I need...

Banks' most recent thing is to say "I need..." for everything he wants.

"I need walk, momma."

"I need truck white he-ah, momma."

 "I need twac-tor tee-bee, momma."

"I need weed dis book, momma."

He likes to add in the Momma part every time in case I forget that he's talking to me.  Today, after he slept for precisely one hour and fifteen minutes and then cried for the next 45, I decided that we needed to make some cookies.

Puffy-eyed from all the crying but ready for some cookies!

Even Daddy needed to get in on the action.  Aren't you proud of me for putting my Type A personality aside and letting him dump the flour???

After two mini Snickers and an inability to understand the need for waiting for the cookies to bake we resorted to a banana-tizer.

A little stirring action

Even an expert baker gets a little bored in the kitchen and needs some "momo-cycle" action.  Looking sick from all the Snickers he ate.

Salmonella, shalmonella.  Licking the spoon.  My mom is cringing right now.

I'd say he enjoyed the finished product!

And if you're feeling baker-ish, here's the recipe:

Candy Bar-Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

36 mini-Snickers

Beat first four ingredients at medium speed with mixer until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until blended.  Stir together flour and next two ingredients in a small bowl. 
Add to butter mixture beating until blended.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350.  Shape 2 Tbsp dough around each Snickers using lightly floured hands and roll into balls.  Place 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 13-14 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool for 5 minutes or, if you're like me, burn your mouth on them as soon as they come out of the oven because you just can't stand it any longer.

Oh Lawdy...

Being a parent is tough!  There are some days, like today, where it's all I can do to keep from ringing Banks' neck.  He's not happy with any of his toys, is whiny, and the only word he knows is "no."  Tonight, we were at dinner with friends and it was all I could do to keep him from a complete melt-down.  I even gave him my iPhone to do whatever he wanted to do with it and even that led to tears when he wanted "uh-nudder one"-meaning another game, picture, or whatever in the world he wanted to look at that would appease him.  I couldn't get him to bed fast enough.  There has been only one other incident where I considered leaving him in public so that I could dig a hole and poke my head down in it.  I am seriously dreading the two's if it is anything like the little taste I've been getting of it lately.  We might not leave the house for that year and I am serious.  We've become pro's at time out.  He's been to time out at every friend's house and most recently went to time out in the Grove.  He even sent himself to time out today for hitting me.  It may be necessary to graduate from time out soon.  I need one of those little frowny face wooden spoons that I can pull out of my purse, say in instances like at the restaurant tonight, that will put the fear of God in him with its very presence.

 Then, there are other days when all I do is laugh because he keeps me on my toes and he is a funny little boy!  I overheard him, pretending to be on the phone, say "Hey baby.  What's up?  Not much.  Bye-bye." and about fell out of my seat.  Hey, baby????  A few days ago we were playing with the sidewalk chalk and he put his little chalky finger on my sunglasses.  It left a little white smudge and he told me it was "bird poo-poo."  His little mind is so inquisitive and he talks ALL. THE. TIME.  He especially likes to announce what he's doing "I runnin!" or "I sit white he-uh."  He is funny about his play these days, too.  I came downstairs today to find some of his vehicles lined up just right.  And the cell phone is there too, just in case he needs to call his baby again.

And, reading an Easter book in the blow-up pool in the middle of the den just because...

And when I see that little face that looks like he got busted doing a big no-no it makes me want to run up the stairs and wake him up and give him a big squeeze and forget all about the teeth grinding he made me do today.  That little stinker...

Bye-bye paci!

I have been dreading and dreading it but we finally gave up the paci last weekend.  And we survived!!!  We have a nest on our front porch and ever since we moved here we've been talking about the baby birds, the mommy and daddy birds and how they feed the babies worms.  So, we decided that the birds needed the paci's since they were babies.  It worked like a charm.  He says, "baby birds, paci's?" everyday but understands that they're gone and he has to go to sleep without them.  You know, I felt bad taking his paci's away from him.  He was REALLY attached to them and I felt like I was depriving him of something he loved!  Not the last time I'll feel that way, I'm sure.

Having a final moment with them:

"Let's see if I can get two in my mouth at the same time"

And, saying goodbye forever!  Leaving them on the porch for the baby birds.

Things I've learned...

We've been in Oxford for a little over a week now and so far we're loving it!  I will say that I am totally out of my comfort zone as far as friends go.  I am having to put myself out there (read: I keep inviting myself places) and it is a really foreign feeling for me!  I guess I'm just wishing I had some ready-made best friends!  Banks and I have been getting out and doing something everyday-going to the park, playing at Square Books Jr, going for a walk on the Square, running errands.  It helps me to feel like I'm a part of the community that way.  I'm sure all two of my readers are laughing hysterically right now because I know I make it sound like we moved to Iceland and not just an hour down the road!
In our short time here I've learned a few things:

• people do not scoop poop here like they did in Memphis.
• it only took me four days to get "small-towners" where I complained about having to drive ALL the way across town to go to Kroger (all the way across town is like five miles).
• I miss the familiarity of Memphis and my Memphis friends.
• things go at a much slower pace here than they did in Memphis and I LOVE that.
• my Target withdrawals have not been nearly as bad as I thought they would be.
• there are tan, skinny college girls everywhere.  Not good for the ole self-esteem.
• I need to go on a diet.  I need a better tan.

Banks has been making the most of his time here at the new house:

Making sure he's close enough to see the "tee-bee"



Laughing it up...

Perfecting his golf swing