Otto

Otto is the dog next door. Otto is about to be Otto no more.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge animal lover, but I'm starting to understand how people lose their marbles and go after the pet in an effort to get them to be quiet. I know logically that we need to approach the neighbors, but ummm - they're a lawyer and a judge for crying out loud! And they're leaving their dog OUTSIDE for the majority of the day and he won't stop barking!!!

Grrrr, it's really freaking annoying and I'm not sure how to approach them to tell them that the non-stop barking is driving me crazy and waking my toddler!

Good Monday, Bad Tuesday

Yesterday was a pretty good day. Atticus played in the morning, we had breakfast, we did a little singing and dancing and he was in a pretty jolly mood when he went to school. No crisis at work, talked to my Mom and she seems to be doing a little better with the knee surgery recovery... After dinner and getting little man to bed, I went downtown to meet a couple of colleagues at the Iron Cactus. They were in town doing recruiting/interviews. It was a great night out - meeting some "kids" that are seniors at UT, learning what they're interested in, etc... and then talking shop with a VP and some senior managers. I got home and was still awake and was able to stay that way long enough to get through the Craig Ferguson monologue - dude, that guy is just a hoot. I really wish he were on at 10:30 instead of Jay/Dave/Conan, etc...

Alas, then today started. The family was woken up by the neighbor's dog barking outside for 9 minutes starting at 5:32 AM. Had it just been a minute or two - you figure, hey, it happens. But seriously people, our neighbors are smart people (judge and lawyer), and you'd think they'd figure out that a barking dog at 5:30 AM is NOT the way to make friends. So, now Atticus is awake and crying, I'm dragging my sorry tush out of bed and the day begins. I actually broke down in tears while trying to feed Atticus breakfast because we were both just cranky and tired! And now my passwords for work aren't working. And I just got another voicemail from the J that Atticus was bitten again today - this time on the arm. Ugh. I need to talk to the management when I pick him up to see if they also talk to the parents of the "biter". How many chances does their kid get before he's "suspended". I mean, I know he's 18 months give or take -- but two bites in 3 days, one actually breaking the skin is not good people. Is he biting anyone else, or just my son? And I'm sure Atticus is just having a hoot of a time with it all because he already woke up this morning with the green snot again and teething like a baby. Sigh...

Well, I'm off to call the helpless desk and see if they can resolve my issues because rebooting didn't do it. On the upside of today - I do get breakfast for dinner. Kerbey Lane in T-2.5 hours.

Lunch and the Food Network

I admit, this is kinda funny....

I'm sitting on the sofa eating my Lean Cuisine for lunch and watching Barefoot Contessa on Food Network. But let me just say... Oh My Goodness - the salad she just made looks so friggen delicious! See the recipe HERE. Granted, maybe I'm just really hungry - but this just sounds so yum!!

Next up on her menu using farmer's market finds - zucchini fritters. And I do looooove the zucchini! Wow I'm hungry. :-)

Nap? I Don't Think So!

Well, the nap crisis continues. He's exhausted. We read a story and sing a song and he lays his head on my shoulder half asleep. I place him in the crib (he's standing) and all is ok. We say good night to the pillow, the blanket and his "guys", he gives me a hug, I walk out the door and he starts WAILING. Yesterday, he kept up the wailing for an hour.

Seriously - he was a perfectly good napper until 3 weeks ago.

Sigh...

UPDATE: 30 minutes later. He's still standing. Still wailing. Poor guy, he's bloody exhausted.

Kosher Face

After watching Lady GaGa on the Grammy's the other night - thought this was kinda funny.

Thanks to my Mom for the link. :-)

New Words

We've been a little slow starting to talk, but now that Atticus can hear properly, the babbling and the words will start flowing. Greg took Atti in for his 1 week ear recheck on Monday afternoon. His hearing is back in the normal range (had been at about 50%) and the tubes look great! Yippee!!

Atticus has discovered he can call Greg and I both Mama & Dada -- or Mommy and Daddy. It's cute. When he says Mommy or Daddy he gets all excited. He's been saying these over and over lately. The other new favorite word is banana "nana". He'll go running to the kitchen and point to the counter shouting "NANA".

There are lots of other repetitive sounds that I'm trying to discern. He's also making up some signs for words that he can't say just yet. He has one for "music" when he wants the cd player turned on that's pretty cute. He runs over to the player, and turns a fist upside down and taps the table. Not sure where he came up with it, but he does it every time he wants the music on...

Nap Crisis

This is bad. I honestly don't know what to do short of letting him
scream for a couple hours, going for a walk, or letting him nap on my
chest in the rocker... Today, since it's freezing outside, we're in
the rocker. My right arm is numb, and I'm typing this entry all with
my left thumb! But, he's exhausted... And I'd feel worse I think if he
had no nap! (And Greg would go bonkers if he screamed any longer...)

So.. Open to suggestions to why Atticus has suddenly decided to stop
napping on weekends, and how to remedy the situation! Solid 2 hour
naps at school on Mon-Fri...(they normally have to wake him up!)

~ Jen