"Goo day!"

This week has been just great! The greatness started on Monday. Monday M came to town! I miss M. We talked about food, went shopping, had coffee. Fun, fun times. She's a few hours away from me now. It was wonderful to have her come and spend the night. I made chili that night. Oh, wow! I think- no, I know- I've found our favorite recipe. I made this chili. Wow is it tasty. Made for a FULL crockpot. We ate off it for several meals and I have two meals worth in baggies in the freezer right now. 

We went to the mall together. T rode on my back in the APLX with the silk blue embroidered dragon print visible. I put him on in the back seat on the car- sat down on the seat, told him, "climb on up" (while I was seated in the back seat of the car- and up he scrambled, put his arms around my back, and laid down so I could pull the carrier fabric up over his back and put the straps over my shoulder. M reached forward, wanting to help.

 "No, that just makes things hard!" I said, as I deftly snapped the chest strap and stood up.

 "I know," she responded, "but watching someone put a toddler on their back in a carrier makes me feel like I need to help!" 

"It actually could become a self-fulfilled prophecy as the mom needs to know exactly where everything is. Plus, I was seated and there was no place he could fall if he wanted to," I responded. Or something like it.

 I wanted to add " It really helps if you know the techniques. Then you can understand how much safer this is than when you see all those moms balancing their bucket car seats on shopping carts- even when the AAP and some car seat manuals say not to put bucket seats on or in shopping carts because it's so dangerous." But I didn't. We were going shopping. Not at a babywearing safety meeting. Seriously, though, did YOU know it's not safe to put your baby's car seat on or in the shopping cart? I know some have that hook, but the AAP says not to, and car seat experts. I didn't know about that when I first had T at all. Now that I do it makes me uncomfortable to see those seats balanced- seemingly secure but in actuality precariously (did you notice that those hooks don't snap in place like they do in the car?)- on top of the carts whenever I'm at the store.  

(links to back up my seemingly strange statement: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/on-parenting/2010/07/07/car-seats-arent-safe-when-used-in-the-home and http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/pages/Safe-Shopping-With-Children.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR:+No+local+token and http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/aug06shoppingcart.htm and http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=94954)

We went to Macys to look at towels. Oh fun. No, not really super fun. It was an excuse for the fun things though. Shoes. Lots of boots and heels and other glorious fun footwear were on sale. Didn't buy anything. Saw some awfully cute ones though. And the purses! M almost bought one. I thought about it but my husband complains I have a tendancy to buy purses like most women do shoes. So I'm thinking of switching to some other accessory. Maybe shoes. Maybe jewelry now that T is getting older (he's still pulling on ears occasionally though).

I was so sad! We left the mall, walked around a bit, and I discovered the coffee shop had closed down. That's the 2nd coffee shop in the mall that's closed since I moved to Evansville! Seriously, it's no good at all! Seems like the only place that survives in the food court is Chick-fil-A. Who can resist a good Chick-fil-A sandwich, or their real chicken juicy nuggets? Yum. I love their food (for fast food) and especially that they're owned by Christians. 

T just loved having M over. He calls her "Maymay". First thing when he woke up the following morning he called for "Maymay". That kept up for most of the day too while she was out. I know he was sorry to see her go. We all were sorry. 

Didn't make it to any story time this week. It's been so busy. I've had doctor appointments and dental visits, guests, cooking, cleaning, shopping- and yes, I found some pretty good stuff!

My first find was a boys Ralph Lauren shirt for only $1 at a local used store. It has a tiny yellow stain so I need to soak it in some OxyClean. Pretty confident that stain will come out. Found some adorable sweaters there too for only a few dollars. That shirt was definitely my best find of all. Except for that tiny yellowed spot it looks new. Even if it doesn't come out he could at least use it to layer or as a paint shirt. He loves art now. 

Every week- twice weekly for the past few months but once weekly starting Monday- I have to drive to my allergist's office for allergy injections. After I receive the shots we are required to wait in the office for 20 minutes (the time when most reactions will occur). Lately the office has had coloring pages for kids. T just loves them! "When you're all done you can bring it back to me and I'll hang it on the wall, or you may take it home," the woman at the front desk tells him. 

After coloring for a while he'll suddenly stand up and carry the paper across the lobby. People generally look up. They're rather curious what this little toddler is doing. 

He marches right up to the front desk and says "Hi!". 

Of course he's not visible from the other side; those counters are tall! I pick him up and he hands the colored paper right over.

 "Goo day!" he smiles as we turn to leave. "Bye!"