I couldn't resist!

Here is a sneak preview of Connor's Halloween costume! It's ADORABLE!!!

Marching Band was a blast!

I was a proud member of the Hawkeye Marching Band for 4 years. Those four years were awesome. Just starting in college, I immediatley had 220 friends - all band members. We traveled together, spent endless hours together in buses and on airplanes, sitting in stadiums either sweating to death, or freezing our butts off. Don't get me wrong, it was tough. To this day, I think I'm a lot less sensitive to hot or cold temperature outside just because of that experience.

We also partied a lot in marching band. Holy cow - could some of those people drink. A lot. I had a few drinks here or there (or a lot here or there), but it was generally harmless. Sometimes the cops were called to parties, but no one really got hurt. I think someone might've fallen off a roof once, but he was okay. Many people might've considered us "band nerds", but I can tell you we were far from that! (If I must say so myself!)

Sounds like the Wisconsin Marching Band might've taken things a bit too far. Or someone misinterpreted something. Either way - the band doesn't get to play today for the Wisconsin vs. Ohio State game. Of all games to miss, that would NOT be one!

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bigten/2008-10-03-wisconsin-marching-band_N.htm?csp=34

Waking up Tyler...

One of Connor's favorite things to do in the morning is to go wake up Tyler. Tyler HATES to be waken up in the morning - especially depending on his mood. Some days are easier than others, but we have found out one thing...Connor can always have him wake up in a good mood.

I'll ask Connor, "Where's Tyler?". He will literally run down the hall yelling, "Ty-yah, Ty-yah!", push the door open to his room, and run up to his bed and start patting him. I think Tyler loves it. He'll wake up smiling, and usually jumps quickly out of bed - probably just because he wants to try to keep one step ahead of Connor at all times!

On this day, Tyler and Connor gave each other a big hug when they saw each other. Awwww... Brotherly Love!

(I've inserted the picture below also to show that this brotherly love can also be very frustrating for Connor sometimes!)

My New Dilemmas

If you would've asked me ten years ago what one of my biggest dilemmas would be when I was nearing 35, I probably would've told you "money" or "my job" or something silly like that. What was I thinking??? How could I have known what I biggest dilemma would be???

They discontinued my diaper cream. AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Seriously. When Tyler was about one, my sister turned me on to Dyprotex. It was only available at Walgreens, and wasn't cheap. It came in little packets with applicators to use (so you didn't get it all over your fingers), and was the BEST STUFF EVER INVENTED! I swear, neither of my kids ever had a diaper rash, and if they did, it didn't last more than one day. One night of a butt gobbed with Dyprotex, they would wake up and the rash would be gone, their skin would be healed, and we would all be happy. Not anymore.

Apparently, the company that used to manufacture Dyprotex was sold, and the new company decided not to keep making Dyprotex. I can't find it anywhere. Before Connor was born, I literally bought a case of it off of Ebay. $60 was a small price to pay for a perfect bottom, and a happy child. That case I purchased just about 18 months ago is now gone. I'm all out. None on Ebay, none on any drug store I can find on the internet, nothing. I thought I had some at once, ordered it off of an internet drugstore, just to have them cancel my order the next day because they were out of stuck. DANG IT!

I would seriously pay twice what the stuff used to sell for in order to have it. Connor's butt is so sore now from his pooping escapade over the last week (I think due to a flu bug and his teeth), that he won't sit down in the bath. It looks and feels like sandpaper, and he's miserable. I've tried all sorts of new creams. I've mixed creams with others. I've mixed them with Vasaline. I've tried putting them on in various orders, but nothing works.

Who would've thought. My biggest dilemma would be diaper cream!!!

What's wrong with this picture?

A) Connor is eating the Play-Doh in his hand.

B) Connor is wearing a pajama shirt.

C) Connor has just filled his pants and is wearing a Huggies diaper. (We provide Pampers to daycare)

D) All of the above

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If you guessed D, All of the above, YOU'RE RIGHT!

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So, I pick Connor up from daycare tonight, and notice that something doesn't look right, but couldn't quite put my finger on it. It quickly came to me. Kyle sent Connor to daycare in the pajama top that he slept in last night! Every morning when I change Connor, I change this diaper and put on his shorts/pants, but leave his pajama top on until after he's done eating, so Kyle usually changes his top before they head out the door. Apparently, he thought this WAS his top, so Connor bummed around all day in his PJs. Oh well.

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For the Play-Doh, Tyler has eaten his fair share of it as well. I can't understand how that would taste good, but now I have to warn the girls at daycare to be on the lookout for yellow poop.

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And about the diapers - I think daycare just grabs out of the wrong bin sometimes (they use small shoebox size totes above the changing station for all the kids with diapers and wipes. All lined up, and with a wiggle worm you're trying to change, they probably grab the wrong one sometimes.) Connor is still working through this stomach flu that was going around daycare, so his diapers have been HORRIBLE! 75% of his class was gone on Tuesday (that day he was as well) because of that.

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I'm glad I'm capturing these stories - this will be one that will be fun to look back on - and the guilty look on his face just after taking a bite of the Play-Doh!

Yes, I'm totally serious...

This is Tyler's hunting outfit. Complete with goggles in order to "see the deer better". I think the Hawkeye backpack carries his walkie-talkies.

Do you even believe me that he came up with this outfit all by himself?

Oh - and it was 80 degrees the day this picture was taken!

Happy 4th Birthday Tyler!

What a successful party at the Gym Nest!!! We started out:

Jumping around like crazy!

Then we jumped in the foam pit!

Then we ate some awesome cookies!

And opened some even more awesome presents!

Tyler had a blast, and so did we! I haven't jumped on a trampoline in years, and Connor was laughing so hard he could hardly breathe! I think everyone had a great time!

It's hard to believe that my baby, is 4 years old today. 4 years ago today, my life was totally turned upside down by this 7 pound 2 ounce (screaming) baby. There was hard days, and sleepless nights, and laughing because he smiled, and crying when he was sad. It's amazing to know just how much my life was changed by this little boy and that I love him even more every day!