Help Wanted

We had a rough weekend. On Saturday evening (David) and then Saturday night (me) the Schwartz adults became struck with a stomach virus (we ruled out food poisoning because we'd eaten totally different things the entire day on Saturday.) Sunday was one of the most challenging parenting days we've had in 18 months.

David was feeling slightly better by the morning, so he got up with Evan while I slept in. And by "slept in", I mean wallowed around in bed in total misery between trips to the bathroom. When I finally got out bed, only from guilt, not because I was feeling any better, I learned that the activity instead of resting like he should have, had David feeling pretty terrible. I lost the coin toss when it came to making lunch, but when I was gagging over Evan's meatballs, David stepped up and took over.

We both napped the entire time Evan napped. I considered texting the babysitter and offering her $100 to be here when Evan woke up from his nap and stay here to put him to bed. Yes, that's twice her regular rate. I was that desperate. Well, obviously not that desperate because I didn't actually go through with it.

It was then that the disadvantages of living away from family really hit home. This was very much a "call the grandparents or an aunt to take care of little Evan while Mommy and Daddy lay around the house and wish they were dead" kinda moment. Yes, we have friends here. And yes, I know they'd help if asked... I guess. But we have two kinds of friends-- friends with young kids of their own that I'd be afraid of infecting and/or they're too busy keeping up with them to tend to mine and friends with no kids, who I just assume are off having some wonderful fun on a Sunday afternoon and don't have time for my kid. So, we didn't ask. We just need some kinfolk around here sometimes.

We struggled through the afternoon and were both back to at least 80% by Monday. Way to ruin a perfectly good three day weekend, stomach bug!

And if there's a silver lining to this story, a.) Evan didn't burn the house down while we were doing all of our parenting from the couch and b.) he didn't catch it.

This is his "let go of my hand" face... made a little extra evil
looking by the weird shadows from the blinds.

Chatty McChatterson

The only time we can get this kid to talk to us is when he's captive... in the car seat, in the high chair or in the bathtub. Here are a couple videos.




Practicing his favorite word...

Second Christmas

Evan (and David and I) got his gifts from Grandma Janet and Papaw Mike yesterday. He got a bunch of play fruits and veggies (and shoes, but those are boring to him...very exciting to me, though.) I thought the play food would be a hit, but I had no idea just how much he would love it. He's done nothing but play with it since he got it!

We have fruits and veggies everywhere and they're extremely real looking. I was in the kitchen earlier and thought, "What the hell is that potato doing on the floor?" Not that I was that surprised; David gets kinda crazy in the kitchen sometimes so I never really know what to expect.

I've also learned that Evan knows the names of lots of fruits and veggies. He can't say them, but he can identify them if asked.

Tiny piece by tiny piece, that's how he rolls...

A little paper taste test

"OMG! This is awesome!" 

Yum! Thanks Grandma and Papaw! 

He's Such a Suck Up

Story from Ms. Kerry today:

"Sierra and I were upstairs in a training this afternoon. The trainer said to close our eyes and envision the perfect kid-- the characteristics we like to see most in our classroom. Then we had to talk about what those characteristics are and what kid in our class we were imagining. Both of us were thinking of Evan! He's just so laid back and good!" 

Um... do they mean our Evan? The Evan who whines constantly? The Evan who won't leave me alone for a single second? The Evan who hits and runs full force into the dog to knock her down? The Evan who slaps and pinches my face and bites me hard enough to bring blood and thinks it's all hilarious? I'm jealous that daycare gets the good Evan.

Seriously, though, I know he's a very good kid and I'd much rather him be good for others and bad for me than the other way around. As David says, I just have very high standards.

It's Good, Right?

Just don't eat it if it's yellow.