While Jason was Gone

Last week Jason had a business trip. I don't know how wives, whose husbands travel all the time, do it. I'm not scared to be alone at home, but I go stir crazy. There is not enough to change things up that I want to be home 120 hours without someone else around part of the time.

So we went down and stayed with my Mom and Dad. We had a fun time. On Monday I stopped off at my old school to drop off a letter of recommendation to one of the teachers. Had a good time visiting with people.

Tuesday we went over to my sister, Heidi's, house and Jacob played with his cousins, Olivia and Samantha. Wednesday I went to see my old college roommate, Inez, and her little boy Neil. Neil was born 6 weeks earlier than Jacob. Had a fun time seeing them.

Thursday afternoon we went over to Heidi's again and Jacob played with the cousins. He jumped on the trampoline, rode the toys and was pulled around in their wagon. All of the kids were so good to him--he LOVED playing with them. Cried when we left.

Unfortunately I didn't pull my camera out until Friday morning. That morning we went to Samantha's school for her Kindergarten program. It was very cute and she did a great job.










Afterward we walked back to Heidi's and Jacob jumped on the tramp again with Samantha and Olivia. He again cried when we had to leave.

Friday afternoon Jacob and I helped dad with a little bit of yard work. Jacob loved watering his plants and wanted FULL control of the hose.

We drove home that night and Jason flew in late. It was so good to have him home, but we really did have a good time with Grandma and Grandpa. They were so good to have us stay for the week.

Thank the Dentist

Here at our house things are explained in terms of how we might feel..for example, if Jacob wants to watch a particular show and we feel he has watched enough we might tell him (or his mom might tell him) that Curious George isn't on right now--he is tried and needs to sleep.

Or I have told him, while trying to get him to finish his lunch, that his banana is sad because he isn't eating him. Is that bad? It works and so for now I use it when needed.

Jacob has been using a sippy cup and we found that he was using it like some kids might have a special blanket--for comfort. He wasn't walking around the house with it, but he was beginning to want it like he had used a bottle as a baby. I just was not in the mood for the fight about taking it away--being at home with him for 14 hours a day--I was not up to it, but I knew I needed to be at some point...in case he wasn't planning on growing out of it.

We've had all sorts of sippy cups...


...and I really like them because I don't have to worry about spilling (unless I have put the lid on wrong...which I have done a time or two). We have gone through several different types because Jacob tends to chew through the soft top ones.

In April we went to the Dentist. Jacob had a great check up and the Dr. gave us a paper outlining what were good and not good things for the teeth (i.e. fruit snacks=bad; nuts=good, etc.) Sippy cups are on the not so good list...Dentist says, other than not spilling, they are not any better for your child's teeth than a bottle. So, I thought, we have to give it up...he uses it to fill up when he hasn't eaten enough, he uses it for comfort....need to change...muster up the courage for a battle.

I told Jacob what the dentist had said. That we can't use sippy cups anymore--it is bad for our teeth. He accepted it. He still asks for it, but he'll drink out of a cup, rather than fighting me on it--like he used to do pre dentist.

Mom still has one weak spot. In the morning I bring Jacob into bed with me and we cuddle while he has a little drink of milk out of the sippy cup. I know, I know...I'm weak, but I just don't want to start my day at 6:30. Finding things to keep a 2 year old busy is hard enough to do 12 hours a day--one hour makes a difference to me. :) Bless the dentist for making the transition easier.

Improvements for the Mall

With Utah's touchy spring weather, we went to the mall today to run around. They have wonderful toys for the kids to play on!

There is the escalator, South Town mall's glass elevator, toy cars (where you insert a quarter to watch it shake your child into a happy state--unfortunately for Jacob I don't bring quarters, so my child just gets to sit on them and use his imagination), and even strollers you can rent. Jacob wanted me to rent one (since it was a car and anything that remotely resembles a car--he is all over it!) But we didn't need a stroller, so I just sat him in one to enjoy pretending he was getting to ride one. Funny thing is other toddlers passed by with parents and thought it was a ride. Poor other parents...since Jacob was in the front cart there were no other "cars" to ride.

Problem is there are no "Mom benches" to sit on while you watch them play on the rent-a-stroller, toy cars, or in the elevators (as you ride up and down). The escalators are definitely not child proof and so I am unable to sit and watch him ride up and down--I need to ride also. ;)

All kidding aside, they do have a great little play area for kids called Dino Towne. It is perfect for those days when it is too cold to go outside and your child still needs to get out and slide, climb etc. Dino Towne does have "Mom benches" which I am thankful for. :)