Armpits! And Other Stuff

Drew was missing this morning. I thought I heard him downstairs but when I looked, he wasn't there. So I checked upstairs. I found him in my bathroom, brushing his teeth with his dad's toothbrush. I grabbed him and said, "This stuff is off limits. Let's go downstairs." He grudgingly complied, and on the way out the door yelled, "Armpits!" As is not uncommon, I had no idea what he was talking about. I just thought he was naming random body parts. He asked me to carry him downstairs, so I did. He smelled a little funny. After I got him downstairs, I went back and did a little sleuthing around/damage control in my bathroom and discovered David's deodorant sitting on the counter without the lid on. It didn't take me long from there to put all the pieces together. Drew had put on his dad's deodorant. I had no idea he was so hygiene conscious. Hope it's a trait that sticks.

A cousin on David's side has twins. Her boys are ten months old or so. We told her we were going to send her Drew and Owen's old coats to save her some money. The coats are in really good shape, except for the zipper on one coat broke. I thought, "No problem. I can just replace the zipper. Easy-peasy." Well, I unpicked the stitching and took the broken zipper off, only slightly damaging a minor piece of fabric in the process. I got a new zipper but discovered as I went to sew it on, that it didn't separate at the bottom. Ok, whatever. I just went to the store and got another zipper, making sure to get the right one this time. I started sewing the zipper. Something was wrong. I realised that I had forgotten to adjust the stitch length. But there was more than that. I felt like I was in over my head. I just couldn't bring myself to keep trying, feeling I really lacked the skills to do it right. So I decided to take the coat to a place that does alterations and repairs on clothing. I wasn't sure how much it would cost, and I got really worried when I saw the following sign:

Prices per Hour:

$50.00
If we do it for you.

$100.00
If you watch us do it.

$125.00
If you help.

$150.00
If you tried to do it yourself and couldn’t.

Luckily, it was just a "cutesy" little gimmick. Cause the coat I handed to the gal at the shop was in bad shape after I had tried to fix it myself and couldn't. In reality, it will only cost me about 12 bucks to get the coat fixed. Unfortunately, it won't be ready in time for us to ship it for her (her kiddos are getting cold!), so I think we're just going to get her a new coat and give her the other old one. Kind of a Christmas present.

Everything Is Exciting All the Time!

We received a Christmas card and letter from my brother and his family. It totally made my day. I was just rereading it as I sipped my Powerade (can't seem to kick that habit; but I guess it's not the worst thing I could be drinking), and I love the part where my niece tells her dad, "Oh, Dad! Everything's exciting all the time!" I can just picture her cute little face glowing as she says that. And it pretty much mirrors how things have been going for me. Especially during the holidays.

There are so many exciting secrets to be kept! David got me some stuff and had my sister in law wrap it (he "doesn't know how," even though I show him every year). He hasn't put any of it under the tree yet, the bag of gifts is just sitting here next to the computer, taunting me. But that's not even the most exciting part. I'm excited for people to open what I got them; I know they're just going to love it*!

I was getting all my "Santa" stuff ready for the kids. I don't think they're old enough to understand, even though they know Santa when they see him. But I got so giddy wrapping their little presents (well, we actually just got them one big one to share--another bonus of their youth; they don't expect presents, they're just grateful to get them). I also got giddy wrapping the present I (I mean, Santa) got for our family. It's a board game, which David found out despite my attempts to keep it hidden, but he doesn't know which one.

We also try to do something for Secret Santa every year; this year we were able to get a car seat for a little 1 month old. It's not much compared to all the people out there who need help, but hopefully it makes a difference for that family. It broke my heart when I saw the tag for the baby that needs a car seat. I can't imagine not having enough for the absolute essentials. So that was the one we chose. I don't say this to toot my own horn or anything. It's just important for me to be able to do something for someone else because so many people did things for my family during my growing up years that made our Christmases brighter, and now I'm in a position to pay it forward, so to speak. I'm grateful that it's something that David considers important, too.

I'm looking forward to all the relatives coming to visit, too. My sister is coming on Friday, and my sister in law is coming on Sunday, and we're having a dinner party on Monday, and it's gonna be great! It's too much excitement! I think it's what's been keeping me awake so late these days. But I love it!

*My dear, dear father in law loves to get presents for people, but he'll never ask what you want, and even if you tell him, he still probably won't get it for you. I don't always ask what people want, because I try to get things for people based on what they've told me previously that they like. That way, they're still surprised. I don't know what the basis is for some of the things I've received from my in-laws. There's a running joke in the family that stems from a few instances where he bought a gift for someone well in advance of the occasion and said, "I got your birthday [or whatever occasion] present for you. You're gonna love it!" The only thing is, he's usually kind of wrong. Though, to be fair, though I didn't love the apron-with-grill-tools they gave me for my birthday, it will come in handy. So now when we get surprise gifts for each other we'll say, "I got your present. You're gonna love it!" It keeps things suspenseful; will I love it?...

Letter to Santa from Mom

I found this last year at Christmastime, and I actually posted it on our family website, so sorry all you relatives who've already read it. But it continues to crack me up, so I decided to post it here (I couldn't find a way to post a link to it or anything, so here it is on it's own):

A Letter to Santa from Mom

Dear Santa, I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned, and cuddled my two children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground and figured out how to attach nine patches onto my daughter's girl scout sash with staples and a glue gun.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes: I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year, I'd like a car with fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with one potty-trained toddler, two kids who don't fight, and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother", because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

And please don't forget the Playdoh Travel Pak, the hottest stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in three fluorescent colors and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet making the In-law's house seem just like mine.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container. If you don't mind I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family; or if my toddler didn't look so cute sneaking downstairs to eat contraband ice cream in his pajamas at midnight.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours always.....Mom

PS: One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

~Author Unknown

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Get to Work

Drew and Owen have been learning about where people are when they aren't with us. They say things like, "Dad work train," "Roz work 'puters," "Grandpa work police car," or "Grandpa shopping" (during one visit, Grandpa told them he was going to go shopping after he left our house, so they figure if he's not at work he must be shopping).
Lately, the new thing is for the boys to tell me they're leaving and pretend to open the door. For example, Drew will pick up my purse or anything else with a handle and say, "'Bye, Mom. Go work a train." I'll say, "Ok. See you later." Then he'll say, "Kiss a go," and come give me a kiss (instead of just saying "See you later," I used to say, "Can I have a kiss before you go?" And now I don't even have to ask). Then he'll walk around with my purse for a little while before he comes over to me and says, "I'm back." Then he does it all over again. Here are some pictures:

I think the toy Drew is holding is supposed to be like the duffel bag that his dad takes to work.
Here he is taking a 'break.'
Here's Owen doing the other new favorite job: "fix it." He's "fixing" the cupboard door with a corn-on-the-cob holder.
This is Owen going to "work a train. 'Bye ,Mom!" he'd yell.

Favorite Outfits

Samantha will be three months old on Monday. Right on schedule, she's starting to grow out of some of her clothes so I started taking pictures of her in her favorite outfits. I only have two uploaded right now, and they're the least favorite of the favorites, but I thought I'd post them anyway 'cause they're just so cute.
When you're done admiring, check out this other model of cute outfits, Sugar Bush Squirrel. Sugar Bush's owner makes the outfits from scratch and dresses the squirrel in them. Interesting...

Here she is blending in with her sheets. I can barely see her!


Left: Samantha in an Elmo suit. Right: Owen wearing the very same suit, 20 months ago.

I love the flower pattern on these jammas which were sent to us by Aunt Laura. They're actually the first 3-6 month clothes that Samantha has started wearing, and they're only a tiny bit big.

No, You May Not Go To Timeout!

Sometimes, as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep, I replay the events of the day. Sometimes, I get the giggles when I think of silly things the boys do or say. This was one of them: We were headed toward the kitchen to get a bedtime snack for the boys when out of nowhere Owen shoved Drew. I was so surprised. I think Drew was, too. Though Owen put a lot of effort into it, Drew didn't fall or anything; Owen isn't very good at being a tough guy (unfortunately, he's been practising more as of late, but he's still not real tough) and didn't aim well enough to have any major force.

Surprised as I was, I couldn't just let it slide. I told Owen to apologise to Drew, then go back to his room, sans snack. Owen yelled, "Time out!" and ran for the stairs (when cousin Westley gets sent to time out--which happens a lot--he sits on the bottom step and folds his arms. I don't usually do time outs because I have yet to witness the effectiveness, but sometimes Drew and Owen will sit themselves on the bottom step and say they're in time out). I grabbed Owen and told him, "Before you go anywhere, you need to apologise to Drew. Then I want you to go to your room." That made Owen mad. He started thrashing around trying to escape my grasp. When he realised there was no escape, he gritted his teeth and said, "I sorry. Drew." He continued to thrash and yell, "Time out!" as I hauled him off to his room. I realise that sending Owen to his room is a form of time out, but it's not the time out on-the-steps-where-you-can-still-make-faces-and-antagonize-everybody. So it wasn't the time out Owen was hoping for. And I still chuckle to myself when I think about how mad he was that I wouldn't let him go to time out.

I See Mitch!

I have to give a little background: David's sister Ace calls Owen "Mitch" (his middle name is Mitchell). My father-in-law hates that she calls him that and tries to get her to stop by telling her it makes me feel bad (it doesn't). The only thing is, the boys don't really understand who she's referring to when she says Mitch. Even though we've told Drew what her name is, he thinks her name is Mitch. When Ace came to visit most recently, Drew kept saying, "Hi, Mitch. Bye, Mitch." It took us a while to figure out he was talking to Ace. It made me chuckle.

Today, I was sitting in the living room feeding Samantha. Drew and Owen were running around being loud and making messes--their two favorite things! Next to the couch is a table that has a glass top and places for pictures. I put a couple of my wedding pictures in there--ones with the whole family, so the boys can see their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Drew paused for a minute to look at the pictures. He pointed to the picture of Ace and yelled, "I see Mitch!" It was awesome. I worry that we don't see some of the aunt's and uncles often enough, and that the boys won't remember them when they do see them. But Drew remembers Ace (or Mitch)!

Other fun things the boys said today (and some not so fun things):

Munch Mom: Owen's way of saying "SpongeBob" (to get the full effect of how he says it, plug your nose and say "munch mom" out loud in your whiniest voice. I don't know why he says it like that, but he does). Drew says MunchBob-- it's closer...

No Want!: This is Drew's new favorite saying. It drives me crazy. I'm trying to get him to say "No, thank you" instead, but every time I tell him to say it, he yells, "No want thank you!" sigh.

Elmo-Grover: What the boys call any and all Sesame Street characters.

Mine diaper, Merle!: I was changing Owen's diaper this morning and the cat came in and sat next to the box of wipes. I guess Owen felt threatened, and felt the need to assert his dominance.

Drew's *Real* Twin

A gal at church was holding Samantha last Sunday, and she made the comment, "I think this is Drew's real twin. She just came two years late." I had to laugh. I always thought Samantha looks like Drew, but with a smaller nose, and when I went home and looked at some pictures, and I was surprised how much these kids look alike.
Here are a couple pics:

Top: Drew at about 2 months old. Bottom: Samantha, with Aunt Roz.


Left: Drew and Owen. Right: Samantha

Lose Five in Two**

I've lost five pounds since Thanksgiving! Here's the two week plan for how I did it:

*Days 1-5: Eat nothing but Lipton Noodle Soup, Powerade and cough drops.

*Days 6-8: Start eating solid foods, but cut them into tiny pieces so you get bored and frustrated and stop eating before the meal is done.

*Day 9-10: Eat a normal diet. Enjoy it while it lasts.

*Day 11: Go swimming really late at night (between ten and midnight). On the way home, stop at Rolberto's and get a ham-sausage-bacon-egg-cheese breakfast burrito. Eat half of it.

*Day 12: Get up really early because last night's breakfast burrito will not be kept down. Switch to Dr. Pepper/Pepto Bismol diet.

*Day 13: Continue to consume mainly Dr. Pepper and Pepto Bismol, but add any kind of solid food you think you can handle. I tried a quesadilla and some Christmas candy. It seems to be working. Maybe eat some funeral potatoes at the Christmas party at the church.

*Day 14: (Hasn't happened yet; hopefully go back to Day 9-10 Diet)

**Disclaimer: This is not a healthy way to lose weight. Nor is it particularly fun, especially with all the good holiday food to be had. I don't know what my stomach problems were caused by (I suspect that delicious breakfast burrito, though I actually felt a little queasy before that). But I hope they go away soon! I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired!

Cup o' Goldfish and the Tinks Eye

The boys and I had the munchies late yesterday evening, so we headed to the cupboard to see what we could snack on. There were some Pepperidge Farm Goldfish in there, which sounded good to me. I asked the boys, "Would you like a couple goldfish?" They enthusiastically responded, "Peese!" So I sat them down at the table and gave them each a little handful. Owen started crying. When I asked him what was wrong, he cried, "Cup! Cup goldfish!" I guess when I said "a couple goldfish," he heard "cup o' goldfish." I gave him a paper cup with some goldfish in it, and he was happy as could be. Drew then wanted a cup too, of course, so I got him one. Now when the boys have a cup of anything, it's a cup o'. Cup o' chocolate milk. Cup o' water. And they can't hear the difference between couple and cup o', but as long as it comes in a cup, they're happy. I think I like this new system. The previous system was the nack bag (or snack bag, in regular English). All the little crackers and things fell out of those so easily, and it was tricky for the boys to hold the bag and grab things out of it at the same time. Also, I'd have little baggies all over the house, and I'd have to end up chucking them 'cause they'd be covered in dog hair or something. The cups are easier to keep track of as well as being washable, so we'll stick with the cup o' and see how that works for us.

The boys and I have a little game that we play at meal time. We just make funny faces at each other and see who laughs first. (This is sort of how I get them to feel like part of the goings-on, because when everyone is home, there isn't room for their chairs at the table and they have to sit kind of away from the group.) Drew likes to pretend he's upset and not going to laugh. He'll have his mouth all puckered up, but the corners always twitch and turn upward, especially when I give him the stink eye. The stink eye involves narrowing my eyes into little slits, pursing my lips, raising one eyebrow and moving toward the boys menacingly. I introduced the name yesterday, when Drew tried copy the look. I asked, "Are you givin' me the stink eye? Are you?" He and Owen thought it was pretty funny, because they know what the word stink means, but had probably never thought to connect it with the word eye. Owen squinted his eyes, leaned toward me and yelled, "Tinks eye!" It cracked me up. Then Owen came up with a game where we bump foreheads while giving each other the stink eye. He thought it hilarious, until he bumped me a little roughly and I said, "Ouch!" Then he got all wide-eyed and said, "I sorry, Mom." He's so sweet; he almost always apologizes immediately after hurting someone (if it's an accident, that is-- if he pushes Drew on purpose, it's harder to get him to apologize).

I'm just amazed at how quickly Drew and Owen are learning things, and how much they actually remember. We were cleaning up toys tonight, and Drew started singing the clean-up song, which he's known for a while, then he stopped and said, "Clean up, and snack!" He figured we'd have a snack because in the nursery at church, they always have the snack after cleaning up the toys. Clever, clever.

Well, all this writing about snacks and meal times is making me a little hungry. Since my strep throat has healed and I can open my mouth all the way again,* I can eat more than chicken broth and Powerade. I'm off to get a midnight snack, then off to bed I go!

*Last Monday, the day I went to the doc to get a diagnosis and some antibiotics, I couldn't open my mouth more than just enough to put a spoon in it. If there was any food on the spoon, it would get knocked off by my teeth or my lips. That made eating a little tricky and a lot frustrating. I didn't care so much on Monday, or even on Tuesday, because I mostly slept those days, just waking every three hours to feed Samantha. As the week went on, though, and I felt a lot better, I really wanted to eat something substantial. But it hurt so bad to try to force my mouth open. (If you've ever had dental work on your molars, you know the spot where they give you the shot to numb your mouth; the inside of the hinge of your jaw--that's where it hurt. It felt like I'd gotten a shot there and the pain just stuck around for a week, especially when I tried to open my mouth.) I ended up cutting everything into teeny-tiny pieces so that it took forever to finish a meal. The pain slowly went a way, but I felt like I had lockjaw because I hadn't opened my mouth all the way for almost a week. Then, during dinner last night, my jaw suddenly unhinged. Something popped, or did something; I'm not sure what happened, except that it hurt really bad, then after the pain went away, I could open my mouth again. It's been so nice. I can eat, I can yawn, it's great.