How About Some...?

I was cleaning the kitchen about a week ago and Dylan walks in and asks me "how about some grapes"? I am laughing hysterically because I've NEVER heard him ask for anything like that before! I fix him his bowl of grapes and then call Mom (since D had just returned from a trip there I figured he picked that up from her and PeePaw).

I ask her if she'd been saying that to D and of course she reminds me about the weekend they were visiting and Dylan asked for some juice and I said "how about some water?". Sooo, it's all me, apparently.

So now he'll say "how about some milk?" and I'll say "no" and then he'll say "how about some juice?" and I'll say "how about some water?" and he'll say "NO mommy". So that is where we're at. This also goes with snacks. He usually starts with grapes or cheese and continues down through pretzels, chips, biscuits (still haven't broken him of that Brit speak), and raisins.

This child...

Another potty story of sorts

After Taylor the cat was shipped back to the states, I cleaned out his room. I emptied the plastic containers we used for his litter boxes and put them out in our recycling bin.

As I was on my way to pick up Dylan from his playgroup, I noticed that the people next door had some maintenance workers fixing something. I looked closer and noticed that they had one of Taylor's litter boxes over there and had filled it with water to wash something.

After puking a little in my mouth, I rolled down the window to let them know that the box they were using was where my cat used to take a crap. I had not washed it out at all, just emptied the litter into the trash.

After several failed explanations, I finally said, "my cat used to shit in that box where your hands are"! A look of comprehension finally crossed his face.

"Sorry, madam, do you need it back?"

I just smiled, said "no thanks", and drove off.

It's good to be back in the states.

Potty training a potty mouth

First of all, wanted to say SORRY for my hiatus! Getting the moving sorted and all the last minute things left me drained! My goal is get this updated ASAP - especially since a certain potty mouthed toddler will be with his grandparents for a week and a half while I have some glorious 'free' time!

I admit that this is ALL my fault! And, to make it worse, I warned/scolded/nagged Kelly about watching what he said in front of the incredibly verbal little one. Driving in Dubai is annoying at best and suicidal at worst. I don't recall the exact situation, but I have deduced that honking of a horn was the trigger. I am guessing that I got frustrated and dropped the F bomb. My little listener, clever thing, did not say a thing at the time of the incident (which explains my lack of memory on Dylan's rated R vocabulary lesson). This obviously has contributed to the lack of knowledge about time, place, situation...

Dylan and I picked up Kelly after a round of golf and were on the way home when a car began honking next to us. Dylan SHOUTED (I have no idea where he gets this from) F*** CARS, F*** TRUCKS! Horrified, I glanced in the rear view mirror and saw Kelly smirking with glee.

This was a few months ago, but even now honking illicits an F bomb by my 2 year old. Although it's an appropriate use of the word (in most cases), the other parents will probably not appreciate Dylan's choice vocabulary.

At least he's potty trained - do they make wipes for a potty mouth?

Potty Training Boot Camp

We took the diaper free plunge about a month ago and it has been a crazy fall into uncharted waters (and by waters I mean pee and lots of it). I decided that the weekend after D's 2nd birthday would be perfect (no traveling until the move home in late June and no big events). My friend sent me a link about potty training in 3 days or less and I was skeptical, but decided to go for it

I really wanted D to be potty trained over here (all tile floors) instead of back in Houston in my own house! Soooo, on a Wednesday afternoon when D woke up from his nap, we said "bye, bye" to diapers and pants (the latter temporarily). I attempted this major step while Kel was out of town. Probably not a good idea. You definitely need back up on an undertaking of this magnitude (first piece of advice to my future potty trainers).

I followed the article's advice to the letter. We stuffed ourselves on pretzels, crackers, and chips and then washed it all down with STRAIGHT juice. I felt like I was breaking the mom rules, but the article said to do it. And, as many of you know, I follow directions. Meanwhile, 4 various colored Ikea potties dotted the kitchen, living room, and dining room and all the rugs were safely upstairs (second piece of advice - get into a room with tile only). The plan was to watch him and periodically put him on the potty and dance around if any pee/poo made it in. Unfortunately, we did not dance until the next day. I was on him like butter on bread until I had to make dinner (third piece of advice - don't bother with doing anything useful during this time). That's when he chose to pee over his pile of cars (like 20 of them). In keeping with the article, I acted disappointed, but inside I was marveling at the trajectory. Wow! So, I grab my handy roll of paper towels and my disinfectant and cleaned up the floor. The cars I threw in a bucket to deal with later (fourth piece of advice - put away most of the toys until you get through this and keep the remainders in one room that you can easily see into at all times).

I figured at that point that I was safe for a few minutes and went back to cooking dinner. Wrong. Apparently I learned nothing from my college bar hopping days and the importance of not breaking the seal! I hear "mommy, mommy" not five minutes later and I run into the living room to see a puddle of pee and Dyl stomping around in it with pure glee on his face. I was not amused and grabbed the rapidly diminishing roll of paper towels. Apparently he stored it all up and managed to mark most of the downstairs by bedtime.

Thursday I finally got him on the potty AND he peed in it. We danced and danced and he got to flush the toilet (fifth piece of advice - don't bother with treats, the flush is great). I allowed myself one small sliver of hope. The rest of the morning, until naptime, was hit and miss. Literally. We moved to about a 50/50 percentage. But, I was still not sure if he was ready for this. I figured I'd give it a couple more days (staying at home has its good points). The article recommends taking off a Friday or Monday and doing it over a three day weekend.

That afternoon after his nap (safely in a diaper I might add - I'm not that crazy) all hell broke loose. His friend came over and in hindsight, it was too soon. He peed all over the floor and MORE toys (the pile of toys outside to be washed quickly multiplied). I was pretty upset that night, but decided to give it through Friday.

Friday morning, pantless and diaperless, was the turning point. He started sitting down on the potty by himself when he had to pee! We were dancing all morning! He was accident free for all of Friday! I was pleased as punch and so glad I stuck with it. (sixth, I think, piece of advice - don't give up too quickly)

I think on Saturday he had only one accident, but I was pretty confident that at least at home, he was potty trained. What was even better was that he knew when he had to go and sat down on the potties by himself (including poos).

On Monday I took him to school with his potty and explained to his teacher how successful he'd been at home. I packed extra shorts in his backpack just in case, but I really didn't think he'd need them. Over confidence is not just for the athletes apparently. When I went to pick him up three hours later he was in different shorts. I was pretty disappointed, but they had at least not put him in a diaper (you can't go back)! We also hadn't attempted to leave the house yet either. I figured we needed as much practice as possible at home.

I realized that at home I had kept him without any pants on (which the directions said to do) and while that worked for home, it wasn't acceptable to be at school without pants on. So, starting that afternoon, we kept pants on and practiced pulling them down and I taught him "pull shorts" if he needed to pee, in addition to the more obvious "pee, pee". At home he just peed through his shorts. I didn't want to put him back in diapers to go to school, but I knew it wasn't fair for the school to have to deal with him peeing everywhere.

That night Kel had a softball game and Dylan and I went to watch. It was our first outing besides school and I was nervous. It was a bit of a drive to get there and we hadn't had success with the whole pants thing. I still held strong and kept him out of a diaper, but packed extra clothes. He peed through his pants about 10 minutes after we got there and after I got him completely cleaned up and changed, he peed again in the new shorts. I had to let him sit there for a few minutes in his wet pants because I was out of clothes and couldn't let him run around naked and couldn't decide what to do. I finally decided to put him in a diaper (against my better judgement, but I was out of options).

I was disappointed that night, but the next day I put him in pants again. He peed through them in the morning, but told me "pee pee" as he was doing it. I cleaned up the floor and his legs and let him sit in the wet shorts while I did that. When I finished I put on clean shorts. After that he told me "pull shorts" the rest of the day and he was accident free! I was so proud of him.

The next day at school I gushed to the teacher how I'd gone through the whole pants regiment only to pick D up 3 hours later and find him in DIFFERENT shorts! Uuuuggh. I think that with the kids and all the different toys that it was too much for him to think about.

On the 4th school day after I started potty training he came home in the same shorts and everyone was excited!

We've been out and about several times now and Dyl tells me when he has to potty and can even use the big toilet! He hasn't had an accident out anywhere since the softball game.

So, I guess I get to say DYLAN IS POTTY TRAINED! Woo hoo!

I also want to say that I don't buy into the whole "boys take longer than girls theory".

Here are a few big boy pictures!

R.I.P. Red Dog 04/25/07 - 04/17/09

It is with sadness that I write to you about the 'death' of Red Dog. He has been a life long friend (literally) to Dylan and provided much sanity to me. He helped during those first few days home from the hospital and was Dylan's best friend until just recently. The details here are a bit unclear (D was in the care of our friends while Kel and I brunched with Brad and Mary).

Here is the information I received. Allegedly, during a fit of anger, (what exactly Red Dog did I am unsure of) Dylan tore off the end of Red Dog's paci with his teeth. Luckily, Dylan did not ingest this bit of paci, but handed it to my friend (which I am thankful for).

She called to relay the sobering news to us so that we would be prepared for the carnage once we arrived home. When we walked into the house, Red Dog lay on the counter next to his severed end. It might have been my imagination (or a few drinks), but it appeared that Red Dog wasn't smiling anymore.

The next morning my angel child woke up and immediately asked for Dog. I gave it to him and he said "Dog broke. Mommy, dog broke." He put him in his mouth once, said "yuk" and threw him on the floor. I can't imagine how Red Dog feels now that he's second fiddle to Frog. He sits in a drawer now and I'm unsure of what to do with the remains. It feels so sacrilegious to toss him in the trash. Red Dog has had more experiences than any other paci his age! He's even been to Athens!

Now, there are two. Watch out Frog and Duck! Who knows what your fate might be.

A few memories of Red Dog...

In Dallas for Christmas 2007

On the Big Bus Tour in Dubai April 2008

In Austin to visit Graham and Alanna January 2009

In Athens September 2008

Eggs in the Sand

Kel and I decided to head to the beach on Easter and let Dyl hunt for eggs in the sand. When would he get to do that again? And Galveston doesn't count! I got a few plastic eggs and 'hid' them in the sand. He spots the first one...

and there's nothing in it...(I had no idea he'd even think to do that so didn't put anything in there)

and he's mad...seriously mom? nothing? forget this egg

I will show you, egg. You will never be found again.

Wait, let me double check. Anything Daddy?

The eggs are forgotten. But he attempted to throw them all in the ocean to show his displeasure.

Ok, ok, mom! I forgive you! But no more empty eggs! Understood? Yes, sir.

Back at home mommy pays (with a cookie)!

He licked all the frosting and ate all the jelly beans and left the cookie. By the way, that is my toe on the bottom right. Just noticed that!

Our vehEGGles! These were pretty cute and they actually roll around!

It's so fun doing holidays now with D because he gets them! Sad to admit, but I'm already so excited about doing Christmas at our place with all the family!

9

It is hard to believe, but Kel and I are celebrating 9 years of marriage this April! We really haven't done anything big the past few years, so I decided to surprise him with a night at The Address near Burj Dubai and a set of golf lessons from Claude Harmon III at the Els Club. My plan was for us to head out Thursday afternoon to the hotel and spend some time hanging out at the pool or checking out Dubai Mall since he hadn't been there yet. Then we were going to have dinner at the Souk next door and then head up to the bar on the 63rd floor where we would meet our friends. Friday morning I was going to surprise him with the golf lesson since I booked his first one for that Friday afternoon. Well, that WAS the plan.

Here's what really happened.

In preparation I just told him that we had plans Thursday night and Friday morning. I was elusive and I'm sure he knew something was up, but he didn't say anything. I also purchased the lessons the week before and had a gift certificate printed up. I lined up my good friend Shannon to brave the night and next morning with Dylan (almost 2) and her son (18 months) by herself! I emailed all of our friends to meet us in our room for a drink before we headed up to the bar and reminded them that it was all a surprise. Everyone kept it quiet and things were going according to PLAN. And, then, like a bad movie, everything went horribly wrong!

Everthing seemed to be lining up well until the Tuesday before we were supposed to go. When I purchased Kel's lessons, I used our credit card in the states. It was a new card (the old ones had expired) and I had to call and get the purchase approved since it was overseas. I told the CC company that were in Dubai and would be here for the next few months, so they shouldn't block any purchases. While I was on the phone with them, I approved a few purchases Kel had made while traveling in Singapore. Apparently my phone call did no good. Kel was trying to renew his xbox live subscription and our card was not going through. The Dubai and Singapore charges had us frozen. So, he had to call in to the card and while he was on the phone the very helpful CS rep went through all the recent purchases with him to ensure that they were correct. Obviously, I knew that the golf lessons charge was going to pop up. Then I hear him say "well, the Els charge is definitely bogus" and I tell him "no, it's your surprise anniversary gift". After the call, he told me that I have to tell him about stuff like this and I had to explain to him how a surprise really works.

At this point I realized that Thursday might not go as well as I imagined.

Thursday afternoon I had my stuff packed, Shannon was at the house, and Kel told me he would be home around 3. I hadn't worked out exactly what I would tell him when he got to the house, but figured I would just ask him to pack what he was going to wear that night and an outfit for the next day. But not really tell him what was going on.

Well, 3 came and went. Then 4, and at 5:30 he pops in. Upstairs he changes and I tell him to pack a few things. He asks why. I tell him to just pack for what he's going out in that night. Then he says he doesn't know what to pack because he doesn't know what we're doing. After being difficult for a bit, he finally follows directions. But, I have to tell him that we're spending a night away without the baby.

No more surprises for Kelly.

We check in at the hotel and things are much better (aside from the fact that our timetable is off). The hotel room is perfect and we have a nice little welcome gift waiting.

Since we're running a bit late, we decide to jump in the shower and head to Dubai Mall to grab a bite to eat. I turn on the water and wait for it to warm up. Five minutes later I'm still waiting. Every bathroom here has a water heater switch and for some reason ours was off. We flipped the switch and waited again. Not even a hint of warmth. Kel gets on the phone to the front desk and a maintenance worker is sent up. He spends a few minutes adjusting the temperature and says we will have hot water "soon". "How long?" Only 15 minutes madame! Ha. It's 7:30 now and we haven't gotten ready or eaten and people were supposed to be in our room in 2 hours.

After 15 minutes the water was surprisingly not at all hot. Kel made another call to the front desk and this time two maintenance workers and a ladder showed up! This time they fiddled with the water heater above the kitchen and said we'd have hot water "soon". "How long?" You guessed it - only 15 minutes madame! Right.

20 minutes later the water was tolerable - not anywhere near comfortable. At this point I'm upset that so much has gone wrong and that we're going to have to rush through dinner and Kel is pretty angry. He decides to go downstairs and talk to the front desk and get our room switched or tell them that we are checking out.

When he comes up he tells me that they are going to switch our room and that they will get us a quick dinner in the restaurant downstairs. I pack everything up and we head down for dinner. The dinner was amazing! We had excellent sushi and the sushi chef came to our table to grate fresh wasabi for us (on a sharkskin board made especially for grating wasabi) and to explain all the dishes that we ordered. One of the rolls we ordered was wrapped in seaweed, then finely shaved turnip! Great texture and nice flavor. While we ate, the concierge came up and gave us our new room keys and let us know that our luggage was moved and the room was ready.

It's 9:30 now and we rush through the rest of dinner and ask for the check. When it comes we are shocked that only our two drinks are on the bill! I think to myself that Kel must have done a pretty good job with the manager. We decide to check out our room and then meet everybody up at the bar. Our first room had a glorious view of the construction on Al Khail Road and 71. This was the view from our new room.

The large building near the right top is Burj Dubai! And, we had been upgraded to an apartment!

The full kitchen

View from the entry (dining and living rooms)

The love nest :)

We finally make it up to the bar around 10:30ish and everyone was there and somehow our awesome friends, Niki and J, had wrangled a fabulous table in the corner with an outstanding view of the fountains at the base of Burj Dubai!

And yesterday, Kel came home with this!

A diamond and sapphire bracelet!! And, it matches the ring he gave me for Christmas.

Happy anniversary!

When Hell Freezes Over!

Bad weather in Dubai is as much a rarity as seeing good news about Paris Hilton. So, the weather forecast of 60-70% chance of rain and thunderstorms had everyone talking. The last time we got rain here was January of last year during Bush's visit and the streets were flooded everywhere and Kel had to work from home.

The excitement about impending inclement weather was unbearable for me. I hadn't seen a cloudy sky for months and real rain for at least a year.

Wednesday was the big day. I woke up to sun and my disappointment was palpable. During the early afternoon the clouds started rolling in and my excitement doubled. But no rain. After I put Dylan to bed, the wind started picking up and sand was blowing everywhere. But no rain.

My friend came over that evening to have a drink and just after she arrived I heard heavy drops assailing the kitchen window. I grabbed my camera (nerdy I know) and opened the back door which faces west (toward the ocean side) and was immediately pelted by HAIL! Yes, my friends, hail in the desert. My friend dashed out to move her car under cover and I took pictures and a few little videos. I knew that no one would believe that this actually happened.

I'm sure people driving by thought that the girl laughing and dancing around in the hail with a camera was insane. Maybe not insane, but definitely a little tipsy.

I IM'd my good friend down the street (also from Texas) and he said "what is it they say? oh yeah, when Hell freezes over." So, there you have it. The high for the day was 99 and it hailed. Go figure.

That's the hail. Bigger than pea, smaller than dime. Crazy. The green thing is my water hose.

Nautical Inaugural

Today was monumental. Especially for the Aiken side. Dylan made his first appearance on a boat! And, true to the Aiken side, he absolutely loved it! Our wonderful friends in Qatar took us out on their boat in the Arabian Sea for a quick little tour around the area. Dylan loved the wind in his air and didn't even mind his girlie life jacket.

Kel was prepared to stay behind with D while Louise, Chris, and I rode around, but a really nice guy in the next slip overheard our dilemma about lack of appropriate life jacket size for Dylan and dug out a kid's jacket from his boat to let us borrow. Never mind that it was hot pink!

As we tied off and got off the boat, Dylan threw a screaming fit and went limp because he was not done yet.

Grandpa Rich, get ready!!

Bribery: Truly a Mother's Best Friend

A few nights ago at dinner...

Me - Eat your chicken.
Dylan - No, no, no while emphatically shaking head in case I miss the message.
Me - Eat your chicken. It's good for you.
Dylan - No, no, no - again shaking head. Dammit mom, didn't you get it the first time?
Me - Eat your chicken. See, mommy eats chicken. Yummy. Now, Dylan's turn.
Dylan - No, no, no.

Meanwhile...Kelly has finished his dinner because he has not been cajoling and pleading with an almost 2 year old and gets a cupcake out of the fridge.

Dylan - Cupca? (long 'a' sound at the end - his word for cupcake...he miraculously learned that word in a day)
Me - No cupcake. Eat your chicken.
Dylan - No, no, no. Shakes head. Cupca! Cupca! Banging hands on tray and knocking food off tray.
Kelly - You can have some cupcake if you eat a bite of chicken.
Dylan - Eats bite of chicken. Reaches for cupcake.
Kelly - Good job buddy. Here's a bite of cupcake.
Dylan - More, more, more....please!
Kelly - Ok, but you have to eat a bite of chicken first.
Dylan - Eats bite of chicken.

I happily finish my dinner and sigh. I've been waiting for this day!

You want that cookie honey? Here's some broccoli!

Freedom!

I was ECSTATIC when I found out that there was a spot for Dylan at a playgroup in our neighborhood! He started going the Monday after we returned to Dubai and we (especially me) love it! Dylan gets to hang out with a bunch of other kids his age and I get some time to myself! I am completely amazed at how much I can finish in just 3 hours twice a week!

Today Dylan came home with his first school art project! Of course I had to take a few pictures!

I can definitely tell that he is approaching 2. Just in the past month he has started saying "no" and shaking his head.

A Rare Cute Moment

Lately Dylan has been a permanent resident of the time out spot and extremely willful. I have been staring down the clock until it hits 1 and I can toss D in his bed for a nap! However, he has his moments of 'you just wanna eat him up', but they are few and far between. Here's one from yesterday.

I was peeking around the corner at him and saying "I see you". Well, he repeated it right away and now he's saying it all the time, typically while his hands and feet are on the floor and he's peeking through his legs.

I am DONE!

So far this week...

1. Dryer died the night before we left for the states, so after a few days back I sucked it up and called the repairman. I was lulled into a false sense of security after the phone call to set up the repairman's visit. I was told that someone would be there within two business days. So, the afternoon of the second day I call to find out when someone will really be coming and am informed that hopefully tomorrow "insh allah". Which basically means "I have no blanking idea when anyone will be there and don't really care."

The next afternoon I call again. "Sorry Madam, we are really busy, they will be there as soon as possible." Fine. The next morning three men show up at my door. After a conversation which involved not much english, I figure out that the men are there to take the dryer away so they can fix it and that I owe them 75 dhs. WHAT?? I get on the phone to the repair center and refuse to pay 75 dhs for a service call when no service is being done. They decide not to charge me and then I yell at them for making me wait four days just so they could pick up my dryer.

I get a call the next day and they have found the problem - the dryer needs a new thermostat. So I ask how long it will take to fix it and big surprise...the part is not in stock. At this point my hands are shaking and my eyelid is twitching. Sure, that's great.

2. I am trying to get my hair dried so that Dylan and I can run some errands. Halfway through, the dryer coughs, sputters, and starts glowing a fiery red. I turn it off, let it cool, and try it again. Nothing. Luckily, Tracy left me a blow dryer when she moved and I used that one to finish getting ready.

3. Next day I am drying my hair again (yep, a shower two days in a row...pretty good) and my head is yanked to the left. My hair has been pulled into the back of the blowdryer and now it's starting to cough and sputter. Two blowdryers in two days. That's gotta be a record somewhere.

Being back in the states will be nice.

Kilts and Cowboy Hats

Yes! All of that and more at the annual Oil Baron's Ball held at Emirates Golf Club this past November.

But, before we could get there, we had to solve the clothing dilemma. Kel had to rent a tuxedo, but without an Al's anywhere in sight, took a bit of effort. After going through my closet, and by closet I mean plastic storage bin under the bed (what closets here?), I decided on a strapless, floor length, red dress. And get this!! It was a BRIDESMAID'S dress! I actually wore it again! Thanks Melodi!

The theme was Stetsons, stilettos (another issue while walking on a golf course), and stars. Unfortunately the entertainment was the "Grease Experience", but the open bar took care of that little issue.

The entertainment at the end of the night was much more interesting!

The other football

After a serious lack of American football, Kel and I headed off to the Rugby 7s for a packed weekend of rugby matches of all kinds. I have to say there's nothing like seeing women scrumming around, but I was impressed none the less.

Basically, as much in Dubai, it was a drink fest. With the purchase of a 12 pack of Heinekin, you received a free cooler. Not willing to turn down a bargain, we joined the rest of the crowd with our very own refill service. The stands were pretty packed, so we found a place right up next to the end zone (or whatever it's called) and had a pretty good view of the action.

Another highlight of the weekend was the costumes. From smurfs to has been super heroes, our people watching was almost as intense as the matches. Ok, maybe more so!

Those rugby guys in shorts though - nice!