Trevor was pretty proud of himself this morning.  He placed a ball under his shirt, one between his thighs and one in each arm.  He was able to hobble around without dropping the ball between his legs, wearing a huge look at me, I'm awesome smile.

Just a cute picture I was able to snag before he snagged the camera.  Each day he's looking more like a little boy and less like a baby.

In preparation for baby #2 we bought Trevor a tiny toddler bed a while back.  Up until this weekend it had been sitting without a mattress in the corner of his room.  He uses it as a platform to spread out his books or bounce his balls.  I was a little concerned about transitioning this piece of furniture from play thing to sleep thing.  Our idea was to switch him to the bed after baby came so that by the time baby was ready for the crib, Trevor would be out of it.

But we had the wild idea on Friday afternoon to try laying him down for his nap in his big boy bed.  We moved his crib mattress to it and laid him in bed with a pillow and all of his crib accessories, i.e. blankies and stuffed animals.  I told him goodnight and shut the door.  He laid in bed and cried a few minutes.  I kept waiting for him to climb out of bed and knock on the door.  But it never happened.  He fell right asleep and since then has spent the following three naps and three nighttimes in his big boy bed.  There were some tears for Saturday's nap but all three nighttime and today's afternoon nap attempts have been cooperative and tear-free.

I'm not completely convinced that this is a totally smooth transition because I'm just waiting for him to realize he can get out of his new bed.  But so far, this has been way easier than I imagined it would be.

Famous last words?  I hope not.

So it wasn't swimming weather but it sure felt like a heat wave.  I'd kind of forgotten what 50 felt like (my grandpa said it's our highest temp since December 1st) so I wasn't sure how to dress.  I discovered it was still a little chilly and am glad I bundled Trevor up in his hat and coat...and wish I'd worn my hat.  After 3+ months of snow-covered ground and mostly freezing temperatures Trevor and I had to test out the sidewalks.  For anyone who wants to know, they are mostly clear with patches of slush.  There are big puddles at the corner gutters that make crossing streets difficult because, as earlier mentioned, it's not quite swimming weather.

We weren't out very long...longer than planned as it took me about seven minutes of trying the garage door opener before it worked...but it was a positive experience nonetheless.  I learned that walks with Trevor this spring and summer will be much more exciting than they were last year as he loves to point out everything he sees.  We had to stop at multiple points to look at the birds in the trees.

I am so guilty.  In both senses of the word: 1. of horrible parenting skills and 2. of possessing a feeling of remorse because of it.

I try to make it to my grandparents' about once a week for lunch or dinner and we generally try to get in a partial game of dominoes.  It can be somewhat challenging with a 20 month old (did he really turn 20 months today?) in our faces and our laps, trying to roll his toy cars across our playing surface and make plays for us out of turn, wanting us to read books to him and keep his popcorn bowl filled.  So...tonight I plopped him in a wooden chair (with a bowl of popcorn) and turned on Noggin.  It was a bittersweet victory.  He looks adorable in a sad sort of way when he's entranced by the TV and we got some uninterrupted playing time in but there is a part of me that hates myself for resorting to the boob tube.  The brain drain.  I stand accused.

And I can't help but wonder, when does this change occur?  When did I begin to value a few moments of peace at the expense of my child's well-being?  Does a little TV here and there damage a child for life?  Of course not, but still, why do I do it, knowing it's not best for him?  Does it happen for all or most of us?  There was a time when I refused to plop him in front of a TV.  Why do I give in now but not then?  I had a friend blog recently that children become normal at the age of one.  Meaning they start to do more than eat, sleep and play.  They begin to become independent little persons with minds and attitudes of their own.  Maybe I just need to be more creative and channel his energy more effectively.

I guess I just sometimes get exhausted and take the easy way out.  Shame on me.