January 2013 for me and my Tate

I cannot believe January is almost over.  We are 31 days into 2013 and I feel like life is just passing us by!  

Tate turned 3 1/2 on the 23rd and boy did we have the half year disturbances to celebrate.  Then the week of the 23rd he went back to 'normal.'  No more tantrums.  No more meltdowns, and honestly I cannot think of one time he's cried since last Monday, the 21st.  Oh we've had the crocodile tears, but nothing major.  Absolutely amazing.

So when I look back at January 2013 I see lots of love, heartache, worry, friendship, tears and joy.

We spent the first weekend in Dallas for my 'Fight Like A Girl' weekend for my dear sweet J.

Next up was a visit with our allergist to have Tate tested for his egg and orange allergy.  Sadly, he's still allergic and we're to avoid egg and all food with egg in it and all citrus products.

The top welt is from the egg, the second welt from oranges.
The bottom is the control.  His welts have to be smaller
than the control or preferably not present at all to be
considered allergy free.

We went to the Houston Tinplate Operator's Showroom at one of our local malls with my sweet Palmi and her Alonzo.  The boys had a great time.  Sadly, the showroom's last day was the Saturday we went, so until they find a new space we will not be able to spend hours ogling trains.

We let the boys ride the train in the mall and ride the indoor carousel.  A great time was had by all of us.  I love hanging out with one of my oldest and dearest friends.

Aunt Lindsey ran the Houston Marathon in 45 degree, rainy (and I mean pouring rain) weather.  Grandmommy, Papa, Tate and I went to cheer her on at mile 22!!

Lindsey's running buddy, Kristen!

Stopping for a quick break!

Getting ready to go finish up!

We attended an SMC luncheon at Lupe Tortilla's and met two pregnant women, one tryer and another with a 10 month old...pretty low-key.  We had arrived early to accommodate Tate's nap, so left early, but had a nice time.

Sunday, the 20th was Education Sunday at his school's affiliated church.  I took Tate to participate in the children's singing group.  This little guy LOVES to perform.  He had a great time. (In the second to last video the kids are walking into the church.  I just love how he's looking for me as he walks in with his hands clasped in the prayer position and his entire face lights up when he sees me!  That was my favorite mommy moment this month)

Sweet Tate ran into his BFF's head during gymnastics at school last Thursday, the 24th.  My good friend and business manager at my office ran over to the school and picked him up for me.  His teacher texted me during their nap to tell me, indicating he hit his mouth which was bruised and he had complained his teeth hurt.  He then had a pee accident towards the end of his nap indicating to me he wasn't feeling quite right.  D was a bit nervous about how Tate would do with her picking him up since though he knows and likes her, she's never been around him without me.  She needn't have worried.  When I had a chance between patients to run back to the office to see him, he was smiling (in his hideous 'extra' non-matching, too small, I peed on myself clothes) and shouted "My nana picked me up today!"  Poor D is only 54 and nobody's nana, but Tate has not let go of that title for her.  He's thrilled to have a nana!

His love of the Polar Express knows no bounds.  He says it that way All. The. Time.  He can barely get the words out his excitement is so huge.  Makes me laugh every time.

Over the past weekend one of his little friends from school spent the day with us while her mother had to work.  We had a great time...we rode the zoo train, had lunch at the zoo, rode the carousel, took car naps, rode bikes and went to the playground!  These kids really love one another.

And lest anyone think I didn't do anything for myself other than my girls' weekend (with my child) I got my hair relaxed one Friday and had a wonderful 90 minute massage on another Friday afternoon, while Tate happily lunched, napped and played a bit at daycare.

We kept up our usual Tate weekend activities...swim lessons on Friday.  He's doing amazingly well.  His teacher takes the group to the deep end regularly, and Tate can actually swim about 6 feet all on his own.  I'm very impressed.  Though I think Tate's favorite part of swim lessons is the fact that I let him go to the boy's restroom on his own if he needs to go.  Of course he ALWAYS needs to go when we arrive.  It's the only restroom which I know is super clean and the entry is open and I can peek in to check on his with ease.  Plus there are very few men who come to swim lessons, so I can easily check and make sure the restroom is empty and not risk offending anyone :). We're continuing with our Music Together classes on Saturday mornings;  I'm considering making this our last session as he's getting to be one of the oldest in the class and I think he needs more movement on Saturday mornings if we're going to get out and do things.

So that's our January.  The weather has been absolutely schizophrenic.  I was running my a/c all weekend as the temps outside were in the low to mid 80s (ugh), and for the past two nights I've run my heater.  (sigh)  Our allergies are getting the best of us as we both seem to have tickles in our throats and cough a bit.  Tate is back on his Singulair and I usually give him Zyrtec at night.  Tonight I gave him Benadryl as he had a pretty dry, hacking cough, and that nips that in the bud for him.

I've been trying to remember to write a quick gratitude note and place it in a vase every day with simple reminders of good things that occurred to me that day.  I've done it almost half the time.  The idea is that at the end of the year I can go back and read all the sweet notes I've written.  I think it's going to be pretty cool.

Can't wait to see what February has in store for us!!