Caleb is 2!

Oh, how time flies. I can hardly believe my boy is 2. That he can say, "I'm gonna be 2." "That's a big number 2." I planned to have a Charlie & Lola themed party this year because he loves that show thanks to me. I love it and hoped that he would too someday. I figure this is my only opportunity because next year it may not be of interest any longer. I ordered a party pack online and unfortunately it only came with a pack of pink Lola invitations. Pink. Luckily the rest of the kit was not all pink. I was worried what people might think of me sending out a pink invitation for my son. I even had to call my best friend to get her advice before popping them in the mail. I later saw that blue Charlie invitations were available for purchase from the UK, but I wasn't about to go that extra mile.

We kept telling Caleb that Nana & Papa were coming to visit for his 2nd birthday. Who's coming to visit for your birthday I would ask. "Nana & Papa. I'm gonna be 2. Birthday. Play football in the leaves." They arrived Friday morning to find my son dancing with excitement at the door. What a special treat. I am not sure if Caleb realizes we moved far away from them, that we are no longer in AZ. I am sure he doesn't have a clue where we are this early in age.

We had a small party on Saturday evening. I didn't want to overwhelm him too much like I did last year, but it happened again regardless. We had to wake him from a short nap right into his party when he usually wakes up with some Charlie & Lola so he was out of routine already. This led to constant screaming and crying for a good half hour into the party. I was a bit embarrassed and kept apologizing, funny thing is, none of them cared. Finally I turned on some Charlie & Lola and he calmed down and ended up having a really good time. I gave each kid a balloon with a special tag with their name and address to release into the sky. Charlie & Lola did the same on an episode. We enjoyed our Charlie & Lola cake outside on the deck while the kids played on Caleb's new sandbox......or trampoline. Caleb thought it was a trampoline and tried to jump on the cover. The other kids joined in the fun too! After opening presents, it was time to say goodbye to friends. I sent them off with a goody bag filled with some themed treats like a twisty straw and a little flower pot with a tulip bulb and instruction sheet for growing a plant. There was an episode titled, "I wonder what plant I am growing."

I was sad I didn't get to serve Charlie & Lola's favorite drink; pink milk, but that is okay. Caleb always asks for it. He sure does love Charlie & Lola so I am glad I could throw him a fun party.

Happy Birthday Caleb! You are my favorite and my best! (Line from C&L)

The Binky Fairy!

When all of the parenting resources advise you to rid your baby of the binky at 6 months, you think they are crazy. You desire sleep and the binky helps satisfy that need for your baby, so you let them keep it for awhile longer. Then you start to pick a date in your mind of when you will take it away and that day is dreaded in your mind, but its far off, so you don't think about it much until it gets closer and closer. My goal was 18 months, then we were moving across country and I couldn't take a comfort away from Caleb so we had to extend it. Goal 2: By his second birthday there will be no binky. Luckily Caleb is only a binky sleeper, so I figured this process might be easy, but you don't realize how much of a routine something becomes. When he goes down, he always asks for binky and lamby. Routine. I also thought having lamby to lean on once the binky was gone might be enough but Kerry said they were a team.

I researched the best ways to rid your child of their binky. I could just trim the top off, that way the sucking is not satisfied. I could tie it to some balloons and let him release it goodbye into the sky. I could have him mail it to a baby in need, have him throw it away cold turkey or have the binky fairy pay a visit. The binky fairy seemed most logical to me for his age so I began to search for his big boy present. What could symbolize being a big boy? My first thought was a tricycle since he sees so many kids on bikes and wants to be like them. I started to look online, not realizing that tricycles cost a million dollars. Really? I had no idea. Then I found the Roadmaster tricycle on amazon for $38 and it had received good reviews, plus I had $30 in amazon gift certificates so that was a winner! I ordered it prior to leaving for Chicago and was hoping the Binky Fairy could drop in on Labor Day to do the deed. When we got home, it was here. 1 more day. I was nervous, but deep down I was hoping he would surprise me with the transition. I told him that the Binky Fairy called and said she was coming to take his binky in the night and give it to a baby in need, but she would leave him a big boy prize in exchange. His face lit up, "Big boy prize!". I don't think he understood the concept, but I was hopeful it may work.

Tuesday morning he woke up asking for his binky. Oh no. I told him the Binky Fairy came and she brought him a big boy prize and wheeled it into his room. He was ecstatic! "A bike! A bike! I want to ride the bike!" The thought of binky had quickly faded now that he had a bike. Up until nap time came around. This is where thoughts of, "Did I make the right decision? Am I a horrible mother?" came into play. He cried and cried not for his binky at first, just for me. So I went in his room and laid down on the floor hoping it would help calm him down and go to sleep. No chance. He kept talking and talking and bouncing around so I had to leave and let him cry it out. Nearly 2 hours into his nap time he fell asleep. I felt awful. He woke from his nap an hour later crying and screaming wanting nothing to do with me. I tried to lift him out of his crib and he wouldn't let me. "No. No." he screams. I walked away to give him some time. Still cries. Then I hear him screaming, "That is my binky momma. That is my binky momma." My heart is breaking. What have I done? I have done the best for my child. A part of me regrets letting it go on for so long, but he was just a binky sleeper so I didn't think the transition would be terrifying! My dentist told me that thumb sucking causes problems with their teeth, not binkys. Another dentist says the binky will mess up their teeth. Who is right? Because I don't know for sure, I had to do it now to possibly prevent expensive dental bills down the road. Just ask my Dad how much my mouth is worth. Only people who can afford top of the line tricycles can afford dental work! My goodness!

The afternoon was a rough detox. I know now what drug addicts must go through. I was fearful of bedtime, but planned on being up half the night. I wasn't. Caleb went to bed quietly with no request for that binky. He woke up normally and asked for his bike. One day. I will take that.

The Windy City!

We headed to Chicago Friday morning for an end of summer family getaway. We got a good deal on a hotel package and the drive is a quick 3 hours from Noblesville. The Red Sox were in town playing the White Sox so we had to go! Caleb did so well in the car. He watched Happy Feet most of the way, but he was a trooper! We got into Chicago around 130 and checked into our hotel so we could put Caleb down for a nap.....which he did not take. Kerry picked us up some huge, delicious slices of sausage pizza at a nearby spot and we enjoyed a bite before catching the hotel shuttle down to Navy Pier for the evening. Caleb kept talking about the huge ferris wheel at Navy Pier so we got some tickets to ride it. However, once inside he was not so thrilled. He didn't want to sit for the 7 minute ride! We also rode the carousel a few times before grabbing some dinner and Garrett's cheese and carmel popcorn for dessert which was recommended, so I had to get it! Cheese and caramel together does not sound appetizing, but it was delicious! Thank you Cheri and Lori for the yummy treat! We took our first city bus back to the hotel, cruising down the Magnificent Mile with a very sleepy kid who was getting the sillies! Caleb loved to run to the "alligator" (a.k.a elevator) in the hotel and push the buttons. I think that was the highlight of the trip for him!

Saturday morning we enjoyed our free breakfast quickly before catching the morning shuttle to the Field Museum. I say quickly because our morning was a little chaotic as the hotel's water went out while I was showering! I resorted to rinsing the shampoo out with some bottled water, but luckily it was restored a few minutes later so I could hop back in! Caleb wanted to see the BIG DINOSAURS and he of course talked about them the entire way there. We also walked around Soldier Field before grabbing another bus back to the hotel and putting Caleb down for a quick nap before the Red Sox game! This time, he took one thankfully, but we had to wake him up an hour into it and he was so tired still! I hate doing that! Caleb did great at the baseball game and we had some extra seating near us which was nice. The Red Sox got spanked by the White Sox in a very quick game, 5-1. They were already in the 5th inning an hour into it. We left before the 9th inning to beat some traffic and headed back to the hotel for some relaxing pool time before dinner. Rather than walk back into the city, we had dinner at the same spot Kerry found the yummy pizza. Caleb and I shared some pasta which was fantastic, but way too big for one person! I wish I could have saved it as a leftover! Watching him eat "noodles" is so cute. I am glad I found something else this boy likes to eat! He can still be picky with food and loves to close his eyes and pretend he is invisible if we offer him a food he doesn't want.

Sunday morning we enjoyed another free breakfast before heading to the Shedd Aquarium. This place is pretty remarkable. We got there just when it opened and it was packed! We were able to navigate through the entire place in a few hours, but quickly. Plus when you have a little guy running around, it makes you look faster! We saw the Dolphin show which was actually a letdown for such a well known place! The Dolphin Show at the Indy Zoo is much better! We learned how the Beluga Whales were transferred via Fedex during a remodel to Connecticut. I did not know you could Fedex Beluga Whales, but I saw the whole process on video! Amazing and quite risky I imagine.

By early Sunday afternoon our trip to Chicago had come to an end. Soon after hopping on the freeway, Caleb actually fell asleep in his carseat. This is unusual....and unfortunately only lasted about 20 minutes because he couldn't get comfortable. The poor guy kept moving his head around, it finally woke him up. He requested some Charlie & Lola for the ride home and before I knew it, we were back in Noblesville!

Chicago was a great place to getaway for the weekend. It actually wasn't too windy! We had a fun time together as a family and that is most important! I am sure we will visit again sometime soon!