The Kindness of Strangers

Well, if you just looked at the score of the Alabama v. Arkansas game, you might think that yesterday was a horrible day here in Fayetteville. Well, I'm happy to report that it wasn't a total loss for our family, thanks to the kindness of strangers.

We decided to be courageous yesterday and take Boo to his first collegiate football game. As a student, B-man gets a student ticket and a spouse ticket ($1/each) but isn't allowed to buy anymore student tickets. And, as crazy as it sounds, our baby boy, who is going to sit in our lap the whole time, has to have a ticket too! So, off we went to the game with only 2 tickets in hand, hoping to not pay an outrageous price to get all 3 of us into the game.

Near the lot where we parked there was a man selling tickets and he sold us a "single" for less than the value of the ticket!! Super nice! I thought for sure we'd have to pay a high price and this nice man gave us a deal of sorts because it was for the baby. So things were looking up. We had found a good parking spot, bought Boo a ticket, and were on the shuttle bus to take us to the stadium. To make a long story short, we all got into the game and I met B-man and Boo in the student section to watch the game. We were a little late, so we ended up in the upper level student section. Well, Boo was getting a little cranky, so I walked around with him under the bleachers for a while. I then came back to B-man and pulled out Boo's blanket so he could sit on the space in front of us. I was just talking and said, "I wish we had some shade". Well, apparently I said this just as a stadium worker (think red sports coat and tie, not EVENT STAFF t-shirt) walked by and he stopped and looked at me and said, "Do you need shade"? I paused and for a second and almost said no but on second thought, said "yes". His response was, "How long do you need?" Well, now I was starting to think we were about to get a major hookup, so I said, "How long can you give me?" with a big smile on my face and he smiled and said, "Come with me". So, off we went...out of the student section, past the EVENT STAFF t-shirt folks, and down a hall into the Club level lounge! Complete with a/c, big screen TVs and CAKE!!! He lowered his voice and told us to hide our student passes and act like we knew what we're doing! ;) No problem, we were super cool! So, there we were getting the inside look at how the wealthy live it up at the games. Let me say....it was n-i-c-e! Our new found friend kept coming to check on us and we were sure to graciously thank him at each encounter.

We decided to wander around a little bit and found that downstairs, was the club level seating that was open to the field! What a view of the game!! Alas, if only the Hogs had been playing well.

During our last encounter with red sports coat guy, he says to us, "Well, I'm there (pointing to the location where we first met him) for every home game" and walked away. B-man looked at me and said, "Do you think he's trying to tell us something"? I think for sure he is, don't you?

So, the whole thing got me thinking...stay with me folks, I'm going somewhere with this. We greatly benefited from the kindness of this man. He helped make Boo's first football game very memorable for us. He didn't have to do this. He just was walking by and overheard us, and stopped what he was doing to assist. But, it goes further than that. Just think about him and how he feels for having helped. He kept coming to check on us and was so nice. I could see in him how he was rewarded too...because we accepted his offer! Does this make sense? My point is, that when offered help, assistance, or an upgrade, etc. you're probably not putting the other person out. In fact, you're giving them the opportunity to do something good. They gain reward from being the helper. Don't you feel that way when you are able to help someone? Especially a stranger? It just makes you feel good. And isn't it contagious? When someone does something nice for you, it makes you look for opportunities to pass kindness on to others. Also, when others accept your help and are gracious in return, it makes you want to give more.

So, the next time someone offers to help you, don't just say, "No, that's okay". Let them help and you both will be rewarded. And maybe this world would be a better place.

Here are some photos from the day.

Game Day! This is us in the upper student section.

Go Hogs!

Boo Bear asleep in Daddy's arms on a couch in the club lounge. Thank you, red coat man!

The view from the club seats!!

Boo ridin in his baby bjorn. Mode of transportation for the day.

The view of where we were from where we ended up!

(it was packed during the first quarter...not so much during the 4th)

I spy a pearly white! Do you?

Have a great week!!!

Update

Just a quick update...
The root canal was fine. It took 3 hours though because they were slammed at the dentist office.
Mouth is sore, but I was able to drink milk this a.m. without severe pain.

On the agenda for today...
A picnic in the park for Boo and me with the Mom's club.
Studying for B-man. He has a midterm tonight. Study well Hon!

Today is the day...

Today is the dreaded ROOT canal day! I pray it goes smoothly!

Proof!

Thanks for listening yesterday and thanks for your tips, advice, and for sharing your own napping woes. I think it's good to share the good and the bad. It helps to know you're not the only one, whatever the situation may be.

But, today is a NEW day! I'm feeling refreshed and renewed. Maybe it's because it's a beautiful day and the forecast high is 76; maybe it's because I'm showered and dressed and ready to go, maybe it's because I'm so excited to finally be getting my hair cut today (I have high hopes for this new gal I'm going to); or maybe it's because we have the sweetest, cutest, most lovable Lil Boo ever!!! Yes, I think that's it!!

Here's some photographic and video evidence (proof, if you will) of his adorableness, his cuteness, ...his Lil Boo-ness!!

In his camou jammers!

Looking like a BIG boy! (sniff...sniff)

This was his Game Day outfit this week. At the bottom it says,
"Clemson, wait for me!"

Taking a rare moment to be still and snuggle with Daddy after his nap!





"I can do it myself!"

When?

Please excuse me while I vent a little...

Although our Boo is the cutest thing in the whole world (biased comment, I know), I find myself getting very frustrated with his horrible napping practices! He will only sleep for 30 minutes. Then he wakes up all happy and wants to play. We leave him in the crib, knowing that 30 minutes isn't enough sleep for him (not to mention, I can't get much done in 30 minutes). Usually between 20 and 30 minutes later, he starts to get fussy and we go give him his papeyer again. He would normally go back to sleep after that for about an hour. Well, lately he's been fighting that second part of the nap. He just is so fussy but exhausted too. He sleeps for a couple of minutes and then wakes up and cries...ugh. I feel like I've done everything I can short of letting him cry himself to sleep (which I just can't do) to promote good sleep/napping habits, but have yet to see the fruit of our labor. So I ask you...
When is he going to sleep for more than 30 minutes?
When will he bridge those 2 naps together?
When will I be able to start and finish a household chore while he sleeps?
When will our "being consistent" pay off?
When?
When?
When?

Thanks for listening. I feel better now. I know I should be enjoying the moment and not looking forward to "when" this or that happens. And, I do enjoy Boo and this stage of his life, but in terms of napping, I do long for the day it works the way it's "supposed" to . Am I being naive in thinking that it will actually happen? I mean, I know I've heard friends talk about consistent nap times and that their children slept 1-3 hours during these times. Did I imagine it all? Am I kidding myself? I mean, he is over 6 mos old now and we've been doing this dance for a while.

I know I've painted this horrible napping picture for you. But, the truth is, he goes to sleep very well and for that I'm very grateful and do think this is where our being consistent has paid off. We don't have to rock him to sleep and tiptoe out of the room. We read stories, sing him a lullaby on the way to the crib, put him down with his ya-ya and papeyer and he's usually asleep within 5 minutes. And, I'm grateful that he doesn't do this 30 minute thing at night and that he usually only requires some help finding his papeyer when he awakes at night, which is more often that I'd like, but it could be worse.

As you can imagine, I'm writing this as he is swimming in his crib, supposed to be sleeping and it's taken me a lot longer to write because he keeps waking up crying. I even tried to feed him, but he was clearly tired and not hungry. Oh brother!

And then I think, he's the one crying...how does he feel? Does he feel like we're never coming back? That we've banished him to his crib for life?? Boy, mother's guilt is a real emotion, huh?

Please don't get the wrong idea, I just love him to pieces! I just needed to get this off my chest and seek advice. Thanks for listening. Like I said before, I feel better already. Unfortunately, I think I'll be feeling the same way at about 1:30 p.m. when he wakes up this afternoon after sleeping only 30 minutes then...

Wouldn't you know it...he's asleep now! Yay! Yay! Yay!

Someone has a toowf!!

We're excited to announce that after weeks, er months, of us saying, "We think he's teething" in an effort to explain his crankiness...G Boo has his first tooth (bottom left)!!!
We were pretty sure we felt it about to come through on Friday night and he was the crankiest! So, we loaded him up with teething meds and Tylenol for the pain and off to sleep he went...the whole night I might add.
When he awoke on Saturday morning, I could see the tippy top of his little tooth peeking through his gums. Awww! We tried to get a photo, but it's still too small to show up on the camera.
Our little Boo is growing up. Sniff. Sniff.

So, what excuse do we have now for his cranky behavior this morning?? I think he's working on the bottom right one now! hehe! Seriously.