Blogging to Blog

I feel the urge to blog but honestly, I have nothing to blog about. Have you ever blogged because you had this inner urge or sense that you must update your blog for no real reason what-so-ever? I think this post describes my mental and physical state: exhausted.

Miller's Big Adventure

Yesterday Miller and I headed to Punta Gorda to meet Grandma Jean, Great Aunt MJ, Wanda, and Terri (friends of the family). He was a trooper. He woke up at 5:15 (a good 45 minutes earlier than normal). He must have been excited to hit the road; me on the other hand, was hoping for that extra sleep.

We packed up the car with extra essentials (just in case) and were off. Miller fell asleep before the toll on I75 and slept until about 10 minutes before the destination rest stop. We got out and headed to the bathroom and Grandma and Aunt MJ met us while we were mid-diaper change. We sat under the picnic area and Miller had a snack. After that it was off to meet the other friends.

Miller played while we chit-chatted, had a bottle and then we were off again. This time to get real food and do a little shopping. He also got to check out all the nice boats in the harbor. He was a good baby and was tuckered out from all the excitement and fresh air. Miller crashed in his stroller and slept until I made it about a half hour from home.

He couldn't wait to tell Dad about his travels. Had some dinner, played with his new dump truck, had a bath and hit the hey. Needless to say, with all that napping, 2:15 was his choice waking time. Ryan tried his best and then I took over. Miller decided sleeping on Mom's lap, chest, in a chair, on the couch, etc. were all better than his crib. After 3:30 or 3:45, Dad took him to his crib and left me on the couch.

Today was chore day and I am exhausted. I still need to shower and get ready for the Heart concert. Weekends are way too short.

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Miller and I would sing but neither of us can carry a tune so this will have to do. Love you!

Good Week?

Although I have been working insane hours this past week, there were a couple cool things that have happened. I know this is going to sound nerdy but I had 3 super productive meetings and things seem to be moving forward. Yeah, I know, lame but for the hours I have been working I have to find the good in it.

Today I received an email that said to turn off my BlackBerry because they were updating my service and a new phone would be interofficed to me. I thought it was spam until I received an instant message from the help desk. I turned it off and within 2 hours I had a pretty, red shiny, new BlackBerry in my mits!

I am not working anymore tonight. I am going to have a drink or two and wrap Ryan's birthday presents. Tomorrow's his big birthday and then Saturday Miller and I are off to Punta Gorda to see my mom, aunt, and a family friend. Then we hustle back so Sunday Ryan and I can leave Miller with his babysitters and go to the Heart concert. Busy weekend ahead.

Buzz Cut

Miller had his hair trimmed around 6 weeks old (it was over his ears and wrapping around his neck). Then, as time will tell, he lost it and was bald for a few months. Precursor to later in life...?

Today we decided to trim him up. Unfortunately, we weren't smart enough to go buy a new Wahl clipper until after we tried the old one (sounds like a 747 coming in for a bad landing) and a beard trimmer. Needless to say, the boy has too much "fine" hair.

These shots are of the first go around with the beard trimmer. We later finished the job with a new clipper. He has a few stragglers but he did super well. No tears and not too much fussing.

Miller AKA Bully

Tonight we went to a friend's house for a BBQ. Miller and Jonny are about 3 weeks apart in age and less than a pound in weight. Pretty much the same height too. Miller decided to try out some wrestling moves on Jonny and let's just say that ended with Miller getting a time out and moved to another room. Yep, my kid's the bully.

Part of me thinks he was really smart and knew that if he was removed from the room, he got to go back in the swing outside. I know he didn't really reason it out but if you saw his face in the swing afterwards, you know he calculated it. Ryan has to check with daycare on Monday to see if he really is a bully. We had been told the other kid picks on him but maybe in the new atmosphere he decided to try out his moves.

Kids.

Another First for Erin

With the excitement of Big Red's arrival, I forgot to post about my new first. I bought my first Coach purse this weekend. I have given in to all that is evil. I have lusted over some Coach purses but could never justify spending that kind of money one one...until Sunday. I fell in love with one and it was 50% off the already marked down price. I said to hell with it. I work too many hours, never spend my money on me, and I am getting it.

The camera is tied up with Ryan and his new truck but maybe tomorrow I will add a picture. It's a yellow and white spring purse. One strap. Very nice. I "heart" it!

Big Red

I can't say much else because I am waiting for Ryan to post but the old Big Red has been replaced by a new Big Red. Maybe we need another name for "IT" but it is so fitting. C'mon Ryan, get her washed, get her pictures posted, and let me go for a spin!

Charmer

Last night we went to dinner with friends around 7pm. Now, this is normally Miller's bedtime but he was all fired up. We fed him before we left and then gave him plenty of cheese puffs, bread, and pickles to last the guy for a couple days. He was such a good baby. He charmed the pants off of women and men. He was thrilled with watching the two couples play darts. I think he threw one lady's game off because she kept turning around and smiling at him.

Needless to say, staying up until after 9pm and being good that whole time was bound to backfire. About 4:00am, Miller decided to wake the whole house crying. He would fall back asleep in your arms but the minute you set him down, he cried some more. Ryan and I handed off after a while. Next thing I knew, Ryan was giving him a bottle at 5am. Eventually he fell back to sleep and slept until 9am.

The poor little bugger wants to sleep and nap but he's so afraid he will miss something fun. Hopefully this is a phase because he's been such a good sleeper until his teeth started coming in.

Big Timer

Even at his worst, how can you not love this little "Big Timer"?

First bath in the big tub.

Wednesday

When your morning starts out with a loose caboose, is that a sign how your day is going to be? I am hoping it means all the crap is out of my way and it will be a good day.

Collection Agency

Last night I got home and Ryan told me I was sent to collections for not paying our newspaper bill. Of course, this put me in a tizzy. Here are the background details and then the phone conversation I had with a rep from said newspaper.

Fact:
-We only get the Sunday paper
-Somehow, we always start to receive the Saturday, Friday, Thursday, you get it, all but Monday paper which we do NOT read. It sits outside until it makes a trip to the recycle bin.
-We quit the paper a while back for the same reason.
-November I received a bill and didn't pay it. I wrote on it "Do not pay, cancelling because we only want Sunday service."
-In the past, if you didn't pay in advance, they quit your service.
-I save all my paid bills in a folder. Ryan likes to harass me for this. Now he is glad I saved them because I had tangible evidence with dates.
-I receive calls weekly from the same paper and politely tell them I have cancelled my service and am not interested.
-Bill from the collection agency did not match the bill I receive in November.

Phone conversation:

Agent: Good morning, thank you for call X newspaper. How may I help you?

Erin: Hi, I received a notice stating I was sent to collections. I thought I cancelled my subscription in November.

Agent: What day ma'am?

Erin: Bill was dated November 2, around that date.

Agent: Let me check your account. I see you expired on November 16th and we sent you to collections on January 29th. I will take care of this for you.

Erin: Ok, does that mean I still owe money? How do I clear this up with the collection agency?

Agent: You pay them the $14 you owe.

Erin: Ok, why is the amount they are collecting on different than the bill I received?

Agent: Are you interested in renewing your subscription with us?

Erin: No, I wasn't happy with your service and you sent me to collections. I am not interested in renewing my subscription.

Agent: Ok, let me adjust your account. You now owe $6.99.

Erin: Alright. Do I pay that amount and the collection agency will know this is accurate?

Agent: You can pay me by credit card now and I will follow up with the agency.

Erin: One moment while I grab my credit card.

Agent: What number is that?

(Mind you...I haven't made it up from my chair to grab it yet.)

Erin: One second, I am grabbing it now. It's a visa.

We go through the payment process.

Erin: May I have a confirmation number and your name?

Agent begrudginly passes the info over. Then ends the call with the sales pitch and thanking me for my service. I put my money on receiving a call tonight asking if I want to renew my subscription.

Monday's Stink

I think it was less than a month ago I posted that Friday's were worse than Monday's for me. It is 9:45pm and I am just wrapping up for the day. I think I have changed my opinion. Monday's stink.

Renaissance Festival

Miller felt much better this weekend so we made a trip to the Renaissance Festival. Here are a couple pictures:

Arrived safely, check, sunglasses on, check, ready to people watch!

Lunch, outfit change (too much water out of a water bottle = wet baby and Mom dressed me too warm), chillin' with some bloomin' onion. I refuse to smile and show my teeth. Man this is AWESOME!

Pink Eye Again?

Poor Miller. He woke up with some voice this morning but had crusty eyes. He's back on the eye drops for pink eye. He drank more today and seems only slightly peaved with the world. Hopefully things turn around and he starts to feel better soon. I don't know how much longer I can feel so sad for him. Poor little bugger. *or how much more dad can put up with him.

Miller's Muted Days

Poor Miller. Sunday he was cranky and we attributed it to teething. Then he he had a major blowout so we switched our cause of crankiness to something he ate. Monday he woke up sounding a little "horse." He wasn't quite his giggly self and didn't drink his formula like usual. By Monday evening, he sounded worse and was even crankier. Tuesday, he had no voice. It was terrible. He didn't have a fever and was still eating and drinking semi-normal so we sent him to school today. Ryan picked him up from daycare tonight and took him to the doctor. He had a lowgrade fever (99 degrees) and has no voice. He can't even cry! It's so sad.

The doctor prescribed some cough syrup to help ease the cough and drug him a little for better sleep. He got home and I tried to give him a bottle of pedialyte but his gums hurt too much from teething so I squirted it in. It must have felt good because he gurgled it and was acting silly. We got his dinner down and that was it. He almost fell asleep on the changing table when I put his pjs on and off to sleep he went. We had to wake him up for his medicine since his prescription wasn't filled until after 7:30.

I have never felt so horrible in my life. The poor guy can't tell us what hurts. I can see that his gums must be killing him and the fact that now he can't even giggle, squeal, or cry must be awful. I just want to hold and snuggle him.

Depending on how the morning goes, I might keep him home and love him up. I moved all my meetings this week and guess which day they land on (Thursday). Maybe he can go to daycare for half a day. I feel horrible. Poor little guy.

Crazy Sleeper

I want to get a picture of Miller sleeping but don't want to wake him up with the flash. I will try tonight or tomorrow morning but I can't help but laugh at the little guy. His new favorite position rotates between him laying the short way with his head smashed and his feet in the air or his face down and butt in the air in a corner. It takes everything in Ryan and I to not bust out laughing at him.

The only downside to the new face down, butt up position is that he is teething again and all the drool is making it's way back up to his head. He's been a coughing fool lately. Poor little guy. He actually sounded "horse" today.

I know he's not ready for a big bed-we put him down on one end facing one way and we find him on the opposite a few minutes later and then the next time we check, he's done a 180 again. My parents said I was a kicker but I think Miller is a traveler. It will be a while before he gets a big boy bed!

Psych

For those that know me, I am always dreaming about my next new car. Today, Ryan called me to tell me that he found a fantastic deal on a crew cab pickup for us (his extended cab is not baby friendly now that Miller graduated to a real car seat and not the baby one). I wasn't expecting the call so luckily, my last meeting ended at 4:30 and I was ready to meet him at the dealer. Then reality set in.

"Did you bring Miller some food from school or did you stop home?" I ask.

"No, but he will be ok," says Ryan, the optimist.

"Ok, did you get the title for the truck?" I ask, always thinking ahead.

"Dang!"

"Where are you?"

"95 and Commercial."

"Ok, I will go home, feed the dog, grab Miller food, find the title and meet you at the dealer," I add.

"Ok, call me before you leave home."

I hustle out of work, semi giddy about that thought that we may get a new truck. Then I think, crap, if we don't have the second car seat tonight, I will have to drive it to work. That means I will have to park on the 4th floor of the ramp so no one hits me and gives me door dings. Wait, Jess and Crystal all had accidents in their new cars. Ryan would kill me. I hope he switches the car seat so I can drive my car. Hmm...I am the one that wanted the new car. *Yes, that is how my mind works.

After getting home, following the plan above I call Ryan before I head back out. He doesn't answer. Damn. So I decide to head out and call again once at the stoplight on Oakland. He answered and said, "You can go home. I will call in 5 minutes. It's not what I thought."

Typical. It was a bait and switch. The add was for a truck that didn't really exist. Well, the one advertised had been suped up and cost WAY more than what we were bargaining for. So...Ryan and Miller came home empty handed.

Guess that means we are spending the weekend doing real car shopping. I hate dealers-that's why we have avoided going looking. Who knows-maybe we will both find a new car and we will get a two for one deal! And pigs may fly.

Tax Update

Taxes are evil but such a sweet surprise when you receive money back. New car (aka SUV) here I come!

Oh, and Miller won the hearts of the H & R Block ladies. He loved crawling on the carpet and probably would crawl like a normal baby if we had carpet at home rather than the belly pull.

After the tax adventure, he turned into a monster. His top teeth are breaking through and he was a miserable baby today. Whining and crying without any naps. The only saving grace was a massive poo explosion that lead to a "non-bath day" bath prior to supper. I would say that was definitely "teething diahrea." Oh, the joys of parenthood.

Miller and Dining

Yesterday, Ryan decided we were going out for dinner. I didn't even realize it was almost 5pm so Miller woke up from a nap, I gave him a bottle, Ryan packed the diaper bag and we were off to Bahama Breeze (seems to be a good place for us to bring Miller-it's close, never busy around 5, and the staff is friendly to babies).

I observed a couple things while out with Miller (some things are not a first but as long as I am posting about it, I may as well add them in).

1) The kid's a looker-Ryan busted him following people and checking the ladies out. Young or old, it didn't matter. He likes people.
2) He is almost exotic in Florida with his pale skin, white hair, and blue eyes. All three get a comment and it usually starts with "What beautiful blue eyes."
3) He is generally well behaved. He sat for 35-45 minutes while we waited for food and started to eat before he started to get cranky. He did well considering the "seat belt" was a little tight and he was getting hungry.
4) He's a pig. He wasn't truly hungry but seeing Ryan and I eat makes him think he needs to eat. Yesterday he had french fries, mangos, apples, and bean soup. Not bad for a baby. Then he came home for sweet potatoe and turkey dinner followed by banana plum granola. Oink! Oink!
5) Next skills to learn: to wave, indoor voice, and to color (since the hostess seems to think my giant baby has the motor skills to color and not eat crayons).

Besides the dining experience, Miller also learned to use his own "spork" yesterday. He did pretty well with getting it to his mouth but had trouble dipping/scooping food. Oh well, we will work on that one. I only have patience for about a half of tub of veggies and then take over with my spoon.

He is also learning to feed himself snacks. He likes "adult" food more than baby food treats. The little stinker has also learned it's funny to feed Annie treats from his highchair which means Annie is much more observant and underfoot when it comes to snack time.

We are off to get our taxes done in a bit. Hopefully he is good there too.