one semester of Spanish

I started reading a blog of someone I don't know but the address was in the browser history at the computer I am sitting at work today. They had this video posted. It is hilarious to me and pretty much sums up what I am able to communicate when we go to Mexico. Enjoy!

How can you hate packing tape?

We have figured out that Lucas has an aversion to packing tape. The sound of it being ripped off a box. The sound of it being put on a box. On Monday when Bill picked up Lucas from day care, Ms Lisa mentioned that he had just finished having a fit when she was opening a box. Bill didn't think anything of it because he was happy when Bill was there. Today Bill brings a box into the playroom where we are playing and starts to open it. Screams. Tears. I put him on my lap with his snuzzle and instantly he is better. Then Bill remembers what Ms Lisa had said. Weird, I thought and then forgot about it because about an hour later I was prepping some graduation presents with packing tape in the kitchen and as I pull the tape off I hear Bug start to scream. I can see him in the play room. Nothing is happening, he didn't fall or get his finger smushed. Bill yells from the other room, 'see he hates packing tape'. It is so odd. I rush to him, pick him up, console him and he almost instantly calms down again. I wait a little bit, he is busy playing with something, his music is on and I press my luck. I pull off another piece and screaming again. So finally I listen to my kid and put the packing tape away.

We head to Walmart to buy him a bike helmet-- this will be fun knowing his total aversion to hats-- needless to say, he cried anytime I put one on. He was calm, I am holding him, I go over to an employee stocking shelves and ask if there are any other smaller bike helmets for babies, right when I get my question out, she starts to open a box. Screaming. Seriously, this kid hates packing tape. It is so weird. Who hates packing tape?

What a little personality already.

Iowa Cubs 5 Mile "Fun" Run

This past Sunday (pictures loaded on Sunday, took a few days to get the text done :-) ) we went to Des Moines to run the Iowa Cubs 5 mile fun run. I have never run pushing Lucas before and it is unclear why on an 80 degree humid muggy morning I picked a 5 MILE run as my first go. Regardless, we did it. Lucas got some sunscreen on and was all strapped into his stroller covered in a lap full of toys attached by rings. I had two different sippy cups full of water, a small container of graham goldfish and we were on our way.It was SO FREAKIN' HARD! It was so hot. I ran really slow, had to stop a bunch to retrieve thrown toys or to get Lucas to drink-- at the 4 mile mark I poured some water on his head to cool him down which made him not so pleased-- his crying made me run that much faster. I mastered the one handed goldfish feed. Daddy did much better than us and was a welcome sight about 1/4 mile from the finish. Lucas guzzled down some cold water out of this regular cup after the race. I guess he was hot.

I am so proud of myself and of Lucas; we accomplished a great feat.

All smiles after the race.

We finished 30th out of 40 women in my age group. We finished 102 out of 166 for women overall. Not too shabby.

I don't know if I'll ever run with Lucas again in a race but now I know we can do it. One for the record books!

when? how?

I have a head full of when? and how? questions. I feel like I have no idea what I am doing with Lucas. He is not drinking enough milk out of a sippy so we haven't been able to transition him from bottles. How are we ever going to get him to drink 18 ounces of milk a day? I am so frustrated that he can't say anything or tell us what he wants; he is becoming a picky eater and his only real way to communicate is to scream/whine and that is beginning to grate on my nerves. I don't think his tummy is upset because he'll hammer down his snacks. I am so hyper vigilant that he gets enough nutrients/day that I am driving myself crazy. All he really wants to eat is goldfish and yogurt. He has started waking up at 530 am. My sleep book would say to put him to bed earlier but I can't put him down much earlier than 6. Some nights it takes him an hour to fall asleep. He is still taking two good naps/day. I am getting too tired; last night I went to be at 8 pm. When is he going to stop hating his car seat? When is he going to start saying a few words? When is he going to start to walk or even cruise? It is hard to have so many friends with babies around the same age because all I do is compare Lucas to them.

Ugh. My whining is irritating. I need coffee.

He's on the move

Lucas started crawling this weekend. It is a game changer. We finally bought a baby gate today, Bill baby proofed the play room when I was at work yesterday. He is so adorable when he crawls. I just want to eat him up. Mother's Day reflections to come...

Party time!!

We had such a great great great birthday party for Lucas. As we are now a stocking only Christmas family, birthdays have been and will be a big deal in our house. Lucas' first was no exception. It was great to have my mom and dad in town and it wouldn't have been the same without them.

My mom and I made 'swampy' the cupcake alligator. It was so fun to make. My mom did all the frosting decorating channelling in her old baskin robbins cake decorating skills of old. Ol Swampy turned out wonderful. He was a crowd pleaser.

We made Lucas his own cake-- too bad he wanted no part of it when the time came.
Party time!

Swampy on the table

Up from his nap and ready to party. My little man.

Auntie Fran came over early to hang out.

A great shot of us three

trying to get a good shot outside but Bug was too interested in the birds

the fam

getting ready for cake

but Lucas hates hats

once he calmed down we tried the cake

Lucas touched his cake once and then was all done. it was so anticlimactic.

Auntie Fran read a sweet poem that made everyone cry

present time

maybe his new activity table will help him learn to stand

out in his new swing from grandma and grandpa in the backyard

my party was so tiring, i need a nap

What a day we all had! Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate. Happy 1st Birthday, my little bug.

Bug and Grandma

I don't know who had more fun over the last 10 days- my mom or the Bug. They had such a great time together. I think she will really follow through on her promise to retire now.

Lucas started being really 'coy' this week-- it is adorable.

enjoying facing forward in his car seat- the prize for turning 1 and being chubby.

I refuse to smile knowing that Grandma is leaving.

Hurry Back Grandma. I miss you so much already.

Bug does mexico #3

We had another great trip in Mazatlan. Bug did great. He and grandma had a fabulous time playing every day that we ran clinics. He got a bit off his schedule, had to miss a few morning naps but it didn't seem to faze him. He is back on his schedule now and probably in grandma withdrawal right now at Ms Lisa's house.

My mom and Bug set up 'shop' in the extra room at 3 of the colonias we went too. My mom laid down a big tarp and towel and they sat and played all day. Bug took great naps in his pack-n-play.

Intake and triage at Villa Union
We did an outdoor clinic at Miguel Hidalgo and Lucas was a big hit in his pack-n-play under his mosquito netting.

we got to spend some time in the pool and he looked adorable in his SPF gear

and he hated his sunglasses

My folks bought him an awesome suntent that we set up at the pool. He loved it.

and they bought him this cool floaty pool thing. he loved that too.

our 'iowa city team'- including the Wall family from Rochester, Derik and Mel, the newlyweds, us and my folks

'I'm just chillaxin' in the pool'

Bug loves to 'swim'

So long Mazatlan. See you in November.

We talked about it several times but we are SO incredibly blessed with an easy baby who has made three trips now to Mazatlan and has done great on all the trips. We couldn't do it without my folks help. We are so lucky Lucas can sleep anywhere and is really flexible in terms of his schedule and food and surroundings. Even though I always planned on taking him, I didn't really think it would be as easy or as fun as it has been. Lucas is a great traveler and we are blessed to be able to continue our mission work.