Full frames and a guilty conscience

Ok, I have a moral dilemma but I must first give you the background story.

For many weeks now, I've been meaning to get pictures printed for a few frames and a photo album.  I hung up a frame I bought in our bathroom about 2 months ago.  Which means it has been pictureless for about 2 months.  Shameful, I know.  So yesterday, I spent Brady's nap putting a bunch of pictures in my shopping cart.  I went through all the steps and even put in my credit card number so when I picked the pictures up from Walgreens, I wouldn't have to pay in the store.  I show up at Walgreens a few hours later and much to my disappointment, they didn't have my order.  I realized I didn't get a confirmation email, which probably means I was one step short in confirming my order.

I got back to my house, opened my computer, and realized I had closed out my browser.  I went back on the site and of course, empty cart.  So last night, I went through the process once again.  We're talking over 100 pictures that I got printed, and I won't go into details about why it took more time than simply clicking on the pictures I wanted printed, but just take my word for it...it took some time.  I knew today I would be driving past a different Walgreens, so I imputed a different store as my pick up location.

Or so I thought.

I walked into Walgreens #2 today and yet again, no pictures.  With the help of the man behind the counter, I figured out that the pictures were at a different location...in my haste, I clicked the wrong Walgreens.  Tricky because its on the same street, but not very close/convenient.  So I drug Brady out of the Walgreens #2 and on to Walgreens #3. (On a positive note, if you need to know where a Walgreens is, give me a call).

Third time was a charm!  My pictures were there and the guy handed them to me and suggested I look through them to make sure they were the right ones.  As he walked away, I opened the package, confirmed that I wasn't walking out with someone else's pictures, and gave the guy a wave and said "thank you" as I exited the store.

So I loaded Brady up in the car, dropped all the pictures in the parking lot (note to self: close envelope), and was just glad to finally have my pictures in hand.  So what was the problem?

I got home and realized the pictures were not paid for.  I had tried to pay for the first set of pictures online, but with my second order, I chose the "pay in store" option.  These pictures were $20, so it is a decent amount of money to be "stealing."  However, I don't feel like it is exactly my fault, as the guy made no moves to charge me for these pictures.  Who has the burden in this situation?  If I had walked out holding $20 worth of merchandise, I would certainly feel obligated to go back and pay.  But I guess I was still essentially doing that?  Did I mention this is not a convenient location that I will be breezing past any time soon.

Ok, Internet, please be my moral compass.  What do I do?

Excuse me sir, will you hold my child?

Last week, I was pretty sick.  The last time I threw up was in high school, when I got food poisoning a the Iowa State Fair.  So I was a little out of practice.  If there is something good about what I experienced, it was that at the peak of my illness, I was in comfort of my own bathroom, and thankfully, Brady was sleeping soundly.  Knowing I was traveling in a few days, it got me thinking of what I would do if something like that hit me in an airport (or plane), traveling with a child.  Ask a nice looking person to watch my child?  Bring him into the 3 foot lavatory?

Eric and I watched the movie "Bridesmaids" last night.  In it, one of the characters experienced the dilemma of being sick at a most inopportune time.  No baby was involved, but an expensive wedding dress was.  If you've seen the scene, it was hard not to feel her pain.

Speaking of pain and being sick in airports, this story I read today may take the cake.  A woman traveling over the holidays gave birth in an airport bathroom.  In goes the turkey, out goes the baby.

Thankfully, I have no exciting stories to report in our Thanksgiving travels.  Brady and I flew to St. Louis to visit my grandparents and parents.  Unfortunatley, my grandfather got the flu so we weren't able to see him.  Otherwise, it was a great trip.  My grandma was thrilled (and suprised) that Brady didn't cry when she held him.  I didn't want to break it to her that he doesn't cry when anyone holds him.

Eric came from his Thanksgiving trip to Las Vegas with $80 more than he left with (and a Tar Heel loss).  Unfortunately, he needed to win about $1,100 more to cover our next trip....Iowa for Christmas ain't cheap!

Thanksgiving feast

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I thought I would share Brady's latest feasts.  We started him on solids last weekend, and as you can see below, our first attempt was not a raging success.

Ok, Brady, we get it, rice cereal is out.  Moving on...

Ahh...much better!  Pears win!  Pears apparently help keep you regular and since my man just broke a 10 day streak, I thought they would be a wise choise. 

Pardon the pink spoon, but at least in that set of pictures I have a bib on him.  We have 50 bibs and the first time my child eats I did not deem it necessary to put one on him.

Wishing you delicious feasts this Thanksgiving weekend!  Stay away from the rice cereal!

Letters to Brady: 6 months

Dear Brady,

Happy half-year birthday!  Actually, it was yesterday, but mom was sick and it took all I had just to get up to change you...a photo shoot and blogging session were not on the agenda.  I spent Sunday night hugging the toilet, and yesterday was spent in the bed.  I didn't have my best parenting day, as I left the bed only to change your diaper and put you in the Jumparoo.  Like always, you made it as easy as possible on me and were your typical low-maintenance self.  While you were playing in the bed, I gave you the rubber bulb syringe to play with (ok, I realize syringe, babies and play shouldn't typically be used in the same sentance) and I watched as you examined it for nearly 15 minutes.  Although you hate it when its used for its intended purpose (extracting snot from your nose), you were so very fascinated by it.  Of course, like most things, you put every part of it in your mouth.  On a day that I could do little more than simply lie there, it gave me a chance to really watch you.  It is fun to see you discover all the fun and exciting things the world has to offer...like snot suckers.

Your dad is good to us, or certainly tries to be.  When I was sick on Sunday night, he ran to the store and bought some Pepto Bismol for me.  After he got home, we read the label and it said when breastfeeding, consult a physician.  So I consulted the Internet and turns out Pepto isn't so good.  Last night, you weren't feeling so good last yourself and you were running a fever.  You had your 6 month shots yesterday, so dad ran out to get some fever reducer medicine at about 11:30.  When he got home and took it out of the package, we realized under dosage, it said, "consult a physician."  Of course, you haven't been sick before so this is new territory.  Sorry Brady, rookie parents.

When your dad and I look at your, we often shake our heads.  It's hard to grasp that we made something as cool as you.  You are just such a happy baby and the days of your tummy troubles and screaming seem like a lifetime ago.  I am convinced that if all the world's leaders could sit down around a table and listen to a baby's laughter, they could figure out a way to solve the world's conflicts.  There is nothing as pure as your laughter and nothing makes me happier than hearing it. 

Nobody can make you laugh like your dad can.  He is loud, obnoxious, and rough...qualities that you love.  The other day your dad came home from work and he hollered to you as soon as he came in the door.  I watched your eyes light up, and it was special moment to see you not only recognize, but get excited at the sound of your dad.  The only thing you might adore more than your daddy is your thumb.  You suck that thing with a vigor that is truly impressive.  It is so very adorable and while we may pay for this habit down the line (literally, with orthodontic bills), for now I am glad you found something to soothe yourself.

This week you will celebrate your first Thanksgiving and I can't think of another year when I had so much to be thankful for.  Thank you for bringing such joy to our lives.

We love you.

Love,
Mom

Sharing is caring

Our friends, Shelley and Jonathan, have a cute little boy, Winston, who was born a few weeks after Brady.  Below is a picture of their first play date.

 
Yeah, not a lot of playing going on.  Clearly, Winston was very impressed with Brady.  The latest play date today was a bit more engaging.

 

 Ok moms, we're here.  What do we do now?

  You want us to do a stare-off?  Ok, we can do that.

Ha, forget that.  Let's play.

 Oh, Winston, I have plenty of toys here to share.  You really didn't need to bring your own book over.

Ok, well since it's already here, you mind if I take a stab at it?  Oh, I'm sorry, you were playing with it?  Did you not get the memo that this was my house?

We'll have to work on our sharing this week.

On a boat without a baby

We're back!  It's been a long several days and feels good to be home.  Our adventure started Wednesday.  We woke up Brady early (he needed a taste of his own medicine) and left the house at 5:45 am to drive to Winston-Salem to meet Eric's parents to drop off Brady and my car.  It was much easier to leave my car.

We flew to San Diego that afternoon and we went straight from the plane to the aircraft carrier, where we got a tour of the ship.  The whole deal would have only could have only been made cooler if we landed our plane on the ship.

 

We stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado, a beautiful place right on the beach.  I met up with an old college teammate that night and it was fun catching up with her and hearing about her job.  She works for the Secret Service and is the first female counter sniper ever.  She snipes the snipers.  She told me she could hit a softball from 1,000 feet.  Color me impressed.  Luckily, we (or the President) didn't need her services on Friday during the game on the Aircraft Carrier (or at least I don't think so).  Note to self: don't get on Kim's bad side.

I experienced some firsts while traveling. Watch a game on a ship...check.  Hear the President speak...check.  Pump in a plane bathroom...check.  Pump in a port-a-potty...check.

After the game Friday night, we hopped on a plane to Asheville, since the team had a game on Sunday.  We landed around 4 am and after a long nap, I woke up ready for Eric's parents to drop Brady off.  As cool as the ship, the President and everything else about the trip was, they just couldn't compete with the feeling of seeing Brady after three days away.  I missed him.

Brady is such a good baby that he didn't want to make his grandparents change a dirty diaper.  So he held it in for three days.  I was in for a treat with that first diaper.  Keep in mind, when I handed Brady off, he hadn't gone in a few days.  Notice a trend in my child?  I won't give details, but lets just say if the amount of poop that came out of him was indicative of how much he missed his mom, he really loves me.

We had a bit of a rough night at the hotel.  The second time he woke up was around 2:30.  After I fed him, I went to change his diaper.  The good news about having Brady sleep with us in the hotel is that I can do everything at one place.  He's got the dinner table, bathroom, and bed all in one place.  While I was changing the diaper in our dark room on the bed, I noted to myself that his diaper wasn't as full as it usually was at that time.  As soon that thought crossed my mind, I felt the spray of some warm liquid.  I would normally chalk this up to plain bad luck, but Brady hasn't peed with his diaper off (with the exception of the bathtub) in months.  Why break that streak somewhere boring like a lighted changing table where mom has the opportunity manage the situation and divert the fountain?  Instead, he chose a time where he would wet me, himself, and the sheets we were sleeping on....another "thank you" to mom for leaving him for three days.  By the time I got us changed and dry, here were the levels of alertness in our hotel room:  Brady - wide awake, Amy - half asleep, Eric - unconscious.  Things went downhill from there.

Ahh, but I love that kid and we had a great time during the (scheduled) awake times of the day.  He went to his first of what is sure to be many Carolina basketball games last night and he seemed to enjoy the Heel victory.  We had a 3 1/2 hour drive back to Durham after the game and Brady snoozed the whole way.  And as a true thank you to his mom for getting him back in his own crib, Brady only woke up only once at 2:30 and slept in until 7!

My part-time work at the Rams Club has involved planning the trip to San Diego, so although I enjoyed my time away, it was definitely a working trip.  The last few weeks have been a bit stressful and very busy and to have my phone not ring today was amazing.  I've enjoyed working from home, but I savored this Monday, having no responsibilities, beyond those of a mom.  And on this beautiful fall day, I even enjoyed my afternoon run.

Thanks....and no thanks.

It is November and in the spirit of the month, I'd thought I'd tell you about a few things I'm thankful, and not so thankful for.

No thanks...to the trick-or-treaters who saw the bowl of candy on the front porch and decided it would be ok to empty it into their bags.  I hope you get a stomachache (kidding...sort of).  Had I not been cleaning up Brady who soiled his giraffe costume, this wouldn't have been an issue.  So no thanks to Brady, too.

No thanks...to the clothing manufacturers who make it so hard to figure out how to put your clothes on correctly.  And thanks to the chancellor's wife who, after attempting to tuck in my tag when we showed up to their house for dinner, directed to me to the bathroom so I could put my shirt on right-side-out (after laughing at with me first)

Thanks...to the various travelers and airport workers who helped make my first solo plane trip with Brady successful.

No thanks...to airlines for charging an arm and a leg to check a bag.  I refused to check a bag which means I hauled around 1) a baby 2) a stroller 3) a car seat 4) a roller bag 5) a diaper bag.

No thanks...Washington Dulles International Airport.  Here's how my time with you went.  Exit the plane onto the runway.  Pick up items I have checked plane side (see 2,3,4 above) and get on to a bus.  Get off the bus with said items...take a elevator up to the terminal.  Look for my gate in terminal.  Find arrow directing towards gate and realize it is pointing outside.  Look at the stairs and ask gate attendant where I find the elevator down to the ground.  Have attendant basically tell me it doesn't exist (funny, I just took one a few minutes ago).  Sigh.  Take multiple trips to drag bags/stroller/baby down the stairs and on to another bus.  Be the last person to board the bus.  Ask the bus driver if I can stand.  Get denied and told to leave all my stuff and find the lone seat on the back of the bus.  Hope nobody on the bus is late for their flight.  Arrive at gate.  See bus driver haul all my stuff, including diaper bag off bus and up the stairs in one trip.  Decide either he is the nicest man ever, or there goes my wallet and all my clothes.  Meet nice bus driver at the top of stairs and hear about his 5 kids.  Proceed to Albany.

Thanks...to Brady for being such a great traveler and making the trip a good one.  My grandmother passed away, and while funerals are never fun, it was great to see my family, some of which I hadn't seen in a very long time.  It's a good thing we left when we did, though, Brady started getting a big head after hearing from everyone how good of a baby he is.

Thanks...for boys!  My brother, Eric and his wife, Amy (yes, confusing, I know) just found out they are having another baby boy.  Emma is definitely outnumbered!

Much to be thankful for this month!