...and yesterday was one of those times. I let Miles choose the route we'd take home from the store. He gave me directions... turn left, straight, "go over there," etc., until we reached his destinations. No surprises. Here's what he had to see...
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| "I has a give 'Bouncy Bounce' a love." |
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| "Oh 'dare it is.. the big chicken" |
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| "Red Bouncy Bounce is all fixed!." |
Nolan has an in-grown toenail issue. He's had this problem since he was 5 and he dropped "The Big Ben" on his big toe. "The Big Ben" split his toe open and it's been a difficult toe to deal with ever since. Nolan has been told and told by his pediatrician how to deal with the ingrown issue... cut the nail straight across instead of curved, let it grow longer than to the attachment point, and if/when it gets infected, soak the toe in hot water with epsom salt. Nolan ignores all the instructions. His toe is regularly red, inflamed, and infected. It's so common now that he rarely informs me about the latest infection. On Wednesday, I happened to glance down at his toe and comment that I saw it was infected yet again. Red and sore. Nolan answered something vague. That night I took Nolan and Miles to Seven Peaks (okay, I bribed Nolan into going by promising him a Smashburger). I took Miles off to toddler-world and Nolan went off to go to the crazy slides he likes. The park closed, and as we met up to leave, I noticed Nolan hobbling. One look at his toe gave the answers. Evidently, Nolan snagged/caught his toe on "Jagged Edge". The nail bent backwards and the toe split open where it was infected. Blood and pus (I know... gross...sorry) oozed from his toe. Well, 2 days later, Nolan is soaking his toe in hot water with epsom salt. He's keeping antibacterial ointment on it, and keeping it covered. It's quite painful. I bet he loses the toenail. Perhaps if he does, that will cure the ingrown toenail plague. If not, it could be a real nightmare.
Most of my garden appears to be on steroids. However, the mystery squash killer is in the garden again this year and I've lost a zucchini and a pumpkin plant. The tomatoes are thriving this year. Last year, Bambi found my garden and pulled up most of the tomato plants then ate the tomatoes of those plants that were allowed to grow. This year, I was prepared- I planted 6 tomato plants and bought netting to protect the. But Bambi seems to have lost my address as all 6 plants have thrived and starting taking over the yard. They are too big and heavy for the cages and have flopped to the dirt. Check out the mass of 2 cherry tomato plants...
18 more days is what I keep telling myself. 18 more days of enduring some less than charming behaviors that Miles has recently started. Okay, down right annoying behaviors. Miles currently has 2 obsessions- trying to remove my eyeballs from their sockets, and licking me. What? I know, weird. Seriously obnoxious. I have no tolerance for either of these behaviors. Is he interested in licking anyone else or in removing anyone else's eyeballs? Nope, just mine. The eyeball thing has been going on for about a week, and the licking thing just started. There's nothing like walking through a store with Miles in the cart and him licking my arm. Ugh! I kindly tell him to knock it off- "No touching anyone's eyes. That can hurt!" and "Do not lick me. That is gross." Upon correction, Miles gets his feelings hurt and runs to his room to pout (which is also annoying). This phase must pass quickly because I can't stand it!
Today was the last day of Miles' summer cooking class. It did not end up being what I'd hoped it would have been. 24 toddler/preschoolers in a cooking class is unmanageable, especially when younger screaming siblings are brought, and when moms send in 7-or-8-or-9-year-olds to supervise a couple of 2-or-3-or-4-year-olds. Also, almost every week, the "Toddler Cooking Class" projects involved using a hot griddle. Not age appropriate. Last week was a good week, only 2 kids touched the griddle and got burned. I'd hoped that Miles would be more eating adventurous and thought that maybe if he made the food, he'd eat it. Nope. Nothing. Well, okay, a couple of licks of frosting, and today he licked some ice cream. But, was it a good class for Miles? I'd have to say that it was good for him. He looked forward to going each week. Today, he and the little boy next to him interacted quite a bit. He got to break open eggs (which I don't let him do at home). He touched all sorts of "squishy" things that didn't appeal to him. So, he had some personal growth.
Today's menu was "Hocus Pocus Buns", Snake Hotdogs, and Baggie Shakes. Miles enjoyed rolling out the bread dough. He liked cutting the hotdog and the processed cheese. He wasn't interested in making a milkshake, and instead, he drank the milk and licked the ice cream. As he does every week, Miles wanted me to take his picture as he cooked. I told him I would only if he'd look at the camera. He actually did. So while the pictures are a bit dorky, at least he's looking at the camera. Yea for the end of "cooking class."
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| Rolling out the dough |
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| Almost looking at the camera. Check out his Snake Dog! |
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| Looking at the Camera! Hocus Pocus Buns and the Snake Dog. |
