Adam's Antics

Adam had a busy week amusing his mama...he started last Sunday when Pam was here. She gave him "The Foot Book" by Dr. Suess with a stuffed animal of the character...well he grabbed it right out and said "DEEEEE"!!! He's made me kiss it like 20 times this week (even more fun as he caught a cold and mmmm snot on everything he kisses!)

Then on Wednesday he made my day...he hates that oh so fun nose sucker...we only try to use it when we have to but man, he cries like we stole his birthday. I had one I've never used before and gave it to him while I changed his diaper to keep him occupied as he usually hates having to hold still. He got a wicked grin on his face...and jammed it up MY NOSE!!!! He was proud of himself and we both laughed so hard...!

On Thursday...it was snowing on and off something awful. He figured out how to drag the tin that holds Bailey's food to the kitchen window and climbed it...he was so excited to have such a close view to the wind whipping the snow...and I was so proud he had climbed up :)

And not long after...Bailey went outside and dragged in snow. Adam promptly sat down and started eating this nice doggie-ass snow!

That's what I remember so far...I'm going to try and add pictures to this tomorrow :)

Take Revolutionary Road, Turn Left at Cayuga St.

This week, I have put a lot of time into trying to track down 50 local business owners for updates for the progress edition of Oswego County Business Magazine. It had been a while since I had done something like that, so I definetely underestimated the time it would take. I had planned on doing a story or two a month and usually that just requires an interview or two...and that I really have been enjoying. But I've been chipping away at it...hating the stress and the time it has taken from my son. But at the same time, it's definetly made the week fly by...making me feel "useful". Yesterday, when Todd came home, I told him that despite that, it was a reminder why I didn't want to work when my kids were young. For me, I can only really be the mom I want to be if I can focus on that. But was I less of a person because I can't juggle eight phone calls, three problems and a big event like I used to?

Last year, there was much ado about a movie called Revolutionary Road (SPOILER)in which Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio are a 1950's couple who feel trapped by conventional life...except he really doesn't. She's raising two kids and self aborts her third at the end of the movie and dies. I had really wanted to see this movie and watched it last night.

I had always appreciated the feminist message of such period pieces. But last night, I looked at it differently. She did have choices, but very limited ones. She chose to get married, get pregnant three times, sleep with her husband's best friend, chose to blame her unhappiness on her spouse and chose to die instead of having another kid. To be honest, she reminded me of my ex...feeling sorry for herself because every minute of her life wasn't 'exciting'. I'm sure it as so hard for women then to make their own happiness if they felt trapped...and I know how hard it is to feel like your choices are limited (SEE: my past life). Societal pressure can be hard on women...it's still there...I still get asked by people if I'm "bored". I understand...I ran from high pressure job to job always wanting to be in charge, wanting to have a career.

But my Revolutionary Road took a turn onto Cayuga Street. After having such mixed feelings about my usefulness all day, this movie reminded me that it doesn't matter if society expects me to not only handle both, but want both.

I am lucky enough to have the choice. And as Adam sits at my feet going DEEEE!!!! as he plays with his toys...for me, it's more than the right choice. Actually, I've known that since the moment I was pregnant...I've been insanely happy (for me!!) since I met Todd, had adam and am getting ready for my daughter...but yesterday, I wondered if I was less of a person, less of a woman, because of that choice, because it's what makes me happy. Society's expectations of women does affect our self-esteem, but I reminded myself last night how little I actually CARE about what society thinks :)

The Shrek of It

If you know Adam, you know he is a good baby full of personality, smiles and humor. BUT the kid can barely sit still. Though bed time goes relatively well most nights due to hardcore training, naps have always been hard as he doesn't want to MISS ANYTHING in life. The kid won't sleep anywhere but his crib except the occasional nod off in the car. People always say to me when I tell them I have to head home because Adam is tired "Oh, he'll fall right asleep in the car". HA

So certainly it was no surprise to us that watching television was never one of his priorities. Even as a four month old, the Baby Einstein videos couldn't hold his attention at all..he was bored. That was fine; though I see nothing wrong with watching television, I don't want it to be the center of his childhood.

So the only thing he "watched" was School House Rock videos...his daddy started those when he was born and he went from only liking two to liking most these days. As he got older, we started watching CMT and VH1 in the morning because he LOVES music so much...(He'll be playing in the other room and if a song he loves comes on...he runs in:)

Then on November 14, Todd and I were pleasantly surprised when the Wizard of Oz actually held his attention for almost an hour. After that, Todd found he liked Thomas the Train. He would actually sit there and watch like 15 minutes...we were shocked!! We taped him some Christmas specials...The Grinch and Frosty held his attention for about the same amount of time...now, before bed, Adam watches Tom&Jerry or the occasional Scooby-Doo while drinking his bottle.

But apparently Shrek has somethng no one else does...The Christmas special he loved most of all was "Shrek the Halls". A few weeks ago, Shrek was on HBO. He loved it. This past weekend, he sat on my lap and watched the entire movie! Now if he's restless or needs to relax, we put on that movie and it's like magic...the first guarantee to help Adam settle down! I'm sure it won't last...tastes change but for now, it's nice to know I have a tool to help a kid who will slap his mom and himself just to stay awake actually relax...

Adam Plays Like a Big Boy

Yesterday, Todd and I noticed that Adam plays like a big boy now. What exactly does that mean? Instead of randomly picking things up and messing around with them for a bit and sucking on them, he's become more focused. He took his hand-held Thomas to the bathroom and was running it's wheels back and forth on the floor. He took his big Thomas and pushed it into the kitchen so he could drive it around. This morning, the kitchen has become the parking lot for his Elmo plane and alphabet train as well. Just a little thing, but a reminder that Adam is growing up...

The Garbage Man's Ball

Last night, Todd and I went to a get-together for major accounts for Casella Waste. Invited for years, Todd went for the first time last year because we thought it'd be fun to try something new. It was...so my parents came over to watch Adam...the first time since LAST Year's event we left him alone at night and had someone else put him to sleep (only two months old last year, he fell asleep at Todd's parents house no problem). I was anxious as Adam is a fussy sleeper...but looking forward to going out.

It's held at a place called Riley's in Syracuse...a place I had never heard of before but has a neighborhood pub on the first floor and a party room on the second floor on Park Street. They keep the room decorated for Christmas through January for any left-over holiday get-togethers like this one. I love it there....it feels like a place I want to live...old Victorian decorated in dark blues and dark wood furniture...twinkly lights, rocking chairs and fluffy couches. And a bathroom hidden behind a pocket door in the coat room! The food is amazing...they circulate with these amazing appetizers...shrimp cocktail was the best....

Fun to do something with my husband and no kids...meet other people...and not have to chase a one-year-old around. But, I did miss him a little :)....made me appreciate him more today.

Met some interesting people...and everyone looked at me like I was going to go into labor right there! And let me tell you...the people who run Riccelli waste and trucking are half sopranoes half steve martin...had us in stitches :O

I enjoyed looking at my husband with that sparkle in his eyes that made me fall for him in the first place, cute in his white sweater and being able to appreciate every minute with him...

By ten, I was exhausted...we left around 11...I could barely stay awake in the car...remember when I was just starting my night at 11!

And the title of the post? Well, my mom said "I told your father you were going to the garbage man's ball tonight!" Love it.