Happy Birthday Tater!

My baby is 2. And he's growing so much. He's a tall boy and every time he's standing I can't believe how big he is. He's doing amazingly well in therapy and is walking with less and less support every week. He has an amazing spirit and is a trooper.

His current loves are Wow Wow Wubbzy (Wubbzy Wubbzy Wow Wow), SpongeBob, anything with an engine and wheels, and antagonizing his older brother. He's saying a few more words and repeats the inflection of almost anything we say. He's starting to do cute little things like hitting his hand on purpose and then saying, "Ow! Ow! Ow!" and putting his hand next to his mouth and saying some one's name when he wants attention (Daddy, Bo, SpongeBob, MeowMeow). He says, "Mama," at least 1000 times a day and when I respond, he either acts like he was just checking in or quickly comes up with something to show me. He can spot a basketball goal almost anywhere- on TV they're every where and in the car, he says, "baball" and you know you've just passed one.

He loves his Sleepy Dog and has to have it with him at all times. Yesterday we went to WalMart and I told him he had to leave Sleepy Dog in the car. He kissed Sleepy Dog and wanted me to put him in Toser's seat. Sleepy Dog is present at meal times and when watching the TV. Don't ever touch Sleepy Dog's ears or tag because they're probably wet with spit. And about tags; Tater is an equal opportunity tag licker/stroker. If he finds a tag (on a cushion, on a blanket, in his pants), he'll zone out and start smacking/clicking his tongue and/or licking the tag. We don't have see him to know he's found a tag because you can hear the sound. If we call him out on it, he acts embarrassed and laughs. We call him Tag Boy and he nods his head.

This kid has taught me more about living in the last 2 years than I ever knew in the 29 years before I had him. He frustrates me beyond belief with his stubbornness. He makes me appreciate all the little things in life. He's taught me to be a little less judgmental and he's taught me to fight for what I believe in. I don't know what else is in store for this little Medical Mystery I have as a second child, but you better believe he's going to inspire everyone he encounters along the way. I love you Tater. You've completed our family and my heart.

Funkorama

I did not get enough sleep last night and everything little thing is getting on my nerves today. There is a bird outside doing this annoying, constant, one chirp, squeak thingy: squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak. There are 2 little boys inside who are in a funk as well and are saying Mommy/Mama over and over and over and over. There is a nurse inside who likes to make comments on the obvious. I am having all kinds of fun in a funk. Y'all come on over and join the party!

We're heading to Kentucky in a couple of weeks to get a second/family opinion on Nate's urology issues. In addition to being married to Mr. A's very sweet cousin, the doctor we're seeing is also a specialist in this type thing so I know we'll get very good answers to questions and concerns we have. It's nice to have nice, smart people related to you in some fashion. It's especially helpful when you have a daunting surgery hanging over your son's head and need someone to tell it to you straight. We'll only be there one night but we hope to see Mr. A's cousin's family for dinner. (J-, the first thing I thought of in trying to think of a nickname for you is the name of the fan company in Lexington because that has always cracked me up. And while that is a funny name, it's most definitely not true and also not very fitting for a blog name in regards to you, so I'm still thinking.)

Toser is very excited about the upcoming Wow Wow Wubbzy combo birthday party. He's been practicing with Tater on blowing out candles and is lamenting the number of days between now and then. Tater agrees that SOMETHING cool is going on and all but is still not quite sure what the fuss is all about.

A cat seems to have adopted us. Her owner/our elderly neighbor passed away last week and the funeral was in another state. I guess the family forgot about the kitty so we've been feeding it and you know what happens when you feed a kitty-they become yours. Her name is MeowMeow (as named by Toser) and she is picking up where our old cat left off; trying to sneak into the house of very allergic Mr. A, entertaining the boys through the window and catching chipmunks. She's very sweet and I hate she has to stay outside but I guess it's better than the alternatives.

So, um, this was a very disjointed and blah post and I don't know how to conclude it. How about some pictures (Toser at Lulu's in Gulf Shores, his most favorite restaurant in the whole world and Tater with green Fun-dip lips in Speech Therapy):

For the Ringmaster

A man walks into a bar with a piece of asphalt under his arm and says “Give me a beer and one for the road.”

Not much to update. The boys are loving this weather and Toser has strict instructions to strip his clothes off and wait for me on the rug before coming into the house. He has a new sandbox, courtesy of Papa, and loves playing there and in the wet-weather creek behind the house. He's been covered in mud and sand for the last 2 weeks. Even if it's raining he wants to be outside and Tater isn't too far behind him (with the nurse, of course). Tater loves being outside as much as his brother does. Tater loves being outside so much, he has had the opportunity to fall off the front porch twice in the last week. He's smart but not a fast learner, that one. Last night when it happened Toser said, "Someone should be watching him." Thanks, Bud. I didn't know that.

I love the weather because I don't feel the guilt that comes with being cooped up inside and the inevitable TV watching that always sneaks into 2-3 hours before I realize it. And how it's possible to go for walks after dinner. We live in a pretty awesome area and we can't get enough of it. If it weren't for the Disc Golf course that has recently been installed in the State Park area next to our property, we would be in heaven. Mr. A has a few choice words about Disc Golf and the people who play it (but not about you, if you play it-he loves you). It's funny for me to watch him get all worked up about it because it's always me who gets worked up and for him to get all flustered about something so crazy is great.

Hope you're all enjoying the weather, too. Get out and play! Just don't play Disc Golf at the State Park because you may get a crazy homeowner standing on his back deck watching you.