Great Day!

This day would be even better if I thought I could stay up a few more hours and get some things done while it is "quiet" (meaning Quentin is asleep), but I doubt that will happen. Darn my body - it is just so used to getting a "full" night sleep it kind of demands it now and pretty much has a mind of its own.

I had a really nice day today. I woke up and got the house picked up a little, which included putting away the chaos of toys and books added from both Quentin's birthday and Christmas. I got it done properly this time since there was a chance we were having friends over today to play with Quentin. We went out instead, but it was a GREAT excuse to get right to it on a Saturday morning! After making some visible progress, we went to breakfast. Quentin tried all the various IHOP syrups on his french toast, the first time I allowed him to order wheat bread for breakfast at a restaurant.

He was very excited for his playdate today, which included meeting up for lunch and bowling with a friend of his from his class in school last year. I again allowed him to eat wheat, a pita cheese pizza and I had a ceasar salad, and we went on from there for Quentin to bowl for the first time. He loved it, it had bumbers up and was fully automated of course. He scored an 84 and even got one spare! It was not bad at all, for a five year old bowling for his first time.

He and I took naps when we came home and had dinner together as a family at home too. We went out as a family to shop for groceries, mostly, and came home and put one tired little boy to bed. He ate and drank so much today! I think he is on a growth spurt, which is not something he looks like he needs right now. He is getting SO BIG!! He is around 50 lbs. and tall, and just does not look like a toddler anymore. Not at all.

Honestly, I am having a hard time adjusting to him growing up so much, I think my parenting is all messed up. I still carry him, which probably makes me insane. He still asks to be held when he is tired, and so I do what I can, but he is so huge! I never see anyone else carrying a child his size around. I am not always patient enough or leave myself enough time to have him dress himself, even though he can and does sometimes. I just need to get it in my head that he is finally catching up on all the things he has been behind on for so long, and it seems like it happened all at once, overnight. He eats constantly, and I think he will really start impacting my grocery bill in the next few years. He doesn't "need" me in the bathroom anymore, so I can't monitor how "regular" he is anymore, and I failed to teach him to close the door when he does go especially when he isn't at home. He was a late potty trainer so I it feels so new still, but in kindergarten he is really expected to close the door behind him and this is something that took a bit of work his teacher told me. At least he washes his hands most of the time.

If I can keep up with his constant eating and snacking, and take advantage of his recent interest in trying new foods, things might turn out just great this year! I made a batch of enchiladas last week differently than I have ever made them, and he ate 2 of them and claims now they are his favorite food! I had to feed the bites to him (getting it on the fork AND trying new food was too much for him to do at the same meal) but next time I think he might do it himself. I just hope by the time he is 6 we are all pretty much eating the same meals. That might be my most important goal of this year regarding Quentin. I can't believe he doesn't get sick of eating chicken and potatoes. I get kind of sick of making them, but I made some of his gluten free breaded chicken I cook in coconut oil the other day and put some on my salad, and wow, it is really good!

I did have another cooking victory this week. I made Bang Bang shrimp for Ryan's birthday and a simple salad, because he said he was having a bigger and "heavy" lunch. He still ate over a dozen of the shrimp because he really loves the dish. This was my first time making it, previously I had bought it as Bang Bang Chicken from the Sam's Club deli/meat department, but they stopped making it from what I can tell. I was relieved it worked out and that it was not a disappointment on his birthday! We will go out for steaks later, his "real" birthday dinner, as soon as he decides where. I think he has spent more time deciding where to eat steak than we spent picking out our new car.

We did get a new car last month, new for us, but previously owned. It is a silvery/greenish/blue 2008 Pontiac G6 with low miles. We took it to Kansas City on a road trip for Christmas and we really enjoyed it! I had to say goodbye to my 12 year old car from college.

I hope everyone is off to a great start this new year and had happy holidays!