Remember when...

So, a couple of days ago I begged the gods to please take all the yucky germies away from Logan. Well, apparently I pissed them off somehow, because they threw it back at me two fold. I went to the Doc last night with the thoughts of strep throat ringing in my ears. They said no...just tonsillitis. And an ear infection. Then, just to make it a little more fun, Andy got pink eye. The L man, he's as happy as a clam. And crawling. FINALLY. Let's hope this all ends before we go home for Christmas.

Hate is such a strong word

I HATE (notice the capital letters) exercising. I think it's complete bull when I hear all those people on weight loss shows saying they can't imagine life without exercise, they love it so much, it's such a stress reliever, blah, blah, blah. Bull. I can imagine my life without exercise. I would be sitting at home and playing with my son, watching some telly, or perhaps sleeping. Instead, I am trying to think of any excuse imaginable that will get me out of exercising. And usually, I just get lazy and go to sleep. Tonight I caved and actually exercised. There was no stress relief. I don't feel all warm and fuzzy from doing it. I'm sweaty, and now I'm cranky. But it's done. Perhaps again tomorrow? I promise I won't complain as much.

Anyone have any good exercise programs?

Germs, germs, go away...

My poor little guy. It just seems like he can't get away from being sick. We took him to a drop-in day care about a month ago because his regular sitter was on vacation. While there he picked up a nasty bug. I'm sure that if you were to look at it under a microscope it would have had about 10 heads and drooling gross saliva. That kind of nasty. He was throwing up, and had a crazy fever. Finally, after many days of both Andy and I taking work off, the fever was down and he was back to normal...or so we thought.

Next came the cough. The croup cough. Poor guy was up all night long with coughing fits. This resulted in very little sleep for Andy and I, and a very cranky Logan. We took him to see the doc, they put him on a steroid medicine, and we thought we were on our way. Nope.

Apparently many children develop an ear infection after having croup. His started with a rash (weird) and continued with the crankiest L man you have ever met. His sitter told me that another baby had the same rash and they found out she had an ear infection. Mystery solved. He downed some pink bubble gum medicine (my favorite!) and our happy Logan was back.

Until the coughing and the snotty nose started again. Yes, he has a cold. A horrible cold. Right now he in a room of menthol vapors with a humidifier running. Poor guy didn't want to do anything except lie on my chest or Andy's chest yesterday and just stare. The good news is that he's been somewhat happy during the day time. I don't think I can take any more of these germs!

McKenna Family Fun Day!

To the zoo we go! Andy and I have been trying to take a trip to the zoo for the loonnggest time. But something always came up. Usually the weather, because, you know, it's normal for it to be 80-90 degrees in Arizona during November. Stupid state. Or the cost. Zoo's are freaking expensive! We finally buckled down and went this weekend. It was sweatshirt weather and Logan was a in a good mood. Perfect!

I will admit, if I had it my way we would have gone to Wildlife World Zoo. They have penguins. I love penguins. However, they also cost about $30 per person. So, we opted for the Phoenix Zoo. It's been much improved since the last time we visited, 5 years ago when we visited Arizona and I completed my job interviews. Man that was a long time ago.

Logan loved it. I've decided he's a people watcher and would much rather stare at screaming children, showing how he's perfect because he is not screaming, then stare at animals in the zoo. He was smiling all day and had himself a grand ole time. Andy and I had fun too.

Although there were a few sprinkles along the way, I'd say our McKenna Family Fun Day was a success.

Details, details, details

I promised details from our fun week with grandma...another week may have passed, but here they are!

My mom flew in on Monday and by Tuesday we were already hitting the mall, looking for deals on clothes for who else, the L man. I am a cheap skate when it comes to buying anything. Normally, if it's for me, I look at it, fall in love, and then walk out the door without it because I know it will go on sale soon. This is a trait I have inherited from my mother. It's a good thing, really. I love shopping at big name store for Logan, but refuse to buy anything unless it's on sale. Seriously, he's going to grow out of it in a couple of months anyway. Mom and I had TONS of fun hunting for the sales and actually found some great deals. I even came home with two new pairs of pants for me...down 1 size! Very exciting.

Wednesday we had a playdate without our meet up group. We met at the group leader's house and took a nice stroll to the park. Logan took a swing ride for the first time...and didn't really care. I was a bit disappointed.

On Thursday we made our way back to the Children's Museum in Phoenix. The library has this great program where you can rent culture passes and get into museums and zoo's for free. So, instead of paying 9 bucks a pop for my mom and I, we were el cheapo and got in for nothing. Logan had a great time, as usual. There weren't many kids there, but he enjoyed himself just as much.

Grandma went home Friday, but we'll see her in December for Christmas. Our next visitor will be Nana, coming in November!

Even though the fun weekend with Grandma was over, we squeezed in a date night at the Coyotes vs. Red Wings hockey game. Coyotes lost, but it was VERY nice of my friend Amanda to watch the little guy for us. To end the week, Sunday was family fun day at the pumpkin patch. First of all, the pumpkin patches here are not up to par as far as Michigan pumpkin patches. If we were back at home, I would be visiting Uncle John's Cider Mill, which also houses a pumpkin patch. However, we made the most of the lack of cider and did have fun. There was a petting zoo area and a corn maze that we visiting. The corn maze was hella long and we were almost trapped in there for life, but some obnoxious kid captured us as hostages and led us out. True story. Kind of embarrassing. We also ran into one of my students from school, which is also fun. Logan picked out a pumpkin as did Andy and I. We ended up buying a Mr. Potato Head kit for the little pumpkin instead of cutting it for Logan, because, you know, he's 8 months. Our pumpkins are still sitting waiting for their pumpkin death.


The McKenna family is very excited for our first Halloween with Logan. Yes, he is going trick-or-treating. And yes, we will be eating all of his candy. Mr. Logan will be dressed as Yoda while I am Princess Leia and Andy is Luke Skywalker. The secret's out: we're a nerd family

Where's Waldo...McKenna Style

Where have the McKenna's been? Well my friends, I have been enjoying a fabulous week off from work, thanks to the genius that invented fall break. My mom, who has not seen Logan since he was 2 months, came to visit from Michigan. We had a ton of fun and were pretty busy all week long. I ended my week with a date night with my handsome husband and finally, Family Fun Day at the Pumpkin Patch. Although I would love to share the details at this very moment, I realize that I must go to bed because fall break is over and school starts in the morning. I am already counting down the days until Thanksgiving Break. 23 school days to be exact.

8 Months!

My little man turned 8 months yesterday. We're slowly inching our way towards the 1 year mark. I've definitely noticed that I'm buying more and more 12 month outfits. On some of them it even says "toddler". SCARY! So, without further adieu, here are the stats you've been waiting for:

• Weighing in at approximately 17.4 lbs (please note, this is on my scale, which tends to make us think we're skinnier than we really are)
• Eating 3 bottles a day and two servings of baby food, usually one veg and one fruit. He's also eating rice puffs and loving them!
• Says mama, dada, nana, baba, but doesn't connect them to any one thing yet.
• Crawling is so so close! He's actually scooting himself backwards and in a circle. I give it one more month.
  
• He never mastered rolling. He can still do it to the left, but he prefers to sit on his booty and play with his toys. Perhaps we just won't have a gymnast on our hands.
• TWO teeth. Yes, that is correct, two. They sprouted within a week of one another. Thank goodness we haven't had horrible teething stories to tell.
• Flexibility is on the rise...he's officially put a toe in his mouth

Still the cutest thing around.

I like free stuff

I'm going to be one of those parents. The ones that shamelessly tell you that their kid is the cutest in the world and although you are not their parent, you should also agree. Why? Well, because he is pretty cute. And also because you want Logan to win the Gerber contest. So, just say yes you agree and click the link and vote for him, and we'll all be happy. Especially me because I like to win free stuff.

http://www.gerber.com/photo/?entryid=128808&/#/detail/

Blah

It's Monday. Of conference week. For those of you that understand teacher talk, that means I get to stay after school for many, many, many hours to talk to parents. I'm completely booked Monday through Wednesday and it kills me that I won't be home until 7-ish to see the L-man. However, the end result is a week off, aka Fall Break. Pure Bliss. Logan and Mommy time, mixed in with Grandma (my mommy!) visiting. For this reason, I will trudge through the week. Happy Monday!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, it is officially the most important day of the year, my birthday. 27 years ago, I, Rachel McKenna, was brought into this world and thus made the world a better place. Those that I am close to would agree that I am much more subdued about my birthday now-a-days. In the past, I not only had a birthDAY but a birthMONTH. And I would blatantly ask anyone for presents. The birth month is no longer, but the asking of presents may still happen. I will admit to shaking the card to see if money falls out.

This year's birthday was pretty much a regular day. The kiddos at school brought me presents. I received a lot of hand made cards and a lot of hugs. I brought them cupcakes and forced them to sing happy birthday at the end of the day. My boys gave me a wonderful present: cake decorating classes! I do love my reality tv shows, and I really love cake shows. I mentioned a few times that I wanted to take classes so that I can start my own business. That part probably won't happen, seeing as I don't really know how to bake a cake, but I am crafty and want to be crafty with cake. Plus, I'll save money on buying cakes for L man if I can get this skill going!

After presents we went out to dinner and then sat on our butts at home while we watched tv. My kind of night. Currently the little man is sleeping and the big man is playing video games on the computer. I will soon be kicking his butt at a game of Skip Bo. Oh yeah, we're adventurous. For all of you that may not have known it was my birthday, or perhaps the thought just slipped your mind, I am still accepting presents.

World Traveler

As mentioned in an earlier post, I made my way to Vermont this past weekend. Although it was the first weekend away from Logan, it was FABULOUS! My friend Leslie became a Mrs. over the weekend and I was so excited to be there to share in the happiness. I've been bummed over the number of weddings I've had to miss in the last year just because we live in the disgustingly hot desert. However, I have known Leslie since I was in kindergarten and was not going to miss her big day. I mean, this is the same girl that I said the girl scout chat with, as well as attended numerous N*SYNC concerts with. We're bonded for life. So, my friend Amanda and I (also a fellow girlscout and N*SYNC lover) traveled the many miles to Burlington, VT. Here's a sampling of us gorgeous girls hanging out:

Sorry, had to put in the mandatory big face picture.

While we were in Vermont we had to visit the most amazing place on the face of the earth....BEN & JERRY'S FACTORY! I love ice cream. Especially chunky monkey ice cream from Ben & Jerry's. Leslie lives a mere 30 minutes from the factory, of course I was making my way there.

My free sample at the factory
Chunky monkey, the best flavor EVER!

They sold ice cream out of this very van!
We ended at the flavor graveyard

When I came home, I was greeted by this little monster:

Oh, and by the way, the fall coat was not needed. It was SO warm there! But, the changing leaves did make me think of football weather and Michigan :(

So frustrating

Apparently buying a nice lightweight jacket in Arizona is impossible. It can't be done. Come Thursday night, I'm on my way to Vermont. It's fall there. I do not own a fall type jacket. So, as any other normal person would do, I made my way to the store. First Old Navy, then Target, Walmart, and finally...the mall. You can find EVERYTHING at the mall. Except a nice lightweight fall type jacket. I actually found a couple that I liked. However, they were too small. I must remember, although I have lost a bit of weight, I'm still not down to the skinny minny sizes of stores such as Charlotte Russe or Aeropostale. JC Penney had cute coats, for about $100. I've settled on wearing a coat that is about 2 sizes too big for me and also bringing a zip up hoodie. I'll survive. ::sigh::

It's starting to grow...

A tooth that is. While feeding Logan today, Andy noticed a little white spot on his bottom gum. Yes ladies and gentlemen, we have a tooth pushing its way through. It hasn't reached the surface yet, but it will. And then my little man won't be so little anymore. He won't have a gummy smile. Instead, he'll have a toothy smile. Toddlers have teeth. Not itty bitty babies. Conclusion: Logan is getting too big. I LOVE him at this age. I wish I could just push pause for a little while longer.

We had an inkling that this was on its way. There were a couple of random diarrhea dipes this week. No fever, no cranky Logan? Most likely teething. I'm hoping that this tooth breaks the surface soon and we don't have to deal with a very cranky little man. My hopes are up, but I am aware that my expectations may not be met. So, we'll see how it goes. So far he hasn't been cranky, just normal L man. Soon to be normal L man with a tooth :(

7 Months!

We have passed the halfway point. Logan is officially 7 months old. When did he get this big? He's getting to be a little independent guy now. No longer is he lying on his back underneath his play gym. Instead, he chooses to sit on his bottom and play with the toys that surround him. No longer do we hear the crying wails of a newborn. It's now "Dadadada", "Mamamama", and "Babababa". And crawling, it's getting close too. We have a little man that can turn 360 degrees on his tummy and is soooo close to crawling to get his favorite toy. He's a little man ::wipes tear from eye::. Perhaps I shouldn't say little, I mean, he does weigh around 18 pounds people! Please witness the cuteness, you know you love him!

Children's Museum Shenanigans

Have I mentioned that I love museums, especially Children's Museums? I love anything that has hands-on fun that will allow both parents and children to play. Our meetup group scheduled a playdate this last Friday at the Phoenix Children's Museum. The museum offers free admittance every 1st Friday of the month. I'm cheap, so I'm all up for free visits! There were only a few of us meeting up, but we had so much fun! Although Logan couldn't really partake in many of the activities, such as the enormous indoor playground, we made sure to find activities for him. One thing I love about the museum is that there is a room that is specifically for children ages 3 and under. Logan loved playing with the sensory wall (which he gets from his dad) and trying to eat all of the squishy toys. My favorite part of the museum: The hanging noodle forest! We walked through a forest of hanging pool noodles. Logan was entertained, I was entertained. Totally worth the wait in line outside. The highlight of the night was hanging out with our new friends from the meetup group, especially a couple that lives around the corner from us. They came over to our house on Sunday and we have some more play dates in the works. Yes, I'm turning into one of those parents.