Count my blessings

That is my new motto when it comes to Owen and eating, count my blessings.
I was griping that all the child will eat is baby food, from a jar. If I try to offer him anything from my plate, he turns his head and won't even allow it to graze his lips. He won't even try to taste it, he automatically thinks he won't like it. I don't know what made him think the following food were tolerable to try tasting, but I'll take them. He will eat toast, crackers, pancakes and such, fish sticks, french fries and chicken nuggets. So I lie, he will eat a very limited variety of human food. But at this age Gwendolyn was all over human food and we were past the jarred crap. A fellow mom at the party commented that at least he would willingly eat the jarred stuff, she didn't have that luxery with her baby. When he gave up baby food, he still wouldn't eat human food. She recommended that I count my blessings and I think I need to agree.
Thing is, this child needs to gain weight and being picky isn't helping matters. He gained a pound from is year check-up and the Dr was happy that he gained that much. I was hoping he would have broke the 20 lb mark. He won't drink milk, plain or with carnation instant breakfast, that gets chucked across the room, as does the pediasure.
At least he is eating jarred food, there is always that.

Recent pictures

With new fabulous batteries for my camera, I have been taking more pictures, Yea!!

Going to Church on Sunday in her new pretty dress, that I later noticed was dry clean only, thank-you-very-much.

Owen in his Eskimo kuspuk, lookin handsome


Longest he has ever left a hat on before, LOL

I just love the look she was giving me here, "ah Mom"
PLUS, proof that she can do dishes and was very willing back in the day.

He can be taught....

but apparently not too fast. I have been working with Owen on sign language for months now and he had not used a sign yet, just giggled at me when I sign things to him. But, he must have been paying a little attention at some point. He signed food a couple days ago, a few times - so not a fluke. I still can't get "all done" or "more" or "please". Those are the only ones I have been faithfully trying. I need to look up the one for water or drink, that one would be usefull, if he will learn it. Owens' cousin Matia has a good sign vocabulary, from home and her two day a week babysitter. I am hoping some of that will rub off on him.

I was always amazed and proud of how quick Gwendolyn picked it up and learned that she could use signs for many instances. For example, she learned "all done" fairly easy and then determined that she could sign that to be done with a bath, play, book, nap, anything. It didn't just mean all done with her food like I was teaching.

Are these attributes any indication of how they will learn come school time??

6 Materialistic things

Tagged by Beth (thanks) to list 6 materialistic things I want, can't be humanitarian, like World Peace.

1) A fabulous fitting pair of black Calvin Kleins. I keep striking out.

2) Is is fair to say lose 50 lbs?? I think that is somewhat materialistic, LOL. Hell, it is my wish so I am keeping it.

3) A new collection of bras for my non nursing boobs to enjoy.

4) A peacock topaz ring with gold nuggets

5) A weekend in Las Vegas with my girls (IRL and Garden Hoes)

6) A prize winning 80's prom dress

I tag Shannon (craftymom) and Nikki (Oliviasmom)and Jules

How quickly they forget

It breaks my heart, but also amazes me. Both Owen and Gwendolyn seem to have weaned very easy, easy since I have not much to compare it to. Owen weaned a couple weeks back. This was my idea, thinking it would be easier on him than leaving him startled and abandoned when I go to Hawaii. He was very much a boob-boy and I figured he would have a harder time. So in a way, you could say I am disappointed that he doesn't miss it more than he does. I assumed I would have to fight the boy off me for a while. Nope, nothing. O.K., we are done and life goes on. I sleep topless, TMI, but I have been delibrately putting on a top prior to seeing the baby in the morning or by chance in the middle of the night, not wanting to confuse him. Last night he was crying and it didn't sound like he was going to stop, so I went in, topless. He could care less about momma-snacks. He just cuddled in for a few minutes and was good. Glad I can still be of use as a cuddler, but a little sorrowful that he is not pining for nursing. Gwendolyn was the same way, done was done and she never looked back. Weaning was her idea though, but I think Owen had something to do with it considering I was pregnant. Both babies went 13 1/2 months nursing, for that I am quite proud.

5 Food things

I was tagged by Jules, :) thanks, to list 5 "Marita" food things.

1) I am lactose intolerant, but am in denial and still try to have dairy things and always get sick and pay for it. Makes me understand how mentally ill think they are cured and stop taking their meds, that would be me, LOL

2) I have eaten something that could taste me, fortunately I was too young to remember it. I have eat tounge. The thought now repulses me.

3) I have eaten what I have killed. I shot a black bear a few years back.

4) Sorta a food thing, but I cannnnnnnooooootttttt stand to hear anyone chew ice and in turn don't like ice touching my teeth. I always have a straw if their is ice in my cup.

5) I make fajitas the correct way, with peppers and onions while cooking. But those nasty things never make it into my mouth. I build my fajitas with meat and cheese and lettuce. I like the flavor that peppers and onions put off, but hate to eat them.

So now I tag Shannon, Nicole, Nikki, and Daphne

BBBBBB's and other random babe things

Every word in Owen vocabulary, besides Momma :), starts with a B.
He likes ball, book, ba?, bye.
Beyond these being his favorite and only words, they are also his favorite things. He loves balls and migrates to anything ball shaped. He was chasing a balloon around my parents house when I left him this morning.
Owen has a smile that just makes a person burst out laughing, but I have yet to get it captured. I call it his snaggle tooth grin. He scrunches up his nose and smiles big, while showing off his tooth and a quarter on the top row. He has verrrrry slow growing teeth and these top two have been taking forever to come in. In the meantime we get to enjoy and laugh at the snaggle tooth grin. Love it and him!!

Gwendolyn is growing up too fast in my opinion. Her grasp of the english language, the primary language in her world (Dora speaks spanish and she has a few Eskimo words) amazes me. She is formulating sentences and is able to answer questions, not just repeat the question. Not sure how to explain it, she obviously gets her thought process from elsewhere, LOL. When I would call my niece Brooke at around this age and ask her how she was or what she was doing, there was normally silence. I decided I didn't want to talk on the phone with toddlers till they could answer these basic questions. Once they can, then they are able to carry on conversation. Gwendolyn has reached the point that she can do these things and I am tickled. It makes calling her during the day a fun thing to do and brings a smile to my face. Prior it just brought a smile to others faces to listen to my one sided conversation, laughing at me and my baby talk.
She has also went the last two nights diaperless. My baby is growing up. The YiYi (pacifier) has went away at both grandparents houses during the last two weeks. Our house is next. She has only had it during nap and night sleep since she turned 1 and that is also the only time Owen is allowed it. Maybe she won't get it when we come back from Hawaii, having gone 7 nights without it at that point. Hopefully that will be an ideal goodbye YiYi transition time. I had planned on 3 years old being it, but this will just be a few weeks prior.
She can also open the gate at the top of the stairs. I came home from work the other night to find Gwendlyn waiting for me at the top of the stair, with the gate OPEN. I greet her and ask her if Daddy had opened it and she says no, Gwendolyn did it. I make her show me and sure enough, she can open the fancy, unopenable baby gate. Arggggg, I repeat many times, you are not allowed to open it when Owen is awake. Yeah, that will last long. Owen is pretty good about turning around and going down butt first, but I don't like the idea of risking it.
The only positive is that she can now be helpful in the morning and open the gate for me when I have my hand full with Owen and the many bags of crap that I seem to need to bring with me for the day. Can I lock her in a closet now and let her out at 21??

Cell Phone Thoughts

Deep thoughts by Marita, LOL
I was thinking today about what my cell phone address book says about me. It says I have lots of friends, I like to pamper myself, and I eat lunch out in a hurry lots. I have gotten good about saving numbers in there to be able to call friends in the future, though I dislike talking on the phone. I like to eat out and don't like to wait or have to look a number up, so I have my favorite chinese, thai, and sandwich place programed in. I am not great at planning my "me" time far in advance, so I have the tanning salon and hair dresser and spa programed in for when I have a few minutes to do what I want.
Apparently I don't think I will ever be in an accident since I have never gotten around to adding my ICE person. You know, In Case of Emergency person. I assume they would call the one listed as "home" or "mom" or "hubby".
It still amazes me how I have come to rely on this method of communication. Maybe because the time I use the phone most is in the car and that is one of the rare "me" times. Sure I may have the kids with me, but I don't have to dedicate my attention to them and fight over being allowed to talk on the phone. I never take the phone into my living space though. Once I am home, it stays in the car with my purse and no more phone time. Fine by me. Most of my personal call take place on my cell, in the car, driving like a bat out of hell, JKing - I am a great driver.

Toddler Snowmachiner

We inherited a KiddyKat snowmachine, for the sunbird, that is a real little snowmachine, for 6 and younger. It needs some help, like a cowling (sp), but Gwendolyn got to take it out for a rip around the driveway this afternoon.

I want to go that way

Fast

Woops, stuck

The three of us

Owen wasn't so sure about walking on this crazy slippery stuff, so he just laid there and watched the action.
Fortunately, the snowmachine doesn't go too fast and she will get a chance to learn how to steer. It was fun to watch and we will use the heck out of the poor little KiddyKat :)
Brushed teeth tonight, I feel like I am on a good roll.

Fashion

I have decided that whatever I dislike in a new style will become the next "IT" thing. Take pegged pants from the late 80's early 90's, I hated them to begin with, then became the queen of pegging. Same thing when fashion switched over to wide legs, I thought they looked tacky and then they grew on me. I don't think it has been long enough since the last tight leg pant era, so I find myself rebeling and not buying any pegged or tight pants. Hell, I am pretty sure I still have some in my closet from the last time. I have a mondo closet and have a tendency to hold onto things longer than necessary, some would call it a pack rat problem, I think it is a girl scout gene (which I never was). I never ever like the new style till it is almost ready to be over. I don't get me??
I am fortunate that I am far past high school age. I never want to go back there. I could relive my 20's, but have no desire to relive my teens. Enjoyed them then, no major issue, was popular and happy, but am so done with the drama that come with it. I see the teen drama at work and have a hard time not pointing the sheer absurdity of some situations, knowing they will someday realize that on their own, someday.

Resolution update - failed the first night, but to be fair both kids were in bed when I got home from work. I managed tonight and informed Matt of my plan and he is supportive. This will work!! Plus I am still blogging, kinda a "me" resolution.

Belated New Years Resolution

I have been giving this a little thought and I think I came up with something satisfactory this morning. I suck at making sure my children brush their teeth on a regular basis. I think my resolution is to make them brush every night before bed. I have done well on my last two resolutions and I think they have carried over into my continued life. Three years ago Matt and I gave up french fries for 1 year, exactly. I was pregnant with Gwendolyn most of that year and the only challenging time was at the Fair and the smell of french fries was overwhelming. I survived, but it was hard. The following year, the year Gwendolyn was born I made a resolution that I would write and mail out thank you cards within two weeks of needing to. I thought that would make me a better person and help create a good habit. In reflection I would say it worked. I have continued to write thank you cards and in a timely manner. My mom encouraged me to write cards as a child/teen but I never did it. I am going for the good example approach and then will insist on it as well. Last year I must not have done anything but be a mom of an infant and toddler, since I cannot remember any resolution.
So, by doing to teeth brushing resolution, I will be creating a good habit for both me and the kids. Owen loves his spinny brush and Gwendolyn has always liked hers. I just need to make it happen and not slack. I have always been a morning brusher, right after the shower, so it will be good for me too.

As I was taking a bath with Gwendolyn last night (fun treat if Owen is already in bed) she felt the stubbles on my legs. Give me a break kid, it is January in Alaska, you wouldn't shave either. Conversation goes something like this:
GM - why do you have bubbles on your legs?
Mom - LOL
GM - why are you funny?
Mom - I'm not funny, your funny!!
GM - I'm not funny, your funny!!!
Mom - Those aren't bubbles, they are hair, mommy needs to shave her legs.

I love toddler conversation, so precious.

Another on the way to Grandmas house this morning is one I have heard alot over the last year. I don't know that I have ever said this to her, but she must hear it from somewhere.
Owen - blahblahblahblah
Gwendolyn - I heard you Owen, I heard you the first time.

Where does she get this stuff??

Oh, I love my new message board siggy, thanks Lisa

My Celebrity Self

Quite amusing if I don't say so myself. Back in my young, wild days, I had a few different men come onto me with a statement that I looked like Mariah Carey, but I think it was the hair at that point.