Greased Lightnin'

Well...I'm wondering when my Mother-of-the-Year award will arrive.
While I was focused on making McKinley a lovely lunch prior to heading to the grocery store, McKinley was watching his favorite show - Imagination Movers - and very quiet and content.
For months now I have known to always worry when he is quiet. I was too focused on this meal to notice the aforementioned quiet...when I came in to get him - plate in hand, ready to eat - he looked up, smiled and said, 'uh oh!'
Yeah.
That's an understatement.
Somehow McKinley located his Vick's Baby Rub (which I thought was up high enough...wrong), OPEN THE LID and dug his little fingers in.
He had just finished up the ENTIRE jar (the small jar, thank GOD) when I came around the corner. It was all over the front of his shirt, his pant legs and globbed in his hair, also smeared on his face, neck and in between his fingers.
Oh my GOD.
Somehow all those books I've read about NOT freaking out and panicking paid off...I did NOT scream, freak or gasp. I grabbed him to make sure his eyes were okay and that his nose was clear (thank goodness, they were) then I HAD to take a picture to have as evidence someday when he brings home his girlfriend. I carted him off to the bathtub where I stripped him down and called the Vick's company, where I was very quickly re-routed to the medical staff for the company. Thankfully, since it was the baby rub there is no camphor - his breathing was not compromised and he didn't even get any directly in his eyes, so all is well. I just have to figure out how to get this petroleum based goop out of his hair.
Four baths, a poopie in the potty and light lunch (to let his scalp rest) later...he's napping and still looks like he stepped out of the 80's gel days.
Think 'Flock of Seagulls'.
I've tried everything suggested by the Vick's doctor and some close hair-stylist friends - baking soda, baby shampoo, clarifying shampoo. It's gonna take a while. In the meantime, all of our sinuses are clear and McKinley smells quite heavenly.

I have no words.
We did not make it to the grocery this afternoon. hahaha
Just wondering when my award will arrive.
At least I have pictures...and you can see how much fun McKinley had, so if that's any consolation...
Good times.
Lynn

Toddler's Creed

So, I happened upon a post from my favorite mommy website...it's too darned cute not to share....and SO, SO true. Especially the very last one - that is SO McKinley. The only thing that makes me worry is the one about bugs...hmmm, is this a sign of what's to come? Yikes!

The Toddler’s Creed
If it is on, I must turn it off.If it is off, I must turn it on.
If it is folded, I must unfold it.
If it is a liquid, it must be shaken, then spilled.
If it a solid, it must be crumbled, chewed or smeared.
If it is high, it must be reached.
If it is shelved, it must be unshelved.
If it is pointed, it must be run with at top speed.
If it has leaves, they must be picked.
If it is plugged, it must be unplugged.
If it is not trash, it must be thrown away.
If it is in the trash, it must be removed, inspected, and thrown on the floor.
If it is closed, it must be opened.
If it does not open, it must be screamed at.
If it has drawers, they must be rifled.
If it is a pencil, it must write on the refrigerator, monitor, or table.
If it is full, it will be more interesting emptied.
If it is empty, it will be more interesting full.
If it is a pile of dirt, it must be laid upon.
If it is stroller, it must under no circumstances be ridden in without protest. It must be pushed by me instead.
If it has a flat surface, it must be banged upon.
If Mommy's hands are full, I must be carried.
If Mommy is in a hurry and wants to carry me, I must walk alone.
If it is paper, it must be torn.
If it has buttons, they must be pressed.
If the volume is low, it must go high.
If it is toilet paper, it must be unrolled on the floor.
If it is a drawer, it must be pulled upon.
If it is a toothbrush, it must be inserted into my mouth.
If it has a faucet, it must be turned on at full force.
If it is a phone, I must talk to it.
If it is a bug, it must be swallowed.
If it doesn't stay on my spoon, it must be dropped on the floor.
If it is not food, it must be tasted.
If it is food, it must not be tasted.
If it is dry, it must be made wet with drool, milk, or toilet water.
If it is a carseat, it must be protested with an arched back.
If it is Mommy (or Daddy), it must be hugged.I am toddler!
also... If Mommy's carrying me, plus groceries, plus car keys, plus holding another kiddo's hand in a busy parking lot... her cell phone will ring every time!
and also... If Mommy wants me to nap in the car, I won't. If Mommy doesn't want me to nap in the car, I will!
AND... If we are running late... I will POOP!

Holy...well, POOPIE!!!

MCKINLEY POOPIED IN THE POTTY TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

And I even took a picture of it...ala Kate from J&K+8. lol I know, it's gross - I guess I just got caught up in the moment. I promise to NOT show that to his girlfriends when he brings them home to meet me...well, maybe. Hee hee hee.

Per my husband's request, I will not be posting poopie pictures on here (McKinley, thank your Daddy!). Yes, I recognize that would certainly be taking it all too far.

Cary totally gets the credit for introducing McKinley's precious potty bench (by Boon, inc) to him one evening while I was at a sorority meeting. In that short night he'd shown McKinley all the basics of coming in, closing the door, opening the lid, doing your business and then saying, 'bye bye' to said business (the potty bench doesn't flush, so he had to come up with something! hahaha). A few months ago we brought out the potty bench because McKinley started telling us when he had to go to the bathroom. We were pretty surprised that this was happening so quickly, so we both figured we'd give it a shot, because...well, why not? We've both been working on explaning what 'goes' in the potty and further discussing the specifics of the whole ordeal with McKinley.

Tonight, as we were getting him ready for his bath we noticed a look...we all know that look. So Cary said, 'Do you have to go poopie? Go sit on your potty!' We all three stood in the bathroom, Cary and I chatting as McKinley sat like a good boy. Cary even said, "Huh, wouldn't it be funny if he really did go to the bathroom?", when suddenly he stood up and Cary yelped, 'He pooped!' I thought he was teasing, so I looked too.....and started screaming - which concerned McKinley, greatly. Then I started clapping and jumping up and down and cheering, which prompted much laughter from our sweet boy. I ran for a treat and told him what a good boy he was!

So begins a new chapter in our lives. I'll be picking up some pull ups and 20 month old appropriate 'potty training treats' tomorrow while errand running. I can hardly believe this is happening! I'm so excited for McKinley, what a big boy step!

Yay for the big boy! Yay for POOPIE IN THE POTTY!
Lynn

St. Patrick's Weekend Fun!

Well, it's almost everyone's favorite Irish Holiday and the Haute is celebrating big, as usual. Today Mom and I took McKinley to his very first parade - the St. Patrick's Church/School parade! We dressed in our best green and headed over a block to watch all the cute little kids walk the boulevard. It brought a tear to my eye when I realized that it won't be long before we'll be out there with McKinley! This is where we plan on sending him to school!

He loved watching the kids, adults and dogs (one lab was even spray painted green!) and happily took candy, flyers and beads from all the children (no candy for him yet though - we passed that on to Daddy).

Tonight we also headed to the annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration Dinner and Silent Auction. Had corned beef, cabbage and a lot of fun. It was a super date night for us and McKinley had a ball with his Nonna.

Special props go to my new friend on Etsy.com who designed McKinley's oh-so-appropriate "McCutie" tshirt just for him! We are thrilled, it's too darned cute. Click here for her store, here for her blog. Her shirts are PRECIOUS!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Lynn

In the toddlerhood

We have been insanely busy again...seems like we go in spurts. Cary's Grandmother has been very ill, but is on the mend - thank goodness, we've had our annual trip to Indy and many trips to Bloomington and Indy to spend time with family lately. Then there's that loud nagging in my head...homework. Almost done. August. Light at the end of this 13 year tunnel. And finally, we top off our chaos with a major renovation. I call anything more than painting major renovation, but this is a big one. New carpet, new tub, maybe a new bay window...all kinds of stuff! We're excited, but we are tired already. lol

Now down to some McKinley business. This boy is changing every day, learning all sorts of new words, a different way to do something, or discovering something for the very first time that we all take for granted. It is still so amazing to me to see those moments through a child's eyes, it's beautiful. A while back I went to change out the Diaper Genie and noticed something inside the bag along with all of those lovely diapers. Mr. Potato Head had recently been missing his ears...just guess who put them INSIDE the Diaper Genie? As in - where the poopie diapers go? Mr. Potato Head promptly had his ears cleaned and returned to the sides of his spud. I'm happy to report that his hearing has been restored. hahahaha!

Yesterday McKinley finally named his pacifier, we've encouraged words like paci, cup, milk, water, etc on a daily basis for a long time. I guess he just wanted his own word and timing for his special paci! Finally yesterday he told me he wanted his 'Pass'! Yay!

Today he discovered his shadow. We were rocking and listening to his lullaby CD, our bedroom light reflected in just right so that the shadow of McKinley's sweet little hand shown on the nursery wall. He noticed it. I didn't say anything. He watched intently and began moving his hand in a wave, watching every move. It was like, 'Oh, that's cool. Look what I can do!'

McKinley does some of the cutest and funniest things! Every night when we start his bath he gleefully brings in his towel and wash cloth - I mean, he's squealing with delight as he does this. Funny! Have I mentioned that he greets everyone at the front door by flipping open the mail slot? It is the perfect height for him to stick out his hand and say, 'Hi!'. It can scare the crap out of you if you don't know someone is right there. He also really loves to help us do simple tasks like unloading the dishwasher (once we've removed the knives, of course), or wiping off his highchair tray, and he is still our main grocery de-bagger. I treasure these efforts as I know one day, sooner than I would like, I will be begging him to pick up his room and do his chores! Goodness knows he's already in the middle of this toddler hood independance exploration thing. He's giving us a run for our money!

My favorite thing McKinley is doing right now is kissing. He'll kiss anything! He loves to kiss our pictures (omg, melt my heart!), his Elmo Live, Valentine (our girl cat), us, stuffed animals, etc. He even makes a smoochy noise now! I love it.

Below I'll share some funny pictures of our own celebration of Mardi Gras. I got all of us some beads, a different form of a King's Cake (traditional Mardi Gras cake) and made a REAL 'fat Tuesday' meal that was oh so NOT low in calories. We HAD to celebrate the start of the Lenten season!

Lynn