Never gonna give you up

This video cracks me up. How can a guy with such a deep voice have such little rhythm?

It was an off day for class but very busy with doctors and therapies. I promise I will update about what we've been doing soon. Everything is going really well and we should be going home on the 14th!

Happy Birthday Tater!!!

One year ago today Mr. Awesome and I were debating whether or not we should call my parents to come get Toser because my water had broken but we didn't want to wake anyone up. And then my contractions stopped after we did call them around 7:00 am so we called them back and asked them to pick up Chick-Fil-A on their way to our house. Um, priorities people. We hung out for a little while, pushed Toser on the swing and took our merry little time getting to the hospital. It was a nice, relaxing morning (other than those stupid contractions).

This morning started out a little differently. They came in for lab work at 5:45 and while Tater did not like being woken up with bright lights, he was smiling and flirting with the tech. And of course she couldn't find a vein because Tater's veins are horrible and shot; she asked the nurse if she could prick his finger instead of sticking him in a vein and then went and stuck him before getting the answer. (Okay, excuse me, but um, WHAT WAS THE FREAKIN' POINT OF ASKING IF SHE WAS GOING TO GO AHEAD AND STICK HIM?!!) I was trying not to piss off the lady who was sticking my son, but I was also trying to express my displeasure with the whole situation. Well, actually, I might have said what I just said above, but you know, I said it very sweetly. Of course that vein was gone so she ended up pricking his finger too. Poor Tater. He looked at me with his lip all stuck out and looking pitiful with big tears in his eyes. And then guess who got all nauseous and light headed, complete with brown vision and twinkly lights, and would have fallen in the floor had there not been a chair next to her. Oooo, oooo! I know, I know! That would have been me. I have never reacted like that to blood before but I guess it was a bit early and I was mad at the tech and I skipped dinner last night and needed something to eat. Whoooboy, there's no better way to throw your weight around than almost passing out on the lab tech. Now, I'll get no respect. Me. The stinkin' light weight.

Anyway, Tater's 1!!! And we're having Peggy Ann cupcakes and presents! He's already scoping out the presents and looking at me with this huge grin like he knows what's going on. We'll smear cupcake on his face and be sure to get a good picture. It's going to be a fun day. Kajja and Toser came down yesterday to celebrate; Coco and Papa are coming down today; more family later in the week... stretching out the number of days you can get attention, that's what birthdays are like at home.

Happy Birthday Tater! We love you-you little booger!

T-T-T-Toser

The vent classes are going great; we're learning lots and hopefully will feel comfortable with everything by the time we go home. I will explain a little more about the classes later but right now I want to talk about Toser.

I love that kid so much. Mr. Awesome and I have been trading off going home to be with him and doing that makes me miss him that much more when I'm in Birmingham. He has gotten so much older in the last 2 months. He's so much more a boy than a toddler now and it makes me proud and sad. I love that he's getting a weird sense of humor like me (Mr. Awesome probably hates it) and he makes me laugh so much. He knows I laugh when he talks in a deep voice so he does it when I don't expect it. And last night when some friends of Kajja/neighbors of ours stopped by, he very loudly said, "I tooted!" while Kajja's friend was talking about God's mercy in the other room. I, of course, started laughing because I couldn't help it (which only encourages him). I fear the poor kid has gotten my ill sense of comedic timing. It drives Mr. Awesome crazy how I find things funny when things are serious-at least Toser comes by it honestly.

He can come up with some zingers even when he's being serious. The other day I was getting ready to leave and he picked up my keys and said, "I wanna start your car for you." I laughed and said maybe when he's 4 he can do it-he said, "maybe when I'm 3 I can do it." And earlier that day he was being cute and I told him I want him to stay little and he said, "But I want to get big." He still mispronounces some words (ephelant for elephant, ticktocs for tictacs, sing-it for music) but is beginning to correct himself and I know the days of cute mispronunciations are dwindling.

This kid has the biggest heart. You can tell he genuinely cares about other people (as much as an almost 3 year-old can) and is so sweet. He can drive me up the wall but make me want to dip him in chocolate and eat him at the same time. Lately when we leave he says, "But I want you to stay here," and when we say we have to go see Nate he always says, "Okay." Like he knows he has to make this sacrifice of not having us around so his brother can get better. It breaks my heart into a million pieces every time he does it. He's just recently started talking on the phone to us and it's even worse when he does it then.

He's got a great imagination and can play by himself like he's so much older. He's a bit OCD and has some sensory issues but is a boy through and through and can get dirty in 30 seconds flat. He loves to play in the "river" behind our house (it's a little creek) and also loves to play in the State Park our property backs up to. He thinks going on the trails and going to the overlook is something every kid can do on a daily basis and has such an appreciation for all things nature. He won't throw away any trash he generates at home but if he sees some trash on the ground in the park, he freaks out until we can find a can to throw it away. He's obsessive about recycling and knows that plastic goes in the blue bin.

He's the very definition of a conundrum and I wouldn't have it any other way. He makes our lives funny and balanced and overall better. He'll be 3 next week and it hurts me that he's growing up so fast. I want to keep him like this forever but know it's just going to get better. Until he becomes a teenager and then he can go live at PapaCoco's house.