Meet GQ...

Here he is, in all his one year old glory:


Handsome little devil. Of course, this is him pretending not to be an actual devil during soccer. Prior to this picture he was screaming bloody murder.

But I don't think that was actually the point of this post. The point was comparison.

You see, this is the handsome little devil today:

Now, come on. Tell me you don't want a great, big smackeroo from that boy - right on the lips.

Mmmmmm.

It's true, GQ has pretty much been sick since we moved to the good ol' Prairie. He's had a few isolated brushes with health, but we've gotten over them fairly quickly.

Meanwhile, he has been in the PICU, he has thrown up all over his bed, he has had one million and two colds. And then one more, just for good measure.

And now, he has the hives.

Aren't they darling? They're even cuter in person, but you would be surprised how difficult it is to photograph a rash, especially with my mad-dog photography skills (um, or un-skills).

At first, I was not concerned, then I was concerned, then I was not concerned, then I was...

well, then I made a discovery.

I think GQ is actually getting some teeth.

Teeth, you know, those things you chew with. GQ may be 17 months old, but he's not much into acquiring extra body parts.

So, I'm wondering:

Will he always break out in hives when getting a new tooth?

Or is he just allergic to all the corn and mice we've got going on here?

To test out this theory, we'll be traveling West at the end of this month - you know, seeing if he gets better or something once we leave the Mid-West. Strictly a scientific trip, you see. We'll be in my hometown for about a week, and then we'll head down to the land of sin and empty houses.

So far - in the name of science and hive diagnosis - I want a salad at Training Table, a salad at Hires, an AstroBurger with extra fry sauce, one of Laura's cakes, and some of those Peanut Butter cupcakes Dorien keeps posting without a recipe.

GQ, on the other hand, is hoping that the change in scenery will be enough to get rid of his hives and acquire a tooth. He's not sure I will share any of the treats I'm trying to acquire.

(Maybe I'll give him some fries.)

Still, despite the bulgy gums, I really don't quite believe GQ can get a tooth. I mean, he hasn't done it so far, right? And he has had 17 months to accomplish this feat. Although, while in the ER in August they did take a head x-ray and I did see some teeth in there somewhere.

Maybe they're coming.

Maybe he's allergic.

Maybe I just want a good salad.

Whatever. We're coming.

And I'll be sure to let GQ give you his snottiest, hiviest kiss of all.

Aren't you lucky?