Quick Kieran Stories

A variety of stories, all of which happened yesterday or today.

Yesterday was Sneak a Peek at Your Seat night at Kieran's school. It's a great event, the kids get to see their friends, meet their teacher, see their new classroom, locker, etc. Kieran's new teacher seems great and I'm excited for the new year. He, however, made us go in and out of her classroom no less than 4 times while he waited for his best friend, Tobin to arrive. Luckily, his teacher doesn't have them sitting next to each other.

On our walk back from that, Kieran and I were talking about eating too much and gaining weight. He suggested that I'd have another baby in my belly from that. I told him no, that his dad and I are done having kids. He looked at me, disappointed. When I asked him about it, he said he'd like to us to have five kids (I did not ask if that was five more or just five total). Why five? He shrugged and said "Then, I'd always have someone to play with."

As if seeing his new classroom was not enough excitement, Ken got to take Kieran to the Ravens preseason last night against North Carolina. They had a good time, but the funniest part was Kieran looking over the program for the game. He came to a page that had the Ravens cheerleaders on one side and a woman in a bikini on the other. He stopped, did a double-take and then smiled and pointed for his dad to see. When asked why he liked it, he could not articulate an answer. Yeah, our boy is growing up.

Finally, this morning on the way to his last day of karate camp for the summer, Kieran and I were playing our alphabet game. I started this when he was learning his letters as a way for his to play in the car. You spot a a letter and then move on to the next. This morning, Kieran wanted to make it more challenging so instead of just spotting the letter you had to spot a thing (or an emotion) that began with the letter (ex. A = arrows, b = bushes, bus, c= cars, etc). We got to X and Kieran suggested that we allow ourselves to spot something that contains the letter instead of something that starts with it. I agreed and told him I saw he was "excited" about camp today. I said I didn't think we'd see any x-ray machines or xylophones on our way to camp. Then he said it would be strange to see a xylophone on the side of the road. Or one that was a car. I asked if it would make noise/music any time you went over a bump. This made him laugh. "Oh mom," he said, "you crack me up."

It's what I do, kiddo.

Vacation, at Last and Other Stories

We finally took a (very small) vacation this summer. Went to Hersheypark. I don't think I have been since I was 10 or younger. Ken had never been (and was not thrilled about the idea of going to a park that was dedicated to sweets). The kids had a BLAST. Though we got delayed in getting there because of traffic, we spent an amazing 7 hours at the park. Amelia loved the carousel (which she rode at least 4 times) but hated the water park. Kieran and I waited in line for one of the big waterslides for about 45 minutes and loved every minute of it while we poured/shot water on those below us (or got shot/dumped on from those above us). Kieran rode the Comet coaster and a bunch of smaller rides with his sister (and some without her or us, which I think he loved). He is still wearing his "Reese's" bracelet, that identified how tall he is and which rides he could ride. I think if it ever falls off (or requires to be cut off) he is going to be devastated.

Ken and I had fun and learned a few things from this trip. I think we'd go again next year (time and money allowing) and do it differently.

In the meantime, we've done something crazy and gotten a foster dog. Chewy (formerly Armand) needed a short-term foster to be rescued from the local shelter. He's nothing but skin and bones and has been very sweet. He has Lyme's disease (which is treatable and not communicable to us or Devin). Devin is enjoying having another dog to play with. The cats have not forgiven Ken. I'm not sure they ever will. He's a good dog, but I am definitely looking forward to him moving on to either a long-term foster or his forever home (we've been "shopping" him around the neighborhood) as two dogs is just too much for me. Thankfully, Ken agreed to take on all the dog walks while Chewy is around.

And now various stories....
 Yesterday the dogs had been playing (loudly) and Ken told them "Enough!". They quieted down and laid down. Ken went to use the bathroom and while he was gone the dogs started playing again. I let them play as they were fine but it escalated a bit (aka got noisy) and just as I stood up to tell them to "Knock it off," Ken came back in the room. They both settled very quickly and looked at Ken as if to say "I don't know what she's talking about. We've just been sitting here quietly this whole time." Ken and I could not stop laughing at how the dogs really thought they had pulled one over on him.

Then this morning, I was changing Amelia for daycare. I had her diaper off and was trying to get her new one on when she got up and ran into her closet giggling. I don't care if she goes bare butt for awhile but I saw her straining as if to poop. Quickly I grabbed her and ran to Kieran's room (where the bathroom is) and put her on the toilet. Immediately she says "All done potty." I told her no and to sit there for a few minutes longer. Then I smell poop. I look in the toilet - no poop. Then, I look down. *sigh* She missed the toilet by about 2 steps and I stepped into it. Had to clean her, the floor and carpet as well as my shoes. Got all that done, got her and Kieran downstairs where I started packing Kieran up to go. Then, right as Ken left to walk the dogs one last time, she looks at me and says "Poo," which typically means she's just gone. Sure enough, she pooped again in her fresh pull-up. I will be very happy when potty training is done.

Yesterday evening I took Kieran to the park to play with some of his friends (there was a concert in the park and most kids/parents from his school hang there). He brought a pin for his friend, Gracie. He gave it to her and then quickly ran away. I think our boy may have a small crush. Anyway, after playing for about an hour, it was time for Gracie to head home. First she told her dad she'd sleep in the park, then she insisted that Kieran was going to come and sleep over. Kieran was good with the idea but her dad (and I) were not. He was pretty angry by the time we got home but eventually apologized to me. His sass level has increased quite a bit and I let him know that he's got to work on the back-talk he gives me (and other adults). It is OK for him to tell me he's too angry to talk, but it's not OK for him to backtalk me. He promises to work on it. I guess it's better than his hitting/kicking/biting.

That's all, blog again sometime....

Quick Update

Not a whole lot to report. Amelia had been sleeping very poorly and in the morning told Ken "neck hurt". After two days of that we took her to the doctor (yes she cried that entire visit as well). Doctor did a quick Strep test but found nothing. Said maybe she was getting over something and that was what was causing all the sleep issues. While there, Ken saw a black spot on the back of her upper front teeth that both he and the doctor could not get off. 'Oh crap!' we thought 'cavity!'.

Took her to the dentist (she complained/cried most of that visit too, but not as loudly as the doctor's office), thankfully no cavity. But at least it did get us to recognize we had not been brushing her teeth as we should have. That problem is solved.

Kieran has been doing well at camp these past few weeks, but as school draw closer I can tell it gets harder for him to keep it together as he is super-excited to see his friends again. We went to a friend's birthday party last weekend and the funniest part of that was that one of his friends that he hasn't seen all summer, Tobin, was spotted by Amelia. She got crazy-excited, ran over to him and gave him a huge hug. Kieran was pretty much ignored by her from that point forward during the party. Pretty funny - but it just goes to show that we'll have to keep a close eye on Kieran's friends around Mia as she gets older (and her too, as I think she may now have her first crush).

OK back to it. Love to all, blog again eventually.