Wordless Wednesday

Dear Cash - 23 Months

My dear sweet Cash,

I've said it before, but this time I really mean it - I've been dreading (and also looking forward to) this month for a while.

This month (your 23rd) is probably the last one where I can say you are "such and such" MONTHS old.  People would probably look at me strangely (even more than they already do) if I said you were 180 months old when you're fifteen.  From here on out, my Cub, your age will be measured in years (or half years).                            

A few days ago, I wrote about some "firsts".  My wise friend, Jen, made a comment on that post about embracing the firsts because there are so many milestones that are "lasts" that never get noticed.

Like, the last time I will refer to your age in months.

It got me thinking about what "last" milestones have come and gone without a mention.  I wanted to take some time today, on your 23 month birthday, to celebrate some of the "lasts"  we've shared. 

The last time you nursed.  Thankfully for the both of us you weened so gradually that I don't even remember the last time you nursed, but it was probably somewhere around your 18 or 19 month birthday.   I have some baby mama friends who can vividly recall this milestone and my heart hurts for them because I know the ending was sad.

The last time you ate baby food.  Again, I don't know the exact day when you last ate mushed food - I'm guessing somewhere around the 12 - 15 month (it's a big range, I know).  I used to make all your baby food so you'd think I'd remember the end more clearly, but I don't.  I'm sure you're thankful that I stopped taking so many pictures of you while you ate baby food.

The last time you crawled. To be fair, sometimes you still crawl around when you're being silly.  I don't remember the last time you crawled around as your primary mode of transportation - somewhere around 13 - 14 months.  I remember meeting with the other baby mamas and watching you and your friends crawl around - crawling is such a funny looking movement.  You were a cute crawler, Cubbie.

The last time you woke up in the middle of the night (for a non-illness related reason).  We used to spend so much time together in the middle of the night.  Don't get me wrong, I love my sleep, but I do miss our time together of being still and close.  I don't really miss the nights where you would want to play for two hours in the middle of the night, but I know that I'll never get that time back.   I hate it when you get sick, but I do love how you need to snuggle when you're not feeling well. 

All of these milestones are bittersweet  - the last of one thing (like crawling), usually means the first of something else (like walking).  It's always the firsts that get remembered/celebrated and not the lasts.  I'm going to try and remember some of the lasts and embrace them like I would a first. 

Your dad and I love you so much.  Everyday you make us laugh and we love hearing your voice (you now say, "cat", "bat", "bike" and "water").  

Please be sweet to me and your dad and please don't grow up too quickly.

Love,

Your Mom

Here's a picture of you on your 23 month birthday.

 

Misfit Monday

So last week I mentioned that we had a van stolen. 

We found it.  So, that's at least (kind of) one good thing.

In keeping with a tradition I started a few weeks ago - it's time to play Misfit vs. Toddler.

SITUATION:  How would a toddler/misfit dry a wet wall?

TODDLER:  Spit, drool and slobber all over the wall.  Rub the spit into the wall.  Blow bubbles onto the wall. Draw with crayon on the wall.   Take a nap.

MISFIT:  Stick a fan into the hole in the wall and blow out all the insulation thereby causing a larger mess ( insulation on clothes, furniture, carpet and walls) than the one we were originally called out to repair.  

CONCLUSION:  Toddler Wins!

Cub is saying lots of new words - he says his name as "Tash"and I heard the word "slide" for the first time today.

Cat Bites Dog

Perhaps not that dramatic, but pretty close.

This morning I made up my mind that we were no longer living in a segregated house. 

The cats and the big dog MUST learn to at least tolerate each other (I'm no longer delusional that the cats and big dog are going to cuddle up together and pose for pictures).

We decided that I would go outside with Cub to play and Buttin would play referee with the cats and Riggs.  The point was for Buttin to only get involved if an animal was about to get injured.

The following is the actual text transcript of what followed (I've edited some of the words to keep it PG-13).

(Cub and I are outside and we hear lots and lots of barking)

 

Buttin:  Scratch may not be the most loveable cat but he is an absolute bad-ass.

Me:  What is going on in there?

Buttin: Craziness. Scratch is on the table, Riggs is going ape-poo. 

Me:  Is Scratch fighting back?

Buttin:  Oh yeah.  Refuses to give an inch. 

Me:  Mouser ran upstairs?

Buttin: (Scratch) had numerous opportunities to leave but it's like he wants to fight.  No idea where Mouse is. Scratch is one cool mother plucker. 

Me:  You have some admiration for him now?

Buttin:  Like a kittie statue with Riggs inches away then POW!!!!  Screw the dog.  This cat will protect us. 

 

 

(Pause for non-cat/dog texting about chalk and iPhones)

Buttin:  Riggs just got double teamed.  Scratch went for reinforcements. I rounded the corner to see Mouser flying at Riggs.  Mouser went hard at Riggs and now the dog won't leave my side.  

 

Me: Good for Mouser.

Buttin:  This is awesome.

The end.

Riggs left the cats alone for the rest of the morning.  

I'm quite sure we'll have to do this excercise a few more times because Riggs is dumb, but I'm at least hopeful that we can all live in the same house at the same time - one day. 

Today was beautiful so this afternoon we went to the Austin Kite Festival. It was freaking huge - I was expecting about five hippies with a goat to be flying kites in the park - ta da, a festival!  But this was a really awesome festival - I've never seen so many kites or so many people getting hit in the head by kites. 

Here's Cub pointing at (not a kite) a dog probably.

I love this picture - Cub holding on to Buttin's pocket and Buttin holding Cub's head.

Ultra-Mini Race Report

PR by about 20 minutes at The My Fit Foods Woodlands Marathon!

Unofficial time: 4:46:19.

Overall grade: A-

Here's Cub today - I sure did miss him.

Filanthropy Friday

It's Shameless Self-Promotion Day!

Tomorrow is The My Fit Foods Woodlands Marathon and for the past couple of weeks I've been raising money for Girls On The Run Of Greater Houston.

I surpassed my $200 goal - but it's always nice to have a little extra!

Today I donated $20 to my own Girls On The Run fundraising page (I made my name "anonymous" so that I don't look so horrible, but I'm telling all my three readers anyway so it kind of defeats the purpose).  

In addition to Girls On The Run - I also donated $10 to The Hall Steps Foundation.  Their primary goal is to fight global poverty by helping to build communities and giving them tools to take the next step (get it? because it's called the steps foundation).  The Hall Steps Foundation was founded by runners Sara and Ryan Hall  (for those non-runners, Ryan will be running the marathon this summer in the London Olympics).  The HSF is the primary beneficiary of The My Fit Foods Woodlands Marathon, so it's kind of like I'm giving to them twice (first with my entry fee and now with my direct donation, I'm pretty generous).

Quickie

Quick post tonight - I'm packing and getting ready to go to Houston tomorrow for The My Fit Foods Woodlands Marathon. 

Two quick things about Cub:

1. I don't think I've mentioned it yet - but he says "pad" as in "iPad". 
2. Our nighttime snuggle routine has changed a little.  He likes to pull up my shirt and lay his cheek on my stomach while we snuggle.  I wonder if he likes to listen to my tummy make noises. 

Here's Cub today giving me the what for - I had/have no idea what he was trying to tell me, but he was very serious.