Just so you don't have to look at Christopher's battered face anymore

He's mostly healed up. The bug bite did go down in 3 days and he only has a small scab under his noes again! Hooray for fast-healing children!

When bad things happen to good toddlers

So Christopher had a really rough day yesterday. Tony and I noticed a little red bump on his eyebrow in the morning and just thought he bumped his head, normal for someone who is learning to walk. When he woke up from his nap it was twice as big. He was very fussy, so I called the pediatrician on call and he agreed that it was probably a bug bite. We put benadryl cream on it, and went to the library.
Then, in his new big boy shoes, Christopher stepped off the curb and planted his face on the asphalt in the library parking lot. I was later looking at his poor little swollen and scratched face and said he looked like he'd been in a bar fight. John added "And lost."
However, as you can tell from the photographic evidence, he remains in good spirits.

Lost

It looks like Blogger lost some of our comments on the previous post. Anyone else have that same problem? Back up your blogs everyone, as Pa would say!

Christopher's Ear Surgery

Well, it's finally done. A week later than we thought due to mysterious childhood virus number 873 (an unexplained 5-day fever).
He went back to school today.
The doctors installed ventilation tubes and removed his adenoids, which is exactly what Tony had. John just had tubes installed. (At almost the exact same age!)
Christopher already seems happier, and is moving around possibly better. But that may just be getting more walking practice. The doctor, a lovely red-head with a warm smile, told us that she got out the gunk (my word, I can't remember hers), and she actually shuddered when she said it. It has to be pretty bad to gross out a doctor whose surgery waiting room has a TV that presents live cataract surgery. Yuck.
Anyway, here are some pictures. Sorry for the blurry ones.
















He had a little bit of difficulty in the first period of coming out of the anesthetic. He wouldn't take any fluids, but later he slowly worked his way through the day eating and drinking in usual Christopher style!

M is for the million things she gave me ...

Before becoming one, I never thought much about how much importance other mothers would take on for me and my own family. Now that I'm a mom, all the others moms in my life are vital to my well-being and happiness.
My MIL Judy has provided me with a wonderful husband and an amazing father to children who wouldn't be here otherwise!
My friend Christine, nearer to the beginning of her life as a mom, manages to make me feel wiser than I really am.
It has been amazing to share being a mom on the exact timeline as my sister Jenny.
My BFF moms Kerri and Becky are witnessing and experiencing my own day-to-day life as a mom, encouraging me, laughing with me, and helping me, as well as saving my butt when it needs saving (often). I had no idea I would find two women with whom I would share so much in the way of carpools, food, discipline, toys, clothes, emotions, alcohol, and schedules AND that I would love it!

And my own mom has provided a template for motherhood to which I now willingly aspire, after years of kicking against "turning into my own mom." Now, I hope that I can live my own motherhood with the grace, humor, spirit, and vitality she shows everyday!

5-year-old gymnastics

John started a new gymnastics class this week: a class for 5-year-old boys. After some initial clinginess and tears, he started learning about some the exercises they would do and warmed up quickly. Special thanks to Kevin (blue shirt in the first picture) for helping John get comfortable with the new class.

They did warm ups...

swang (swung? No, I'm going with swang) from the rings...and jumped on some sort of horse...

He did great!