Our Doodle Bug Turns 5!

The Doodle turned five yesterday and I would have blogged about it yesterday but I was too busy giving him a Time Out.  I'm not sure if he realized it was his Birthday and thought he could get away with more, but he was definitely on his worst behavior.  He was put into a record number of Time Outs--9 to be exact....for various Doodle Bug infractions; the usual: throwing himself on the floor, screaming, throwing things, dumping dinner and so on.  He was in a pretty crappy mood all the way until bedtime;then it got worse at bedtime trying to get him to go to sleep.  It was one of those days where alcohol seemed like a pretty good idea (for me, not him).  But I refrained from any libations since it was a Monday and the Real Housewives of New York Reunion was on.  I needed to have all of my faculties about me to understand the craziness there. 

We had enchiladas for dinner, which the Doodle spit out--so he ate his usual salsa and Doritos--I was a little bit offended, although he did love the guacamole and salad.  We skipped the birthday cake since I knew blowing out the candles over and over and over was going to be a problem on this particular type of day.  We will have the appropriate cake and ice cream at his little Birthday party this weekend.  It will be a real blow out--he has invited both of his friends from school.  Hopefully they like salsa and chips and don't mind singing that song over and over and over.

Reflecting back to five years ago--when I was expecting a standard and mundane experience with child number 2 since child number 1 was so easy....who would have thought we would have such a silly, cranky, cute, hard, challenging, rewarding, patience and character building little man to raise and worry about so much?  I could have never guessed things would be this remarkable.

43,There I Said It

I turned 43 yesterday. 

Posting it here seems to make it official.  I'm 43 now. Although I don't feel 43. I feel more like 26 with lots of stress and responsibility.  I remember when 43 seemed ancient, like really old.

So, I had a nice birthday. Nothing super remarkable during the day except my mom made me French Breakfast Puffs which are my favorite.  I savored them with my freshly brewed coffee and the garage sale section of the local paper. Jim and Jimmy went riding and I had a caregiver for the Doodle so I headed out for some garage sales and antiquing at some of my favorite haunts.

Then I came home to a wonderful home-cooked Lasagna dinner which my mom lovingly made--for us and one of my dearest and oldest friends, Rosie and her family.  I've known Rosie since Junior High and it's been great to reconnect with her.  Dinner was relaxed and casual and fun to just hang out and visit. Every year my mom would make me and my brother Tony (who recently passed away) her famous lasagna. We watched some American Pickers and had some cheesecake for dessert.  After they left I watched The Real Housewives of Atlanta and went to bed early.

I got some great gifts--even Jim, who is known to be the worst shopper in the history of male shoppers, came through in the clutch.  He hit Safeway on his way home and came home with the movie about Facebook, The Social Network, Reese's Peanut Butter cups and $100 Macy's gift card! Whoot Whoot!  God Bless Safeway and the pressure from a persistent 11 year old.

The day was easy with no drama or trips to the emergency room to speak of, the best kind of birthday to have.

Happy Birthday Doodle Bug!

I can't believe your four. 
I hope today was a happy day for you.
Short of taking you to the Dorito's factory and cutting you loose, we tried to do things that would make YOU happy. 
You smiled a lot, clapped your hands and didn't bite anyone so I'm taking it that it was a good day.
Thank you for all of the hugs; it makes it worth it.
We love you.