There goes our play date

This picture looks like a sweet and innocent enough child but don't let those full cheeks fool you. My kid can be a bully. I took Cameron on a play date with some of my co-workers and their young children. Approximate ages - 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 4 years. We walk in and my little angel outweighs all except the 4 year old. No one to borrow diapers from at this shin dig since size 3's fit Cameron like a thong. Here are some events to highlight why we won't be invited back anytime soon.

The Bully
He's used to kids older and bigger than him, but I put him on the floor and he started crawling to the nearest piece of furniture to pull himself up. He shuffles his way to the 18 month old little girl, who is so precious and quiet just sucking on her pacifier. Cameron also has a pacifier in his mouth so I'm thinking he's just trying to make connections and find some friends. Nope. He reaches over to her pacifier and just yanks with all his might. He wasn't making a trade. He just didn't want her to have one. You have got to be kidding me. I'm chuckling nervously trying to play it off, but I'm thinking, "Is my kid the bully of this play date?"

Snack Time
I put Cameron behind me to walk around another small table. I haven't had the eyes installed in the back of my head yet like every good parent, but I made an appointment after this. I look at Cameron who has his head cocked back. Um...why is juice running down his chin. There he is chugging down somebody else's sippy cup full of juice. Funny. My kid refuses to drink from a sippy cup from the comfort of his own home. Glad to see he's finally breaking out of his shell. To make matters worse my child has at least five goldfish in his mouth and four in his hand. Too bad we didn't bring goldfish. He's a bully who also eats lunches. Not good.

The Reign of Terror
Apparently Cameron does understand the phrase "kick him when he's down," but I wish he wouldn't. The 12 month old boy was getting his diaper changed on the floor. Cameron uses this prime time to use that kid's face as a stepping stool. As if 26 pounds of pressure wasn't enough, Cameron decides to try to make amends his own way. He shuffles up to this kid and leans in like he is going to give this little boy a hug and a kiss. I have my hopes up that he's going to have a moment to redeem himself and free me from the play date parent hall of shame. Nope. He licks the kid on the cheek. I can't be sure Cameron didn't bite him, but we'll just stick to licked.

The Last Hoorah
The 18 month old little girl is back as the target. She was playing with her mom's keys close to the door. My child sees keys and hightails it over to her because he likes the taste of cool metal in his mouth. He's speedy when he wants to be. He rips the keys right out of her hands and finds the fastest route to his mouth. I give the keys back, and he retaliates by grabbing a handful of sweet blond locks and pulling with all his might. I swatted my child so fast I could have killed a house fly if it had been on his hand. I think that's our cue to leave.

Sure, he was cranky because he woke up at 3am to see the Royal Wedding, but I'm pretty sure most tired babies cry or act sluggish...not unleash a Reign of Terror upon playmates.

Happy Easter!

Easter was a fun-filled holiday. We spent time with our families where Cameron ate everything in sight. Cameron took part in his first Easter egg hunt, and he sure was excited to find Meme filled the eggs with puffs.




He was a little unsure of the bunny ears, but the ears were forgotten once the toys came out. I didn't realize how small his Easter basket was until I tried cramming all his goodies in there.

This gift wasn't going to fit in the basket no matter how big.


Okay, pick your chin up off the keyboard and close your mouth. Yes, Brian and I are expecting baby #2 on November 5. My students were the first to figure it out and not because I told them. Literally the day after I had a positive pregnancy test, one of my trouble makers asked me if I was pregnant. At least twice a week the students would find strategic ways of prying it out of me. They eventually became ruthless and just came right out and said, "You getting big, Mrs. Rodrigue. You sure you ain't pregnant?" If you want honest answers about how you look either ask an old person or a high school student.

We are absolutely thrilled and feel blessed at the opportunity to raise another child.

Chores

He's nine months old and able to crawl. I haven't received a rent check from him yet so I figured it's time he better start pitching in.

Cameron's First Haircut

We were almost to the point of needing a headband to hold back the bangs and a pony tail holder to tame the mullet. Seriously though, his hair wasn't that bad, but we decided to get him looking sharp for Easter. We took him to a place called Beaus and Belles in Baton Rouge where they cater to children. He was seated inside a race car with buttons to press and they put Caillou on TV. Talk about a happy baby.


Of course we had to keep him hydrated for such a strenuous task.

He looks so much like his cousin Jacob in this picture.


Goodbye mullet. Hello handsome!

9 months

The official weigh in...25 lbs 12 oz. Actually lighter than I thought thanks to three poopy diapers before we left. He's in the 75th percentile for height at 29 inches. The doctor's visit went surprisingly well. There was a little girl in the waiting room with Cameron who was screaming and crying the entire time. Thanks for pumping my kid up about the shots. Well Cameron was being completely anti social as if the tears were just too much drama for him. Every time the little girl approached us, he would dig his claws into my neck and try to crawl back into my womb apparently. The little girl's mom pulls out a juice box, and now my child is trying to leap out of my arms as though the first kid to the juice box claims it. Thank God they called us in shortly thereafter.

The only minor mishap is partly to blame on the doctor's office. A nurse had to prick Cameron's blood to check for iron and lead. To stop the bleeding, she puts on one of those worthless circle Band aids. I would like to just say that I am paying those doctors. The least they could do is upgrade to a Band aid that actually wraps around the wound. Circle Band aids are the equivalent of licking a piece of loose leaf and placing it next to a bleeding area. Ban them! Anyway, my child is fascinated with the circle Band aid on his finger, I am filling out a few forms, and the doctor is trying to talk to me and examine Cameron. The next thing I know the doctor says, "You may want to watch that Band aid. It's a fine line between bleeding to death or choking on the Band Aid, but how about avoiding both." I'm sure that became a notation in the chart. Stupid circle Band aids.

Daddy's home

Brian was in Houston for work for about a week. Cameron loves his "Dada." All Brian has to do is look at him, and he starts grinning. So much for a momma's boy. You can kind of see Cameron's two bottom teeth in these pictures. We were hoping for an entire mouth full so we could stop all this teething business, but only the two came out.

Bath time

The cup is what we rinse him off with, but he treats it like a megaphone. He'll scream as loud as possible into it and then laugh at the echo.

The meltdown

So my kid loves freeze pops. I know. Shame on me. It's not in the food pyramid or maybe it fits in the "use sparingly" section, but my kid loves some frozen flavored water. Usually every afternoon (don't judge) we share a freeze pop. Here's the meltdown that happens when he realizes there is no more.

He's watching me walk to the garbage can to throw the trash away. He's still holding out hope that I'm making a trip to the freezer for another.

I am now walking back toward him sans freeze pop.

I usually like to rub it in a little more and tell him, "It's all gone." Let the meltdown begin.