My two Brads

My guys are sick. Trey went to the Dr. today and we found out he has a cold in his eye (conjunctivitis) and the beginnings of an ear infection. To top it all off, he got shots too so he was miserable. Brad has the flu, he is aching all over, freezing, and exhausted. And me? a splitting headache so far and exhausted trying to keep up with these two!
Right now we are all lying in our bed, both the Brads finally asleep. Brad number one collapsing in a heap and Brad number 2 crying in my arms while I rocked him and sang until finally giving into motrin induced sleep. Let's hope tomorrow brings a better day.

I was sad tonight watching AMERICAN IDOL. I really liked Alexandrea and thought she would go far. Instead, eliminated. Also in television viewing tonight, I remembered why I don't watch the Celebrity Apprentice any more. As I was flipping past, I saw they were working on ads for new dial soap with yogurt. The designer in me found their naked cowboy and in the sheets ads very boring. I would have used the slogan, What's good for your insides, now great for your outsides. How hard is that?

Mixed Emotions/Trey's Birthday

It's hard to believe it has been a year since the first time I "met" Trey. I still have a hard time thinking that I am someone's MOM. It has been a crazy 12 months and because of that little guy, I would not trade it for the world. Yesterday, Brad and I were watching Trey walk around the living room, occasionally stopping to feed himself a goldfish cracker. We marveled at the fact that just one year ago he was a helpless little baby, refusing to breast feed, miserable to be out of the warm womb and into the cold, bright world. Now he changes every day, developing his personality, likes and dislikes. He smiles with his 8 teeth (and Grandmere says he smiles with his eyes), he babbles and sometimes even says a word (momma, caycee, ball, and his favorite; daddy). He is so happy and so beautiful it makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time.



We celebrated Trey's birthday with an early (February 10) birthday party, and tonight we went out to dinner with the Thomases (it's Larry's birthday too-kindred spirits those two). Trey goes to Nonnie's tomorrow for his first swimming lesson and then Brad is taking him to the Dr's for his 12 month checkup. This weekend we will travel to the Tooman's for Dominic's first birthday, where I am sure Trey will enjoy playing. Here is a video of Dominic and Trey at Trey's birthday party. Apparently the way babies communicate is by shrieking and head shaking. CUTE!

Brielle's Birthday

Here is a video of Uncle Tim taking Trey down the slide at Brielle's 4th birthday party at Pump it Up. Trey had a good time, and I am sure when he is more mobile we will try it out again in Cleveland. Brielle had a great birthday, the kids went crazy and they really enjoyed the cupcake cake.

This morning we went to Baby Power which is like My Gym, a gym just for kids. There is lots of things to crawl, rock, and balance on. Trey liked jumping on the trampoline, rocking on the horse and crawling over the foam blocks and going down the slide. He really is very adventurous and I have to keep a close eye on him because what he sees, he does!

I am having a good time visiting my sister, yesterday she was nice enough to drive me out to Villa Rica to visit my friend Eric and his family. I was a little afraid of the Atlanta traffic and it was good company for the hour long drive. We had dinner at a fun mexican restaurant, checked out their new house, and headed back. Tomorrow we are going to Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta and then onto the airport for me and Trey.

I found out today that I am going back to Akron on Thursday. I wasn't really sure about my new assignment, and I guess they realized that they needed someone with more of a AV/video background, so things worked out good that my previous client was looking for someone now for the next month. So once again, without missing a beat, I have changed directions. Other than the drive, I really am looking forward to going back there again!

We miss you, Daddy

Here is a video of Trey, TJ, and (a little of) Brielle jamming out to the party mix we made for Brielle's birthday. In case you are dying to download the catchy tunes featured here, they are available on iTunes and are "Bounce" by Aaron Carter and Brielle's favorite, the always popular, "Who let the dogs out?" by the Baha Men. Enjoy!

Rehab...no, no, no

Maybe it is all the talk of celebrities in rehab lately or because I feel asleep last night to "True Life: I'm Going To Rehab," but I had a really strange dream this morning. It was much more vivid when I woke up (they always are), but basically in the dream, I was in rehab. It was stark white like a mental facility and I was tied to a cold steel table with wrist restraints. There was plenty of activity going on around me, but when I tried to speak it was as if my mouth was glued shut. As I struggled to communicate with my eyes, screaming inside my brain, I felt like I was about ready to burst with rage because I was unable to speak. That feeling remained with me when I woke up. I laid there for a minute, trying to process what just happened. Either I just channeled Britney Spears or I really need to stop snacking before bed.

Accidents will happen?

So today on my way home from work I was minding my own business when the huge black chevy suburban in front of me skidded to a halt. The pavement was wet because it has been raining all day. My antilock brakes grinded as I pushed down on the pedal. At last my car came to a stop about 3 feet behind the suburban. I was so relieved and then I heard it, "crunch". The sickening sound of plastic bumper grinding against metal. I quickly realized how lucky I was to have avoided the accident, as the suburban in front of me had rear ended the car in front of them.

As fast as it happened, I watched in horror to see the suburban's reverse lights come on. I laid on the horn, but it was useless. The SUV came back so fast and I sat there in disbelief as it came up on to the hood of my car and then screeched off down a side street. I was the victim of a hit and run. It was bad enough that the guy rear ended someone but then to cause yet another accident while trying to run from the crime??

Luckily, this all happened in Fairview so the cops were there in about 2 minutes. They spread the word, and it seemed impossible but they caught the guy about 10 minutes later. He denied being part of an accident, despite witness reports, identifications, and the damage to both ends of his car. The police scraped paint off of the vehicles and asked the other woman involved in the accident to take her car down to the station where they were holding the suburban and it's driver. It took 1 minute to identify the damages to both cars fit together like a sadistic puzzle. My car was patiently waiting for the tow truck, leaking fluid all over the ground and awaiting it's transportation to the garage for the diagnosis.

Even more luckily, Trey was not with me. I was on my way to pick him up when all this went down. I don't think he would have been hurt, but the stress of worrying about that would have horrible. So I thank God for that.

So tomorrow, the third day of my new job, aka one week until I leave for Atlanta, aka 5 days until my baby's HUGE birthday party, I am hitching a ride to work with my husband and then picking up a rental car, AGAIN. I will also be wondering once again why me, and what happened to yet another one of my new cars?

Blind Item

What Kamms Corner Socialite was seen at Tremont hot spot Parallax last night celebrating the big 3-1 and enjoying the company of a former American Greetings big wig, Miss Downtown herself, Put-in-Bay royalty, Lake County's hottest couple, and the Rock Star turned literature expert with his adorable vintage gal pal? It's rumored that there was the gifting of diamonds, one too many martinis and a good time had by all.

Word of Advice

If you are going to have a baby, get a dog. It makes cleaning up a lot easier. It also provides hours of entertainment, for babies anyways.