Interviewing Replacements

This morning Cavin became upset with me because I could not (poof!) create a pink hat out of thin air for him to wear today.  So he told me ever so directly and demanding that he wanted a new mommy.  At first I chucked.  We are used to Cavin's expression of how he's mad at us..."I'm going to throw you in the garbage!" or our current favorite - "I'm going to put you in traffic!"

"Really?" I said.  "And why is that?"

"Because I don't like you." he replied.

The morning went on and when he didn't get his way or I said for the 45th time that he could not have a piece of chocolate he announced his decision to replace me.  I have to admit my feelings were a bit hurt but I brushed it off with the excuse that he's 3 and, well, there were times in my past when I told my mother that I hated her and she was ruining my life.  So this isn't entirely out of the realm of normal.

Once we were in the car he divulged his plan of obtaining his new mommy.  He told me that I was to never come back and just WHO would replace me.  I'm a better mommy than her! I thought defensively.  Then quickly shaking my head realizing that 1) No I'm not.  I maybe be a better mommy to Cavin but not a better mommy in general terms and 2) Who am I to assume that reason exists in this 3 year old little brain?  I mean isn't this the same kid who threw a 45 minute tantrum last week (we are talking screaming / kicking / hitting for so long he was turning purple and losing his breath) all because his granola bar was broken in half?  Okay I thought This is just a phase.

Except I admit I couldn't let it go.  Driving down Cowell Road on the way to preschool I couldn't help but think how could this child that my entire universe was wrapped around, that I have lost MANY hours of sleep over, and taken countless days away from my job to cuddle the fevers away, and that I check on every night before I go to bed - how could he just up and decide that the mommy position was fungible.

I am being sensitive.  I know this.

We arrive at preschool and as he took in the new surroundings - the teacher telling a kid to 'clean up', his best friend playing with one of the older kids, a group of girls reading books in the corner - he turned around, hugged my legs, looked down at his feet and whispered over and over "I don't want you to go.  I don't want you to leave preschool."

"I know honey.  Don't worry...I will see you tonight."

Thanks Janessa for the sweet photo.

One more day with job security.

And so it begins

Vanessa and I are already talking about the wedding.

Mirror images

Backing up here...

We invited two of Cavin's girl friends over to dye Easter eggs with him and baby brother Ellis.  Cavin (of course) insisted on dying all of his eggs yellow, his favorite color, as seen below...

FOOLED YA!!!  That's actually Jonna, baby Erik, Amy, and MIKE dying Easter eggs some 30 years ago!  Can you believe it??  Friggin' spitting image of Cavin....how creepy IS that??!!

Here's the real Cavin dying eggs:

Like father like son huh?

1-0 WHAT?

Last Sunday started off as a fun outing to the Chabot Space and Science Center (compliments of my dear friend Rebecca and Rosemont).  We saw lots of astronauts, rockets, saw a movie at the planetarium, and even got to pretend like we were weightless in a space shuttle!

And then somewhere around the Moon Odyssey exhibit Cavin asked to sit in the stroller.  I don't think he's sat in the stroller when we've been out for about a year so I knew something was up.  He said he was tired (it was 1.5 hours before nap time) and wanted to go home (what??).  So we quickly packed up and headed home.  By the time we got home his temperature was 105.1 (was that a fluke??).  We threw some Tylenol down his throat and hoped for the best.

The next morning I took him into the doctor and they were really worried about how high his fever was.   They said words like "kidney infection" and "pneumonia".  They asked me if he had other symptoms and I said "no".  Sounds like a good answer right?  Well, it wasn't.  The lack of other symptoms led them to believe there was something internally wrong and not just some run-of-the-mill virus.  Can I just say I've mastered the art of the freak out with facial expressions that show absolutely no worry.

A day later he was still running fevers north of 104.5.  When the Tylenol would wear off and his fever would spike over 102, it was inevitable that he would puke all over me.  He frequently fell asleep on our living room floor under his favorite blankie crying that he was "soooo cold"...meaning his fever was climbing.  I took him in and blood showed up in his urine indicating a bladder or kidney infection.  My first question: "HOW DO HIS LUNGS SOUND??"  I have every right to be paranoid about pneumonia. 

We had to wait 24 hours for the urine culture to come back negative. And after 5 fever-ish days without eating I can now report he is better and his mommy has exited the land of 'overreaction' and I'm in a much better place.  Today when he asked for pancakes for lunch and dinner he got it.  Who cares that it wasn't a green vegetable because he was eating! 

And what is it about kids always seem to get sick on Sunday evenings and then are magically better by the weekend?  My boss would love to know the answer to that one.

An Unbreakable Bond.

Grandparents have this special...what do call it...feeling / bond / magic with their grand babies.  I'm not going to pretend to explain it or understand it. And I know the feeling is mutual.  In other words, I think grandparents need their grand babies as much as the grandbaby needs his grandparent. 

So I just know that when big brother says he would rather snuggle up to Pa for a few minutes before bed time, I'm not going to argue.

Because you just don't argue with magic.

Ivy League Bound

Foreshadowing

Replace the milk with a "Natty Light", a Schlitz, or a "Key Light".  Add about 15 years, a fraternity house, and he's all set to go for the toga party.

The Kappa Sigs would be proud.

You know what they say

You hang around someone long enough and you start to look alike!

Move over Uncle Tod

...there's a new firefighter in town!

There's no room for error

We employed a quality control supervisor to ensure Mike was building things up to par.  His review notes are pending but I will let you know as soon as we receive them.

Mike and I are eagerly awaiting his opinion!

Gotta love the 2s!

This is our toddler.

Many times he's like this.

Or this.

But don't be fooled because sometimes he can be like this.

If you see a naked body thrashing around on the bathroom floor. Don't worry.  It's just our toddler.

If you feel a gust of wind inside a public place and then about 10 seconds later you see Mike or myself running past you in frantics.  No fret.  That was our toddler.

If you are at a restaurant and a fork, cup, or train narrowly misses your face.  We apologize b/c it is our toddler. 

If dogs begin barking uncontrollably around you, nothing to worry about...they've just exerienced the high pitch scream of our toddler.

The Brat Pack

Liam, Cavin, Cole, and Brodie

Ringing in the 'Terrible Twos'

Since Easter fell early this year, it just so happened to be right around Cavin's birthday. So we thought 'why not combine the two?' and that proved to be an excellent idea! We asked Cavin's friends to hop on over to our house for an Easter egg hunt with some cupcakes on the side to celebrate the little man's 2nd birthday.


Of course, no Spruiell celebration would be complete without Marisa's cupcakes.

The favor bags for the toddlers (Cavin's friends) and babies (Ellis' friends)...

I had to bring back the watermelon bug (well...bunny this year) from last year!

We borrowed a bouncy castle from our friends Janessa and Nick (thanks guys!)...the toddlers really enjoyed it.

And the Easter bunny made a surprise appearance!

I love this photo Janessa took of me taking a photo...because that's usually where I am...behind the lens!

While Mike usually has the video camera in his hand...

Cavin and his friends enjoyed the cupcakes (as did the adults but I won't show you pictures of that).

Cavin enjoying the gossip Jenna is sharing with him...

Ellis had some friends stop by too!

And, all the way in Colorado, Grandma Fye was able to join the party as well!

It was a really fun time. A big thank you goes to Janessa and Nick for allowing us to use their bouncy castle, Janessa for taking lots of pictures so I could enjoy the party, to Lesley and Mike for letting us borrow their toddler table, and to my parents for helping us set up, cook, clean, and wrangle the kids so we could finish up last minute details. The party went off without a hitch and I'm pretty sure the kids had a blast!

And with the celebrations behind us, bring on the 'Terrible Twos'...

Two Years Ago Today....

...our world forever changed for the better. He was small. He was perfect. And he was ours.

The morning of April 20, 2009

The morning of April 20, 2011

I write this post with a lump in my throat as I think about time accelerating forward. Cavin, in the blink of a eye you will be getting in your car and driving off to college. Well, until then...here's to 15 more birthday cakes.

Happy 2nd birthday my sweet bunny.

Love you forever,
Mommy

Habitot

This weekend we took Cavin and Ellis to Habitot in Berkley. Habitot is basically a 'museum' for kids with lots of fun activities. Why I loved it? Because I got to see Cavin paint but someone else cleaned up the mess!

Please. Can anyone take this face seriously? A true Picasso in the making...

And because many of you know how I love little baby hands. Yes, Cavin is still a baby...maybe not to you, but to me.

Making the $$$$!!!

Have I mentioned how obsessed with trains Cavin has become. He threw a FIT not once, but twice, when we tried to get him to leave the train table.

I love my two clowns!

As you can see it was definitely a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon with my boys.