The Fan

When we moved into our house we immediately noticed the bathroom fan was unusually loud. Like airplane engine loud. The second you turned on the light, the fan came on and you couldn't hear anything even with the door open. The plan was to replace the fan before the baby came.

2 1/2 years later and that fan still lives. And honestly, I don't want to get rid of it. Sure it's loud and I hate yelling "I can't hear you!" when Justin asks me a question from the hall. And it's also annoying when I'm taking a bath with my iphone and want to watch something. (What, doesn't everyone do that in the tub?)

But you know what it IS good for? Locking yourself away and pretending the child you just put to bed is actually sleeping and not in his room screaming "READ STOWY MOM-MOM-MOMMMMMMY!" or "MORE WAAAAAAATER!" or just plain screaming because he's over tired and doesn't want to go to bed. Nope, can't hear it.

After hanging out in the bathroom for a few minutes, I'll turn the light/fan off to see if he's still howling. Sometimes he is and sometimes he isn't.

It's the little things that keep you sane.

Now if I could just get the creaking hardwood floors to not wake him up when I'm sneaking in his room.

Two Year Molars

Jules was always a content baby unless he really needed something. He had this high-pitched "EEEEE" right before he would start to cry. So if we caught him at that stage, we were golden. As a toddler, pretty much the same way. Except the "EEEE" is now "Help ple-EEEEEEEse mommy!"

He's a good eater. He has manners. He's funny. He's a little self-destructive when we say "No" or tell him not to do something. And even when he's sick, he's manageable. Just cuddle, a little meds and he's good.

But damn these 2-year molars! Never was he like this in all of his teething episodes. At first I thought he was sick. A slight fever and a hacking cough, I blamed it on the kids at the gym. But then I saw little teeth poking through and it all clicked: the moodiness, fever, not wanting to eat, screaming when it was time to brush teeth. Turns out, giant, stabbing knives were poking through his little gums. I'd be moody too.

Mommy: Jules, do you want Mini Wheats or Cheerios?
Jules: Cheerios.
Mommy: (getting the Cheerios box)
Jules: NO CHERRIOS, MINI WHEATS!!
Mommy: You want Mini Wheats?
Jules: NO! CHEERIOS!
Mommy: (WTF? Getting the Cheerios Box)
Jules: In little bowl. (he means a ramekin)
Mommy: You can't eat Cheerios in a ramekin.
Jules: IN LITTLE BOOOOOOWL!
Mommy: Fine, here.
Jules: Pour milk.
Mommy: (starting to pour milk)
Jules: NO MILK!

One day, I think he ate yogurt and raisins. That's it. For a kid who normally eats a big bowl of cereal, toast, yogurt and milk, this new diet of nothing is a little worrisome. But I know it's temporary and he'll be fine.

Last night after a particularly difficult diaper change, he actually said "hurt in mouth." Oh, it was so sad! And I felt really bad for him. So Justin and I cuddled him and tried to help him feel better with medicine and distraction, diaper-less.

So 2-year molars, hurry up and get here. We miss our sweet Jules.

Trains

My kid. He loves trains. That is until we took him on a real steam engine that freaked the f out of him.


Trust me, he's holding on for dear life.

Before the weather got all weird and cold, we took a trip up to Northern Wisconsin. On the way, we stopped and rode on an old steam engine. We thought Jules would love it. And initially, he did. But as soon as that whistle let out its high-pitched squeal, Jules FREAKED OUT. There was no consoling him. There was no "Look Jules! You're on a steam train like Thomas!" There was only screams and tears.

We're awesome at parenting!!



He eventually lightened up after lunch and was excited to sit in the engineers seat of a train that did not move. Or make a sound. Or had a weird hiss to it. It was finally exciting for him.



He requested to go inside the caboose, up top. Justin was excited to crawl around old train cars. I was just happy Jules wasn't crying anymore.

On the way back, we decided to sit at the furthest car from the engine. What a difference that made. Jules was so happy, bouncing from seat to seat.


Wait for it...



And, steam whistle.