We need to talk

At Rhys' 18 month appointment, I was asked how many words he has. I said that he says Mama and Dada and baby. The doctor said that mama and dada don't count so he only has 1 word. The doctor gave me a referral to see an audiologist and contact information for the county program to help speech delayed children. I was upset and Chris talked me off the ledge. We even cancelled his hearing appointment and didn't call the county number deciding to give him until after Christmas to start talking better. Well, it has been 3 weeks now and yesterday Chris commented that Rhys really isn't talking well. Hello? I know this. Today, he seems to be better. I don't know if I am just getting used to his "words" or if they are becoming more obvious. Either way, we will give him until after Christmas and then make some calls and appointments to get him on track well in advance of his second birthday.

Meanwhile, I am recovering from my event fatigue and have already started planning a campaign fundraiser for my friend Jessica's husband Jeremiah Chiappelli. I am excited about it and am reminded of all of the great times I had planning large DC charity events "back in the day". We should have the venue and caterer sorted out before our trip to England next week and then when I get back, I will host a little social evening at my house for the host committee to be given their tasks. Onward and upward!

A busy week

Sunday, October 25th marked the beginning of a very busy and somewhat stressful but fun week in the life of the Harding family.
Sunday:
9:15am - pick up my Mom (a.k.a. Grandma) from the airport
11:30 am - take the family out to lunch at Chick and Ruth's Delly in Annapolis followed by a cupcake
1:30 - kids take naps and I start work on the photo op cutout painting for our planned Halloween Carnival
3:30 - kids wake and we start plans for dinner
5:00 - dinner and play until bedtime
8:00 - continue working on photo op
Monday:
9:15 - out the door to get Rhys a flu shot and Cole a flu mist - one at the health department and the other at the pediatrician
10:30 - head to Annapolis for grocery shopping at Whole Foods
11:45 - lunch at a diner
12:30 - home for naps
1:00 - Conference Call with Work
5:00 - dinner
8:00 - work on photo op while kids go to bed
Tuesday:
9:00 - Drop Cole off at School (mom stays home with Rhys)
9:15 - begin shopping for work lunch on Wednesday and printing items for Thursday
12:00 - pick up Cole from school
Rest of afternoon - work and play with kids
4:30 - 6:00 - research PA Systems, pricing, and availability for purchase for THURSDAY's event.
7:30 - after dinner, make all components for quiche that I will make Wednesday morning for work lunch and veggie lasagna that we will have for dinner tomorrow night.
Wednesday:
7:00 am - start making quiche and doing laundry for today's wardrobe
9:30 -pack up lunch items and leave for work retreat
10:00 - 4:00 - work retreat
4:30 - purchase PA System
5:00 - dinner with family
6:00 - 10:45 - print and prepare all items for Thursday's event
Thursday:
7:30 - 5:00 - WORKSHOP
5:00 - collapse at home in a plate of home made chicken pot pie and a glass of red wine.
Friday:
FUN FUN FUN - played all day with the kids and my mom - trip to the farm at 10:00, Halloween Party at 11:30, dinner out with my mom at 7:30
Satuday:
Set up and prepare for our Halloween Carnival between prayers for the rain to stop.
1:30 - the rain stops!
3:30 - everyone arrives to party and play
4:45 - pizza!
5:30 - RAIN!
6:15 - trick or treating fun.
PHEW!

This one is of Rhys at the Halloween Party on Friday - He took a break from the Dalmation outfit.

We had a bouncy castle and beanbag toss courtesy of my friend, Kim.

We also had a duck pond with rubber duckies

The photo op that Chris so handily cut out and I painted

We also had guess the candy corn, a drag strip for racing cars and a can tower to knock down.

Cole showing me some of his trick or treat loot

Rhys in his costume - this was earlier in the month. I didn't get a good picture of him last night.