It has been a normal-ish couple of weeks. We have not taken the camera out of the case since Halloween - yes, I know I should be ashamed of myself for that but there are other things that trump that so...read on.
On November 1st, John left again for New Orleans. He was gone all week so it made for a quiet and very structured week for us girls. It is the only way I can get everything done. John lives to disrupt my lists and order and plans so I when can, I run a tight ship. Leave work, pick up Alice, eat 2-3 crackers on the way home from school (Alice, that is), play with the dogs, I make dinner while Alice plays with pots, eat dinner, have a bath, watch Sesame Street while having a bottle (again, Alice), read a book, go to bed. Then, I get to finish my dinner, read the mail, feed the dogs, clean up, and crash. I really don't know how single parents do it. I only play a single parent a few times a month but it is exhausting.
We tape Sesame Street everyday on the dvr and watch it every night. I still love that show and it is neat to see how much is the same on it but there is so much that has changed - gotten too PC in my opinion. Alice just loves the show and really loves Elmo. She stops in her tracks when this is on TV.... (all of these pics are from my cell phone - sorry)
I was off work for Veteran's Day so I took Alice to school as usual and came home to get some things done around the house. I FINALLY hung the Christmas wreath that has been sitting in the garage for 3 years. It is about 25 lbs and maybe 3 feet across so it took some planning. I convinced the neighbor girl to come hold the extension ladder while I climbed to drill holes in the garage fascia. I ran wire from one eye hook to the other and then managed to hang the wreath on the wire with S hooks. I am telling you this because I am so darned proud of myself for doing it. It has lights on it and everything. I know that it is not even Thanksgiving but if it didn't get done right then, it would have sat in the garage for another year.
Alice is doing something new every minute and is getting more and more daring - actually, she is a show-off. This past Saturday, while on Skype with my mom, she figured out how to stand up on her little chair while holding onto the seat back. By the afternoon, while on Skype with John's parents, she stood on the chair and let go of the back. She just stood there waving her arms and screeching. After a few false starts, she managed to get down safely only to get right back up. Very little time until she uses it to get on the furniture and tables.
On Monday, I took her to the ENT for a check-up. The Dr. said that the tubes are still in and that her ears look fantastic. By her next check-up in May, the Dr. thinks that the tubes will have grown or fallen out so we wait and see if the eustachian tubes have developed enough to work on their own. Alice was an angel at the appt. She really enjoyed sitting in the exam chair.
Tuesday started off as a normal day but went off a cliff by 7am. John was leaving for New Orleans again but a little later than usual so he gave Alice breakfast while I got ready for work. She and I left for school while John was pulling his stuff together to leave too. I pulled into the school parking lot, got out of the car and closed my door, went to open the back door only to find that it was LOCKED - with Alice still in the car!!! I freaked and then realized that my phone was in the car too. I ran into the office to get a phone and called home. Thank God John was still there - I told him to hurry with his keys. Alice got upset and cried a bit but had a firm grasp on her pacifier so she was ok. I, on the other hand, was a traumatized basket case by the time John arrived. Oh, did I mention that it was raining too? That has to have been the longest 15 minutes of my life. I know that I probably waaaaay overreacted - I know that she was safe and I could see her but I just felt/feel like such a bad mom for letting that happen. I took her into school and when I finally got her to stop clinging to me, she was fine and I went to work. The rest of the day was just off for me. I picked Alice up from school and we went home and played hard. She passed out at 6:30pm and slept until I woke her up at 6:30am. Yeah, the stress got to her too. :)
With any luck, John will be home on Thursday night and we will have another uneventful weekend. I promise that I will take the camera out of the case this weekend. :)
Alice and Uncle Tim (my bro)
Alice and Gramma
Stephanie (s-i-l), Nate, and Kevin (bro) watching the email video Nate recieved from Santa.
Nate showing off his Christmas pajamas.
Alice liked some of Nate's gifts a little too much for his taste.
Alice trying to open some of Nate's presents.
Lots of toys for Alice.
Alice, again, trying to take Nate's toys.
Alice and her new baby doll.
Playing with Uncle Kevin's hat.
Oh so cute!
Tim gave Nate his Army jacket. Here he is explaining it to him while Alice is being goofy with Kevin.
Reindeer Alice and Aunt Stephanie. 
So many toys but still prefers the freebies. 
Alice and Uncle Kevin looking at the Christmas tree.
John was nice enough to spend THREE hours putting together Nate's castle.
Alice and Niky (my cousin's son who is 1 month younger than Alice)
Alice and Aunt Cindy (s-i-l)
"Jingle Bells"
