Threat Level Midnight: NCAA Tournament Time

I love sports, but I'm not a huge college basketball fan. Until the NCAA tournament, that is. I love watching the tournament. Every year I watch as many games as I possibly can. I don't think there is a more exciting sporting event. Every year we do a NCAA tournament bracket contest on Yahoo with friends and family, and every year I (the sports "expert") lose to Courtney, my mom, and my sister even though aside from my mom their sports knowledge isn't at the same level as mine. I'm excited to try and beat them this year, but it will probably end up like most other years...them finishing ahead of me and reminding me about it the rest of the year.

The weekend before last we made the trip to Battle Creek to spend the night with my parents. Levi had a little "stranger anxiety" at first, but after a bit he settled down and was fine again. Grandma and Grandpa were happy to see him, and we had a great time visiting my family.

Levi rocking my Tigers hat.

Levi liked Joey. Joey didn't like Levi.

Grandma enjoyed spending some quality time with her grandson.

This past weekend we made a trip up to Sumner with Marnie and Ryan to visit Courtney and Marnie's Grandma Betty. Levi was amazing on the trip. He was happy for the car ride there and back (over an hour one-way), and seemed to really enjoy being around everyone. It was a very nice visit.

Group photo.

Levi enjoyed sitting with Grandma Betty...

...so much that he fell asleep. Grandma still has the touch.

Night time has been a little better. Last week we decided to start "Operation Tough Love", where we would put him in his crib at bedtime and let him cry until he fell asleep. Then, if he woke up at night, we'd let him cry for a while before we went in there to see if he'd learn to soothe himself and fall back asleep on his own. The first couple of nights were absolutely awful...he SCREAMED at the top of his lungs for an hour and a half before finally falling asleep. Before you think we are heartless people please know this was really hard for us....we had to fight every urge to go in there and "rescue" him. But after the first couple of nights he started falling asleep faster, and started falling asleep on his own when he woke up at night. Now he's doing both pretty consistently, and its only been a week since the beginning of "Operation Tough Love". Mom and Dad are a lot happier...somehow getting a more complete night of sleep will do that. Who knew?

We had to take Levi to the doctor last week because he's had a nasty cough for about 3 weeks now. Turns out he could have bronchitis and the doctor heard some wheezing while he was breathing. He's taking some antibiotics now and hopefully that will clear everything up. We also had to take Prince to the vet because he had a real bad ear infection. He'd been shaking his head a lot so I looked in his ear yesterday and it was all black and full of gross junk. It smelled awful. He got some ear drops so hopefully that will get him better soon.

I've already written a million things, so I'll close with a short list of new things Levi likes or is doing.

Finding his pacifier at night when he wakes himself up and putting it back in his mouth.
Pulling himself on his side in his crib using the railing, and falling asleep like this.
Squealing when he sees Prince. Trying to "pet" (aka grab and pull) Prince. Watching with sadness as Prince runs away and hides.
Playing with his big stuffed Nemo fish.
Making LOUD noises.
Going for walks with Mom, Dad, and Prince.
Trying to crawl, getting ever-so-close, and then falling back into a sitting position.
Trying to catch falling water drops when getting a bath. The motor skills aren't quite there for this one yet.
Pulling all of his toys out of his basket, one-by-one, until they are all out. Then trying to get in the basket.
Eating. Doesn't matter what it is: pears, bananas, peas, green beans, carrots, squash, stuffed animals, books, daddy's hat....you name it, he tries to eat it.