Quick Takes

(1) I'm happy to report that Tommy's blood draw yesterday went well. It was a bit of a drive to Children's Hospital but I still think it was worth the effort. As I've mentioned, Tommy is not a fan of doctors and nurses. Just taking his temperature or listening to his heartbeat gets him upset. Thankfully the phlebotomist was quick and efficient. She found his vein on the first try, which couldn't have been easy because he was screaming, crying and flailing around. Even with me holding him tightly, it took some effort for her to pin down his arm - which left only one arm/hand for her to do the rest. Tommy usually has such a sweet disposition and it pains me to see him so upset. I'm always amazed at how strong he is when he's trying to get away from something. Thankfully he got over it pretty quickly.

(2) Since we were in downtown DC we decided to stop by my hubby's work to say hello and join him for lunch. It was a nice treat after getting Tommy's blood drawn. My husband has great co-workers and they love seeing Tommy, so it was fun to stop by. I am so proud of my husband and the work he does (he develops affordable housing.) He recently won an award at work and also had the grand opening of a new building. I know that I don't tell him often enough, but I am so proud of him! And I am grateful that he works hard to provide for our family.

(3) When I woke up this morning the temperatures were in the mid-40s and I loved it! I absolutely love fall and I can't decide which to make first - chili, chicken-tortilla soup, cornbread, pumpkin muffins, etc. Ahhh, of course it's all about food. :)

(4) I'm wearing jeans and a long-sleeve shirt for the first time in a looong time. I had to dig deep in my closet to find them. I guess this means I have to find my non-flip-flop shoes.

(5) Thankfully this weekend should be a little more relaxing than last weekend. I'm planning to attend a talk/reflection at church tomorrow morning and then of course there's college football on the rest of the day! Thankfully Nebraska and USC play at different times. The past two weekends the games have been at the same time, which is not good for my marriage. :) I'm singing for two Masses Sunday morning and then our regular youth group night in the evening.

(6) Does anyone else have trouble with their toddler throwing food? I'm sure Tommy isn't the only one, but it's gotten worse lately. Every meal it's like a game to him. I know he understands what "no" means, but I don't think he's old enough to be "disobeying" me on purpose. Does that make sense? I'm tired of all the back-and-forth, not to mention the complete mess that he leaves behind.

(7) Overall, I am really enjoying toddler-hood with Tommy. It's so much fun to watch him explore the world around him and play with him in a new way. He absolutely LOVES being outside and we spend a lot of time picking up acorns, leaves, sticks and anything he can find. Although I'm a little worried about when winter comes. Hopefully we can find some indoor gyms and play-places to explore when it's too cold to play outside.