Big Green "Trktr"

My friend Kylie posted a really funny video of her son Noah singing along to "A Big Green Tractor" by country singer Jason Aldean.  The song was on YouTube accompanied by a slideshow of - you guessed it - big green tractors.

Noah is 2 1/2 years old and is developing a new love for music and singing.  He has been a longtime lover of cars, trucks and tractors, just like Evan.  Because of this, my friend Amanda and I thought we would show Evan the same tractor video that Noah watched to see what his reaction would be.  Let's just say Evan and Noah will be really good friends one day...just like their mamas.

The Smell is Everywhere

Let me just recap my last couple of hours:

After Evan woke up from his nap we made our much loved trip to Target. I didn't have anything important to pick up and thank the lord for that. As I was pulling into the parking lot I hear Evan coughing and it didn't sound like the congested cough he's had the last few days. It sounded more like a I have something in my throat that needs to come out kind of cough. And if that wasn't the truth - I turn around to make sure he's ok and as I do he starts throwing up all over himself, the car seat, the floor board, you name it - it was covered. I literally panicked for a bit because he's never thrown up before and he wasn't acting sick so I had a brief moment of not knowing what to do. Mommy mode definitely kicked in as I parked my reeking vehicle in a spot.

I opened the back door and assessed the very nauseating situation. I unbuckled Evan and carefully pulled him out making sure his lunch fell from his lap to the pavement. I stripped him down in the parking lot to his diaper. You gotta love Florida when you can do that in mid -November. I looked around in my car for anything I could use to clean out the pile - yes, I said pile - of putrid smelling mess that took up the entire car seat. I'm not even gonna mention the straps of the harness. It makes me want to gag thinking about it. So I take the only thing I can find - a blanket - that I can cover the car seat with so I can get Evan home. I had to use the seat belt in the car to strap him in and we were on our way.

He dry heaved a few times on the way home, but smiled and laughed in between. I wasn't too sure what to make of it. Once we were home I got him inside and secure and then tackled the whole car seat issue. I wasn't about to step-by-step clean out each and every crevice of that seat. Instead, I took the whole thing out, ripped off the covering and hosed down the interior of the seat. I washed the covering, his clothes and shoes in the washing machine. Everything is currently hung to dry.

Evan has been running around ever since we got back. I'm assuming it was something he ate? He doesn't have a fever and didn't turn down dinner either. What I do know is that ordeal was the closest I've come to throwing up in a long time. And I still can't get that smell out of my nostrils! Ahhh!

Something to Fill the Gap

A certain vacant spot on Evan's nursery wall has been bugging me the past couple of weeks. I think the last wall art project I did has brought out the beast in me because I find myself wanting to fill every hole. I'm sure it wouldn't seem like a necessary fix to any one else, but knowing that doesn't resolve the nagging issue either. I needed something small and simple.

I gathered all my random art supplies from past projects and decided to do an easy animal art piece. With decorative paper, spray adhesive and a small canvas I came up with this:



No claim to fame, but it satisfied my need and that's all that matters. On to my new office!

Are You Listening?

So, Lottery, I guess what you're trying to tell me is that you don't think I'm quite ready yet. You must see the potential however because the $5 I won will at least give me my money back.

What I'm taking away from this is that I should keep trying - don't lose focus. Or better yet, in the words of my Grandpa Frank, "Put your eye upon the donut and not upon the hole."

One day, Amanda...one day.

Dear Lottery,

I'm just giving you a heads up for tonight's drawing. I bought five quick picks today and I would really appreciate it if one of those picks was chosen to be the winner.

You have my word that I will be generous with my winnings and will not self-destruct like many past winners have. I won't become an alcoholic. I won't start hating my husband and demand a divorce. I won't even spend frivolously until the point of bankruptcy. I will simply make life easier for my family and loved ones. What's the harm in that?

I think I'm an excellent candidate - perfect for the job. I hope you take my request into consideration. If you don't, well, life will go on. But just for shits and giggles...

Most Sincerely,
Amanda

Chicaaaaago

I could not have picked a better weekend to visit my brother and his family in Chicago. My mom and I flew in prepared for a blizzard, but instead got beautiful blue skies with a high of 70 degrees both Saturday and Sunday.

We took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and spent most of Saturday at the city zoo. Evan was completely enthralled with the gorillas. He would have peered through that glass all day if I had not dragged him away. The same was true for the sea otter and the turtles.

Tim and Ruth were able to thoroughly enjoy themselves because Izzie is, by far, the sweetest, most well-behaved baby I've ever witnessed. She only cried when she was ready to eat and that was even rare. She was constantly smiling and she already sleeps through the night! I actually had baby fever after spending the weekend with her. That quickly vanished however after my plane ride home with Evan. Never again will I travel alone with a toddler. Not that Evan was bad, but being on edge for three consecutive hours doing anything in your power to prevent a tantrum is not what I would eagerly sign up to do again.

Tim treated my mom and I to a broadway show Saturday afternoon. We saw Jersey Boys, the story of The Four Seasons. It was AMAZING! We both walked out of the theater completely wowed by the singing. We began rattling off all the other shows we were desperate to see.

Ruth picked us up from the theater and we met Tim and Evan at a local Italian restaurant in Irving Park. This was a favorite spot of my mom's from the last time she visited my brother. The food was incredible and the kids gave us no problems. Fortunately, Tim didn't start quoting "The Godfather" while we were there.

We had a wonderful visit to the windy city. I can't wait to go back soon to love on my beautiful niece and spend time with my brother and Ruth. I will definitely wait until after winter!

Halloween 2009

It's almost frightening how good this look is on Evan. He had the strut and the attitude to perfect his character. To clarify for everyone, Evan is dressed as L'il Joe Dirt. We assumed that wouldn't have to be explained, but I guess it's a bit presumptuous to think that everyone has seen the movie. My Aunt Debbie thought he was dressed as Daniel Boone. Even though it looks like an animal would be living in there, don't mistaken the wig for a coon skin cap. That stylin' hot mess is a mullet...and a damn good one if you ask me.




At first we thought it was going to be a huge struggle to get Evan to keep his wig on. The first few times we struck out. He would leave it on for about 10 seconds then whine and take it off. Eventually he realized we all thought it was funny and he left it on longer for the attention. Once I gave him the popsicle (also mistaken for a corn dog - ha!) it was like he became one with the wig...he accepted his Halloween fate.


I am almost certain the adults had waaay more fun this Halloween than Evan did. He will either look back at these pictures and think wow, what cool parents I have or he'll take offense and wonder why we would be so desperate for a laugh at his expense. Either way, we had a GREAT time. And we were, without a doubt, in great company. Come back to visit soon, Amanda and Scott!
View my gallery for more Halloween shots!