Dining Room Done (sort of)

It only took me six weeks, but I finally finished painting the dining room, well sort of, for now, that is. I intended to paint the dining room on labor day, but had that "ladder incident" while taping off the ceiling. Nearly a month later, my shoulder was healed well enough to be able handle the paint roller motion. I painted the 2 "not so high, only 9 foot ceiling" walls at the end of September. Then Dan went out of town on travel and I really wanted to finish the painting. He told me that I wasn't to use our ladder. I didn't. I called Lynn and he brought me his Little Giant ladder to use (it's a cool ladder... and I have ladder envy now). I started simple and low to the ground and painted below the chair rail. Then Lynn's ladder arrived and he set it up for me. I tried to climb it, but I was a little freaked. He took pity on me and taped off the 12.5 foot high parts of the ceiling (everybody needs a brother-in-law like Lynn). I got the windowless wall painted on October 3rd. I was nervous on the ladder at first, but by the 200th time I scaled the ladder, I was over my fear. I didn't get to the window-wall until this past Saturday night. It's "done" now... meaning all the walls are the same color! However, the previous painters did the worst prep job possible and now I have to go back and repaint all the trim because it has red paint on it and repaint the ceiling because they stunk at taping off and the red bled onto the ceiling as well. That painting isn't a high priority for me and I figure I'll get to it in the next year or two (after I have a Little Giant ladder of my own!)

Me on the ladder doing the un-taping...


Partially Painted... the red is what we were painting over. There was 2 shades of ugly khaki under the chair rail that I didn't get a picture of before I painted the white over it!

Finished!

New Pictures of the Boys

Rather than pay lots of money for carpy pictures, I took the boys to Aly's neighbor, who is a professional photographer, for "school" pictures. She runs a great school picture special so off we went. Not only did a get a lot of pictures at a great price, butI got to choose the picture I wanted!

Jonathan's FRESHMAN picture

Nolan's FIFTH GRADE pictureMiles' ONE YEAR picture
See how Miles' left eye is turned in a bit? That what we want the pediatric opthlamologist too see! Miles wasn't too thrilled about having his picture taken... he actually almost smiled in this picture (dang stranger anxiety!).

One Year Old Check-up

Yesterday was Miles' one year old check up at the pediatrician's. All is fine, but he has been referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist. Dan and I have noticed that Miles' left eye seems to turn inward a bit. Aly noticed that too. I mentioned that to the pediatrician and while he couldn't see what we have seen (isn't it always that way...whatever is atypical can't be reproduced when it's needed), he wants Miles to be seen by a specialist (that appointment isn't until January!) to check for lazy eye. Miles got 3 shots... chicken pox, MMR, and pneumococcal (I think... and I have no idea how to spell that!). He only got one shot in his leg... the other two were int he "fatty" part of his arm. Since when did they start giving babies shots in the arm? He really didn't appreciate his shots and he screamed until we left the office (I had to get him dressed, wait while they made his eye appointment, and make his 18 mo. check-up appointment before we could leave). I think his second flu shot should be a real treat! Okay... on to the stats! Miles, compared to his brothers at age one, is no longer my smallest child. He weighed 20# 1 oz and is 29.25" long. Jonathan was the mongo... 20# 13 oz and 29.75" long, and Nolan was the mini-man at 19# 12 oz and 29" long.

First Birthday

Miles turned 1 today! He got to taste his first fast food - Wendy's chicken nuggets and french fries. He preferred nuggets, but thought that sucking the salt off the french fries, then throwing them on the floor was pretty good too. He got to party with Amy, Leslie, and Pieter (Aly and her family had to cancel because Shalyn got sick). Back at the house, Miles had cake and ice cream. He seemed to enjoy it - yum!



After cake and ice cream, it was time for presents! Miles got an ABC book, crayons, Buzz Lightyear toys, a big boy carseat, a Fisher Price "pop pop" toy, and, his favorite, a box of tissues.



He got so wound up and that he wouldn't go to bed until now (10:30pm) - he just crashed hard! Happy Birthday, Miles!

Birthday Cupcakes

In honor of Miles' obsession with lawn mowers, I made him lawn mower cupcakes for his first birthday! See??? There's a huge fleet mowers waiting to be eaten!

Miles' Adventures

Miles has been busy lately. He's getting good at throwing tantrums! His latest tantrum was because I wouldn't (or couldn't) put all three pairs of his shoes on him at the same time! He's experienced a new food, had his first time-outs (because he likes to bite my leg), and done actions to a song! Watch and witness...

First doughnut... On Saturday I took the boys out for doughnuts. We got 31 doughnuts- 3 for going in Krispy Kreme, 4 because I had 4 free doughnut coupons, and 2 dozen (buy 1 get 1 free). The boys loved being doughnut rich. Miles got to try a doughnut and he loved it!



Miles has had several time-outs thins past week. At first he was kind of amused by them. Now he's realized that they are no fun!



Finally, Miles loves the song "If You are Happy". We even have bookmarked his favorite clip of it on YouTube. Now he participates in the motions when he hears the song!

Should I Laugh or Cry

Today, within minutes of each other, I had two of those moments that left me bewildered. Let me start off by saying that I was not looking my best this morning. I'd put my contacts in and brushed my hair, but that was about it... no make-up and wearing sweats, but I wanted to get my errands run while Miles was still happy! I started out at the copy store getting some laminating done. The clerk who has worked there forever asked me if I tended every day. I looked puzzled and looked down at Miles and said, "No, he's mine". The clerk said "Really? I thought he was your grandchild!". I about died... do I look that old? Next I went to Walmart and saw a "neighbor" who I hadn't seen in a couple of years. She didn't know we had Miles and she was admiring him. Some lady who I'd never seen before came up and started touching Miles' head. Julianna wandered off but the stranger lady started talking to me. She just had to let me know that I needed to use my food stamps at Sam's Club. I told her "good to know, but I don't have food stamps." So what is my problem? I guess I really need to pay more attention to my appearance!