Seemingly overnight it went from Summer to Fall ...
And you know what that means - chili!
Mom made plans with Grandma and Grandpa Fenner to come over today to watch the Browns game and we all decided on Chili and grilled cheese for lunch. Not to brag, but the two are kinda my specialty.
We were eating around lunch time which meant we needed to prepare the chili in the crock pot early this morning.
As I was browning the beef and sausage you came over and said "I help you daddy!"
That sweet little voice, how can I ever say no.
Your timing is impeccable, I was just getting ready to add the base and mix the ingredients. A perfect chance for you to help.
We showed you how to mix the ingredients together and you soon had the hang of it. It may have been a little messy but you did a great job!
I added the meats while you and mom continued to stir.
Next come the spices. I'll handle this - or so I thought. You really wanted to be a part of it. My one mistake was to give you the chili powder which you dumped in before I could stop you.
This could have some kick to it. Time will tell.
When everyone arrived we sat down to eat. Everyone seemed to like it, including you - who ate ten or so bites from Grandma's bowl.
Good work this morning kiddo!
I can't wait to see what we'll cook up next!
Like a cat, you have to be the tallest living vreature in the room sometimes.
We always sit in the corner booth at breakfast and where the booth curves is a natural shelf against the wall. This morning you insisted on sitting on that shelf and being taller than everyone else at the table.
A sense of superiority? Maybe.
I had to run in to work for a little bit this afternoon and you went with mom to write a revised offer for a client.
Once we were all back home it was a quick round of cleaning and doing what little we could to prepare for baby sister.
Mom and I also wanted to get you a little treat - a new (smaller) fish tank.
Remember McKenna, your new friend from a earlier in the month?
She wanted a fish tank for her birthday so we offered her our big one from downstairs. Last Wednesday she and her parents came to pick it up.
Mom and I promised you a new one for your room.
It turned into a two-and-a-half hour adventure between four store (including two WalMart's) but in the end we were successful.
"Nemo" and "Nemo's mommy" are enjoying their bright new home.
And maybe the quiet hum of the filter will help you sleep more peacefully at night.
Why sleep in it when you can use it as an indoor trampoline?
Love the dismount BTW.
"I no like it!" was the response we got when we showed you in your toddler bed for the first time.
Great ...
We've been trying since June to order the toddler rails. It's a bit of a long story so here's the Cliff's Notes version: Your the first child, so there was (and still is) a lot of uncharted territory as we prepared for your arrival.
We go the room ready and painted ...
... bought diapers ....
... and your crib.
When we ordered the crib at Babies 'R Us they told that we'd need to order the conversion kit as well and cautioned us to do so within 6-8 months.
So, nine months or so later we went back to order them. We walked in, asked if the conversion kit was still available. A few minutes later we had our rails and we were out the door.
I set them aside in the garage for when the time would come that we'd need them. Never once did I open the box.
Mom and I discussed having you in your toddler bed before your second birthday back in June we got the box of rails back out, opened them and noticed that they're the full-size rails, not the toddler rails.
We called Babies 'R Us in the hopes they might still have one that we could purchase, but being two years since we purchased, your crib is now out of stock.
They recommended we call the manufacturer. We did and they told us they have more on order but are waiting on them to be shipped from overseas.
We called weekly to check on the status and were just about to give up when mom called one last time and to our surprise the rails had come in.
Finally, today, we heard the UPS truck pull up and sure enough, it was your rail!
I grabbed my tools and much to your disappointment we quickly converted your crib.
Fingers crossed that when you realize you can get in and out of it on your own that you'll come around and like it!
After yesterday's failed attempt at spending lunch hour together mom brought some Subway to the Hall of Fame and we tried again.
This time with success. No interruptions and some fun playing on the FieldTurf after we ate. It was a little windy outside but we managed.
I can't stop looking at the following picture and laughing. Amidst all of the running and chasing each other with the football you suddenly decided that midfield was a great place to lay down.
When it's nap time, it's nap time no matter where you are.
I wish I would have taken a shot of you after you lifted you heard.You were peppered with rubber pellets and may have even eaten a few.
I just love how you march to the beat of your own drum. Keep it up!
Nothing too extraordinary today.
You were very into "Finding Nemo" this morning.
Just before I left for work mom had the idea to pack lunch and visit me at work. I'm always up for days like this!
We really didn't get to hang out much ... a hew minutes after you guys arrived mom got a business call and shortly after that my boss called me to come into an unexpected conference call.
We packed up our stuff from the picnic table and you and mom headed in to see Jenna and Kay while I went to my call.
We're undergoing some new policies at work and as such you and mom needed a visitors badge.
It was a short call so I was able to come back down and say hello before my lunch hour was over.
You and mom headed back home and I went back up to my office for the remainder of the day.
I'm sure our poor cats don't miss you when you're gone. Lately you've had a habit of wanting to pick them up and just love on them. This is okay, but you're not the most gentle when picking them up or playing with them. Ten times out of ten the final result is McGee biting or scratching you.
You really get them when they're most vulnerable ... dinner time.
Most of the time we'll let them eat on the counter so they're out of your reach but every once in a while we slip.
"McGee eat your food!" you'll command as you constantly move his dish away from him.
The poor fella just wants to eat but he can't even do that in peace.
But hey, at least you're showing that you like the responsibility of having a pet.
I believe I had a look into the crystal ball to your teenage years tonight.
Mom was out on more showings - some good ones in GlenMoore - fingers crossed - so we were doing our thing at home.
You begged to watch "Mommy's workout movie."
I refused at first but looked at he clock, realized we had time for one session before kick off, and put the DVD in.
Your interest remained long enough for e to capture the pic above. Then, it was on to your dry erase board for some smiley's.
I let you go for a minute or two and when I was convinced you wouldn't come back to the DVD I turned it off and put football on.
Cue the meltdown ...
You cried and begged for the movie you weren't watching.
This is when it happened. You began to crawl backwards down the dark hallway, looked at me and said "I no want to see you!" and continued crawling.
This is the first time you've ever voiced your frustrations with me. You've gotten upset and cried about things when I tell you no, but never have you told me how you felt.
I granted your wish and gave you a moment alone before coming to find you.
I flipped the light on in your room to find you tucked between your closet and crib, holding the bed rails. You looked at me and said "Let me go!"
We had a little heart to heart and I explained why I turned off the movie and that you won't always get what you want. We don't do things to intentionally upset you.
Soon all was forgiven.
Then you heard the garage door go up, looked at me and said "Mommy's home. I go hide" and ran behind the recliner.
