Fun time

Since Eric was four or five months old, he's been receiving therapies through the county. It's been over a year since he's had occupational and physical therapy. He still has speech/language, for obvious reasons. This service is provided until the age of three. So, he only has one more month to go. He currently has a therapist at the house once a month. Twice a month he goes to what they call a language group, which is pretty much a play group of kids with delayed speech. Up until this last one, it's been all boys. And until lately, it's only been three or four boys. Many times it was just Eric and another Eric (E.). They always got along well. Eric's buddy turned three last week, so he's no longer part of the group. He started pre-school this week. We had a play date today at Chik-fil-A. It was lunch time, so it was pretty crowded. Eric E. tends to be shy when there's too many kids around and didn't want to play. My Eric had no problems. I sat and talked with Eric's mom for a while and gave him a small birthday present and card. He became very possessive of them. Eventually, the kids thinned out and the two Eric's ended up having a great time playing. Eric E. carried his card around with him almost the whole time. We knew he was about to come down the slide when the card came flying down the tunnel. They were so cute and fun to watch. Hopefully we can do it again soon!

You can see Eric sliding into his card.

I was able to get a picture of the two silly boys shortly before we parted. They are so cute!

Mr. Independent

Eric is becoming more independent lately, which is good. I do try to let him do things more on his own, especially since I get a string of "no, no no" when I help too much. The he gets mad at me when I don't help him do something that I know he can do! Eric is finally starting to go to the potty by himself, rather than one of us taking him or when actually tells us he needs to go or has already gone (still happens too often). Twice today he sat himself down his little potty, not exactly how I'd like it to be, a bit messy, not horrible, but at least he's trying.

Today's pictures are of him putting on jammer bottoms for his nap (pay no attention to the clothing combination, I didn't pick them out, just his shirt).

Much better day!

Eric was either a different child or my hormones weren't as wacky today. Sure, there were the usual "no's" and "stop's," but not like yesterday. We had a nice day together. Day three without Daddy, who's out west, went well. He helped me with a few things around the house. Took an awesome nap, woo hoo!

Eric was in desperate need of a haircut, so it was off to Great Clips, coupon in hand. He was awesome. The girls all said how cute and good he was. He wanted to help, so he got his own comb and a water spray bottle. Dangerous thing! He was fine at first, he only sprayed himself. Then he turned it on me! The girl cutting his hair turned the nozzle so he couldn't spray, but he caught on. This was towards the end of the haircut and then he became interested in the blow dryer. He discovered last week that the hand dryers in public restrooms are pretty "cool" to stand under, so the blow dryer was too. Before this Eric did not like the blow dryer. He's outgrowing his dislike of other things as well, the vacuum to name the biggest thing.

I know someone who has taken pictures of her two kids every day this year. Now, I'm not promising, you should know good I am at posting by now, but I am going to try, starting today, to do that, and post at least one picture. I might save them up for a few days or a week, but I will TRY to post a daily picture of Eric. Let's hope I can do it!

I had to run downstairs and grab the camera for this. Eric is napping on my bed. I looked over and saw him roll over into this position. Yes, he is sleeping! Too cute!

Why?

Ever have one of those days when you wonder, why? Today was one of those days. Why did I ever decide I wanted to be mom? Because it's all I've ever wanted to be. But there are days when I question it. OK, I've had worse days, believe me.

Eric was very good yesterday, except towards the end of dinner with Uncle David at Maggiano's, but that wasn't too bad. That too could have been worse. I know, he's two, almost three. But, why do the words 'no' and 'stop' just go in one ear out the other? You can tell them same thing for the two hundredth time and they still do it! We went out to get an oil change for my car and then a quick stop at Meijer. He was as good as gold! Thank goodness! But at home, and thankfully to a lesser degree, at my parents, well, let's just say, I couldn't wait for bedtime. Which was early because someone didn't sleep during nap time. Unfortunately, bedtime didn't end up being early enough for me.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my son. He's my world. There are just times he drives me nuts! I'm sure there are a bunch of you who can relate.

On a lighter note, it was fun watching him play with Nana and Baba. Eric likes chocolate, wait, let me rephrase that, Eric LOVES chocolate! He is his mother's son. M&M's are at the top, Hershey Kisses are a very close second. Eric was having a Kiss and giving his Baba one too. My dad thanked him and asked him if he could say "de nada." Darned if he didn't say it, but so clearly! Dad and I were on the same wave length. We're teaching him the wrong language!

After a long day with my baby, it's always nice to listen to his jabbering and to try and decipher what the heck he's saying, as we rock before bed. And in the end, the cuddles, big hug and kisses are all worth the hassle of an endless day!

Aunt Dianna...

seems to have made quite an impression on Eric. Besides mama, daddy, grandma and grandpa, Aunt Dianna is the only other person's name that Eric says. He has said uncle, meaning Uncle David, a couple of times. I'm sure David would like it if he said it all the time. But, it's the fact that the first, and only time, he has spent any time with her was in November for a few days. She taught him how to do "thumbs up." So, later, whenever he saw her picture, he'd do "thumbs up." One night while we doing our nightly bedtime routine, he was jabbering, and said something new, which took me a while to figure out, Aunt Dianna. He had to give thumbs up for me catch on. She hasn't been told about all the things she's supposed to be doing with him/us. Tonight, he told me Dianna is going to sleep in his bed (good luck with sleeping in his toddler bed Dianna!) with his sippy cup, new OSU truck and his Pooh Bear. Which is quite an honor, that's his favorite thing in the whole wide world).

A Special Lady...

This isn't an Eric post. On Monday my parents, Eric and I drove across town in a snow storm to say goodbye to one of my most favorite ladies... Aunt Mickey. She passed away February 11, a month shy of her 84th birthday. Like many of those who knew her, we were all blessed to have had her in our lives.

For those of you who don't who she is, Mickey was my mom's oldest brother Carl's wife. They have four children, who each have four children, plus seven great-grand children. After Mickey remarried, she gained ten step-children and many step-grandchildren. So, she had a large family! Mickey was a very active lady before cancer slowed her down. Besides her family, she was active with the senior center, bus trips, hospital thrift store and her favorite, bowling.

Mickey gave me a place to live for eight months when I left New York and my parents, to come to Cincinnati while I looked for a new job. I was her "cellar dweller." While she made us dinner, I became her personal secretary. She received lots of phone calls! I'm very thankful for her hospitality and the love she gave me while I started a new life.

I'm very thankful that I was able to see Mickey before she passed away. When I heard she wasn't doing well I was afraid I wouldn't get the chance to see her again. My parents and I were able to visit with her three weeks ago, and I am so grateful that we were able spend those few hours with her. When I hugged her goodbye, she whispered "I love you" in my ear. I think she knew it would be the last time we'd see each other. I'm not sure if she heard my "I love you too" because I was choked up trying not to cry. When I told this to Mom, she told me we'd see her again, but I knew in my heart it I wouldn't. I'll forever hold on to that sweet memory.


Aunt Mickey will be buried in Arlington Nation Cemetery, with Uncle Carl, next week. Uncle Carl said that he wanted her to go first so he wouldn't be looking up at her a.. backside for eternity. (They stack the coffins of spouses to save room.)

So, here are a few pictures, taken in the past few years, of "Our Wild Irish Rose"...

Eunice "Mickey" Forney

March 15, 1926 - February 11, 2010