a Busy Day

I don't know whose bright idea it was to plan both boys' dental check-ups and haircuts and Freddie's four year physical on the same day, but that's exactly what ended up on today's agenda.  To be honest, I've been dreading it - but the boys proved my anxiety was for naught. I guess they've finally reached the ages where they can handle all of that running around without being any worse for the wear, and let me just tell you - I couldn't be happier about that glorious, long-awaited fact.  The first stop was Dr. "Bail's." While Jones did MUCH better at his last visit than he had in most of the previous ones, I was still holding my breath, unsure of what to expect from him (Freddie has NEVER been a problem at the dentist). He was an absolute DREAM. They BOTH were. If you had told me two years ago that Jones Pressley would ever handle a dental appointment that way he handled today's, I'd have told you you were CRAZY. 

Turns out, the only crazy one was me - for being nervous. Jones acted like going to the dentist was his JOB. I have rarely been so proud. Not only were there no fits, but he was adorably conversant with the hygienist. In fact, both boys charmed their ways around the office.  Clinically, both are doing great. Freddie's Hypoplasia is holding steady, for which we are SO grateful. They took an x-ray to be sure, but Dr. Bill thought that we were probably out of the woods with being concerned about having to cap it, as the teeth will soon grow to a point where they no longer hit against each other; decay won't be as big a concern when they do. 

Here's hoping.

Jones had an x-ray to see how his permanent teeth are looking.  It was fascinating to see the picture. In fact, I wish I'd taken a picture of it myself. The teeth are GINORMOUS compared to his baby teeth, and because his baby teeth are so tightly packed together, the hygienist suggested that the permanents may not have room to come in, which would mean orthodontia down the road. Dr. Bill didn't mention this, though, so I'm not sure if it's a problem or not. The teeth are all there and look great, but the hygienist said she didn't expect they'd be coming in soon. She asked when he got his first teeth - when I told her 8 months, she said, "Yeah. He was a late bloomer, so they'll probably come out late, too. That's what it looks like in the x-ray." Freddie wasn't yet 4 months when he got his first tooth, which makes me wonder if HE might lose a tooth before Jones? I asked a time frame for Jones, and she said 6-12 months.

Time will tell. 

After another great visit to Great Beginnings, we ventured to the barber shop. The barber shop used to be as traumatic a place to take Jones as the dentist's office, but just as he did at Dr. Bill's, Jones handled his hair cut like he did it daily. Honestly, Y'all. I don't think you understand what a shock this is to me - that he has turned this corner. I.am.so.grateful. The boys and I left the barber shop and had lunch at Ferrara's - Freddie ordered the "avrioli." I hope I never forget how he says that instead of "ravioli." In fact, I will probably call it that from now until forever. 

After an hour or so back at the house, we left for Dr. O'Donnell's. Freddie had a great check-up, praise the Lord. He passed both his hearing and eyesight checks with flying colors, and he did great with the whole thing - until Dr. O'Donnell had him lay down on the exam table, so he could listen to his heart. I think Freddie had flashbacks to when he had to do the same thing at the "Pokin' Doctor" (which is what he calls his allergist) and ended up getting stuck 37 times. He cried and cried and cried until Dr. O'Donnell finally finished. Jones came with us. It was the first time since Freddie was an infant that I've taken both of them to the doctor's office at the same time. He made quite the sensation of himself, "smoking" his "pipe" and telling the nurse that "you gotta look up and then you spit smoke." 

What was that you were saying about "good health habits," Doctor?

(So grateful, obviously, for all of the good reports and excellent health. I praise God from Whom all blessings flow for taking such exquisite care of my baby boys.)

Barbershop Shenanigans

Jeremy's been asking for a while for me to let him take the boys to the barbershop. I haven't let him but ONLY because I assumed he'd let the barber clip them basically bald. We don't disagree on much, but the length of the boys' hair is one of the things on which we do NOT see eye to eye. I don't want their hair long on the sides and backs, but the TOPS? The tops are SO much more handsome with just a little bit of length on them, in my opinion.

Jeremy, on the other hand, would have them buzz-cut, which we may do some day. Just not yet. And CERTAINLY not when it's coming on Winter, no matter WHAT the temperature is.

But today, I was too tired - or too lazy - to take a very hairy Freddie myself, so when Jeremy asked if Freddie could go get a haircut with him, I caved and gave strict instructions that our second son should NOT get scalped.

Freddie came home, looking fantastic. He told me, "I didn't pitch one, single fit." I wanted to tell him that he's NEVER pitched a fit in the chair, but I think he was just trying to draw a line between his haircut behavior and his brother's.

I feel ya', Freddie. Duly noted.

Not long after, I checked out my Facebook page and saw this post from Zeb Smathers, who'd been at the barbershop when the boys were. I thought it was absolutely hilarious, and I LOVED the picture, too.

First Time for Everything!

I'm not saying it's a miracle that Jones got his haircut without pitching a fit yesterday, but ... IT'S A MIRACLE THAT JONES GOT HIS HAIRCUT WITHOUT PITCHING A FIT YESTERDAY!

This is SERIOUSLY the first time he's done this, since his earliest haircuts. For the last two years, it's taken me, the barber, earplugs, and a shot of vodka (KIDDING) to get through a trim. Today, though, I reversed my strategy of warning him in advance and tried to just spring it on him.

Without any warning, we walked into Super Clips in Waynesville. Freddie, of course, took his cut like a man ... though he DID fall face first out of his chair (he was fine). Jones immediately got nervous with the typical, "Let's go home!" and all that, but I reminded him of Everest and her snowplow (from "Paw Patrol") that's been riding around in my backseat for about six months. I bought the bribe that long ago, hoping it'd convince him to control his fear.

It never has, until today.

I am beside myself.

And the cut is pretty cute, too!

Freddie Bear's first birthday

I'm not gonna lie to you.

Freddie's first birthday was hardly happy.

He's got a cold and two teeth tearing through his gums, and he's just about as miserable as a boy can be, which breaks my heart, both because he's so out of sorts and because, when he's out of sorts, I'M out of sorts, and Jones hasn't exactly been on his best behavior here lately, either, and poor (wonderful, patient) Jeremy bears the brunt of all our angst (I'm sorry, Sweetie. Thank you for being so wonderful. And, especially, patient).

In spite of Freddie's feeling bad, we tried to make things as merry as possible. The day began with a chocolate donut, picked out the nite before by his daddy and his big brother. I put a single candle on the donut, and the three of us sang to our tiny fourth. He, of course, had no idea what I meant by, "blow it out!"

All he knew is that the little flame in front of his face was absolutely fascinating, so immediately after I blew out the candle for him, he touched the wick and got hot wax on his finger. As if his day weren't already bad enough - what with the snot and the drool, and the eye teeth giving him fits ... he did, however, seem to enjoy the chocolate donut (because: DONUT), and then, he opened his presents.

And then we took him to have his first hair cut.

We took him to a guy who has cut the hair of every Pressley man back to Jeremy's great grandfather ("Daddy Robert"). Jeremy had wanted to take Jones to this guy, but my insistence that he have his first haircut on Main Street USA won out. Unwilling - and unable - to take Freddie to Disney World for his first birthday, I agreed with Jeremy that the Pisgah Barber Shop would be the most logical second choice.

I had envisioned that his first haircut would be a lot like Jones's. There'd be a sweet little snip and a spray of pixie dust and then the ceremonial lopping off the crazy curls that make our boy look a lot like Ed Wynn (my sister came up with the comparison, and I think it's a really good one). Where I thought "snip," however, our barber thought "shear." As in "with a razor." As in "like a sheep."

Poor little, miserable Freddie Bear went in looking like Ed Wynn and left with the business card of an Army recruiter who wondered when he'd be enlisting.

Bless his heart.

The rest of the day was pitifully unremarkable. In fact, I can't remember anything else - except that Freddie continued to be totally out of sorts, and I started wondering if he was "getting mean" like my Mayme always used to do after she'd had her haircut.

Anyway, here are some pictures - and the hope that tomorrow's birthday party will be a whole lot happier than the birthday itself was.