dude...revisited!

You may remember that a few weeks ago, Jordan decided that the "Hey dude" that Kenneth was talking to was a real person. Tonight, he resurfaced! We were all in the living room and Kenneth was tickling Jordan's knee. She was trying to watch something on the television, so this distraction was frustrating her. She looked at him and quite emphatically stated, "Daddy, I'm going to tell dude he can't be your friend anymore!"

Just before he started to address the tone with which she spoke to him, Kenneth looked at me as he realized exactly what she said. We both got so tickled at it that the "teachable moment" passed us right on by.

Is the doctor going to fix me, Mommy?

Given the fever that Jordan ran yesterday along with the cough and runny nose, we made an appointment this morning. The cough and the runny nose don't bother me, but when there's a fever that lasts all day, that's when I want someone else to take a look. I'm glad that Jordan still views going to the doctor as a positive experience, so we always try to see someone we know. Today's lucky doctor was Dr. Anderson. We saw him the last time we were there with strep throat and Jordan talked about him for days, so I figured we were safe. Jordan chatted him right up and he patiently answered all of her questions, commented on her good behavior and casually announced that she has bronchitis. In fact, I had to ask him again what he said because Jordan started talking more loudly when she realized that he wasn't talking to her, so I really couldn't hear him. 10 days of antibiotics later, she should be fine and she can go back to school Wednesday.

The word bronchitis really has a negative connotation in my mind and makes me think I should be worried. But, Dr. Anderson was so calm about everything that I didn't really think much about it...until I could get to a computer and Google it! In my defense, when I Google a diagnosis, symptom or other medical issue I only look at a maximum of three sites that appear and try to pick ones I know--Dr. Sears, baby center, etc. And I stopped reading when the consensus was that bronchitis was not a big deal...as long as it didn't turn into pneumonia.

I took Jordan and Kenneth home and went to work for a little while. I'm still feeling pretty crummy, though. My throat still hurts, but I don't really think I'm SICK, so we'll see what happens. I'm happy to be home while Jordan will be sleeping, though, so I can get a nap myself! It is much needed!

After our naps, Jordan decided that her pink baby needed to see Dr. "Andason", too. She put her in her car seat, made sure her pajamas and hat were on and that I was going with her. She had a very interesting dialog about her trip to the doctor, if Dr. A fixed her when she went to the doctor, medicine, etc. I wish I could remember it all!

cough + fever = run from crocodiles?

Jordan has had a runny nose over the last few days and a cough that has increased in frequency since Friday evening. Kenneth and I were debating last night about whether or not she and I would go to church today. When she woke up with a fever of 101.3, the decision was made for us! I woke up with a sore throat myself, so it was a good idea for us to stay home.

The thing is that even with a fever and a runny nose and a cough, she has been in the best mood today! Recently, Jordan has been really "getting into" watching movies and videos. Dora is a big favorite and especially the one where she goes to the soccer game. During part of the movie (I think--I'm not usually around when she watches, so I've not seen it), Dora and Boots have to cross a bridge. There are crocodiles in the water below. Dora says, "Run! Here come the crocodiles!" I don't think I can count on my fingers and toes how many times Jordan said that same line with the same inflection and the same intensity and the same passion! She asked for Kenneth to run with her, chase her, play with her all day. That might explain why he was quick to jump on the "morning shift" when we were figuring out who was going to stay home with our sick girl tomorrow! :)

Hey, dude!

This afternoon we were all downstairs doing our own thing--I was playing solitaire on the Xbox (lots of fun, huh?!) and Kenneth and Jordan were playing in the play room. Kenneth's cell phone rang and because of caller ID, knew exactly who it was and answered "Hey, dude!". After a few minutes I realized that it sounded like he was talking to my brother. I needed to tell him something anyway, so I asked Kenneth if it was Trey. Before he could answer, this voice calls out from the playroom, "No, it's dude!". I was so caught off guard that I asked her again who it was and she said, "Mommy, it's dude". Kenneth had stopped talking mid-sentence and we just stared at each other in disbelief...the things they hear when you don't think they're listening!

I really am working on catching up!

I know, I know! I can't believe it's been since early February that I've posted anything! I'm sorry! I'm working on getting our Florida trip pictures uploaded and then I'll work on posts.

Just know that there are LOTS of pictures from our trip. Mom, Grandma and I all had our cameras out. I've tried to take out the obvious duplicates (who needs 45 pictures of meerkats, anyway?!?), but just put the pictures on slide show and play it really fast! I have a hard time deleting pictures of Jordan--she's just too cute!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tonight we painted Valentine's for our family and friends. Jordan loves to paint and tonight proved that we don't do this near enough! We talked about how we are making these to give to and realize that there is still some understanding to be had about giving and receiving! :)

We hope you will have a terrific Valentine's Day...we love you!

a night at Nana's

Yesterday afternoon, Jordan woke up from her nap and was delighted to learn that she was going to be spending the night at Nana and Papa Carroll's! A friend of ours was getting some folks together to celebrate his birthday. He actually turned out sick (bronchitis), but we went to dinner with a newly married couple who we haven't seen since their November wedding. There was plenty of time for Kenneth and I to catch a movie, too! I was happily surprised to be able to sleep in until around 9...

Big girl underwear update--Jordan wore big girl underwear all week and learned how quickly we respond to that little word 'potty', especially in the car. We've stopped more than once this week on the way to or from school to go potty with varying degrees of success! Friday night we went to Guad's and even though it only took a little more than an hour to go from school to Guad's and home again, Jordan went to the potty 5 times--4 at the restaurant and once at McDonald's less than 200 feet from Guad's! :)
Yes, I took her every time, so Kenneth is due!

an afternoon with Mita and Papa!

I have to be at work this afternoon and evening and although the nursery is open, I will be there before anyone gets there and after they leave. With Kenneth being sick, I didn't want him to be dealing with Jordan by himself. Thankfully, Mita and Papa were happy to answer the call to come down and help entertain. Jordan was in a great mood and (as usual) enjoyed being the center of attention!

Daddy's not feeling so good...

Kenneth came home yesterday and went straight to the bed. Jordan and I left him there today to go to Zoo "school" aka Zoo Tots! The zoo offers programs for certain age groups periodically and this one was about how animals move..."Hop, Walk and Crawl". Given Jordan's love for hopping and jumping, we figured this would be right up her alley! We also met Joy and Brooklynn there and it was nice to hang out with them, too...

One of the highlights of zoo school is seeing what animals they bring out to share with the kids. When the first ones came out, I was really missing the fact that Kenneth wasn't there! Madagascar hissing cockroaches! Yuck! Joy and Brooklynn happily pet them and I was thrilled that Jordan wanted nothing to do with them. I don't even look at their box in the reptile house--which is hard because it's right at my eye level and Jordan likes to look in each box, of course! The second animal was not a problem--a black rat snake. I'll take snakes over bugs and spiders any day of the week! Jordan did enjoy touching the snake...

We ran through the zoo (literally, to keep up with Brooklynn!) and had a chance to see the new lion and giraffe exhibit. Somehow we managed to avoid the crisis of not going to the playground and stopped by the store to get some soup for Kenneth. Jordan's compassionate side is really showing more and more. She was very concerned that "Daddy not feel so good?" and happily helped me carry the tray and soup up to him when we got home. In an effort to put as much distance between whatever is wrong with Kenneth (high fever, cough, generally zapped), Jordan and I met Nana and Papa Carroll for dinner and came home just in time to go to bed. Feel better soon, Daddy!

another dry day!

Woo hoo! I was so excited to get to Augusta Road this afternoon and find Jordan in the same pair of underwear that she was wearing when I dropped her off! I just can't believe that we're 2 days in a row of being dry...

big girl underwear!

It has been a big week in the Manning house because Jordan's decided it's time to wear underwear! She doesn't want to call them panties, though, and is quick to tell you that! Monday was a holiday for Martin Luther King day and we did have a couple of errands to run. Jordan made it all day in underwear with no accidents! She's still sleeping in diapers, so her nap doesn't count, but I was so excited that she was consistently telling us that she needed to go.

Tuesday morning we went to school in underwear. She did have one accident, but she was at least trying to get to the potty. "A" for effort, I'd say!

Wednesday she wore underwear again and had just one accident while they were playing in the gym.

Today when we went to pick her up, imagine my surprise when she was in the same pair of underwear that we went to school in! Except for her nap, she was in underwear all day with no accidents! Yay!! Let's see what tomorrow will bring!

random musings...

Tonight we ate dinner at Doc Chey's...one of our favorite places to eat! We got situated in our booth and the server came to take our drink order. I ordered water for Jordan. She stopped mid-wiggle in her booster seat, looked at me and said "I do NOT want water. I want MILK!", just as plain as you please! We all got a good laugh out of that one.

I think tonight was one of the first times that they brought "training" chopsticks to the table. You know, they have the rubber band at the top? So, we gave Jordan those and tried our hand at using them, too. Jordan did so well with them! She quickly learned that the more she had on her plate, the easier it was to use them. It was the quietest she's ever eaten there and probably the first time that we debated not getting her leftovers to go! The server even gave us an extra set of training sticks to take home!

Today was a snow day from school because of the snow that fell last night. By this morning it was raining, but we still had to go play in it!

And, what's a girl to do when she wants to wear her Crocs in the snow? Her Mommy and Daddy put newspaper bags over her feet before putting Crocs on, of course...

Santa hat in January?

Jordan's Christmas dress had a precious Santa hat to match it. Would she put it on Christmas Day when she was actually wearing the dress?!? Of course not! Give her a little over two weeks, though, and she'll happily don that thing!

feeding Jazmyn

I'm glad that Jazmyn is so easy going and always has that smile on her face! Jordan fed her acorns for dinner tonight...whole acorns and acorns in her bottle!

belated Christmas

We are so excited to have Christmas even after Christmas is over tonight! Jordan's Mimi Patty brought her Christmas present by to me today, so it just didn't seem right to wait until tomorrow to open them!! As always, Mimi got it just right and got Jordan the best accessories to go with her Jazmyn...

My first taco!

I guess Kenneth and I have just thought that Jordan eating tacos would take more coordination than she had and just end up frustrated. We are quickly learning that she is much more capable than we give her credit for! Hopefully she'll forgive us for that...

She thoroughly enjoyed her taco. Note the serious expression and the yogurt moustache! :)

Monkey Joe's with Hannah!

It's always a great day when we get to go to Monkey Joe's AND see our friend Hannah! The girls had a blast, as usual!

Post Christmas fun!

Here are a picture and a video clip of the day after all the Christmas fun!

In addition to her Cabbage Patch, Jazmyn, Jordan also got a bath friend named Sarah!

We don't have any pictures of the installation, but Jordan's vey first present was a swingset from Mita and Papa! They came down this weekend to put it up and it's been a big hit...at least when it's not raining!

Merry Christmas!!

Some Christmas highlights!!

Pop, those socks are sort of funny looking...and they jingle!













Here, Pop, put your shoes on! You shouldn't wear those jingle things, anyway!













Puuulll hard--Pop needs all the help he can get!













How can you see those nesting dolls with all that hair in the way?













Thanks, Nana, for the ponytail help! At least there will be one picture of my face!













Au natural--who needs bows in your hair with a smile like this?!?













Check the bling! A bracelet with your name, a ring, a headband and even pearls!













I...will...not...nap! But if I sit here much longer, I might just fall out!













Jazmyn--the name of Jordan's Cabbage Patch Kid
Wise man--how Jordan says the name of the CPK, at first
Jazz man--the current name of the CPK--one of Jordan's favorite presents













A Build-a-Bear, too?!? I have lots of new friends...and so stylish!













How long does it take to get a present out of its box, anyway, Mommy?