Chin Happens

Today was another first for Rooney. Today was the first time Rooney earned a Band-Aid.

When Rooney and I were at our coffee house playgroup, he was climbing around the furniture and literally trying to climb the walls, when he slipped, fell and cut his chin on the metal railing in the shop. Man are they quick these days. I was obsessing on a milk option from the shops menu board, for my friends son, when this happened. I just heard a sickening THUD and then cries. Rooney is not much of a screamer so there weren't any of those horrific no breathing moments. The shop owners brought us over some supplies to clean Roonster up and a Band-Aid. I tried very hard to get it on him, but he was a little agitated, so he went without. Soon he regrouped and was ready to play with his friends again. He did great the rest of the time we were at the shop and the boys even invented a great booster seat game.

Sherry's son Alex was scooting himself along on the floor in a booster seat when the boys joined in. Parker and Rooney started pushing Alex's seat from behind while he scooted. Then Parker hopped in and took his turn and then Rooney. They were really cute playing in this little booster seat, climbing all over each other and just acting like total boys. Of course, as it often happens when boys are rough housing, someone got hurt...and it was Rooney. He fell off the booster seat and split his chin open again. More tears and blood but I still could not get the Band-Aid on him!

When Rooney woke up from his nap this afternoon, he was still Band-Aidless and bleeding a little. I finally had an epiphany! Mike's mom brought colored bandages with her on their recent visit. I got the bandages, put one on my chin, let Rooney feel it and then put one on him. I told him I would wear mine as long as he wore his. He had the Band-Aid on for about an hour! That has to be a record, somewhere.

Finally...A Sleepover!

This weekend was a big weekend for us, Rooney and Aunt Annie. For the first time in probably over a year he did a sleepover at Aunt Annie's house! I don't think the length of time was intentional (Rooney's not talking yet) but Cuyler has been asking for quite awhile and I think maybe Aunt Annie was feeling a little cuddle deprived lately.

I do not think there was alot of hesitation to have Rooney over, the big question really was where is Rooney going to sleep? I think he is too big for his Pack 'N Play now and he has never slept in our bed, so it was really questionable how well he would do sleeping in Aunt Annie's bed. And then, how well would Aunt Annie & Uncle Jim sleep? I would imagine it's been several years since Cuyler has slept in their bed. Am I right Cuyler?

Things seemed to work out- no big crying fits and no one peed the bed. Mike and I are so appreciative of Annie and Jim. We got a wonderful night away and Rooney got to be cuddled all night. Sounds like everyone won. Of course we looked at his picture over dinner and every once in awhile we caught ourselves wondering how and what he was doing? He was in very capable hands we knew, so not too many worries.

Annie even took some pictures of their time together. Looks like he had a great time:

Cuyler Pushing Rooney On The Swing










Rooney On The Slide










Rooney Orders A Drink











I was really floored because Rooney learned a new skill while at Aunt Annie's...celebrity impersonations!



Here he is doing his best Keira Knightley...

2 Lattes A Day

I know 2 posts in one day may be considered overkill but something kind of funny happened this morning that I wanted to make a note of.

Today Rooney and I went to storytime at Barnes & Noble like we always do on Wednesdays. After storytime we usually go to the attached Starbucks with a couple of other moms and grab some coffee and yak. Rooney and I were walking down an aisle at Barnes & Noble, on our way to the Starbucks, when Rooney stops in the middle of the aisle, bends down, says "Oh" while pointing at a book. There was a man standing not very far away reading and as I was about to look down at Rooney I notice the man smiling while he was looking down at Rooney. Then I saw it! Rooney was bent down, saying "Oh" and pointing to the Starbucks symbol (on a book about Starbucks)!

I'm not sure how I should feel about this, but I guess I am glad that it was a mermaid and not the Golden Arches that Rooney was recognizing.

Daddy's Day

I wanted to write about this last week but Rooney's Father's Day gift to Mike was, of course, a surprise until Father's Day so I had to wait. Now it's been a week and the gifts have been open so the magic has worn off a little bit!

Oh well.

I was a little worried after Mother's Day, but on Sunday Mike got up early, made his own oatmeal and went to play football. The beers after the game may have been questionable, but it was his day, so Rooney and I just waited in eager anticipation of his arrival home to lavish Mike (or Daddy) in love and our little gifts.

For Father's Day, Rooney and I (mostly Rooney), made Mike and his Dad, customized T-shirts. This was an event organzied by MOMS Club and despite being covered in paint by the end, it was alot of fun. Rooney did not really like getting his hand in the paint at first. He squirmed around alot (painted Mom alot) but by the time we were mid-way through the 2nd shirt he seemed to be more OK with it. This is why Grandpa's shirt got alot more handprints then Dads. Mike also got a book from Rooney called "Daddy Loves Me" and they got matching T-shirts that say "Big Guy" and "Little Guy".






In case you couldn't figure out who's is who's...

Grandma & Grandpa's Visit

Over the last 6-7 days Rooney's Grandma and Grandpa have been here for a visit. They got to see their new grandson, Super Dave, for the first time! Rooney bonded pretty quickly with his Grandma and Grandpa. Of course, with all the wonderful attention they give him why wouldn't he? Many times he tried the ol' "finger pull" technique on Grandpa but Grandpa's been around awhile and he's no sucker. Rooney also got to spend some quality time with his new cous and no longer appears to be jealous if I hold Davey Jones. Rooney would just climb up on my lap next to us and say "Hi" to Davey Crockett. In one picture you will even notice they are holding hands!

We were all sad to see Grandma and Grandpa go but they'll be back in 12 short weeks. Rooney says "See You Soon"!

Here some of the pics that were taken during their visit. We'll post more as they come in.

KidsQuest

Grandma and Grandpa

Rooney the Bald

After 33 years I thought I had found out everything that was interesting about my ancestry and thus Rooney's ancestry...that was until this week. I was talking with my mother and she mentioned that the President of the new company she is working for was coming by to chat. I am sure my mother (Rooney's grandmother) impressed the President in her own right, but I think it was this little slip of personal information that landed her this job and a leg up with the Pres. After interviewing for her now current position, she wrote a Thank You note to her now employer, and mentioned that she was related to Charles the Bald. She mentioned this because she knew the President was big into genealogy and thought this might be interesting. That was pretty sly. She could have mentioned that she was related to Samuel F.B. Morse, which seems pretty impressive, or that her children are related to Lassie's madame, June Lockhart. Nope, she chose an obscure route, mentioned that she was related to Charles the Bald and only could have topped her slyness if she hit the jackpot with the President and he too was related to Charles (or as we have taken to calling him...Charlie) the Bald! Wow! This little talked about nugget of gold, only came to her by chance when she looked at her family tree (doesn't everyone have one pinned to their wall?) and saw Charlie on there. Kismet!

It gets even better. According to Wikipedia Charlie's great grandfather was none other than Charlemagne. I always call Rooney my little prince (and Little Lord Fauntleroy). I'm sure Mike is relieved to know there really is a reason to treat me like a princess other than me telling him to. So this is all very impressive and Mike should really be counting himself lucky for nabbing me but there are a few low points. 1. It appears that we are French way down the line...way...way down the line (could explain why this is such a little discussed topic). 2. When I think of Rooney the Bald this image is conjured up 3. Charles the Bald, was not really bald. He initially was bare of inheritance thus the bald. Just like all my jobs...title but no money!

And for Rooney, just like Uncle Charlie, thus the name...Rooney the Bald

I'll Have A Double Half-Caf

Being part of a moms group is great. Not only do you automatically immerse your child in activities with their peers, you also meet alot of interesting people and maybe most importantly...you get to know all the coffee shops in town! This may not sound that important but it really is. As a mom, specifically of young children, you are most likely sleep deprived thus the constant need for coffee. You are probably on the go (due to naps, errands or you need something quick before picking the kids up). You need something cheap because...well everything is way more expensive these days. Finally, if you have kids you probably remember what it was like taking a toddler to a restaurant and if you don't have kids we are those people that you hate that bring their toddlers to restaurants!

So now that we know all the coffee shops in town we have picked our favorites. For a place like this it would make very good sense to cater, at least during the day, to us. We can come in big packs, will always spend some type of money and we refer, refer, refer. Plus, if you treat us and our kids well we will always come back. I never knew the power of being a mom. We should really unionize.

Anyway, today Rooney and I met up for coffee at one of our favorite places with a couple of other moms. This place is great because the owners have kids, they keep toys at the shop for our kids and all the kids can basically run amok for awhile. When we started coming to this place Rooney rolled in the stroller. Now he walks in & prefers sitting in Big Boy chairs. Pretty soon he might start ordering a decaf!

We are in the Pacific Northwest afterall.