Truck Day...

Today was Big Truck Day in our town. We thought it was a perfect thing for Alexander since he's so into trucks of all kinds. We also asked Matt if Michael wanted to come along too since it was at the High School which is right across the street from us.The boys loved it! Fire trucks, police car, ambulance, motorcycle, school bus, garbage truck, & a tow truck! It was neat because they had the trucks there so kids could go in them, sit in the driver seat and simply check out the trucks.

At one point, Dan & Alexander went on the bus and as Alexander stood at the steps of the bus waiting his turn, I had a flash-forward to 4 years when he's getting on his first bus for first grade. Remind me to bring lots of kleenex to the bus stop!

Typical Night Out...

Thursday, Alexander & I went to Target for our weekly visit. I finally remembered to bring my camera to document such a weekly ritual.

He had his usual: hot dog & milk. His cafe friend was also there but when I took out my camera for pictures she was busy helping other people so we'll get a picture another time.

School Proof...

We got the proofs back from Alexander's Spring School Pictures. He looks so darn cute and so grown up! His teachers said that he was the best one in the class with the posing and being patient. Again, must be the practice at home.

I love how his cast matches the color scheme too...

Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, June 1st, - Sunday, June 7th, 2009)

Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, June 1st, - Sunday, June 7th, 2009)

Weekly Glance...

Weekly Glance (Monday, June 1st, - Sunday, June 7th, 2009)

• Decent week at school - however got very clingy during drop off Tues, Weds & Thursday. Would not let go of Mommy and had a little meltdown (crying and grabbing), finally relaxed after Mommy left with the help of Monkey sitting with him as he ate breakfast
• Loves chasing/playing with the "snow" in the yard - thinks it's hysterical to chase after it
• Went to Target with Mommy for a hotdog & milk dinner on Monday since Daddy had softball
• Daddy did bedtime on Wednesday
• Mrs. Bree came to sing on Thursday
• LOVES playing outside at home after school - plays with this leaf blower, helps Daddy mow the lawn, and now he loves jumping off of the little step
• Started helping Daddy water the garden and will now say "dadda gargarn blahblah" which is "let's water the garden Daddy"
• Before bed, he LOVES playing/catching ball with Mommy & Daddy - he'll run back and forth laughing & screaming
• Has been playing the Mickey Mouse Memory game - loves finding Mickey's ears
• His new favorite phases are "MY turn","I did it" or "I got it"
• Got his cast off on Friday and did EXCEPTIONALLY well - no crying or fussing. Actually helped out the assistant
• Got to keep his cast and he wanted to put it back together and at one point, even tried to put it back on
• Went to Target for a hot dog to celebrate the cast coming off - had his hot dog, went around the store in the back of the cart, & saw Mommy's friend Stacey
• After naptime, we took a BATH and cut those long nails - felt so nice for both of us!
• Did some fingerpainting with Mommy & Daddy before bed
• On Saturday, went with Daddy to babysit cousin Michael for a few hours
• After naptime at home, helped Daddy mow the lawn and clean the yard/garage
• Out to dinner at the Post Office pub and had a hamburger - was more excited in flirting with the waitresses and trying to get their attention to show them teddy grahams but LOVED Mommy's ginger ale
• Sunday morning, Daddy & Alexander went for their weekly walk to Dunkin Donuts, the gazebo and the playground
• Played outside in the driveway - Daddy showed him how to play washers and let him sit in his kayak fishing
• After naptime, went back outside and played with Mommy & Daddy
• Used his soccer net, kicking the ball saying "Yeahhhhh"
• His arm has been getting better all weekend - he's definitely using it and will very rarely protect it but he seems to be back to normal

Good As New...

Today, I took Alexander to get his cast off. I was dreading this. I thought for sure the poor kid would be traumatized, fighting, screaming, kicking, and just overall miserable. I didn't tell him we were getting the cast off until last night, right before bed. He was very excited! During story time, he would point to his arm and say "off cast" so he understood and seemed to be game

for it!

This morning, he was 50/50. If I asked if he wanted his cast off, sometimes I would get "off Momma" and other times I would get a "nooooo" with a pout. We headed out for our appointment. Alexander was fine the entire drive to the doctor's office, until I parked the car. Then he looked at me with the most saddest face. He looked terrified. My Mommy-heart ached again. I thought he was going to break down in tears, but he just kept saying 'off' and pouting. He wanted me to hold him as he walked over rather than walking himself and most times he actually put his head on my shoulder. He seemed either really scared or sad...poor little guy.

Once in the waiting room, he just snuggled on my shoulder until an older gentlemen (another patient) made him smile. Then he was okay to sit on my laugh and babble with the man. When it was our time to go in, the assistant, (a nice younger woman) escorted us in and Alexander walked right in. She pointed us to the room and in Alexander went without issue. She told us, she'd be right back and closed the door. That's when Alexander got a bit nervous - he wanted to snuggle again and was leaning on my shoulder repeating "mamma". When she came back in, she had us sit on the table and explained that the machine was noisy just like a vacuum cleaner and he got all excited!

From this point on, my stomach flipped because she explained to me that she was going to use this machine to saw it off and I had no idea how Alexander would react. But, as it turns out, I worried for absolutely nothing. He sat on my lap, content and quiet the whole time. Turns out this was the EASIEST thing I had done in the last 2 1/2 weeks!

She turned on the machine and he just watched. He moved his arm when she asked, he opened his fingers when she asked. He was fantastic! The assistant was so good. She kept telling him how great he was doing and she was also telling him what she was going to do to prepare him. He held Monkey in his other hand and at one point wanted me to face monkey so monkey could see. He was so entralled by the machine and what she was doing that he didn't freak out once! It was incredible. Once she was done, she asked him if he wanted to keep it and he said yes (which I thought was funny). So after she sawed it off, she cleaned out the insides and gave it to him. He was so excited! He let me sit him on the table to take a few pictures of him holding his cast.

She finished up and told us the doctor would be in to check his arm. Outside, I heard the doctor ask her how it went and she said "best possible scenario - he was great, not one peep" and the doctor replied "hmm interesting". Dr O walked in and asked how he adapted to the cast, etc. He did a check of his arm and said everything feels fine. He gave us instructions and more from a full service perspective, he scheduled us to come back in about 2 weeks just to make sure everything is fine.

Dr. O said to let him be a 2 year old. Alexander will still favor the arm for a bit but not get too worried about. He also said his arm might be itchy so do a light luke-warm wash with gentle lotion but not a lot. Overall, things look good.

After the doctor, we went to Target for a hot dog & milk to celebrate. And he was even starting to use both arms, even if it was a little bit...then we went home, read some books, took a nap and then... we HAD A BATH!! It was so nice to give him a proper bath and clean him! He played a bit but then I gave him a good washing of all of the crevices! Then after the bath, he even let him cut his nails as he relaxed with some milk & crackers - all in all a very productive day!

First serious trip to the ER - check. First major accident - check. First cast - check! We can say that's done with now...

And here's Alexander's cast but without Alexander actually in it.

One More Day...

Tomorrow, Alexander will get his cast off!

WHOOO HOOOO!

Let's hope this had no affect on him whatsoever and he can go back to using both arms/hands without hesitation!

Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, May 25th, 2009 - Sunday, May 31st, 2009)

Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, May 25th, 2009 - Sunday, May 31st, 2009)

Weekly Glance...

Weekly Glance (Monday, May 25th, 2009 - Sunday, May 31st, 2009)

• Decent week - however we are definitely in a whiney phase
• Had no issues at school with the cast
• Picture Day at school - did very well
• He loves to say "NOOOO" and "My Turn"
• Drinks out of a water bottle well with no major spillage
• Instead of baths this week - we did washing via facecloths. He didn't necessarily enjoy this but it had to be done
• Does a very good job playing his Mickey Mouse memory game
• No school on Monday because of Memorial day - went for a walk/playground with Daddy, then after a nap went to Marina Bay for a late lunch with Mommy & Daddy - we also met Matt, Laura & Michael too!
• Did fall at home after school on Tuesday chasing Daddy and got a new boo-boo, a fat lip, but it went away pretty quickly
• Wants to play outside with the garage door every night after school and doesn't want to come in, so Daddy tried to get him to use his leaf blower inside one night
• Went to Mimi & Papi's for a sleep over on Friday since Daddy was away for the weekend
• Didn't want to sleep or nap at first at Mimi's, and put up a fight but sleep won!
• Went for a couple of walks with Mimi and ran into a few puppies - one even came up and licked him on the cheek. Alexander wasn't too fond of that
• Played soccer, rode the tractor, colored, and rode his bike at Mimi's
• Watched Elmo & Manny with Papi
• Was very upset to leave Mimi & Papi's but then cried in the car about not being at home
• Went for a walk with Mommy Sunday morning to the grocery store and we ran into a turtle who was coming out of his hole
• After a nap, went over Uncle Steven & Carolyn's for a gathering for Nick's birthday
• Got to meet Uncle Paul & cousin Charlotte for the first time - had fun playing with Charlotte
• Got to see Grandma & Grandpa - made poor Grandma change his diaper (he does this to her every time we see them)
• Drinking out of a water bottle
• Fussed about going home but then in the car, wanting to be at home
• Did another sponge bath of which Alexander was not happy about but he did let me clean under his nails for the hand in the cast - which was good because it was irritating me