Small Victories

I am slowly learning that parenting is all about the small victories. Yesterday morning we had one of those moments. Ezra had his 2 year well check-up and I was feeling some anxiety about it in the days leading up to his appointment. He does not have a good track record at the doctor's office. Ezra is a sensitive little guy and is especially sensitive to touch. The decibel level of his screaming has been painful in the past. His 15 month check-up still haunts me. I was dreading this appointment. Before we left we were up in his room playing. Ezra pulled out his bin that has the doll my mom got him for his first Christmas. It was a great doll to use to help teach Ezra his body parts. He calls the doll, "baby." We are not very creative with our doll and stuffed animal naming around here. The idea came to me to start pretending the doll was at the doctor's office. I showed Ezra how I was looking in the doll's ears and checking the doll's boo boos. Ezra is very interested in boo boos these days. Sadly, he wasn't super into this game but he did pay attention. In order to get Ezra out the door, I had to tell a little fib. I told him we were going to the store. He loves running errands and car rides. It wasn't a total lie because we did go to the store on the way to the doctor's office. I knew he would never get in the car with me if I told him the full truth. Judge if you must.  I suggested that we bring the baby doll with us and he agreed that was a good plan.

I have learned with Ezra that he does much better with things if we talk about it a little ahead of time. He doesn't like surprises. As we got closer, I disclosed that we were going to see the doctor. He got a look on his face. I told him that it woud be okay and that I would be there the whole time. I explained the doctor would check his belly, ears and eyes. I had him point to those body parts on baby. I think I often underestimate how much he understands so I decided not to hold back much information. I felt so terrible because he had a nervous look on his face the entire rest of the drive there. But looking back I do think it helped that I talked to him about it ahead of time.

Ezra was fine in the waiting room but the second the nurse came out and called his name he clung to me for dear life. We took the baby doll back with us and the nurse knew exactly what to do. Clearly, I was not the first parent to bring a doll to the doctor's office. She really got into it and talked to Ezra about his baby. Before she did anything to Ezra she did it to baby first. She even put the baby on the scale and took the baby's head circumference. It was pretty hysterical. And it worked! Ezra sat very still on the scale instead of trying to lurch towards me and he didn't squirm and scream when she took his head circumference. When she left and we were waiting for the doctor Ezra kept asking to go home. I think he thought the nurse's quick exam was it. I pulled out my phone and he sat on my lap and watched Elmo while we waited for the doctor. I think that helped too. His doctor came in and she also really spent some quality time with baby. For the first time ever, Ezra was totally quiet and still while she listened to his heart. She even commented that it was the first time she got to really listen to his heart. Ezra was still not a fan of the ear exam but he didn't scream. Sweet Victory!! He was, of course, very eager to put his clothes back on and get the heck out of there. The second he picked up on the fact that the doctor was wrapping up he repeatedly told her, "bye bye." As we left, I kept telling him how proud I was and that he was so strong and brave. I think from the look on his face that he was proud too. Baby will be coming with us to all future doctor appointments. I know a lot of parents do it but the idea really didn't come to me until that morning. Thank goodness it did. Afterwards, we celebrated his bravery and went to Starbucks and shared some pumpkin bread. As my friend, Paige, wisely said, "it's the little victories that seem like huge mountains."

Wordless Wednesday

Basement Project

When we bought our house in September we knew one of the first things we wanted to do was finish the basement. I am terrible at visualizing things but Damon is very good at it. He saw lots of potential in the basement. I trusted him since that part of my brain doesn't work. It's the same part of the brain that helps you pack tons of bags in a small trunk or decide which tupperware container to use for leftovers. I fail at all of those things. We got a recommendation for a great contractor and he and Damon put together the plans. I just hoped it would be finished before the weather got terrible so that Ezra would have more space to play during the day. Thankfully our winter has been pretty mild so far and the bulk of it was finished while we were in Oklahoma for the holidays. Damon painted when we got back (I helped a little) and carpet was installed last week. It's finally done!

Here are some before photos:

In process:

Finished:

Totally transformed! Obviously, we still have a little decorating to do but it's a really great space. Ezra loves it and we spend a lot of our time down there. The main thing we got Ezra for Christmas was a kitchen. We decided to wait to give it to him until the basement was finished. I wish I would have captured the look on his face when we brought him downstairs for the first time. He even said, "wow!" It seriously was like Christmas morning around here.

One of the best features of the basement is the little hiding place under the stairs. It's so Harry Potter. The contractor put a little light in there for Ezra and he thinks it is the coolest place in the world. I tend to agree. Originally, we thought we would put some of his toys in there but it's just too good of a hiding place.

I'm so glad it is done and the result is way more than I hoped. Thank goodness I married someone with vision!

TWO!

Ezra will be two tomorrow! Happy Birthday to my sweet boy!

I am embracing my inner nerd and am doing a pretend interview with Ezra in honor of his second birthday. Even though his vocabulary is expanding by the minute, I don't think he would quite understand an interview. But I think I know him pretty well and can answer for him. Here it goes.

1. What is your favorite color?
Purple

2. What do you want to be when you grow up?
A pilot or a soccer player or both.



3. Who do you look up to?
My friend, Griffin. See photos.

4. What is your favorite food?
Humous

5. What is your favorite song?
Down by Jay Sean and Lil Wayne. My Aunt Bebe introduced me to this song at Christmas and I request to hear it and dance to it several times a day. I know exactly where to find it on my mom's phone.

6. What are some of your best memories from this past year?
One would be when my mom and I were almost in a car accident on the highway. This was very exciting as my mom exhibited road rage and used the horn. I relive this memory daily as I say, "No no car. Beep beep!" It was awesome.

We moved to a new house this year and I didn't really like it at first. There were lots of new noises and I was very skeptical. It was a lot of change. But now I like it and there is a park right down the street from our new house. When the weather is nice we go there and I have learned to go down the slide by myself and climb several steps on the big toy. I can run around in all the grass and there are tons of leaves to play with. I ask my mom to go there even when it is raining and snowing but she says no.

I also got to take several plane rides to Oklahoma. I loved looking out the window as we went up into the clouds. The people I see when we get off the plane are pretty cool too.

7. What don't you like?
I don't like loud noises that startle me. I also don't like it when other kids cry and scream. It makes me do the same thing.  I also really dislike diaper changes and getting dressed.

8. What is your favorite show on tv?
Elmo's World

9. What are some things you have learned how to do recently?
I am starting to put several words together to make short sentences. Before Christmas I was at the store with my mom and there were two blow-up Santas. I call Santa, "ho ho ho." I had to say goodbye to the two Santas so I said, "bye two hos." My mom laughed and said it was good no one else heard me say that. I am not sure why it was so funny.
I know that if there is more than one of something then it is two. I learned to put two in front of a lot of my favorite words. I say, "two cars" and "two purples" and more stuff like that.
I am very adept at working electronics. Perhaps better than some of my grandparents. I can turn on my mom's phone and call people over and over. We used to have an ipad and I could use it very well but mom said I got carried away. She took it. She tells me that the ipad is at my grandma's house now. But I am not sure if she is telling the truth.
I can jump with both feet off the ground and I am good at hoping. I can recognize when I am going pee.
I may be small but I have a strong left footed kick.



10. What do you think your mom would say are some of her favorite things about you?
My mom loves the time we spend together before I go down for a nap. We sit on the rocking chair and sing each other songs. I sing songs about Elmo and my dad. We tell each other what we are going to dream about and I usually tell her something goofy like the humous store or cars going beep beep.

She also appreciates my good manners. I say thank you all the time, even when I give her something. Recently, I was sick and went to the doctor. When we got to the car I was a mess because I don't like the doctor poking and prodding and I had a fever and I was very tired. I requested juice and when my mom gave it to me I said, "thank you" in a very pathetic but sweet voice. My mom loved that I still said thank you despite my illness.

I am a great dancer and have some pretty legit moves. My mom loves it when we have a dance party.

She loves my big personality and giant belly laugh.

My mom says she could go on and on about all the things she and my dad love about me. My mom tells me all the time how grateful they are to be my parents.
Happy 2nd Birthday to me!

Emerging

Happy New Year!!

Unfortunately, we spent 1/1/2012 at Urgent Care. Not exactly the way I wanted to start the new year. We flew back to Columbus on New Year's Eve and I had been congested the whole time we were away. I will never fly congested ever again! About halfway through our second flight I experienced excruciating pain in my ear. Luckily, Ezra was asleep on Damon's lap so I was able to sit in silence and breathe through the pain. I was convinced my ear drum had ruptured. It turns out that wasn't the case but my ear drum is apparently out of place and infected. Then Ezra got sick and Damon had been fighting off a cold as well. We were a hot mess. Less than 24 hours after we had arrived home my mom had booked a flight to come rescue us. Thank God I have the world's best mom. I cannot even begin to express how much it meant it me. We talked around 10am the morning of the 1st and she walked in my door at 9pm that night. Like I said, she is the best. My mom stayed for a week and got us back on our feet and functioning again. This is what we looked like when she arrived.

I am swallowing major amounts of pride by sharing this photo with you but the look on Ezra's face makes me laugh. It didn't make me laugh then but it does now. He looks so pissed at the world. As do I. He had a fever and an ear infection.

Poor guy! I think my mom had just changed his diaper and he was so tired he rolled over and fell asleep on the floor. 

Moms and Grandmas make it all better. I have decided there should be a universal law that mom and baby can't be sick at the same time.

Thankfully, we seem to be emerging from the dark of cloud of sickness. My ear still isn't right but it is better and I just hope it improves each day. 

Cheers to a new year filled with health and happiness!

Santa Visit 2011

We seem to have started a Christmas tradition of visiting Santa on Christmas Eve. Luckily, Ezra wasn't scared and he even cracked a smile when Santa said, "ho ho ho." The series of photos is pretty similar to last year except Ezra looks like a little person this year and not a baby. Sigh.

When Ezra woke up from his nap this afternoon, I asked him what he dreamed about and he smiled and said, "ho ho ho." He even pointed to his lap. I love that he remembers what he got to do this morning. That's the stuff parents dreams of.

Merry Christmas!



Ode to Bebe

When Ezra and I went to Tulsa in October, he came up with a name for my sister, Abby. He calls her, "Bebe." It is just about the cutest thing. Ever. He now brings up her name at least once a day and usually several times. Luckily, we will see her next week so I can tell Ezra that we will see her soon. That seems to help. And when it doesn't he calls her on the phone without me knowing and says "hi" over and over again into the phone.

If Ezra could write this is what he would say about his Aunt Bebe.

Bebe is the best because:
Whenever I want to see her belly button she always shows me. My mom tires of this. Bebe does not.
She does hand motions to "row, row, row your boat" and that is very fun. She sings other songs with hand motions too. She also does a variation of Peek-a-Boo that is hilarious.
Bebe loves cats. I love cats. She buys me books about cats. I call them Bebe books.
She always drinks tea and I am fascinated by that little string that dangles from the cup. Every time someone drinks tea it makes me think of Bebe.
She is a very expressive reader.
Her laugh makes me laugh.
Bebe always complies with my desire to make funny faces at each other.
Some day I will enjoy all the stories she remembers about my mom.
She is kind and sweet.
I love her.