No ... no ... ", pointing at my cup, "Juice ... juice."    My son was not calling me so that he could give me a hug.  He was calling me so that he could get some juice.   Geesh, just throw me under a bus why don't you?

Shopping in the WC

The family took a little shopping trip to Walnut Creek today.   I especially wanted to pay a visit to the new Giggle store.   Giggle carries a wide assortment of baby and children-related products.   It's a big high end, but they offer fabulous items.   They feature the latest in nursery furniture such as Oeuf and Sleepi.   You can check out the latest stroller designs from Bugaboo and Stokke.    I ended up buying a diaper bag from GR8X and some Mustela sunscreen for the Armadillo.

We also bought another pair of sandals for the armadillo.  I adore the sandals from Geox.  The armadillo had a pair last summer and they lasted until he grew out of it.  They looked like they were barely worn when I had to put it away.    I need to get a pair for myself.    We ate lunch at PF Chang's.  It's been awhile since we ate there.   The food was good, especially the Mongolian Beef.  That has to be my favorite dish.   The beef is thinly sliced and it's seasoned well.  I also love the fact that it is not spicy like most Mongolian Beef dishes you find.   They appear to pan fry it till it's crispy on the edges.  Yum!   

I wish I had taken some allergy medicine beforehand.   It was very windy and my nose and eyes were itching like crazy.   Before we headed back to the car, I made a quick stop to Moonstruck Cafe.    The Moonstruck Cafe is an elegant cafe offering fine hand crafted chocolates and chocolate drinks.   The chocolate pieces looked scrumptious but were a little too pricey for my taste.   I wanted a chocolate drink and couldn't decide which.  The cashier suggested their Chocolate Au Lait.   I had it iced and with whipped cream.   It was tasty but it wasn't all that special.  It was like drinking chocolate milk with whipped cream.   I regretted having that drink later on as I sorely remembered my intolerance to milk.   I wish they had just regular coffee drinks without the milk.   But I guess chocolate and milk go hand in hand.     I did enjoy the piece of dark chocolate they placed on my whipped cream.  I think that was the best part of my drink.  What a shame.  I would go back though, but most likely to just hang out.   

This was a good day.   It was the most shopping we've done in quite awhile.   Both the armadillo and the lil' lamb was pooped when we got home.   In fact, so was I.   I think this counts as exercise right?

Goodnight Moon, Not as Boring as You Think

When I first read this book I didn't get it, the appeal that is.   When I read this book the second time, I still didn't see its charm.    At this point I still don't get it, but oh well, it's more for the armadillo than for me.   But for all you storytime readers that have Goodnight Moon as one of the top requests of the night, check out this post from Rookie Moms.   Whitney describes how a friend of hers informed her that she sees things in the book that she didn't notice previously.   Whitney goes on to describe a few of these observations.  For example, the bunny is in a different position in bed each time the bed is in the picture.   Now I never noticed that!

For more innovative finds from the Goodnight Moon book, visit Rookie Moms.

Doctor

Today both the lil' lamb and the armadillo went to the doctor's for their well-baby check ups.   I don't know about the armadillo or the lil' lamb, but I think I was dreading this appointment more than the boys were.   I knew they were going to get shots and I hate hearing them cry in pain.   Does it get any easier?    I don't think it will but I hope so.   I told B-Dad that he had to come with me because there was no way I was going to take the two of them in by myself.   

The armadillo has grown since his last appoitment six months ago.   At two years of age, he is 36 inches long and weighs almost 27 lbs.   He's a stringbean.  The armadillo has always been more long than heavy.   I can't believe that he is 3 feet tall already.   That's more than 1/2 my height!    The lil' lamb is 26 inches long and weighs about 15 1/2 lbs.   I could have sworn he weighed more like 17 lbs.   My back will attest to that.    Both boys are in the 90th percentile for height.    I hope that stays that way.   I couldn't say from experience but I hear it's not fun being of the male gender and short.   Ah, the worries of the male human. 

When it came time for the shots I was a complete coward.  I left it up to B-Dad to hold the boys down.  I hated doing that with the armadillo.  He would scream and stare right at me.  As if saying, "Why are you doing this to me?!  Don't you love me mommy?!"     No more acting as the restraints for me.   I ask the nurse to bring in another person.   I don't know how B-Dad does it.   My heart ached when I heard the armadillo start crying before he had his shot.   Then my heart just about exploded with sadness when the lil' lamb started to wail.    I could never be a pediatric nurse.   You just know those kids think of you as a she-devil that is going to cause them an enormous amount of pain.   

All in all both boys are doing fine.   The armadillo goes back in 6 months and the lil' lamb returns in 2 months.   Not something mama is looking forward to, that's for sure.

Happy 2nd Birthday Armadillo!

Happy 2nd Birthday my sweet dear Armadillo!   I cannot believe that my little baby boy is 2 years old today.   It doesn't seem that long ago when I first held you in the hospital.   I remember being so fearful of dropping you.   You were so tiny!    I couldn't believe that the hospital was going to let your daddy and me take you home, without ANY supervision.   I was thinking, "Don't we have to pass a test or something?".    I need a license to drive a car, but not to take care of a precious little baby.   It was and still is a tremendous, but awe-inspiring responsibility.

So much has changed since we brought you home.   You've gone from not being able to hold your head up to running around with the turbo button on.   I recall having your daddy be the first to change your diaper.   I was so terrified of putting it on wrong.   These days I could change your diaper blindfolded and with one hand tied behind my back.    No longer are you simply babbling or cooing.   You are exploding with words left and right.   Your daddy and I love that you are now saying "Ded-dy Ded-dy" and "Ma-ma Ba-Ba".     We adore your kisses and hugs, and cherish each one you so freely give.   

My armadillo, you have grown into a beautiful, delightful, and charming little boy.    I am thankful that you are in our lives and we treasure every minute.   [This is where my eyes are starting to tear ... ]

I love you my "sweet-pea-potato-pot-pie".      

I Miss Him

If you haven't already seen it, my man Clay Aiken made a guest appearance on last night's American Idol finale. Where's the new CD Clay?!

No Pappy

Pappy went on a last minute business trip yesterday and my first thought was, "How the hell am I going to get through the next 24 hours"?   But as my relief shift [aka B-Dad] will be making his way home tonight, I can safely say, whew ... the three of us survived!   

Although I had my doubts.  Yesterday I was consumed with how would I get through it?   How would I take care of both the armadillo and the lil' lamb without pappy?   Would I get through bedtime?    Question after question kept popping up in my mind.   I was a bit nervous I have to admit.   But as I sit here typing this, knowing that B-Dad would be home tonight, I can safely say that those hours without Pappy were no big deal.   It was a little hectic last night but all in all we endured.   

The armadillo and the lil' lamb are still at the age where they don't quite notice that B-Dad was gone.   That alone helped me a lot.  I don't think I could deal with the armadillo asking where B-Dad is and when is he coming home.     Bedtime went smoothly for everyone.    I was pleased that the lil' lamb fell asleep in my room before I went to take the armadillo to his room for bedtime.   It made it a lot easier so that I could read the armadillo his bedtime stories and not have to rush.   The armadillo also helped me a lot.  He was patient and he even told me "good night" as I put him in his crib.   I can't tell you how much a relief that was.  It was a little bittersweet too.    I wanted to pick him up and bring him into my room, but I knew that would have been a bad idea.   The lil' lamb was still sleeping when I got back and he slept till about 3:00 am.   I fed him and pumped, and we both fell back asleep.    I actually slept in late, not intentionally though.   Both the armadillo and lil' lamb were still sleeping when I woke up at 7:45am.   I thought either one of them would have woke me up sooner.   

I had to put myself on turbo this morning in order to get the armadillo and the lil' lamb ready for storytime this morning.     But I managed to feed both the armadillo and the lil' lamb, change their clothes, and get to storytime just a few minutes late.   Wow!

All in all, things went pretty well.   It helped having all of us on a schedule, and it made the time fly by pretty quickly.    Hopefully B-Dad won't have to go away again anytime soon.    Now if you'll excuse me ... I'm off to pack my suitcase so mommy can take her "business trip"!