Halloween

Have you ever wondered what Halloween looks like from a one-year-old's perspective? I imagine it goes something like this.

"Wow. A new person standing at the door, and they are letting me put my hand in the bowl!"

"Do I get to wave bye-bye again?"

"Hoods on costumes = torture!"

"I like when my mommy carries me!"

"What's this sweet stuff? Sugar? Can I have more?"

From a mom's perspective:

Sweating from walking around a bit more than I anticipated- and a workout for my arms like I've not had in a long time. I guess maybe they'll be stronger if I have to carry him through the airport? Oh - and the candy might really be for me and not him!

I did dawn a cape and pitchfork for part of the evening. And made owls!

I will post pictures soon - time to relax, for now! Oh yeah, and watch the world series!



Love: Holidays!
Hope: My arms aren't too sore tomorrow!
Do: Finish laundry tonight. Yay, chores?!

Busy, busy!

One of the best things about not studying is that I can DO things! Mark's nap time no longer means, "Must hit the books!" but can mean - time to blog! Or go on a picnic! Or whatever happens- we can blow with the wind. Or something.

We started the morning with some cleaning and laundry, followed by picnic with daycare. Now, there's plenty of cleaning and such that still needs to be done.

This will last only a couple of days (my energy for doing things like cleaning), so I suppose I should get off the 'puter and take advantage of it!

Love: Fall weather
Hope: The weather continues to be beautiful!
Do: Need to get in a run tomorrow!

Canine Puberty

I'll admit - I never really think about the four-leggers going through Puberty. That is, until something like this happens!

Yep, I found my girl-dog Katie trying on my bra. I don't think it really fit, but it did make for a great laugh and a "must-get-camera-now" moment. She was busted.

Love: Being done with my test. Thank heavens it's over!
Hope: I get some exercise in this weekend!
Do: Try and get back to more regular posting!

Besserk

One of the books we have from the Library is called "All the Hippos go Beserk!" We read it to kiddo tonight.

And yep, I'm going beserk. I must have walked around the office 10 times more than usual. I'm always antsy and stressed before an exam - at least for now, I'm holding my own. By tomorrow morning, I'll probably feel like puking. By tomorrow afternoon, I'll feel like being drunk. And for the next several weeks, I'll play major catch up. Laundry and house work are out of control. At least end of an exam is a new beginning for life - - if only for a few moments!

Still more studying and memorizing to do. Blech.

I know there are probably only a handful (if that many) of actuaries who "check in" to my blog - but one of my colleagues put this quote on the "Actuarial Outpost" today, and I thought it was so appropriate I'm going to repost:

"I feel like my marginal passing rate per study hour is dropping faster than an ILF curve." (Note for those non-actuary readers: two of the things I am studying for this exam is "marginal" rates and "ILF Curves")

Love: Reading books to kiddo
Hope: Tomorrow is over fast - and kiddo doesn't get me up in the middle of the night again!
Do: Get to bed early tonight. And eat ice cream. That makes everything better, right?

Blogger 2 Blogger

Have you ever had a very "bloggable" day? My day was like that.

It started much like any other day - running a bit late. Things were fairly normal from there, and then I decided to run an errand at lunch.

I went to check-out, and got a whole lot of attitude. In an uncharacteristic display of frustration, I headed straight from the checkout line to the service desk to issue a complaint. I don't know if I felt better or worse after letting someone know.

I understand that people can have a bad day. However, if you're in the service industry, don't take it out on me!

I thought about this for a long while today even after it happened. I tend to over-analyze everything. I think I'm still over-analyzing as I type...

Then, after a quick training session this afternoon, we were walking back to our desks when we saw the gardeners planting Pansies at the office. The resulting conversation made me laugh - so I repost here to end on a better note!

The brief conversation I over-heard went something like this:
"Are those pansies?"
"Yep. I should know- I married one!"

Love: Eavesdropping. I hate to admit that, but as another coworker once said, "I'm a woman - of course I like eavesdropping!"
Hope: Ms. Attitude from lunch errands has a better day - or at least doesn't make anyone else miserable!
Do: Study for 2 more days. Blech. So ready to be done!

Pumpkin time!

Kiddo didn't have an accident report in Toddlers today- for the first time! Yay!

In other news, it's pumpkin time! We attended a pumpkin carving party yesterday, and had a fun time!

The best part of pumpkin time? At least in my opinion - PUMPKIN SEEDS! I made a carmelized/spicy recipe using the ones I got from the party - awesome! Of course, I love them any way you can eat them. Pumpkin seeds should not go to waste!

Love: Pumpkin seeds and accident-free days!
hope: Nerves stay under control - they are starting to get yucko!
Do: Work on the last several papers I have only a little more time to master!

Quick Pics!

Enjoying the State Fair big-wheel truck, Playing with new phone from Grandma Kathy, and watching his favorite show (the only show we put on "for" him) - Yo Gabba Gabba! Maybe not in that order...

Kiddo Stuff..

Kiddo needs his own sign. He can stand on the street corner and advertise "Will walk for pacifier" - okay, maybe not the street corner. Maybe we just need to get a video of him at home. He's up to 2 or 3 steps at a time- but only with proper motivation! When can you say he is "walking" for real? Maybe one day we'll just know.

In other news, we went to the doctor today and (four shots later) we have a normal kiddo. 51st percent for height, 41st percent for weight. Doc doesn't like the rash (neither do we!) and may have to do allergy testing - eventually. In the meantime, we have a regimen of multiple new skin things and follow up in 2 weeks if he is not better.

Another doctor tidbit? Not sleeping at night/waking may be caused because he's getting ready to walk. Weird, but possibly true? (He woke up a few times in the middle of the night last night). Her advice? Don't get into a new "habit" like eating or letting him sleep with us, and this too will pass. I like a practical doc.

No "slip" today for an injury - but he was back in the "infant" room for the day because numbers were weird (they had a teacher out, and needed to shift him so they could keep to their "numbers").

Love: Picture taking. I've gotten a bunch lately, but may not post until after exam. Last weekend to study - yikes!
Hope: I can be productive and get my "list" knocked out.
Do: Get back to it, of course!

Day 4..

Not that I'm counting, but today was Kiddo's 4th day in toddler class, and his fourth day coming home with an incident report!

Luckily, it's just scratches and bruises- nothing major! And tomorrow we'll be heading to the doc for the one-year check.

I got some pictures of kiddo's friends today! They weren't exactly playing, but it was fun to see them all the same! I stopped in the infant room as well as the toddler room.

Love: Injury-free days!
Hope: We have one soon!
Do: See doc tomorrow. What's up, doc?

Toddler..

Kiddo spent another day in Toddlers. What does that really mean?

Another day coming home with a bruise and/or scratches (with no "real" explanation)

A SUPER tired kiddo - falling asleep before 8pm on the sofa.

A need-snack-or-dinner-now moment upon arriving home.

Some whining and rolling around on the floor.

Yep, it's so much fun, it's only home where you can rest!

Love: the "daily" sheets that comes with the Toddler room. Thanks Ms. L!
Hope: This routine gets worked out eventually; maybe a longer nap during the day?
Do: back to the books..

Overdue Post...

I've got the exam in about 10 days, which means I've been bad about posting recently.

Lots of craziness - including studying, a trip to the fair, and enjoying my one year old!

He's moving up to the toddler room, which means I get an email sheet that is SO fabulous. It includes his picture and a couple tidbits on what he has been up to- and it is the HIGHLIGHT of my day!

Of course, there will be more accidents now that he is in the toddler room. He's been such a pleasant kid the last couple of days, too! Today, he survived 5 miles in the stroller (and even slept part of the time) which was VERY exciting for me!

So yeah- this blog is all over the place- but I'm generally "spent" by the time I've studied, played with kid, etc. I'm really looking forward to the studying being over- so I can catch up on TV a bit, perhaps do a little more blogging (or maybe more regular blogging), and some more running.

In the meantime... you (may have) guessed it... back to the books.

We also went to the fair over the weekend. Kiddo slept in his stroller there, too.

Love: My kiddo - he's been so sweet the last two days! It's like I'm falling in love all over again.
Hope: I'm not too sore tomorrow from my run...
Do: same old stuff.

Walking?

DH suggested that Kiddo is waiting until he turns one (officially, tomorrow) to walk. Maybe?

Today I saw him stand up in the middle of a room by himself! I also saw, for the first time, him shuffle his first and take 2(ish) "real" steps!

It's fabulous watching a kid learn. Mark's a little tenative- similar to his dad. It is definitely interesting to see him grow!

Love: Kiddo growing up!
Hope: He's walking soon!
Do: Study. Less than 2 weeks to go. Maybe I should just make the "DO" a countdown for the next several posts... Hmm..

"Curriculum"

Tonight at Kiddo's daycare, they had a "curriculum" event.

Learning about what the kids are learning is nice - and playing with finger paint was fun - but getting to know Kiddo's friends' parents a little better was probably my favorite part of the evening!

In his current class (infants), there are about 6 kids born between October and December 2009 - which means that all 6 kiddos (as they turn one) will be moving on up to the next room! One kiddo even shares Mark's birthday!

Anyhow - kids are awesome. Getting to know new people is also awesome. Hopefully one or two of them will stop by my blog - and to those parents of kiddo's friends, I give a special "hello"! Perhaps we'll have a play date soon!

Love: Meeting the parents of kiddo's friends
Hope: One or two "check in"
Do: Get back to my books! Two weeks from tomorrow (and counting!)

Proud Mom

This may sound dumb. And by dumb, I mean really stupid. But I was a proud mom that my kid got dirty with his first birthday cake. And I mean really dirty.

The cake - and obligatory cake face picture - are attached. A good time was had by all (even though "all" translates into a very small group of people). According to a friend, I got bonus points for the chocolate and green icing! It was on a cinnamon swirl cake, and turned out pretty yummy! Although first attempt was a fail (chocolate cake - if you have silicon bakeware, spray it with pam first!)

I'm sure it will be a bit more emotional for me when kiddo is really one - which is another whole 6 days away!

So why was I a proud mama? Because I love getting dirty! I like playing in mud, and smearing stuff all over. I do the arts and crafts for the pure experience of getting messy! The clean-up part is not so much fun, but I definitely enjoy the mess. (Luckily, my house is typically not representative of the fact that I love messes!)

What do I mean by messy? Well, take the cake, for example. It's supposed to be a turtle (head to the right) and it has a "messy" charm to it. I'm no pro decorator, but I enjoyed making it!

I think Dad's part of the first birthday was opening all the kid toys - we have one spoiled little guy!

Next year, I hope that we can invite at least one or two of kiddo's little friends. By then, he'll hopefully have some requests and thoughts of his own that he can share with us!

Love: Messy face!
Hope: Readers enjoy his first birthday pictures!
Do: Need to get back to studying for the day!

In-laws

One of my favorite things about my in-laws in town? Sharing pictures!

Here are a few pictures that were not taken by me of my precious little guy!

Today is kiddo's party - a bit early. Hopefully I'll post a cake-face tomorrow!

Love: Visitors
Hope: We do something fun today!
Do: Need to finish decorating kiddo's cake- wish me luck!

Diagnosis

Usually, once you are "diagnosed" - it's a relief that at least you know something. So diagnoses (is that the plural) are typically interesting.

Kiddo went to the doctor yesterday. He was diagnosed with a "Geographic tongue". There's something pretty cool about that diagnosis. I think the fact that the word "geographic" is a part of it makes it pretty interesting.

The good part about it is that it has nothing to do with anything, and he'll have it his entire life - and we can at least read more to understand what it is he "has".

Love: A diagnosis that helps explain things!
Hope: We're through with "doctor visits" after his one-year checkup!
Do: Possibly need to take kiddo to dermatologist- he's got eczema and we're lotioning him up twice a day but with little relief! At least the rash doesn't seem to bother him much.

...

Some days, I feel "obligated" to post, but I don't feel like I have anything to say.

When I start typing, I almost always come up with something. Some days I could type on and on and on. I think typing can be therapeutic - as can putting your "thoughts" on "paper," however silly that may seem.

This is a busy week - a conference tomorrow and the in-laws coming to visit, a birthday party for Kiddo on Saturday, and who knows what else the week and next few days have in store.

Our house is clean, our fridge is stocked.

So let the entertaining begin!!

Come on. I'm waiting. Are you going to entertain me?

I guess not. Oh well, have a good day anyway!

Love: Talking to myself electronically, I suppose!
Hope: Tomorrow is a good day
Do: Need to study. At least get out the flash cards and pretend. Or maybe just go to bed early. Hmm..

Shoes!

Who knew you could be so excited about shoes?

We got kiddo a new pair recently. He crawled over to the table and pulled the shoe box down from the table, and was playing with them.

Obligingly, I put them on. He proceeded to happily crawl around the house for a while! Eventually, I went and explained to him that we could take them off, since we are inside. He cried!

So alas, kiddo wore the shoes until bedtime. Weird kid!

In other news - he's not a fan of chicken nuggets.

Love: Telling stories about kiddo
Hope: We finish cleaning soon!
Do: Need to clean, study - the usual.

Temperature

You saw the title, what came to mind?

Today, in my life, it holds a couple of meanings. First of all, after a few days of rain, we are finally in the "usual" temperature range for this time of year (translation: highs are no longer in the 90s!) I'm looking forward to a mild - maybe almost chilly- weekend!

In other news, though, Bug has a temperature over 101. Poor fella. It was the day I received my first "call" from daycare that I need to come pick up the kid. He's been home sleeping almost every since, but has wanted more water/milk than usual. Although he skipped most of dinner. He let me hold him while he was very still for almost an hour! Daddy is with him now - he may be going to bed a bit later than usual, and hopefully he isn't up in the middle of the night. Only the 2nd or 3rd time we've given him tylenol!

Love: Weekends! Although this one is a "work" weekend - cleaning and such!
Hope: Kiddo starts feeling better this weekend.
Do: Have 2 more papers before I'm "first pass" through the material. Would LOVE to finish tonight, but likelihood of that is, unfortunately, relatively small.