Busy, busy!

That is how my day was. Woke up way too early, showered, got Joshua up and dressed, dropped him at day care, went to work, meeting about Friday's fundraiser (which I will post more on later!) Dinner, Joshua to bed, Washed about 20 bushels of cider apples. (phew!) That was how my day went, how was yours?!

Tomorrow is the first cider pressing day of the year. So tonight we were washing and sorting many apples. But it will all be worth it for a delicious glass of fresh pressed cider, or cider with spiced rum... mmm... so many adult cider based beverages to choose from. but I digress.

Today was Joshua's first day back at day care after a week off in New Hampshire. He is getting better and better every time at the drop off it seems. He still definitely does NOT want me to leave, and certainly knows where we are when he sees the house and even the general direction we are driving in. but once I drop him off and am out of sight, I am told he is quite the charmer, which I don't doubt. And today I was told he cried for no more than 10 minutes or so after I left then was ready to play with the other kids and enjoy the day. And when I went to pick him up he was playing nicely still and was all smiles and being his normal goofy self, which is awesome, because last time I went to pick him up I was told he would start crying every time one of the other kids got picked up and he was still there. :(

I am trying to be tough for him through it all, though I understand his pain a bit, I think. Joshua and I were home together for a year and a half all the time. I was lucky enough to work the majority of the time from home after I had him. and I feel very lucky that I didn't have to rush into day care (or paying for day care.... OY!) But part of me thinks day care may be easier on the little ones when you start them young. I feel like it can never really be easy on the parents. It is that constant battle between not wanting to need someone else to raise your children and not wanting to miss a single second of their lives as they grow and change so quickly vs. knowing how awesome the right day care can be, and how much kids really do get out of having a good place to learn and play with children around their own age. I did tear up at the first drop-off, I admit. I told myself I wouldn't, and really believed that until I actually had to hand my child who was crying for Mama to another woman for the first time *tear.* But all in all, I am feeling very happy with our decision to do part time day care, and I am very glad I stumbled upon the day care I found. It is about five minutes from where I work and right on the way. And the women who work there are awesome! I was also very lucky to find someone who is very familiar with allergies in children as her own have been through many of the same experiences as Joshua has. This was a big plus for me!

That's all for now. Sorry for the lack of pictures. I promise there will be a cute photo shoot happening in the near future! If you have read this far without pictures, I thank you.

Ok... maybe a few pictures... these are pictures of Joshua from about one year ago... aweee

15 Month Checkup

This is another catch-up post!

Joshua had his 15 month check-up last week and here is what we got from it.

Height: 31 inches

Weight: 24.5 lbs

He is right in the 50th percentile for everything except for his head, which was in the 75th or something (that means he's smart, right?)

We are still keeping him off of dairy for another 3 months because of his extreme reaction, though she told us we can give him tastes of whatever we are eating. We just need to keep a close on on him and his skin and mood, etc. and always have the benadryl handy just in case. Today he had a couple bites of my cheese stick, and he loved it, and did not get hives, or any other ill reaction, so I'm hopeful he will outgrow this fully, eventually.

Other than that, he's a strong healthy, and curious little boy who is always on the go and feels the need to taste everything he can fit into his mouth (still) Here are some 15 month pictures for ya. Enjoy!

How could anyone not love this face?!

He is such a goof. 

loves his marvin.

Mom's Birthday weekend

I know I owe you all some catch-up posts here because it's been awhile. So here's the first of a few for ya.

The weekend of May 15 Joshua and I took a road trip down to Western, MA to visit my family who we don't get to see nearly enough since they live so far away! And we weren't visiting just because we wanted to taste the new flavors of wine they have for sale, or because I needed more of my Mom's "Spicy Italian" herb blend, nope . . . it was my mom's birthday! I kind of have a new appreciation for birthdays now that I have had a son of my own. Generally in May I try to make it down for her birthday or mother's day if I am not lucky enough to have them both happen on the same day. We had to leave Jay behind because he had to work since I currently am lacking a full-time job. :-/ 

But regardless, we had a wonderful time! I loved getting to go out with my mom for a drink, and watch Joshua play with his Meme and Pepe and Aunties. He had a blast being able to play in a huge yard, a luxury we do not have living in a city. He also really loved running around and squeaking in the winery for some reason. He was a crazy man! We had a great weekend, and threw a fun birthday party for my mom with a few of our family's nearest and dearest friends and family. I was so busy having fun, unfortunately for you, that I did not get to snap many pictures! Here are a few that I did get though! Enjoy!

Joshua and Auntie Gina

Playing with auntie Krista

My mom getting ready to blow out the candles on her yummy cake!

she's still got it ;-P

Easter 2011

This past Sunday was Easter, as everyone probably knows. We ended up have a beautiful day! It was about 70 degrees outside when we left our house to head to Jay's grandma's. Joshua was dressed up in his Sunday best with his favorite hat (maybe ours... I dunno) and he was looking sharp.

He had a blast walking around outside. This was the first time he walked outside. He has been walking for awhile now, but whenever we'd bring him outside before, he would just sit down and not do anything. Not Easter, he kept trying to go back outside every time we brought him in, and he was doing laps up and down the driveway all day.

It was a great day full of ham, turkey, and all the other Easter foods you can imagine. Joshua is a bottomless pit so he was eating from just about the time we got there until the time we left. I'll keep this post short and sweet. Here are some more pics of him In his awesome Easter outfit.

the towel Grammy Nikki gave him. Adorable.

Go Umass!

I didn't go to Umass. But I grew up watching their football and basketball teams with my Dad and family :) this one is for them, and all of my friends who went there. (Pretty sure Auntie Gina or Krista got this for him at Christmas, it now fits)

Now their song is stuck in my head... you know, this one . . .? "du du du duuuuu du HEY dudu du duuuuu du HEY dududududu duuuu du HEY du du du do chicka do chicka GO UMASS!"

Anyone?

Things one should not do on a broken night of sleep.

Joshua has been having a terrible time the last few nights. I am guessing it is the two top molars trying to break through. the gums are very swollen and red and sore looking, and I suspect, the culprit to why Joshua has been up screaming for at least an hour in the middle of the night lately.

Last night. Joshua fell asleep around 8:15 or so. I had to clean the floors desperately because Joshua was so disturbed by the dirt and animal hair, he had taken it upon himself to begin cleaning by eating anything he could grab. (Kidding, he does that anyways.) So I went to bed around midnight, I think. Which is late for me. There I am, snuggled in my warm, cozy bed. And the siren named Joshua goes off... around 2am. I looked at the clock, and prayed to the Gods of sleeping babies to make him go back to sleep. But no such luck. So I got up, changed him. Made attempt #1 to put him back to bed. He wasn't having it. So I got back up, did the orajel and tylenol bit. More screaming. Got him a sippy of water... it IS pretty dry in our house, I get thirsty at night... maybe that was it? Nothing. finally I decided I had done all I could do, including a little rocking, and soft singing, all the old bouncing-while-walking-and-spinning a little tricks. So I did the ol' "cry it out." He screamed for 5 minutes, I went in, laid him down avoiding eye contact like he was Medusa or something, and left. More screams. Ten minutes go by, went back in laid him back down, shushed him a little, and walked out. MORE screaming. 15 minutes, 20 minutes... same thing. Then I just turned the monitor down (not that it helps much with such a painful scream coming from the room next door.) After about an hour of solid screaming, he finally went back to sleep. So I'd say, we slept from about 3 or so until a little before 6am. Gross. Especially gross when you are used to having a good sleeper who sleeps through the night with no issues!

So back to the things you should not do after a night such as that.

1. Cut your own hair. It's just a bad idea. But, I don't have money for a haircut, or time to get one, and my bangs needed a trimming. Luckily, I didn't do too bad a job. But I realized, that was probably something that should have been left for a day when I was a little more awake.

2. And this is a biggie. Shopping at Walmart. I had gift cards, and some diapers that were too small for the boss to return. so we went. and this is what happened. In case you can't tell, that's the jumbo sized, bucket-o-cheese balls. I have been resisting them for as long as I've been shopping at BJs. But, Walmart had them today and I had run out of will power for the week. so here we are.

Lucky for me, Joshua is cute. And so are my animals. And they all love each other, and let me take cute pictures of them. So I'm still doing ok. And now, I am going to take a nap while everyone else is before I get myself into more trouble!

Kitty cuddles.

Loves his kitty.

family nap time... yes, he is laying on the cat. Marvin is a good sport. Most of the time.

Meeting baby Ethan, Joshua's newest friend.

Joshua and I took and lunch trip today to see my friend Katie and her new little man, Ethan. Ethan was born on February 11th and is absolutely adorable! I was holding him, and it was hard to remember when Joshua was that little now! Both boys were over 8lbs when they were born, and just about the same length too. So Joshua WAS that little. It just feels so long ago now!

Joshua had fun playing with some of Ethan's toys. Ethan was very nice and let him share :) Ethan also bought Joshua a birthday present! Now he has a couple new books and a new toy, and we was very excited about it (and the box it came in, of course!) 

So here are some pictures of little Ethan. We can't wait until he is a little bigger and they can play together!

love his little squinty face!

Joshua among some of Ethan's toys

Resting on his Mama