Ten on Tuesday

1.  I am still catching up on events of the past few weeks, hopefully soon I'll be up-to-date.

2.  There was a fire in the building where I work!  It happened on a Friday night so the building was luckily empty.  It somehow started in the basement and melted a garbage can - not sure we are ever going to get rid of that smell!  It seems to have stayed contained in the basement, though the whole building still reeks!  We were without electricity all week, which meant having to cancel evening classes.  I did teach one student at a cafe though :)  Rumor has it the police suspect arson - (it wasn't me!).

3.  Blaise has recently started calling his pacifier "ba," not sure where this comes from, but it is consistently his "ba".  I actually almost exclusively use the German word for pacifier, Schnuller.  I think I just like Schnuller better than pacifier, binky, soother, etc.

4.  He is a pulling-himself-up-on-everything-and-cruise-along-it maniac, but I don't think we're going to make my April 1st walking predicition.

5.  The weather is finally beginning to be somewhat spring-like here.  We are trying to take advantage of that as much as possible.

6.  We have been looking for a new apartment for a while now.  Our current one is in a great location, but with the location comes a lot of noise.  Especially in the summer when you have to have the windows open or you sufficate.  I think we finally found one, we haven't signed anything yet, but we are hoping to meet with the owners this week.  More details once we have it finalized.

7.  Blaise is getting really good at signing.  He has added "car", "please" and "crayon" since I last posted.  He also does "milk," "sleepy," "stinky," "all done," "more," "eat," and "drink".  I can't think of any others he does right now.  Anyone have a recommendation of what else we should teach him?  I was thinking "thank you" and maybe some specific foods.  Though I wouldn't want him to sign "pear" for example and then have to say, "sorry, we don't have any pears."

8.  I can tell that Blaise is changing in many ways.  We are (not so) slowly entering into the toddler years.  He has begun testing limits and I am sure the end is nowhere in sight.  The biggest thing right now is throwing things on the floor, namely books, food and eating/drinking utensils...well and Schnuller, too.  The rule now is one warning then a one minute time-out (a la "The Happiest Toddler on the Block") for books and drinks/spoons/food being taken away after the first warning.  We don't have a great place for time-outs, and honestly he doesn't really seem to care too much, but I hope he learns that there is a consequence to his actions.  We have been using his high chair (turned away from the table, so as to not confuse eating time) so far as a time-out spot with no Mommy in the room - any better location ideas?  I should also mention the provoking, here's the scenerio:

     Blaise throws book on floor.
     Mommy:  Blaise, we don't throw books on the floor.  Ouch book!  Pick it up please and give it to Mommy.
     Blaise picks up book, looks at Mommy and throws it again!

I know it is about learning and testing limits and he isn't being all "take this Mommy," but it sure feels like it sometimes.  Plus, he is really cute when he is being devilish!

9.  For all you Buffy fans out there, I found this gem the other day during an unusually long (3 hours!) nap.  You can watch all the seasons here online!  Not sure how they are getting away with this, and how long it will be up and running, but for now naptime is slayer-time!  :)

10.  My NCAA tournament bracket, along with millions of other Americans, got pretty rocked last weekend.  Luckily the online contest that I participate in allows re-picks after the first two rounds (for lessor points).  My friend, Kelly, introduced me to it a few years ago and it really is a lot of fun.  My Dad has gotten on board these last couple years and he is doing really well so far - 36th of 487!  I'm, um, not doing so well (though I am currently beating Kelly ;) ).  I should have posted this last week if anyone wanted to join, I'll try and remember to do that next year.  Go Hoosiers!  Uh, oops, I mean, Go Bulldogs!