Counting!

He loves to count now and this afternoon he even counted to 12 all by himself! I thought he could only count to 10! He is really learning a lot in school!

Another funny saying: he had coleslaw with his dinner and I told him it was cold salad. He said, "cold A$$!" I couldn't help but laugh!

Very blessed

I feel so blessed today. I am very lucky to have a healthy child that does not have any disabilities. I send a special prayer to all the families that have children with disabilities.

Sick Day

Cullen started out the day at his school but they called us around 11 to tell us he had a temp of 103! Kylie had to go pick him up and she said he was so pale and his body was very limp. She gave him some meds and by the time I picked him up at 1:00, he was his ole self again! Running around and playing... you would never know this kid was sick!

So his regular pediatrician had no available appointments so I took him to a walk-in clinic. We've been there before, but this time was different. The doctor was not really understanding and did not take more than 5 minutes with us in the room. There were no other patients in the waiting room... what was the hurry! He did not want to listen to me when I told him how difficult it is to give him breathing treatments! He just said, well if he needs it, you have to do it! How can it be that there are 100+ meds if I need something for anxiety, but when a 2 year old has chest congestion, there is only one medication! WTH!

We were ordered to go get a chest xray for pnemonia check and a rapid flu swab. We are waiting on results as I type. All I keep seeing are dollar $igns! $$$$ This kid cannot be that sick if he is running around and playing!

Okay, enough venting for me! On the way to the doctor Cullen said his eye hurts. When I asked him about it, he said, " I have a bug in my eye!" Where does he get these things from! LOL

His 3 best friends

When we got in the car today after school, Cullen said immediately he wanted to go home. Then he said, "dainty" (blankie), "gook" (milk), "TB" (TV). I think those are his 3 best friends. I'm so exausted today so I turned the TV on Sprout right away when we got home. He knows the songs to all the shows! I guess he watches too much TB. But I  believe these shows are educational! LOL Thats my story and I'm sticking to it!

My Big Boy

Today at his school, one of his teachers said he often tells them, "I'm mad." Its so funny where he gets that. I don't ever remember saying those words to him! We also got a note saying that he is asking to use the potty at school! YEAH! If only he would do it at home! We ask him and he very rudely says, NO!

He was such a good listener at the store today. He had to get out of the buggy to "walk" next to me. When we got to the check out, there is all this candy at his eye level. He picked up three different candies and each one I told him we have candy at home and he needed to put it back. He listened, did not throw a fit and then started telling me the color of each candy! What a good boy! I wonder how long this will last?! LOL

Back to School

Yesterday was MLK no school holiday, so Cullen and I had a great day together. We went to run errands in the morning and when we left the house, he said, "no school." I told him it was Mommy and Me day and he did not have to go to school. SO.... this morning was a different story! He had to bring his drawing tablet to school. He told Mum, no school. But, she was able to get him to draw to distract him! She told him to draw a big boat! When they pulled up at school, he drew Ms. Brooke a big boat and he had no tears to go to school.

I think he is just being a 2 year old with separation and difiance issues. He tries to get away with a lot. But, I believe you give an inch, they take a mile. I don't believe in saying no, if you are just going to give in after they whine a while. Say no, and stick to your guns... just have a reason why the answer is no.

First parade

Today Cullen got to ride in his first Mardi Gras parade! It was just a kids' parade with a few laps around the parking lot of Rouses', but we all had tons of fun! It was his nap time so I'm glad it went as smooth as it did. We learned about the parade Thursday night. Nancy only spend $11 at the dollar store for the decorations and his wagon came out precious! It wasn't quite as made up as most of the others but we did a great job for pulling it all together in a couple of days. He wore a Saints tuxedo that a friend loaned us. Maybe next year we can plan a whole theme and go all out!

Once he learned he was supposed to throw beads out the wagon, he was just chucking them. We ran out of beads after one lap! Then he decided he wanted to walk so he pulled the wagon, but instead of staying in the line, he walked up and down the center! That's my boy.... always the center of attention!

Mr. Independent!

For a while after Cullen got sick in November, it had been hard to drop him off at school in the mornings. He would cry and scream as soon as we turned the corner to the road there. He even started telling me to turn around! But.... This morning he was Mr. Independent and walked right in on his own. Mum said he even wanted to take his jacket off by himself. He said, "I zip!" He is growing up too fast!

This evening, we were outside and he asked where the moon was. Then he said, "there it is!" and at the top of his lungs, he screamed, "HEY MOON!" I'm not sure if he thought the moon was going to talk back, but he waited for it. Then he told the moon, nite nite!

He makes the funniest faces sometimes. I wonder where he gets that from! Just now, he left the bathroom from taking his bath and he ran to his room holding his "dude!" A house full of women, how does he know to do that! He is all boy!

Mum's drink

Shopping in Walmart today and we pass by the Mardi Gras area with all the king cakes, music and beer! There is a giant sized cardboard cut out of some kind of beer. Probably bud light! Cullen points to the beer poster, and says, "Mum's drink!" When she drinks, she mainly drinks vodka mixed drinks. She doesn't often drink beer. It shows you how quickly kiddos pick up on things! We better start watching what we say and do more!

Then we are leaving the store and he sees the big freezer of ice, and guess what he said then.... ICE ICE BABY! I love him so much!

Going to church!

Going to church has gotten easier! Cullen used to run down the aisles, climb on to the alter and yell out loud! Well, today was much better! He goes to the play room for the first 40 minutes of mass and only joins us at communion time till the end. He walked up to the alter, did not run, but he skipped everyone in line! Once up to the alter, we kneeled and he began counting the candles out loud! He got it right, everyone chuckled! Then after the organist finished the song, he clapped and yelled, yeah!!!! Good thing we have a community of accepting people at our church! We love St.. Matthews!

He was so proud

Cullen just walked in the room so proud to show me his project! He had chipped a quarter size amount of paint off the wall by his bed! I tried not to laugh and we put him in time out but he's so cute! Now what do we do about the wall! Will he stop?!

ICE ICE BABY

So, Mum had a rough day today. The gym business is doing well, but the overhead costs are overwelming right now. It would be great to just win the lottery and pay off all the debt now. But, we would have to play to win! LOL

Since Mum had such a rough day, she needed an adult beverage when she got home. She put ice in her glass, and Cullen said, "ICE ICE BABY!" twice! I think he learned that from school! I love him!

And that sure put a smile on Mum's face.

everything happens for a reason

Everyone always says that, but until you experience you don't understand what it means. I have experienced many times where this is true. Cullen started recieving speech services when he was 14 months old. He was not saying one word, not even Momma. He learned so much from his speech teacher and now he no longer qualifies! At the time, it was tough to learn your child has delays and the whole process of going through an "Individualized Education Program (IEP)" was difficult. Cullen's delays were minor in comparison what some parents have to go through. All of those processes have given me the knowledge and education to be able to take part in IEP meetings in my new role within my school. "Everything happens for a reason." Those lessons have helped me to help parents through the process within my own school!

He's so smart!

I know as the mommy, I will always think my little man is the smartest kiddo around. But... He can count to 10! I know his teachers taught him that, because I didn't! Lol!

Mommy preference

I'm sure all kiddos at some point prefer one parent over the other. I know I will get my feelings hurt at some point when he chooses him Mum over me. For now, he is prefering me to do everything... feed, bathe, rock, talk to... I encourage play with his Mum too but he says No. What do you do then? I don't want to hurt her feelings, but he feels so good to be loved! :-)

I was on the phone with my mom and Mum was eating while Cullen was playing with a flash card app on her phone. The app shows a picture of a common word, and says the word aloud. He was repeating the word and had to show me. Being on the phone with my mom, I encouraged him to read them to Mum, he said no and kept interrupting me. LOL!

Next daily topic... He likes to pick his nose and then put his fingers in his mouth. How do we stop that? He thinks its hilarious. I don't laugh in front of him, but it is really funny!

More Einstein

As Cullen says, "Mo I-stein"! I feel like such a bad mommy sometimes. What is considered a lot of TV? He loves the Little Einstein shows! I think there are worse shows to be addicted to too. LOL

He spent the whole weekend with my mom, his Grams and my little brother, Uncle B. They had a fun filled weekend  of riding bikes, blowing bubbles and playing on the swing set! It was a nice break for these two mommies, but we missed him very much! Now he's home and we have to get back to a routine! Its a full week of school and work! Breaks are nice and definitely needed, but it is so hard to go back to school after being so lazy!

Favorite Words

He's out for the night! Earliest time all week, probably because he had such a fun filled day! Cullen's favorite words now a days are "NO" and "mine." I'm sure some pyschiatrist would tell me this is a phase that all two year olds go through, but we all think our child will be different. He can be the sweetest little boy every most times, but when he doesn't get his way, he yells and throws things. We don't yell at him or throw things. Where does this come from!?

Well, we are working on sharing and praising him when he is sweet, kind and uses please and thank you. (He says, "tay-choo, momma," while he twists his head to the side and makes sweet eyes. How can you not fall in love with that!

Its hard being a momma sometimes, but totally worth it! All I think about it is how I could have 4 more! Facebook is wonderful because you can put your life out there and ask questions and get instant feedback. I didn't want to post all of this there. Not everyone wants to read my mind's eyes.  I wanted to do this blog to put all my crazy thoughts and wild adventures with Cullen down in history!

 Cullen is going to Grams house for the weekend! Its time for the mommies to have a girls' night! I will miss him, but I know he is in great hands! I wish I lived closer to my mom!

I think this momma needs to tuck in for the night too! GN World!

First Day Blogging

January 3, 2013

My first day back at school with the kiddos. Cullen's first full day back at his school. He still cries when we drop him off in the mornings, but they say it is getting easier each time. I think he just needs to go everyday, not get sick and not have any holidays then he will get back into the swing of things and not cry when we drop him off.

One of my resolutions was to eat better... forgive me for I have already shot that one! I guess there is always tomorrow! At the grocery store, I was smelling the donuts and they called out to me! So I picked up two chocolate donuts for Cullen and I. He said, "kock-at d-nuts"! His speech is improving everyday! I just love the way he says some words... like milk = "gook" (rhymes with book). I say it right everytime, but he chuckles and says, "gook"! I love him!