Unconstipating the Baby!

This morning very early Everett wakes up screaming. Then he starts grunting and pushing and pushing. And crying. I can tell he’s constipated by his actions and that’s confirmed when I changed his diaper. Poor boy has a big log of poop stuck half way out of his bum and a little drop of blood from where his butt actually ripped a teeny bit from the size of the poop! I’m surprised by this because he doesn’t eat a lot of constipating foods. But on further thought he does prefer meat to most other foods and maybe on the road trip I gave him too much pork at Famous Dave’s? I decide to get him some prunes and applesauce right away, and extra fluids. But I know he’s not going to eat the prunes because he’s been turning away baby food and refusing those baby food pouches, too! Darn it.

In a moment of inspired brilliance I think to myself that he might like baby food in a straw sippy cup. Like a smoothie experience. So I buy some of those take and toss sippy cups and a variety of baby food pouches and containers.
I also decide to buy a new diaper bag since mine is just too small for this move and living out of a hotel. I buy some super cheesy diaper bag with monkeys on it because I only cared about the price and that one was the cheapest 😛

I mixed a container of prunes with a fourth of a cup of toddler apple juice and he drank half of it!

After dropping Brooke off at school I decide to check out the local library. I’m nervous because libraries are either really great or really terrible and rarely in between. ha
This one is great, though! It’s not too big but it’s clean and really cute and the kid area is really nice because there are some toys and computers but the focus is on the books! FINALLY a library where the focus is on books and not an indoor playplace or computers!!

My kids want to throw coins into the fountain but I’m cleaned out of coins since I let them throw my entire coin stash into the fountain in front of the hotel. They’re talking about all the wishes they’d make if they have coins when a man walking past casually reaches into his pocket, no hesitation in his stride, and with a smile drops a small handful of change into my hand. That’s very nice of you, thank you! I call as he continues on his way.

In some gloriously perfect timing that day is storytime and it’s barely starting just as we arrive. Sierra and Payson hesitate on the edge of the group of kids while Ember catches sight of the group and without prompting runs to grab herself a carpet square and then takes it straight over and sets it down in the middle of the group. That girl! haha

Sierra and Payson seeing their little sister join the group look to me and I say, “It’s okay, you guys can join in, too!” They timidly go and get a carpet square and go sit right by Ember. Ember meanwhile has her eyes fixated on the storytime leader with a huge smile on her face. Sierra and Payson once seated safely in a Hausen-sibling group crack smiles and occasionally do a quick glance at me, just for added security by my nod and smile. I’m sure their timidness is less because of the situation in general and more because of their ages compared to the other kids there. Poor things were the only ones above the age of maybe 5.

Next, we went to McDonald’s for lunch. *sigh* So awful. I really would’ve preferred something healthier but, whatever.

Everett was zonked out and I was worried about his position in his stroller. It looked bad for being able to breathe!

I leaned his stroller back against my lap so he’d straighten out and he promptly woke up and I held him the rest of the time. And made a mental note to finally go ahead and buy myself a new stroller. Not only is this umbrella one terrible if he falls asleep but the wheels on it have never worked well and I’m constantly shaking it as I walk to try to get the wheels to point in the right direction!

After lunch we went back to the hotel to hang out until it was time to get Brooke from school.

Everett had fun giving himself kisses in the mirror and also pointing out his and his reflection’s belly button. He loves belly buttons.

I did my hair and makeup since we were going to be eating dinner in the hotel dining area. Three nights a week that hotel had free dinner so that was pretty cool!

Everett spent all his time finding the most fun things to do 😛

While I had been doing my makeup and Everett had been playing with the garbage, the other kids were playing with play-doh.

I cleaned up the little kids and changed their clothes. Except the new pants I bought Everett (size 18 months) at Target were giant so they just kept falling off him. Darn.

Then it was time to pick up Brooke from school! When we got back to the hotel we spent some time outside. The kids got to blow bubbles out by the fountain.

And Everett actually “drank” a bit from a baby food pouch! Oh and this is his new stroller!

Then we went back in the hotel. Since I was holding Everett by then since he was cranky, Ember got to ride in the stroller.

I didn’t take many pictures at dinner because it wasn’t that exciting. ha

After dinner we went on an errand, to look at mattresses, and then took the kids for ice cream.

Everett fell asleep in his stroller and was not at an awkward angle! Yay!

Payson practiced his zombie walking before we went back to the hotel.