Golf Gets in your Blood and Camp I-VY

Friday kicked off our dive into the world of hemophilia! Dada and I volunteered at Golf Gets in your Blood golf tournament, auction and dinner event to support the Puget Sound Blood Center and the Bleeding Disorder Foundation of Washington. It was an amazing event and in just a couple of hours raised thousands of dollars to support a cause very dear to our hearts. Dada statred the day by helping out the golf event and I showed up to help with the silent auction and dinner auction festivities. It really suprised me at how powerful and overwhelming the night became watching the diners give so much money to help such a small program. In Washington state alone there are only about 500 people with hemophilia. The Kid's picture was a centerpiece for about 2 tables and we flashed his picture to anyone that wanted a peek. At one point I was so emotional talking about my story, that I think one of my tables ended up donatinga little extra! We hope to really be in the forefront of the event next year and maybe even host a table.
Our next adventure is Camp I-VY. An annual family camp for families dealing with hemophlia. This is the 33rd year and we are so excited to be a part of it. This will be a very important event for us as we will be able to really get to know other local families just like us and those who have a few more years under their belts. Since the Kid still just goes along for the ride he gets to be the center of attention sitting upon my hip for a few days. The Capt on the other hand is already being prepped for the big event. We explained we were going to camp and that we wer going to sleep in sleeping bags. He said he didn't like camp and wanted to stay in his own bed. This is natural for him since he has transition issues. Although once over them, dives head first into everything! So I figured he really doesn't understand what that all means and is trying to play it off. I had him help me find everyone's sleeping bags and haul them upstairs to his bedroom. Then he helped lay them out next to each other and then gather everyone's pillows. By this time he was starting to have fun. He was ready to get inside and then hide and get flashlights, etc. By the end of an hour I was a giant catapillar and he was trying to squash me! I think he's ready for camp. I hope we get to roast marshmallows...

Baby slings!

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

I don't usually advertise for things, but who wouldn't want to win some free baby slings! I didn't think I'd be so addicted but most of you know how active Jack is and keeping Will in a sling or carrier has been a life saver. Jack hung out in a sling now and again, but nothing like this baby. Plus, with will's hemophilia, keeping him in a sling is sometimes a better choice than on a hard surface when we're running around.

A Day Out with Thomas

So The Capt is a Thomas fan. He's not obsessed or anything, but he enjoys the show and likes trains. Well today we got to ride a Thomas train. Oh! And a school bus. I'm not sure which was more fun but it was all exciting. The school bus took us to the train depot where there was singing and coloring and storytelling and lego trains and Thomas stuff abound! We met up with cousins Sam and Genevieve, had lunch, walked around and of course, bought a Thomas the Tank Engine set. We saw lots of trains and finally it was our turn. The Capt and Genevieve sat together and held their tickets until the conductor came around. We tried seeing Sir Topham Hatt but the line was long and it was hot and waiting in line with a 2 year old alone is not so much fun, let alone when it is HOT outside. We got to see Thomas at the front of the train and the kids had a blast knowing that Thomas was giving us a ride. By the end we were melted and dirty and tired but we all had fun. We stopped for slurpees on the way home and both our boys were asleep in the car for about an hour. Woohoo!. I definately recommend seeing Thomas. http://www.trainmuseum.org/dowt/dowt_main.html Bring lunch and water and a few dollars for souvenirs.

Leaps and Bounds

So the Capt. is learning to hang off things. A playground near our house has monkey bars. Although he can't swing across them yet, he can reach up and hang off the first bar. He also likes to hang off the "laundry bar" in the back seat of the car when getting out. As the Lee family was suprised to find out a coupel of weeks ago, the Capt. can unbunkle himslef from his carseat. In the beginning this was bad. I had to pull over on the freeway a couple of times and talk about the policeman being very upset before the novelty wore off. Now it's actually helpful. I can get the Kid out of the car first and the Capt unbuckles, climbs over and hangs off the bar before getting out. And whetever you do. Do NOT help him. He can do it himself and he will tell you so. Anyway, most of the time the hanging off things does not affect anyone else, but the other day at the new Crossroads water park, the Capt was at the top of the play structure and he was hanging off the bar ro the slide. This was fine until a couple of other boys wanted to actually slide down. The Capt continued hanging. I was at the bottom yelling and sweating. He continued his hanging. The Capt hung off the bar and pushed the first kid. I was thinking, heck no! Then the other kid pushed back. It was all over. The Capt and the Other Boy were brawling!! I looked around and didn't see any other mom to witness this so I marched up the play structure with the Kid in tow to break up the Capt's first playground brawl. I hope this is the last one for awhile. There was actually some good that came out of all of this. In normal manly fashion by the time the boys were finally down the slide they were already buddies. The rest of the time they climbed all about helping each other up the ladders with the Capt using his best manners with a "thank you" everytime his buddy lent an arm up. When it was time to go they were waving all the way to the car and as the Capt was getting into his carseat he says, "that was my friend." Yup. He's a boy.

suprising kids

The Capt and the Kid keep the fascination of raising kids always exciting. Today during music class The Capt was listening to Miss Allison tell a story and the page was about 8 baby lizards and a momma. When she read "eight lizards, blah blah blah" The Capt blurted out. "There's not 8 there's 9!" Whoa. Um, when did he start learning addition??!! I know he wants to go to school and all, but can we start with learning to write your name and coloring inside the lines.
These last couple of weeks The Kid has been in sitting limbo. He hasn't been able to sit up unassisted but he's getting too dang big for everything! I've been trying to figure out the best way to give him a bath since he doesn't fit in his baby tub anymore and I'm still lugging him around in his infant seat. Well today he decided to sit up. By himself. It was alot like the rolling over. I knew he could do it but until he's good and ready, and has a good reason, he will do it all in his own sweet time. Now that I think about it. He does this with eating as well. Eating fruit. Not so much! Veggies loves 'em, but only likes to eat "people food" at dinner.
I especially love that both these guys are sooo different. The Capt is always on the go. Always has been from the first moment I felt him in my tummy. The Kid takes his own sweet time and is just happy hanging out in his crib with his lovey.

Taunting

Is it really that terrible to taunt your 2 1/2 year old? The other day I told The Capt he couldn't have a Vanilla Milk because he was having a tantrum. He replied. "I'm NOT a tantrum!" while arms and legs were flailing along with tears and a running nose. What could I do but shake my head, tell him "yes, you are a tantrum" and proceed to order myself a frappacino.

Top 10 reasons

This is the Forrester Top Ten Reasons The Capt needs to go to preschool.

10. He has his backpack ready and wants to take the bus
9. He asks almost every day
8. He refuses to acknowlege the words "no" and "don't touch" Hmm maybe he just can't hear the decibels my voice makes when I say them...
7. His negotiating skills are getting better than mine.
6. Cleaning a gallon of apple juice after it flooded the kitchen floor is NO FUN!
5. He doesn't take a nap anyway
4. He counts to 30, uses scissors and knows his ABC's
3. He knows how to use a plunger. (and thinks it must be used everytime he pees in the toilet)
2. He says things like, "Of course, Mom" when he wants to do what I ask and "Actually, Mom" when he is telling me something.
1. As you can see in the picture, he knows how to apply his own sunscreen