Gigglesaurus

G has a romper that says Gigglesaurus on it, and that is my favorite trait of the week. Not the romper, of course, the giggle. G has been giggling for quite awhile now, but recently, it requires almost no work to get him to do it. He loves to start laughing for no other reason than apparent inner joy. He also loves people, so he smiles and laughs for strangers. He did this in church last week. Despite the fact that he can get pretty loud, I let him stay in Sacrament Meeting, because, hey, he's laughing, it's cute and totally not like the sad screams that normally fill up the chapel. Plus, Jesus likes children. And I was told by some outsiders that it's not as distracting as I, an insider, think it is. Then, of course, he was fussy cause he got tired and Daddy took him in the foyer, where he apparently proceeded to make everyone in the general area laugh with his giggling antics. So it looks like I've got a class clown on my hands.

Oh, and to add to the cuteness, if we do make an effort to make him laugh, he will often get into giggling fits that go on for minutes at a time. Take this video for example. He had been laughing for a good 2 minutes before we got the camera out. We were pretty happy about this laughing fit because up to this point he tended to cry when we put him in his carrier. He's much better now.



Here's some more, even better stuff:

Why I Don't Watch Scary Movies

I've always been susceptible to the twisted workings of my own imagination. Although, like most kids, I liked reading scary books like Goosebumps, or Things That Go Bump in the Night, I did like to have the lights on going to my room in the basement afterwords. I even remember one time watching a docu-drama about crocodiles in my parents' room and being afraid to get off the bed when it was over. Now, I knew that crocodiles were not indigenous to master suites in Utah suburbs, but in my own defense, my parents did have a water bed. It was disconcerting. So, I have since avoided, for the most part, scary movies.

But I have also been disturbed by television shows, which given the gruesome and disturbing envelope-pushing that shows like CSI have encouraged, isn't surprising. This is why after I feed G in the middle of the night, get a drink downstairs, and go into my bathroom to use the facilities, I find myself thinking how freaky it would be if someone was waiting in the little room where the toilet is--to get me. Needless to say, I'm a little hesitant to open the door. Look how creepy it is, someone could lurk in there quite easily. Okay, access isn't really that easy, but it's much worse when it's pitch black, that just doesn't photograph well, so use your imagination. . . . Actually don't, since that what gives me problems. Take my word for it.

Anyway, that wasn't the point of this post. The point is, after strings of disturbing dreams lately involving running away from kidnappers, human sacrifice, and serial killers, I was quite disturbed the other day when I was taking a shower (yes, a scary place for me to begin with) and although my husband had already gone to work, the bathroom door started to open. Now, the thing about our bathroom door is that if you leave it alone, it will close on it's own, but never open. That fact aside, I was willing to accept my own explanation of a freak in-house wind, but then I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Unlike many of my peripheral phantoms, this one kept moving. And it wasn't until it lept up on the ledge of the bathtub revealing itself as Guido, that my heart returned to its normal rhythm. Totally freaked me out. And he's done it several times since. Each time I have to tell myself and cross my fingers that it really is Guido. So far, he's been the only unannounced visitor, knock on wood.

*All bathroom pictures were taken by a fully-clothed photographer.

Kissable Connections

My favorite part of Little G this week is hard to get a picture of, so you'll have to make due with another picture highlighting last weeks favorite part, his eyes. Yes, I took that picture, thank you very much.



I love the little spot under G's ears where his chubby checks meet his double chin and they both connect to his wrinkly little neck. It's my favorite spot to kiss. I think I kiss G about 1000 times a day and a good 50% of those are on that spot. He's getting so big, I figure 1000 kisses a day should be enough to help me enjoy the days I have before he won't let me kiss him anymore.

Because Somewhere Someone Cares (Hi Mom)

This was my Monday, not a good day.

4:50 am - G wakes up. Not time to eat, but I am a walking mummy, so I don't feel like I can wrestle him for an hour. So I feed him.

5:25 am - Stumble downstairs to get a drink and turn off the outside light. Fall back into bed. G is still awake.

6:10 am - G is still awake, but crying now. So, time for diaper change.

6:55 am - G still awake. Daddy's turn!

7:10 am - Daddy puts G down and takes a shower. Baby still awake..

7:13 am - Bring baby into bed with me. Finally goes to sleep!

7:50 am - G wakes up. Food time.

8:15 am - Dose off.

9:10 am - Pick up crying baby. Where's my happy morning boy? This doesn't bode well for the day.

Total sleep=5 1/2 hours

9:30 am - Clean out Guido's food bowl cause the ants came in the night. Feed Guido. 3/4 cup dry food, to keep the ants away (knock on wood). Clean up pee in Guido's cage. He has trouble since he was catheterized.

9:36 am - Wrestle antibiotics into Guido. 3rd time's the charm. And no scratches!

9:40 am - Breakfast! No milk, so toast and o.j.

9:47 am - Pick up crying baby. Diaper and outfit change.

9:56 am - Wash out changing pad in sink.

9:59 am - Check email and blogs holding G, hoping he will go to sleep.

10:15 am - Went for pacifier, played with mirror.

10:20 am - Watched an episode of How I Met Your Mother on the iPod. Sure enough, G fell asleep.

10:40 am - Put G down. First nap of the day: shower, load of laundry, clean out laundry room, unload dishwasher, hand wash dishes, clean up countertops.

11:33 am - Crying baby, phone rings.

11:35 am - Pick up crying baby. Food time.

12:00 pm - Daddy's home to grab some things and eat lunch.

12:20 pm - Daddy leaves.

12:30 pm - Lunch. Leftover stuffed green peppers.

12:37 pm - Clean poopy diaper.

12:45 pm - Mini-bath and outfit #2.

12:55 pm - Run errands. Take back Redbox video. Grocery shopping at Albertsons. Spent $20.90, saved $14.

2:02 pm - Back home. Unload groceries, take care of Guido, put away dishes, load dishwasher.

2:09 pm - Pick up fussy baby. Take clothes out of washer.

2:14 pm - Put down baby on play mat with the hopes of hanging up laundry.

2:15 pm - Pick up crying baby.

2:40 pm - Get baby to sleep. Settle down for nap.

2:45 pm - Feed baby.

3:15 pm - Sleep!

5:10 pm - Wake up to crying baby. Change diaper. G pees on outfit. Time for a real bath. Normally, G loves baths and they are a great way to calm him down. Not so much this time.

5:30 pm - Calm baby down. Outfit #3=diaper. G starts crying again.

5:33 pm - Hang up laundry to dry.

5:45 pm - Start dinner.

5:48 pm - Stop to feed baby.

6:20 pm - Eat dinner, burritos. Change poopy diaper.

6:40 pm - Take out trash, change diaper pail.

6:55 pm - Play time!

7:15 pm - Pack

7:35 pm - Load car to meet Daddy at hotel.

8:00 pm - Leave to hotel.

8:20 pm - Arrive at hotel.

8:35 pm - Get key to room.

8:45 pm - Food time.

9:10 pm - Change diaper.

10:30 pm - G finally goes to sleep. So do I.

Happy Birthday

So, in honor of my birthday, I thought I'd post 25 things that I've done or experienced in the quarter of a century I've been alive that I wanted to or was interested in doing/experiencing that I didn't think I'd actually get to do. But I have! Go me!

1. Graduated from college (cum laude, no less, wasn't expecting that).
2. Survived for 2 weeks on my own in a foreign country.
3. Ate an entire meal with my hands.
4. Got a job without insider help.
5. Learned a new trade entirely on the job.
6. Got to try my dream calling - Relief Society teacher.
7. Did a study abroad.
8. Competed in multiple beauty pageants.
9. Took the LSAT.
10. Married my dream man.
11. Had a successful pregnancy.
12. Learned how to cook.
13. Learned to like cooking.
14. Made a quilt.
15. Made a vintage dress.
16. Performed in the Tabernacle.
17. Made a Thanksgiving dinner entirely from scratch.
18. Started a website.
19. Bought a car.
20. Bought a house.
21. Moved to a different state.
22. Got the lead in a play.
23. Appeared in a movie.
24. Had a baby naturally.
25. Went to therapy.

I also changed my hair. Here are the before and after shots.

Old Blue Eyes

We've been working for the past week on sleeping, so I've spent a lot of time looking at the Little Guy's eyes. And I must say, he got a pretty good return on the genetic lottery. He got my shape, big and almondy, and his Daddy's color, beautiful blue.

I could get lost in those eyes. Sometimes he looks at me and I feel like he has a very wise soul. Other times I just feel overwhelmed at my responsibility to raise this sweet boy. He has very expressive eyes, and they are usually smiling. But sometimes, they look a little freaked out. Like here:


So, G has been trying to sleep on a schedule. But as sweet as he is, he is also very stubborn. And heaven help you if you're trying to put him to sleep when he doesn't want to. He is very good at fighting sleep. It's the only time I've ever heard him scream. But it's comforting to know that sleep always wins. Always. It just sometimes takes a good long while and both parents and several hours to do so. Not so most days, but when it rains, it pours, if you know what I mean. We're still working on the sleeping through the night thing, too. He can get 5 hours at a time, but has yet to do more than that.

Checkups

Here is the update on Guido. We got him back Tuesday night. He is doing great. His blood work came back normal. Now we just have to try to change his diet, and keep an eye on him.

I did ask when he was at the vet's office how much he weighs because he's a big cat and I've been curious. Turns out, he's 16 lbs. 7 oz.

Little G had his 2 month checkup yesterday (yes I know he's not 2 months anymore, but with the move and insurance switch we do what we can) and the pediatrician was impressed by his good natured-ness. He's doing great on his development and even though he got his first round of immunizations, he was still pretty happy today. His specks are 16 lbs. 12 oz. 26 1/2 inches long. 97% in both height and weight.

So this is quite a milestone. It's the first time G has been bigger than Guido, and the last time they will be the same size. So I took pictures.

I call this series man vs. wild.