Playdate fun!

I took the kids to a new neighbor's home today for a playdate. Our new friend and her family just moved in a couple of months ago and live a couple of streets over from us. Darrin had so much fun with her son! They chased the kitty all over the house and played trash trucks and fire engines. Madi was a sweet as usual and kept waving and saying "hi" to the baby. It was fun watching the boys run and play together, and I think we'll have to get together more often. Madi really loved the cats--she loves fuzzy things in general, but when they are actually living, breathing, MOVING creatures she gets so excited! When she saw the first kitty she let out a squeal and starting grinning so big! And later when the friendlier of the 2 cats came around, Madi would squeal and shake a bit--she was beside herself with joy! Of course, her squeals of delight weren't so delightful to the kitty and he would take off. It's so funny to watch her because she gets so excited she just doesn't know what to do! But, being Madi, she also had to sample the kitty food!! Thankfully it was dry food I caught her with and fished out of her mouth, lol. It was really tempting to consider getting a pet as I observed both kiddos enjoy chasing or watching the cat, but I think we'll wait until the kids are a bit older and can help out. Of course, we are under no delusions...we know that pets tend to fall under the parents' responsiblities when children just can't seem to get it together to care for a living creature. ;o)

Madi is now napping and Darrin is having some quiet time. I think all the kids are pretty worn out from playing. Maybe we should do this everyday!

Only me...

So I haven't figured out why the most random things tend to happen to me. When I was nearly 2 (I think) I broke my nose after jumping towards my mom who was seated in a rocking chair. I hit my nose on the curved rocking leg and turned into a raccoon. When I was 5 years old I was playing in the back yard with my cousins and slipped and broke my arm. In 6th grade I tripped on the playground after jumping out of a jump rope during a group game and broke my ankle. Are you thinking klutz, yet? :o) Maybe, but my current state finds me a bit baffled.

I have tendonitis of my left knee. Yeah, okay, that's not random; that's my fault for doing too much too fast in my journey to get in shape. But how do I explain shingles? Yep, I have shingles, something I thought old people and ill people were diagnosed with! Luckily I'm not in pain nor displaying other more bothersome symptoms, just a small area of localized blisters on my back that itches like mad. I guess this is my "meltdown" in an otherwise sunny life.

So what does this have to do with my kiddos? Well, for one thing I had to abruptly stop nursing my almost-14-month-old baby girl. I had been savoring my last days/weeks as a nursing momma in anticipation of weaning her in about a month or so. Being told to stop nursing her so suddenly didn't give me time to prepare. Add to this the fact that I had been away from home all day for work, so I knew I was going home to see her after a long day and wouldn't be able to nurse and cuddle her in that way. But all with good reason--the doctors were concerned that I might pass on the virus to her and cause her to develop chicken pox. She hasn't received her vaccination yet--agh! I'm praying hard that she doesn't get sick! Just the thought breaks my heart!

I'm assuming Darrin is and will be okay, but I'm not 100% confident. I just hate that I have exposed my family to this! And I have no idea how I came down with it. Thankfully Madi has handled the change with flying colors so far. She has done much better with the cold-turkey weaning than me, I believe! So I suppose the next week or so will be telling, and I'm praying there won't be anything to tell other than the fact that I am better. Only me... :o/

Growing up...

My little man really cracks me up! But lately it seems like he's growing up way too fast. He loves to pretend play, and often he'll say something that makes me stop and wonder where in the world he heard such-and-such. Last night he was on his kitchen phone (play kitchen) and I heard him say, "Ah, can I get 2 chicken nuggets and some cereal?...Ok...Thanks!" Drive-thru anyone? And we don't even go through the drive-thru often!

A couple of nights ago we were all in Madi's room at bedtime and the kids were playing. We read a story and then asked Darrin if he wanted to say his prayer. (He recites "Now I Lay Me Down..." and it's super cute!) He climbed up on top of a little end table next to Madi's crib and sat down, crossed his arms across his chest, and crossed his little feet at the ankles. He took a deep breath and looked so serious, lowered his voice and made it a bit wistful, and he said, "When I was little like sister, I listened to my prayers. I love my friends. I love going to church. The end." Josh and I were silently rolling with laughter! He's never just opened up to tell a story before, and it was so funny to hear! I'm sure the Lord got a kick out of his "prayer" as well.

And earlier that same day we were at Costco (aka, Disneyland for the Moss family) and we had gotten a chocolate cake "just because." I was looking at some steaks and when Darrin asked me what I was doing I told him, "Mommy's getting steaks. Mommy and Daddy are going to have steak for dinner." He pointed to the cart and said, "Mommy and Daddy are having steak, but I'M having cake!" Too funny!