Giving Thanks (4)

Today I was most grateful for the iPad that entertained Mikey for over an hour when he woke up at his regular 6:00 am time the morning after Daylight Savings time (so technically he was up at 5am) and I wasn't yet functional.

Halloween Celebrations

When discussing Halloween, Mikey was adamant that he wanted to be Peter Pan.  He only knows of Peter Pan from one episode of "Jake" but it obviously left a lasting impression.  I searched high and low for this costume.  I first called all of the Disney stores in our area as well as New Jersey (thinking my parents could always pick it up and ship it if need be).  I learned two things: 1) the Disney Store receives their shipments in on Wednesdays (good for future notice) and 2) every boy that wears a size 4 must have been Peter Pan for Halloween because NO costumes were left!  I posted on facebook my frustrations and many people recommended borrowing costumes of their own or trying other websites like EBay and Amazon.  I knew exactly what I was looking for and the cheap-o version was not an option.  We eventually ordered it on Amazon (for MORE than what the Disney Store was asking).  The excitement from Mikey when he tried it on for the first time was worth every penny.

Saturday, October 27 was the first of our Halloween celebrations.  It was the annual Perniola Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.  Last year lots of parents and kids dressed up.  This year all kids were dressed up, not as many adults.  Mikey chose our costumes.  He insisted that "Daddy is going to be Captain Hook" and "Mommy is going to be a princess" (we were able to compromise and so I was Tinker Bell).

Mikey asked to hold Oliver (4 months).  Look how proud he is.  I'm glad he is getting some practice!

 

 Oliver, Big Sister Ellie/Minnie Mouse and Mikey

Sean (Wiggles character) and Abigail (cupcake)

On the actual day of Halloween, Mikey went to Eva's House.  She took them trick-or-treating that afternoon on Lincoln Street to the different businesses that were handing out candy.  Mikey told me that Odin was a "race car driver" and Jonah was a "monkey".  I am hoping some pictures get sent along the email chain so I can add them here.

Actual Halloween was cancelled here at the Archstone apartment complex due to the weather and was rescheduled for Saturday, November 3.  Mommy, Daddy and Mikey went trick-or-treating along Fox Road while Gran-ma and Bob stayed behind to man the door and make dinner.  We were the only ones out---which worked out well for Mikey.  He got lots of attention AND lots of candy!

All in all, I would say Mikey had a successful 4th Halloween!

Sibling Class at Newton-Wellesley Hospital

Today we signed up for a Sibling class at Newton-Wellesley Hospital to help prepare Mikey for Baby S's upcoming arrival.  The class was an hour and consisted of practicing holding and wrapping a baby, talking about baby basics (why babies cry, what babies eat, washing your hands before touching baby, etc.) and then a tour of the maternity ward and seeing a new baby in the nursery.  

The class started with introductions of the children---first their name, how old they were, if they were having a baby brother or sister and what the baby's name was (if known).  

Here's how Mikey's intro went:

Nurse Kathy: "I see your name is Mikey" (from his name tag).

Mikey: (Smiles)

Nurse Kathy: How old are you, Mikey?

Mikey: "Three and a half" (this was a first I have EVER heard him say anything other than "4" when asked without prompting)

Nurse Kathy: Are you having a brother or a sister?

Mikey: "Eli!"

He also told someone at the Halloween party last weekend that the baby's name was going to be Eli (as in Eli Manning).  Let the record show now that Michael and I have NOT decided to name the baby Eli (or any other name yet for that matter!).

The class went well aside from my pickiness related to how some adults don't know how to interact with young children (and yet are responsible for "teaching" a class to young children).  The kicker for me was when she asked the children "Do you know that the baby is going to come out of Mommy's vagina?".  (Insert eye roll here)

Here are some pics:

Giving Thanks (3)

In piggy backing yesterday's reference to Sandy, today we are thankful for:

1) Electricity;

2) Access to clean water;

3) Gas stations without 2 hour waits or gas rationing schedules;

4) Internet & Cable access;

5) A fully stocked grocery store.

(All of these are extremely taken for granted....)

Giving Thanks (2)

Today we are thankful for our family---parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins!  We are grateful that everyone is safe after Superstorm Sandy from this week.  Houses and personal items can all be replaced but our family members cannot!  xoxo

Giving Thanks

For each day in the month of November I am going to post something we are thankful for.

Here we go:

Today on November 1st I am thankful for Michael, Mikey and Baby #2.  We have a special, close-knit family and I couldn't imagine one day without any of them.

Terrible Threes?

Most of the time my posts include cute little stories about the latest events, phrases, etc. in Mikey's life.  Today we are going to shed some light on his recent imperfection.  Sigh.

Whenever we are getting ready to leave the house---to run an errand, go on a road trip, whatever----Mikey is given PLENTY of notification ahead of time.  At the time he is excited and willing to leave the house.  However, when the actual moment of leaving the house occurs, we have been greeted with tantrums (throwing himself down on the ground, running back to his room to snuggle with his lovey, crying, kicking his feet....).  Being that I am now 33 weeks pregnant and Mikey is weighing 37 pounds,  picking him up is not a preferred method for me.  On Tuesday I started the process of leaving the house at 8:00----we got in the car at 8:30.  Yesterday we FINALLY left for Eva's at 8:50 (which is very late for us).

Today's experience tops the cake.  Each night when I tuck Mikey in, we review the day of the week, what happened during the day and what we would be looking forward to doing the next day.  Last night he was so happy that today was Friday and we would be going to My Gym.  (**As a side note, we have been dragging Mikey around to plenty of furniture stores and other not-so-fun-places for a toddler recently, so I get his hesitation, but not every destination can be fun for him, right?!?!)  So as 12:30 approached, Mikey went potty by himself, put on his sweatshirt and sneakers independently so we could leave for My Gym.  Once we got downstairs (which is a whole other process----I will NEVER have a garage under my house in the future again!), Mikey decided he wanted to check out the grass and started walking around.  I said, "We can come back and check out the grass.  Now it's time to go to My Gym."  And the look came.  He immediately became defiant.  His feet didn't move, like they were stuck in cement.  Finally, I was able to nudge him along and he made no effort to climb into the car or car seat.  After some words of encouragement and attempts to distract him (and still no effort on his part) I pulled the dreaded "threat".  "Do you want to go to My Gym or stay home and take a nap?". Guess what the fresh mouth responded with?  Yup, nap.  "I want to go upstairs and take a nap in my bed."  And so the threat needed to be followed through.  I tried one more attempt at getting him in the car (FAIL) and then we proceed upstairs.  He took off his jacket and shoes and went directly to his bed.   I put the gate up at his door and kissed him goodnight.  Within minutes he was at the door whining "Mommy? Mommy?".  From the couch I told him, "Mikey, it's naptime now.  I'll see you when you wake up".  And now silence is here.

Some days he doesn't have a choice and we will have to wrestle him in the car seat (Mommy and Daddy errands, going to Eva's, etc.).  Today he had a choice to go someplace fun and declined.  So I followed through.  I feel so bad that he is missing out on something he enjoys so much but at the same time he needs to understand that if he doesn't cooperate, he can't always do what he wants.

Sigh.  I hope this passes before baby comes.  Getting one kid out of the house now is a challenge.  I cannot imagine what TWO will be like (especially when one will be on such an unpredictable schedule). AHHHH!!!