the performance of the century

Today was The Mayor's spring concert at school. You just never know what you are going to get when you get a whole bunch of 2 year old classes up on a stage and expect them to perform in front of a packed house of moms, dads, grandparents and loved ones. And you really don't know what to expect when you attempt to get The Mayor up there. I had spoken with his teacher last week and she warned me he might not want to participate, that once he got up there he may freak out and want to get off stage. I told her I had no expectations and was fully prepared that he wouldn't want to sing or be on stage. But boy were we wrong! He. did. awesome.

The theme of the concert was Children Around The World and each class represented different countries. Two classes represented Africa, another two classes represented Latin America and the last two classes (one of which was The Mayor's class) represented Israel. The kids looked ADORABLE in their outfits. The Mayor walked proudly in with his class wearing his shirt with the Star of David on it and made his way to stage. He didn't sing much in the beginning; he mostly looked around, "Whistled" (putting his finger in his mouth and saying "woowoo"), messed with his hair...you know, what typical 3 year olds do when they are expected to perform. At one point he got too close to the edge of the stage and got upset when his teacher tried to pull him back. But after a few seconds off the stage, he was ready to get back up there. When he got up there, he quickly went to his teacher, sat in her lap and sucked his thumb. He sat there and cuddled while the other kids were "singing". But when the finale "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" started, he got excited, jumped up, made his way to the front of his section, started clapping and singing. It was precious. And made my heart so happy.

Words seriously can not express how happy The Mayor makes me. And to see the changes in him over the course of this school year makes me tear up. We started the year with him screaming and crying as they took him from the carpool line, to having to be bribed every day just to go to school to performing on stage in front of a crowded room of strangers. This is one proud momma.

getting ready to walk into the auditorium

cuddling with his teacher

performing his heart out

showing Bennett the stage

(Meega, Bennett and PopPop were able to come to the concert)

chillin'

*the lighting in the gym made some of the pictures turn out a bit dark*

march madness

It's March and things are looking up for us. But the most exciting thing to happen this month is, in just 9 days, our sweet Love Bug will be turning ONE! And 2 days after that, we will be having the celebration of the year. In addition to the big first birthday, everyone in this home is beginning to feel 100% (and yes, I just knocked on wood...because we all know what happens once I start bragging about something good...)

After Love Bug and The Mayor were sick last week...it got to momma. It hit me hard Saturday afternoon. Not only did it hit hard, it hit me all of a sudden. I had all of the symptoms of the flu but thankfully it was gone in 48 hours. What a relief because I was having small panic attacks thinking about being home with 2 small kids while D was at work and me being this sick. I literally could not get off of the couch without feeling like I was going to faint. If I had to be sick, it was a blessing it happened on a weekend.

But today the sun was shining, the kids are healthy and so am I. March is going to be a good month.

**And on a side note, in addition to the virus The Mayor had last week, he has not been acting like himself for the past couple of months. He wakes up in the morning telling us he is tired, he falls asleep on the couch at 11:30 in the morning or he falls asleep on us (both of which are NOT like him at all), he has no appetite and would prefer to be carried while he lies on my shoulder while we are in a store instead of walking "like a big boy" (again, so not like him). I took him to the doctor today to have blood work done...I needed to make sure there wasn't some underlying issues. They tested him for mono, his platelet levels, white blood count, iron levels, etc and all is normal! They think it could be allergy related. So we are off to a pediatric allergist. This is good news...allergies I can handle.

we survived

We made it. We survived, me and kids, while D was out of town. We all look like a bunch of rag-a-muffins, but we survived. Why is it the kids get sick when the husband is out of town? Why can't they get sick on a Saturday when we are both here?

At 6:30 this morning, The Mayor woke up crying. I went to check on him and he wanted some water. He was burning up. I checked his temperature and it was already at 103.7. Some water and a dose of Motrin and he was back asleep. At 8:30, I was lying in bed while both kids were sound asleep just thinking about the day ahead of us. I decided we probably needed to start the day with a trip to the pediatrician. I called and they could get us in at 9:30...but then I remembered both car seats were completely stripped bare and sitting in the family room. Crap! I had to put together the car seats, get them back into the car, wake up two sleeping babies, feed them and get myself dressed and be out the door in 30 minutes so we could drop Love Bug off at Meega's and get to the doctor in time...

Took me about 20 minutes to tackle the car seats then I raced upstairs to get Love Bug dressed and then started her breakfast. While she ate, I woke up a sleeping Mayor drenched in sweat from his fever...we changed him into new PJs and his breakfast was juice (his request). I had about 45 seconds to get myself dressed and out the door. The only clothes at my grasp were the clothes Love Bug had vomited on the day before...yes, I was that mom today. Luckily, there wasn't that much vomit and I was the only person that could see it.

We got to Meega's in record time to drop off Love Bug and sped off to the doctor...we made it with 3 minutes to spare, thank you very much. The Mayor was pitiful, wanted to be carried and cuddled the entire time. Long story short, strep and the flu came back negative, but since he only started feeling sick yesterday, it is too soon for the flu test to come back positive. So he either has the flu or a virus. His temperature is still at 103 and he had 3 popsicles for dinner. Praying for just a virus and that it will be gone before we know it.

Regardless, D is home and I could not be happier. I always hate it when he travels but I was really missing him this trip. It is so nice to have an extra pair of hands around here.

Love Bug entertaining her brother

so pitiful...doesn't even want to hold his own popsicle

vomit and fevers

I had such high hopes for today. A leisurely morning around the house followed by a playdate at the park around 11AM. After the playdate we were going to go to lunch followed by naps, play time with Bennett and Meega and then our small group meeting at our house. We got through the first part of this agenda before the wheels of our day fell off...

We rolled into the parking lot of the playground. I popped open the doors of the van, walked over to Love Bug's side to get her when she greeted me with vomit. After she vomited, she looked at me, cried and proceeded to vomit two more times before I could get her out. She and the car seat were covered. Meega and my friend Sara offered to let The Mayor stay at the playground while I took Love Bug home to bathe her. I couldn't put her back in her car seat because it was filled with vomit so I put her in The Mayor's car seat. As soon as I got into our neighborhood, she vomited 2 more times. I hate it when my babies are sick...and it is even worse when they are this age and vomiting...they get so scared because they don't know what is going on. She just looked at me in the rearview mirror crying wondering what the heck was going on with her.

I took her inside, checked her temperature (which was normal) and put her in the bathtub. She was so happy! She was grinning and splashing...not the behavior I was expecting from a child who had just thrown up all over the place 5 times. After the bath, she went down for a nap and I stripped and disinfected both car seats.

Meega brought The Mayor home after I had gotten Love Bug down and he was burning up with fever. 102.6. Seriously? What a day. He was so lethargic and puny...he got into the recliner and fell asleep. After 30 minutes, he woke up crying and wanted to be cuddled. We cuddled until his sister woke up 3 hours later. She woke up in the best mood. Ready to play and even wanting to eat. As she was getting better, her brother was getting worse. I could feel his fever getting higher; I checked it again and it was 103.8. Oh yeah, did I mention? D is out of town on business. What a day for this to happen. We always miss D when he is away but I REALLY miss him now.

Both kids were in bed and asleep by 6:30. Love Bug was worn out from her morning and The Mayor was worn out from his fever. Praying tomorrow is fever and vomit free.

passed out

so sick

does this look like the face of a girl who had just thrown up?

they have TVs in grocery carts now

Did you know they have TVs inside of grocery carts now?! Yeah, they do. Insane.

They just opened a new Kroger down the street and I have heard they have quite a large organic/gluten free section so I have been dying to check it out. While we were walking in, I saw a mom pushing a grocery cart with a car on the front of it. So I asked The Mayor if he wanted to ride in the car and he said yes! But when we walked in the store, there were no carts with cars on them, only the regular old shopping cart. Well shoot! But then I turned around and saw the mother load of all grocery carts. Not the measly plastic car with the sad black steering wheels we had seen in the parking lot but the jaguar of grocery carts and it had a TV in it! I got to chose the program, we settled on Handy Manny, and started off.

After shopping, we went to Meega and Bennett's house to play and then convinced them to join us for "Kids Eat Free Night" at Chick-fil-a. The Mayor was so tired he barely ate dinner, he didn't even want the free ice cream (which is something that he has never turned down) so when we got home, we all went upstairs and went to bed. They were both fast asleep before 7:00. Pretty awesome day.

getting old

I can't believe it has been almost a week since I have blogged. But this getting into shape business is wearing me out. I am going to the gym 6 days a week, sometimes twice a day (yes, I've lost my mind) and 3 of those days I am at the gym by 5AM. So I am usually falling asleep or ready to fall asleep shortly after the babes are down at 7PM. Yes, I'm also getting so old.

A quick recap of the last week...beautiful weather and lots of play. We played at our favorite indoor bounce playground, went on some walks and soaked in the sunshine, went to church, napped, worked out, worked out, worked out...you get the point.

Tomorrow is a school day for The Mayor and me and Love Bug are going for a quick visit to see my dear friend Carolyn and her 3 adorable boys before they head back home to Valdosta. Then Love Bug and I will run a few errands and back home to enjoy some mommy/daughter time before we pick up The Mayor from school. Tomorrow it will be sunny and in the 60s so we will spend the afternoon going for a walk and hitting a playground. And then we will all crash around 7PM. Seriously, when did I get so old??

where's The Mayor?

she didn't love playing "Where's Love Bug" as much as her brother did

but she did love cheering him on in the ball pit

he wore his dad's bike helmet all morning...sadly, it almost fit his big noggin

brings out the best

The past 2 days have just been down right awesome. This beautiful weather just brings out the best in us. Everyone is happier when the sun is shining and we get to be outside running free. The past 2 days have been jammed pack with playing, special trip to get frozen yogurt, more playing, naps, playing, running free at the outdoor mall and looking at the fountains (one of The Mayor's favorite past times) where he and Love Bug were told by a couple of 8 year old girls a dozen times that they were "so adorable", and sitting on park benches just taking in the sunset.

Tomorrow promises to be just as awesome. Aunt Nat, Uncle Tom, Trey and Luke are coming to Atlanta for a quick day trip. I'm not even going to tell The Mayor until I pick him up from school...he is going to be SO excited that he will get to see his cousins. After school we will meet them downtown to hang out and play and then go to dinner. They will be going to the circus afterwards and D and I will be bringing home two very tired babies to go to bed. Can't wait!