Home Sick

On Tuesday I had my gall bladder removed. Everything went well, my incisions seem miniscule, and I've had almost no pain whatsoever. I have, however, felt like I had surgery this week. I'm generally tired and weaker than usual, two facts that keep sneaking up and surprising me. I credit my overall speedy recovery to the tremendous support I have gotten in the last week by my MIL, C's brother Zio, and C.


Zio and Nonna stayed for the week and watched Wiggle, so that I could get some R&R. I will admit, I was a little apprehensive to have them come and stay with us, even though I was the one who invited them. I knew I would need the help, but I also knew I wouldn't be feeling very well, and house guests can be the last thing you want when you're not 100%. I'm glad to say I was completely wrong. They weren't house guests; they were family. It was absolutely wonderful for me, and Wiggle had the best time. He spent the entire week showing off and learning tons of new things, like saying "thank you." I've been working on that one for awhile to no avail, but for Nonna it was effortless. I can't wait until their next visit!

C and I even got to go out to dinner on Thursday night for our third wedding anniversary. We had a very nice meal at Fonda del Mar, one of the many Mexican restaurants we will miss when we leave Chicago at the end of the summer.

As summer gets started, I am realizing that our "last time" for many things is fast approaching, and for a ton of others has already occurred. We've already had our last winter in Chicago, which is fine because I'm really enjoying the warm weather, but I'm still getting nostalgic already.

Today we sat in the backyard, talking to friends, while Wiggle played in a kiddie pool for hours with his friend, and I kept thinking about how much we will miss those people, this yard, and Chicago summers in general. For so many people we know, Chicago is just a stop along the way, but for us, it is home. I'm sure we will love Virginia and the East Coast and everything else about our new life, but when I wake up in the morning and the sky is a certain shade of blue, no matter where I am I will think I'm waking up in Chicago.

On Tuesday I had my gall bladder removed. Everything went well, my incisions seem miniscule, and I've had almost no pain whatsoever. I have, however, felt like I had surgery this week. I'm generally tired and weaker than usual; two facts which keep sneaking up and surprising me. I credit my overall speedy recovery to the tremendous support I have gotten in the last week by my MIL, C's brother Zio, and C.Zio and Nonna stayed for the week and watched Wiggle, so that I could get some R&R. I will admit, I was a little apprehensive to have them come and stay with us, even though I was the one who invited them. I knew I would need the help, but I also knew I wouldn't be feeling very well, and house guests might be the last thing you want when you're not 100%. I'm glad to say I was completely wrong. They weren't house guests; they were family. It was absolutely wonderful for me, and Wiggle had the best time. He spent the entire week showing off and learning tons of new things, like saying "thank you." I've been working on that one for awhile to no avail, but for Nonna it was effortless. I can't wait until their next visit!

C and I even got to go out to dinner on Thursday night for our third wedding anniversary. We had a very nice meal at Fonda del Mar, one of the many Mexican restaurants we will miss when we leave Chicago at the end of the summer.

As summer gets started, I am realizing that our "last time" for many things is fast approaching, and for a ton of others has already occurred. We've already had our last winter in Chicago, which is fine because I'm really enjoying the warm weather, but I'm still getting nostalgic already.

Today we sat in the backyard, talking to friends, while Wiggle played in a kiddie pool for hours with his friend, and I kept thinking about how much we will miss those people, this yard, and Chicago summers in general. For so many people we know, Chicago is just a stop along the way, but for us, it is home.

I'm sure we will love Virginia and the East Coast and everything else about our new life, but when I wake up in the morning and the sky is a certain shade of blue, no matter where I am I will think I'm waking up in Chicago.

Impatiently waiting for the pool to be filled

Who needs a slide when you have measuring cups?

Playing in the Pool

My Long Lost Blog

I haven't really felt like blogging much lately. So much for the resolution, right? I will try to get back on track even if I don't feel like it. Part of the thing is to develop the habit, so I really need to soldier on especially when I don't feel like it.

C's fam comes in next week to see the boy and help out while I have my gall bladder removed and during my recovery. I'm really looking forward to their visit, and even to the surgery a little. I'll feel better, physically and psychologically, when the little bugger is out.

I've finally begun to feel like a mom again, instead of a warden. Each time Wiggle makes a jump in mobility, it was running and climbing this time, it seems like it takes me about six weeks to adjust enough so that I can still get something done in a day and have fun with the boy. This week, I finally planned a menu, did the shopping for it, and tonight we even cooked recipes from the menu. Also, the sink is empty, there's not a full bag of laundry in the house, the floors were all mopped this weekend, and the bed is made. It's amazing how wonderful getting into a made bed can make me feel after a long day. Last night, I made a comment to C about it, and he asked me why. I explained that if the bed is made when I come in to go to sleep, I think about all of the things I got done today. However, if the bed is unmade when I go to bed, I think about all of the things I meant to do, but didn't get to today. It's much easier to get myself to make the bed, than to try and overhaul how I naturally think about my day.

In Wiggle news -
He has been talking up a storm as of late. Today, he said "sssss" for the first time. Cool, huh? It gets better. He actually pointed at the letter "s" while making the sound, totally unprompted by me. Later, he mastered "f" with his dad. When he's on a roll, he's really on a roll.
Physically, he's been running. Running up and down the halls, trying to run down the stairs, the sidewalk, into any door, out of any door. Everything he does is fast. I have started letting him choose his clothes. When I hold up two shirts for him to choose between, there is no deliberation; the decision is split-second. The boy knows what he wants. Who would have thought that C and I would have an opinionated child? Even knowing that I would, I didn't expect him to have so many opinions and that they would be so well defined this early.

My Mother's Day breakfast - biscuits and gravy. Wiggle cut out the biscuits himself.

Counting at the Zoo

Busy as a Bee

The weeks are getting fuller and more frantic as spring starts to really set in. On Friday we went to the Museum of Science and Industry to play and explore. Wiggle spent most of his time examining the lights in the floor or trying to get in places he shouldn't be, but that's why we only go on free days.

You may not be able to tell, but he is behind the exhibit.

He had a blast and all the running around wore us both out. It has been raining all weekend, so today we went to the nature museum to watch the butterflies.

We spent almost as much time walking to and from the car as we did inside, but there were some worthy distractions along the way.

Wiggle chased the geese and the ducks with much gusto. Much to my surprise, they all yielded to the towering toddler.

This week we have three doctor's appointments, one music class, and at least two play dates, as well as a grown-up dinner with a friend. We have to move our Steppenwolf tickets to another night because it is just too much for one week. The thing is, it seems like every week is like this lately. It will only get worse as we get closer to moving too. These last three months here are going to be jam-packed, but lots of fun to be sure.

Vocabulary

A list of his words -

Apple
Book
Ball
Up
Duck
Whale
Gup (for grape)
Cat
Bubble
Mom
Dad

He also nods his head for yes and shakes it for no. Pointing is a popular method of communicating as well.

I'm hoping for more words soon, as his frustration level at not being able to communicate his wants is growing by the day.

He understands tons of things and can point to and identify most things in his books.

This week, he learned to blow, and he now plays the harmonica and the recorder admirably.

Oh, and he is still stunningly cute.

Sunday in the Park

Yesterday, we got down and dirty in the sandbox. Wiggle seems to get absolutely filthy in less than five minutes outside, which is just fine since that's what baths are for. He also has been on an injury streak. He split his chin on Saturday, cut his thumb on Sunday, and has various bumps and red spots on his head today that I can't explain, except by saying that he is a walking, no, a running tornado that leaves destruction and mayhem everywhere he touches down. He's still a lot of fun, but let's just say that I am very happy that the weather is good enough now to spend a great deal of time outside.

This rake makes a great fork!

So this is what sand tastes like. Yech!

Sandstorm

It's my shovel.

My beautiful sandy boy.

Because Dad knows all about bulldozers.

A sandstand

Easter Weekend

I've fallen woefully behind in my blog posts, I know. Part of it has been that Wiggle is changing so much every day, that by the time I go to the computer to write about the new word he's said or thing he's reached, it's already old news. The other reason is that I just haven't felt like it very much. I've got a pretty serious case of spring fever and have not been spending as much time cooped up in front of the computer screen. Although the weather report says it might snow tomorrow, so perhaps spring has not yet sprung.

We spent the weekend in Kansas City celebrating Easter and the birthdays of Grandma R and Aunt M. We had a wonderful time visiting the fam, and C and I got some much needed R&R.

Wiggle searched for eggs around the house on Sunday.

Taking a nap on Uncle B.

Walking with Dad and Grandma R.

Can you guess what Grandma R and Aunt M are looking at?

Two very handsome guys.

A very tired boy patiently waiting for ice cream cake.

It's nice for us to see family, but it's amazing to see Wiggle with them. I love to see how much he loves them. Grandpa M can make him laugh hysterically; he shows off for Grandma R; he smiles every time he sees Aunt M; and he jumps into Uncle B's arms for hugs. I hope we get to see everyone again very soon.

Stupid Furniture

I got the new Restoration Hardware catalog today. I had read that they revamped their furniture line and was interested to see their new style. While they have a couple of lamps that I wouldn't mind owning, most of the stuff is ridiculously bad. It is not just over-sized and impractical, but also looks like you would need a tetanus shot after coming in contact with it. Much of it is iron or has iron hardware, which I'm pretty sure shows rust in a number of the photos.

Take a close look at the photo above and you'll notice that the desk is a large trunk. While it might make me feel a little like Alice after she drinks the potion, if I owned it, that is not a feature I generally look for in a piece of furniture.

Also, all of the not-so-little drawers and such are canvas, a sturdy fabric for sure, but still a fabric. Maybe not everyone is as grubby as I am, but I can't imagine an area filled with pens, ink cartridges, a printer, etc, not warranting a surface you can wipe down occasionally.
The desk is part of a collection of 18 trunks that serve as various pieces of furniture. You could have your whole house look like the movie set of a dock in front of a 20th century steamership. The whole catalog looks like a movie set. Everything is huge. It makes the furniture on Pottery Barn look like it belongs in a studio apartment. There's lots of linen - always a practical fabric for a couch or a dining room chair.

It looks like they mixed Donald Trump's sense of scale and penchant for Roman columns and then upholstered everything using Diane Keaton's wardrobe. Throw in a dash of lukewarm steampunk and you have their new catalog.

So I don't like their new stuff, big surprise, and big deal. What I can't figure out is who they are marketing this stuff to. To me, the stuff like the trunk would only appeal to people with apartments too small to hold it, and the linen wrapped couches to people who buy furniture for model McMansions in Florida? Who knows.

All I can say is, it's not doing anything for me.