New Year's Eve Balloons

I tried for like, twenty shots, to get a picture of them sitting with their balloons. No such luck. Here's the story:
On NYE day, I took them to the local party store to pick out their NYE balloon. Harry chose the Elmo one (what else?) Brice originally got the Big Bird one (he is so over Elmo!), but that deflated within 24 hours. So, we went back and replaced it with... a purple princess balloon. He was talking about it even when Big Bird still had some life left in him. So when I told him we were going to get a replacement balloon, he said, "I want the purple princess balloon." Now, as a mother of two boys, I hadn't even noticed the purple princess balloon. But he had. And he wanted it.
As soon as we got home, he pulled it down to our level and pointed to each princess and said, "talk to me about her." (I think he got that from preschool). So we talked about each princess and why she was special. He loves his balloon. He loves being able to identify each princess. He really likes Cruella Devil (no big surprise there), from a preview on a Disney video. Anyway, just thought i'd share. We got a real kick out of it.

Our weekend

Brice got sick on Saturday

Harry got sick on Sunday


I somehow managed to stay healthy and made my first Beef Burgundy. It was gooood.

'sup

A few folks have asked me how the napless wonder is doing lately, so I thought i'd update. He's sleeping a little better. This past week he fell asleep each day with Brice in the same room. A few times he woke up screaming and I was able to get him back to sleep in the PNP in our bathroom. A couple days he actually slept 2+ hours before waking. So, there's progress. I remain hopeful.

The really exciting news, however, isn't sleep-related. Tomorrow (Monday) we put the condo up for sale. I'm hopeful we'll sell quickly (like, in 6 months) so we can finish selling out completely and move to the suburbs. I always swore I wouldn't be that mother. We'd drive a station wagon (not a minivan). My kids would go to museums, not playgroups. They would grow up taking subways and taxis and go to urban schools, not those safe, snotty, suburban schools. But now, after several years in the city (15!) and two kids, I realize that the real snob was me. I thought everyone that moved to the 'burbs was a sell-out. Abandoning the city, abandoning the schools that needed them, etc. Now, after having taught several years on Chicago Southside, I have very complicated feelings about the urban schools and what the problems/solutions are. But I digress.

Anyhoo, we finally bought a minivan and I LOVE it. It's sportier than my Honda. The doors open by themselves. There is a DVD player (that my husband very rightly accuses me of using too much; c'est la vie!) I heart it. I really really heart it. And now I can't wait to move to the 'burbs. I want a basement; a yard; neighbors. Maybe i'm selling out? I don't know. But i'm not losing any sleep over it. Strip malls and chain restaurants--here we come!

Not Fair

I don't know what's wrong with him. First it was switching to one nap--bound to be some bumps. Then it was all four molars at once--must've hurt. Then I tried (and tried) to put them together for naps. But the child will not nap. He always screams bloody murder and sometimes falls asleep. For an hour...maybe. I've tried putting him in the bathroom, again, nothing. He just won't nap. My child went from two good naps to screaming his bloody head off and not napping AT ALL. I don't get a single break all day. My two year old is ornery and tantrum-y most of the time, and then when he goes down for his three hour nap, my 18 m/o turns ornery and tantrum-y. UGH!!!!!!! What one year old doesn't nap??? THIS SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Going on two months with maybe an hour nap. Kill me. Just kill me now.