Lately

A dear friend of mine recently posted on her blog an update of all the delightful things her little  boy is up to lately.  The entry was so cute.  He loves to hug and kiss his new baby sister.  He loves to say, "Amen" after they say their blessing.  And he loves to say, "Weeee..." when he swings on the swings in the park. 

So I started thinking of all the new things Beau has done recently.  Then it hit me that, wow...some of his new conduct is pretty cringe-worthy.  So what could a darling one year old do that is really cringe worthy?  Let me enlighten you...

* Beau's newest habit is sticking his hand down his pants and scratching his butt. 

* He loves to pull down his diaper so that approximately one to two inches of his butt crack is exposed. 

* He also likes to pull his pants completely down.  (Are you noticing a reoccurring theme here?)

* He spends a lot of his time chasing after Murphy with both hands outreached, screaming the whole time. 

*  He thinks spitting is hilarious. 

Luckily, there are some new things that he has started doing that more than make up for the less than attractive habits he's developed. 

* While he still likes to point out the dog and the cat and other animals.  But now he also likes to refer to them by the noises they make.  "Woof woof" for the doggie.  "Moooo" for the cow. And yes, even "Cock-a-doodle-do!" for the rooster.  (Well, he's still working on that one but he sure is trying hard.)  He also does a mean monkey impression. 

* He loves, loves, loves giving kisses and blowing kisses. 

* He's become quite a walker/runner.  This week he actually WALKED up the stairs.  He held on to the railing with his left hand and held on to my hand with his right.  I offered no assistance.  He got about halfway up the stairs before he tuckered out and decided crawling would be easier.  But I was so proud!!

* He loves books.  LOVES them.  He goes to his cabinet, selects a book and then runs up to you at which point he grabs your hand and stuffs the book inside.  Then he crawls up on your lap and waits for you to start.  It's so endearing.

So, while the whole butt-scratching is less than appealing, it is all but forgotten (no pun intended) when he requests that you read one of his books.  If nothing else, this kid is a real character.

Happy Birthday Murphy!

Yesterday our first son, Murphy, turned seven!  He celebrated by desperately running away from Beau. 

Happy Birthday Murphy! 

Oh what a week

Sit down, pour a cup of coffee...this is going to be a long one.  Man, so much has happened in the last week (or two...I've lost count).  I tried to sit down and compose individual posts for each event, but you know what?  I'm about to enter my eighth month of pregnancy (in other words, I'm fat and feeling heavy), I'm still working full time, and I'm managing a home and a toddler (thank God for Billy and all his help lately).  So, I know you will understand the following hodge podge of a post.  Thank you in advance...

First up, Core's First Birthday Party...

Billy was out of town, so Beau and I drove up to Baton Rouge together to celebrate with Core.  (PS - Nat, I know you keep calling him "Baby Core" but, guess what?  HE IS NOW OFFICIALLY A TODDLER!  Kind of rocks your world, no?) 

Beau and Core hanging out after cake.

The birthday boy and his baby blues!

Beau had a WONDERFUL time hanging out with Core and all of his cousins.  Some of Core's new gifts were real big hits - especially the inflatable car ball pit!  Holy cow did he have a good time in that thing! 

Just like the doctor's office...except no shots!

I think it's safe to say he enjoyed this one...

...a lot. 

Next, Colin's Birthday Party in Storyland...

Yes, we are now professionals at the birthday party scene.  Colin's party actually marked three parties in four weeks for the Brian clan.  This time Billy was in town so we all made the trip to City Park.  Storyland was an adorable setting for a birthday party.  And, despite the bonechilling cold (yes, it was about 40 degrees and breezy outside) Beau had a wonderful time. 

That way!  I want to go that way!

So cold, but so much fun!

Weee!!!

But dad, all the other kids are doing it. 

Buddies.

Knock, knock.  Anyone home?

Yep, still cold. 

My boys.  *Sigh*

Yea, I think I'll leave this one alone. 

A rare picture with mommy. 

"Houston, we're having fun!"

Also, it was so nice seeing some of our friends with whom we should stay in better touch.  The occasional phone call, facebook message, and annual Christmas card really are insufficient. 

Star of the Week...

Well, last week Beau had his best week at school yet!  He napped well, ate well (shocker), and played well with his classmates.  And, to top it off, he got the baby in the king cake at their Friday king cake party.  And so, to mark his great week, Beau was named "Star of the Week." 

As Star of the Week, Beau had the honor of bringing home for the weekend the class stuffed animal Ted E. Bear, as well as, a great book called, "I Love you So."  His instructions were to spend the weekend with Ted and take lots of pictures to share in the Star of the Week journal. 

When he realized that I sat Ted next to him...well, he gave me the evil eye.

Well, guess what...Beau HATED Ted.  Seriously, he wanted nothing to do with him.  At one point after practically forcing the teddy bear on him he looked at me, walked up to Ted, kissed him on the nose and then after making sure I saw him, knocked him down to the ground. 

As such, all of the photographs were staged!  Shhhhh...it'll be our secret. 

Another first...

Beau had his first dentist appointment Thursday.  He was a trooper, only briefly whining when I laid him on the table.  Beau's dentist, Dr. Brausell was great though.  And Beau loved him.  Beau, without prompting, pointed to his teeth and exclaimed proudly for the dentist, "TEETH!"  Dr. Brausell was impressed.  ;)  He also saw the LSU football mural on the wall and threw up his arms as if to say, "Touch down!"  Again, Dr. Brausell was impressed. 

His teeth look good and actually he has a few more than average for his age.  Dr. Brausell was particularly happy to hear that Beau is just as content sipping ice cold water as opposed to juice.  Such a smart kid. 

And of course, a visit to a doctor's office is not complete without Beau's requisite flirting with the office staff ladies.  He's such a romeo.  And of course, they were all smitten. 

The Never Ending Ear Infection...

As reported earlier, about two weeks into school Beau came down with an ear infection.  After a few days of antibiotics, we discovered he was allergic to Penicillin.  Sheesh. 

Well the ear infection had not resolved, so on to another strain of antibiotics.  At his 15 month well check, his pediatrician put him on clarithorimycin and we crossed our fingers. 

Saturday night Beau seemed a little lethargic and had a mild grade fever.  We chalked it up to us being bad parents and keeping him out in the cold for an hour for Colin's birthday party.  We were wrong.  He woke up Sunday with a fever and tugging (actually more like, boxing) his ears.  He was a pitiful mess all day.  I think he stayed in either Billy's or my arms for 75% of the day.  Ibuprofen did seem to help, but he just wasn't feeling up to snuff. 

Monday morning was the worst.  He woke up with a high fever and feeling absolutely miserable.  To add insult to injury, he was teething too.  Damn eye teeth!  Again, ibuprofen helped...but there's only so much of that you can give a kiddo.  So, off to the pediatrician we went. 

What fever?

As suspected the ear infection was still there.  So, we are trying yet another antibiotic.  Ugh.  Last night his fever broke in the middle of the night, so maybe there is some light at the end of that tunnel.  And hopefully this antibiotic will do the trick.  Most of his moaning last night was actually due to teething pain.  I mean, can this kid catch a break?! 

So, say a prayer that he gets to feeling better soon.  I do have to say in typical Beau fashion he is trying his hardest to be pleasant through it all.  Monday, while laying on my chest exhausted from fever and teething pain he tried to bob his head and shake his hand to the Jersey Shore theme song.  (No, I did not know that Jersey Shore had a them song either.  And yes, we were watching Jersey Shore.  I tried putting on Yo Gabba Gabba and the Backyardigans and he just cried.  I started flipping channels for anything and that is when his ears heard the "thump thump thump" of the mindless - and I mean mindless - Jersey Shore theme song.) 

The 15 Month Check up...

Beau had his 15 month check up and with the exception of the ear infection, he is doing splendidly.  He is over 32 inches, putting him somewhere between the 75th and 90th percentile for height.  His weight is just under 25 pounds, which puts him right at the 50th percentile. 

Dr. Richard said physically he is developing right on target or a little advanced.  (Beau has gone from being a timid walker to a fearless runner.  Ask Murphy; he's really bearing the brunt of that development!)  I did ask her about his eating habits - the child can eat more at a sitting than I can sometimes!  I was informed that "technically" he could stand to gain some more weight so...eat away!  I'm sure he was happy to hear that. 

Our big boy!

In other developmental milestones, he was also doing great.  Although he went on a two week "talking strike" (he refused to use words in front of us; although I caught him "reading" books to himself when no one was watching), his vocabulary is pretty expansive.  He's still really only mastered nouns, but will throw out the occasional adjective ("pretty," "hot") and verb ("eat"). One of his favorite things to do is to point to and call out facial features - "teeth," "eyes," "ears."  Adorable.  Oh and he moos and barks...which brings me to yesterday...

Should I be concerned...

Yesterday during an ibuprofen high, Beau was feeling good and playing with Murphy.  I think maybe they are spending a little too much time together.  Beau crawled up to me, "woofed", and then licked my leg.  Hmmmm...talk about monkey see, monkey do! 

UPDATE:  Well, the fever is long gone, the teeth broke through yesterday evening, and little dude slept through the night and is in a wonderful playful mood this morning.  Maybe the worst is behind us!  Now, let's just hope that new antibiotic works! 

Under the Big Top

Each month Beau's school has a theme for their curriculum.  This month it was "My Little Sprout Goes to the Circus!"  Each week Beau's vocabulary words (eg, circus, elephant, jump, fly, tent, lion), art projects (eg, lion hand print pudding paintings), and science/sensory lessons (eg, "I Spy" circus items) revolved around the Greatest Show on Earth. 

The month was capped off with a Circus performance by the Pre-K class.  All the students were asked to dress up like their favorite circus personality (eg, ringmaster, trapeze artist, clown) or animal.  The problem is, they didn't tell us about dressing up until Wednesday evening!  That meant I had 48 hours to put together a suitable costume. 

Well, move over, Martha.  I think for $10 and three hours Beau had the cutest costume in the entire class.  Plus it doesn't hurt that he loves to "ROAR!" 

I love this shot because this is how Beau now mosies around the house...chest out with his hands behind his back. 

Well, I had to get a shot of that cute tail!!  Notice the red ribbon...it's all in the details. 

This might be the most appropriate photo of the bunch - deep in thought reading his book with one shoe off.  Classic Beau. 



Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth?

Today Billy and I were playing with Beau after dinner and I found myself telling Beau, "Honey, you have meat in your eyelids."  Then it struck me, "Goodness, the things that come out of my mouth these days."  So I sat down and started to think about the strange phrases Billy and I have uttered recently.  Ahhhh...life with a toddler...it's an interesting affair.  So, enjoy.

"Beau, please don't put the remote control in your poop." 

"Honey, don't put the spaghetti in your hair." 

"Take your sock out of your mouth."  (This one I seem to say daily.)

"Honey, stop lifting mommy's shirt up."  (He is now obsessed with my growing belly.  This is fine at home, but not so appropriate at the grocery store.) 

"Billy, let me go change my shirt; I'm covered in snot again."  (Beau had a particularly bad runny nose last week that was compounded by some serious crying.)

"You know, Kelly, I think he might have eaten that leaf." 

"Sweetie, pantyliners are not toys." 

"Please don't eat the emory board." 

"Yes, that is your nose.  No, your finger does not belong in there." 

"Honey, take your hand out of mommy's mouth." 

"Please don't stick that blueberry up your nose."

"Beau, don't sit on Drew." 

"Ok, mommy has had enough tastes."  (He loves playing with spoons and "cooking."  He insists on making you "taste" what he "cooks.")

"Please don't spit on the floor/chair/your books/Murphy." 

"No, there's no baby in there."  (Beau knows that there is a baby in mommy's belly.  However, he mistakeningly asked if there was also one in my boobs the other day.  Hmmm...what does that say about my chest?) 

I know I'm missing some others, but these are ones I find myself saying fairly often.  Oh yes, these were not one time occasions.  This kid keeps us laughing! 

Wow. That was fast!

So Beau has officially been in school for just over a week but there have been so many new developments. 

To start with, separation anxiety set in around Day Three.  So, instead of having to steal a kiss to say good-bye his teacher now has to pry his tiny hands from my neck.  (He has a surprisingly strong grip for a baby.)  But, the crying spells have been shorter and shorter.  And by Monday he was dancing in the corner minutes after I left. 

Next, naptime that first day was a disaster.  There was no nap - just ninety minutes of crying.  Day two - Beau's teacher patted his back as he lay on his kindermat until he fell asleep.  He slept for an hour.  Day three - Beau walked up to his mat, covered himself with his blanket and slept for just under two hours.  WOW.  We really didn't think that would happen so soon. 

Finally, Beau went to the doctor today - pink eye and an ear infection.  Ok, so I knew that sending him to school would subject him to lots of germs and that really doesn't bother me.  I mean, everyone told me, "Hey, you're building up his immunity!"  But wow!  That was fast!  (PS - looks like Mommy and Daddy might have pink eyes too.  Yippee!) 

Well, no school tomorrow...or the next day.  But, we're looking forward to continuing on and more progress. 

UPDATE:  After one day of antibiotics and eye drops Beau slept through the night and his eyes are almost completely clear.  That too was fast!  Mommy on the other hand woke up with her left eye swollen shut.  Sheesh. 

An Apple a Day

I learned a long time ago that Beau is sly.  I can't count the number of times I turned my back and he had magically retrieved my blackberry from the far reaches of my purse/diaper bag/nightstand/sofa/etc...I think you get the picture.  And, now that he is getting bigger and taller, the little guy has incredible reach.  Seriously, EVERYTHING must be placed at least five inches from the edge of the countertops!

So I guess it should not have surprised me when at the grocery store yesterday he reached over to the apple bin and selected a bright red gala.  When I turned around and saw what had happened it was too late.  Not only had he grabbed the apple but he had taken a huge bite out of it.  Beau has NEVER eaten a whole apple before.  Applesauce, yes.  Apple chunks, yes.  The whole thing, no. 

When he realized what he did he was beside himself.  A look of sheer joy spread across his face...as did the apple juice dripping from his chin.  Not wanting to rock the boat (we've had a rough week with school starting) I let him enjoy a few more bites while I checked out. 

He was none too happy that I took away the apple for the ride home, but hey, my negligent parenting stops at choking hazards.  But when we arrived at the house and I returned to him his snack he was gleeful!  He walked around the house chomping away.  He managed to eat about two-thirds of the apple before I finally took it away to get him ready for dinner. 

It's a silly little story...but it's the little funny stories like this that have made the past fourteen months so enjoyable. 

Aww man, it's soooo good!

Yippee!

Nom, nom, nom, nom...

I can't believe you've been holding out on me, Mom.  (Check out the copious amounts of apple juice on his shirt.) 

First Day of School

Today marked Beau's first day of school at My Little Sprout.  We've been getting him ready for the transition for some time now.  We changed his meal and nap schedule to reflect his school schedule.  We've been shopping for fun "play clothes."  And he spent a couple hours at the daycare a few weeks ago and met his teachers.  On this last one he had a bit of an advantage as Nan is one of the teachers for the one year old class - lucky duck! 

I even did a little preparation of my own.  Beau needed a mat cover for his kinder mat and I couldn't find any I, I mean, he liked.  So I pulled out my sewing machine for the first time in a year and made a mat cover.  With the extra fabric I made a matching bag for his school supplies (ie, extra clothes, wipes, and aquaphor).  I'm no master seamstress, but I was proud of the final product. 

This morning started off as any normal morning - so much so Beau was too preoccupied with playing and visiting with Daddy and Murphy to stop for me to get an official "first day of school" photo.  THIS is what I ended up with instead. 

Once at school we explored his room.  Ok, I explored his room; he immediately began playing with toys and his new friends.  In fact, there were no tears when I left.  Hell, he didn't even realize I was leaving.  I had to chase him down to steal a kiss. 

Each kiddo has their own folder for "important paperwork."  See those little handprint antler paintings peeking out of the top?  I can't wait for my own little handprint paintings!! 

Beau's class will learn how to express themselves beyond screaming.  Wow, won't that be nice? 



Hmmmm...yes, we may have issues with no. 2. 



The day went very well, with one exception - NAP TIME.  Beau is a notoriously bad napper, unless he sleeps in his own crib.  At school each child walks up to their mat, lays down, covers themself with a blanket, and nods off.  When Billy and I first heard that we both thought, "HA!  Like that's going to happen."  Turns out we were right.  While other kiddos went immediately to sleep Beau refused to nap on his mat, choosing instead to nap on a teacher's shoulder or otherwise cry.  Hmmmm...better luck tomorrow.  

Oh, and how do we know how the other kids behaved?  Because Beau's school runs a live video stream on the password protected website.  It's a pain to get into, but once you're there, the footage is priceless.  The kids are adorable.  And let's just say I have A LOT more respect for Lindsay's profession. 

When time came to pick him up he was in good spirits but obviously exhausted from his lack of a good nap.  He ran to me when he saw me and started crying...just a little.  (This might be terrible, but it made my heart melt again - he still needs me!)  Once home it was a quick dinner and bath and then off to sleep.  Man, falling asleep tonight simply took me turning off the light.  By the time I walked to our rocking chair, he was O-U-T! 

So, Beau survived his first day of school.  And, with the 24/7 video stream available, so did his Maw Maw and Paw Paw.  Yes, his best buddies are going through withdrawal just 24 hours into the new schedule.  But I'm sure they'll make it.  After all, they'll be here tomorrow evening just to visit. 

Here's to tomorrow!