Friday, December 26, 2008

Forget Exxon Mobile

The Valdez doesn't have anything on my son, king of spills. He just proceeded to pump several squirts of soap directly onto the kitchen floor. For the sheer joy of it. He has taken his mischievous behavior to new heights as we round out a full week of houseboundness. If he wanted to make me mad, he did a good job.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

There's no time like meal time



"Man, I like hot chocolate!", exclaimed Mizz as he downed his cup in three seconds. He apparently likes it so much that he needed two straws. It never stops to amuse Dave and me that he will unhesitatingly try any sort of candy product or dessert if its name is not too strange. Mizz does not eat pie, but will eat apple cake in a heartbeat. I was a little scared and grossed out by how fast he devoured a sugar cookie yesterday. Usually each bite of "real" food is preceded by an eternity. Just this week in an attempt to expand Mizz's repertoire of vegetables I made butternut squash au gratin (thank you Tilllamook for the recipe) and termed it "Cheesy Goodness!". As in, "Come here Mizz and try some cheesy goodness. We are having cheesy goodness for lunch.". I think the name and the fact I let him share a plate with me, momentarily allowed him to drop all his defenses toward the foods that I am trying to poison him with. He ate it and declared that he liked it as long as I kept all the ongins (caramelized onions) on my side. More significantly, Dave also ate one portion and declared that it didn't make him gag. I think I have found a winner recipe.


And nature didn't spare me with D either. I seem to be blessed with two little boys with eating "issues". After a strong start with some rice cereal and peas, D has refused to open his mouth to a spoon the entire month. Which means all his nutrition is still coming from Mom. And Mama wants a break. Since I had hopes of skipping the purees altogether, I can't say I am missing shoveling baby food in his mouth. But D has shown no interest in cheerios, soft pear, or even his toys when it comes to putting them in his mouth. I think by this point, Mizz had shredded a small library of books to a pulp. So, I am just gonna have to have faith that he is going to develop an interest in food when he is ready and that there will be an end to this breastfeeding gig eventually.

Snow Pics




The snowiest Christmas EVER!

I kid you not. Apparently this is the snowiest Christmas ever recorded in Portland. The last record was in 1930 something with an slightly over an inch. We've managed to top it this year with oh a foot or so. I feel really bad now; people haven't been able to shop at all this week, get or send mail, travel, and now almost all the Christmas eve church services are cancelled.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Um, it's still snowing

As it has been snowing now for a week, I realize that this is no longer as interesting as it used to be even for all the Portlanders who are still freaking out about all this white stuff falling from the sky. In Portland's defense, a foot and a half of snow effectively shuts down the city forcing the mayor to declare of state of emergency. Emergency people aren't able to get to all the places they need to go. Major roads are blocked. The airport has been barely operational and we haven't gotten mail in three days. Some people have been stranded by closed interstates, at the airport, or in homes that have no power. I have to admit, that as a mom, the snowed in phenomenon had a new dimension for me. Where snows days used to me fun and games (drinking games in college), now I couldn't help but worry about how we would get one of the kids to a doctor if they got hurt or sick. I have made lots of jokes about living like a pioneer, but it certainly feels like that to some extent since we have been stuck in the house since Friday. And well, we have the internet and central heat. In any case, fortunately, we are all safe and snug and have everything we need. In fact, I have spent a lot of time thinking about just that and being really grateful this last week for our comfortable home and our friends and family that keep us connected to the world even when we can't leave the house. There has been a lot of talk on the news about those that are not so fortunate, whether it is misfortune due to the recent economic downturn or my former clients many of whom are still homeless and very sick and now and now grappling with navigating around a foot of snow.

As I typed this, Mizz just took it upon himself to drop some playdoh into my coffee. Which really sucks since D money was up all night coughing and now I have no coffee.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

More whys, whats, and hows?

"What happens if you make cold fire? Then the fire melts.
You can make so many shapes of fire."

I am partially to blame for this because we were googling snowman images and found that some genius had somehow set a snowman on fire. Something I have to look forward to in sixteen years or so.

"Look at all the flakes the coming down...There's like (pause for dramatic effect) NINETEEN flakes coming down all at one time! There's SO MANY!"

Mizz is entranced by the snow and the recent usage of our fireplace and is grappling constantly with the properties of hot and cold. He is constantly angling for the fireplace to be turned on, candles to be lit, and most amusingly, for Dave to make me tea (as in, "Daddy, I think Mommy needs some tea". When the teapot is on the stove and the fireplace is on, we have to be DOUBLE careful.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Why?

From the mouth of Mizz:

Why do oranges have peels? I think it is so they don't get dried up.

Why do we wear underwear? (It took all my willpower to not reply, so you can poop in it).

Are you going to be mad at me forever? (I didn't know he knew about forever yet.)

Sunday, December 14, 2008

It's snowing!

I'm pretty giddy with the snow right now. We took advantage of the wintery morning and made ourselves some Portland style ice cream--ice cream flavored with Rogue Hazelnut Brown Ale. It was pretty funny watching Dave finish the extra incredient (pint o beer) at 9:30 in the morning and then follow it up with some coffee. Actually the beer ice cream recipe in the Oregonian was in fact, paired with a spice cake flavored with Stumptown coffee to make it a true Portland dessert experience. In the background was Mizz up to his usual attention grabbing antics and D army crawling his way around the living room. He is able to make his way to the toy he wants now pretty consistently. And then there was the holiday CD that Uncle Sam made us a few years ago playing holiday favorites by Run DMC, No Doubt, and of course, Adam Sandler. If I had two hands right now, I would link to all this stuff, and perhaps will one day...

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Thank You Sudafed

Sudafed is pure magic which must be why it is illegal. After being a martyr and enduring two days of tremendous sinus pressure, I finally raided the medicine cabinet today for some relief. And boy, did that little red pill work its magic fast. Dave also gets major points for taking care of me and the boys while I was at my worst. Not that we keep points or anything...

Thursday, December 04, 2008

My sweet concrete one

Mizz was so excited for weeks about going to Colorado and Thanksgiving--upon questioning it became clear that he thought we were going to two different houses, the Colorado house and the Thanksgiving house. Upon our return to Portland, I thought we had cleared up the confusion, but in driving home today, Mizz so excitedly pointed to a large house and asked hopefully if it was Colorado. My sweet boy. It boggles my mind to think about how much he has to learn. I can't remember not knowing the concept of a state.

It is amazing to see how fast he grasps concepts though and while he is the youngest in both his soccer and trampoline classes, he has caught on fast to the structure and expectations of the programs. After spending yesterday morning in the gymnastics room, he is excited to start gymnastics next month as well. I feel so fortunate to live so close to so many community centers that have fun and affordable programs. Being able to walk to the classes is a HUGE bonus since D is still miserable in the car.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Blue Santas--2008 and 2005

2008

2005

I was forced to buy that vest
















I seem to have lost my voice

Figuratively, not literally. The last few months have taken their toll on my ability to read, write, and communicate in general and I am looking forward to regaining those items and some time with my husband in the new year. D is almost seven months old!!! He is continuing to live up to his Easy D moniker and is scooting right along the developmental milestone table. He is eating with baby gusto, getting up on all fours and maneuvering himself quite adeptly around the floor, and is "talking" more and more. But he is still going to bed around 10 pm or so and is waking up once or twice a night, which I realize compared to some babies is not so bad...but the months of interrupted sleep have definitely started to wear on me and Dave. Mizz still plays the part of rooster but at least has decided to do his rooster call at 6 instead of 5. As for the days...let's just say it's been pretty busy around here. But with some sleep training in the near future and D on the verge of getting super mobile, I can't help but hope that things will be easier soon. Of course, I am already anticipating the inevitable sibling spats. Um, D wants to touch everything, and for some reason only known to the universe, whatever D touches immediately becomes super precious to Mizz. Fortunately, Mizz can be convinced to share pretty easily and in general, continues to be very thoughtful and excited about D's development.