My Froap...

Owen has been battling several rounds of strep the past few months. Scarlet Fever back in May...some other rashy form in the fall...then 2 rounds of strep throat back to back in November. So after this last bout, I wanted to take him in to the doctor to get a clear strep test before heading out of town for the holidays. The day of the doctor appointment I told Owen that either mommy or daddy would pick him up from school to go to the doctor. I explained that the doctor was going to look at his throat to make sure it was all better. He was fine with it (in fact, he seems to really enjoy going to the doctor!). Hubby picked him up and took him in for his check-up. All went well, and when they got home Owen announced that the doctor "looked at my froap!" and that he was a good boy and got a sticker and a sucker. Yeah, I now ask him daily what the doctor looked at cause "froap" is just funny!

And BTW...as a side-note...Owen is for the first time EVER, closing in on the 25th percentile for weight!!! He has always been in the 5th, so almost 25% is big news!! I think it's because he has gotten taller, not because he has put any meat on his skinny bones, but we'll take it!

I LOVE that kid!!!!

An Unspoken Conversation

The following is a true story, but to protect the not-so innocent, names will not be used. You know who you are.

We grew up together, but we are very different, you and I. And that's OK. We were friends as kids, but as we grew-up we grew apart. As young adults we went on our own separate paths, and for the next 7 years there was very little communication. In fact for many of those years there was not a single word exchanged. I never really understood why, but nonetheless, I grew to like it that way. I wanted you to stay gone. Things were easier that way. There was less drama to forge through. Yeah, I liked you being gone. That's awful to say out loud: It's awful to type: It's awful to read. It's the awful truth.

But then, you came back. Back into our lives. And little by little, it was nice. It was healing. It was friendly. It was fun. Eventually it was like we were family. It was real. It was nice for a long time. And then it wasn't. Because then, out of the blue, with no explanation, you were gone again. It's now been almost 2 years without a word. Not. One. Word. You wouldn't even acknowledge me (or him) last time we saw you. Not even eye contact, though we were sitting at the same table and involved in the same conversation. You ignored him when he said goodbye to you directly. You didn't speak. He was 20 months old.

I go back to: you and I are different. But that's OK. We will never be the best of friends. We will never have to talk to each other daily, or share all of our inner-most secrets. But that's OK. Correction: that's OK with me. The hard part about any relationship is that you accept the good and the bad in people you care about. That's just how life works. You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have: The Facts Of Life. It really is true. But you, you are all or nothing. And I guess since it's not exactly what/how you want, it's nothing.

Years ago following the fun weekend we had at your college graduation, you wrote me a letter telling me how sorry you were for missing my college graduation a few years before. I was the first person EVER in my family to graduate college, and you missed it. You told me you were sorry for that, and that you never thought about how much that must of hurt me, and that you were sorry for that as well. I believed you. So now let me tell you what else you have missed in the past two years. I think someday, you will be sorry for missing these things as well:
~He turned 1
~He learned to walk and talk
~I got rid of the Jetta
~He lost his job
~He turned 2
~She lost her job
~After 16 months of looking, he found the perfect job and embarked on a new career...one that the old you would have been proud of and could have helped him with
~She started her own business. Again, the old you would have been so proud of her too
~He learned to peddle his trike all by himself
~Kitty had to be put down and it devastated them

And now...he's about to turn 3.

You two would have been buddies. He would have loved you like no other. You could have taught him so much. He would have thought you were so fun and cool. He would have filled your heart with love and joy and laughter. But he will never get to know you. He is disposable to you. You proved it. He was 11-months-old when you walked away in silence. He did nothing. You will not get the chance to break his heart or treat him like nothing. You will not get another chance to break my heart, or treat me like nothing. I will not allow you close to him knowing that at any time, you can walk away with no explaination and leave him wondering what he did. You do not get to know him. And that's a shame for you.

I am so very sad and angry with you. Sometime more sad than angry, sometimes more angry than sad. Sometimes both at the same time, as I am right now. Mostly, I am disappointed in the person you are today. For my part, if I could go back and undo whatever I did to set this in motion, I would. But in your silence, you have left me not knowing if I even did anything at all. So all I can say is that if I had a part in your pain, I am sorry. There are two sides to every story, and I wish you had cared enough, respected me enough, or at least been mature enough to have that conversation. I think that says more about you than it does about me. I have spent the past 2 years making a concerted effort to not do or say anything that you could twist around against me. I own my part of the relationship ups and downs, but for the record, I put the past 2 years squarely on your shoulders.

So this is it, this is my closure. We never said goodbye, so for what it's worth, two years later, this is the best I am going to get. Sometimes things aren't right...don't make sense...aren't fair. Sometimes you don't get to have the kind of closure you would like. Sometimes you have to create it for yourself...move through the experience and on to your new life. Now is my time.

We will never again be friends. We will never again be family. That is a choice I made: you don't get a vote. There is no trust there, and I will not allow you to hurt him the way you have hurt the rest of us. You prove daily in your absence and distant actions what we all mean to you. I don't forgive you for what you have done. I will someday, but even then, I will choose to not know you. My heart can't take it. I don't fear loosing anything by writing this, as we have all already lost. What's done is done and it can't be taken back. It really is too bad.

I wish you happiness in life. I wish you lessons you haven't learned, knowledge you haven't gained, and love you haven't found. I wish you peace.

But it didn't have to be this way.

How Very Alarming!!

With all this beautiful weather we are having, I love keeping the windows open as much as possible. The other evening they were all wide open while I got Owen fed, bathed, teeth brushed, rocked, and put to bed. Once he was in bed, I returned to the living room and realized how dark it was outside. Being that it was just the little guy and myself at home for the evening, I shut the windows and set the house alarm. I then went on with doing other stuff as you do once the kids are in bed...dishes, folding laundry, etc. About an hour later I opened the back door to set the trash out and there it was...the house alarm in full intruder mode. I run and disarm it, then run to Owen's room. This won't be good, I thought to myself. I opened his door and he is half sitting up, with a look of shear terror on his face. Poor kid was too scared, and too confused to even scream. I scoop him up and tell him it's OK, mommy just set off the house alarm. He really was better than I thought he'd be given he had just been woken up by an ear piercing siren. I calmed him down, one more round of rocks and songs, and put him back to bed.

The next morning we get up and go in to the living room. "No more farm, mommy" he says. Hmmm...no more farm?? I ask him what farm? "No farm mommy!!" He is adamant. "I don't know farm, Owen. Can you show me"? "No show you mommy! No show you farm...it says WOOWOOWOOWOO real loud in my bed!!" Oh-no ALARM! Gotchya. So we spent the next hour talking about the alarm, and no alarm when he is sleeping, and all things alarm related. And of course I made him say WOOWOOWOO about 20 more times...

Sorry Owen. But I sure do love you kid!

Mommy Mishap #17648536839

Today while riding in the car I told Owen to look at the clouds. "They look really neat, huh?" Owen said "no neat, mommy". Realizing he doesn't know what "neat" means, I say "they are cool"...he says "cool"...they are "pretty"...he says "pretty"...you get the picture. Then, my mommy blunder of the day. I say "they look funky"...he repeats, only his 2yo version of "funky" leaves out a very important letter. A letter that changes the entire meaning of the word. Yep, that's the one. I just taught my kid a very non-kid-friendly word. Hey Owen, let's just say cool, okay...

I love that kid.

Bye Bye Batchers...Not So Fast...

So "Bodshurs" has now morphed into "Batchers", but the other day Owen said the unthinkable...Diapers. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! "Owen, you can say Batchers...it's ok". And so "batchers" it is. Was that wrong of me? To correct his correct speech back to his sweet incorrectness? So I ask...Please God, just let him stay little for a little while longer!

I love that growing-up-too-fast kid!

Bananas Are Our Friends

The other night while rocking Owen before bed and talking about our day he said "The tree scared me cause I bonked, but bananas are our friends".

I have no response to that. Night Night Owie.

I love that kid.

Why Is That Fun?

The other night while hubby was getting Owen dressed for bed, I hear them saying "Mommy come find us!" They were in Owen's room hiding (in all but plain sight), but I played along looking high and low..."Daddy...Owen...where are you"??? I looked under the bed...in the dresser drawers...under the changing table...all the time hearing Owen giggle and say "nooooo" at each of my incorrect searches. Finally I "found" them behind the rocking chair and Owen squealed in delight! "Gen Mommy...Gen!!" OK...we can do it again...so I left the room and this time they hid in the closet. I went back in the room to search for them...again looking high and low...in the trash can, on the shelf, etc. All the time Owen is giggling in the closet. I go to the closet and swing open the door, and when I say that kid screamed he S.C.R.E.A.M.E.D. That kid screamed like he was Jamie Lee Curtis and I was Michael Myers. He then laughed his head off and said "GEN Mommy!! GEN!!!!" So we did that a few more times...Each time he screamed like he was the last survivor in a slasher movie. Each time he laughed until he almost fell over. Each time he wanted to "DO IT GEN!!". After 4-5 times I was afraid Owen would loose his voice and our ears would start bleeding from the noise level. Silly boy.

But why is that fun??? Why is being scared half to death fun? I don't get it. I don't like it. But my kid...my kid LOVED IT!

I love that freako kid.

Target, Of Course!

Owen is obsessed with everything Mickey Mouse. No, really. OBSESSED. My mom sent him a cardboard Mickey Mouse Visa card that he carries around everywhere. The other day it was laying on the counter next to where I was standing and holding him. He said "Mom...I need my Mickey Mouse credit card". "What do you need it for?", I ask. "To buy stuff." "Where are you going to buy stuff?" "At Target." Duh.

He is SO our kid.

Babies and Bah's

Now that Owen is 2.5, and hubby is gainfully employed, we have been discussing making Owen a big brother. So we ask him...
"Owen, do you want to be a big brother!"
"No."
"How about a Baby Scarlet, or Baby Cade at home?" (Scarlet and Cade are the babies at his school, and the only reference he has to babies).
"No-Just Owie."

HHHMMM...ok...

We are also thinking of finally getting rid of his "Bah" (pacifier). Now I know, he's 2.5, so why does he even still have a Bah?? Well, he ONLY has it when sleeping, it's not messing up his teeth, he truly doesn't fall asleep without it, and once it falls out at night, he keeps sleeping. So really, I don't care that he has it, it's like a blanket or comfy toy to help him fall asleep. BUT, if we are going to add a new baby to the mix, the Bah needs to be gone, and I don't want him to associate new baby and loosing his Bah (he will already loose his room!), so the Bah must go!

The other morning we were laying in bed before getting up and I told him that soon we need to send his Bah's to the babies who need them because he's getting to be a big boy. Babies need Bah's, not big boys. His response was "No-just Owie!" I guess he's got me figured out, and he's not having it! I'll keep you posted on the baby and Bah situation!

I love that wants-to-be-an-only-child kid!

Coconuts Bodshur

My latest favorite words from my spunky little guy: "Mom, I want coconut bodshur!"

What is the world is a coconut bodshur, you ask. Well if you will remember from an earlier post, "bodshur" is, in fact, DIAPER. Most words he says correctly, but bodshur has stuck, and it still makes me giggle. But the coconuts part????

The other day we ran out of diapers (we buy in bulk at Sams!) but instead of making a trip to get a big box, we grabbed a small box of the generic Target diapers to get us through the week. We get them home and go to put them away and Owen says "Mom, but dis?" pointing to the polka dots on the Target diapers. I say "polka dots"! How fun! He smiles and says "Coconuts!". "No baby-Polka Dots...Puh-puh-puh polka dots". He says "Puh-puh-puh coconuts!". Yes baby...those are your Puh-puh-puh coconut badshurs.

I love that kid.

I. ADORE. THIS. FACE.

474

That's how many days our little family was turned on it's side. Not a long time in the grand scheme of things, but not a short time while living it either. It was just long enough to become our "new normal", for a while anyway. I remember the day. I remember the exact date. I remember where I was when my wonderful hubby called me to tell me he just got laid off. My first thought, my first words, were "what are we going to do". Really, neither of us had a clue what to do. But what we did, for the next 474 days, was whatever we had to do to hang in there. We downsized where we could; we filed for unemployment; we relied on our savings; and we treaded water.

I learned a lot about the welfare system in our country. I have worked in the welfare system, and worked with people in the welfare system my entire adult life, but never, not once did I expect to be ONE OF THEM. I learned that even though unemployment benefits help-and by help I mean KEPT US A FLOAT-they are by no means going to keep your "ends meeting". But you can't do anything extra, say a part time job to make your ends meet, because you then loose your benefits. It's a desperate place to be...you can't work a little because you will make too much and loose everything, and you can't do nothing, because then you will make too little.

Everyone always asks me...how did you make it almost a year and a half on a social worker salary? Well, we cut back where we could...it's amazing how much you can cut back when there really is NO choice. And the rest...well, like I said, we did what we had to do. We chose to keep Owen in school, because that was best for him, but everything else was greatly downsized. We have wonderful friends and family who helped us out a lot here and there, bought us countless dinners and happy hour specials, and did some free babysitting the few times we were able to get out. I am so very grateful to have such generous and amazing people in our life! There really aren't enough "thank yous". For family outings we took to walking around Target with some popcorn-one of Owen's favorite things to do-as a way of getting out of the house without spending money. Basically, we shifted. No point in staying in freak-out mode, especially if you are in for a long ride. So, we just shifted. And remarkably, we did so without anger, arguments, or adversity. Major rule to live by...only one of you gets to freak out at a time. If you sense your significant other about to freak out, you pull it together and save your freak out for later. One at a time is very important.

I learned a lot about marriage, sharing, money management, and our strengths as a couple in those 474 days. Many couples fight over everything. Many fight over nothing. Many fight over money, and many fight just because there is stress all around. But we didn't. Not to say we get along perfectly all the time...we just handled this better than I would have thought we could, and better than I think many would. I think it says a lot about our little family that we can say we made it. We made it together. And although hubby and I have been together A LOT in the past 4 months since I started working from home, we do, in fact still like each other. We do still WANT to be around each other. Maybe not as much as we have been, I mean who are we kidding, there isn't anyone I want to be around 24/7! A little alone time does a person good! But at the end of the day, we do still enjoy each other's company.

And 474 days later, when he rolled an apple with "Mr. Higgins" written on it past my desk, I was so proud of him. So proud of us. We had many close calls over the past year...so many jobs we thought "this is the one". But the right one didn't show up until 2 weeks ago. It took 474 days because THIS job is THE RIGHT ONE. Mr. Higgins, you are going to be an EXCELLENT teacher! Those kids, like Owen and I, are very lucky to have you.

Yeah, a person can learn a lot in 474 days. For us, it was one day at a time. It was like standing still in many, many ways, but in the end I am so proud of us, so thankful for our relationship, and grateful that our strengths and weakness work together for the greater good of our family. And finally, I am SO thankful that those 474 days are behind us and we can now look to the next chapter of our lives.

Good Job!

Nothing is sweeter than when your 2yo tells you "good job mom!" for something like slicing a banana for his snack, or helping him pick up his toys. I know he is just repeating what he hears from us, but it sure is sweet to hear. I am doing a good job! Even if it is just slicing a banana for a snack.

Munchkin

So why is my kiddo so small, you may wonder. Because he doesn't eat...that's why! He is 2 years and almost 5 months old and weighs 26 pounds. That's right people...26 pounds!! Now he has always been small...didn't even weigh 20 pounds on his first birthday...has been in the 5% for height and weight since about 8 months old...but now...now he is just down-right skinny.

He ate great as a baby, and into those early toddler months. All homemade baby food prepared by yours truly. But now...now, not-so-much.

He eats breakfast great. At school, he eats lunch great. But the evenings and weekends...nothing. He gets home from school and has a small snack of apples, or cheese, or something of the sort that is actually part of his "dinner". Then for dinner, here lately, NOTHING. In the past he would at least eat some fruit and yogurt or cottage cheese for dinner. Now, I can't even get him to eat that. He is content to not eat anything at all until the following morning.

I thought maybe he didn't like my cooking, so I did a little test. I made a yummy dish of pasta, diced ham, and peas in a cream cheese sauce. I even had him "help" me cook it. "Do you want a bite, Owen?" "Nope". Ok...

So I took it to school for Ms. Angie to feed to the kids. Here was the test...would he eat it??? Wouldn't you know that little booger ate an entire bowl! So much for not liking mom's cooking! I guess there is something (positive) to be said of peer pressure...

So, for now, he will just eat at school I guess. At least he eats well there! Good thing I saved all his 12m shorts from last year...we sure got our money's worth from that purchase! (And at least he IS growing in height!)

I love that anorexic kid!

Owen's 2nd Birthday Party

So it's a little late (since he turned 2 in MARCH), but here's some pics from Owen's fabulous 2nd birthday party!



The party was on his actual birthday: Sunday, March 7th. We don't do big time, over-the-top birthday parties...especially for a 2yo...so it was at our house, with only his bestest friends invited.


Baby Jack (behind the balloon), Owen, Kaylee, and Riley







What was BIG TIME was the cake!!

Growing up my mom not only MADE all my cakes, but they were always AWESOME!! (Thanks mom!). Over the years I had a record player for my 50's party, and double record players for a dual party with a friend. A sleeping bag...a dinosaur...Aladdin...Peter Pan...you get the picture. I never got to see the cake until it was revealed at my party. And again...they were always AWESOME!

I have always planned on continuing the tradition, to the best of my un-artistic abilities. Owen's first birthday cake was a giant cupcake. It was cute, but not AWESOME. I wanted this year's cake to be AWESOME.

Owen's favorite thing at the time (and still is, for the most part) was buses. School buses, to be exact. So I decided to attempt to create a school bus cake. Challenge accepted. I should have taken step by step pictures, and now I know to do that next year, but here are pictures of the final product! Note the gummy bears sitting on the Kit-Kat park bench in the background. Chocolate doughnut tires...red sucker stop sign...white chocolate windows...green-dyed coconut grass...I made it all, though I did have creative input from my mom and EE.




It was A.W.E.S.O.M.E.

We got the table ready while Owen was napping, so when he got up, he got his first glimpse of the cake. He couldn't quite see it well enough, so he grabbed his table and pulled it over for a closer look.




BBBUUUUUUSSSSS!!!! He was pretty excited.

We ate, played, opened presents, and each of his friends colored a picture for his scrapbook.







We had a great time. Happy, Happy Birthday my wonderful, sweet Owen!




I love that 2 year old kid!

Booger Boy

Driving in the car today Owen says "Uh-Oh mommy...I have boogies". I look back at him just in time to see him flick it at me and say "here mom...Owie's boogies". Oh...thanks Owen!

So now there is a rouge booger in my backseat, and Owen is fascinated with picking his nose. My baby is now officially a little boy. Great.

I love that nose-picking kid.

Owen's Arkansas Vacation

Although we have taken many, many trips to my parents house, this was the first trip where Owen was ready (and able) to party like a big boy! We traveled in style (and hurricane-force rains) in LeRoy, the Swaggerwaggon. Owen got to watch endless episodes of Elmo and "Different Toy Movie" aka Toy Story 2. He thought TV in the car was awesome...and we (that would be EE and myself) loved not having to name every car and color he could spot for the 5 hour journey! (Thanks LeRoy!).

When we were about 10 minutes away from Nana and Papa's house Owen started singing "Almost Nana house....almost Nana house..." There was no actual tune, but I love his sweet singing...and that's a great song...for a 2yo!. Sweet boy. When we got there, Nana came out to greet us and the kid started screaming and about came unglued with excitement...NANNNNNAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think Nana would have done the same thing...OOOWWWWWEEEEENNNNN!!!!! if it weren't for the neighbors. Those two sure are in love with each other! And a few hours later when Papa got home from work....PAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAPA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Same reaction. Love it!

The rest of the weekend was spent with Pop and Owen playing ball, Nana and Owen playing cars, EE and Owen going on adventures...starting to get the picture...or more importantly, who is MISSING from this picture??? Yeah, that's right...ME...MOMMY!!! Apparently I rank 4th below Nana and Pop (who are now equal), then EE, THEN mommy. And had Brian been there, I would have been bumped to 5th position. Oh well. I can take it. At least I am in there somewhere!

We had a great time. We played outside in the rain...EE took him stomping around in the puddles looking for mud and frogs. I stayed back in the puddles where I could be assured there were NO frogs!. We pushed him in the swing hung from the giant tree in the front yard...and when we told him to wait a while to swing again...he climbed in the swing himself, then pitifully yelled "mommy...help...nana...help...ee...help...papa...help" until Nana caved and went and pushed him. 2yo manipulation at it's finest.

We ran through the sprinklers, and even Papa got silly and wet in the water. The things we will do to make our kids laugh. Melts my heart.



We grown-ups sat on the front porch with fans, cocktails, and a TV and played spades (while O was supposed to be napping). Owen got to actually play outside in nature without melting...he picked up all the leaves he could find...rode GiGi the giraffe all over "town" aka the front sidewalk, and we practiced riding his tricycle. I didn't get any pictures of him riding his trike, but it looked like this....Owen peddling along with one of us pushing from behind...telling him to "push with your legs". He would then let go of the handlebars, put his hands on his knees, and push. Oh yeah, 2yo are very literal. I forgot. It was hilarious and made a momma proud.

Another "biggie" of the trip...it was Owen's first time to sleep overnight not in his pack-n-play. He sleeps on a cot at school, but that's just for a few hours. This was ALL NIGHT! Big boy! I bought a toddler air mattress with side bumpers. It worked great....except he flips and flops so much he ended up sliding out the top of it! It made for some rough nights, and needless to say, we were both excited to be back home and in our own beds by the end of the trip.

So that's about it. We had a great time...ate great food...watched scary movies (without Owen, of course!)...played a lot, sang a lot, laughed a lot, and just had a good relaxing time. I wish I had more pictures, but sometimes you get so caught up in having the fun, that you forget to document it. I guess that means it was extra fun! But here are a few pics I did get...



Owen in his Flashdance shirt. I don't know why he wanted to wear it like this, but whatever!



And his Daisey Duke shirt...



Nana bought him this ducky...he wore it all over the house!

I love that kid...and good times AR-stlye!

READY!!

Me: "Owen, tell daddy READY!" (to leave on an outing)

Owen: "Daddy READY" "READY" "READY Dad!" "READY" (yelling through the house)

Daddy: "What Owen?" (didn't hear him from the other room)

Me: "Tell daddy one more time".

Owen: "One more time".

Heeheehee! So sweet and so funny. And so literal! I love it!

Daddy Daddy Daddy!!!

That's all Owen wants these days...Daddy this...Daddy that...And it's little things too...can mommy change your diaper? "No-Daddy!". Want to get in your highchair to eat..."No! Daddy do it!". Ok, well, then, I guess I am not needed. Have at it Daddy!!

Until those middle of the night-way too early in the morning bad dreams. This morning (one of the 5:15am-ers) I hear Owen crying "mommy....mommy!!" I go in and scoop him up...you want mommy to rock you? "Yes" (still crying). You want Daddy? "No-Mommy do it". So I may not get a lot of the waking hours...but I get the ones that count.

I love that daddy-loving kid!

Owen Is Oh So Sheik...

Owen, EE, and I went shopping last weekend. He saw us hold up clothes to ourselves-you know, the way girls do-so he decided he needed to get in on the action. Here's what he came up with:


He found a dress and wrapped it around his neck like a scarf. Very handsome way for a boy to wear a dress, I suppose.

Next was his Arabic headdress. Apparently he could see through it cause he walked around like this for quite a while!


And finally...the outfit de jour. Yes people, he did this to himself...right down to taking off his own shoes to put on the blue fake crocs.

We laughed so hard...he was so proud of himself...and I was proud of him for doing it all himself!

I love that cross-dressing kid!!

Busted!!

My Saturday morning went like this...

Mommy: Owen, this (new china cabinet) is a no-touch. Please leave the doors alone while mommy puts the glasses away.

Owen: Dammit (as he walks away).

Mommy: Owen, what did you say? (Calm and questioning)

Owen: Dammit.

Mommy: That's not a nice word, so let's not say that word, ok?

Owen: OK.

Minute or so later...

Mommy: Owen, where did you hear that word? Who said that word?

Owen: (smiling) Nana.

BUSTED!!!! I had to laugh. That was the perfect answer.

However...in all fairness...and in Nana's defense...she did not teach him that word...overheard maybe, but not taught. And really, at any given time, he could have just as easily said anyone's name...mommy, daddy, Elmo...who knows. But it's makes for a great story that his answer was, in fact, NANA!

I love that kid...and his cussin' Nana! (Kisses Mom!!) ;-)

I Think It's Funny That...

Kids are so funny...mine keeps us laughing daily. I thought I'd share a few tidbits of hilarity with you for your enjoyment.

I think it's really funny that:

~When he's mad, Owen refers to us as "Mom" and "Dad". I thought we'd be "mommy" and "daddy" at least until he goes to school, but nope, we are reduced to "mom" and "dad" when we're in trouble.

~His favorite color is orange. He pronounces it "Ohtch".

~He is now 2 years and 2 months old. Today he is wearing size 6-12 month shorts from Old Navy. He wore them last year, though they were long like capri pants. They still fit, but now look like shorts.

~He is fascinated with buses. I mean he really, really loves them. School buses (he calls them "cool buses") are his favorite, but he appreciates all buses. Our living room looks like a depot.




~He makes the best car noises. It must be in boy DNA (like getting dirty), because I in-turn, make the worst car noises. The driving, the screeching, and engine revving, the motorcycles…he's got them all down. Hubby says my noises sound like a wounded animal.

~Hubby taught him to say "Kim", and he can actually say it! Most kids call me "Tim".

~When he's mad, or being told to stop, he can cut his eyes and give you a foul face like you've never seen. It's hilarious, but we try to not laugh.

~When he wants to know what something is he says "Mom! But dis?" I respond with "a star" (or whatever), and he says "yep!" as if he was testing me. Wanted to be sure you know what you're talking about mom…keep up the good work!

~When he's fake crying, or crying cause his feelings are hurt, he'll cry and cry…but when he's done he announces "Owie all done cy-ing". And that's that; he's all better!

~He loves to put on my lip gloss. And hubby HATES it!

~I love how his words are changing…"open" WAS "O-Pon". Now it's "O-Peen". It's fun to figure out what he's saying…and trust me, he's saying A LOT! (OK, so this one isn't really funny…but O-Peen is!)

I love that funny kid.

Dirty Old Cookie Monster...

As part of his new-found independence, Owen now strongly declares "No Bahsur!" when it's time to change his diaper. Usually we can get him to cooperate when we give him the choice to pick between the Cookie (Monster), Ernie, Duck (Big Bird), and Elmo diapers. Still, he doesn't always buy into it, so we have to get creative... getting him to cooperate is much easier than holding down a 25 LB. 2yo.

One day, while trying to persuade Owen to lie down so I could change him, my sweet hubby said he had come up with something that seemed to work. He said he held the diaper up to his face and spoke in a silly voice saying something like "Hi Owen, its Elmo…can I be your new diaper?" He said it worked...so I gave it a try.

On this particular day I had a Cookie Monster diaper in hand, so I sat on the floor and said (in my best Cookie Monster voice) "Hi Owen! It's Cookie…can I get on you?"

WTH??? Can I "get on you"? In that moment my best "Cookie Monster" voice morphed into my best "dirty old man" voice.

Hubby looked at me with crazy eyes and said "no, not like that you sicko!"

Gross. Clearly I need a new profession since "can I get on you" seemed like something one might say to a 2yo.

Now I just stick with "Comm'on Owen…lay down…it's time to change your diaper".

Ok, So Now What???

Having just turned 2, Owen is becoming more and more opinionated, testing limits, exerting his free will, and developing a temper. All of this is part of being 2, and all part of the fun of having a 2-year-old. Actually, I really do enjoy seeing him grow and change and become his own little person. The "Being 2" doesn't really bother me like I had anticipated.

So what do you do when your child is in full-on-two-ness mode? Well for us, time out~or shall I say the threat of time-out~works fabulously! Has has only gone to time-out a few times and it breaks his heart so much, that the threat is usually all it takes. We ask him to do whatever...he screams "NO!!"...and we then start the count down. Now the boy waits until we say "three", but then he says "yep!" and happily goes off to do whatever was asked of him. It's a great little system, that until this morning, has worked everytime.

But now let me give you a little example of how it went this morning (all before 7am, of course!)

Mommy: "Owen, it's time to get dressed for school."

Owen: "No Mommy hessed...no cool...bye bye soon." (That would be "no dressed, and no school" for all you readers) ;-)

Mommy: "Owen, let's get dressed or we'll go to time out. One, get dressed or time out...two, get dressed or time out...three, dressed or time out?"

Owen: (No response...pause...) "Owie go out!" (He then walks over to the time out mat and sits down.) "Owie in out!"

Mommy (to Daddy): "Oh great. Well that worked well. Now what?"

I told Owen that he could sit in time out, but then he had to get dressed. He said no and yelled for "Owie in out"...that went back and forth for a minute but then we decided for him...it's time to get dressed. In the end, we picked him up and got him dressed tag-team wrestling style. And then he was fine. Off to "cool" he went.

I love my 2-year-old kid!

Take Me Out To The Ballgame...

Sunday we took Owen to his first ever baseball game. The Frisco Rough Riders were in town playing the Arkansas Travelers. It was the only game that started early enough to take the little one to, so we packed up the blanket and headed to our lawn seats. It was a perfect day-great weather, Owen was in a great mood, and the ball park is just plain fun! Hubby and I had many of our first dates at that ballpark. Our first kiss there. Even got engaged there in the parking lot one drizzly January day 6 years ago, so we were both excited to take Owen there for a family outing. We found a great piece of grass to park ourselves and spend the afternoon. We ate nachos...you know the kind...chips and some sorts of orange artery-clogging "cheese" slathered all over the top. Owen loved them! A few beers for the adults, and Owen even had some Cracker Jacks. My friend from way back and her kiddos met up with us for a while, and overall it was a great afternoon!

One thing I did discover...boys are born with a special gene that most girls don't have. It's the "1,000 ways to get dirty" gene. I mean really, Owen has never been that dirty. Ever. Now I know, some girls are pretty good at getting dirty too, but I myself, was not one of those girls. I was never exceptionally girlie, but I didn't play sports, get dirty, get sweaty, ick...none of that!! So I didn't know the extent of the dirtiness that little boys could bring into my world. Sunday, I learned. He didn't watch one minute of the game...how could he when we were surrounded by dirt? Sandy, dusty, must be played in, rolled in, thrown around, cover everything, DIRT. But he loved it, so whatchya gonna do? A little, or in this case, a lot, of dirt never hurt anyone. Least of all boys, apparently.







So that was my Sunday. And I loved it.

And I love that kid.

My New Gig...

That's right ladies and gentlemen(or if no one is reading this)internet abyss...I got a new gig! Now of course I am still at the same place I have been for almost 11 years now, I mean really, where else am I gonna go? It's in my blood, and I can't fight it. But this new gig...it's working out pretty well! I get to work at home, which I am QUICKLY growing to love! I miss my friends, and lunches, and walks, but this is good too. I have regained 2+ hours of commute time each day! The job is interesting, which I really wasn't expecting. And is kinda the best of both worlds~I get to work (which lets face it-I gotta!) but also allows me to be at home to take better care of my family. Owen still goes to school-he LOVES his school and his friends, and in my opinion, 2yo need the socialization. At home all the time with mom isn't in his best interst~he needs to get out, make friends, learn the ways of the world...ok, maybe that's a little too far, but he certainly doesn't need to be stuck inside with me all day long either! But the new gig does allow me to get stuff done so weekends are more free for family time. I already feel more relaxed and patient. It was a decision I really struggled with for many reasons, yet now it seems so clear. This is what was meant to be. And for the opportunity, I am thankful.

EE!!!

...Is what Owen's exclaims everytime he sees my BFF of 20+ years. Owen LOVES his Aunt EE. No one knows where "EE" came from, only the mind of a 2yo can come up with that I suppose. Every time someone knocks on our door he shouts "EE HOOMMEEE!!" and runs to the door. Now, 9 times out of 10, it is EE-we don't get many visitors way out here-but occasionally he is disappointed to find it's just the UPS guy. When EE came over the other day, he didn't hear her knock, so when he came around the corner and saw her standing in the living room, it was pure love and joy. He threw his beloved snack on the floor, screamed "EE!!" and took off running to her. Thank goodness she knew to drop her stuff cause she would have been bowled over by 25 pounds of excitement. He gets excited to see me when I pick him up from school, but I never get that kind of reception! The rest of the night it's "EE 'mon", "EE walk", "EE running"...yes, he's very bossy these days. But she humors him and plays along. Really, I don't know who love who more as I think she now comes over to see me only about 50% of the time. The rest of the time is for the boy. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Hopefully, someday (soon) I will get to be an EE ~ cause your own kid will never love you the way they love the fun, cool, aunt.

We love you EE!

And yes, I love that kid!

Midstream

Whew! So I made it! I actually went out of town for 4 nights, and left my boys to themselves. I had a lot of fun, missed them dearly, and am glad to be home. I talked to Owen (barely 2 years old) on the phone a lot while I was gone...hubby, not so much. O would grab the phone anytime he knew it was me, so most of my conversations with Brian consisted of about 5 words. I did manage to get one story though...and it started off like this...

Me: Hello?
Hubby: Hi, yeah, um, your son just grabbed my pee mid-stream.

Me: WHAT?!?! GROSS! HOW? WHY?!?!! And WASH HIS HAND!!! WITH SOAP!!!


I love that kid. And it's good to be home.

Big Steps!

So tomorrow, for the first time in 3 years, I will go on a mini-vacation. Why is this such a big step you ask? Because it will also be the first time I have ever left Owen! Ok, well there was that one time, about 6 months ago, that I had to go out of town for 2 nights for work, this time trip...this one will be 4 whole nights!!! Owen will be safe and sound at home with his daddy. I am sure the 2 will have a grad old time being bachelors together! As for mommy, I will be soaking up sun and wine in Hot Springs~horse races, here I come!! Now, I just have to find my brave face...

How did I get Here?

To all you moms out there…do you ever look in the mirror and think "how did I get here"? "Who am I?" "What happened to my cuteness?…my coolness?" I know I had it once upon a time, but now it's no where to be found. I have everything I ever wanted…a great husband that makes me laugh… a wonderful, smart, funny, sweet, healthy little boy I adore…a house, a job, stability, love, the best group of friends…but still, sometimes, it feels like the one thing missing from my perfect little life, is me.

Say What??

I want to document Owen's sweet vocabulary before he starts to say things correctly. Toddler-speak is just so fun, I want to eat him up as he talks his way through his little 2 year old world.

Most things are obvious (to me anyway), but some words, I just have no idea where he got them. I will do my best to spell them the way he says them, though some are un-spell-able!

Owen= Owie (this he got from Riley at school-she was the first to call him Owie, and it stuck!)

Fruit= oot oot
Bath= baf
Open= O-pon
Shut= hut
Love you= of woooh
Socks= gocks
Shoes= hoos
Milk= hoock
Water= ro-ro-t
Chug-a-chug-a choo choo= booka booka choo (one of my favs)
Potty= pah-yee
Chips- hips
Puffs- buffs
Tractor= tah-coors
Car= caahr
Truck= tuck
Loud= wowd
Jacket- ta-keet
Fish (like the crackers)= hish
Cheerios/cereal= yee yoows (that one took a while to figure out)
Bus= BUS!(but at the top of his lungs!)
Bunny= bop bop (at an ear piercing screech)
Pacifier= BAH (no idea where that came from!)
Doggie= oof oof
Plate= bate
Diaper= Bah-shur
Bandaid= Ba-nade
Thank you= Tee too
Welcome- hellcome (usually TeeTooHellcome...all one word).
Orange= otch
Stop= hop
Turn= Tume
Yellow-Hi-Yo
Spoon-poom


I love that kid.

Night Night Owie!

So every night when it's time to go to bed, I sing Owen songs. (And as a side note-my kid LOVES to go to bed…tell him time to clean up to go night night…he says "yep", cleans up, and runs to his room. Awesome!!) Anyway, some of the songs are old ones my mom sang to me (You Are My Sunshine, and the lesser known Running Bear). Some are songs I sang as a child (San Antonio Stroll), and some are just songs I like (Puff the Magic Dragon, Dream A Little Dream, I Will). We always end with You Are My Sunshine, thus it has become known as the "nigh nigh song".

Sometimes, when he's super-tired, I will start to sing one song and he'll stop me~"Nigh Nigh Mommy", meaning "just sing You Are My Sunshine, and we'll call it a night". I love it!

Lately though he has decided he wants to DJ the night by making song requests. So we sit there in the dark and he chooses the song. When he decides which one he wants, he puts his little hand on my mouth and says "XXX" naming which song he wants. If I start to sing the wrong one, he corrects me~"no mommy, XXX" (whatever XXX may be).

He has come up with clever names for all the songs:

As I said, "nigh nigh" is actually You Are My Sunshine.

"Indian" is Running Bear (a tragic story of a young Indian brave who is in love with a girl on the other side of the river and when they finally try to swim to each other, they both drown just as they get in reach)-yeah, I know, not too politically correct, but hey, he's two!

"Dance" is San Antonio Stroll the old Tanya Tucker song, and the first "real" song I learned all the words to.

"Love" is I Will by the Beatles.

"Dragon" is obviously Puff the Magic Dragon by good ole Peter, Paul, and Mary

"Dream" is Dream and Little Dream by the Mama's and the Papas. (I love this song and have always looked forward to singing it to my baby, but Mackenzie Phillips' latest revelations about Papa John kinda oog me out when I sing it now. But it's still a great song, and it's not like he's getting any royalties from me!

"Got It" or "Baby" is You Got It by Roy Orbison-the song Brian and I danced to at our wedding.

So that's it…our juke box of songs. We could use a few more if anyone has some good suggestions! Every night we sing 3 songs-well 2 songs, and then end with "nigh nigh".

Man I love that kid.

Oh Baby Owen...

One of my favorite little games…

Mommy: (rocking Owen like a baby and singing to him like I did when he was very small) "Oh baby Owen-Oh baby Owen-Oh baby Owen-Oh baby Owen"

Owen: "NO! mommy baby-no baby!"

Mommy: " No baby?"

Owen: "No baby Mommy!

Mommy: "Well, what's your name?"

Owen: (pointing to himself) "Baby."

Mommy: (laughing)" Well what's your OTHER name?"

Owen: "Owie."

That's what I thought.

I love that kid.

SKEETER BYTES: The Life and Times of One Family, Making it Work, on Skeeter Ln.

This is my first attempt at blogging, so bear with me as I get started. I was inspired to give this a try after following several friend's blogs about their family, children, travel, and lives in general. I want to create a journal of our lives, simple as they may be, as a way to document those most precious moments of pure joy. Those moments that can only be created by the love and bond of parents and their children. So...here we go...where to being...