Monkey Boy!

Well, we finally celebrated Braedan's first birthday after a long, torturous trip and hard work. :Here's the story:

We had been waiting all week long to be able to get ready for the party. I had purchased items to bake a really cool monkey cake that I found a picture of online (to see if I had any artistic ability and creativity left), and couldn't wait to get started! The only thing we weren't looking forward to was the drive to Lansing. Braedan has been notoriously known for constant screaming in the car on even the shortest of trips. We hoped this one would be good since he has gotten much better in the recent weeks before. So Friday arrived, we got him in the car and on the road. We were golden...until he woke up 50 minutes later screaming, so we stopped before it got too bad so he could calm down for a while. Back on the road. We had no more than pulled out of the McDonald's parking lot when Braedan started up again. We were so frustrated and hoped it would calm, but never did. His scream only escalated and sounded so piercing to the ears you feel deaf when he's done. He continued to scream and scream, nothing calming him until he so bad he threw up all over himself and his carseat. Then he began to choke on it, so we had to pull over. We stayed on the side of the road for a while to calm him down (he was soaking wet, drenched in sweat), and then after a long period of time we had to get on the road again, and I sat next to him in the back stea trying to talk to him and play with him, but even that hardly helped. So, screaming we went, all the way to grandma's house.

We were releived to finally be out of the car, which lasted only for a short time because Braedan is sensitive and I got a speech about how I have made him that way by "spoiling" him from actuallly choosing to comfort my child when he needed it. I just was angry after that point (I won't bother with the details because typing on my phone just takes too long). The night had to continue though because I had to get to work on the cake. And work it was.

I have baked a cake before, but apparently last night I couldn't do anything right. I filled the pans to full, I didn't mix right, I had too many questions and grandma was taking over. But eventually it was finished, and turned out beautiful! I even did the decorating by myself for my little monkey face cake. I was so proud I almost hated to cut it up today! It was worth the trouble. And to make my ever so long story short, Braedan did well at the party, ate his cake and tofutti ice cream, got a bath, and then we were on the road again. After the first hour of screaming we stopped, calmed him, let him nap, and then he fell asleep in the car. We just had a half hour of peace, but he just awoke crying again, so I must end my story...oh, there he goes escalating! Onto more wonderful adventures...life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what yer gonna get!