My Boogs

I keep getting hounded by a certain someone because I don't post enough entries about Reese.  So here goes...

Here's a few things you should know about my sweet 16 and a half month old...

She's quite the 'mean mugger'.

She loves stuffed animals and cuddling.  She'll flail her big leg over my lap, holding at least 2 animals, and get nice and comfy.

She's hard to keep up with.  One example...She'll sneak into the bathroom, grab a bunch of stuff from the trash can, and toss it into the toilet.  Another example...I have to lock everyone into the waiting room at Davis' therapy clinic because she likes to escape and run out into the parking lot.  And another...at a birthday party on Sunday, we lost sight of her.  We looked and looked and looked all over.  She had shut herself into the baby's room and was eating baby wipes.

Speaking of bathrooms - She loves toothbrushes and toothpaste.  I let her out of my sight for a couple minutes the other day and she had spread toothpaste all over our sofa.

She's obsessed with 'bubbies'.  She insists on wearing my bra around the house and if I'm really lucky, she'll pull my shirt down in public to try and get a glimpse of mine.

She loves to dance and twirl around.  It's my most favorite thing about her. 

Here are a couple new additions to her wardrobe.

She's fluent in the 'huh' language.  She never stops babbling, but we can't understand a word of it.

She loves her friendship bracelet.

She already throws really dramatic, frightening fits.  You know she means business when she tenses up her entire body (all the way to her fingertips and toes) and lets out a blood curdling squeal.

She LOVES to be outside.  Loves, loves, loves it.

Everything she touches goes into her mouth.  Dog treats.  Paper.  Acorns.  Matchbox cars.  Dirty socks.  Outlet protectors.  You name it.

Every time I look at her, I see this.  Why, oh why, is she growing up so fast?!?!  WHY?!?! 

Baseball

We really wanted to try 'normal' baseball league with Davis and were extremely nervous about how it was going to go.  He had his first practice on Tuesday night and it went really well.  The coaches are awesome.  They seemed really interested in learning about Davis' disability and let us know that they planned on treating him the same way they treat the rest of the boys.  Some of the kids asked why he ran the way he did and one of the coaches quickly put an end to the questioning.  He told us that he didn't want to leave any opportunity to put Davis on the spot and make him explain himself. 

Once I left practice, I had a big fear.  It wasn't that Davis can't run to first base as fast as the rest of the kids or that he can't throw, catch, or hit the ball as well as them.  It was that the other parents and the coaches might wonder why we would put Davis in this league.  And this came solely from my own insecurities. 

One of Justin's concrete sales reps works for one of the coaches and when Justin called him about it, he had really comforting things to say.  The coach told his employee that he was so pumped to have Davis on his team - that he felt like he was put on his team 'for a reason'.  He said he went home and told his wife that he wished the other boys had half the heart that Davis has for the game.  He thinks Davis is going to change people and really be a blessing for the whole league.  How about them apples?!?!  

I'll probably go through his entire life bearing the burden of fears like these.  And that's ok.  I know that Justin and I are doing the right thing.  And we'll never keep him from experiencing the stuff boys should experience just because of his Cerebral Palsy.  It's better to throw him out into the world, rather than hide him from it because he's a special boy and has a huge purpose! 

Now, I'm confident in knowing that he has a right to be there and I look forward to the rest of the season! 

Addition and Subtraction

We got a new puppers yesterday!  He's a two year old (really, he's 2...only my close pals will get that) sealed reverse brindle boxer and we lubbers him all the days and nights.  I posted an ad on Craigslist Friday night, a man named Justin from Covington called me in response to it on Saturday afternoon, and we picked him up yesterday morning. 

We've spent the last couple weeks looking for a boxer.  For one reason or another, it wasn't working out...mostly, we were being very picky.  Some of our veto reasons...it didn't have its tail docked, it was mixed with a pitbull, heartworm positive, too old, too young, too 'funny looking' (seriously.  how vain are we???), etc.  Last Wednesday, we met a 10 month old female sealed reverse brindle boxer and fell madly in love with her.  She was beautiful.  The people that came and looked at her after us brought their boxer and it was a done deal.  We lost and were so bummed out.  It also added to our 'must have' list.  I was, after that, on a mission to find a sealed reverse brindle. 

And the puppy fairy granted our overly unnecessary and ridiculously picky wishes with this perfect little boy, 'Tux' (his name was 'Tank', but we were out on that).  He needs to be neutered, but through the SPOT Program, we can have that done for about $40 at most vets.  He's also a little 'skiddish' and 'high anxiety', if you will.  I know he's had a stressful couple months (moving from a home into an apartment, watching his 2 brothers get sent away, and then moving in with a whole new family.  We're hoping he gets settled soon.  :)

What's the subtraction, you ask?

Big Wooder Davis lost his very, first tooth yesterday!  Such a big deal in the kid raising world!  He came running out of his room this morning, holding 3 crisp $1 bills.  He was so excited.  "I didn't even see her because she's so small."

Happy Monday

Davis wakes up between 6:30 and 7 every morning.  He goes to the living room and turns on cartoons while the rest of the house gets another 30 minutes or so of sleep.  I walk into the living room this morning as he's swallowing something... 

Me: "What did you just eat?"
Him: "A cookie."
Me: "What?!?  Davis, you can't eat cookies for breakfast.  Don't ever do that again.  You don't ever get cookies without asking first.  How many did you eat?"
Him (with his 15 year old 'tude): "Ugh.  I can't remember."

He ate 5 chocolate chip cookies this morning.  I counted.  Thank God it's a school day.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Got The Computer Back...

...so I'll catch you up on the fun we've been having...

Down at the pits during Monster Jam...

 

Hanging out before the show (after the pits)...

Birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese...

Burning up a rainy Saturday at the bowling alley...

Every Dad needs a daughter...

This has become Boogs favorite new spot...

She even passes out in there...

Being a mess maker...

 

Brother got tickets to the UGA/UK Basketball Game for Christmas, so we headed up there on Tuesday...

The Etsy Store...

• I've had 2 more people feature one of my items in their 'Treasury'.  It hasn't generated any sales, but definitely traffic.  So that's good. 
• Finally, someone that doesn't know me ordered something!  All the way from Oregon!  And this is what she had to say about her purchase...

"Love it! Plus, SUPER FAST SHIPPING. I ordered this two days ago, and it's already here in Oregon from Georgia. Thank you! I'm sure we'll be back."

As Promised...

Giveaway available on my A.N. Knits Facebook page.

Since Then...

My computer died on Tuesday.  Since then, I've been unable to blog, upload items to my shop, work.  It's been brutal.  Yesterday, we took it to a computer doctor where it will be in recovery through the weekend.  Right now, I'm using Justin's new laptop.  That's right, folks, Justin's entering the cyber world. 

Since then, though...

• Davis got his first loose tooth!  It was SO EXCITING to discover!  I really want to yank it out.  So.  Bad.
• We went to Monster Jam last Saturday.  It was lots of fun, of course.  This year, we went early to walk around 'the pits'.  It was neat being so close to all those HUGE monster trucks.  Davis was in Heaven.  All my pictures are locked on my laptop, though.
• He spent his 100th day in Kindergarten yesterday.  His class did lots of counting activities, ate some goodies, and made really cute paper hats.  I love picking him up in the afternoons and seeing a homemade hat on his head!
• We went to the North Cobb Christian School's Open House on Thursday morning.  That school is amazing.  I fell madly in love with it.  I'm a little mad at the tuition, but everything else was perfect.  We have a lot of conversations about Kindergarten vs First Grade and Private vs Public School in our near future. 
• I called around about enrolling Boogs into a MMO program.  I'm ready to get her involved in a 'school' and (selfishly) have some free time.  I know she's ready.  I was going to wait until 18 months, but that'll be in March and she'd only attend for a month since most places follow the public school system.  I think I found a good place that's close to our house.  I know other children that go there.  And it's affordable.
• We signed Davis up for 'real, big boy' t-ball!  Assessments were this morning, but it got rained out.  He'll be playing with the Shetlands out of Acworth.

Etsy related...

• I've been knitting lots and lots of goodies.  Thanks for all the feedback!  I quickly designed a cute cowl (the only thing I've been able to add to my shop this week), some coffee cozys, necklaces, and I'm in the middle of a smart phone cover.
• Who else thinks it's funny that I take most of my item pictures in my spare bathroom?!?! 
• I sold two items yesterday! 
• I'm going to do another giveaway soon.  This time, on my 'a.n. knits' Facebook page.  Stay tuned!
• I was featured in someone's Treasury list of 'upcycled items'!  I don't know exactly what that means, but I was pumped! 
• I love getting Activity feeds that a stranger somewhere in the world has added one of my items to their 'Favorites'!  BUT BUY THE DAMN THING!  Jk.
• I really want to add a craft room to our house.  I feel like the more Justin and I talk about it, the chances of me waking up to a construction site attached to the back of my house become more likely.  :)  

Plug It In

I'm sure most of you already know (either from being bombarded with photos on Facebook or looking at my dresser) that I've re-started my Etsy shop.  It's a small section of my 2012 New Year's Resolution...Improve Me.  Not broad at all, huh?!?
Anyway...here's some things you can do because you lubbers me all the days...

• Check it out.  I plan to post new items every day or so. 
• Write an entry about it on your own blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc.  I'll kiss your mouth the next time I see you as a 'thanks'. 
• Leave me feedback.  Because I'm still in the unsure/insecure stages of it all. 
• If there's something you think I should be selling, please let me know! 
• If you're an Etsy user, give me some suggestions on how to increase my traffic and sales. 

Thanks!!!  Thanks!!!  Thanks!!!

I also have a link for everything over there, to the right of the page.  ------>



One Year Post-Op

Wow!  It's been a whole year since the Rhizotomy.  Definitely the best, best, best decision we could have ever made for our little Wooder.  It did, however, take many, many months of stress, no progress, and a lot of 'what have we done?' before we knew that we made the right decision.  Now, I advocate for this procedure.  I'm always eager to share my experience with SDR when meeting a new CP parent.  That surgery changed the course of his life and here's the proof...

Boo-boo before...

Boo-boo after (the gash to the left is from falling off his stool while brushing his teeth the other night...he gets his clumsiness honestly)...

Running before...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVIdQ81Mcoc&list=UUkqXXt-Vi6p2Mo8KE5FfJTg&index=10&feature=plcp

 

Walking one year after...

 

 

Desk B & A

$30 solid wood desk from antique store.  Of course, I had already started priming by the time I thought to take photos.  I  explained my project plans to the Lowe's guy and he was kind enough to darken the primer for me since I planned on using black paint.

Before...

My poor Doc in the background...

 

 

After...

I painted the border of a cork board to match the knobs.  And distressed the edges of the desk...

 Materials...The primer (can on the right) has something in it that allows you to skip the sanding process!  Introduced to me by Danielle.  And the cabinet roller (also a great suggestion from the Lowe's guy) made this a super fast project!