24 January 2007

Oh, The Trauma (and There's Lots)!

My poor, poor boys. It has been a rough couple of days for Drew and Owen. I feel like there is more to it, but I think the injuries sustained the last two days have made for some very cranky boys. Here's the run-down:
Yesterday morning: Drew and Owen learning "open and close" with their playroom door. I used to have a little stuffed toy hanging at the top of the door so they couldn't close it all the way, but the toy got lost. I wasn't prepared for yesterday's incident, though, even if we still had the toy hanging up. Drew decided the little space on the hinge side of the door would be a good place to put his hand, and Owen decided it would be a good idea to shut the door while Drew's hand was there. I've never heard Drew scream so loud in his life (and he's had some loud ones)! His little pinkie finger and his ring finger were pretty beat-up. Luckily, they weren't broken--they didn't even swell up. I felt so horrible!
5 Minutes After the Door Incident: Owen was sitting at the bottom of the stairs and decided the was going to be a little brave and stand up on the bottom step. His balance isn't as good as he thinks, and even after repeated warnings from Mommy, he still had to give it a try. The resulting backward somersault didn't actually hurt him, but I think it scared him quite a bit so he let out a big ol' scream that came close to rivaling Drew's. But happily, it was nothing a hug couldn't fix.
At Breakfast This Morning: Drew and Owen love oatmeal, but they don't like me to spoon feed them. The problem is, they are much less than proficient at using spoons themselves. They usually poke the oatmeal with their spoon, then dig right in with their bare hands and smear it into their mouths (and all over their faces, and sometimes in their hair and on their shirts). Today's oatmeal was blueberry flavored. Yum! After I cooked it (hooray, microwaveable oatmeal), I put it in the freezer for a few minutes to let it cool down. I then put a bowl on each boy's tray, gave them each a spoon, and said, "Ok. Fold your arms; we'll bless the food." Drew always finds this hilarious for some reason. "Look at Mom! She's talking with her eyes closed!" Just as I was about to pray for safety througout the day, Owen lets out yet another blood-curdling scream. I opened my eyes, and there he was with his fist in his oatmeal, which hadn't cooled in the freezer like I thought it had. So I wiped all the oatmeal off his hand, whisked him out of his chair and ran some cold water on his hand. I gave him a cup of cold water to dunk his hand in while he finished his breakfast. He liked that; it was nice and messy.
Bathtime, After Breakfast: Drew thought he'd better empty his bladder before he got in the tub (wise choice), but he decided to wait until after I took his diaper off (not so smart). So I had to throw the bathmat in the wash; I guess it was time, anyway. The bath itself was uneventful but fun. After washing Owen's hair, I got him out and put his diaper on, and let him go play while I washed Drew's hair. I didn't realize that the laundry room door was open, giving Owen full access to the cat litter. I grabbed a sudsy Drew and put him on a towel on the floor; went and grabbed Owen, put him in the playroom; went back to Drew who, by now, was in the hall; put him back in the tub, finished rinsing his hair; got him out, dried him off, put his diaper on. At this time, Owen came back into the bathroom, unaware that the floor was covered in puddles (just water!--Drew only hit the bathmat), and fell flat on his back. After some more slipping and sliding, I finally got both kids out of the bathroom and into the playroom to get dressed, but I was too exhausted, so they played in just diapers for a while.
There were no more injuries today, but everyone was very grumpy. And I'm still exhausted. I think we might be getting cabin fever. Going to the gym should help some, but I really can't wait til spring!

23 January 2007

Let's Get Fit!

Some of you know I got a gym membership for Christmas. And, I'm proud to say, I've been numerous times (though you couldn't tell just by looking at me). I usually just play racquetball or go swimming. Sometimes I ride the bikes so I can read a magazine and feel like I'm exercising. It really does take talent to be as lazy as I am.
When I signed up for membership, they included a free meeting with a personal trainer; I think it's the only business the trainers really get... I'm so excited, though; my trainer finally called me yesterday, and we set up an appointment, and she's going to evaluate me and make me a workout schedule and I'm going to lose 20 pounds. Hooray!
I'm going to join an aerobics class, which I'm pretty sure will be difficult, considering I've never done it before and I'm in horrible shape. It will involve something called "spinning" which term I have heard, but have no idea (yet) what it is. Makes me dizzy just thinking about it.
The gym also has a nursery for the tots. It's pretty cheap; only $1.47 per hour, if you buy a 17-punch pass. I'll probably need a few of those.
One thing I'm very much looking forward to is fitting into my favorite pair of Old Navy jeans; I haven't been able to wear them for almost two years! They're the one pair of pants I have that isn't worn out at the knees; the boys and I spend a lot of time playing on the floor, since they can't reach anything else.
Woo woo! Fitness, Inc., here I come!

20 January 2007

*Sigh [of Relief]*

Well. It's finally over.
I just hosted my first baby shower today. It was more stressful than it needed to be, probably because I waited until the last possible minute to do everything. It was pretty fun, but I wish there had been more young people there (Abby!). There were, like, three Grandmas and some Aunts that are probably also grandmas... And they didn't really like my games. I guess they [the games] were too "racy." Back when these ladies were having babies, people just didn't discuss such things.*
I also wish there had been less really young people there; like, two less, to be precise. David got called into work, so Drew and Owen had to hang out with us. David thought it would be a good idea anyway, because it would dissuade people from having babies. Except for the mother-to-be; it's already too late for her--the baby's due next week.
To their credit, though, Drew and Owen were pretty well-behaved. Until Drew found my strawberry lemonade and decided he was big enough to drink out of a cup (he's not). Luckily the stuff got all over him and not the carpet; he's more washable. So I put some in a sippy cup for him and he really enjoyed it.
So now that it's all over, I can get back to my quilting project. Yes, I quilt. Well, right now, I just sew squares. Once all the squares are finished, then we'll see if I quilt or not...

*For more on how times have changed, please see Ace's Blog.

17 January 2007

I Know It's Still Mid-January


...but I'm pretty sure the 2007 Mother of the Year Award will go to...me. Here's how I know that:
My sister, Roz, lent me her Gameboy Color a couple weeks ago. I've been playing this game, Harvest Moon, every spare second I get. I guess I've been playing too much, because the batteries died quite quickly. I was going crazy! I had to get my fix! I was in a jam! Thinking quickly, I took apart Drew and Owen's favorite noise-making toy, filched the batteries, and was soon-thereafter harvesting eggplants and sweet potatoes and raising chickens. I've got five. I also have a calf, Bess; two sheep, Kell and Lacy; and soon I'll have enough G's to buy a fishing pole! I'm so cool.

12 January 2007

Some Pictures...

Here is the first picture ever taken of Owen walking. He's got his two necessary provisions: pacifier and sippy cup.
Generally, I'm against bathtub pictures, but I really couldn't resist this one...


09 January 2007

Stumble Around Like a Drunkard

Yay! Owen is finally walking! He can now stand up by himself, without holding on to anything. The other day he was waddling around the living room a few feet at a time then he'd fall, stand up, stumble a few more feet, fall again, repeat the whole process; and he was giggling with glee the whole time. It was so cute. So now he walks around quite a bit (unless he's in a hurry, in which case crawling is still faster for him). He enjoys trying to catch Vito, who just has to side-step to get out of Owen's way; Owen hasn't gotten to turning yet--can't break up the momentum...
There are rumors that Drew took a couple steps: Dave and I went to the gym and left the boys at our friends' house. They said that while we were gone Drew took a couple steps on his own, realized he was walking and promptly sat back down. So I guess he'll get it eventually. But he does love to walk if I hold his hands. He laughs like crazy and tries to run. He, like Owen, is very cute.
In unrelated news: I had been making some jokes about working in the nursery at church; things like, I'll never be asked to do that--I'm no good at it, not patient enough, et cetera. Well, it would seem that when we say things about not having any patience, God gives us opportunities to develop said patience. I started working in the nursery yesterday, and will probably be in there every Sunday for a long time. Hopefully no more than a year...
On the plus side, I don't have to try to keep Drew and Owen quiet for three hours, and we get to have graham crackers and Pepperidge Farm Goldfish about half-way through church so we don't get hungry (and we don't have to feel bad about eating in front of others; all the 1 1/2 to 3 year olds get to eat with us)!

01 January 2007

...Those Who Can't Play, Heckle

Or so I'm led to believe by the punks sitting behind us at the Humanitarian Bowl game in Boise last night. These kids had smart-aleky comments for every play. Most of their comments are not ones I wish to put on my blog; I try to keep this as clean as I can.
It was a good game. Bitter cold, though; thank goodness for the ladies' room. Amy and I spent our half-time in there huddled around a 2' x 3' space heater (sorry, marching bands; all your practice and I wasn't there to watch your half-time show). We had it to ourselves until one of the 15 ladies huddled around the other one realized there were two heaters in the room. Then we had to share. We left instead.
I was the designated driver on the way home; not because anyone was drunk--Boise State has a no alcohol policy, much to the annoyance of some in our party (but I wouldn't want to know what the dudes behind us would've been like drunk. They were bad enough as it was). David and Amy were tired so they slept while I drove. And while I "celebrated" the New Year. It went something like this:
[David's watch chimes at midnight, he turns off the alarm]
Heather: Happy New Year!! [pokes David's arm to wake him up]
David: Unnggmm. [shifts in his seat, still isn't actually awake]
Amy: [wakes up five minutes later] Did I snore?
Happy New Year, everyone! Hope your holiday season was great!
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