Mr. Mopples and our maching inhalers

After a restless night of coughing Zane and I headed off to his doctors visit Friday morning, bright and early. I was braced for the old, he sounds great, it is probably all viral, conversation. It was going to be worth the twenty dollars to say I had done something to try to make my baby feel better.

 I should really start by telling you that Zach and I had searched amazon.com a few days ago for a stuffed chicken to put in Zane's Easter basket. I promise it wasn't a random idea. Chickens are currently at the top of Zane's favorite animal list. I wanted something that actually kind of resembled a real chicken, since he loves Grandma's chickens so much. This is what we landed on, Mr. Hairoid Mopples. It is from the Hairoids line from Gund. I love Gund because they always come with highly original names and they really look like they they are going to be able to withstand a lot of love, in turn becoming real. I haven't captured any pictures of Zane with Mopples so the amazon picture will have to do. But keep in mind it is 14" tall, so good sized.


Mopples arrived Thursday and Zane tore into the package before Zach could hide it. I had planned on hiding Mopples after Zane went to sleep, so he could be an Easter gift, but of course forgot to hide it before going to bed. This meant that Mopples was sitting on the couch waiting for Zane when he woke up Friday morning. Zane was beyond excited to see him and of course had to make the trip to the doctor's office with us. All the grown ups at the doctors office where somewhere between highly amused and thoroughly confused by my choice of a chicken for my son's stuffed animal. I tried to explain the situation, "I grew up on a farm, my mom has chickens, Zane loves them ect ect" but I think they thought I was crazy. It's fine, Zane was having a blast showing Mopples around the doctors office, playing with all the random wooden bead mazes and books.

When the doctor finally came in to see littley Zaney he was actively tap dancing around the room in his big boy jeans, new sandals, shirtless, rubbing his scar. To which I said "it is going to be hard to convince you that he is sick when he is tap dancing around the room." But much to my surprise he actually sounded wheezy and congested when she listened to him. Cue me going from feeling stupid for bringing my kid in because nothing was wrong to feeling stupid for not bringing him in because I am a nurse and didn't know he was wheezing. Yes, I had listened to his lungs when the cough started and he sounded fine, just for the record, but it had been a few days and I had been at work listening to other kids wheezing. So he got a couple puffs from an albuterol inhaler, with his very own teddy bear spacer, and was swabbed for RSV, which was terribly traumatic, but luckily came back negative.

So off we went with prescriptions for Zane's very own albuterol inhaler and steroid prescription to match his mommy's. And here in lies the first time I apologize to Zane for his useless lungs. I told him to blame his Grandmother, but I don't think he was buying it. He surprisingly enjoys taking his inhaler though. He sits very still and takes big deep breaths, just like we show him. I think it is helping and Zach tells me that his cough sounded better today. He seems to be feeling better, but who knows, he may just be hyped up on albuterol.

Cough, snot, and mommy guilt

Today was one of those days where the mommy guilt was laid on pretty think, for numerous reasons. Zane has been coughing on and off for about a week now. He hasn't been lethargic and not wanting to do anything but I wouldn't say he was at one hundred percent craziness level either. I listened to his lungs numerous times and he sounds fine so I figured it was just his lingering winter cough, most likely worsened by the crazy amount of allergens out and about lately.

Then I got his cough and became a huge baby about it. I also think the allergies played a part in my worsening asthma flair up, but mostly I think my little boy coughing in my face for days was the main reason. Yesterday I felt like death on a cracker so I sucked it up and made an appointment with my primary care physician. As a side note I have no idea how to actually use the health care system properly. I know I am a nurse and should be all over it, but growing up my health care system was calling grandpa, telling him "I have a musty cough that has moved to my lungs" (had to say those magic words) and then he would call me in antibiotics and I was better. I never remember having actual check up, so much as visits to Grandma and Grandpa's house. So it has taken me a while to get on board with how primary care physicians actually work. Turns out you yield much better results if you see the same physician repeatedly instead of going to minor emergency, waiting forever, and praying the will just give you a Z-pack. Moral to this story invest in a primary care physician.

I digress, what I was trying to say was I went to see my doctor and told her that I was coughing up a lung, my sinuses hurt terribly, my head felt like it might explode, my ears hurt, I couldn't sleep due to coughing, and all my inhalers and claritin were no longer working. She quickly devised an asthma action plan, as it is called in the pediatric world, upped my steroid inhaler, prescribed a nasal spray, oral steroids, antibiotics, and told me to call back if that wasn't working in a few days. In and out, simple and painless, and highly effective.

Then I got home and started my new regimen while little Zaney continued to run around and play, but occasionally want to watch tv on my lap for thirty or forty five minutes. He would ask to go outside, quickly followed by asking to go inside and being a pretty emotional little guy. This is when the first wave of mommy guilt hit. How can I need multiple prescriptions while I occasionally give him tylenol because there isn't really any other option. And here in lies why I could never work in the adult world of medicine. Turns out children, contrary to what you thinking looking in from the outside, are one hundred percent better patients than adults. Kids will continue to play through pretty much everything, which can be dangerous at times, but for the most part makes them easier patients to take care of. Zane came home from open heart surgery on OVER THE COUNTER TYLENOL for Gods sake.

I was still too sick to think clearly enough to say, actually call his doctor and make him an appointment, but I did feel guilty about it the rest of the night and gave him some Benadryl in hopes that might help. I blame this on the lack of oxygen getting to my brain due to my lungs closing in on themselves. This morning I woke up feeling a little better and headed to work while Zane headed back to daycare. He didn't make it long, Zach got the call, that Zane had thrown up twice and needed to go home, by noon. Cue huge mommy guilt on all levels on my part. First of all I will never be the mom that can go pick their sick kid up from daycare or school because it is next to impossible to leave my job. Secondly, what kind of mother doesn't take their kid to the doctor when they have a terrible cough for days. Probably the one who listens to their lungs and if they don't sound like bilateral pneumonia they don't think it is a big enough deal to go in to the office. Or possibly the one who still doesn't grasp how the health care system works, as discussed above.

Long story long, Zach went and picked up our cuddly sick boy and loved on him all afternoon, while I hacked up a lung at work taking care of other people's sick children. I'm sure I appeared really professional, but for some reason health care workers can't call in too much without getting in trouble, but that is a soap box issue for another day. Zane appeared happy as a clam when I got home, but I am sure he will be up coughing with me tonight. Don't worry we will report to the doctor bright and early tomorrow and hopefully they give him something to feel better soon.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Zane and I both have our ears down. Zane has had a pretty nasty cough for awhile and no I have joined in on the hacking, coughing, and stuffy nose. No fun at all. You know Zane isn't feeling good when he requests to go inside, which was happening Sunday so we cuddled and watched movies with the occasional Ipad thrown in. Zach said he had a good day at daycare yesterday and was very hyper when I got home. Today he was pretty emotional, but seems to be feeling better.

2. Zane's new phase is throwing things, sometimes for fun, but sometimes when he is mad or frustrated as well. Sometimes he throws his toys or sippy cup, but my fear is that he will throw the Ipad. I guess we should stop the unsupervised Ipad time now.

3. Our new washer and dryer arrived bright and early Sunday morning. Zane was not to sure about the two random men talking to daddy. We had to keep daddy in our line of sight at all times, but even then he was still very concerned. So far they have worked wonderfully and it is amazing to have the laundry in the dryer done when the clothes in the washing machine are done. The added bonus is now Zane can help transfer clothes from the washer to the dryer. He loves being involved and helping so this is right up his alley. This morning he was devastated that we didn't have any laundry to do, I can't remember the last time I could say that.

4. I finally did some scrapbooking again this weekend. It is such a process to get all my stuff out, it gets strewn about my table which stresses me out, but in the end I am always happy I did it. I did an adorable page of my niece Adeline on her fifth birthday and thoroughly enjoyed getting to use some girly colors for once. Of course the next page was a Handy Man page, which was all boy, but I think it turned out really cute.

5. Take a look at my cute little garden. My tulips started blooming today, making it that much more adorable. All of my veggies are up and growing quickly. I'm thinking positive thoughts so hopefully it stays this way.

6. This past week I made the rounds of the children's clothes resale shops and a children's clothes/toys consignment sale. I was on the hunt for summer clothes, which I did get a lot of, but have yet to find a sand table which was my other goal. I guess I could buy one, but they seem extremely expensive. I did find some great deals on train tracks and other Thomas paraphernalia at the consignment sale. Now we have quite the train track set up just waiting for a train table. Our house is quickly being over run by choo choos. 

7. Here is Zaney in his new U.S.A. shirt. I was hoping it would fit for the upcoming summer Olympics, but I'm not sure it will last that long. We did practice his U.S.A. chant and fist pump, very cute!

 USA, USA, USA, USA!!!!!!!

8. Mom is driving up this weekend to spend next week with Zane and I while Zach is out of town. I am hoping the beautiful weather continues and that Zane and I feel better soon so we can go out and about with Grandma. 

9. We are also getting excited for our upcoming visit to S.E.M.O. for the Korenak Easter celebrations. From what I hear it is going to be quite the shin ding, with approximately eighty five members of the Korenak clan. I still find it very entertaining that of the thirty something great grandchildren in that family Zane is the only one with the last name of Korenak and he could not look less like the Korenaks. The Korenaks all are dark eyed, dark haired, and look like native Americans to me. Zane is the polar opposite of that, but a Korenak just the same. I am sure he will love playing with all his second cousins.

10. Zane is also looking forward to hunting some Easter eggs. We practiced in the front yard the other evening and thoroughly enjoyed it. I do think that he was under the impression that it was a chore, like when we collect sticks from the yard, and not necessary for fun, but he seemed to like it either way. I am hoping no one swallows any coins that may be found in their Easter eggs, because that never ends well. Just a little side note from the pediatric nurse, we always see kids in the ICU after having eaten coins from their Easter eggs. I mean you eat everything else found in the eggs, so it only makes sense that they would swallow the money as well, then you get intubated. Ok I'm off my soap box now.

Suson Park farm adventure

We are continually looking for new, fun, outdoor activities near to our house to keep us entertained. I think the best way to teach your children about the world around them is to let them explore it themselves. We do this in all different kinds of ways, a simple backyard exploration, collecting sticks in the front yard, going to the zoo, seeing the trains, and our latest fun find Suson Park off Meramec Bottom Road.

I had never heard anyone talk about this park before and I am constantly surrounded by parents of small children and often ask where I should take my son to play. I usually get the standard St. Louis answers, The Magic House, The St. Louis Zoo, Grants Farm, the Transportation Museum, and occasionally the Science Center. We have been to all of these places, and love them all, but recently I have been trying to branch out our options a bit. I heard some mothers talking about petting animals at Suson's park during my most recent tour of the resale shops in town. Of course I didn't actually talk to the lady, I went home and googled it, and much to my delight I found that it was only a couple exits down from us on I-55.

Their are the normal park attractions there, slides, things to climb on, swings, and ponds with ducks and geese. However, their is also a farm their as well. I read a few different articles about it and it apparently it is a farm that a family runs and when the park was built by it they started letting people walk through their barns, pet their animals, and their are volunteers who are there sometimes to take groups on tours and teach them about the animals. It is all free, which was the added bonus.

Saturday, after morning naps, we ventured down to the farm to visit the animals. We saw all Zane's favorites, pigs, cows, horses (of all shapes and sizes), goats, sheep, ducks, geese, a peacock, and his all time favorite chickens! We could pet the horses, which Zane loved, he said hi to them all and patted their noses quite a lot. However, the chickens were pinned up and Zane was really confused as to why he couldn't actually gather the eggs from the nests or chase the chickens, which are his two favorite things to do at Grandma B's. I was confused as to why there was no hay in the chicken house and why their run was divided in half and they were all on the side that the grass was dead and eaten on and didn't go into the green side. Also confusing was why the pigs pin was immaculately clean, without a speck of dirt, let a lone mud. But what do I know. They did have a heating lamp set up for the pigs, which I guess is nice.

Here is Zane petting the big horse, who stood in that corner letting kids pet him all day. What a good sport.

 This is Zane trying to pet/talk to the sleeping pig. The pig was having none of it.

 There were a lot of miniature ponies as well. We petted and chatted with them all.

During our visit Zane learned how to honk like a goose and learned how to say "they mean" after I told him repeatedly not to try to pet a goose because they are mean and will bite you. A good life lesson for sure. I learned the real history of the Turken, which some of you might remember my mother had one of a few years ago. He was named Timmy and I was under the impression that he/she(?) was a mix between a turkey and a chicken. This turns out isn't true, really they are just one gene different from a chicken. The gene that affects feather growth on the neck is altered, giving it a naked neck, like a turkey. Here is a pictures of the full explanation, because I am sure you are all dying to know the difference between a turken and a chicken.

Here is the chicken house, sans hay. Very odd to those of us who have been in real chicken houses.

 And finally, Zane the little farmer!

I found it strange that the play ground was packed and only a few people we wondering around looking at the animals. There weren't volunteers there Saturday talking about the animals, but you could still pet them and see them all. I did notice that most of the people walking around the farm were either there with just their Grandparents or their Grandparents were there with their parents as well. The playground looked like an absolute nightmare, unbelievably crowded with children of all ages, but the farm was very peaceful and just what we needed on a beautiful spring Saturday. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a FREE farm animal experience or just a beautiful day at the park. We will play on the playground during the week sometime, I'm sure it will be fun as well.

My little baker

Before my failed project Friday afternoon I went to the old stand by of entertainment for Zane, baking cookies. The plan was to make enough shamrock cookies so I could take some to work with me Saturday, but some how we didn't end up with very much dough that actually got cooked... hmmmm little boy fingers are quick.

I cheated and made the dough during his morning nap so once we got up we could get right to the fun part, playing in the flour. Zane knows right where his apron is kept and as soon as I mention making cookies he runs to the drawer and gets out his apron and mine then points to the kitchen aide mixer. I think he was slightly confused as to why the kitchen aid mixer wasn't going to be involved in this cookie making adventure, but quickly forgot about it when I told him he was going to get to stand on a chair, instead of being trapped in his high chair, like usual. This was my first attempt at letting him stand on the chair and be part of the rolling out and the cutting and it went very well, though it was very messy and he ate a lot of cookie dough since it was readily available to him.

Initially he sat back and watched as I spread out the flour, rolled out the dough, patted it down, and then pushed down the cookie cutter, making a shamrock. But by the second time I rolled out some dough he was right in the middle of things. He helped with all aspects of the process. He tried rolling out the dough, but wasn't quite strong enough to make it work. He had the motion down it just wasn't doing anything. He has mastered pushing down the cookie cutter and even tried to use the spatula at one point, which ended with him throwing flour every where with it. Every time I turned away, to get a different cookie sheet, or wipe of my hands, he would put a hand full of cookie dough in his mouth. Who knows how much cookie dough he ate when I ran into the living room to get the camera, but it was well worth it for these classic shots.

I quickly realized these weren't going to be taken to work and let him do his thing. Some times he felt our first attempt at pushing down the cookie cutter wasn't quite right and would move it over and push down again, leaving some strangely shaped shamrocks, but he so be it. Every time I would go to get more dough he would basically bath in the flour on the counter, tasting it, putting it in his hair, but them wiping his hands on his apron very carefully as though he was trying to stay clean.

After the cookies were in the oven the Ipad came out so I could clean up the hot mess that was left behind. I also opted to not involve Zane in the icing process, as I didn't have the strength to face a green covered kitchen at the end of the day.

Toddlertivities

When I was preparing for our snowed in winter, that  never happened, I began researching fun toddler activities, a.k.a. toddlertivities, online. Mainly I wanted options to keep him entertained while we were inside, but during my search I ran into all sorts of fun indoor as well as outdoor activity ideas. Most of my ideas were found on pinterest, complete with a cute picture of someone's toddler sitting, calmly, entertained by whatever activity or craft the post was advertising. I would go get whatever supplies where neccessary and then plan to do it ASAP. Of course the end of that story is that it has been beautiful all winter and we spent most of it outside anyway, but I still have the supplies and ideas, and occasionally get motivated to try one.

My most recent, failed, attempt at setting up an "activity" was Friday afternoon. It was yet another beautiful day so I thought, why not have the art project set up outside, the best of both worlds, right? I got out his picnic table and set up my latest project. It really isn't a project so much as a "sensory activity," but I thought it would be fun and slightly less messy than other projects. I put a couple different colors of finger paint in a zip lock bag, taped it closed, then taped it to his picnic table. The idea was that he could "draw" in the different paints with his finger, mixing colors, and feeling the cool feeling of the paint through the bag. The kid in the picture on pinterest appeared to be Zane's age, so I thought it was an age appropriate activity. Guess what my child did as soon as I taped it on the table. Right, ripped it off the table and proceeded to try to figure out how to get into the bag and into the paint, to get it all over himself. He was successful, quite quickly, hence, the failure of my art project.

My next logical idea was bringing out some big sheets of paper and finger paints and actually letting him get nice and filthy making some art. I did this and all of a sudden my son who usually loves getting nice and dirty didn't like the feel of the paint on his hands and proceeded to wipe it on his clothes and run away. That's when I gave up on the structured toddlertivities and moved on to sitting back and observing the activities he found for himself.

The first toddlertivity he found and thoroughly enjoyed was a sea shell hunt in our back yard. That's right, there were randomly about half a dozen sea shells in our yard. I still have no idea how they got there, but they were spread out every where and we went around picking them up, then put them on his table to play with. He did enjoy playing with the paint that was in the ziplock from my previous failure with his sea shells. Picking them up, sorting them, putting them in the cup holder of his table, throwing them, and doing all sorts of random things with the shells kept him entertained for probably a good ten minutes. Keep in mind ten minutes is an eternity to a toddler. Now if I had gone to the trouble of actually hiding sea shells or even throwing them randomly about in the back yard he would have wanted nothing to do with them.

The second toddlertivity was the wheel on the wheel barrow. Zane has loved wheel barrow rides since mom introduced them to him months ago, but Friday he actually discovered how fun just the wheel itself could be. He sat and examined it for a long time, spinning it, and enjoying the black residue it left on his hands. He picked grasses and leaves off plants and threw them on the wheel while it turned, which seemed to be highly entertaining. This went on for quite a while and of course he eventually moved on to hitting it with a stick, which is also always fun.

The last source of entertainment for the day was far and away my favorite one. While playing with Zane's rug in his room Zane went and got Iggy so he could "drink" out of the pond on the rug. Iggy "drank" from the pond and "ate the hay" then Zane thought Iggy probably needed a diaper. He got a diaper out of the top drawer and went about trying to put it on Iggy. He couldn't quite figure out how to make the velcro closer contraption of the diaper work so he just showed me ALL the different places on Iggy that needed diaper protection. Of course between his hind legs was where I thought the diaper should go, Zane on the other hand was not so sure. He thought the highest priority was around his neck and belly, then he guessed we would tolerate a diaper going between both sets of legs as well. Here is the finished product which he carried around the house, proudly showing it off, the rest of the evening.

The moral of this story is no matter how imaginative an adult might think they are their imagination pales in comparison to that of a child. Also, grown ups, myself included, continually over think things. There is no need to "plan activities" for a toddler. This is proven over and over again. I often give children at work a calculator so they can pretend to talk on the phone when all other forms of entertainment have failed. Nurses without children usually tell me "I tried to explain to him that it was a calculator not a phone, but he didn't listen." And my response is always, well I told him it was a phone so it would keep him entertained. Or the fact that Zane, or any other toddler for that matter, can entertain themselves for quite some time with a pot and a big plastic spoon. So I will try to remember the old saying "Keep it simple stupid," and possibly stop googling toddler activity ideas. I am sure there will be a time when he will have the attention span for actual planned activities and crafts, but for now I will enjoy the simple pleasures of his self created toddlertivities.

Ten on Tuesday

1. First of all I want to wish my good friend Brandy a very happy birthday today. She has had a huge week this past week, she got into grad school, got engaged, after quite the wait, and celebrated a birthday. Congratulations on all fronts girly, I am so happy for you! I hope you had a wonderful day at the spa today, you deserve it.

2. So here is the update on the big boy bed situation. Sunday night wasn't as great as Saturday night, which is expected because really Zane just wakes up on the nights that I have to work the next morning. For unknown reasons he cannot handle Zach taking care of him at night and I do mean screaming his head off like he is being murdered, everytime Zach tries to comfort him. Sunday night he got up twice, I think he was confused with what was happening, but went back to bed well. Last night went well and their hasn't been any escapes from the room as of yet.

3. My garden is coming in nicely after a couple days of rain showers. The onions, beets, and some of the garlic are up and nothing has eaten my brocoli plants yet. I am thinking good thoughts and hoping the bunnies and squirrels don't discover it this year.

4. I know I have time before I really need to be thinking about tackling the potty training issue, but after our one random pee pee in the potty experience I have bought a potty seat and two kindle books with potty training tips in preparation for the nightmare that is potty training. I hate the thought of entering this phase. I have no plan or clue as to how to do it and really don't want to fight with it for months, but I know that is part of the deal. I'm trying not to think about it just yet, because he isn't even two, but I feel like a lot of things randomly have to happen once he turns two, such as no binki at night time which I am also dreading. He doesn't sleep well as it is not sure how I am going to take away his binki and think that is going to get better. Maybe he will be the kid who sleeps with it until he is like four. I sucked my thumb until I was about 5 years old and I am totally awesome.

5. I think I have arthritis, is that possible as a 28 year old woman? I am turning 29 in a few months, but seriously why do my hands randomly hurt in the morning/most of the day, to the point that I struggled opening the milk this morning. Am I an invalid? One of the older women I work with told me it is probably arthritis because hers is acting up now since it is suppose to rain the next few days. AWESOME

6. I recently looked at my sister's pictures from our last trip home and remembered that I had forgotten about one major event from our last visit. Zane flew his first kite. We were flying them in the middle of a wheat field, obviously, since that is how kites are traditionally flown in the flat and windy state of Oklahoma. Zane did really well right up until the part where he let go of the string, the kite went flying away, with my mother chasing after it, possibly injuring herself. The whole situation made for some great photo opportunities though.

Here is it going so well, he is flying his kite and making sure I am watching him.

 still doing well....

and it's gone, off to see Grandma.

6. I had a pretty stressful day at work today, per usual, but my little boy greeted me at the door and all my stress melted away. He sits with me while I eat dinner once I get home, snacks on whatever I am having so it mildly feels like we are eating together, then books, and bedtime. Tonight he felt like he (or maybe I) needed a little bit more snuggle and song time and he fell asleep while I was singing. This hasn't happened in a long time and I loved it. He is my happy place and the best form of therapy in the world.

7. I think I have decided to get my Mother's Day massage early this year. I want a massage for any event that warrants presents, but as I have mentioned before I got ripped off last year because my bday and mother's day are in the same month. This is not a mistake I plan on making twice. I think maybe this Saturday would be a great massage day.

8. Easter is fast approaching and my plan for my next couple days off is a few practice easter egg hunts. Last year Zane was too small for this funtivity, but this year it will be right up his ally since collecting things and putting them into a bucket is just about his favorite thing in the world. Time to get out the eggs and throw them out in the yard and let him do his thing. I just hope it doesn't rain the next two days.

9. Going to try to get back on the treadmill, or run outside if it isn't raining, again tomorrow. I hate when I am doing so well and am finally in a good routine and then I get sick or go out of town and then I don't work out for a month. Why can't I be one of those people who loves working out? I literally have to force myself to do it every single time and I really don't find it enjoyable because I'm fat. Working out is only fun for people who are already in great shape, if we are being honest.

10. Lastly, my most recent project idea is this pottery barn knock off of a big ruler growth chart. Growing up we marked how tall we were on the inside of the pantry door and inside a closet door at my Grandma Dotter's. If I had my forever home I would do that, but I don't want to do that at this random house. I think this would be the perfect fix for that and it could move with us, but I just am not confident that I could make it and it not look really stupid. Maybe Zach could make it, add that to his list!

Happy first day spring everyone!

Big Boy Events

The past two days we have hit some major milestones here at the Korenak house hold. Yesterday, while I was having a crazy day at work, Zane finally successfully crawled out of his crib. I am sure he has been working on this for awhile because I know Zach and I have been expecting it for awhile. Apparently after Zane woke up from his second nap he climbed out of bed and walked into the living room, quite proudly I am sure, to take his daddy by surprise. I would have reacted to this new development, most likely by scolding him, and telling him climbing out of his crib was dangerous and he was never to do it again. However, Zach handled the situation in the polar opposite manor. Zach took Zane back into his room and asked Zane to show him how he had gotten out. Zane promptly recreated the event, pushing his little body up onto the top of the railing, sliding down to the end of the bed, and then wiggling down to the ground at the corner. Great, he had perfected this maneuver, time for plan B.

Mean while I was at work, running around like a crazy person, when finally at three o'clock I had a minute to call home. I felt sure this call would brighten my day but instead it increased my stress level. Zach told me what had happened and we both decided we were lucky his escape hadn't ended in a skull fracture or a broken neck and that we should cut our loses and finally convert his crib to a toddler bed. And by toddler bed I mean his crib without the front on in and a very classy little piece added on to keep him from rolling out of once end. Don't worry it in no way keeps him contained and if he decided to sleep on the other end of his bed he could easily roll out. But we have yet to make any progress on his real big boy bed and room so this would have to do. I went back to my busy day at work while Zane and Zach spent their rainy afternoon converting his crib to a bed.

I have to admit that I got a little sad on my way home thinking about the fact that he wouldn't sleep in his crib again and I had missed the last time of going to get him from his nap and his little head peering over the side, then him jumping for joy when I entered the room. It was the highlight of most of my days at home. When I got home Zane was in the bath, but as soon as he got out he immediately took my hand and showed me where he goes "night night." We had yet another conversation about the importance of staying in our bed at night, not jumping on it, and not playing in our bed because it is only for sleeping in at night night. Of course I proceeded to have a mini photo shoot in the toddler bed, in turn basically playing in the bed, but what can you do. It had to be documented.

 This pictures documented my fear about what was going to happen every time we put him in his bed. Him running out of the bed ASAP.

 Showing Mommy what he is going to do in his new bed. "Go night night."

Happy, big, boy

Now I know what you are wondering, how much sleep did I get last night? Well had I been able to fall asleep at a decent hour I would have gotten more, but once I did fall asleep I was only interrupted once, by a little muttering from Zane, who quickly feel back to sleep, in his big  boy bed! Zach and I did go check on him before we headed to bed and of course woke him up. We stood outside his door, trying not to make a sound, so when he finally got up and tried to get out of his room we were standing there to meet him. I think we might have scared him to death, but I also think this might be the key to our success. I can only assume that he thinks we will be standing at the door anytime he tries to leave. I will let him continue to believe this along as possible. But all and all I am beyond amazed at how well it went and I am sure I am jinxing myself for tonight by posting such a rave review of last nights events. Oh well!

Today, in celebration of Zane's successful first night in his new bed, we went and used our Train Museum Groupon. We saw lots of big trains, rain through one of them that was on display, and road the miniature train. We hadn't been there since Zane was a little baby and I was very impressed with all the improvements and additions to the museum. There is a new visitors center down by the little train depot, which has a play area "Creation Station." I love the new naming system there. It reminds me of the naming I use to do during finals week in college, i.e. education station. Creation station is closed for birthday parties on the weekend, which is a genius idea on their part, taping into the little boy love of train market. We will have to go back and explore that on another day. It was a gorgeous day and we all left with a rosy cheeks.

 Ringing the train bell

 Finally riding the train after quite the wait. We got stuck behind the birthday party and had to wait for another train, but it was all worth it in the end.

On a side note this marked our first big outing sans stroller. I'm telling you he is getting too big.

After our train adventure we got slightly lost on our way to trying a new restaurant, J.J. Twigs, but it was worth the wait. We had amazing pretzel bites with cheese and some of the best St. Louis style pizza I have had to date. During this late lunch experience we realized that it isn't just me who gets moody and aggressive when they are hungry. Zane was unable to stop throwing things off the table until we finally dug into our warm pretzel bites, at which point he went back to his normal happy self, dipping his nose in his cheese, and eating a big lunch.

We arrived home an hour and half past nap time with quite the emotional little guy. There was a bit of a battle to nap in his new bed. I went in once and he had all his dirty clothes in his bed and his new rug in a pile in the middle of the room jumping on it. The clothes were taken out of the bed and the rug taken out of the room, a little more cuddling, and he was out. When he woke up from this nap he had a dry diaper so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to let him experience going pee pee on the potty. Much to my surprise this experiment actually worked and right about the time we were giving up on it he went pee pee in the potty, and there was much rejoicing. Zane was still rather sleepy and didn't really understand why Zach and I were celebrating like crazy people over this milestone. We didn't have any M&Ms so for his first pee pee in the potty, so he took his entire Hershey's Kiss, without complaint. I am going to have to get some M&Ms soon, we can't afford a Kiss per pee.

Those were the happenings of our weekend. I can't believe how big he is getting and how quickly things are changing. He loves hopping into his bed and pretending to go to sleep, so I am sure it is only a matter of time until he doesn't want to cuddle and sing with me before going to bed. That will be a sad day, so I am soaking up my cuddles, songs, and kisses while they last. Here is hoping tonight goes as well as last night.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Today we finally pulled the trigger on buying new washers and dryers. We went with the Electrolux front loading washer and dyers. We did all kinds of research, compared prices at different stores, and today there was a ten percent off appliance sale. Hopefully we made a good decision and they will last a long time. Now we wait, it apparently takes thirty days to deliver.

2. After our major purchase at Lowe's we headed to the park for a picnic with Daddy. It is borderline hot here today, with a high of 84. The park was a blast, though Zane is a maniac and may have frightened the other parents, sliding down the big kid slides, head first. There was another little pale, white haired, boy there today for him to play with. It was a great time and now he smells like summer again a.k.a sunscreen.

3. For those of you with iPads or iPhones I have found my new favorite kids app, it's the isty bitsy spider app, by duck duck moose. I don't know who comes up with these things, but this app in particular has a ton of different things that happen or you can make happen while the little spider climbs a water spout. It rains, a squirrel collects nuts/counts them, you gather eggs that randomly are on the screen, you can put hats on the spider, random animals fly out the window, and so much more. I also got the wheels on the bus app by the same people, but it isn't nearly as fun.

4. In very exciting news the dairy queen next to our house is officially open for the summer. It is a stand alone dairy queen, that only sells ice cream, so it closes for the winter. That is always a depressing day when I get to the corner and it has closed for winter. On the flip side when I pull up to the corner and it has a shiny new coat of paint and buy one blizzard get one for ninth nine cents sign up I get very excited! We might have to take a trip there soon.

5. I got my new glasses and by the grace of God I think they actually look pretty good. I was so happy to get to wear them to work Saturday so I didn't have to scratch my eyes out by three in the afternoon.

6. This afternoon I dug out Zane's hand me down 2T shorts and we went outside to work in the garden. Zane promptly fell and scraped his knee, then fell and scraped the same knee again when we went outside after diner. Poor kid, but he handled it like a champ.  He even ran around bare foot this evening without complaint. Too bad this is going to be the hottest summer ever, but we are enjoying the 80 degrees weather  while it lasts.

7. During our outside playtime I finished up the rest of the garden planting. We now have broccoli, onions, garlic, carrots, beets, lettuce, and radishes planted. I have yet to figure out how we are going to keep the rabbits and squirrels from eating everything. So far we have put up a little white fence around the garden that probably won't keep any animals out, but may possibly keep Zane from digging everything up. We also dug up the terribly spiky, ugly plant from the garden so we will have space for squash and tomatoes later.

8. This evening when we came in to eat diner Zane requested to play on the ipad. This seemed like a brilliant idea. He sat on the couch playing the itsy bitsy spider app while I cooked diner in an unbelievably peaceful kitchen. Then I started to feel a little bit guilty about plopping him down in front of technology so I cook without distractions. The ipad then went night night, Zane came into the kitchen, and "played" with cans of food. And by played I mean strategically placed cans of food under my feet, nearly killing me. No I didn't give him the ipad back, but I really wanted to. Luckily Zach come home to rescue me from the craziness. Kudos to my mother for being able to cook diner, night after night, while three children played with cans of food without killing any of us or herself.

9. I decided to go ahead and put the farm rug in Zane's room now, instead of waiting for it to go in his big boy room. Let's be honest I'm terrified of the big boy room, so it's a ways down the road. He loves his new rug which has a road for cars and all his favorite animals, including chickens!!!!

10. Lastly, Happy St. Patrick's Day week. I am working St. Patrick's Day for a friend, who I am sure will be doing much more fun things than I would be do if I were off work. But I am planning on the yearly tradition of making four leaf clover cookies Friday. Zane loves making some cookies and nothing is more fun than cut out cookies, right?

Perfect Gardening

Yesterday I taught my son two new things. The first thing he learned was how to plant an onion. How to put the pointy end up so it will grow up through the dirt. He learned how to cover up the onions once the row was full, give all the onions pats so they could go night night, and learned the all important words of gardening, "grow baby grow." Zane loves working and is a quick study which led to the second thing he learned yesterday, the word perfect. After each time he would, ever so carefully, place an onion in the row I would say "perfect." After about three or four onions he learned the word himself once he put the onion he would say "perfect" in his little boy voice. It was the cutest, most adorable thing ever. After saying perfect he would come back and get another onion out of the bag and go back to planting.

Waiting to learn how to garden. 

Every year I contemplate not having a garden. But some how every year I end up back in the yard planting another garden that inevitably gets eaten by the rabbits, squirrels, or the other critters that dig up our yard. I now get why it is so important to me, it is my connection to where I grew up, even if it doesn't yield any fruit, or vegetable as the case might be. It now serves as not only a connection to where I grew up, but one of the strongest connections I have to my father.  It was important to my parents to teach us a love of the earth. They succeeded in this and now I am teaching my son how to not be afraid of digging in the dirt, how to plant and care for a garden, and how to love the earth like the generations before him.

"Grow baby grow"

 Planting onions, one by one, with his mothering, beaming with pride.

Yesterday, while watching Zane thoroughly enjoy digging in the dirt, eating some dirt, planting plants, giving them pats, watering them, pulling weeds, and loving the outdoors. I couldn't help but tear up a bit, thinking about how much dad would have loved watching Zane garden and dig in the dirt. I beamed with pride, knowing that I am caring on the tradition of loving the earth and hard work. So needless to say I will also plant some sort of garden. The fun and the lessons are in the journey and the planting not necessarily in eating the veggies the garden produces. I guess that is a lesson for life in general too.

 Saying night night to the onions.