Chasing, Nanny & Papa visit, & Thanksgiving Rash

Week 56

Last Friday was officially Pajama Day for Ty and I.  I had only gotten 3 hours of sleep after going to the midnight movie the night before and Ty and I just laid low.  He was happy as a clam being in his pj's all day and doing his new favorite thing.  He loves to get me (or anyone) to chase him.  He starts crawling away, then he stops, turns and looks at me with a silly grin and starts laughing and crawls away at lightning speed!  He just loves it!  I crawled all over the house after him - and, man, does it hurt to crawl on hardwood floor!!!  Tyson was flying like he felt nothing at all and I was crawling slowly behind him in pain!  Doesn't he realize that it doesn't hurt to walk?  Shannon, Sean, & Finley came over for Friday night supper, but I gave the disclaimer that it was Pajama Day to warn them.  We had an interesting menu of pasta with homemade alfredo sauce and mushrooms (Shannon made) and a pumpkin curry soup (I made).  It was a good time.  But the good times were short-lived with Tyson.  He cried for another hour to go to sleep again.  Very discouraging.

  Taking a break from the chasing to look at the roses (=

Cousin Finley visiting Friday night

Daddy consoling Ty during his hour-long cry

On Sabbath I worked again because I did a weekend swap, so I could have the weekend after Thanksgiving off.  I worked 10a-10p, which I thought that I would hate, but it wasn't terrible.  Heath & Ty went up to northern New Hampshire with Sonia, Keith, and Adam.  They drove around looking at property.  We have been trying to buy property to build a camp for years, but we have never found the right one.  We might have found it now.  It is a gorgeous 14 acre lot with panoramic views of Vermont and Canada.  If it all goes well, this might actually happen.  I felt terrible that Ty had to stay in the the car seat for 5 hours (2.5 hours each way), but he did great!  They went to out to eat at the Woodstock Brewery (one of our favorites) in Lincoln on the way home (lucky ducks, while I was stuck with hospital food).  By the time they got home, Ty went right to sleep.  Probably a fluke because he was so tired, but a girl can hope, right?

Ty sleeping Sabbath morning

Close-up

On Sunday I worked 10a-10p again, so I had to go to the pharmacies first before work.  It wasn't a great week for free things, but it was a good week for me because I got things that I was nearly out of at home.  I got toilet paper, vitamins, and head-to-toe wash for Ty - all at great prices.  I was supposed to go to the dumpster after work, since I couldn't go last Wednesday, but I had forgotten by head lamp at home, so I couldn't go.  Bummer.  Ty & Heath had gone to the Edwards' house and Heath helped his father with a project.  They drove back fairly late, so Ty didn't have any trouble going to sleep again.  Let's keep it up!

On Monday I was home again!  Unfortunately for Ty.  I had an epiphany.  I had been rocking Ty to sleep for his naps but making him cry it out for bedtime.  That is beyond unfair for him to get mixed messages.  But I was dreading him crying it out for his naps.  He only usually sleeps for 30-45 minutes.  So was I really going to fight with him for an hour for him to take his little power nap?  Well, I did and he cried for a full hour.  But he slept for an hour and 15 minutes!  He might have slept even longer, but I had to wake him up!  We were meeting my parents, Shannon & Finley, and Nanny & Papa at a chinese restaurant for lunch.  Nanny & Papa flew in from Florida for Thanksgiving and to, obviously, to see the new babies.  It was great to see them!  I wished they lived closer!  The food was great, too bad Tyson didn't get to enjoy any of it.  It was one of his off days and he wouldn't touch the rice or tofu.  He only wanted his regular baby food and he chowed down like crazy on that.  So annoying.  After lunch, Ty & I headed on some errands.  We went to Kohl's and used a $10 off coupon that we had.  We had to make an emergency stop at the bathroom at Kohl's.  Ty officially has the antibiotic diarrhea.  He was pooping up a storm.  Well, we got all cleaned up and headed to Hannaford.  On Monday night he was back to crying for 15 minutes and then going to bed.  I'll take it!

Ty spooning his monkey after his hour-long cry before his nap

Visit with Nanny & Papa

Excited to be in the big boy seat at Kohl's!

Playing around in the kitchen

On Tuesday AM Ty and I hit up a couple of thrift stores with Shannon & Finley.  Ty took a nice 45 minute nap while we were shopping.  I got some nice things for Ty.  Shannon & I were talking about how we never even look for ourselves anymore.  It is all about the kiddos!  In the afternoon, Ty & I got packed up for Thanksgiving.  I had to work on Wednesday, so Heath (who took the day off) and Ty were going to his parents' house and I would go after work.  Ty did well while I was packing, but I noticed that he felt hot.  Another fever of 100.6.  I was ready to have a fit, but then I remembered that the doctor had warned me that Ty might get a fever 7-10 days after his shots.  This was day 7, so I relaxed a bit.  He acted totally fine!  On Tuesday night we went out to eat, since we weren't going to have our normal Thursday night out.  We went to Chili's with Shannon, Sean & Finley.  We had fun and Ty did well with the food - eating some bread, fries, and part of my black bean burger.  Yes!

The Three Amigos in "jail"

On Wednesday we got 7 inches of snow!  It was still snowing/freezing rain when I left for work.  This is when I hate my commute!  Heath called me while I was at work to tell me that Tyson had a rash.  It was small pinpoints over his face and his chest.  I had him call our pediatrician and he talked to the on-call doctor.  Very quickly, the doctor told Heath that it is very common for kids to get a reaction to the MMR vaccination 7-10 days after getting the shot.  He said that the rash would last about 4-5 days and that it was benign.  I felt better when I heard that.  Ty was a crazy person at the Edwards' on Wednesday night.  He found a container of oatmeal, dumped it out, and had a blast playing with the oats all over the floor.  Sorry I missed that scene!  After work, I rushed to the dumpster and had one of my best nights ever - I got 27 inserts!  I could have gotten more, but I only had a limited time because I was meeting Krystle, a friend from work, at Rite Aid.  The Black Friday deals at the pharmacies were starting on Thanksgiving day.  So I had called the 24 hour pharmacies and verified that their sales would start at midnight on Wednesday night.  Krystle and I got everything that we wanted at Rite Aid and got to the register right at midnight.  Then we were dealt our bad news.  They said, "Technically the sale starts at midnight, but our registers never ring in the sale prices until 2-4 AM."  I was ready to come unglued.  I had called and spoken to the manager about this and he assured me that it started at midnight!  We did a test run on a couple of items, but it didn't work.  Thank goodness, they had pity on us and put our carts in their back room.  So Krystle and I went across town and went to CVS.  That was quite a bit more busy.  We still got everything we wanted, except for the Theraflu (same as Corey's CVS adventure).  We went back to Rite Aid and I prayed that the registers would work - and they did!  Krystle headed home (lucky girl) and I debated whether to go to Walgreens or not.  The only 24 hour one was in Rochester, which was about 30 minutes out of the way... but who was I kidding?  Of course I went.  I didn't do as well at Walgreens, but well enough.  My final numbers are pretty impressive.  I got a total of $195.68 in merchandise and I spent $22.21 out of pocket.  BUT THEN... I got $48.94 in pharmacy money back.  So I actually MADE $26.73!!!  It was great.

Ty's rash starting

Rite Aid loot

CVS loot

Walgreens loot

Thanksgiving Day, I rolled in to the Edwards' just before 5 AM.  And just like last week when I had a ridiculously late night, Ty was up at 6:30 AM.  I told Heath that he was on his own that I needed to sleep until 10 AM - and I did just that!  When I came to, the sight before me was just too much.  Tyson's rash had exploded and was 10 times worse than the night before.  It was not only on his face and chest, but now on his arms, legs, scalp, palms of his hands, and the bottom of his feet.  Everywhere.  He looked terrible!  Just terrible.  He acted like it didn't bother him at all.  So that was good.  We tried Benadryl, just for kicks and it didn't do anything.  Heath called him his "Leprosy Boy."  We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner at the Edwards' with 13 of us.  It was great eating.  Again, Tyson wouldn't have any of it, but he went to town on the pies.  What a picky eater!!  After dinner, we thought that Ty's rash was getting worse by the minute, so we called the on-call doctor again.  We got a different doctor and he agreed with what the first doctor said.  That it was the MMR vaccination and that we shouldn't worry about it.  We offered to email him pictures, but he declined.  He told us to look up pictures of the measles and that the rash would look just like it - and it did!  But he said just to be safe we should stop the Amoxicillin.  He only had 1 more day to go anyway.  So stay tuned next week for the conclusion of the rash drama.  

You just wouldn't believe it

Completely covered

Still happy

His chest/belly

His face was the worst

Have a great week!

Crying It Out Continued, Ear Infection, & 1 Year Stats

Week 55

Friday started week 55 off with a busy day.  We got up early (for us) and got picked up by Shannon & Finley at about 10 AM.  We, of course were not ready... close, but no cigar.  I used to be the most punctual, on-time person but I just can't get my act together with Ty.  I don't know why.  No matter how much time I set aside to do the tasks we need to do, it is never enough.  So frustrating.  Anyway, we had an uneventful trip up to Conway.  Both kids slept like angels in the backseat the whole way.  We were going up for Shannon's 6 week GYN appointment.  Can you believe Miss Finley is 6 weeks old?  Time is flying by!  When we got to Conway, we went to Mom & Dad's - Mom was there and Shannon had to feed Finley.  After that was over, we headed to Friendly's to meet Leigh, Bode, Mia, & Zoe (Mia's best friend).  We had a nice visit - it was so good to see Bode!  We just don't see him enough!  He is getting so big!  It was fun to see Bode in Ty's old clothes!  It brought back some memories!  Despite our good visit, it was the slowest service in history at Friendly's but we were busy visiting, so it didn't matter.  Ty had a good day with eating "real people food" and had some of my grilled cheese, french fries, and ice-cream!  The service was so slow that Shan & I had to book it out of there to make her appointment.  Finley was, unfortunately, due to nurse again when we got there for the appointment.  Shannon was whisked away and I was left with a hungry baby and a mischevious Tyson in the waiting room.  Thankfully, I was able to use my "Auntie Alison" magic and lulled Fin right to sleep, but Ty was another story.  For some reason, all he wanted to do was play in front of the door of the waiting room.  All I could picture in my head was someone opening the door with gusto and knocking Ty right out.  He would just not listen to me!  I had to try to carry him away from the door, while carrying Finley - and I don't have the biggest arms in the world!  But I made it with the 2 kiddos and no one died! (=  After the appointment, we headed back to Mom & Dad's so Shannon could nurse Finley and grab a few things.  Ty's obsession with stairs is definitely not just at home!  He was so cute.  He would take off in a dead-run (crawl) in the kitchen and would stop in the doorway and look back at me.  He would give me a look - a challenging look.  Mostly, I think he wanted me to chase him, but he would turn and start booking it to the stairs - all the while laughing.  It's like he knows he's going to be in trouble and loves it! (=  What we didn't love was Finley SCREAMING the entire trip home.  I started out in the front seat, but crawled into the back to try to console her and keep putting the binky back in.  It didn't make any difference at all.  Shannon says that she gets very upset at this time of night everyday.  Remind me never to ride with Finley again during that time!  Ty acted as though he did not hear any of it, and he slept the entire way again.  For the second night of the crying out method, he did the exact same as the first night - cried for 15 minutes (consoled) and 30 minutes and then fell asleep.  Just as it was supposed to happen.   

Chillin' at Noni & Poppy's

Bode Henry growing like a weed!

Trying to keep Ty entertained the doctor's office

The 2 kiddos - it looks like Finley has a question!

On Sabbath I worked and Heath & Ty stayed home.  Not too much to report, except when I got home Heath said, "I think Ty might be getting sick."  My heart sunk.  Not again.  Heath said that Ty had been sneezing and had a runny nose.  Just great.  Well, what WAS great was Ty going to sleep after just crying for 20 minutes.  Could it be?  Does this really work like it is supposed to?  Stay tuned.

On Sunday, back to work I went and Heath & Ty stayed at home because Ty was definitely sick with a cold.  After work, I ran to the pharmacies, but it was a slow week for me.  I didn't even go to CVS.  The highlights were making $2 on a menopausal supplement and then I did a pretty big transaction at Rite Aid - getting 2 Vaseline lotions and 6 of the expensive deoderants that Heath & I like for $2.03 each.  They are usually $4.49 each.  So it was a great deal for us!  Not sure if it was because of his cold, but he fell asleep after only crying for 15 minutes.  I was pleasantly surpised with that.  I settled in, sure that I was going to see the Pats lose, but I was pleasantly surprised that they killed the Jets.  Just when I was ready to give up on them.

On Monday morning Ty and I got the house in order after the bachelor weekend.  I fought with Ty to take a nap in the AM, for nearly an hour.  You would think after all of that drama, that he would be exhausted and take quite a nap - but that was not the case.  Good ol' 40 minute nap.  In the afternoon we headed to Walmart and the grocery store for our week's shopping.  I needed more water bottles, so we were forced to go back to Market Basket.  I so wanted to go to Hannaford, but the water is too good of a deal at Market Basket.  So I bought 3 cases of water and stocked up on a few of the items that are cheaper at MB, so we shouldn't have to go back for about a month!  Ty walked a bit more on Monday - with encouragement, of course.  I was shocked when he wouldn't take an afternoon nap at all (it was nap time when we were driving back from our errands and he always falls asleep in the car, but didn't)!  On Monday night, he fell right asleep without any crying at all (probably because he hadn't taken an afternoon nap).  At 1:30 AM, he woke up but went right back to sleep.  At some point after 1:30 AM, I brought him to bed with us - which I had said I wasn't going to do anymore... but he was sick and I was heavily medicated on Benadryl after a bad allergy attack.  What can you do?

Ty trying hard to make a mess after I had just cleaned it up!

On Tuesday we had to wake up early again to get to Ty's 1 year appointment by 10 AM.  His stats were surprising.  First of all, he is still a measly 10th percentile for weight at 19 pounds and 8 ounces.  I had weighed him on our scale a few weeks back and I got 20 pounds.  I know he had a little clothes on, but still...  The other surprising thing is that he has shot up to the 60th percentile for height.  He is 30"!!  He has always only been at the 25th percentile time and time again, but not this time!  The other really surprising thing was that Ty had a double ear infection.  His very first one.  I couldn't believe it.  I have taken him twice to the doctor's to check for an ear infection and it was always a false alarm.  It didn't even cross my mind this time.  He wasn't cranky and he hadn't been pulling on his ears.  How in the world are you ever supposed to know?  We, unfortunately, were not able to see our regular doctor because she is on bed rest, pregnant with twin boys!  I really like our doctor.  The other pediatrician we saw was fine, except she tried to persuade me to feed Ty meat as an iron source (not gonna happen) and told me to give up his binky.  She was brainstorming about why he wakes up during the night and thinks that he wants the binky - but I don't think that's the case.  He wakes up and gets lonely - he wants to be with us at all times!  The doctor did convince me to start him on milk, though.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to try cow's milk, because of the colic he had recently - but she was sure that it was from the cream and not the milk.  So I am weaning him off of the formula (our bank account is going to sing when we are done with that) and I mixed whole milk in his bottle for the first time on Tuesday afternoon.  He didn't mind at all and no colic in sight!  He loves his Amoxicillin antibiotic and gets so excited to take it!  We went out to eat at the mexican restaurant because we weren't going to be able to go on Thursday.  We went with Adam and my parents.  Ty had an off night with "real" food and wouldn't eat any of my food this time.  I just don't get it. 

Happy in the afternoon, despite his shots

Hangin' with Poppy in the restaurant

Getting sleepy with Noni

On Wednesday I was back to work.  Ty had a good day, despite his ear infection.  No crankiness to be seen.  I haven't had a dumpster story in a while... and this really isn't a story, but I wasn't able to go last week.  When I got there, someone must have been doing some maintenance or something because the ball field that is behind my dumpster was completed lit up like a Christmas tree.  I didn't want to risk anymore run-ins with anyone, so I hightailed it out of there.  When I got home I got the bad news that Ty went back to crying for an hour.  Oh no.  Was it the ear infection or was the crying-it-out failing?

Thursday was a big day for me.  It started out pretty benign - just puttering around the house with Ty.  In the afternoon, we met up with Shannon & Finley at the outlets to go to Children's Place, which we couldn't get to the other day.  I had a gift card to use for Ty, but I ended up with nothing.  Ty is really in 9 month clothes right now, but Children's Place only has 6-9 months (which is a tad too small) and 12 months which is a bit too big.  So it just wasn't worth it.  Another reason why I had to go to the outlets is that I was looking for a T-shirt for my big night out.  I am a big "Twilight" fan (vampire-teenage-love story series).  The newest movie in the franchise was opening on Thursday - so I organized an outing for anyone from the ER who wanted to go to the midnight movie and 9 of us went!  We started at a mexican restaurant for supper and then went to the movie.  I had a bit of a problem with finding a baby-sitter for Tyson.  Heath hardly ever has business dinners but he was having dinners on Wednesday and Thursday night.  I'm like, "Are you kidding me?  The one night I want to go out and Heath isn't around?"  With Ty being sick, I didn't want Shannon to expose Finley to the sickness.  It was my dad's one day off, but my parents had mercy on me and took Ty until Heath got home.  They had been down in Manchester, picking up the Walls' car at the airport, so I ended up bringing Ty to the restaurant and couldn't resist showing Ty off to everyone.  He played it up and gave his million dollar smile to everyone - what a good boy!  So my parents met us at the restaurant and took Ty back home to wait for Heath.  After dinner, we went to the theatre to stand in line for 2 hours.  We had pre-bought the tickets, because it was sold out - but if you don't get there early enough you have to sit on the front row and break your neck.  We got to the theatre at 10:00 PM - 2 hours before the movie would start.  You would think that would be good enough, but no.  I have no idea when they actually let people in the theatre, but when we got there - the entire mid and upper levels were full and only the bottom rows had seats left.  So we were stuck in the 3rd row from the front.  Are you kidding me?  Did we need to get there 4 hours early?  Anyways, the movie was more than fantastic and we had a great time.  About 10 minutes before the movie ended (at 1:45 AM) the movie froze and all the lights came on.  Some people thought that it was over, but there was an announcement and then the paramedics came.  Someone had either passed out or had a seizure or something and was carried out on a back board.  30 minutes later.... the movie finished up.  I got home at about 3 AM and I knew that Ty would not sleep in with me for the first time in months - I just knew that it would happen.  Did I make it happen?  At 6:30 AM - he was up and would not go back to sleep.  That's what I get, having a night out with the girls, huh?

My new T-shirt for the big night!

The "Twilight" group!

One of my co-workers made us cookies for the movie!  If you were Team Edward (as I am) then you got stars with sparkles (because Edward's skin sparkles)

If you are Team Jacob you got dog bones (because Jacob is a werewolf)

Have a good week!

Colic Again, Sturbridge, 2nd Tooth, & Walking (Really)

Week 54

Last Friday Ty and I spent the day finishing cleaning the house and then we were rewarded by going to Shannon & Sean's for Friday night supper.  Shannon made a wonderful corn chowder.  It was fantastic!  I brought our grinder and ground up the soup for Ty and he loved it too!  Unfortunately, he didn't love it later.  He was up nearly all night screaming in bed with us with a lot of gas.  I just don't get it.  He eats yogurt and cheese with no problem - but a little milk and half & half just about killed him.  Does that mean he is a little lactose intolerant or is his stomach just too immature to handle it?  I just don't know.  It's definitely going to make me gun-shy to give him a lot of milk or cream for awhile.

Finley hangin' with Uncle Heath

Daddy testing out Ty's car seat - he stayed in!

Since none of us hardly got any sleep on Friday night, we didn't go to Sabbath School.  But we made it for church and met the Frosts and Sonia there.  Ty was a crazy animal in church again - very restless, but at least we didn't have to take him to the mother's room.  After church the whole group headed home for lunch and Adam met us there.  I actually used the extra leaf for my table and got my good china out for the first time!  We had a banquet for lunch, but somehow it took forever to get it all made.  We ate pretty late at almost 2:30 pm - what are you going to do - I'm slow in the kitchen!  Ty ate the meatloaf I made and loved it, but still hates mashed potatoes.  I don't know how he can be my child and not like mashed potatoes - it is one of my favorites.  Now the potatoes had some milk and half & half in them and he didn't have any problems at all.  I guess maybe it is how much of it he eats... I don't know.  On Saturday night, Shannon & Sean went to look at a house and we stayed home and watched the boob tube.  Sonia and Adam stayed for awhile and then headed home.

Despite crying all night, he still woke up happy!

Sunday morning we had to get up wicked early at 6:30 because we were going with Conway church to Sturbridge Village.  On Sunday morning, I noticed that Ty had his second bottom tooth coming through!  Yea!  I guess that gives us an answer to the fevers and all the drama last week.  I thought so, but it was nice to have it confirmed!  Well, we didn't leave home until 7:45 and got there at about 10:00.  We stayed almost until closing time - a little after 4:00.  We had a blast - I know I've been there before but not since I was a kid.  It was a great time.  We busted out our new backpack for Ty to ride in - and he loved it!  After lunch he fell asleep in the backpack for about 2 hours!  I think he was so comfy all bundled up!  Probably one of Ty's highlight was having some of my apple candy stick that we had gotten at the general store.  Wow, he really wanted more of that! (=  On the way home we went to the Cheesecake Factory with my parents and some friends from church.  Man, I love that place but it is so wicked expensive.  We got home and then I proceeded to watch the Pats lose yet again.  They are just down-right terrible this year.  Terrible.

Loving his new backpack

Father-daughter time

Protecting Ty's ears during a musket demonstration

Completely passed out

Alive and well at the Cheesecake Factory - trying to get him to walk (not successful)

On Monday Ty and I hit the pharmacies early, but it wasn't a great week.  I got Pledge for $1 and Arm & Hammer 32 load high efficiency detergent for $1.50.  The big thing that we did was we did a price match between Market Basket and Hannaford.  I had bought my groceries as normal at Market Bastket on Friday.  Then on Monday we went and checked out the prices at Hannaford.  There is a great deal on bottled water at MB and blocks of cheese (which I never usually buy), but otherwise the prices for the things that we buy week in and week out is exactly the same.  So I'm going to start going back to Hannaford, because I am sick and tired of being beat up at Market Basket.  That place is a zoo and you can barely move in that store.  Yes, the produce is a tad cheaper but it is terrible and it only lasts a few days.  I think it is really good on their meat prices and that's why everyone goes there, but that doesn't help me at all... so I'm jumping ship! (=  As we were leaving the grocery store, it was time for Ty's nap and I talked to him non-stop the entire way home to prevent him from falling asleep in the car.  He would keep shutting his eyes and I would yell at him, "TYSON!" and then proceed to talk very animated about nothing in particular.  But it paid off with ab 1 hour and 20 minute nap!  Whoo hoo!  In the afternoon Shannon and Fin came over (yes, we're starting the nickname already) and Shannon ran to the grocery store alone - while I watched Finley.  It was right at Ty's lunch time, but I fed him as fast as I could in case Fin started crying.  She did, but just as Ty was finishing his last course.  It was interesting to see how I would juggle 2 kids - it wasn't for very long - but I can see how challenging it can be.

My first try with 2 kids alone (Ty looks happy)

Tuesday consisted of laundry day and that's about it.  Ty started doing something ridiculous.  He is now obsessed with closing doors.  He kept closing the bedroom door and the closet door - with me on the other side.  Immediately he would start bawling because he didn't see me anymore!  He did this like a million times!  What a funny guy.  On Tuesday night we had a breakthrough with the walking!  We held up any electronic device we had (Ipad, video camera) and he took about 4-5 steps to it about 5 different times!  It was not a fluke this time!  However, he still is scared and needs coaxing... but he can do it! (=  So proud of him!

Walking to the Ipad

Getting to play with the Ipad as a reward - look at his hand in action!

On Wednesday I worked and I showed off Ty's new walking skills to Noni before I left...and he did it again!   At my dumpster dive it was a poor night indeed - I only came away with 7 inserts.  Still worth it, but disappointing.  Did people just not get Sunday papers this week or did they just not recycle them?  Wednesday night into Thursday AM, Ty woke up at 1 AM and I worked with him until 2:30 AM trying to get him back to sleep.  It wasn't working and I was exhausted after working my 12 hour day... so after an hour and a half I had had it.  Ty was not acting in pain at all - just needy.  As long as I was in the room with him, either rubbing his head or holding his hand (his favorite) he was quiet as a mouse.  But if I tried to sneak out of there, all hell would break loose.  So I decided then and there the time had come for Tyson to start crying it out.  I told him that he would need to cry for 30 minutes straight (which he had never done).  I went back in my room and I never sleep with him crying...well, there's a first time for everything and I DID fall asleep.  I woke up at 3:30 AM in a panic!!!!  Ty was lying down, sleeping in his crib... but he probably cried the entire hour.  I felt horrible.

On Thursday Ty was good as new.  I was worried that he would be mad at me for letting him cry it out, but it was like nothing had happened.  Thank goodness.  Our highlight for the day was meeting Shannon, Finley, Noni, and Grammy Lyn (Sean's mother) at the outlets for some shopping.  Tyson started with impatience in the stroller AT THE FIRST STORE.  Are you kidding me?  Actually I said that to him.  "Are you kidding me, Tyson?  We are just getting started!"  But he settled down.  I never get anything at Gap, but I caved because it was 70% off and I couldn't resist it.  It is a long-sleeved T-shirt for Ty that says "Lock up your daughters!"  I love it, it is just the cutest thing ever.  He already is a wicked flirt and will only get worse, I'm sure.  On Thursday night, the gang (minus Noni and plus Sean, Heath & Adam) went to the OG.  Ty loved my minestrone soup this time, and is a breadstick-aholic for sure.  Because of our night out Ty was getting to bed around 10 PM.  This was his first official bedtime of crying it out.  I rocked him for about 10 minutes (it had been taking 30 minutes lately, so this was just to relax him) and then the crying began.  I let him go for 15 minutes and then I consoled him.  Then he cried for 30 minutes straight.  I didn't think I was going to have that much of a hard time with it - because I have a harder heart than Heath does when he cries (I am the big disciplinarian) and I know that he needs to learn to go to sleep by himself.  This HAS to happen.  But when I went up there after his 30 minute cry-out, I started sobbing.  Ty was standing in his crib (he stands the entire time), with his arms on the top railing and his head resting on his arms... and his eyes were so swollen and red from crying, it just killed me.  Killed me.  Usually he grabs a hold of me like he is dying and hugs me, but he had nothing left.  He was actually nearly asleep standing up.  I hugged him for a minute and then I laid him down and he was asleep immediately.  Man, that was tough.  Heath said it best when he said, "He went to sleep with a broken heart."  )=  That about sums it up.    

At the OG - he would keep grabbing Heath's arm to get his attention  

Have a good week!  Here are some more random pictures, including some great ones of Heath & Ty at Sturbridge.

Brushing his teeth - he loves it!

Getting into another cabinet (=