One Man Down

The last two weeks, I've been on a solo ride of parenting. Two down, four to go. Aside from working full time, I've been the primary taxi cab driver, diaper changer, meal fixer (shutter), baby bather, dresser, playmate, etc. all on my own. And boy do I miss my other half! I sure do have a new appreciation for ALL he does around our home! Like taking the trash down the street the night before pickup or taking Webb each morning so I can take my time getting to work. Or how he fixes us breakfast- the whole shebang 7 days per week and dinner most nights. Or how while I'm bathing Loo, he'll go get his pjs, diaper, and milk laid out. Or how he'll sweep up the kitchen, throw in a load of laundry, or fix that squeaky door that's been driving me crazy. I've definitely gotten a taste of what a single parent goes through. I used to say I couldn't imagine being a single parent. But now that I've kind of had that experience, I can say that mamas have this innate ability to step up, care for their children, and keep going the next day. (Well, most do.) Sure it's exhausting, but you just do it. I've tried to keep things 'normal' for Webb since daddy's been gone and so far, he's been a little angel. (Except for the other night when he had a full blown meltdown for no reason.) At the end of this crazy journey, we will all be thankful that life took this turn and while it's hard now, I know it'll pay off later. Chris, if you're reading, just know that I miss you more than anything and can't wait for that plane to land. And know there's a little one here who can't wait to see you too. We love you!

Webb at 27 months

I believe it's been a while since I've done a Webb update so I thought I'd write a few things tonight about what he's up to at 27 months. I guess in a few months I can say I have a two and half year old! Crazy how the time flies.

Eats: almonds, bananas, goldfish, feta cheese, rice and gravy, strawberries, bean soup, salad, pizza, chicken bites (way better than the nuggets), avocado, apples, blueberries, oatmeal. Will very rarely eat sweets. Still loves that milk.

Wears: Size 7 shoe, 2T clothes. Size 5 diaper. Which leads to  . . .

Pottytraining: Not yet. He has absolutely no interest although we talk about it, ask him if he wants to go, and have his little potty out in the bathroom. This summer we will tackle this when I'm home and he's not all bundled up all the time.

Loves to play with: trucks. Trucks. For the past week, he has carried two trucks- one in each hand- everywhere we've gone. He is sleeping with Scoop and Lofty every night. I can hear them clanking together right now. Once he's sound asleep I go move them unless he has them in a death grip. He also loves trains, tools, and playing outside.

 

Learning/Talking: He can count to 12 and then he says 14, 16, 18, 19, 20. Not bad! He can say his ABC's and knows his colors and most shapes. He talks in complete sentences. Today as he was helping me wash dishes, I told him I was proud of his hard work. He said, "Yeah, Mommy's impressed." Ha! He's always talking to his trucks- telling them not worry about it, he'll say something is "probably in there" or he'll talk about what's up in the "big air" (the sky). The other night he found a teeny tiny spider on the wall and had a full conversation with it. He also talks about himself a lot. "Webb's working hard" "Webb doesn't like the dark" or "Webb doesn't have any more." I love talking with him and listening to the funny things he says. I have got to start writing more of it down!

 

 

Reading: Every night, we read the same books: Big Red Barn, The Night is Singing, Goodnight Goodnight, Construction Site, Cars and Trucks and Things that Go, On the Night You Were Born. He knows every word to every book and can finish the sentences when we leave the words off. I guess so after reading them every.single.night. :)

 

 

We are most proud of our sweet boy and are doing all we can to raise him to be respectful and responsible. Some days, my patience is thin, and his occassional meltdowns make me feel like I'm doing it wrong, but I realize I'm not perfect, he isn't either, and as long and Chris and I are consistent, firm, and loving, we're doing the best we can!

 



Today I'm Thankful

1. That daddy has a plane ticket home next Friday. I can't wait to see those big brown eyes.

2. For a sweet friend who keeps me going- not only while running but through everything!

3. For a new Weight Watchers Taco soup recipe that I got. I'll post it later. It's simply divine!

4. Two nights at home with my Loo Loo. (New nickname, folks). We've snuggled, played with goggles, trucks, trains, done "Stompty" a game that involves stomping all over the bedroom and then falling down to "take a break." We've watched some movies, eaten lots of almonds, and read lots and lots of books about trucks.

5. For my sister.

6. For a 10 mile run that went really well. Although it involved duct tape on my feet, it was a success. That half marathon is looking better and better!



Happy Saturday night! I'm going to bed!

Running and Other Randoms

This weekend, I set a new PR for myself: 9 miles, no stoppies. It was overcast when I left and 5 minutes into my run, it started snowing. At about mile 2, it was snowing pretty heavily and was so so beautiful! I know people thought I was crazy to be out running in such weather, but I didn't mind it a bit. As I hit mile 5, the sun came out. It was kind of a "Glad to be alive" moment. This weekend, my buddy and I will continue our Saturday morning ritual. I'm hoping for 10, yes, buddy? I've got to order new socks though. I think if I hadn't had a nasty blister pop up at mile 7, I could have done 10 last weekend.

Here is some other randomness for all you readers out there. (Because there are so many. wink)

1. I love hearing Webb talk to his trucks. And how he takes them to bed at night. The other morning I went up to get him and he had them all lined up at the foot of his bed. Gosh, I love that boy more than life.

2. My sister and I had an impromptu visit to Ikea yesterday afternoon after my mom's car broke down on the side of 85 in Charlotte. Lovely place for a beautiful blond to be stranded. I picked her up and we did what any woman would do, we shopped. I love Ikea and all the cheap homey stuff they have!

3. I'm really looking forward to spring. I'm ready for sundresses, flip flops, skirts, warm weather, and lots of playing outside.

4. I've developed a love for walnuts or "walmets" as Webb calls them. They are especially tasty on a salad or in yogurt. And they are a "good fat." :)

5. March, April, May. Two 5k races and one 10k. So pumped.


Hope you're all having a good week!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today was a very Happy Valentine's Day for Webb! He spent the day with his Mimi and went to visit the Nursing Home. I was very pleased that he was well-mannered and asked to come back again. He even got to change the gears on a motorized scooter! Lord help me now. :) I guess when you're cute, you can get away with anything. This afternoon we had a few little things for Webb- some cars and trucks, a card, and a balloon. He also got to eat a cookie which is a HUGE treat. He loved finding the mail we got today and opening the letter from the Ingram's. The rest of the afternoon he played with his new trucks, we had a quiet dinner, and bed and bath as usual. Chris and I are looking forward to a date night tomorrow night after a function at our local wine shoppe. I hope everyone has had a day full of love, hugs, and kisses!

 

My sweet boy last Valentine's Day and this year. My heart is beyond full!



Running

I've had a lot of people writing me on facebook asking me about my workouts. I am no pro, no expert, not even experienced. I'm just in love. In love with something I've tried and quit several times in my adulthood- something I never expected to love. All because a good friend called when she said she would, I'm now a runner. I hesitated to call myself a runner at first because I thought it might not stick just like every time before. But here I am with almost 80 miles under my feet in the year 2013. And it's February. Several people have asked if I'm training for something and my immediate response is "no" but when I think about why I run, I guess I am really training for something. I'm training my body to chase, run, play, and wrestle a crazy two year old. I'm training to work full time, be a wife, mother, housekeeper, etc. and keep my energy and sanity. I'm training for a healthy mind and body- something that I've neglected for a while. It's amazing how after a day of working, I can throw my running stuff on and run like I'm on top of the world. The strength I can feel in my body completely amazes me . . . like today during hill runs, I felt so strong. I wasn't tired, I was empowered. My whole body feels stronger, leaner, and faster. Here's what a typical week looks like exercise wise:

Saturday- long run with CareBear- We're up to 8 miles together.
Sunday- rest or catch the 2pm Y class- Cardio Sculpt. This just depends on how well I've recovered from the long run.
Monday- rest (although this week I did a quick 4 mile run)
Tuesday- Nike training app workouts. Love these- designed especially for women. Chris Fulton approved too. Sometimes I catch the 4:30 class at the Y. Weights and cardio mixed.
Wednesday- Interval training, hill runs
Thursday- Nike Training app or Y class for weights/cardio
Friday- Rest

This quotation is so true for me. It really has changed my life. Here's to more miles of running . . .

Update on Dubya

Sooooooo our parental instincts were right. Our local doctor's office had overlooked something very serious each time we took Webb in for a visit. We were told it was just a cold or possible asthma. He was given all the steroids and breathing treatments which weren't treating the real cause of the illness! The ENT did a quick nose swab, sent it off for a culture, and called last night to say he had STREP bacteria growing in his nose. I about HIT.THE.ROOF. I won't go in to much detail here but let's just say we're looking for other options. He's on a three week round of antibiotics and is already 100% better since he started. I'm so glad we listened to our gut instincts. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go poke some eyeballs out. ;)

Parent Instinct

Webb has been sick since October. Not the whole time, but off and on. It's the same nasty stuff every single time. It starts with a running nose, watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, and not eating well. It then turns into wheezing which translates to breathing treatments, steroids and the crazy side effects follow. The doctors we've seen have been okay- mediocre at best. I bet since October, we've seen every doctor in the practice and there's only one who knows Webb's history- only one we really love and trust. But she's booked or not there the days we need her. After this last trip, the side effects of the steroids, and what we thought was a cure, we are still frustrated! Last night, my poor sweet boy laid in bed trying to sleep and coughed for 2 hours. The more he coughed, the more frustrated we became. Not because his coughing bothered us but because he's so pitiful and we can't get any answers! Here's what we've tried: Vicks vapor rub on the feet (I'd heard it worked but sorry, it did not), cool humidifier, breathing treatments, his steroid breathing treatment, drinking lots of water, suctioning his nose, saline spray, propping him up, steamy bath . . . NOTHING works! We decided this morning that instead of getting an appointment with our regular doctor's office, we'd try our ENT- a doctor out of Winston who did Webb's tubes. She's highly qualified and works a lot with little ones. We have an appointment in the morning and we're hoping to get our little fella all straightened out! I just keep thinking that if this continues, he'll miss the whole winter season of preschool next year because he'll be sick! I'm happy about seeing her and getting her expert opinion and I'm also happy about spending the day with the love of my life tomorrow. Here's to a good night's sleep for Webb, mama and daddy. All that worrying makes for tired parents- but that's our job. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.

You'd never know this boy didn't feel 100%. Some warmer weather this week meant a trip to the park. Oh, excuse me, "Webb's park."

 

 

And cause mama thinks her boy is AIG, this morning he comes walking in the room with his giraffe, his kitty, and his bear (whose name is Heavy Duty), and he says "Webb has three animals." I love my counting boy.