A Huge Loss

I am writing this with a heavy heart.  My former soccer coach has passed away.  I have known Ralph since I was 9 years old.  He claimed he knew me when I would run up and down the soccer field in a full diaper, but I don't remember those days.  I started playing for him the first year he created the "younger" Cougars.  We picked the name because the team that he coached that was a few years older than us were called the Cougars.

I spent year-round with Ralph and our soccer team.  Most summers we took big trips somewhere for a soccer tournament (sometimes two!).  Without him, I would have never been to Canada or Minnesota.  We also played in the Disney Cup a few times.

Next to my father, he was the biggest male role-model in my life.  He not only taught me about soccer, but he also taught me a whole lot about life.  He also allowed me, and the rest of the team, to develop friendships with girls I would have never met outside of soccer (majority of our team went to all different high schools).  I am so thankful for having had him in my life.

My biggest regret was not calling him enough.  It had been a while since I had last spoken to him.  I kept saying, "Oh, I need to call Ralph, but I will do it tomorrow."  And, well, tomorrow never came until it was too late.  So, if there is one thing I can pass along to everyone reading this CALL PEOPLE.  Let them know you love them, miss them, care about them.  I know Ralph knew all of this, but I wish I had said it more often.  And called more often.

Just some memories I never want to forget about Ralph:
-Making us listen to some talk-show radio every soccer tournament trip.  Except the one time he let Gia, Alana, and I listen to the Dirty Dancing CD and sing to it in the car.
-His made up language he would yell at us in.
-Claiming he had a wooden leg and that is why he limped.
-His yearly trips to "Disney World".  He would never tell us he was actually going to the hospital for some treatments because he didn't want us to worry.  But as you get older (he was my coach from the time I was 9-18) you get smarter.
-Not starting me a few games because I had gotten lazy and started skipping practices.  He also played me less time in those games.  He taught me to work for things and not just expect them.
-Making us run around the "baby-pin" aka the fenced in play ground when we were being poor listeners or whatever we had done.  We never ran as much as he told us to.  I remember when Brittany S. first joined the team, she actually ran around it as many times as he had said and we all looked at her like she was crazy.
-He started this bad habit of getting us slurpees in the summer and hot chocolate in the winter.  Well, we decided we were "entitled" to those things and would go on strike and sit on the fence until he had a parent go get it for us.  I think we eventually outgrew this (maybe our last year with him, haha).  He definitely spoiled us!
-Him meeting Hunter for the first time.

Music and Memories

I've heard a lot of people say that certain smells trigger memories for them.  There are very few smells the trigger memories for me.

But music... that triggers lots of memories for me.  I tend to relate to songs that I listen to, or I could at least imagine being able to relate to the song.  Carl and I were watching an episode of Criminal Minds and the show had mentioned something about music people listen to when they are around 13 and 14 years old tends to be the music they continue to listen to.  Now, I don't know if that is an actual fact (although, if something is on T.V. it has to be a fact), but that is pretty true for me.

Anyways, back to memories.  Spice Girls and N'Sync definitely remind me of middle school, but none trigger a specific memory.  Certain Linkin Park songs tend to remind me of high school and old boyfriends/crushes.  The ones that a person listened to while we were talking on the phone for the first time, or that described our relationship.  Other songs that remind me of high school and friends include "Breathing" by Life House, Staind songs, and Dashboard Confessionals songs.

"My Immortal" by Evanescence was the first song Carl and I ever held hands to.  I can still remember that day.  We had just played a softball game for work and were headed to Chilis to eat.  We were in his friend's truck because something was wrong with his car.  "Hanging By A Moment" by Lifehouse was the song he sang on our first date while we were putt-putting.  We were supposed to dance to "I Miss You" by Incubus at our wedding, but I gave the DJ the song "Echo" by Incubus.  I was about to type it the other way until I started to listen to the song and that is probably how I ended up mixing up the request.

When I was pregnant with Hunter, after we had discovered cysts on his brain, I couldn't stop listening to "Show Me What I'm Looking For" by Carolina Liar.  That is all I think of when I hear that song, but I absolutely love it (the song that is, not so much the stress).

When I hear "Father of Mine" I think of Carl and what a great dad he in spite of his father.  The song actually makes me sad listening to it because I can't imagine not having love and support from my dad, nor can I imagine what Carl went through.  "Now I'm a grown man/With a child of my own/And I swear that I'm not gonna let her know/All the pain I have known".

There are quite a few songs (not ones I typically listen to, like R&B songs) remind me of Katie and Stephen's wedding and all the dancing that we did.  I will pass through the station and stop to listen to it because it makes me smile.

I just love music and how you can relate to it.  Any songs that bring back memories for you?!

iPics

Not too many this week since I just posted one.

I'm not sure who we purchased the iPad for, but Hunter seems to think it is for him.  While I was getting everything ready to leave the other morning, this is how I found Hunter and Koal.

It isn't often that I take a nap when Hunter does, and it is even less often that we nap in the "big bed" together.  I took a short cat nap and got snap a picture of Hunter sleeping peacefully.

I went for a hair cut Friday after work.  While I was sitting there I decided to do something a little crazy.  Not crazy enough to be really seen when my hair is down or up (because I'm not that brave), but you can see it if I do this...

Two streaks on either side.  Not the bottom layer of my hair, but in the middle so it is hidden when it is up or down.  I'm sure it will start to fade because my hair never holds color.

Video Dump

Hunter loves running in puddles.  He also loves playing with the older kids (well, more copying older kids).  He happened to come across this one while we were outside playing and this is where he stayed the rest of the time we were out there.



We have an app on the iPad for Memory.  Hunter is pretty good at it.  I love watching him play and stop to think, "I know I've seen that.  Where was it?"



I don't know if I've ever mentioned on here, but I was big time into soccer through high school.  So I absolutely LOVE that Hunter is into kicking a ball around the house (and outside and at TLG).



Hunter is into copying us and people around him.  We were playing around with a little tiger and Hunter did the exact same thing we did.

20 Months

I can't believe in 4 short months our baby will be 2!  He has such a personality now and he learns new things every day!

Hunter loves watching and copying the older kids.  We recently started a second class at TLG at the Beast/Super Beast level.  He does so well following along with all the activities and actually will do skills with Mr. Randy (he refused to go near him for a few months when we would do make ups in his class).  Monday night was Airtrack (a big bounce inflatable, TLG's version of a trampoline).  What the kids are being encouraged to do is get on, bounce down to the end, get off, following the colored dots back to the beginning and do it all over.  Up until Monday night, Hunter refused to get off.  He thought he wasn't going to be allowed back on.  Not Monday night.  He followed the older kids right around, and then did it on his own.  I just sat back amazed.  He rode it up (when it inflated) without asking me to get on with him and rode it down (as it deflated).  He is also trying to jump.  He is getting up on his tip-toes and almost has gotten his feet off the ground.

Hunter's language is also starting to blossom.  He is repeating words that we are saying (which has really made us watch what we say) and words he is hearing others say.  He tries to use some of the words later on in a different context.  I'm still keeping an eye on his expressive language and "therapizing" him.

He is helping us dress and undress him (he has been doing this awhile, but I don't think I ever mentioned it on here).  He tries to put his socks and shoes on and can get his socks off, but not yet his shoes (unless the shoes are loosened).  He is showing sympathy towards others and does not like when others (even if they are on T.V.) are upset.  And he really doesn't like it when he has upset someone.  This weekend, he colored on Kelly's door.  Luckily, it came right off, but I told him no, explained we color on paper, and made him say sorry to Kelly.  I did not do this in a mean tone nor did I raise my voice, but Hunter was still very upset by upsetting others.

This weekend, Hunter woke up from his nap and told Carl, "Poop!" as he walked in.  Sure enough, Hunter has pooped.  He has done this a couple of times since.  I know he is definitely not ready for potty training (he doesn't care about his wet diaper), but I did get him a little potty seat.  He likes to sit on it and will ask to sit on it.  I tried putting him in the tub and as soon as he started to pee I told him to stop, picked him up, and put him on the potty.  But after about 30 seconds of nothing, Hunter said, "Done." and wanted back in the tub.  He then proceeded to pee in the tub, haha.  Like I said, not ready and I'm not going to stress nor am I going to push him.

He is a little jokester.  He does things just to make us laugh.  He will pretend to fall down while saying, "Whoa!" and then giggle.  If we laugh at something (or he hears anyone else laugh) he does his fake laugh.  He has no idea what is funny, but laughs anyways.

iPics

It has been crazy busy and when I do have down time, I don't feel like sitting in front of my computer.  So here I am... I'm going to try to catch you up on our past two weeks (or so).

Hunter recently had strep (as I think I stated in the last post).  30 doses of EryPed (which seemed like an eternity) and little man is 100%.  The Monday after he was diagnosed, we spent the day together.  Hunter rarely EVER hangs out on the couch.  The two above pictures came from the same day.  We spent a lot of time on the couch watching T.V., snuggling, playing Memory, and singing.

Hunter loves trying to squeeze into any container he can.  After a refill on diapers, we leave the box in his room for a day or two so he can climb in and play.  He likes to stand up and say, "Whoa!  Down!" as he tips over on purpose.  Next box I plan to make some sort of wheel so he can pretend to drive.

Hunter has always really been into putting on our shoes and walking around the house.  Lately it has been any other article of clothing of ours.  He labels the item by the name of the item and then the item (after you repeat the name of the item).  Our conversation about his outfit: H- Hat. (as he pats his head) Me- Yes, it is a hat. H- Dada! Me- Yes, Daddy's hat.  H- Wa. (watch) Me- You're right, a watch. H-Dada! Me- It is Daddy's watch.

Hunter got his first Valentine's Day card from a girl (not someone from Mrs. Cathy's house).  He got this from B who is in his TLG class.  Her mom found this on Pinterest.  She melted down old, broken crayons and hardened them in a heart shaped muffin tin.  Super cute!

After his Valentine's Day party at Mrs. Cathy's house.  I'm pretty sure he was a little crazy from all the goodies he ate.  He had a great time.  I love all his little parties at her house.

Just a little fun with Sea Horse.

This cracked me up!  Hunter took his puzzle pieces and turned them upside down.  He yelled, "Roll!" and then knocked them over.  I'm not sure where he gets the idea to make things roll from.  Ha.

iPics

This past week we had a few really pretty days.  I don't think I've mentioned how crazy this winter has been!  Anyways, Hunter and I took advantage of these days by going to the park.  His new thing is to lay down in random places and say, "Night night" and pretend to sleep.  Silly boy!

His trike came it!  I must say, Carl and I were very impressed with the material for the trike.  It is nice, solid metal.  The plastic wheels are not made out of the cheap, thin (you squeeze it too hard it is going to break) plastic.  Hunter loves his bike.  Unfortunately, his legs are about 1-2 inches too short so he rests his feet on the bar.

We bought some on-the-stick-popsicles for Hunter.  The first one he didn't quite get the whole stick concept and would immediately throw it on his tray after taking a lick.  He has since learned to hold it by the stick.

Last weekend we had a play date at the park with B.  We spent 2 hours at the park.  Hunter would have stayed longer, but it was time to get home for dinner.

Last week, Hunter fell while he was at the sitter and had a nice bruise.  Then, this week, when we went to visit Carl at work for dinner, he ran into the metal door jam and got another bruise.  And that same night when we were walking to my car, he tripped and hit his head on the cement.  He had a nice set of bruises all in the same area.

Daddy picked Hunter up from Mrs. Cathy's Friday.  He sent me this picture as they were getting ready to leave.  He looks like such a little boy in this picture.  It makes me sad to think he is growing up so fast!

Sickies

My poor boys have been sick this weekend.  Carl and Hunter have both had a pretty bad cough and Hunter has had lots of snot.  Saturday, Carl went to the doctor to get some cough medicine and ended up being diagnosed with bronchitis.  I no longer thought Hunter had just a cold (even though the only symptoms he had were a cough and runny nose... he didn't act "sick"), so I took him to Patient First (since his pediatrician's office was closed).

The nurse took his height and weight, counted his breaths, and took his O2 levels and Hunter cooperated and sat like a big boy the entire time.  She swabbed his throat for strep just to do a full work-up.  It ended up that is what he had- strep.  No fever, no symptoms, but tested positive for strep.

So, Hunter is on some antibiotics for his strep for 10 days (again, I asked not to be prescribed PCN due to my allergy and my family history of the allergy).  It apparently does not taste very good (that was a fun first 2 rounds of that medicine), so we have been sneaking it in his milk.  I will have a three day weekend as I will be staying home with little man tomorrow.  No complaints here.

My sickies ready for Super Bowl