The ascent has begun...

Bo-Diddly has figured out that reaching up gets you things...like water in the face from the fridge...

and climbing up gets you a really cool jungle gym right in Mom's very own kitchen....

(and of course a cute photo...)

And growing up makes Mommy a tish bit sad...but still in love with her baby:)

I haven't had time to post many of our adventures lately--but we've had a few. Bo-Diddly still has a mysterious allergy rash (likely food) that bought him a trip to the ER a few weeks ago. He's started saying a few words..."lilillir" is his favorite=milk, water, Aunt Lele & his favorite bear (Giggles). But he does say real words too--the latest is "car", which I'm sure Aunt Amby is proud. Choo-Choo (woo woo) is for Pop. I love it when he says a new word because his reaction is that it's sunddenly magic that people understand him. As you can see, still no major hair on the head. More than before and very blond, but still a baldy. He's definitely a daddy's boy and loves watching basketball on Tv with daddy--"ball, ball!" he says. He has learned the head shake and the nod (yep is pretty funny b/c he can only do it with his mouth open). Needless to say, the "no" head shake gets waaaaaaaaay more practice.

Tyrone's latest news is his struggles with division. I can't blame him because the vocabulary they use in the 3rd grade is waaaay advanced from what I remember. They actually asked for the quotient, divisor, dividend,etc. in one problem (I will disclose here that I snuck into the other room to Google those terms before I assumed my role as teacher to Tyrone last night..haha). Seriously...quotient?? These kids are still picking their noses and trying to skip their daily baths.... Anyway, I told T that if he didn't "get" this math, he was going to fall behind in math. He got upset thinking he was going to fail 3rd grade (yes, I did have a heart and tell him that wouldnt happen--even in the thros of homework anguish). So here's the funny--we were sitting by the tub while Bo-Diddly took a bath and T started drumming around on the sink, toilet and his legs and he said--"When I get in high school, I'm gonna be a drummer...well....if I make it to high school." I thought I would crack up!

And lastly...I am greatly enjoying the minivan. LOVE LOVE LOVE the room. I have said it once before and will say it again... even with the shot to the ole ego, I can't believe I did make the switch sooner. Besides, I can always put on my shades and pretend...

In Honor of the Minivan...

Apparently I'm not the only one that took a hit to the ego with the purchase of a minivan...
Check out this funny video..."It's Hard to Be Cool (In a Minivan)"...haha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2tt1cg1h_I

Lil Helper

What an adorable little helper Bo-Diddly is:) He loves the Dustbuster--although he should because he is the #1 reason why it is constantly in my hand. Or maybe he's like his mommy and just loves the Dustbuster in general. Definitely my favorite gadget. He did manage to get some dustbunnies for me from under the bookshelf. I'm training him early! Hmmmm or so I thought... Last night I was putting away laundry and didn't realize Tyrone left the bathroom door open---but Bo-Diddly did! He decided to start his teenage pranks early and TP'd the inside of the house...he tried to escape...but alas, mommy followed the trail! (some of the pics are pretty blurry b/c I was laughing so hard, but you get the idea....

He even stopped to show off in front of brother in the recliner...And finally runs to hide behind the side table:)

Boys! Gotta love 'em:)

My next couple of Mommy badges...

Badge #4: Hmmm...you look at this nice family picture and imagine a typical Sunday morning (Christmas Sunday even). And look at that mommy--what a nice sure grip she has on her baby boy. She must be a most excellent and capable Mommy. One who always packs the diaper bag just right, never forgets baby's milk and ensures that he is always within eyesight. Well it was this very Christmas Sunday that baby Bo-Diddly decided he didnt want to take his morning nap, so being the best mommy ever--his mommy decided to slip out of church and take him on a short drive to put him to sleep. What a great idea!! Asleep in an instant. As Mommy was unstrapping him from his carseat, she thought it would be a good idea to put the car key in the diaper bag (to make SURE the keys were not locked inside--good idea Mommy.). Bo-Diddly stirs and begins waking up, so QUICK!--Mommy shuts the door to run around and hop inside to calm him back to sleep....only....the keys were inside...and the doors were...definitely NOT unlocked. So to make this ever-growing long story short, I earned my 4th or so Mommy badge by having to run inside to get BLew(daddy) and Meems(grandma). We had to call 911 with the meek request that they not turn on the sirens (just FYI--they can't do that because of some stupid protocol---geez people leave me a little pride here). The big fire truck swept in (after what felt like at least an hour) and popped the lock in 30 seconds flat. Long story short--I have learned my lesson about the keys (I know, I know--you are thinking things like this never happen to you---but do you know where your keys are this very instant...better yet, do you know where your KIDS are???). Oh yes, and I also learned that it takes 5 firemen to free up a 1 yr old and calm the hysterical craziness of a VERY capable young mommy:) Sorry Bo-Diddly...love you.

Badge #5: Ok you can probably already see the boo-boo on Bo-Diddly's head so we'll just jump right into this badge story. Only 2 short days after earning badge #4, I thought it would be a good idea to allow Bo-Diddly and Tyrone to jump on the bed....haha JUST KIDDING. Seriously, the day before Christmas Eve, Bo-Diddly decided to ruin the upcoming Christmas festivity photos by gashing his head open enough to require a stitch or 2. He was running from his brother and hit his head on my footboard (YES, he was on the floor, not the bed). Fortunately for everyone's sanity after the eventful Sunday, it did not bleed a lot because a slight "pump-knot" came up, but it was still a nasty gash. I have always been a pretty calm person when crisis occurs, but some kind of hormone or something has messed with that part of my brain since becoming a mommy. The drama-filled portion of this story is that BLew was gone with the *new/hot/hip/ultracool MINIVAN*that has Bo-Diddly's carseat in it (or at least I thought I had no carseat at the time...I did not think past my nose to realize the truck with a carseat was parked in the cul-de-sac...but let's get back to the story). BLew rushed home like batman in the batmobile,er--minivan, and zipped us to the doctor's office where we were infamously referred to as "the laceration." Bo-Diddly was very scared and screamed the entire time the doc stitched him up, but as soon as we could pick him up...he was all "oooooo's & Dada's."

So the excitement of earning my latest badges overshadowed the grand festivities of Christmas, but I am thankful to God that he kept us safe and well despite the little roadblocks that reminded me that I am not an invincible Mommy and He is in control.

Trek into Minivanland

BLew & I have taken the next BIG (although logical and very emotional) step in in our family life (you know, the ring-wedding-house-baby....) We have---eeeeek!--- ventured into Minivanland. A minivan is every young parent's dream come true and worst nightmare...a bittersweet final step that announces to the world---I AM NO LONGER YOUNG. I AM NO LONGER FREE. I AM NO LONGER....COOL. haha. While in our own minds, we remain very hip, cool and fresh out of college, we have answered the minivan call and decided to take the plunge. I am the official owner of a 2008 Mom-mobile as of yesterday afternoon. My high school students have informed me that they see me with the same level of coolness that they saw me before: OLD. haha. I have struggled with the fact that I do not want to be zooming around town in the MINIVAN and appear so....oldish. But I have finally succombed to the fact that I am indeed--oldish, momish, and quite with family (in which there are 3 above-averaged framed males). I will say that I did cringe this morning when a fellow teacher yelled across the parking lot (where the young, hip teachers and high school students are also walking)---"Erin, did you get your new minivan yesterday?" I continue to walk and pretend that I don't hear anyone...."Erin, where's your minivan?? I wanna see your minivan!" I ducked and ran...hmmm, perhaps this blog post was just an attempt to convince myself that I am indeed ready for a minivan:) We'll see...

Bo-Diddly Turns One

My Bo-Diddly turned one today:) We had his party on the 6th and believe it or not...this is the best cake shot that I got! (Leah is supposed to be sending me pictures from her camera since she was the photographer of the hour.) I cannot believe that my little guy is 1 already. He is growing so fast--seems like there is something every day he has learned since I noticed last! He's doing a bit of sign language (milk, down, eat) and can say 2 words: da-da & bah (ball). His Mimi & Pop got him a red wagon for birthday/Christmas and he loooooves it. But I think his favorite toys for now are still his plastic bowls & spoons and any round ball. He got lots of goodies at his party--thanks everybody! P.S. Those are the Sandy & Erin "mini-me" babies in the red wagon---Grantster & Bo-Diddly!

Huntin'

Tyrone went hunting with his daddy (for the 2nd time ever) yesterday and...got his first deer! Technically it's a 4.5 point buck, but he's "calling it a 5, because you're supposed to round up and plus if you can hang a ring on it, it counts. I got a ring I can hang on it." haha. Bo-Diddly reallllllly wanted to get his hands on that deer. Ewwww.
Funny---Tyrone called me on the way home and told me to "get the crockpot out and ready 'cause we're having deer roast for supper!" haha
Happy Thanksgiving everybody:)