lunchbox readiness.

I am such a planner as many of you know and I am a planner to such a degree that at times I even amaze/embarrass myself.

So last week I decided I wanted to go ahead and get Hayden’s lunchbox for next year - the end of August, about 4 months from now. His current lunchbox isn't bad. In fact, it is quite cute; however, with a new year brings a new lunchbox, right?

Here is his current lunchbox:
So, I did some research on lunchboxes and came upon 2 options that I thought Hayden would like. I printed off both lunchboxes, cut out the lunchboxes from the printed paper and let him choose his favorite. I was pretty sure which one he would like, but I wanted to make sure.

Here were his options…
And the winner… THE ONE WITH THE TRAIN AND TRUCK. Not a shocker. Hayden really likes trains and trucks.

Randy liked the rocket one better, but his opinion is of no consequence in this matter, and the train/truck lunchbox won.

I bought it and it should be here later this week. As you can see, we are sticking with the same brand/company: Stephen Joseph. Their stuff is cute, relatively inexpensive, works well, and Hayden likes it.

They are a little “childish”, but Hayden is a child… so it works.

I am sure that come the 25th of August, when Hayden starts school in his new class (the 2-year-old class), he will love his "new" lunchbox. Even if I've had it ready to go since the First week of April.

how well does randy know me, his wife - a quiz.

Let's see how well Randy knows me. Here is a little quiz I subjected him to.

What is my favorite food?
Randy’s Response: Either pizza or a really good steak, although you have been eating a lot of pasta lately. Italian food.
My Answer: Italian Food and Ice Cream.

What is my favorite color?
Randy’s Response: I would say pink, you have that pink jacket. I'll go with that answer: pink.
My Answer: green.

What is my favorite time of day?
Randy’s Response: morning. you are a morning person. he says this with such disgust (because he is so not a morning person).
My Answer: the morning and early-afternoon.

What is my favorite drink?
Randy’s Response: Coke Zero.
My Answer: Coke Zero, Diet Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper, and Water.

What is my favorite alcoholic beverage?
Randy’s Response: jello shots (he says this as he giggles) or none at all.
My Answer: none. alcohol is yucky (but if jello shots count, then strawberry jello shots made with vodka).

What is my favorite store?
Randy’s Response: Target.
My Answer: Target.

What is my favorite city?
Randy’s Response: It used to be London until you found out the cost of living there - probably Fayetteville.
My Answer: London and Venice. Although to live in, it would have to be Fayetteville. More practical, yet still fantastarastic (yes, I made up that word... pretty fun word, huh?).

What is my favorite holiday?
Randy’s Response: Christmas.
My Answer: Christmas.

What is my favorite restaurant?
Randy’s Response: Bordinos of Theo's  or anywhere you get to go to dinner with your wonderful husband. (I swear, my husband is such a dork!)
My Answer: Bordinos and Subway. (I’m not sure Subway counts though…)

What is my favorite candy?
Randy’s Response: jolly ranchers?
My Answer: Starburst Fruit Chews and Nutrageous Candy Bar. My all time favorite though is Hershey’s Bar None. It was discontinued in the mid 90’s… darn them! Although maybe I should thank them as well. Having them around still could be a problem. They were just SO good!!! Below is a picture of the super delicious confectionery delight:

I have to say. Randy did exceptionally well. There were 10 questions and he got 8 right (I am going to give him full-credit even on the ones he only got partially correct). He only missed the favorite color and candy bar questions and honestly, my favorite color does change and I do like jolly ranchers (although they are not my favorite candy). So, good job Randy it looks like you know me pretty darn well!

P.S. I don't think I would do near as well if he did the quiz on me about himself. In fact, I would probably do awful. So sad.

hayden's new garage.

For Hayden’s 2nd birthday (this past January 23rd), he received a garage from his friend Elizabeth/EB.

Hayden loved his garage - and I say ‘love’ in the past tense because the garage is no longer with us. Hayden pretty much loved his garage “to death”. Suffice it to say, it was no longer a viable play toy.

So noticing Hayden’s apparent fondness for the garage, I purchased him a new one. It is used, and I don’t care (I got it on eBay). It arrived yesterday, and Hayden is once again in love with his garage.

As I took it out of the box, Hayden said, “a garage!!!”… “I like it!”… It definitely validated my purchase.

He played with his garage for the next 30 minutes and continued to be enamored with his new toy (throughout the day).

I have to thank Sarah (Elizabeth’s mom) for purchasing the original garage and giving it to Hayden for his birthday. Without the gift, I never would have been aware of Hayden’s fondness for garages.

Here are some pictures of Hayden with his new garage:

first trip to the dentist.

Wednesday morning was Hayden's first trip to the dentist. Let’s just say Hayden wasn't a fan.

He had fun in the waiting room (see pictures below); however, the actual appointment did not go so well.

He screamed and cried the entire time the dental hygienist examined him. She handled it very well and was very sweet with him. Then it was the dentist’s turn and that went about the same. The dentist was also very good with Hayden, considering Hayden’s behavior and demeanor.

The dentist said it appeared that he may have an underbite, although it was difficult to determine with a “non-cooperative” child.

I don’t think he does, and even if he does it is very slight. The dentist said there isn't anything he would do about it now anyways, but that if he did in fact have an underbite that he would refer him to an orthodontist when he is about 7 and he would probably need braces (at that age!).

The dentist said his teeth looked good though, and that we should make sure we are using toothpaste with fluoride. After checking once I got home, it turns out we weren't… so now we are.

Other than that, there wasn't much to report. Our next appointment will be in 6 months. Hopefully that appointment will go smoother, as will the subsequent appointments to come.

P.S. I didn't even bother taking pictures of the actual examination… that would have been absurd considering the circumstances.

no love for amelia.

This past weekend, I went down to Little Rock.

At dinner, the topic of baby names came up. In conversation, I mentioned that we are thinking ‘Amelia Grace’ if and when we have another baby and if that baby happens to be a girl.

My Mimi said, “like Amelia Bedelia”… I have NO clue who or what she is referring to. After looking on the Internet I now know that Amelia Bedelia is the lead character in a series of children’s books. I do not know if it is a good thing or a bad thing that my Mimi’s immediate point of reference when hearing the name ‘Amelia’ is ‘Amelia Bedelia’… but I’m leaning towards not a good thing.

My sister, Mary, stated that when she hears the name Amelia, she immediately thinks of plane crashes and being lost. Think Amelia Earhart. Definitely not a good thing and she confirmed that when questioned further. She was definitely not shy in expressing her dislike of the name.

My Aunt Linda flat out said that she didn't like the name. Her face was priceless and said it all. She was not a fan.

My Uncle David remarked that the most disliked girl in his office’s name is none other than Amelia. And he went on the say that he too is not a fan of the name Amelia… to say the least.

Now just because some of my family members don’t like the name doesn't mean that I won’t name my hypothetical future daughter Amelia, but it doesn't bode well for the moniker either. I want people to like the name; especially my family and close friends.

I suppose that only time will tell if this little dinner discussion has any effect… Amelia Grace… are you in or are you out? And will it even be an issue? Who knows.

playdate with eb.

Monday was our playdate with EB/Elizabeth and her mommy Sarah. We had a great time (as always).

Here are some pictures:

Here is Hayden riding EB's bike, searching for EB.

Elizabeth decided she wanted to brush her teeth, obviously she has good oral hygiene and Hayden wanted to watch.

Then they sat in EB's big green rocking chair together... SO CUTE!

and lastly, here they are sharing cheerios - such great manners. Sharing is caring!

snuggle creme fabric softener... anyone want a coupon?...

I received an email yesterday offering me and my "readers" a two dollar coupon for Snuggle Creme fabric softener...

Apparently, it's a new product that "adds two luxurious aromas to laundry time while softening your clothes."

Here is the "news release" and information about the product that she provided:

Are you in need of a little 'me' time? Pamper your senses with the luxurious texture and delicate fragrance of new Snuggle Crème. It leaves your clothes feeling smooth, soft, and delightfully fresh to wear. Go ahead, treat yourself and your clothes. Available in two indulgent scents - Sweet Almond and Jojoba Essence - rich, creamy textures and delicate fragrance designed to leave your clothes feeling smooth.

So, check it out (by clicking on the link above you are directed to another site in which you can retrieve the coupon)... maybe you will fall in love will Snuggle Creme...

dinner, a play, and surprise... it's a boy!

Saturday night, Randy and I drove down to Little Rock (sans Hayden… he stayed with my parents and had a “lake day"). We shacked up at my sister and her fiancé Clark’s condo. They were wonderful hosts.

So why did we go down to Little Rock you ask? Well, we went down to Little Rock to go to dinner and to see 'The Foreigner' at The Arkansas Repertory Theater (the Rep). My mimi (my mom’s mom) had purchased 2 Rep tickets for me for my birthday last August. I got to pick which play, and she bought tickets for us. It was such a sweet and thoughtful gift and we had a fabulous time!

Before the play we went to dinner at Lulav. It was delicious and lots of fun. I had a steak and it was SO tasty! There were 9 of us - Randy, me, Mary, Clark, Mimi, my Uncle David and Aunt Linda, and my cousins Matthew and Madison.

Check out the pictures:

So after dinner, we walked to The Rep and saw the play. It was funny and charming, and Randy and I really liked it. My sister and Clark, not so much. Clark slept through at least 75% of the play. It cracked me up. I would glance over at him, and he would be fast asleep.

My Aunt and Uncle were sitting above us, in one of the balconies. Before the play started I took this picture:

And I got in trouble! One of the volunteers approached me and told me I couldn't take pictures. I felt awful and very guilty. Bad Melissa.

Here are some more pictures from the play:

So here is the surprise. I got a text message on Saturday afternoon that informed me that my friend Katrina was in labor! I was so excited! If she had the baby Saturday, I could go visit her and meet Baby Bronson on Sunday morning (before we drove back to Fayetteville).

So… Baby Bronson was born on Saturday night! He weighed in at 5 lb, 15 oz. and was 19” long.

So on Sunday morning we went and met Baby Bronson. He is SO freaking cute! Almost as cute as Hayden.

Note: I said almost. His complexion is so smooth and beautiful. He was just adorable. Congrats to Trina!

Here are some pictures from our visit:

"no more basketball"

This past Friday I turned on the tv. Hayden had asked to watch a movie: Little Tikes. Basketball was on: the NCAA Tournament. Hayden noticed it and immediately said, “no basketball”... “no more basketball.”

Hayden had stayed with my mom, his Lili, the night before and I knew that they had watched a lot of the tournament, so I said, “have you been watching basketball?”

He said, “yes.”

I said, “where have you been watching basketball?”…

He said “at the condo”… “with Lili”... “no more basketball”… “basketball bye-bye”… “basketball go away.”

I was cracking up at that point.

The whole scenario was absolutely hilarious… I can just imagine my mom watching basketball all day as poor Hayden grew bored, annoyed, and tired of it.

I put Little Tikes in and basketball went bye-bye. No more basketball.

shampoo, shmampoo... no more hair washing for me (to an extent...).

I read this article the other day about how we Americans are “over-shampooing” our hair. On average, we shampoo our hair 4.59 times a week (twice as much as Italians and Spaniards).

I will admit though that the past few months I have been more in line with the Italians and Spaniards. Some weeks I only wash my hair once a week. Other weeks, I may wash it 2-3 times (but that is admittedly rare).

The instances in which I only wash it once I week, I am showering but not washing my hair. I get it wet, but I just don’t wash it.

Those times in which I don’t wash it, I wear it curly. Having “dirty” hair apparently helps with the curl, while washing it helps when I want to dry my hair straight.

Anywho, according to this article daily washing “strips the hair of beneficial oil (called sebum) and can damage our locks”… whatever, I just don’t do it because I am lazy and by wearing my hair curly I don’t have to dry it (which takes time)... and showering in general takes time... time that I would rather be doing something else.

Apparently in the early 1900s, people washed their hair only once a month. WOW!... I’m not going to go that extreme (at least I don't plan to), but I am definitely going to embrace the sentiment of this article and feel more comfortable and confident in my lack of shampooing.

The article recommends washing your hair no more than two to three times a week… sounds good to me! It also notes that people with curly hair can go even longer between washes… super duper!

The article also mentions a “shampoo bar”… I did some research and found one that sounds yummy (and I bought it): Fernwood Soap’s Total Body Lemongrass Shampoo and Conditioner. I’ll keep you updated as to whether or not it was a wise investment…

P.S. I did not wash my hair today… I got it wet, but I haven’t washed it in 2 days… see, I am practicing what I preach!

P.P.S. Here is a link to the article if anyone wants to know more: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102062969

P.P.P.S. Here is a link to the "shampoo bar" that I bought: http://www.amazon.com/Lemongrass-Shampoo-Total-Body-Bar/dp/B0002KAJ5Y/ref=pd_bbs_7?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1237553863&sr=8-7

unexpected love.

The other day I was just standing in the living room when Hayden came up to me, hugged my legs, looked up at me and said, “I love you mommy”.

He has done this a few times (said “I love you” when not asked to say it), but no instances have been as noteworthy as this one. This particular declaration of love was so unsolicited and random that it was almost shocking, and also heartwarming and sweet at the same time. VERY gratifying and rewarding.

I looked down and said, “I love you too… come give me a hug… that was so sweet of you… it makes mommy so happy…”

Of course, an hour or so later Hayden threw a fit for some reason and had to "get it together" (our form of time out). But still, that moment of unsolicited love and affection went a long way to make my day.

the wonder place.

This past Monday while we were in Central Arkansas, Hayden, Randy, Mimi (my mom's mom), and I went to The Wonder Place.

The Wonder Place is an awesome 5,700 square foot indoor play-space located in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Essentially The Wonder Place consists of a variety of different play areas: from a water table, to a "river market and cafe", to an art studio. It is fabulous!

Needless to say, we had a wonderful time.

Here are some pictures for proof...

with the trains at 'the plan city'

at the water table

getting groceries at "the river market"

at the sand table (notice Mimi hiding out in the background in the last 'sand table' picture... she is elusive!)

looking down at Randy from the treehouse

playing "the drums" in the playhouse/treehouse. I am bummed that this picture came out so dark, because it is SO cute.

riding, 'cash', and clubbin' it.

Sunday, Randy, Hayden, and I drove down to Central Arkansas (well more precisely, Jacksonville, Arkansas). There were two main reasons for this little trek, (1) to get my car serviced and (2) to meet baby Cash, my friend Katrice’s new baby.

And in terms of why I have to go to Central Arkansas to get my car serviced, there is not a Lexus dealership in Northwest Arkansas (I drive a 2006 Lexus 400h). So I can either take it to Tulsa or Little Rock. I have many friends and family that live near Little Rock, so I choose Little Rock. And Jacksonville is where I grew up and where our "family home" is so I have a place to stay. The choice is obvious.

That is beside the point. Needless to say. We went to Jacksonville.

The drive there (and back) was good.

Sunday night we went and saw Katrice and baby Cash. Hayden was very sweet with the baby… absolutely adorable. After our visit, we went and had dinner with my grandma and my Aunt Dottie and Uncle John... Dominos pizza. It was yummy!

Monday we went to The Wonder Place with my Mimi. It was a lot of fun. I will be posting a separate post on this outing later. Then we went to lunch. After that, we went home. Hayden “failed” to take a nap - not so fun.

Then we went to my friend Katrina’s home to check out baby Bronson’s room. Katrina is due in about 12 days… and Trina wanted to show off the baby’s digs. Katrice and Cash joined us. Again, Hayden was very sweet with the baby - and I got some pictures!

Monday night was Bingo Night at the Foxwood Country Club. It was the first time they had done this. It was fun (note: my dad owns the Country Club so we were there to support him as he tried out this new venture).

We hung out for awhile, but then we went home and went to bed.

Here is a picture of Hayden on Randy's head at the Country Club. Lovely!

Bingo apparently lasted until 10:30 pm, and went quite well. My sister, Mary, helped out. It was hilarious! She had on her green vest and was responsible for verifying the bingo winner. I think her title was "floor manager".

Hayden was really glad to see his Auntie M. At times, he has been wary of her, but not this time. He was calling out for her; wanting her to hold him. It was very sweet!

Hayden was also enamored with the golf carts. He kept wanting to watch them drive by. He would just stare out the window and watch them. A little odd, but cute nevertheless.

Then today, we drove back - after Randy played some golf. It was fun, but I have to say that I am glad to be home. I like the routine that being home provides. I am way too much of a home-body. I have serious issues!

playdate with ella.

Fridays are our playdates with Ella and her lovely mommy Carolyn. (Mondays are 'EB' and sweet Sarah days... I will take pictures of one of their playdates soon and do a blog post about that.)

With Ella and Carolyn we switch off Fridays. Every other Friday Hayden and I go over to their home and the other Fridays they come over here.

This past Friday, they came over here. They played with legos, ate lots of animal crackers, "read" books, and just hung out... needless to say, they had a good time. Here are some pictures:

Before leaving a kiss and hug were in order. I wasn't able to get a picture of the kiss, but I did capture the hug. (note: Hayden also kisses 'EB', his other lady friend, Hayden just has a lot of love to give.)