Make it or Break It....

As some of you remember from an earlier blog, I sometimes get... "carried away" with certain things... While I was pregnant with Brady, it was FarmVille... then I went through recovery... a hard, long, recovery... saying goodbye to FarmVille freed up so much time of mine, I didn't know what to do... Then I had Brady... and I became busy...

Recently we put the little guy into daycare full time. Not because I don't like to spend time with the little guy, but because my schedule is too erratic to be put in daycare part-time. Well.... this has cleared up a lot of time in my schedule recently.... Unfortunately... that does not always mean good things...

I was walking through Barnes and Nobles a couple months ago and saw a sign for "Secret Life of an American Teenager".... promoting the new season.... and what did I think? "Oh, that must be a good show!".... So.... you see.... I started to watch it... and watch it... and watch it... It was disgusting... just like FarmVille all over again.... Except it had one thing that FarmVille did not... an ending... Well... at least on Netflix.... I am now a devoted follower every Monday night... and I cannot get enought of Ricky, Amy, Ben, Adrian, and Grace... they have become my friends.... at least one day a week....



But who would fill the void the other days of the week? Well, once I told people that I liked Secret Life, everyone told me that I should start watching Make it or Break it... also an ABC Family favorite... Of course I would not start watching this show... that is NOT what I needed in my life...

But... I gave in... and I am now in another addiction. Now I spend my days off work with my new besties, Kaylie, Payson, and Emily... too bad that Lauren just won't go away. The thing is... my friends now need help.... their future is at jeopardy... you see, I still have 4 episodes left until I am "caught up," but the show is at risk for a 3rd season.... Why anyone would cancel this show is beyond me... I've even got Austin hooked on the show...



Well... Our only hope is Make it or Break it winning a Teen Choice Award... So, what was the first thing I did? Get on the website and vote for my shows... What was the response? FAIL..... I got a message saying I did not meet the "age requirements" to vote... What?!? BURN....

Well, I am still going to have a TCA party... and I may or may not be 17 when I get on the website to vote.... and I suggest you all do the same...

What Goes Up, Must Come Down

When I was younger, I remember how upset I would get when I would be on the same plane with a child.... especially a child right behind me. I remember, vividly, thinking, "Why doesn't this mother control her child? Can't she see that her daughter is ACTIVELY kicking my chair?" I would think the mother just saw me as a "free pass" for her child to kick my seat since I was young... but if I was an adult she would "control" her child a bit more... How rude she was.....

I think my beliefs were a bit ignorant at the time...

Let me explain a bit to all you folks out there flying on the same plane with a child... First, I want to apologize on behalf of all of us with kids. Yep, sucks to be you, you have to endure a 1-3 hour plan ride with a crying, kicking kid. But that's the thing, after that, you're done.

My last flight (from South Carolina to Texas) was awful. We had an amazing time on vacation for a week... spending the mornings on the beach and the afternoons at the pool... Lots of family, lots of good times... but this will mess up a child's schedule... really, lots of things can mess up a child's schedule....

Let me reminisce a bit more.... When Brady was just 6 weeks old I flew from Nebraska to Texas with him. It was great. Everyone smiled at us and EVERYONE helped us. I would just look at something and at least 2 people would ask me for help... everyone was so sweet. Somewhere between then and now peoples attitudes have changed drastically.

Let's start my trip from the beginning... Once we finally GET to the airport, (obviously running behind because NOTHING quite goes as planned when traveling with a child...) Today we were running a bit behind because Brady decided to sleep until 9am, and we needed to leave the hotel at 9:30... there was NO WAY I was going to wake up my child any EARLIER than he wanted on a day I was going to be traveling with him the whole day.....

We return the rental car, check in, and just have to get through security....

Did you know that when going through security a 15 month old child also has to take off his shoes? Yep... so in the middle of undressing myself for security, I am also trying to hold my child, and undress him, while also breaking down the stroller. Then I have to try and put this stroller up on the security belt while everyone watched me, while still holding Brady. Do you know how many people offered to help? Not one.

Finally, we get through security, oh, but wait, they have to do testing on Brady's milk, which may have some sort of deadly chemical in it... and while they are testing it Brady is screaming for his milk.... the milk I was trying to hide from him and give him on the plane to calm him down.... So much for that idea... had to give Brady the "chemical free" milk right after this.... glad to know it's safe...

After going through boarding, I once again have to break down the stroller to gate check it.... and once again, no help. Why don't I just set Brady down to do all these things you ask? Because he is 15 months old... he's mobile, very mobile.

I finally sit down with Brady on my lap, I pull out the books, crackers, and toys that I have brought to entertain him for the flight. I am excited that he is being so good, eating his crackers and letting me read to him.... Then.... the flight attendant says over the intercom that we will not be able to take off for another HOUR due to weather delays...

So, all my treats, books, and toys were not going to last. Before we even took off Brady was squirming and crying and doing everything he could to get down so he could play.... Could I really blame him? However, this does not make anything better.... I was obviously struggling. The plane finally took off.... Brady started kicking the lady's chair ahead of me, I grabbed his legs and repositioned and repositioned but all he wanted to do was kick that chair. By this time I had the worst headache ever and I was almost in tears... Whenever I tried to move Brady's feet so he couldn't kick he would scream on the top of his lungs and starting thrashing around (and consequently hitting the guy next to me...) To me, I had one choice, continue this or let him kick the chair.... I gave up. I let him kick the chair, only for about a minute.... until the lady sitting there turned around, looked right at me, and glared. It was just what I needed to break down into tears. It was my 16-year-old self glaring right at me... but in a 60-year old woman's body... It was awful.

I spent the next 45 minutes holding my son's legs down so he would not kick her chair, kick the man beside me (or his hot coffee on his tray-table), while he screamed, and screamed, and screamed. I hope your happy lady.... Now not only is your plane ride miserable, but everyone around us has the same awful experience... Well, except for me... because I am the one who has it easy... the one that is just sitting back relaxing and not "controlling" my child, right?

Hair Today, More Tomorrow

So, many of you know that my child was born without hair. There is no facts to spruce up to make pretty.... the kid was born bald.... super bald.... I still have not seen a baby at my new job that has as little hair as Brady did when he was born.



I knew that Brady would be bald before he was born. It has been a long-standing joke that I didn't get MY first haircut until I was 5 years old... and my uncle used to call me Uncle Fester. Neither of these facts I am proud of, but they are just that, facts.




Austin once took Brady to the doctor and, kid-you-not, somebody asked him, "Oh! Do you shave your kid's head too?" (the person had their child with them as well, just about the same age as Brady). He seemed somewhat confused when Austin said no. Seriously? Who shaves there kid's head this young? Brady's been begging for hair since he was 4 months old.... even asking us for a custom toupee made from his daddy's hair.... and while we were at it... maybe hook him up with a little 'stach...



Well... Recently there has been some major differences in Brady's hair department... and I am tired of people not recognizing it. I want people to quit telling me that my 15 month old son doesn't have any hair.... or ask us if we shave his head, or tell us that we "better make sure we have some sunscreen on that melon", or anything similar... And people won't NEED to tell me that... because I am proud to announce, Brady has HAIR!!!

Mile High Club

Bridget was our nanny for Brady from August to December of last year. It was great..... She sent me text updates continually throughout the day..... pictures..... and if I had a question about his day I could call her at 10pm and ask her..... Austin & I were so grateful we wanted to do something BIG to thank her..... if you know Bridget at all.... she LOVES Taylor Swift..... So.... we bought her tickets to see Taylor tomorrow in Omaha.... It was great..... see Taylor & sees the Omaha family in one trip..... since she hasn't been back in a long time..... and We could bring Brady with us for the weekend to see everyone too..... my plan was genius....

Or so I thought......

We left EARLY this morning...... woke up Brady at 5:30am for the trip to the Good Life State.... I was a little sad that Bridget was only sitting next to us from San Antonio to Houston and not all the way to Omaha.... especially because I knew it would be more "challenging" with Brady waking up 3 hours before his normal wake up time......

However, Brady was not doing too bad.... considering..... the short flight was only 56 minutes long.... we could survive that, right? Well, as we started to descend Brady INSISTED on going to his Aunt Bridget..... and Bridget was more than willing to take him.... even asking him, "You love me more than Aunt Molly, right?" and teaching Brady to shake his head "yes". (Brady is somewhat annoying in how much he likes his Aunt Molly... and screams hysterically when he has to go to ANYONE else.... especially his momma)....

Well, in the middle of teaching Brady this new trick, I saw it..... just a little bit of drool coming out of his mouth..... just like he used to do when he'd spit up a little when he was younger..... but before I could process exactly what was going on.... he started..... he started vomitting.... not just spitting up.... but full fledged vomit all over his Aunt Bridget and mom.... okay, mostly his Aunt Bridget.... I grabbed a sweatshirt I had brought and started cleaning up the mess as quick as I could but before I could even get to his mouth he continued to vomit... over and over and over again.... everywhere.... the lady on the aisle seat was in complete disbelief..... just starring at us with her mouth open.... People started looking from behind and in front of us.... then.... just when we thought it couldn't get worse..... it happened.... the smell took over.... and then Bridget and I started gagging while trying to clean up the mess.... I feared that The situation was going to turn into the pie scene in Stand By Me.... and nobody could help us because the plane was now landing.... we had used all our resources to try and clean it up.... but gave up.... there was too much.... we decided it s best to just try and cover ourselves up with any extra blanket or piece of clothing avaiable..... to protect the sanity of those around us.... and our noses....

Needless to say.... Bridget was very glad not to have to sit by us on the plane from Houston to Omaha.... but I am pretty sure the people sitting next to each of us wondered why we smelled of vomit.....

Oh wait.... is that not what the Mile High Club is?

Baby Fever?!

I recently started a new job.... For those of you that know me, I have been working as a nurse on a Neurosurgery floor since we moved to San Antonio last July. Before that I was working on a Neuro/Orthopedic floor in Omaha.

Well... I am doing something different now... much, MUCH different. I am working on a Mother/Baby unit. I am currently still on orientation, but I will be taking care of Moms & their babies after they deliver. I am super excited about the types of patients I will be working with. It is such a "happy" environment... much different from the broken bones & very sad cases I was working with previously.

The most frequent question I get when I tell people where I am working is, "Doesn't it make you want to have another baby?!?" It is awesome seeing all they babies & seeing how precious they are at such a young age. I still am in awe that Brady was ever that young.... and when I come home & see him walking around and eating solid foods.... it makes me sad to think he is growing up so darn fast. However, I also think about how fun he is & how much he makes me laugh and proud with each new thing he has learned... but, I can't stop thinking how nice it would be to have such a little baby again... and eventually have a little sibling for Brady to play with...

But... there is a second side to my job.... it isn't just the cute, little, innocent babies.... it is the mothers... who, are happy for the most part.... but are in pain, exhausted, and have many long months ahead of them.... of being sleep deprived, pain, and coming off their pregnancy hormones.... and I remind myself that I am not quite ready for that again. :)

Measles?!?

Brady sleeps very good throughout the night. We are very lucky of this. One bad part of this, however, is the days I work I do not get to see the little guy at all. He sleeps in until 7:30 or 8am, long after I have gone to work. This means Austin has the job of taking him to daycare on these days.

A few weeks ago after Brady ate dinner I wiped his face with a baby wipe. He had eaten Mac & Cheese and had gotten it all over his face, head, hands, arms, etc. Well, after wiping his face & head I noticed he got a few red bumps on him... I thought he must have just been a little sensitive from the wipes & being out in the sun all day (we had gone to the zoo), and put him to bed. That night was awful. He was up crying all night. This is not like Brady at all. He sleeps silently for 11-12 hours per night with no problems... so being up for 3-4 hours crying is definitely not like him. It was dark, and we didn't really turn on the lights... I did give him some Tylenol & we thought he must be teething because he went to sleep about an hour later. The next morning, (while I was at work) I got several texts messages from Austin... starting at 9am... I did not see them until 1130am.... They went like this...

8:40am "I don't know what to do about Brady. He is super cranky right now."

9:16am "Rejected at daycare. can't come back without a note from the doctor. Not sure what to do about class."

10:30am "Hello?"

10:52am "Hello? It looks like he has the measles."

After I received these texts, I got off work early (since it was a huge week for Austin is school, he needed to be there). I got home... and this is what I saw...



Oh my!! My first thought was "You TRIED to TAKE him to daycare like this?!?" haha. But, Brady seemed okay otherwise. He was a bit cranky, but still playing with his toys and what-not.

We took him to the doc & found out that it was an allergy to Penicillin.... that he had just finished a 10 day course of!! Since he was not even taking the antibiotic anymore, we did not even think this could be the reason!

Anyway, I guess you cannot take your kid to daycare if it looks like he has the measles.... Apparently, it scares the other parents quite a bit.... On the bright side, I felt like we got a glimpse in the future on what Brady will look like in 15 years....

Firsts!!

This post is a bit late.... but Brady turned one!!! I cannot believe how many "firsts" he's had in the past year.... First Day...

First girlfriend... (and yes, him a Chloey ae still going strong... even through the long distance... I guess that is what happens when your first date is in your undies...) First tanning booth.... First time getting beat up... (by his "big" cousin Liam) First Bonnet (and first embarrassing picture).... First Smile (and he still smiles like this... and it makes me smile every time I watch it!) First house.... (miss you Omaha!!) First friend.... First Swim... First wig & facial hair... First time giving the finger... First helmet... First Christmas.... First Spanish lesson (also first wave and first dance)


First Boat Ride!!


First... (actually first 1-8) TEETH!


First time Painting!!


First Snow.... (yep... that's right folks.... rounded up all the snow in San Antonio to take this picture....)


First Steps!!!


First Swing!



and First Birthday!!! (of course, he shared this day with his cousin, Jack, born just 8 hours earlier!!)


And.... I am not allowed to post any more pictures, so I guess that's it!! :)