Go Kings Go!!!

I didn't discover hockey until I was about 13, and I didn't go to my first game until I was close to 20, but I was bound and determined to get Sebastian to his first Kings game this season (at the ripe ole age of 19 months).  He'd already met Bailey and sat next to the Stanley Cup so it was time to trek to downtown LA to actually experience a game.  Thank goodness I bought the tickets before we did our taxes, otherwise we wouldn't have gone, but that's a depressing story that I'd rather file away and forget about.

I couldn't let Seb go to the game without any Kings gear, but he outgrew the two onesies he had a long time ago so this was the perfect excuse to try my hand at freezer paper stenciling.  I  wanted to be super ambitious and do something on the back reading, "My first Kings game," but in the end, opted to go simple since it was my first attempt.  I actually think it turned out pretty good, not bad for a $3 shirt!

Sebastian's first NHL game was on Saturday, March 23, the LA Kings versus the Vancouver Canucks.  We got there about 15 minutes before the opening face off and I was on a mission to get to Team LA and get Seb a jersey.  I was just as determined to get him a jersey as I was to get him to a game this season and I was SOO disappointed when the smallest size I could find in Team LA was a kids small/medium - way too huge for my Little Man.  :(  I had almost given up when I remembered there's a kiosk on the 300 level!  Just my luck, there was no line, AND there was clearly a toddler sized jersey hanging on the wall.  I bought the last 2-4T jersey and I had to buy the one on display, but we got it!  Mission accomplished.  And now it should fit Seb for the next 3 seasons, so in an odd way, I feel justified in my purchase/quest.

Sebastian did amazing during the first period (some McDonald's french fries may have played a role).  He loved the light show before the game and sat nicely in our laps and just took everything in.  He was even wiggle free during the national anthems.  I purposely purchased aisle seats and the the guy on the other side of us looked like he came on his own, so it was as if we had 3 seats, which was a nice little bonus.

I was slightly disappointed that our seats were at the banner end of the rink and I couldn't get a clear shot of the championship banner, but that was the compromise to sit at the end where the Kings shoot twice.

The banner's up there somewhere...

During the first period we noticed Sebastian was watching the game on the jumbo-tron and not paying any attention to the action on the ice, which makes sense because we watch it on TV at home, so it was like there was a big giant TV to stare at.  I still have no clue if he ever noticed there was action on the ice.

After the first period we walked the halls and had a snack.  Most Kings home games start at 7:30 PM and Seb goes to bed between 8 and 8:30, so I wasn't too surprised when he was pretty much done with the game after the first period, even though this was an afternoon start.  His attention span was shot and he normally only watches the first period of the games with us at home.  For the remainder of the game we alternated between walking the hallways and standing in the tunnel at the entrance of our section.  At least it kept things interesting.  We made friends with our usher and Seb met two of the Ice Crew girls (he was very fascinated with their uniforms, figures).  He also flirted with a woman sitting in an aisle seat near our section's entrance.

Never noticed how many electrical outlets line
the hallways at Staples...until I walked them with Seb.

As for the game itself, well the Kings don't typically play too well when it's an early afternoon game, and this one was no different.  They had a few good chances in the first, with no success, and while we were entertaining Seb during the remainder of the game, I can only really recall one more really decent scoring opportunity in the third.  In the end, my Kings did NOT score a goal for Sebastian so there was no goal horn or I Love LA to be experienced.  Final score was 1 - nothing, Vancouver.

Now I'm looking forward to comparing this experience to future ones in the coming years.  Sebastian's even good to go for the next few years with his little jersey.  Maybe next year Seb will sit through 2 periods???  I'm certainly hoping my little guy will grow up loving hockey as much as I do.  Go Kings Go!  Oh, and I've decided that since his birthday is 8-14-11, his favorite Kings are Doughty, Williams, and Kopitar.  :)

Tubes

Sebastian had his first surgery on Wednesday, March 20.  Poor little guy had to have surgery to put tubes in his ears at 19 1/2 months.  He's had 5 ear infections since October and it seemed like he spent more time with a cold than healthy this winter/cold season.

I get my OWN TV screen?!  Bring on the Mickey & Jake!

Even for babies and toddlers, they make you fast prior to surgery, but the positive side is that we were the first operation of the day!  We had to check in at 6:15 and Seb wasn't too happy about the super early wake up call.  We checked into the outpatient surgery center, so it wasn't just kids.  There were a ton of nurses buzzing around getting all of the various patients prepped, and Sebastian was quite popular with them.  At one point we heard, "Shelly has a baby, don't take him back to the ER yet, keep him here!"  He had his own crib and the cutest little tiny hospital gown that was so huge on him it looked like he was wearing a dress.  There was even a little TV screen on an arm so he could watch cartoons while he was being prepped.  He got a little nervous, but I couldn't blame him, it's a lot to take in at 7am on an empty stomach.  He had a couple nurses, an anesthesiologist, and the surgeon all poking, prodding, and prepping him.

Why do they keep poking and prodding me?

Towards the very end he got an oral sedative.  He fought it for a little bit, but once it kicked in, he was a little drunken baby.  He was so happy and would laugh and laugh at any and everything.  He had the biggest wobbly smile for every single person he saw, and it made it a piece of cake when the nurse and anesthesiologist walked off with him to the OR.

Happy drugged up baby!

All in all, the prep took longer than the procedure.  After they escorted him back we went into the general waiting room.  We were there for about 17 minutes before the surgeon came back out to talk to us and tell us how things went and give us a post-op update.  Less than 25 minutes after they first walked back to the OR and we were with him as he woke up (very angry) from his procedure.  It's right on par with what the ENT told us.  Total time for the whole process is about 10 minutes and they're usually only under for about 5-6 minutes.  We tried to calm him down, dressed him and were home by 10:30.

It took Seb until dinner time to return to normal.  The anesthesia made him pretty grumpy all day.  He needed two really long naps and lots of cuddles.  At first he had an angry phase, then a clingy phase, and the whole time he was really, really sleepy.  Thankfully he didn't get sick from the anesthesia - just a little constipated.  We're dealing with ear drops right now and he hates them, but thankfully there are only a few more days to go.  It's too early to notice any real benefits, but for the most part he's been sleeping really good.  It seems like his balance is slightly improved and there's a LOT of babbling going on (he even said "i-pad" twice on Saturday night).  I'm really hoping he can finally hear clearly and the increased babbling will lead to talking.  We have a speech evaluation on Thursday, so we'll see what comes from that.  Words, buddy, Mama wants to hear you use your words!

I Spy

A couple weeks ago one of Seb's teachers caught him using a spoon at lunch so she snapped some pictures  to document it for me.  I realized I hadn't checked his camera in a long, long time, so it was time to take a peek!

I spy with my blue eyes...

At this age, daycare = lots of free play.  It looks like Seb makes good use of the room and all the various toys.  I'm not at all surprised to see he surrounded himself with yellow balls in the ball pit.

They do a winter developmental evaluation and one of the things noted on Seb's was that he loves to take all of the dollies and blankets out of the crib, climb in himself, play for a bit, climb out, and return all the dollies and blankets.  I wish the 'clean up' aspect applied at home.  But I love his methodical approach to this activity.

Most of the sensory activities involve edible items since it's inevitable that it will end up in somebodies mouth at some point.  It looks like we had perfect timing with his Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown shirt and this sensory activity.  It cracked me up to see pumpkin all over the other little boys face...and Seb's holding and playing with the spoon.  That's my future little chef!

Seb has a xylophone at home too and he's a pro at bang, bang, banging away on it.  We should teach him he can play music and sing at the same time.  Maybe it'll take the intensity of the banging down a level or two.  Hmm...on second thought, bang away all you want at school, I don't mind.  :)  We'll work on nice hands when you use the xylophone at home.

I've earned my new parent badge in sand play the hard way.  Now I know to check shoes, pockets and pant cuffs BEFORE we get home if they've been playing in the sand pit.  It also has to be brushed out of his hair too because, apparently, playing in the sand involves lots and lots of aerial acrobatics (the sand, not Seb).  I'm not sure which was worse, the sand from the pant cuff dumping into the car seat at the end of the day, or the excess sand in the shoes getting into the entry way carpet.  Luckily, it doesn't appear he has discovered he could eat sand if he so desired.

We noticed a trend in a lot of the pictures, Seb has a best friend!  I asked his teachers and they said he gets excited when she gets dropped off and one day they asked him if Sophia was his best friend and he nodded and said "yes."  I think it's so cute to see them in all the pictures together.  However...with his recent bad biting behavior, I really hope he's not biting her.  Sebastian, that's no way to treat your friends!

And here's yogurt-gate!  The conversation that inspired me to grab our camera and see what the little man has been up to.  Great job with the spoon!  I even love his little yogurt mustache.  :)

We filled out an intent form for next year.  At the end of the school year my little man will be moving from the infant room to the toddler room.  My sweet boy is growing up so fast!

18-months