Where I've Been

I ran into this neat little app and it got me reminiscing about the good ol' days.

I love to travel. Seeing new places and meeting new people; exploring areas I have never explored; braving unknown food; getting lost in the tourist traps; figuring out the local transportation; SHOPPING; taking photographs; getting away with things I wouldn't do in the "real life".....

Of course, traveling was far much easier before we had Ethan, but I'm a firm believer that our traveling days should NOT be over!!

If I had all the money in the world, my next stop would be... THAILAND. At least we can dream, right?

LINKIN PARK ROCKS!!!!!

So every once in a blue moon, Mike and I get to pretend we're rock stars and we do stupid crap like swim with stingrays or jump out of airplanes... but it's been a while since we've been to a concert -- last time was actually nearing 4 years ago when we first got back from Bosnia (it was Linkin Park, KORN and Snoop Dogg). Luckily for us, our individual tastes in music don't vary that much.. although he still makes fun of me sometimes for being a veteran NSYNC junkie. :)

Anyway, we figured we were way overdue for one, so for a romantic post-Valentine date, we decided to spontaneously wisk ourselves to Detroit -- thank you Mr Asian guy from Craigslist who sold us the floor tickets for face value -- and saw Linkin Park (it was a 3rd for me and I think the 4th for Mike). We coulda care less about the opening acts - Coheed and Cambria - though they actually didn't turn out so bad.

It was BY FAR, THE BEST concert I've ever been to... and I'd been to quite a few in my pre-mommy years. It was definitely the closest I've been to the stage. Granted I almost passed out from all the weed, not to mention the mosh pit...

Of course, STUPID ME, I forgot the digital camera in the car and didn't realize it until we got to the floor. Hence, the overly pathetic shots taken by my 1.2 megapixel Razor which will NEVER do this experience justice... but no use in moping about it now.

This video was taken from last night's concert by someone in the front row... it was a KICK ASS show.

Linkin Park - Given up LIVE - Projekt Revolution Tour Detroit 2008

Young Love

When I first took these photos back in December, I knew they would make the perfect Valentines Day cards. Of course, I never got around to actually getting them printed and sent out -- bad mommy. Allie's been one of Ethan's friends since they were in the infant room at daycare.. and they are sooooo adorable together, we couldn't help to *coerce* them to hold hands.

Valentines are for Married Couples Too

It was killing me that I couldn't figure out what Mike had gotten me for Valentines Day so I convinced him to exchange "gifts" a day ahead of time. My best guess was jewelry... but it wasn't even close. In fact, I never would have guessed in a million years that this is what he's been working on for God knows how long --

SWEET can only begin to describe it. Doesn't seem to fair well with the shiatsu massage chair I got him, but he seems to like it anyhow. I got him one of those cheesy coupon books too.. seemed like a good idea at the time. I didn't realize until later that I should've written up some kind of clause to go along with it -- Only 1 coupon can be redeemed at one time.

When I got to work, I was surprised yet again when I got called by security to pick up a delivery downstairs... the nice arrangement of daisies and peonies made me the envy of the floor again.

This weekend, we'll be dropping Ethan off to the inlaws and spending some time *alone* in Detroit. Romantic couple of days away... romantic hotel... romantic dinners... romantic stroll through the city of Brotherly Love... oh ya, and a not-so-romantic Linkin Park concert. :)

What does it take?

Ethan's First Broken Bone

Ethan's new friend Boo Boo Bear

My supermom powers were shattered when mommy's kisses couldn't make his hand feel better after falling down the steps last night. Not a kiss, not a hug, not even a bribe to put Blues Clues on made him feel better.

It was the worst feeling in the world... knowing exactly what's wrong and not being able to comfort him.

So we got in the car and drove to the ER, a place I'd grown quite familiar with. The nurses thought he was an angel -- an exception to the rule -- the only calm kid in the emergency room, visibly in pain while he clutches his left arm, but cheery enough to say hi to everyone and skip around as if he were there on a field trip. The nurse came in and prodded and pushed and wiggled his arm around and he didn't even make a sound. If you asked him where it hurts, he points to the same spot and says in the cutest way "right there!". After the xrays came back, we were told that he has a buckle fracture (which we learned later meant a partial break common in little kids). We left with a splint covered in ace bandage and we were told to call the orthopedic doctor first thing this morning. As we were walking out the door, we could still hear the nurses musing about how they need "more kids like him".

So he got his cast this morning and we were told to come back in 3 weeks. 3 weeks!!!!

I think I looked visibly upset when they told me that because the doctor suddenly changed his tone and tried to reassure me that this is normal in little boys... especially in active little boys like mine and that I had nothing to worry about.

Sigh. How can kid run and jump and dance and climb and act all sorts of crazy, all while laughing and giggling, when he has a 10 lb cast on?