The Morlans

My dear friend Jhana, her husband and their two little princes. I miss them.

Peanut

Atticus has started saying Peanut. (In case you don't know - Peanut's our cat.) He gets a big grin on his face whenever she walks by and he says her name. It's strange -- he's heard us say her name for oh... two years now, but he suddenly said it yesterday. The first time he said it a bit tentatively, but now that we've given the affirmation that he's saying it correctly, he's been running through the house searching for her so he can say her name. It's cute.

Here's Peanut hairing up the clean clothes recently...

Smiling Wren

Picture of the Day:

A ton of other pictures have been uploaded as well to the July and August folders of Picasa.

No Mommy Go

These words just about broke my heart this morning. I took Atticus for his first day at the new daycare today. We've gone by several times last week for him to look around and meet some of the teachers, etc -- but he somehow knew today was different. We walked into the classroom and I picked him up to give him a hug and the little man was holding on for dear life. I was almost okay with that -- but the big crocodile tears and the "No Mommy Go" just about did me in!

The good news is that all the classrooms are really small. There are 6 kids in Atti's room so hopefully it's not too overwhelming for him. He was all smiles when I arrived to pick him up - which was a good sign. I have a feeling however that drop-off is going to be rough for a while...

Already?

It doesn't seem possible. Our little lady rolled over for the first time today from back to front. She's only 3 months old - I'm not ready for her to be mobile just yet! I'm enjoying the fact that I can put her down and come back a minute later and have her still in the same spot!

Sigh.

They grow up so fast. (I say this after watching so many friends send kids off today for their first day of Kindergarten and some off to the first day of highschool!!!)

Warm

According to the news this evening, it's going to be warm on Tuesday. The expected high is 84 degrees. I'm totally serious. 84! I almost laughed out loud. It's only going to cool off from here.

But... I'm looking forward to an actual "fall" season and getting to wear my stash of scarves that haven't seen the light of day since my time in Colorado!! I may actually be inspired enough to pick up my knitting needles. I've been trying to find the oomph I needed to knit.

I guess this also means I need to pull out Atti's fall clothes sooner than expected. It's in the 60s in the morning when I'll be taking him to school. I can't even fathom that yet...

Papa Baden

Me: Atticus, are you ready to go see Grandpa Baden?

Atti: (with a big smile) Papa?

Me: Yes, Papa.

Edit: We had a great first visit this evening. Grandma Baden was at the apartment too -- so we were able to see both Grandma and Papa. The little lady was on her best behavior - being passed around a bit and Atticus opened all the drawers, the fridge, etc. He got a bit fussy at the end of our visit, but I think it was only because he was getting hungry. I get grumpy when I'm hungry too (just ask Greg)!

I did take a few photos before the battery in the camera went kaput. Once I have two free seconds (ha ha ha) I'll free the photos from the camera and upload them to Picasa.

Mayberry

We've been here before to visit family... but now that we've moved to Perrysburg -- it feels a little bit like Mayberry. Not that that's a bad thing. Actually, it's kinda cool, but a little weird too. The neighborhood is a little "Stepford-ish" with the lawns. There are these huge swaths of lush green lawns and perfectly manicured bushes/flower beds. The neighbors all wave at you when you drive or walk by... the downtown is filled with mom and pop shops... everyone drives an American car...

Sworn In

Greg's now official! He was sworn in this afternoon by the judge. :)

~ Jen
Sent from my iPhone

Obsessed

Atti's current obsession is the car. He wants to sit in the driver's seat and push all the buttons & pretend to drive. It's all he asks for from the instant he wakes up until the second he falls asleep! Last month, it was all about guitars. We're hoping the car obsession quiets down soon & is replaced with books or some other independent activity!! :)

~ Jen
Sent from my iPhone

O-hi-O

I spoke with one of the drivers of the moving truck tonight. Our stuff has made it to Ohio and they're due to arrive at the house tomorrow at 8am. Guess it's official - I no longer live in Texas. Sigh...

Granted, the weather in Dallas today felt like 108. Weather in Perrysburg today felt like 91. Now, 91 isn't exactly cool - but it's oh, say 17 degrees better than 108!

Mortified

I am that parent. The parent of "that child". You know, the one that's screaming and throwing a tantrum while kicking and crying in the middle of the mall. Oh yeah.

It seems it doesn't take much to push poor Atti over the edge at the moment. I know the poor guy is just overloaded - but I never thought I would be the one trying to wrestle a screaming toddler in/out of a store. That will never happen to me!!

In addition to the fit he threw because I made him walk away from the escalators, he also managed to open the packaging at Pottery Barn Kids for this pirate ship bath thingy. I was about to purchase said item - but the employees were super great and kept reassuring me that I wasn't the first parent to have their two year old go bonkers in the store. Whew, because the flailing about and tantrum throwing fit at the back of the store was a bit mortifying for me. Seriously.

On the upside of today... I was able to ever so briefly meet up with my friend Melanie and her three girls in Dillards. I hadn't seen Mel in almost 2 years! And - it seems throwing tantrums takes quite a bit out of you. Atticus went to sleep without any fuss tonight. Mazal Tov, eh? After I put him down, I was able to sneak off to meet some girlfriends for a game of Mah Jhongg too. That was a ton of fun - I hadn't played since we moved to Austin, and it was good times seeing Lisa, Jenny and Sandy again! I'm going to have to try and find some friends to play with up in Ohio.

Ouch

No picture at the moment - but during one of our temper tantrums earlier today, I was taking Atticus to time out when he threw his head backwards. I was holding him as we walked back towards the bedroom and so when made said gesture, his head bonked right into my cheekbone and I now am sporting a bit of a black eye.

No joke. My first black eye and it's because of a two year old?

Latkes

Atti discovers he does like potatoes - when made into latkes and sprinkled with sugar!! :)

~ Jen
Sent from my iPhone

Crib No More

Well crud. Atticus can now scale any crib facing any direction. This is not good. On the upside, once we get to Ohio, the only thing in his new room will be his mattress on the floor.

It's official. We have a climber. Foo.

In Order

Tonight while in the bathtub, Atticus relayed to me a series of four events in order. I was impressed.

Out

Book

Bump

Nap

While these four words may not make sense to most people, it made perfect sense to me. He was telling me what was about to happen. First, we get out of the bathtub. Then we read books. Next, we go "bump" as we crawl into the crib (after I turned his crib around at home, the first time I tried to get him into the crib he "bumped" into the crib as I attempted to heave him in). Lastly, it's time to go to sleep. Both afternoon naps and night time are referred to as naps. Actually, anytime anyone is sleeping Atti tells me they're napping.

So, while this may not mean much to others, I was quite excited tonight.

It was also good to see my brother and Hadas and enjoy some home cooked spaghetti. Yum. :)

Throwing

There's a lot of change going on for Atticus right now. That's rough for a new 2 year old. The result of all this change has been some acting out and recently - throwing. This morning was challenging to say the least. He threw two pictures off of my parent's mantle thingy and then he threw the sit and spin. Throwing things with glass and heavy objects does not make Mommy happy. He hit me with one of the frames and the sit and spin and when 30 minutes later he threw a photo/frame at his sister he got in big trouble. I think I scared Atticus, Wren and the dog when I shouted NO THROWING. Atticus and I had a big talk and our longest time out to date. I know he's frustrated and confused and trying to piece all the changes together -- but throwing is not allowed.

We're going to head up to a local splash pad when he wakes up and try and get rid of some of this excess energy!

August? Already?

As I sit at my Mom's house (while two children miraculously sleep at the same time) my house in Austin is almost completely packed. Greg has texted over a few pictures of the house full to the brim with boxes.

Where did the time go?

4112 Avenue H has held a lot of memories for the Baden crew. It's seen the birth of two children and a momentous law school graduation. That's pretty big. I know I have a bit more of an emotional attachment to Austin when compared to Greg -- but I'm really going to miss it. Even the crazy hot summers. I love the free spirits, the mom and pop stores, the food, the college spirit, my friends, my family -- and the memories attached to so many places throughout the town...

But, we're off to our next adventure. Ohio will be good. We're thrilled that we'll still be close to family. I think Atticus and Wren will love having cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents all within an hour's drive!

To infinity and beyond!

Just a Typical Morning