As always, here are 5 special reasons I am loving my boy this week:
5. We've been working on potting training and Marino has been requesting to read the book Once Upon a Potty. The book is not my favorite, for a variety of reasons, but primarily because the "potty" is not actually a potty but a pot of sorts. Naturally, this is confusing for Marino. While reading it the other day he announced "This is not a potty! This is a pitcher. It has milk in it." I told him we should just pretend it's a toilet, but really, it looks nothing like any potty he will ever use.
4. Wednesday we met up with Sharon, the director of the daycare Marino was at until the end of July. We met at the lake by our house and on the way there, I told him I had a surprise for him. When we saw Sharon, I said "look at your surprise!" He took her hand and said "Shi, Shi, let's go find my surprise!"
3. While we were at the lake, we came across some ducks. "Look at these ducks," he said, "they are so cute. Hi ducks!!"
2. Sunday, the three of us went to a birthday party at Bounce U. Everyone, adults included, had a blast! Marino couldn't eat the cake, of course, and giving into some sad faces, I promised to bake him an eggless cake when we got home (to which he announced "Eggs make me sick"). We had to stop at Home Depot on the way home and Evan ran in and left Marino in the car. After a few minutes, Marino asked me "Is Daddy in there baking my cake?"
1. Still thinking of the party when we got home, while watching "Superfriends", Marino announced "Superfriends are super fast, just like me at the bouncy house!"
Friday, August 26, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Myrtle Beach
The week before last, Marino and I headed down to Myrtle Beach. We had planned a trip with Jen and the kids but they have some difficult things their family is dealing with right now and couldn't make it. We missed them! But they very generously let us stay at their family's condo, which is just amazing. The resort where the condo is located is so beautiful and quiet. It's really just so peaceful there...you never even hear people talking unless you go to the pool (which is always stocked with playmates for the kids).
I don't have a ton of pictures from our trip (by my standards at least), since we spent most of our days in the water (pool and beach).
On Saturday, my friend Chandra and her daughter Hannah were able to come up from Atlanta and visit with us. Chandra and I worked together for several years in Atlanta and we hadn't seen each other since we both had babies (just a few months apart). It was great to see her and meet the adorable Hannah!
We had a rainy day on Saturday, so after swimming in the pool (in the rain), we headed over to Broadway and let the kids go crazy on the rides.
Marino riding the train with Chandra and Hannah.
Can you tell he liked this train ride?!
In this picture, he's showing me the "awesome" palm tree "with spikes on it".
Sunday was the perfect beach day. We went out early in the morning before the crowds and enjoyed the waves.
...and the sand
Marino kept telling me "the waves are kicking me!"
It was super humid (the whole time we were in SC). My camera lens kept fogging up!
Marino loved the tide pools.
Another early morning on the beach (our last day). Marino loved having so much sand to play in!
Most of our vacation it was just Marino and I and it was a good bonding experience. He's good company!
Unfortunately, we both ended up with a cold shortly after we got there. This triggered Marino's asthma, and we ended up needing to go to the ER briefly because he was having chest retractions. I knew he just needed oral steroids, but it wasn't like I could just pop over to the pediatrician. The ER gave him a double dose of prednisone and a breathing treatment and by the middle of that night, he was breathing much easier.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
New Allergies/Worries
Last week, I took Marino to the allergist to go over his updated labs for food allergies. We had agreed to avoid shellfish and nuts until he was 3 and then do a blood test before giving him those foods, since they are such common allergens (I have a shellfish allergy myself).
Honestly, I was less concerned about nuts than I was about shellfish.
Unfortunately, we found some new allergies.
The most surprising was a moderate allergy (RAST score of .8) to sesame. Marino has been exposed to sesame on a regular basis - he eats hummus several times a week. In doing some research on it, I found that sesame allergy symptoms can be insidious, sometimes manifesting as unexplained eczema or asthma flare ups. Obviously, I am now removing that from his diet and keeping tabs on hidden sesame oil other foods (like the Vietnamese food we love).
The other new allergy is a severe allergy to peanuts (RAST score of 6). While I feel like peanuts are the most well know of allergens, it still gives me another food to worry about. The allergist felt confident he would likely need an epi-pen shot if exposed to peanuts, so we will have to keep a close eye out for them.
Perhaps the most disappointing was that his RAST score for eggs jumped from a 44 to an 84. Now, keep in mind that his allergy to sesame with a RAST score of .8 is a moderate allergy. A RAST score of 84 is astronomical...the measurements stop at 100. The allergist tried to reassure me by saying the testing just captures a moment in time, and his score could be somewhat more or less if we tested another week. But he also said that with a score that high (and increasing rather than decreasing), if he outgrows the egg allergy it won't be in the near future.
This visit coincided with Marino's starting a new preschool next week...one without nurses and with 3 times the number of kids in his class than where we were before. I am definitely concerned.
Honestly, I was less concerned about nuts than I was about shellfish.
Unfortunately, we found some new allergies.
The most surprising was a moderate allergy (RAST score of .8) to sesame. Marino has been exposed to sesame on a regular basis - he eats hummus several times a week. In doing some research on it, I found that sesame allergy symptoms can be insidious, sometimes manifesting as unexplained eczema or asthma flare ups. Obviously, I am now removing that from his diet and keeping tabs on hidden sesame oil other foods (like the Vietnamese food we love).
The other new allergy is a severe allergy to peanuts (RAST score of 6). While I feel like peanuts are the most well know of allergens, it still gives me another food to worry about. The allergist felt confident he would likely need an epi-pen shot if exposed to peanuts, so we will have to keep a close eye out for them.
Perhaps the most disappointing was that his RAST score for eggs jumped from a 44 to an 84. Now, keep in mind that his allergy to sesame with a RAST score of .8 is a moderate allergy. A RAST score of 84 is astronomical...the measurements stop at 100. The allergist tried to reassure me by saying the testing just captures a moment in time, and his score could be somewhat more or less if we tested another week. But he also said that with a score that high (and increasing rather than decreasing), if he outgrows the egg allergy it won't be in the near future.
This visit coincided with Marino's starting a new preschool next week...one without nurses and with 3 times the number of kids in his class than where we were before. I am definitely concerned.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
The Boys
The boys and I had a lot more fun the week we were off together. Tuesday, we went to Ocean Dunes Waterpark in Arlington, VA. We all had a lot of fun and there was plenty there for both boys to stay entertained (and for me to stay cool).
Wednesday was a rainy day, so we headed to Port Discovery in Baltimore for the morning. It was sort of crazy there - there were several summer camps visiting and it was a little too crowded for Marino. Quintyn was having the time of his life in the tree house and Marino and I headed to the new section designed for kid's 3 and under. Ahhh...that section is like an oasis of calm!
Wednesday was a rainy day, so we headed to Port Discovery in Baltimore for the morning. It was sort of crazy there - there were several summer camps visiting and it was a little too crowded for Marino. Quintyn was having the time of his life in the tree house and Marino and I headed to the new section designed for kid's 3 and under. Ahhh...that section is like an oasis of calm!
Thursday, was our last day together (Friday morning Marino and I left for the beach; Quintyn left Friday night) so I gathered the boys to take some pictures. Quintyn is the only one who is pleasant for picture taking out of the 3!
Saying goodbye was tough. When we explained to Marino that Quintyn was going to be leaving, he refused to say goodbye or give him a hug and hid in the closet. He definitely seemed to understand the concept, since he told every stranger at the beach "My brother Quintyn went back to Iowa with his own mommy."
We definitely miss him a lot and hope to see him soon!
Friday, August 12, 2011
More Brother Adventures
The second week Quintyn was here I took off of work to hang out with both of the boys. We had a lot of fun and of course it was such a joy to see the boys bond and get to know each other better.
Monday, we went to the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, VA. I can't say enough good things about this place (thanks, Jen, for recommending it). The staff were remarkably friendly and helpful. The place is big enough for a toddler to run around without getting in other people's way (I did end up needing to get the stroller ohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifut of the car, which is a rarity...I wore my step counter and we walked 2.5 miles while we were there. The place is enormous). Oh, and it's free (there is a $15 parking fee per car). And there's a McDonald's inside.
Quintyn absolutely loves military stuff so he was in heaven there (in fact, his aunts took him back at the end of the week so he could see more). I let him use my camera and he took over 100 photos there - he was so excited.
Monday, we went to the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, VA. I can't say enough good things about this place (thanks, Jen, for recommending it). The staff were remarkably friendly and helpful. The place is big enough for a toddler to run around without getting in other people's way (I did end up needing to get the stroller ohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifut of the car, which is a rarity...I wore my step counter and we walked 2.5 miles while we were there. The place is enormous). Oh, and it's free (there is a $15 parking fee per car). And there's a McDonald's inside.
Quintyn absolutely loves military stuff so he was in heaven there (in fact, his aunts took him back at the end of the week so he could see more). I let him use my camera and he took over 100 photos there - he was so excited.
They had a real space shuttle there - so cool!
Later that evening, we took the boys over to the lake in back of our house to do some fishing. Evan LOVES to fish (he goes almost every day...its nice to have a lake 20 steps from our yard). He bought both boys a fishing pole (Marino's doesn't have a hook...but the turtles were big fans).
They all had a lot of fun attempting to catch fish.
Marino looked at this picture and said "Daddy helps me."
Even cuter than this picture itself is the fact that Quintyn told me to take it:)
5 on Friday
As always, here are 5 special reasons I am loving my boy this week:
5. My portable DVD player broke right before our 7 hour car ride to Myrtle Beach last week. Luckily, Marino did a good job of entertaining himself. He has this large Optimus Prime figure he got for his birthday. At one point, he was saying "It's ok, I'll change your diaper." "Mommy, he can't sit down [legs don't bend] so he can't go poo poo in the potty. I have to change his diaper." After changing him, he snuggled Optimus Prime and told him "Shhh...it's ok". In the meantime, he's pressing the button on Optimus' chest and he's announcing "DECEPTACONS! INCOMING!"
4. Marino is all about superheros right now, which he nicknames "supers". One of his favorites is Batman, which he calls "DatMan." I find this hysterical but Evan insists on correcting him. I asked him what Batman's super power was the other day and he responded "he kicks balls."
3. While we were at the beach last week (post to come) he told me "I love palm trees! They have spikes on them!"
2. Spending time with his brother has given Marino a whole new vocabulary of boy-speak. On the car ride home from the beach he was telling me "Oh no, Mommy. There's a ghost...it's like an alien...no, it's like 2 aliens. They're so creepy!!"
1. Yesterday we went to see Marino's allergist. He told the doctor "We're here to talk about my allergies. My allergies are very sad."
5. My portable DVD player broke right before our 7 hour car ride to Myrtle Beach last week. Luckily, Marino did a good job of entertaining himself. He has this large Optimus Prime figure he got for his birthday. At one point, he was saying "It's ok, I'll change your diaper." "Mommy, he can't sit down [legs don't bend] so he can't go poo poo in the potty. I have to change his diaper." After changing him, he snuggled Optimus Prime and told him "Shhh...it's ok". In the meantime, he's pressing the button on Optimus' chest and he's announcing "DECEPTACONS! INCOMING!"
4. Marino is all about superheros right now, which he nicknames "supers". One of his favorites is Batman, which he calls "DatMan." I find this hysterical but Evan insists on correcting him. I asked him what Batman's super power was the other day and he responded "he kicks balls."
3. While we were at the beach last week (post to come) he told me "I love palm trees! They have spikes on them!"
2. Spending time with his brother has given Marino a whole new vocabulary of boy-speak. On the car ride home from the beach he was telling me "Oh no, Mommy. There's a ghost...it's like an alien...no, it's like 2 aliens. They're so creepy!!"
1. Yesterday we went to see Marino's allergist. He told the doctor "We're here to talk about my allergies. My allergies are very sad."
Monday, August 8, 2011
Family Love
The second weekend Quintyn was here, we had lots of quality family time. Saturday, we headed out to Winchester to visit with Gramma Deb and Aunt Chelle and Aunt RiRi, who just got back from a summer internship in India. We went to Wilson's Wild Animal Park in Winchester, which the kids enjoyed. The people there were very nice and the kids enjoyed feeding the animals.
After visiting the animals, we headed back to Gramma Deb's for a cookout. Auntie Jane (Evan's great aunt) came over with her grandkids and all the kids had fun playing together.
After visiting the animals, we headed back to Gramma Deb's for a cookout. Auntie Jane (Evan's great aunt) came over with her grandkids and all the kids had fun playing together.
Family photo
Aunt Chelle, Quintyn, Evan, Marino, Gramma Deb & Aunt RiRi
On Sunday, Evan and the boys headed up to Philadelphia with Richelle and Rianne so they could visit the boy's great grandparents. Evan forgot to get pictures with Mom D, but here's one of Quintyn with Donna and PopPop.
and Quintyn with his great grandfather.
lots of family love this weekend!
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