These pictures were taken over a month ago, but too cute not to post. I found them both in this chair fast asleep knocking out some z's.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Magic Blue Chair
These pictures were taken over a month ago, but too cute not to post. I found them both in this chair fast asleep knocking out some z's.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
The Job Continues
Sorry its been so long since we posted. We've been around taking care of things.
I wanted to let everyone know that we'll be down here in Raleigh for a little while longer, it appears. I got word that my job was reinstated at the school. When I took this job with COMTek, it was a temporary position, and Cadet Command had originally deleted it, effective on 1 October. The Lieutenant Colonel in charge had been fighting to keep the position since she took over back in the summer. Without a body in the recruiting slot, it would be lost. And without recruiting, there wouldn't be any cadets enrolled to save the program.
I'd actually applied to this position back in May, but was passed over for it by the previous commander. The guy he chose was in the position for about two months, and then moved to a ROTC position in South Carolina...so it was open again. This time, I got it (probably helped that I was the only person willing to take the job and for only two months at that).
Two weeks ago, we got to meet with the Region Commander. I got to tell him my concern about the position. My boss echoed my sentiment. The Region Commander took what we said to heart, and got the position reinstated...we took the slot from Duke University, but that's not a big deal...they're the only NC school commissioning less than us on a regular basis.
To pat myself on the back, LTC Haynes, my boss, told me last week that we had effectively doubled the enrollment to the program over last year. The next step is to retain these students. Hey, my job is to recruit them, its the instructor's jobs to retain them.
We haven't finalized if Raleigh is our new home of choice, and we're exploring all options. We'll post here once we have something more concrete. Just know that as of now, this job will last through October 2007 at least.
Cheers.
I wanted to let everyone know that we'll be down here in Raleigh for a little while longer, it appears. I got word that my job was reinstated at the school. When I took this job with COMTek, it was a temporary position, and Cadet Command had originally deleted it, effective on 1 October. The Lieutenant Colonel in charge had been fighting to keep the position since she took over back in the summer. Without a body in the recruiting slot, it would be lost. And without recruiting, there wouldn't be any cadets enrolled to save the program.
I'd actually applied to this position back in May, but was passed over for it by the previous commander. The guy he chose was in the position for about two months, and then moved to a ROTC position in South Carolina...so it was open again. This time, I got it (probably helped that I was the only person willing to take the job and for only two months at that).
Two weeks ago, we got to meet with the Region Commander. I got to tell him my concern about the position. My boss echoed my sentiment. The Region Commander took what we said to heart, and got the position reinstated...we took the slot from Duke University, but that's not a big deal...they're the only NC school commissioning less than us on a regular basis.
To pat myself on the back, LTC Haynes, my boss, told me last week that we had effectively doubled the enrollment to the program over last year. The next step is to retain these students. Hey, my job is to recruit them, its the instructor's jobs to retain them.
We haven't finalized if Raleigh is our new home of choice, and we're exploring all options. We'll post here once we have something more concrete. Just know that as of now, this job will last through October 2007 at least.
Cheers.
Friday, September 01, 2006
It Starts
Soooo, we have a comfort corner (same thing as a naughty corner or naughty mat for you Super Nanny fans) that we use for Cooper when he's in trouble or needs a time out. We always give him a warning and then when he does it again (because he ALWAYS does), he goes and sits on the pillow in his corner.
Back in NoVA, his comfort corner was next to the basement door on the main level. Here in Raleigh, his corner is between the couch and the balcony sliding glass door.
Until yesterday, his M.O. was to cry cry cry when he got put into the comfort corner. Yesterday, he exhibited something new...Manipulation Through Charm (MTC).
I put him in his comfort corner because he kept spitting water all over the carpet (we now have wet spots all over the apartment thanks to him). Abbie warned him once, and then I put him in his corner. He cried for all of about five seconds, and watched to see what I was going to do. I told him "two minutes in your corner" and explained why he was there. I walked away.
Abbie was sitting on the opposite side of the room on the futon mattress we use as Cooper's couch. He tested us with standing up and with getting off his pillow, each time causing me to come over and reset his butt on it. Then he did it...MTC.
He leaned slightly out beyond the edge of the couch so that he and Abbie could make eye to eye contact...and he gives her a sly smile like, "Hi Momma, I love you!" "Hi Momma, why don't you let me out of this corner?" "Hi Momma, don't you love my cute smile?"
It almost worked, but Abbie hung strong. Cooper got his two (turned into five) minutes in his corner, then came out with a simple reiteration of why he was there and how to avoid going back to it.
MTC. New parents, remember it. Especially you new dads that have daughters....ahem, John. I don't think your watch will save you when she gets MTC down.
Back in NoVA, his comfort corner was next to the basement door on the main level. Here in Raleigh, his corner is between the couch and the balcony sliding glass door.
Until yesterday, his M.O. was to cry cry cry when he got put into the comfort corner. Yesterday, he exhibited something new...Manipulation Through Charm (MTC).
I put him in his comfort corner because he kept spitting water all over the carpet (we now have wet spots all over the apartment thanks to him). Abbie warned him once, and then I put him in his corner. He cried for all of about five seconds, and watched to see what I was going to do. I told him "two minutes in your corner" and explained why he was there. I walked away.
Abbie was sitting on the opposite side of the room on the futon mattress we use as Cooper's couch. He tested us with standing up and with getting off his pillow, each time causing me to come over and reset his butt on it. Then he did it...MTC.
He leaned slightly out beyond the edge of the couch so that he and Abbie could make eye to eye contact...and he gives her a sly smile like, "Hi Momma, I love you!" "Hi Momma, why don't you let me out of this corner?" "Hi Momma, don't you love my cute smile?"
It almost worked, but Abbie hung strong. Cooper got his two (turned into five) minutes in his corner, then came out with a simple reiteration of why he was there and how to avoid going back to it.
MTC. New parents, remember it. Especially you new dads that have daughters....ahem, John. I don't think your watch will save you when she gets MTC down.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
A Good Poo/Vomit Story For You
Having a great day today. Jim got to sleep in today and the boys and I were excited to plan a fun birthday dinner for Jimbo. We wanted to beat all the rain we’re supposed to get so got an early start out to the grocery store and to get Jimbo a little present from the boys. Couldn’t believe how well the boys were being. Cooper was his usual charming self and I met like four new people as he screamed through the produce isle and at the cashier. Everyone was just marveling at his little language that he speaks. He even charmed Wal-Mart folks into giving him a free sippy cup because he refused to give it back. So they just gave it to him. I wish that worked for adults! Sully just smiled at everyone and people kept just saying what really sweet boys I have.
Got home not one peep out of Sully he was sleeping away. Drove the car down behind the building even though it was muddy and didn’t get stuck so I considered that good. Got lunch ready and realized I was out of a supplement for Coop so I put a different brand on. He chowed down (same meal he ate yesterday) so I knew he liked it. Put away groceries and got to planning Jimbo’s birthday dinner. Lots to do- lots to do!!
Coop finished lunch and he got down to play. We’re just putzing around and I hear this burp. He turned to look at me and I could just see it in his eyes. Lunch was coming back up. (Teach me to try a new supplement.) I was halfway there with my arms extended and hands cupped when the first round came up. (We have carpet and no oxyclean and I’m trying to preserve our deposit.) Ok ewww I’m not going to touch that! I see a piece of newspaper and grab it and go chasing him as three more rounds come up. As he is puking he’s trying to get away from me and this darn newspaper. The last one seemed to get stuck in his throat. You know how dogs take a bone and swing it from side to side? Cooper starts swinging his head from side to side to dislodge the puke. Vomit is flying everywhere. Time to give up with the newspaper. I don’t know if he’s done so I pick him up and dump him in the bathroom.
That’s starts a scream fest. I don’t know what else to do so I run to get some paper towels and hear Coop just screaming and then he’s silent. Whew. Ok no paper towels. I grab some towels and head in. In his fit he’s rubbed his shirt aka vomit all over the walls and all over the toilet. When I walk in I now see why he was quiet he’s eating the vomit off the floor!!!! Ok so now I’m freaking out. I scream nooooo and he freaks out. I think I need to learn the art of not freaking out!! Nowadays when he’s busted doing something his reaction is to throw whatever it is down. (The other day I stupidly left an open bottle of water on the floor. He grabbed it thinking it had a straw and dumped water on himself. Confused he brought it up to his lips again covering himself with water again. I shout something to have him not do it again and he startles and literally throws the bottle down with water gushing everywhere.) So if you are following this he then throws the puke he’s about to eat down but instead it hits me!! I can’t be mad at him he is utterly miserable at this point.
First things first I need to change him and get everything cleaned up. I just don’t know what I was thinking. I pull his shirt up and get puke ALL over his face and in his hair. He’s fussing all over again. Ok screw it he’s getting a bath. I get the water running and get him in there. I must have known I wasn’t destined to eat again because I’d made the same thing he’d eaten for myself so I fed him my lunch while he was bathing. I didn’t mash it up like his had been and he didn’t like the broccoli heads so he started spitting it out in the tub! Grrrrr. We are out of shampoo so I run to get my own stuff and add some water to it. It was cold water. I put it on his head and he JUMPS up because of the cold and starts crying. I’m apologizing just wondering how this could be worse. Start dumping some warm lunch filled water on his head to get him warm and he decides that is the perfect to moment to poo. Ummmm hmmmm yes he POOED in the bath tub. I decide that’s it I’m so over this bath and grab a towel and realize it’s a Sully towel so it barely covers his back so I’m now soaked too to dry him off.
Luckily (fingers are still crossed) that was the end of the drama. Not sure how clean he really is but he’s now in his PJ’s ready for bed at 1 in the afternoon and I have some cleaning to do!!
Got home not one peep out of Sully he was sleeping away. Drove the car down behind the building even though it was muddy and didn’t get stuck so I considered that good. Got lunch ready and realized I was out of a supplement for Coop so I put a different brand on. He chowed down (same meal he ate yesterday) so I knew he liked it. Put away groceries and got to planning Jimbo’s birthday dinner. Lots to do- lots to do!!
Coop finished lunch and he got down to play. We’re just putzing around and I hear this burp. He turned to look at me and I could just see it in his eyes. Lunch was coming back up. (Teach me to try a new supplement.) I was halfway there with my arms extended and hands cupped when the first round came up. (We have carpet and no oxyclean and I’m trying to preserve our deposit.) Ok ewww I’m not going to touch that! I see a piece of newspaper and grab it and go chasing him as three more rounds come up. As he is puking he’s trying to get away from me and this darn newspaper. The last one seemed to get stuck in his throat. You know how dogs take a bone and swing it from side to side? Cooper starts swinging his head from side to side to dislodge the puke. Vomit is flying everywhere. Time to give up with the newspaper. I don’t know if he’s done so I pick him up and dump him in the bathroom.
That’s starts a scream fest. I don’t know what else to do so I run to get some paper towels and hear Coop just screaming and then he’s silent. Whew. Ok no paper towels. I grab some towels and head in. In his fit he’s rubbed his shirt aka vomit all over the walls and all over the toilet. When I walk in I now see why he was quiet he’s eating the vomit off the floor!!!! Ok so now I’m freaking out. I scream nooooo and he freaks out. I think I need to learn the art of not freaking out!! Nowadays when he’s busted doing something his reaction is to throw whatever it is down. (The other day I stupidly left an open bottle of water on the floor. He grabbed it thinking it had a straw and dumped water on himself. Confused he brought it up to his lips again covering himself with water again. I shout something to have him not do it again and he startles and literally throws the bottle down with water gushing everywhere.) So if you are following this he then throws the puke he’s about to eat down but instead it hits me!! I can’t be mad at him he is utterly miserable at this point.
First things first I need to change him and get everything cleaned up. I just don’t know what I was thinking. I pull his shirt up and get puke ALL over his face and in his hair. He’s fussing all over again. Ok screw it he’s getting a bath. I get the water running and get him in there. I must have known I wasn’t destined to eat again because I’d made the same thing he’d eaten for myself so I fed him my lunch while he was bathing. I didn’t mash it up like his had been and he didn’t like the broccoli heads so he started spitting it out in the tub! Grrrrr. We are out of shampoo so I run to get my own stuff and add some water to it. It was cold water. I put it on his head and he JUMPS up because of the cold and starts crying. I’m apologizing just wondering how this could be worse. Start dumping some warm lunch filled water on his head to get him warm and he decides that is the perfect to moment to poo. Ummmm hmmmm yes he POOED in the bath tub. I decide that’s it I’m so over this bath and grab a towel and realize it’s a Sully towel so it barely covers his back so I’m now soaked too to dry him off.
Luckily (fingers are still crossed) that was the end of the drama. Not sure how clean he really is but he’s now in his PJ’s ready for bed at 1 in the afternoon and I have some cleaning to do!!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
More Pics of GiGi's First Visit
Every time GiGi would play with Sully-Bear he would start squeeling and laughing and then every single time he would get so excited he would get the hiccups!
With GiGi taking up residence in our living room last week I would get up and get breakfast going and the boys would take turns crawling into the fouton bed with GiGi. The first morning Cooper came walking out of his room and just lit up because GiGi was still there. He just ran to her and all she did was lift up the blanket and he just pushed it aside and jumped in there with her. It really was heartwarming!! 
This is Cooper and GiGi doing a little bit of yoga! I need to get a picture of him doing downward dog. This kid for some reason will just stop spread his leg and put his head to the floor. Do they make yoga tapes for kids :-)
Play Time
See how the two boys play differently? Sully-Bear quietly observes his toy overhead. Cooper turns stuff over on its head.
The Boob Tube
Gotta love Baby Einstein videos. These guys can watch the same thing yet get different things out of it. Every morning they watch a video while I make breakfast. It's the baby charmer!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Trip To Gordonsville/Car Ride Issues
As we were getting the house ready to show we needed to paint the house. Not wanting the boys to be around the fumes I volunteered to take the boys on a day trip to visit Auntie Cacka. Chris my friend in Gordonsville who just so happens to have a pool!! So I pack up the boys and head off in the morning. As you all know Sully Bear well he's not so much of a fan of the car seat. So the drive down consists of me having to have my arm crooked around to the car seat patting his head or giving him my finger to suck on. I've found one of the best ways to keep him calm is to sing to him. So I sang 99 bottles of milk on the wall. I got to 27!! By the time we got to Gordonsville I was ready to nap and to never ever hear that song again.
Chris's daughter Carly took to taking care of Cooper. If he would cry she would come up to him and pat him and say, "It's ok Cooper." It was so sweet. She also taught Cooper to talk on the phone. She had her own cell phone and picked it up and said, "Oh hey nanna girl what's going on. Oh nothing we are playing with baby Cooper." I seriously thought she was on the phone until I realized it was a play cell phone! But after that Cooper walked around with his cell phone talking into it until I found it in the tub- when it was full.
Chris's daughter Carly took to taking care of Cooper. If he would cry she would come up to him and pat him and say, "It's ok Cooper." It was so sweet. She also taught Cooper to talk on the phone. She had her own cell phone and picked it up and said, "Oh hey nanna girl what's going on. Oh nothing we are playing with baby Cooper." I seriously thought she was on the phone until I realized it was a play cell phone! But after that Cooper walked around with his cell phone talking into it until I found it in the tub- when it was full.
So then we decided to go swimming. We started off slow getting Cooper used to the water but he was clinging to me tightly. I wasn't sure if he was enjoying himself.
So I thought hey lets put on a life vest and see what happens. He decided to put on Carly's sunglasses. Hey it was bright out there.
This poor child he might be scarred for life when he sees this picture. Anyway he adored floating around the pool in the tube as I kicked him back and forth. We only grudgingly got out when Sully Bear woke up from his nap. Surprisingly Chris and I got some time to catch up while watching three little ones so that was nice. Cooper didn't get his nap - I hadn't thought to bring his pack and play but you'll notice a theme here I thought hey he will sleep on the drive home.
Had some dinner more chit chat it's now time to pack up and go home. Sully Bear hasn't had enough sleep either I didn't bring his swing- lesson learned pack EVERYTHING! But I thought hey this could be good, they will both be exhausted they will sleep sleep sleep.
We get on the road and Sully for the first time discovers the things attached to the bottom of his arms are his hands and he's just fascinated. Cooper and I chit chat for the first twenty minutes and then suddenly he screams out and is OUT. I'm feeling pretty good at this point- Sully is quiet and Coop is out. Suddenly Coop has to be dreaming about his time with Carly. He is reaching out screaming and then muttering down to sleep. Well this keeps happening and disturbs Sully who then starts screaming. Cooper wakes up pissed because he was asleep and then they both start screaming at the top of their lungs. I'm afraid that Sully is now going to heave out a lung so I pull over on the side of the road and try to nurse him. Nope not interested. We get out of the car and I'm running back and forth trying to calm him down then swinging him as he finally starts to calm down. I hear this other noise and look in the car- Cooper is awake and not happy that I'm out there with Sully so he's screaming at the top of his lungs. I open the door and hold his hand while bouncing Sully. They are both quiet and I do take a minute to enjoy the sunset over the farmland and watch a lone horse make his way through the fields. Quite breathtaking actually. Looking at the time I'm ready to get on the road but both the boys are just happy the way they are. I make the call to get back on the road. Silly mamma.
I'd say it was quiet for about two minutes and then boom Sully starts screaming again. This starts off Cooper. My friend Znar calls and I just decide nothing is working I'm going to talk and ignore it. Unfortunately she couldn't ignore it or hear what I was saying so we hung up and I listened to them scream for thirty more minutes and then suddenly there was blissful silence. They had both screamed themselves to sleep.
So that was our trip to Gordonsville. As you all know the trip to Raleigh was pretty much the same. Trading screams and misery. I think I cried the first four hours of the trip with them. At our second stop Jim was taking a zillion turns and passing by perfectly good gas stations. I just remember freaking out- why isn't he stopping?? I need to stop!!! I was trying to call him but then he suddenly found a gas station and when we got there said, "Man I had no idea it was this bad I would have stopped sooner."
But there is a bright side!! I think we've broken Sully Bear of his hatred of the car seat. Probably just because we are getting out more and he's getting used to it but he doesn't cry half as much as he used to. Or maybe I'm just immune now. The last time all four of us were in the car and Sully started to scream I just kept talking and Jim was freaking out! He was trying to soothe him and really worried and I was just sort of chuckling saying, "that's not going to work..,. nope that won't either" I seem to have the ability now to just sort of tune it out.
So now my mom tells me that Snowshoe is about a six hour drive. I'm looking for volunteers now to drive with me!!!
Monday, August 28, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Sully Bear
This picture is how Sully's nickname of Bear got started. It was one day last week- every time I turned around he had a bear with him. A blanket with a bear attached in his bassinet then he had this little bear that he kept clenching so I of course had to have a little photo shoot and he became SullyBear. He just seems so bear like. He's in his 9 month clothes already, he will give you bear hugs (he stands on your legs and will almost jump into your arms wrapping his arms around your neck) and he even has this little bear cub like growl when he's happy. So SullyBear he became!
Move-In Day Pictures
Cooper at our first rest stop. He was so bored with me he thought he might drive the U-Haul for Jim ;-). This picture of the U-Haul is so illegal! Jim popped that bad boy over the sidewalk down a big hill behind the building so we would not have to go up two flights of stairs and a very long walk to the parking lot. I was so scared we would get in trouble but oh my goodness it made life sooooo much easier. We started saying what are they going to do evict us? Jim's a bad influence because when I have a car full of groceries and the kids I drive the car down now! The neighbors just smile and wave at me now when the see me backing up the hill.
After all the drama of packing and getting here to Raleigh, the actual move-in day was a breeze. Both the boys were dream boys. Sully Bear slept the entire time we were unloading and Coop watched Monsters Inc. It's like they both knew we needed something to go right! 
Did I mention that everyone was exhausted??? Poor Jim just sort of leaned over and next thing I knew he was snoring! Notice there's never any pictures of me sleeping!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)