Evel Knievel

Alas, the time has come to retire the rockin' motorcycle. Cousin Kate really rubbed off on Miles this weekend!

Laughing all the way

I really need to post only one photo from this weekend. This one. Because this was the expression on Miles's face the entire weekend. (except for those last moments before dinner.) Seriously, the kid had some fun. He still had no concept of the whole Christmas thing; even opening presents was less interesting than starting all of the electronic singing creatures. But his spirit was right on target.

Last Thursday we headed over to Nashville to spend Christmas with Wayne's family. Miles's cousins Evan & Kate were over to play every day. Kate and Miles had BIG fun playing together. They were too funny, running all around, showing each other toys, giggling. We were up waaaay past bedtime most nights, but isn't that what you're supposed to do at YaYa & B's house?

It was go-go-go the whole time. Mimi & Grandpa came up from Memphis for a night to see us and drop off some presents. Uncle Kiley was successful in getting the coveted TMX Elmo, although he staked it out at Target, didn't have to bid online. It was a big hit! Kate wanted to put diapers on him and they all loved grabbing him and watching him roll around. It is pretty funny when he really gets going.

During the weekend we celebrated YaYa's ehemth birthday a week early with pizza and cupcakes. Evan picked out the cutest cupcakes, piled high with frosting Christmas Trees and Snowmen. We burned off that sugar with lots of stair climbing and ring-around-the-rosy. Christmas Eve we attended the 2pm children's service, which Miles and Kate made until almost the end. Then it was home for presents and a yummy dinner. Miles was pooped by this time so he didn't make it to dinner, he was off dreaming of sugarplums and Santa. Oh yeah, Santa!! He did stop at YaYa's but he left a note. Since we were going back to Knoxville on the 25th, he just left Miles's presents there. It's a good thing, we were stuffed to the gills on the drive home!!

Happier days here again

Finger drama is much better, thanks for all the well-wishes. I just had to get another picture up here so that gross finger isn't what everyone sees all weekend!! It's healing nicely and he's been leaving the bandages alone. His bear also had a boo-boo so we bandaged his paw too.

We're getting ready, "wrapping" everything up (punny, I know!) for Christmas weekend. Miles was very good today while I got everything ready. He's at a very sweet stage, likes to come snuggle and read books or just get up in my lap. He's saying a lot more now, repeating sounds we make and making many more animal sounds. He has picked up on coughing and burping and likes to copy that when he hears it. Urp! Some of our favorite new words are ham, cheese (which sounds like Jesus), more, and when he's reaching for something he says ee,ee, which I like to think is a very polite please, please!

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

Update: grody to the max

Because I know you're dying to see it....

A stitch in time

We have officially begun the "stitch count" for Miles. His Uncle Kiley holds the family record with several bajillion over many injuries. Miles earned his first 3 today. We were walking around the driveway after lunch/pre nap and bam! down he goes. Unfortunately our drive has some gravel and a piece must have sliced his left index finger. He had a pretty good gash and bled all over (see his shirt, above). So we spent 3 hours of this beautiful afternoon down at the Children's ER. It was a very busy day there, we even saw a neighbor in the waiting room.

We hoped the glue option might work, but on a busy toddler's finger there's no way that would hold. So we held him down and agonized through 3 painful stitches. They tried to numb it but it was still a traumatic experience for all. But Miles is such a trooper. We came home and ate all his favorites for dinner. He needed a little help, since his finger was still numb. After a viewing of "Baby MacDonald" he's off to sleep. Poor bear!!

A star is born

Miles's preschool Christmas program was Wednesday evening. "We" were all nerves, and we practiced, practiced, practiced. We showed off our moves for the neighbors and everyone. And all that practice got us to this...



At least we had some swaying at the end, and some well deserved applause. He truly was a star!!

(if clicking play above doesn't work, try this link.)

red spots

Finally the photo of us with Santa at the pancake breakfast arrived. We had a fun time, but Miles had a hard time deciding what to ask Santa for. I'm sure Santa will find the perfect thing... soon, I hope!



This weekend we attended a wild birthday at The Little Gym. Two of his classmates are turning 2 and they had lots of fun running around, jumping and tumbling. Miles's favorite was the big wedge that we rolled down over and over and over again.


The night after the party we noticed that Miles had a rash all over his back and legs. But he had no fever, so we were confused... heat rash? eczema? worse? But today we went to the doctor and found that it was actually a reaction to the vaccine he got about 10 days ago. Only about 5% have this reaction (lucky Miles) but it should clear up by this weekend. Otherwise all is well!

Class Clown: 2023

Say buh-buh to the ba

So the biggest news of the day/weekend is that Miles has given up his pacifier. Yes, you read it right. It wasn't really voluntary, but when he suddenly started carting this blanket around on Sunday. We figured that was a prime opportunity to swap one comfort object for another. We're on night three and completed the second day of naps, even one at school. It was an unceremonius swap, we just ignored the pleas for "ba! ba!" and said nighty-night. A few minutes of fussing ensued, followed by an abrupt silence.
School is really having a very positive impact on him. If you (I) can get past the sobbing that starts when I turn in the entrance and he sees where we're going, he actually ends up having a great day. The sobbing stops as soon as I'm out the door, but he doesn't know that I know that. He's figured out coloring, napping on a mat with a blanket, and sitting at a table for snacks/lunch. He likes that table thing so much that he's started requesting it at home. And by "requesting" I mean refusing to bend his body and sit in his booster while flailing about and screaming. Ah yes, did you know the terrible twos actually starts around 15 months? Learn something new every day!



This weekend also kicked off the holiday eating season. We started Saturday with a pancake breakfast at the church. Miles's future girlfriend Eileen was there with her mom and dad. We had fun visiting with them, or trying to while chasing Miles down. Several of his playgroup buddies were also there so he was off and running with them.

And finally, Sunday was a big birthday in the Erwin house... Apollo turned 42!! Okay that's really 6 in people years. But we all celebrated with cupcakes. We love you, big boy!!

gobble gobble

Has it really been a week since Thanksgiving?!? Time flies when you're running around like mad! Miles had is 15 month checkup this week and weighed in at 26 pounds. Hefty kid to be lugging around. But that's just what's happening. He's hit the stage when he wants to be with mama, unless dada's home then he wants to be with dada. It's so sweet when he crawls up in my lap for extended story time. Was it just a few months ago when I couldn't get him to even look at a book, much less sit and read?
Thanksgiving travel was an event as always. We tried to head out Tuesday night only to be stopped 15 miles down the road. Thankfully we got off on the highway, because we heard on the radio that an accident had completely closed I-40 west! Yay! ince we'd already sat for over an hour and the accident was 8 miles further, we decided to turn around an head back home.

We got up bright and early Wed and sailed to Nashville for a short break, nap (for all three of us!) and lunch before continuing on to Memphis. We started Thanksgiving day with a wonderful lunch at Bebe & Poppop's house and enjoyed the beautiful sunny day. Then we went back to Mimi & Grandpa's house for a later meal with all the family on that side. It included Grandpa's mother, Mary Kay, visiting from Ohio.

Miles had fun chasing the cat. Since the dogs made the journey to Memphis too (!), they even got a shot at Shadrack before we corralled them in the garage. I think this is when Miles perfected his Meow. It was fantastic to see everyone, but always nice to return home. Miles was a trooper and ended up sleeping a lot of the way. It's exhausting entertaining 17 of your nearest and dearest!