Everybody hurts....

We've had our first faceplant. Or at least the first real one anyway. Many times before, Grady has fallen headfirst, but he's always managed to catch himself on the way down with his hands. Not today.
The scene was Target. I had just run in to purchase a few items I need for a photo shoot on Friday, and Grady, in usual toddler fashion, insisted on walking. I tried to put him in a cart three times, and each time he went stiff as a board and screeched. When I decided we were making a big enough scene, I let him win the battle (a surefire way to lose the war, mind you). We were walking in front of the checkout aisles and Grady stopped to try to pull a women's sweater off a hanger in front of him. I issued a stern "NO" and attempted to hold his hand. He pulled away and took off at a run. He caught the toe of his Stride Rites on the polished floor and down he went. It was one of those times where everything goes slow motion. I tried to get there, but I just wasn't fast enough. I could see clearly, though, that his hands weren't going to shoot out and protect his face. The thud of his forehead against the vinyl was loud enough to summon every cashier and two assistant managers to our service.
He let out one of those wails that takes a minute to produce. His face contorted first and the snot started running from his nose, but there was no sound. Then suddenly a woosh of air, and a heartwrenching sob that every mommy knows is the real deal. It was all I could do not to get down and sob as well, I felt so bad for him. The Target ladies were all so nice. Offers of ice and kleenex came first, along with an offer for a cart to put him in. Apparently they had not seen the cart battle moments before.
When he finally peeled his head from my chest to look up, I feared the worst. Teeth missing or at the very least a bloody nose. He looked surprisingly good, however and I issued a sigh of relief. One of the cashier's went into panic mode anyway, and kept insisting that I let her call 911. I know well enough that if the child does not black out they are usually ok. I checked his pupils and got him to walk around and determined that we were head injury free. I assured the cashier that if he began vomiting or lost balance or acted sleepy I would take him to the ER immediately. That seemed to assure her that I knew slightly what I was talking about, and she only followed us for 5 minutes instead of 10.
Grady got a nice purple mark on his noggin, but I also bought him a new toy car, so he's feeling much better now. Hopefully, the cashier has also recovered.

Weekend update

Top five things you probably don't really care about...
1. I went to see Monty Python's SPAMALOT with my sister in law. It was hilariously funny and I recommend it to anyone, even if you don't normally like musicals. It pokes fun of many of the cliche's of musical theatre, so both lovers and haters of the art can find it funny together.
2. Grady came down with the crappies. He's acting ok but his nose is perpetually drippy and wet and lined with grossness. I am hoping he gets better before some of the playdates we have scheduled this week as I am really looking forward to them.
3. I was supposed to spend most of Thursday cleaning, but through a series of unfortunate events, spent the majority of the day looking for a photography prop and driving back and forth to Katie's (the aforementioned SIL) house.
4. We tried to go to church this morning. Grady put the nix on that real fast. One day we'll make it through the entire thing.
5. Chris is at Wal-Mart battling the crowds whilst I relax and Grady naps. This is just one of the many reasons I am convinced that I have the best husband ever.
Have a great week kids!

Launch

Just thought I would let my readers here know about my photography blog and website that are now active. Check em out!!!
Blog: http://courtneyvickersphoto.blogspot.com
Site: http://courtneyvickersphotography.com
Thanks for looking and your support!

My chicken nugget, my friend.

As Grady grows up (he'll be 18 months a week from today, sob) he is developing so many funny little personality traits. Some of them are less funny than others, for example refusing to go anywhere in the stroller anymore. He MUST walk, and if we don't let him it becomes World War three. Others are insanely cute, like his fascination with belly buttons and the fact that he freaks out when his Nana takes off her glasses.

Today we had chicken Nuggets for lunch (yes, I had them too. Points deducted from my fitness level for the day). After he had eaten about half of what I gave him he began scraping the remaining food off of the tray of his booster and into the seat with him. This is my clue that he's had enough, so I gathered up what I could of the nuggets and began to throw them away. Immediately, Grady let out an ear piercing shriek. He pointed hysterically to one nugget that was intact minus one little bite mark. So I thought maybe he just wasn't done with it. I handed it to him and he said "chic-hen" very calmly. I waited for him to eat it, but he just sat there demanding I let him "down".

So I let him out and said "ok, you throw the nugget in the trash!" He nodded no and proceeded over to his toys with his nugget. Oh, what a glorious hour ensued. He and the nugget played with his cars. They watched Dora The Explorer together. He even took the nugget with him to go look at books. It was cracking me up. I offered several times to take the nugget, or to get him to toss it, but he was adament about holding it.

Finally, I started to get worried that my son was going to get too attatched. I envisioned him asleep with a stinky, moldy, old nugget clasped in his hand. I saw him carrying it to playgoup and the other mom's gently steering their kids away. So I hatched a plan.

"Grady, do you want to go outside?" He ran to his chair so I could put on his shoes."OK, but we have to leave the nugget inside." He looked at me, looked at the nugget, looked at me, and then took a big bite of the nugget. By the time I got his shoes on, the nugget was happily residing in his tummy rather than his hand. Now he and the nugget can spend a few more happy hours together as it keeps him full through his nap.

Nugget, we will miss you.