5 months old

Brody is five months old today , and crabby as ever. I'm hoping he gets a tooth soon and maybe that will put an end to the fussiness. He's also got a bit of a cold and a mild fever that comes and goes. I guess all of those things combined would be enough to make me crabby too. He is such a drooler, and his hands are usually in his mouth, so there's slobber everywhere Brody goes.


Yesterday we had one of those diaper incidents I'll not soon forget. As I was pulling down Brody's pants, I realized my fingers were dragging through thick gooey baby poo. It had filled his pant leg. UGH. During the half-second I stood there assessing the situation, Brody managed to put his hands in it and, grabbed a fistful and squeezed. Oozing gooey poo. Ugggghhh. Then, while I was re-assessing the situation, trying to decide what to wipe first, Brody did a neat trick; he pulled his feet up to his head and grabbed his sock with his ooey gooey poo hand. Hmmm, now we really have a problem. Where do you start? I mean really, my hand is covered in it, his pants and onesie are covered, his sock and his hand are all covered in baby poo. That's where the excitement ended though. I managed to clean one thing at a time and we both survived. Until next time...

On a less disgusting but still oozing note, Dylan played with Play-Doh this morning. In the first picture he has a few fresh cans of it, and as he stacked them up he told me they were wheels, then a van, then a tow truck. Very creative.

And in this picture, he told me the big chunk of mixed together Play-Doh was a house.

Chula Vista Resort & a Happy Father's Day!

While Dylan was napping on Saturday, I decided we should be spontaneous and celebrate Father's Day in style, by going to Wisconsin Dells for the night. There have been several tv ads by the resorts, stating they are not affected by the flooding, that people should keep their reservations, and others should feel free to call for last minute deals! Brian often wishes we could go to the water parks for the day, so I thought why not, let's do it! I called the Chula Vista Resort and got a good deal on a Junior Suite and it included our admission to the indoor/outdoor water park there. We left the house by 3:30. We were cruising up the interstate for our hour and forty-five minute drive, when an hour into it, the interstate was closed due to flooding!!! We proceeded to take a detour which got us to the Dells at 7:15. :( I was so disappointed that we got there so late. It was approaching bed time, and all I wanted was for us to have a little fun together!

By the time we got there we were all so tired of riding in the car, Dylan was hungry, both boys were whiny...ugh. I went into the registration area and after about 10 minutes it was my turn at the desk. They couldn't find us in the computer. We finally sorted out that I was standing at the Condo registration desk, when in fact I needed to go to the Hotel registration desk...a few buildings away. Brian is just about fried by this point after waiting outside with the fussy kids. We went to the other building, waited some more (I thought these places were in need of customers???), and were given directions and a map to our room. The next hurdle was getting the van unloaded with no luggage cart (none to be found). Brian was packed up like a pack mule, Brody was in the stroller surrounded by stuff, Dylan kept taking off. Oh boy, now we're having fun. We finally get to the correct floor when I notice our room number isn't listed on the wall directory. Hmmm. A security guard happened to be walking by, and she said "Uh-oh, you're in the wrong building." At this point, I wanted to cry. I showed her the map I was given at the desk, with the building circled. Yes, she said, we were in the circled building, but the wrong building was circled. GREAT. Upon seeing how close to melt down we were, she called the Rooms Manager and asked him to help us get to our room. He brought a luggage rack, and we were off.

We walked a looooong way to the next tower, took shifts bringing all of our stuff up in the elevator, and finally arrived outside our room number. I used the key to open the door, and to my great surprise, saw luggage and a wet towel laying on the floor - the room was clearly occupied! Now I really did start crying. It seemed like the longest journey to get there, and just when we were about to get settled and go swimming, we had no room! Brian, seeing how upset I was getting, told the manger we needed to fix the situation immediately. Dylan took off running down the hall, Brody started crying in earnest...GEE, I LOVE being spontaneous...

The Manager ended up upgrading us to a two room condo, which of course, needed to be cleaned. So the hotel comp'dour dinner, and after we were all settled in our condo, delivered a fruit basket to us. They tried very hard to apologize and make the situation right, they deserve some credit. As for me and my crying for like an hour, well, I was so disappointed for Dylan and Brian, and...well...can you say HORMONAL? The condo ended up being great for us - two bedrooms, two baths, two fireplaces, a jacuzzi tub, full kitchen...

Brian and Dylan were able to to swim from 9-10pm that night, and after they got back, Dylan took a "bath" in the jacuzzi tub.

Sunday morning we all went to the indoor water park and had a good time.

Brody took his first swim!

Brian and Dylan played on the tiny tot water slides quite a bit! Dylan was so brave.

And what would a resort hotel be without the arcade? Dylan is drawn to the dinging bells, flashing lights and buzzers like a bee to honey.

We came home and enjoyed the evening with a few of our neighbors. As we pulled into the garage last night, Brian told me it had been a great weekend. Despite the difficult start to our mini-trip, we all had fun and best of all, Brian had a great Father's Day.

Chula Vista Resort & a Happy Father's Day!

While Dylan was napping on Saturday, I decided we should be spontaneous and celebrate Father's Day in style, by going to Wisconsin Dells for the night. There have been several tv ads by the resorts, stating they are not affected by the flooding, that people should keep their reservations, and others should feel free to call for last minute deals! Brian often wishes we could go to the water parks for the day, so I thought why not, let's do it! I called the Chula Vista Resort and got a good deal on a Junior Suite and it included our admission to the indoor/outdoor water park there. We left the house by 3:30. We were cruising up the interstate for our hour and forty-five minute drive, when an hour into it, the interstate was closed due to flooding!!! We proceeded to take a detour which got us to the Dells at 7:15. :( I was so disappointed that we got there so late. It was approaching bed time, and all I wanted was for us to have a little fun together!

By the time we got there we were all so tired of riding in the car, Dylan was hungry, both boys were whiny...ugh. I went into the registration area and after about 10 minutes it was my turn at the desk. They couldn't find us in the computer. We finally sorted out that I was standing at the Condo registration desk, when in fact I needed to go to the Hotel registration desk...a few buildings away. Brian is just about fried by this point after waiting outside with the fussy kids. We went to the other building, waited some more (I thought these places were in need of customers???), and were given directions and a map to our room. The next hurdle was getting the van unloaded with no luggage cart (none to be found). Brian was packed up like a pack mule, Brody was in the stroller surrounded by stuff, Dylan kept taking off. Oh boy, now we're having fun. We finally get to the correct floor when I notice our room number isn't listed on the wall directory. Hmmm. A security guard happened to be walking by, and she said "Uh-oh, you're in the wrong building." At this point, I wanted to cry. I showed her the map I was given at the desk, with the building circled. Yes, she said, we were in the circled building, but the wrong building was circled. GREAT. Upon seeing how close to melt down we were, she called the Rooms Manager and asked him to help us get to our room. He brought a luggage rack, and we were off.��

We walked a looooong way to the next tower, took shifts bringing all of our stuff up in the elevator, and finally arrived outside our room number. I used the key to open the door, and to my great surprise, saw luggage and a wet towel laying on the floor - the room was clearly occupied! Now I really did start crying. It seemed like the longest journey to get there, and just when we were about to get settled and go swimming, we had no room! Brian, seeing how upset I was getting, told the manger we needed to fix the situation immediately. Dylan took off running down the hall, Brody started crying in earnest...GEE, I LOVE being spontaneous...

The Manager ended up upgrading us to a two room condo, which of course, needed to be cleaned. So the hotel comp'd��our dinner, and after we were all settled in our condo, delivered a fruit basket to us. They tried very hard to apologize and make the situation right, they deserve some credit. As for me and my crying for like an hour, well, I was so disappointed for Dylan and Brian, and...well...can you say HORMONAL? The condo ended up being great for us - two bedrooms, two baths, two fireplaces, a jacuzzi tub, full kitchen...

Brian and Dylan were able to to swim from 9-10pm that night, and after they got back, Dylan took a "bath" in the jacuzzi tub.

Sunday morning we all went to the indoor water park and had a good time.

Brody took his first swim!

Brian and Dylan played on the tiny tot water slides quite a bit! Dylan was so brave.

And what would a resort hotel be without the arcade? Dylan is drawn to the dinging bells, flashing lights and buzzers like a bee to honey.

We came home and enjoyed the evening with a few of our neighbors. As we pulled into the garage last night, Brian told me it had been a great weekend. Despite the difficult start to our mini-trip, we all had fun and best of all, Brian had a great Father's Day.

Bubbles, bubbles everywhere

Last week at Target I bought a bubble maker for Dylan. It looks like a tiger, but when you pull the trigger, his mouth opens up and spews bubbles. I have many friends who have bought it as well, and they all say it was almost the best $10 they've ever spent!��

While Dylan was playing bubbles, Brian walked across the street to talk to our neighbor. Dylan wanted so badly to follow Brian, but he did a good job listening to me, and he sat and waited for Daddy at the end of the driveway.

Bubbles, Bubbles everywhere!

Last week at Target I bought a bubble maker for Dylan. It looks like a tiger, but when you pull the trigger, his mouth opens up and spews bubbles. I have many friends who have bought it as well, and they all say it was almost the best $10 they've ever spent!

While Dylan was playing bubbles, Brian walked across the street to talk to our neighbor. Dylan wanted so badly to follow Brian, but he did a good job listening to me, and he sat and waited for Daddy at the end of the driveway.

A whole lot of sadness

Wow, this weather has been interesting hasn't it? Lots and lots of rain for the past two weeks. We're fine here, but our hearts go out to everyone in Cedar Rapids.��

Brian's family lives and works in the city and the surrounding communities. His dad Richard is the Development Manager with the City and his office is in the historic City Hall building, which sits on Mays Island in downtown Cedar Rapids. This is the most recent picture I could find of what City Hall looks like, but this photo is from yesterday and the river hasn't crested yet.

Courtney Sargent/The Gazette

Brian's mom Diane works in downtown Cedar Rapids. This is a recent picture of the flooding there.

Scott Olsen/Getty Images

We also have some friends that had to evacuate their home, and they said when they left the water was up to chest level in their street. Hard to imagine isn't it? It puts all of my silly little complaints into perspective for the week. Thankfully the city began preparing residents early this week for the flood, but not of this magnitude. ��So I've been a bit melancholy this week. Sad for the people that are losing their homes, their belongings, their places of business and all of the revitalization efforts that have gone on in the downtown CR area.

And then Tim Russert had to go and die. I'm so sad about that. Not sure why, as I didn't know him in person, but when I saw it on the news today it made me tear up. ��I'm not one for political talk, and (I hate to admit this) try to tune it out, as it seems like people can never just agree. But I think Tim Russert explained it in a way that made me understand and I liked that. Plus didn't he just seem like a really nice guy who loved life? He was always so happy.

MSNBC

As I sit here this afternoon in my intact house, I am thankful that our family is safe and well.

A whole lot of sadness

Wow, this weather has been interesting hasn't it? Lots and lots of rain for the past two weeks. We're fine here, but our hearts go out to everyone in Cedar Rapids.

Brian's family lives and works in the city and the surrounding communities. His dad Richard is the Development Manager with the City and his office is in the historic City Hall building, which sits on Mays Island in downtown Cedar Rapids. This is the most recent picture I could find of what City Hall looks like, but this photo is from yesterday and the river hasn't crested yet.

Courtney Sargent/The Gazette

Brian's mom Diane works in downtown Cedar Rapids. This is a recent picture of the flooding there.

Scott Olsen/Getty Images

We also have some friends that had to evacuate their home, and they said when they left the water was up to chest level in their street. Hard to imagine isn't it? It puts all of my silly little complaints into perspective for the week. Thankfully the city began preparing residents early this week for the flood, but not of this magnitude. So I've been a bit melancholy this week. Sad for the people that are losing their homes, their belongings, their places of business and all of the revitalization efforts that have gone on in the downtown CR area.

And then Tim Russert had to go and die. I'm so sad about that. Not sure why, as I didn't know him in person, but when I saw it on the news today it made me tear up. I'm not one for political talk, and (I hate to admit this) try to tune it out, as it seems like people can never just agree. But I think Tim Russert explained it in a way that made me understand and I liked that. Plus didn't he just seem like a really nice guy who loved life? He was always so happy.

As I sit here this afternoon in my intact house, I am thankful that our family is safe and well.