Hell is...

taking an almost one year old with a serious balloon and color red fetish to the supermarket where they are giving away RED BALLOONS.

It started innocently enough, as we entered Ralphs (Kroger to those of you east of CA) last night, the greeter girl gave Alton a red Ralphs balloon. How cute! Look how happy he is as he flashes his dimples and happily bounces his balloon!

The balloon kept him entertained for most of the trip through the market with my dad and grandmother. But when we approached the check stand, trouble loomed. Each check stand had a bouquet of red balloons tied to the open sign as well as an assortment of Congratulations Graduate mylar balloons.

It was as if you could see the balls roll into place in his head. Alton swiveled his head from checkstand to checkstand and took in the sights of red balloon nirvana everywhere. Brains clicks; hand reaches for the balloon display; and "SHREEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK."

OH MY GOODNESS, the loud pitched squeal of an almost one year old who can't reach what he wants!

"Alton, you have a balloon. Those ones need to stay here for other little boys and girls." At this point, the cashier is laughing. "SHREEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK." "Alton, this is not acceptable behavior, you need to use your inside voice."

"SHREEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK." At this point, the cashier is starting to look alarmed and other people are looking at us. "Alton, you are hurting Pop Pop's ears. You have a balloon."

"SHREEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK."

Now people are staring and talking behind their hands while they discuss my lack of mothering skills, so I fling my Mastercard at my dad and unbuckle Alton from the shopping cart. He hopefully lunged at the nearest balloon bouquet, and came up empty handed.

"SHREEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK."

"SHREEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK."

"SHREEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK."

He kicked his brand new shoe off and had it land on the conveyer belt where our groceries were being checked. I carried him out to the car with as much dignity as I could muster while his face took on the color of his beloved balloons.

I now see why my mom would take a preemptive advil before going to the market with FOUR children.

He WALKED!!!

Today the five of us, (Travis, Alton, Lucy, Jack and me) were in the front yard; I was watering plants when Travis came home from work, so we all stayed out there while I watered. Travis was sitting on the grass playing with Alton while making sure Jackson didn't jump over the fence to eat a neighbor's chihuahua. Alton had been standing next to Travis, waving a spade when Alton took a step and a half and landed on Daddy!

A few minutes later when I finished watering I was walking by them with the hose and Alton took 3 steps towards me!


Previously, he has taken 2 or 3 steps at a time between pieces of furniture or whatever, but this was the first time he walked towards his parents!!!

Where did my little baby go?

Sick Babies Aren't any Fun!

To make a long story short, we had to take Alton to the emergency room last night because he had a fever of 105.4. He'd been to the pediatrician earlier in the day and diagnosed with an ear infection. By the time we got him home, he was screaming his head off and felt like he was on fire.

So we called the pediatric advice line and she said take him to the emergency room. I will spare you the details of that nonsense, but his fever did break while we were there. Thank the Lord for the power of prayer!

His fever was back up this morning, so we went to see his pediatrician who said he most likely has roseola....

Still hot

I know it was only 90 and it can and will get worse, but oh my goodness was it hot today!
We had a nice breakfast with our home group today to celebrate our "dedication".
I really want to blog more an write about my day, but it is still too warm! I'm going to bed.
Good night!

Sunny Spring Saturday

We had a pretty good day today. My dad and I went to Costco, and Alton charmed the pants off of everyone. I got a gorgeous Star jasmine bush for $15. I LOVE star jasmine. Our local Costco was out of the the Fraggle Rock season DVDs, and since my brother mentioned that he wants them too, my dad and I had to venture to the Costco in the ghetto. Inglewood is scary, but thankfully the Inglewood Costco was not as scary as the Inglewood Target was.

After that, I came home and planted my plants, and Alton discovered that he can stand for a long time. He also discovered the hose. I got a cute video of him with the hose and I will post a link to it later. Then we went over to my grandmother's for dinner and to be squatters in her living room because she has air conditioning. I miss our air conditioning. When it got cooler, we took Alton and his cousin John John out to the back yard to play and I gardened for my grandmother. All and all it was a pretty good day.

Our Latest Trip to Disneyland

We started out doing a secret shop of the Carnation Cafe. Alton was a BIG fan of his Junior Mickey Mouse waffle.


He was not as big a fan of the orange slice garnish.

While we walked breakfast off walking along Main Street, we ran into someone famous.
You will notice that Mickey and Alton are holding hands. This was not a loving gesture, Mickey was trying to save his nose from the prying hands of Alton. :)


This visit to Disneyland was special, because it was Alton's friend Angus's first trip to Disneyland.
Here are Angus and Alton in front of the honey pots in Pooh Corner.

I think Alton might know he is cute. :) Look at his grin!

Pop Pop (Grandpa Scott) always takes the best pictures:
I have already been to Costco to have this one blown up. It is framed in our bedroom.

Alton and Pop Pop in the beehive on the Winnie the Pooh ride.

Alton loves his Pop Pop.

My new camera does some pretty nifty stuff.

We had lunch together at the Hungry Bear Cafe. Alton and Angus had a good time watching the ducks on the Rivers of America eat random bits of food their mommies kept throwing. Not that mommies would ever abdicate throwing of food.
Both of the boys loved the new Finding Nemo Submarine Adventure. Here is Angus expressing his appreciation of the Magic of Disney Imagineers.

Quick update

We are still alive! I got a new computer FINALLY and I look forward to being able to blog more often. I discovered the great time suck that is Facebook, so if you are on there, look me up with my G-mail e-mail.

Alton is sort of walking. He took three steps yesterday! He is also biting, scratching and pulling hair. He is such a fun age. Le sigh.

Who's here reading? Or did you all give up?