Gotcha!

I have been stressing lately and trying what feels like nonstop to get Rudy to eat vegetables and more fruit (currently, he only will eat watermelon).  But last night I succeeded in getting him to eat some vegetables!  I found a "just-for-one" cauliflower and cheese sauce frozen thing in our freezer and decided to give it a try.  He gobbled it down -- probably because it had a similar look and feel to his mac and cheese, which was the exact reason I thought it might work.  Even though it was covered in cheese, it still counts as a vegetable!  Self...high five!

Rudy and I had a busy weekend (what's new?).  Rudy helped me clean out Gran and Grandpa's cabinet and refrigerator.  Since we moved in, Grandpa has consistently complained that there was too much stuff shoved in everywhere.  So we threw away everything that was expired (which we had to do at Greenbriar and had a similar pile, even though we had only been there less than 3 years).  Rudy loves taking things out of the cabinet and refrigerator so this project was right up his alley (in the beginning, at least... then he got mad he wasn't the center of attention).  Gran was happy, Grandpa -- well, not so much.  You would have thought I threw away his keepsake treasures.  I think he's still inspecting, trying to figure out what is gone.  

We also have been trying out some new food accessories for Rudy.  I have bought 3 different sippy cups with straws.  The first one was awesome, until it leaked all over.  The second one didn't leak but it was also near impossible to get any liquid out, period.  The third is a wonder.  I will be buying a couple more and getting rid of the others (because I wouldn't want to clutter anything up!)  We also tried out some "snack pods."  The top lid is made of soft rubber (??) with a bunch of slits in it.  Rudy can get his hand in and pull out snacks, but if you turn it upside down, the snacks won't fall out.  It seemed perfect.  Until Rudy's intense inspection began and he quickly figured out he could hold open one of the rubber pieces and THEN dump it out and the snacks would spill out.  Luckily, he used it as it was intended the rest of the time.  And if I fill it with something besides Cheerios, it won't be as easy to dump, even with Rudy's trick.  Some Cheerios would still spill out when he did it the right way (he'd pull out a fist full and a few stragglers would come out with).  Rufus stayed close by.  Peculiarly,  Rufus won't eat Cheerios off the kitchen floor, but he couldn't get enough of them off the living room floor.  Rudy caught on and would give some right to Rufus, too.  So they sat and watched Mickey Mouse and ate Cheerios one morning.  

I finished some craft projects over the weekend.  Here is the present Rudy will open at his birthday party to reveal whether he will be getting a little brother or a little sister:

Rudy loves the wrapping paper!

This thing was way harder to wrap than I had anticipated, but I'm happy with how it turned out.  Rudy can slide off the lid and either pink or blue balloons will come out.  Can't wait!

I also finished his set of birthday blocks that will also be used as balloon holder centerpieces at his party.  John cut the blocks for me and drilled holes down the center to hold the balloons.  Tony and Patrick helped me paint them last weekend.  I compiled 86 different pictures of Rudy from the last year (like that was hard) and printed them off on thick paper, cut them in squares, and decoupaged them to each side of the block.  One side I left blank and glued on wooden letters that I painted white.  It was more of a project than I expected, but I'm happy with how they turned out and I'll be able to keep them beyond just his party.  

 the backs

the fronts

And speaking of wrapping, I also wrapped my State Fair competition entry.  I entered the "gift-wrapped box" category.  Two years ago I won the pink ribbon (4th place), skipped the competition last year, and I'm back this year pining for a blue!  (By far, one of the oddest things I do)  Gran has been busy working on her entries.  She does the paper craft, wreath, and Kentucky Derby glass collection categories.  

I was also able to help out at the new house this weekend thanks to Gran for watching Rudy and the weather for being less than 100 degrees.  I went over Saturday around noon and John and I were going to decide on the three colors for the back bedrooms...ya know, an hour or so.  Four hours later we had colors picked out and I was suckered into doing a little painting, too.  (For those raising an eyebrow, we bought the low odor, no VOC paint and the windows were open and fans were on)  John and I took Rudy with us to Lowe's on Sunday morning to get some items for the day. 

He sure loves being with his Dad :)

John said, "Really?  You're taking a picture at Lowe's?"  How could I pass up taking a picture of this cute pair?

John and I painted all day -- until about 7:30 pm.  I may have overdid it, but I was loving seeing progress and I was so happy to finally be doing something there.  We didn't get the rooms completely done.  One bedroom still needs a second coat (probably because we had to re-paint it from the first color we picked out because it just wasn't right) and the door and window trim needs some touching up.  But wow, what a difference paint makes!  And the best part of the day, Gran and Grandpa brought Rudy by to visit.  He's a big fan of the new house.  Gran said as they were walking up he got really excited and started squealing.  He walks around and inspects it all.  

John showing Rudy some tools

Rudy's latest favorite toy are his bats.  That's right, wooden bats.  Last weekend a group went to the Sliders baseball game and it was bat night.  They passed out mini wooden bats.  Rudy loves them.  Gran tried to hide them but Grandpa gave them right back because, "he really likes them."  Right now he is harmless with them -- bangs them together, uses them as a walking stick, etc.  But as soon as he starts swinging, we are going to have problems.  

Bats - first toy he finds in the morning

 Sure, I'll play the piano, as long as one bat stays close and I'll hold the other. 

The house is coming right along.  Hopefully I'll have some progress pictures to show soon :)