RadioMom

Exploring the exciting world of veggies

2012-04-19T14:13:00.001-05:00

This will likely sound crazy to some, but I LOVE to watch my kid eat. I sometimes sit with my face way too close to his face, and just watch him happily chew, sometimes even hum, or dance, as he eats. I'm not one of those "All Organic" or "Everything MUST be healthy, no exceptions!" Moms...but I do enjoy being in charge of what our toddler eats. I love knowing that for the most part, the meals I prepare for him are balanced, and have what his little tank of a body needs to grow. He still hasn't even tried juice. I never banned it or anything, he's just crazy about water, drinks a ton of it, and he drinks his milk...but that's it. If he's anything like me, once he tries something sweeter, (like juice) he'll prefer it. I'm probably just postponing the inevitable, but whatever....I'm happy to do it. I realize this might sound like I'm on a power trip, but I love being in control of what he eats. It makes me feel like I'm doing a good job as his Mom, when I make an effort to provide him with a healthy diet, and wide variety of foods.

One day last week, as I was making a salad to bring to work, Luke started asking for, and reaching for what I was prepping...cucumbers, celery and baby spinach. So I sat him down, and started giving him the raw vegetables, one at a time, to see if he'd actually eat anything. I was so excited when over the next 15 minutes, he gnawed on a celery stalk, ate and loved the cucumbers....the spinach leaves got spit out and thrown on the floor. 2 out of 3 ain't bad. Since then, I give him cucumber slices and celery stalks as a "treat" and so far he's buying it. It might seem stupid, but I was so proud. I let him eat cookies, cake, and sweets on occasion, but I try to keep it to a minimum. I must admit, I have an advantage here, he'n not the slightest bit of a picky eater, on the contrary, my kid eats EVERYTHING, vegetables, sticks, books, paper, crayons...seriously.
I grew up without junk food in the house, and was SO pissed about it as a kid. I'm now entirely convinced if potato chips and Little Debbie's were freely available to me, I would have likely been a chunky kid. Instead, I felt cheated with raisin granola bars in my lunch bags, when the other kids had Twinkie's, Hoho's and Snowballs. I spent absurd amounts of babysitting job money I earned in Junior High on candy at Ben Franklin. Big props to my Mom for teaching (forcing on) me healthy eating habits. Nothing overboard, just traditional, and balanced....everything in moderation. We ate McDonald's, but not often. I did inherit her sweet tooth, and we're both known to hide candy in the house, but I totally get it now. I admit, I spent a hunk of my 20s rebelling, knowing I could eat whatever I wanted. There were a few years full of boxes of sugary cereal and 2 liters of regular sugary pop, but I reigned myself back in and now I eat (mostly) healthy. I appreciate the fact that I know which vegetables I really like.

To be clear...for parents who feed their kids more category "junk" food than I choose to... no judgement here. That's the beauty of it, they're YOUR kids. I'm married to a guy who grew up with all those kinds of treats at home, and he turned out fine. I feel that I might have ended up more on the chunky side as a kid, had I not been raised eating well, so I'm using the same approach with my own children. That, and, of course it's better for his health overall. I know some parents have kids who are picky eaters, so you do what you can. Only downside of the veggie "treats" is the pieces that end up on the floor don't get eaten by the dog, who wants cookie and cracker remnants only.

Semi-working Mom

2012-03-26T16:09:00.002-05:00

Record breaking temperatures in the 70s and 80s for almost two weeks in March...in Chicago?? Heck YES! Mild Chicago winter or not, I want nice weather, as early as I can get it. I had several moments during that time where I felt downright gleeful...feeling the sunshine on my face, leaving the house without a coat, windows rolled down in the car, taking our cabin fever dog out for walks daily instead of occasionally, and bringing our animal-obsessed toddler to the zoo multiple times.

One of my favorite moments followed a half hour walk with our dog Otto, pulling Luke in his wagon. We went to the neighborhood park, Luke ran around and played for a while, I chased him, he spent a good 15 minutes on a "suh-WING!!" (in my son's words), and I finally got him to sit down on a blanket in the grass for a picnic lunch. As a working Mom, I realized how lucky I am, to have the opportunity to do these kind of things with my kid, because my work hours are not long, or traditional (I start work at 1:30pm). To be able to do a "stay-at-home Mom" kind of thing...like spontaneously take my kid to the park for a picnic, because it's a beautiful day to be outside, and still have a job to go to later that day, that I truly enjoy and take pride in, makes me one lucky woman, and one happy semi-working Mom.

Dreamsitter

2012-01-30T20:52:00.000-06:00

We got the stomach flu from daycare at the end of the week, Luke had it first (sad face for my poor little confused vomiting toddler). I struggled a LOT with whether or not I should call off from work, but in the end, he seemed tired, but better, so we decided to ask our babysitter to come and watch him for the couple of hours between when I leave for work and my husband gets home. My hope was, if all went as planned, Luke would be napping most of that time anyway. Our sitter was great, right on time, and she offered to stay late so my husband could shovel the few inches of snow that fell that afternoon. Luke still had the gross poop part of the sickness, but was otherwise in good spirits.

I caught it from Luke and it hit me over the weekend, my husband Matt managed to escape it.

The following Wednesday, our next door neighbor called me early in the morning in a panic. Her van wouldn't start and she needed to get her 2 oldest girls to school. I told her it was no problem, to come on over and take them in my car. She has 2 little ones too, (oh yeah 4 total!), so she asked if I could watch them while she drove the other 2, of course I said yes. Her 2 little ones are a boy who's 3, and a little girl who's 6 weeks younger than Luke. Luke and the 3 year old boy are buds. He's the only boy in their family (besides the Dad), so we think he's just thrilled to have another rough playing boy to play with. Luke, of course, thinks he's awesome, and just follows him everywhere.  All 3 played with our "fridge farm" and then with some toys in the living room. When my neighbor got back, she & I talked while the kids played for about 10 minutes, and then they went home.

Two days later, my neighbor calls me to say she's sorry, but she can't pick up Luke from daycare that afternoon, which she does for us once a week to help us out. Her 2 younger ones have the barfing flu. Oh No!  I apoligized, and felt beyond awful. Of course, I had no idea Luke was still contagious when they played together, he had been feeling back to normal for days by then. She said it was fine, and that they get a stomach bug once or twice a year...I guess with 4, you just get used to it, but I felt TERRIBLE. Moreso, because I knew it was just the beginning for them, and they had 6 family members who could likely be puking, and feeling awful for the next several days.

Now, that put us in a tight spot, because I can't take Luke to daycare without someone to pick him up. After talking to my husband, who couldn't get out of work early, I called the sitter who helped us out the week before when Luke was recovering from being sick. I find out that she, too, got the barf-flu the weekend after she watched Luke for us, and she has no problem coming over again today to help us out. I almost couldn't believe it, and said, "Omigod, you are saving us 2 weeks in a row, with almost no notice...AND you caught the stomach flu from him, and was sick in between?! THANK YOU. We're paying you double!"   This babysitter has taken care of Luke for us, only 4 or 5 times now, but I'm beyond thrilled that we found her...for obvious reasons. She's a dream babysitter!  This also happened to be the day we got 8 inches of snow in around 3 1/2 hours...so she had to drive to, and from our house in a blizzard.  Now...to figure out a way to keep her from finishing grad school, so she can be our babysitter FOREVER!

Yay! A friend!

2011-12-16T17:48:00.000-06:00

Whenever you start a new job...there's a period of time that passes where you feel a little lonely and insecure...wondering if the people there like you, or if you like them, and if your being there is going to work out.

Reporting traffic is a unique job, but it isolates you somewhat. You sit alone in a small-ish booth and it's up to you how much you interact with other traffic reporters and producers. All in all, the number of people who are physically at my location, on my floor, is pretty low....like 8 people. Our sales team and managers are on a completely different floor. I didn't even SEE my big boss man until the Holiday luncheon today, and I have been working here for a month and a half. I've worked for him before though, otherwise I would have tracked him down to introduce myself.

I only opt to hide out in my booth if I look like shit, and/or am in a foul mood because it's been a craptastic day...which honestly doesn't happen very often. Otherwise, I pop in, just to say hello and small talk with the other reporters and producers here. I'm a social girl.

Well, one of the other traffic reporters here and I immediately hit it off. We have a lot in common. We're both Moms, she and I have worked with a lot of the same people over the years, and she loves baking adorable awesome desserts. I don't make beautiful cupcakes like she does....but I like to pretend I do, so I try from time to time. We talk about trying to squeeze in workouts (our building has a pretty sweet FREE fitness center), what time to eat dinner when you work until 7pm, what we're planning to make for the upcoming holiday parties. Normal conversations between coworker friends...but for me, so fun! We sealed the deal after the holiday luncheon today...while walking back to work together, we both said how glad we were that the other works here.

There's nothing better than having a friend at work you can talk endlessly to about silly crap your excited about like a new outfit, or finding the perfect glue to repair the ornaments your making for your homemade Christmas craft gifts. (shout out to Cheryl!) I make time to see my friend from my last job, and we email each other constantly. Work friends totally make working more fun.

For the love of crazy dogs

2011-10-03T07:24:00.000-05:00

Anyone who has been to our house in recent years knows about our dog. Our small dog "Otto" is a little, no...make that a LOT crazy. We love him, but I'm pretty sure he has an anxiety disorder, among other mental, and anti-social issues. Despite two sessions at puppy training classes...he barks when anyone comes over, this crazy, squeaky, high pitched bark. You can't quite figure out if he's angry or frightened, but the sound itself is just alarming. I think he is actually feeling both scared and excited, and just doesn't know how to contain it. Unless it's me, my husband Matt, our baby Luke (who he's GREAT with, thank god) or our Moms, Otto completely loses his mind for about 5 minutes. Then he stops the wild barking, and he seems like he wants you to like him, but he's terrified of you, especially if you're a guy. He paces, sometimes he shakes, and often tries to herd you (he's half Shetland sheepdog). I really avoid having company outside of my friends and family who know Otto for the lovable lunatic he truly is. I take him for a long walk in the neighborhood everyday. He embarrasses Luke and I regularly (spazzing out at any and all dogs, growling and lunging at old ladies, etc,) but I've accepted it, he is who he is.

Recently I discovered how much Otto enjoys riding in the car with me to pick up Luke from daycare. It's only 2 miles away, the whole trip takes 5-10 minutes, but I'm telling you...it makes his life. I usually go get Luke straight from work, but now, when I have time, I go home & grab the dog first. He just gets so thrilled when I invite him outside the back door, without a leash, and into the front seat. He really is that crazy little dog who doesn't want to be away from you...EVER. When my parents watch him for us, he follows my Mom around the entire time, he even waits for her outside the bathroom door. While I do wish he were more friendly and social...he's a very sweet boy, and a great cuddly lapdog. Luke smiles and giggles on the days he sees Otto waiting for us in the car. He's definitely a challenge at times, but he got adopted by the right family. We're *almost* as crazy about him, as he is about us.

I've got a birthday boy

2011-08-26T06:54:00.000-05:00

One year ago today, my son Luke James entered this world. It has been a truly amazing year. Being that boy's Mommy makes me happier than I ever thought possible. While I'm definitely wishing him a happy birthday, I'm feeling sad too. Part of me wants him to stay his cute, giggly, baby babbling, bald headed, chubby cheeked self forever.

Happy Birthday Luke!

boy parts vs. girl parts

2011-07-28T07:51:00.000-05:00

When I was about to put my 11 month old boy in the bath, I felt the water and it was a little too hot for him. I sat his naked baby tush on my leg, started draining the baby bathtub, and turned the water back on to cool it down. As we sat there waiting with the water running, Luke peed. Because of how he was sitting on my lap, the stream created a perfect arch that went straight into his whale shaped bath tub. I laughed and said, "well it defeats the purpose of a bath if you just pee in there!" Then he peed again and I laughed again. Then he started laughing, REALLY hard. Now I'm cracking up and so is he, he pees, we laugh, more pee, more laughing. I knew he didn't even know what we were laughing about, he was just laughing because I was laughing, but I'm telling you, for he and I...it was SO hilarious. Then I realized if he was a girl, I would be covered in baby wee, but instead I just drained the baby bath tub and refilled it.

Fun in radio

2011-07-25T08:01:00.000-05:00

Working in the radio business, especially if you're on-air, means basically no job security. A new company purchased the station I work for, and our sister station down the hall too. The sister station's airstaff were all let go, and a new format is in it's early stages there now. It was sad to see the end of a radio station I have grown accustomed to, but the new company allowed them to have final "shows," so their send off created a lot of real "moments" that meant something to both the airstaff and the audience. It was nostalgic, especially for me and all the other kids (many who are now grown ups) who grew up here and listened to "Q" in our high school and college years. This kind of thing never happens, usually you just finish your show one day, get called into the bosses office who tells you you're fired, and that's that. I'm happy these cool people got to go out in a better, heads held high, kinda way.

Now is when things are bound to get really interesting at work. A brand new company with big plans for the new station. Not sure what they'll do with the station I work for...so far...nothing. Now is when some people will panic...question the people in charge...be negative out of fear of failure. Not me. I'm going to keep doing my job, the best that I can..and hope for the best. I could end up being a part of a great company from it's very beginning and that's exciting. Why not? What do I have to lose? Oh yeah, my job. Ah well...it is radio.

Baby, Beer, Sunblock? Check!

2011-07-06T08:01:00.000-05:00

I noticed this week, I haven't needed to buy Luke hardly ANY summer clothes. My friend Katie gave us several boxes of adorable hand me down clothes from her 3 sons, shoes and coats too. Luke's Aunt Erin buys him a couple of outfits and/or pjs everytime we see her. I have other friends and family who have passed on a high chair, a jumperoo, a carseat, and more hand me down clothes (...and not the stained, super worn down kind of hand me downs, but the barely used, "like new" kind).

Some friends of ours were heading out of town for the 4th of July weekend, and asked us to stop by their house to feed their cat. The day they were leaving, they said we could swim in their pool over the weekend if we wanted to, so Matt went over and got a pool maintenance lesson before they left. We ended up with the best 4th of July weekend ever! Peanut (the cat) got fed, and we got to take the baby swimming for the first time on two super hot and sunny days. He (and we) loved it!

Feeling lucky to have such amazing, generous friends.

Pretty toes

2011-06-17T08:37:00.000-05:00

As a manicure and pedicure addict in a previous (pre-baby) life, it's hard for me to admit this. I have not had my feet "made nice" by myself, or a professional since BEFORE I had Luke...Nine and a half months ago! It takes a good 45 minutes, and you just sit there and relax. Who has the time? Well, I made the time yesterday and let me tell you....IT WAS AWESOME!

Hooray for not being ashamed of my feet in sandals!

Bug legs and banana chunks in my hair

2011-05-31T08:57:00.000-05:00

Ever have one of these kind of days?

- Hour long morning walk in 80+ degrees with baby in stroller & dog on leash
- Fed baby lunch and got smeared / splattered by avocado pieces, chunks of banana, oatmeal, and pureed pears
- Joined Luke in the baby pool for his first swim
- Changed Luke's 4th poopy diaper (what is this kid eating?!)
- Gave baby a bath to wash off all the sweat and sunblock
- Washed spider webs, spiders, unfamiliar bugs and bug body parts, winter gunk, and overall digusting-ness off all the patio furniture in a hot & sweaty 90 degrees (we live near a forest preserve, and there are a LOT more bugs in our yard than what I consider normal)
- 5:30pm Took the best, most necessary shower EVER!

Some days you take a shower, some days you NEED a shower. Those days when I really NEED a shower, I feel like I come out cleaner. One good thing about sticky, humid Chicago summers: it's not hard to work up a good sweat, and feel worthy of that long, cool shower.

Neighborly Love

2011-05-25T08:39:00.000-05:00

I woke up cranky, and I'm pretty sure I was a nag all day. (My poor husband!) I talked him into taking the fussy baby out for a walk with the antsy dog. Twenty minutes later, the baby had calmed down, the dog was good and tired, and everybody was feeling better. As we arrived back home, our next door neighbor waved us over and yelled, "Come over for cake!" We haven't had dinner yet, but answered "Sure, why not" anyway.

We sat at a picnic table with our next door neighbors, and our babies, who are just 6 weeks apart. We ate some mediocre cake, and watched their 3 other kids run around acting like maniacs with our dogs. We guessed each others ages, and laughed that we REALLY didn't know, even though we have lived next door to them and hung out on summer days for 6 years now.

Don't you LOVE having great neighbors? I do.

Fraggles on the frigid Chicago Lakefront

2011-05-17T07:59:00.000-05:00

This may sound nuts, but I walked 5 miles in a blustery, rainy 36 degrees in downtown Chicago Sunday morning, and it was kind of great. We were there to honor the memory of our friend, and to others on our team... sister, wife & mommy. The wet weather was cold and awful...so much so, we were laughing, as we were swearing and complaining. It felt great because there was a "we're all in this together" feeling. My friend Kim and I said "This is CRAZY!!" over and over to each other as we walked along the lake, where it got even windier and wetter. Finishing the full 5 miles felt amazing. Hope our buddy Chrissie could feel the love. I feel like I speak for our whole team when I say...we would have done that walk in February during the "worst snowstorm in Chicago history" for her, she was that awesome.

Magical Heel

2011-05-09T08:09:00.000-05:00

We went out for a Mothers Day Dinner with my family. My Mom and I sat on either side of Luke, the wildest, hungriest baby you've ever seen. He was loud and crazy, yelling and slapping the table when I didn't produce a spoonful of baby food fast enough. After powering through THREE containers of baby food, approximately a hundred baby puffs, and half a sippy cup of water...I realized we hadn't even ordered yet. Oh god, I thought, this could be bad.

Then my brother's brilliant girlfriend suggested giving him the heel of the bread in the basket to chew on. Suzy said her nephew loves it, and that it really keeps him occupied. She was right, it was like magic! That heel of a bread loaf was the best thing Luke has ever been given, EVER. My mom and I were the only ones who could hear the sounds he made as he chewed on it from all angles. He hummed and groaned like he was making out with it, it was HILARIOUS! Twice his chubby excited baby hands lost their grip on the magical heel of bread. As it went flying towards the ground, we all said "Noooooo!" Miraculously, both times it fell into the open diaper bag. Crisis averted. I even got to EAT some of my dinner. It was a great 1st Mothers Day.

Hoo-LUH

2011-05-06T08:56:00.000-05:00

I spotted a pool of someting under the coffee table on the hardwood floor. It's clear-ish, and looks like it has something floating in it, maybe partially digested food, maybe hairballs...Hoo-LUH (me gagging). As Matt's walks in the room I say, "Eeeew, what is that??" I know it's cat barf, I just don't want to clean it up. Matt takes a closer look, says "It's cat puke," goes and grabs the paper towels, and cleans it up. My husband knows that I will absolutely clean up pet vomit and/or poop, and kill the spiders, or million leggers on the loose in our house, but because I REALLY hate doing it, he always takes care of it when he's home. One of the many reasons he's a keeper.

Papa

2011-05-05T08:39:00.000-05:00

Most Sundays, we have dinner at my parents house... a new tradition we started after I had my son, Luke, so that my parents can see a lot of their grandson. *Bonus for me, that's one day a week I don't have to worry about what's for dinner.

While I love my Dad and overall, I think we have a good relationship, we don't always connect. This past Sunday, my Dad asked if he could feed Luke. He sat in front of the baby, spoon feeding him pureed sweet potatoes, followed by his oatmeal mixed with apples. My Dad, ("Papa" to Luke) talked to Luke about what crazy mix of food he thought he was feeding him. Luke blew his raspberries a couple of times, splattering orange baby food all over the place. My Dad just laughed and laughed. Papa enjoyed feeding him so much, I could literally feel how happy it made him.

Happy Mommy

2011-05-03T08:26:00.000-05:00

Nothing like a diaper commercial to make you teary at work.
Click on "Pampers Commercial" to see it... Pampers Commercial

I LOVE being a Mommy to my miracle.

Look in the sky! It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's...Super Cousin!

2011-04-29T09:06:00.000-05:00

I visited an old friend yesterday afternoon for lunch and had a blast. My cousin, who lives in the neighborhood, stopped by to hang out. My cousin was diagnosed with cancer last May, underwent treatment, but she isn't out of the woods yet. Her case is complex and her current options are numerous. Because it's a rare cancer, Doctors disagree on how to treat it. Invasive surgery, more chemo and radiation, a less invasive surgery, leaving it alone for a while...etc. She has to decide. She just turned 28 years old and is nothing short of amazing. She's following her instincts, is doing what she can to improve her health overall with what she eats, exercise, etc. It sounded like she is going to go with the less invasive surgery option.

She was way more excited to tell me the story about how her awesome new boyfriend first asked her out to dinner. She can't wait to get back to work. She isn't letting the cancer define her, or the way she lives her life. She's the same as she always has been, beautiful inside and out, HILARIOUSLY funny, overflowing with energy, and just an awesome person to be around. How is it that spending time with someone who is in the middle of such a life crisis has left me feeling uplifted? Because she's Bridget, that's why. My cousin is Superwoman.

Dewey

2011-04-27T09:29:00.000-05:00

I was named Jill, but at somepoint when I was a little kid, I became Dewey. My Dad loves telling the story... When I was around 2 years old, he and I were at the grocery store and the cashier asked me what my name was. I answered "Dewey!" and cracked up laughing. My Dad says I did the same thing many times after that...and so from then on...within my family, my nickname was Dewey.

When people call me Dewey, (both my parents, and a few of my Aunts and Uncles rarely call me anything else) it makes me feel good. Like a kid. I had a wonderful, happy, spirited childhood. I have ton of memories of being silly and weird, and having a really fun time just being a kid and loving life.

I want to pay more attention to these kind of moments in my life. They happen everyday. I decided what to do with this blog. I will post only "Dewey" moments. Stuff that happens that makes me feel good...warm & fuzzy stuff. Things that make me feel true joy and happy to be alive. Maybe you think it's cheesy, but I don't. Being cynical gets old. I want to be someone who doesn't care about what's on TV right now. I want to stop feeling like I need to compete with other people to get a better car, job, house, etc. I want to be done with my own inner battles get thinner, diet more, and dress better. I don't want to worry about if my kid walks or talks at the "right" time, or if it's before or after yours did. I just want to live my life, do what I need to do to be happy, and teach my kid what really matters in life.

My plan is simple. I feel like our society has become just plain dysfuntional. Why are we competing with each other when we should be supporting each other? I want to do whatever I can to create more community and cooperation. I think our culture is screwed up, and I don't want to participate in it anymore. Success isn't about "stuff." It's about love, friends, family, and community. I want to do better for the sake of myself, my family and all the incredible people I have in my life.

Today's Dewey Moment:

I do Zumba (a latin dance exersize routine) 3 times a week at home. I'm doing it in part to get my "cardio" in, so I can drop the rest of this lingering baby weight, but I realized another (and more important) reason that I do it. It feels good to dance. I love to go overboard and dance all crazy and try to get my husband's attention when he's across the room on the computer. I love it if he looks up and laughs at me when I'm making crazy faces, and exaggerating the dance moves. My babyman dances along with me in his jumperoo too, and I often "perform" for him too...he really gets into it when there's clapping. Can't wait for more Zumba fun in my living room later today.

Blog Number ONE

2011-03-09T14:31:00.000-06:00

While I feel my first ever personal blog should be something big and meaningful, that says something about who I am as a person, and what I'm all about...I find that too intimidating, so I'll just start with my day today.

Woke up for the day at 3:30am. While that probably sounds crazy early to most people...it's actually only 15 minutes before I usually get up. I REALLY wanted those last 15 minutes of sleep though. My 6 month old son was in the mood to get up at 3:30 today though, so there we were...on the couch at 3:40am, the baby's eating & I'm watching the last half hour of my soap, "All My Children." There's a wedding on this episode. I just love seeing weddings on TV shows, it's always fun to see women in wedding dresses. Cara's dress is a little skanky, looks more like a silk slip than a wedding gown, but she has a ridiculously hot body, so they had to put her in a dress that would show it off.

Off to work, almost on time today...left at 5:10am. It was a normal day at work, I reported the news headlines, traffic, and laughed a lot. It's Ash Wednesday. I decided to give up sweets for lent....not because I'm a devout catholic, but because I like the challenge. I love to test myself and see if I can go without something I enjoy for 40 days. If it was any longer, I'm not so sure I'd do it. I messed up before 8am. I had coffee breath, so I ate a piece of hard candy that I had stashed in my file cabinet at work. Whoops. I'm a heathen. Then I remembered I ate a Weight Watchers Smart Ones for breakfast. It's egg, veggies, and turkey bacon inside a delicious pastry-like pocket. Not supposed to have meat on Ash Wednesday. Turkey bacon. Doh! Double heathen. God is gonna be pissed at me.

My work day is done, time to hurry home to the baby. He got excited to see me today, the nanny was holding him on her lap when I walked in the room, when he saw me he smiled and kicked his legs and made a happy "Aaaah!" sound. He hugs my neck when I pick him up now too. Now that's my kind of homecoming. Alright....maybe God & I are still cool.