Tiny Turtle And Toothless

Today Brayton made green jelly (Je.ll-o) at school and learned a song to go along with it:

McColley had an even more adventurous day. There was a special event at school - a children's author/former professional soccer player came today and gave a presentation. Apparently at the end of the presentation, he played soccer with the kids.

And apparently the game got a bit rowdy because McColley's front tooth got knocked out!

Along with the molar that the dentist pulled out last week and the front tooth he lost a couple months ago, the new lost tooth has made is smile pretty silly looking:

Mr. Athletic

Yesterday I took McColley into the doctor for a sports physical. McColley is planning on playing basketball and possibly baseball so we needed his physical completed before basketball season begins.

McColley's official stats:
Height - 47 1/4 inches
Weight -51 lbs.

So, he's grown 2 1/2 inches in the last year and put on 4 1/2 lbs - it explains why we've had to buy so many new pairs of pants!

Today we went bowling and McColley decided to up his game:

He bowled the entire game using the proper hold. Now he just needs to practice it!

What's Missing From This Picture?

McColley's bottom right front tooth!

Unfortunately I had to sign an affidavit for the Tooth Fairy witnessing to the fact that he had lost his tooth.  

Somehow he lost his lost tooth and there was lots of worry that the Tooth Fairy wouldn't come without a tooth to pick up... Daddy and I assured him that the Tooth Fairy would accept our note.

60 Month Check-Up

Today McColley went in for his 60 month well child check. 

His basic stats:
Height - 3' 8 3/4"  (71%)
Weight - 45.5 lbs. (79%)

Both are right on track for his particular growth curve.

The doctor could still hear his murmur, but only by really listening for it.  Also, despite McColley's insistance that he can see JUST FINE, his eye sight was 20/50 in each eye.  I'll definitely be making an appointment with an optician soon!

McColley also had the chance to prove how brave he is.  For the last year or so, he's had a skin tag on his eyelid which he will notice occassionally.  The doctor removed it today using tweezers and scissors and McColley laid still through the whole procedure even though it stung a bit. 

I can't believe he's gotten so big!

The Many Faces Of McColley

Serious Face

'Smile' Face

Mad Face

Silly Face

Police Face

Chipped Tooth Face

That last picture - Chipped Tooth Face - was supposed to be gone forever.  

McColley was very brave today and went to the dentist to get his tooth fixed.  I was so excited that it looked whole again that I took four pictures inside the car as we were leaving the dentist's office.

Because he was so brave we went to Toy.s 'R Us and bought him that awesome police helmet as a reward.

After arriving home, and only after the dentist's office was closed, did I realize that the new filling had fallen out.

So we're back to Chipped Tooth Face.

Bravery Brings Rewards

Today both boys had their six-month dental cleaning.  It was Brayton's first visit to the dentist, but not McColley's.  In fact, McColley is quite fearful of the dentist, so in an attempt to make it more pleasant for him, I promised him a prize if he got through the cleaning without a major freak-out.

McColley was very brave and did very well during his cleaning, so he won his prize.

He was so excited by his prize that on the way home he took 21 'beauty shots' with my camera.

Here are the best... can you guess what his prize was?

Think you figured it out?

Well, his prize was...

Sk.etchers Hot Lig.hts P.olice Shoes

And, yes, they do light up.  And, yes, he LOVES THEM.

Taking Turns

Today we had to do a quick T.arget trip and much to McColley's delight one of his favorite games was on a super sale.

The boys had a lot of fun breaking the ice:

Unfortunately we only got through two sessions before McColley needed to take a rest.  He had a cold all day and decided to go to bed early... before he had a chance to dye any eggs.

Brayton and I decided to make sure the Ea.ster Bunny would have at least a few eggs to hide tomorrow:

I went with Vibrant Colors:

After Brayton went to sleep, McColley's cough woke him up.

Since he was already awake, we let him do some egg dying too:

Brayton must of sensed that he was missing out because he woke up too, but he was happy to watch some more eggs change color:

Now, the eggs are dyed... the boys are back asleep... and all we have to do is let the eggs dry.

You (Almost) Spin Me Right 'Round, Baby

Nearly as soon as we walked through the door of playgroup, Brayton zeroed in on the sit 'n spin toys.

McColley saw his brother's interest and decided to show him how it was done.

Brayton was still confused:

I helped him sit on it the right way and he did get it to spin...

but he refused to 'release the brake' and pick his foot up:

He quickly decided this really wasn't his thing and tried to get off.

But there was trouble with that too:

Despite Brayton's issues, McColley is practically professional and asked me to take his picture as he was picking up speed:

At this point the camera beeped at me.  My memory card was full (what?! ... It's been two months since I deleted anything.)

So imagine pictures of us playing at the park and McColley cracking Brayton up by pushing him in a swing.

Then imagine us going home and me putting together a beautiful platter of indoor picnic food while hooking the camera and hard drive up to the computer so that I can hopefully take a cute picture of the boys eating nicely together while watching a movie.

Now imagine the boys finishing and Brayton deciding that it is hysterical to 'toss' the remnants of the meal.

That is when I finally got the camera cleaned off and staged a picture to give you an idea of our perfect little moment:

Brayton refused to be staged and instead laughed about his destructive creativity:

Later in the evening his devious brain showed its boundless ambition... he used a stool to get up onto the chair so that he could 'wash' the pots just like McColley:

*****

We did manage to get out of the house this afternoon because McColley's glasses came in!

Same frames, new lenses... but apparently he has to get used to the feeling again because he keeps telling me they're itchy.  However, I know he can see much better!

Looking Through Fuzzy Glasses

As you might recall, McColley wears glasses.

Seeing as how is only three and in a period of continuous growth, the optometrist wanted to re-check McColley's vision after four months of wearing his glasses.

That re-check appointment was today.  Guess who is now rocking an astigmatism!

He'll be glasses free for the next week because we had to send his glasses in for new lenses.

And... we get to go back in four months to see if his vision has changed again.

The Silence Is Deafening

So it's been almost a week since I updated the blog and I'm starting to get questions about whether or not we are still alive.

We are.  Don't worry.

We have, however, been sick.  Not bad sick, just cold sick.  Unfortunately the same cold cycled through our entire house.  Wednesday afternoon (just after my last post), Brayton hit the worst point of his cold.  Thursday was 'transition' day, Brayton got better as McColley got worse.  Friday was basically lost as lethargy and a temperature kept McColley resting on the couch.

I worked on Saturday and when I got home all the boys were still in their pajamas and in almost the exact same spot I had left them in.

As you can imagine, all of this was terribly exciting.  I considered creating a photo journal of all the tissues we used and the art that can be created but thought that might cross some sort of decency line.

Needless to say, this is the reason for the quiet blog.

Sunday was pretty much the same, but my work was finally having their holiday party, so we managed to get cleaned up and out the door for that.

It was hosted at one of my co-workers homes and pretty much everyone managed to attend.

The boys were the youngest guests, however:

As has become the norm at parties recently, McColley got to help pick and open gifts:

As an added bonus The Maguire Brothers performed after the presents were all opened.  McColley sang 'Rud.olph The Red-No.sed Reind.eer' while Brayton danced.  It was an excellent floor show.

Yesterday we finally made it back to music class, but I didn't take any pictures.

Today was zoo class.  We learned about tigers.

McColley became a ferocious roaring tiger:

Brayton worked on creating random havoc (as usual) and just being random (also usual):

The funniest thing about today was Brayton's outfit:

I put him in the first shirt with long-sleeves I saw this morning... which just happened to be his brand-new tiger shirt.

I had no idea what the zoo class subject was when I choose that shirt.  I guess I was just in a tigery mood!

He Can See Clearly Now

McColley's glasses arrived!

Here he is (with a camera flash):

And again (without a camera flash):

Is it just me... but doesn't he look incredibly grown-up?

Do You See What I See?

Today both boys went to see the eye doctor for the first time.  We got their appointments together, so the doctor kind of bounced between the boys depending on who was most cooperative.

McColley's appointment was covered by insurance and Brayton's would have been too, but the office we went to participates in a program called In.fantSEE and they provide free eye exams for babies between six and twelve months.  It is an effort to find and fix eye problems before they become surgical or unfixable.  Apparently most problems can be completely fixed if caught early enough.

Luckily, both boys have perfectly formed eyes.  No lazy eye like their daddy!

Unluckily, neither of them have perfect vision.  Brayton is a bit far sighted - but that's good!  As he continues to grow his eyes will grow too and his vision should become perfect.  McColley is nearsighted - that's not so good.

We had to take a trip through the eye glasses section and purchase McColley a cool set of blue glasses.

We'll get his glasses by the beginning of next month.  He'll go back in for a follow-up appointment in a few months to see if the glasses are helping or if his vision has changed again.  Apparently 10-20% of kids his age will have their vision normalize as they get older and end up no longer needing glasses, but more than likely he's going to be a life-long glasses wearer (just like Mom and Grandma and Grandpa and GreatGrandma and Auntie and Uncle and... )

Take Two And Call Me In The Morning

McColley had a dental appointment at 8am.

As you can see, based on the bandage on his hand, he was put under anesthesia.

He had two crowns put in...

this was our second attempt at putting in the crowns.

This process all started at his last cleaning.

It has taken so long that he's now due for another cleaning next month.

At least it's finally done.

And, he's even feeling good enough now to show off:

"I've never done this before!  Take a picture before I fall off!"

Post-Consult Park Time

This morning we had to get out of the house early for a dental consult.  The office was in a town I've never been to before, but we got there early and enjoyed looking around a bit before going into the office.

Of course, after a 45 minute drive the consult lasted all of five minutes.  Unfortunately, leaving the office caused a mild McColley tantrum so to defuse the situation I took the boys to a cool park I had seen as we entered the town.

Brayton was just excited to get the chance to explore:

McColley surprised me by stretching a bit outside his comfort zone:

Obviously if big brother does it... it must be attempted:

This also holds true for things Brayton can actually climb (and cause Mommy heart-stoppage):

McColley also found the coolest slide ever:

It is a series of rollers and as you go down it kind of gives your bottom a massage.  McColley did it about ten times.

Eventually the wind changed and the clouds seemed ominous so we left the park and took a scenic way home.

We head back in two weeks for the 'real' dental appointment.

It's Good To Be First

When one gets promoted from 2nd to 1st Lieutenant, one switches from gold to silver bars.

So, it is very important to check that they are changed on all your uniforms:

One is also supplied with two new assistants as befits your rank:

All joking aside - B was promoted today!  I'll post the 'official' pictures of his promotion ceremony when we get them.

Also, McColley had his 3-year-old Well Child Check.  He's 39 inches tall, weighs 34.4 lbs and has a 19.5 inch head circumference.  All are about the 50th percentile.  He's doing well!

This Is Getting Really Freakin' Old

Look Closely

Do you see it?

There...

above McColley's left eye?

That red mark from where he banged his head into the wall on the 4th.

Now look again...

do you see the other injury?

No?

Well, it is a bit harder to pick out.

We missed it for the first few hours too.

Look at his mouth, the right side, the middle tooth of the three.

Yeah, the funky looking one.

His stupid filling fell out... AGAIN!

UGHHHHH!

This is something I have been worried about since last summer.  The dentist warned us that since McColley's teeth are so small there was a chance it could come out again.

So, today we went back to the dentist.

The receptionist recognized me.

The dentist looked at the tooth and confirmed that we can wait to fix it until McColley's sedation appointment next month.  He'll have to go to the 'next step' and it will be easier on everyone to just do it all together.

We just have to keep it super clean for the next month.

'Washing' His 'Hands'

While I was making the bed and B was working on the computer, McColley declared he was going to wash his hands in the kitchen.

Ten minutes later we realized how long he had been washing his hands.

We walked into the kitchen and saw this:

His explanation:

After taking this video, I turned off the faucet.

McColley declared, "You've ruined my water recipe!" and turned the faucet back on.

*****

McColley also visited the dentist today.  As I worried, he has cavities on his upper molars.

He will be having pulpotomies on those two teeth in August.  At least he is now big enough that he can be sedated in the office and we can (hopefully) get it all done in one (hopefully) low-stress appointment.

The procedure will be in August because that was the first available appointment... ::sigh::... sometimes I wish there was a Magic Mommy Wand that I could wave and make stuff like this just go away.

A Rive.r Runs Thr.ough It

Today we woke up early to go to McColley's postponed doctor appointment.

He's doing great! He's back on his growth curve:
Weight = 33lbs (84%)
Height = 37 1/4 inches (79%)
Head = 19 1/2 inches (56%)

Luckily, today it's about 60 degrees outside, so as a treat for McColley being so good at the doctor's, I took him to the St. J.one's Res.erve.

We walked on the boardwalk over the river:

However, even though it's nice and warm, it's crazy windy:

McColley ran into a bit of bad luck with the boardwalk and got his first splinter:

Brayton got real tired of the wind real fast, so we paused for an artistic moment:
And then headed back to the more sheltered areas of the reserve.

McColley was upset that we hadn't found any ducks, so he dawdled just a bit: