Two-Year-Old Check-up

In an amazing turn of events, Seth was just a fifth of a pound shy of 25th percentile at his check-up. He tipped the scales at 24.8 lbs, which means he's gained almost a pound in the two weeks since his last ear infection. He was 34.5 inches tall. Since he is always following his curve, she thinks his leanness is do to genetics, not diet, so he is allowed to start 2% milk. She was pleased with his progress with his speech. It was a good visit, especially since it was the middle of naptime! Seth got his second Hep A shot, and barring any more infections that require IM antibiotics, he could be shot-free until kindergarten prep. She told me today that FluMist may be approved for 2 year olds by flu season, and she would recommend that for Seth since he didn't do well with the flu shot last year. He walked out blowing kisses to all the staff, and that won him not one, but two stickers on his way out the door.

Seth's 2nd Birthday party!

We had a very busy weekend. Bryan came and spent all day Saturday with us. The boys took a big nap, and I finally worked up the nerve to decorate Seth's cake. Sunday we had Seth's party at one of the playgrounds at Tanglewood park. Both sets of grandparents, cousins, and a couple of Seth's best buddies were able to help us celebrate. Seth received the pool as a gift, and we've already used it three times! He loves it! He's become quite the chatterbox since turning two...yesterday's new words were "Case", "pool", and "Deac"!

Seth's new toys

As promised, pictures of the birthday boy and his gifts....

Haven't you always wanted a monkey?

How many of you sang that title in your head when you read it? (if i had a million dollars...)

The celebration continues as Seth had a playdate again at the Little Gym. He was having a blast hanging from the uneven bars. We went to Mi Pueblo afterwards with the gang and my cupcake cones were a huge hit.

Seth 2.0

Seth turned two yesterday! Just like last year, Seth and I kept up a very busy schedule all day. We let him open his cards and one present (a Backyardigans guitar) before Nathan went to work. He loves it; Nathan and I are tired of it already. Our first stop of the day was to get a big Blues Clues balloon...bonus: we found a duck that said SETH on it! Then we went to Baptist so Seth and Wanda could wish each other happy birthday. Seth was enjoying it all so much, we stopped by Nathan's work too, and then had a family lunch. By then Seth was pooped, so we went home for naptime. We had a good hour plus of playtime and then hit the showers. We met Nathan at Portrait Innovations so we could document Seth at two. We also took a family picture, but I can't get that one to orient itself the right way yet, will post that later. Quick dinner at Jason's Deli and then home to open one more present, a basketball goal. We all had a very fun day! Here are some unedited pictures from Seth's photo session...more birthday pictures soon, there is some bad red eye I need to edit out first.

The photographer said she's never seen a kid decide to stand on the block for pictures, but it's classic Seth to us!

Father's Day 2007

Father's Day was extra special this year because it was also Nathan's birthday. Seth and I got Nathan a Weber grill, and Nathan tested it out by making grilled chicken sandwiches for lunch and steaks for dinner. Both were excellent, and I have leftovers for work this week!

Seth has been making a MESS eating crackers this week, but now he is taking responsibility for his messes...he likes to vacuum? I wonder how much longer before I can let him do the whole house?

Zoo Trip

Seth recovered fairly quickly from his ear infections, but it took him until Thursday to get his appetite back. I wish I remembered the name of Brad Pitt's character in the "Ocean's" movies, because every time I turn around now, Seth has some sort of food in his mouth. Today is supposed to be really hot, but yesterday was cooler and slightly overcast, without the threat of daytime rain, so we decided to move our zoo trip up a day. We thought we had fun last year, but it was even more fun this year. Seth played hard the whole time, and paid attention to most of the animals. Right now he loves elephants, but he also liked to watch the polar bear and the sea lions, I think he thought they were swimming. Last year he was terrified of the carousel, this year he started out cautious (on an elephant), but by the last three turns he was waving to his daddy.

This is a week of celebrating around here...today is Nathan's birthday AND Father's Day, and Wednesday is Seth's birthday. And we may add a new little cousin to the mix this week as well! Friday night Nathan and I went to see the new Pirates movie for his birthday. The zoo was our Father's day outing. I'll keep posting as we keep celebrating!

No reserves

I guess it was too much activity last week for poor little Seth. He had a temp and runny nose over the weekend, but was still playful, so we played the molar card for awhile. But the temp spikes kept getting higher, and by the time I got home last night we were doing the 104+F thing. This morning all he wanted to do was lay in my bed and moan. That warranted a doctor's visit in my book. Classic Seth with an ear infection (although May was an abnormal presentation). Both ears looked "terrible" according to his pediatrician. He was so listless during his appointment that the doctor recommended a shot of antibiotic. It has really helped, although now he has a sore leg, because it was really thick. Tomorrow he starts 10 days of an oral dose. Hopefully we have no reactions this time. Seth has lost a third of a pound again, but I guess that figures since he hasn't eatenwell since Sunday morning. I'm hoping for a summer reprieve from the ear infections so I can try to plump him up a little bit or at least build up some reserves, so every germ we come across in Clemmons doesn't result in double ear infections. Since it is only his third this year, she said it was too early to discuss tubes. Next time I see my favorite ENT at work I'm going to start asking questions. I spent the day washing linens and stuffed animals (don't ask) and got into a good book while Seth took a long nap. Now Seth is helping his daddy cheer for the Spurs while I have some power-down time. I don't work again until Monday (I was supposed to work today but I HAD to stay home with Seth after that shot) and don't really have anything planned until the weekend...maybe Seth will be up to a pool trip later in the week.

A week of visitors

We have had a LOT of company this week. Tuesday evening Lisa and Michael stopped by on their way back from Ohio. They stayed with us until lunchtime on Thursday. Seth is trying his darnest to say the word "shirt", but all he gets out is the "SH" (I know it could be worse.). For some reason, he was fascinated with Michael's shirts. Wednesday Jake spent the afternoon with us, and Seth had so much fun hanging out with a big boy. We went to the playgrounds at Tanglewood. Afterwards, Seth and I tried out a different Mexican restaurant with Lisa and Michael. Mango margaritas? Not so good. Food? Excellent! And Seth stayed in his booster the whole time! By far the best he's been at a restaurant in over a year! Thursday Alden and Landon spent the morning with us. Which brings me to our weekend...

Marie and Eric went on a kid-free trip to Asheville, and Evan and Ryan came to spend the weekend with us. The boys had so much fun! Friday morning Marie and I took the boys to the Children's Museum. As you can see, the donut factory was a big hit! Nathan and I tried to take the boys to the pool Friday afternoon, but thunder caused the pool to be shut down after we'd been there for about 15 minutes. Ryan was missing his mom, so I was having a hard time convincing him to go in the water anyways. The storm that passed over us brought in cooler temperatures, so we went for a short walk with the boys that evening. Evan had brought his bike, so he rode that while the little guys hitched a ride in the garden cart. Saturday we had a NICU playdate at Dan Nicholas Park in Salisbury. Seth's buddies were there, but since it is a very large park, we only saw them while we had our lunch cookout. The park had a huge playground, a train, a wilderness park, gem mining, and a sprinkler area, all which were a big hit. Evan played a round of mini golf with Nathan. There was also a carousel there, but none of the boys expressed interest in riding that. Seth and Evan were pooped, but Ryan did not want to leave! All three boys fell asleep on the 45 minute ride home.

Sunday morning was 100% crazy boytime in the playroom. It is so funny to watch what these guys think up to do. We went on another short walk to kill time awaiting Marie and Eric's arrival. The boys were very excited to see their parents and got good report cards. Looking forward to doing it again sometime!

Sesame Street Dictionary!

He didn't have a chance of not being a bookworm, but I had a blast from the past today when he cracked out the Sesame Street Dictionary. Rumor has it that when I was Seth's age, it was my favorite book. I had my parents read it from cover to cover, front to back , back to front, middle to ends, every other word, and I knew when they tried to skip stuff! We aren't at that point yet, but it was fun to look through all the pictures with Seth this morning. He says "k-kie" for Cookie Monster and "tra-ash" for Oscar. He says Bert clear as day. He would tell me which ones were eating and say "shhh" if they were asleep.

I got this Cheerios book for a shower gift, and we read it all the time, but I've never put Seth to work at it before (you fill in the holes with Cheerios). He got it! Yea! Something else to entertain him in the kitchen!

My parents came over Saturday because my dad needed a "grandpa fix." They brought over a carful of little baby stuff (they figure it's better it takes up space in our attic than theirs) and Nathan's birthday present, a garden cart. It will have dual-purposes, as Seth likes to ride in it like a wagon. Its maiden voyage was a ride around the cul-de-sacs trying to get Seth to wind down and sleep...it worked...

First Pool Trip, 2007 edition

Yea! Tanglewood pool is open for business! Seth and I went to the pool this afternoon. It is amazing the change nine months can bring. This kid who had to hold on to both my hands last year will now walk until his shoulders are covered unassisted, and up to his chin while holding my hand.

Hopefully this summer we will work on our sharing. I caught a genuine expression here of when a little boy tried to use one of his diving sticks. Who knew Seth was so sassy?

Definitely going to be spending a lot of time here this summer....