Swim Lessons

I think we're going to take a break from any type of formal lessons for Owen. The kid is just not interested in following directions and it is frustrating to watch. We tried to t-ball. No go. We tried swimming. No go. I actually really would have liked the swim lessons, because they (the other kids) were learning a lot. Owen however, could only focus on sneaking and throwing the toys into pool, stealing the other kids' goggles and climbing on the wall and/or the pole. I could tell that the 18 year old swim coach was annoyed as all get out, but the only consequence I could give was to get him out of the pool and frankly, that's what he wanted. So we all suffered through it.

I was also annoyed with the other mom's who kept saying "it's the age". UM...they're all the same age and they seem to be sitting and listening and learning just fine.

He starts preschool again in a few months and hopefully this will help. ::crosses fingers::

Walk this way!

Nathan is quickly on his way to walking. We pulled out the push walker toys and he immediately figured them out. This video was maybe the 3rd time he tried it out. He can now fully cruise the house with it. He can also stand on his own for up to 30 seconds and is almost able to stand up without holding onto anything. I try to get these things on camera and/or video, but as soon as I pull the camera out, he drops down and crawls frantically to me and tries to rip it out of my hand (I have lots of video of a drooling, smiling baby on the attack, if you want to see those!).

We also officially have a tooth and looks like more on the way! Eight months is apparently a busy time.

Eight Months!

Nathan is 2/3 of the way through his first year already. Amazing. What's more amazing is I can recall maybe two days that were 'hard' with him. He is just an easy going little guy. Easy to entertain, likes to entertain himself. So, so easy to smile and laugh. Matt and I talk about just how lucky we are quite often.

What 8 months looks like:

• He's closing in on 12 month clothes (he and Owen are separated by less than 5lbs)!
• He still eats mostly finger foods, not big on purees, but will eat a few bites of fruit mixes.
• Wakes up 1-2x a night. We're working on that.
• Takes two good naps a day and I have worked it out so that Owen and Nate nap at the same time in the afternoon, which is a pure blessing.
• Is trying hard to stand on his own without support. Can do it for about a second.
• NO teeth. None. Not a single chomper. Owen had at least five by now!
• Loves Owen. Owen is easily annoyed with the hair pulling and slobber. One day Owen said, "Mom I'm so mad at him, but he keeps smiling at me!"
• Favorite toy right now is anything he can open and close. Cupboards are popular. He's also a huge fan of crayons (to eat) we've had to hide them and hide them good, because he can seek those suckers out like it's his job!

In one word: HAPPY. The kid is just a happy boy!

Love and Logic-don't fail me now!

Holy crap, raising a three year old is like living with a bi-polar person! (I'm assuming.) The kid is completely manic. One second he's funny, laughing, making me laugh, super sweet, giving me kisses and telling me how much he loves me. The next, he's screaming, throwing things, crying, hitting and completely irrational. I'm telling you, it's insanity.

My favorite parenting books have been the Love and Logic series. I like logic. The big thing is to give the child choices when possible so that they have a sense of control and responsibility. Ok, that's easy enough. We've been doing this for over a year now and it's been pretty good. The last month however, it's turned ugly.

For example:
Me: do you want momma to get go dressed first or do you want me to help you get dressed first Owen: momma get dressed first
Me: ok, I'll be right back
Owen: AH, NO, ME, GET ME DRESSED! AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
(this turns into a 30 minute tantrum)

This type of thing happened multiple times a day. I was questioning my love and logic. I refered back. The suggestion was to change the choices. Logical!

Example 2:
Me: it's time to get dressed
Owen: NNNNOOOO! NOT YET!
Me: it's time to get dressed, do you want to come over and do it nicely or do you want mommy to force you into your clothes
Owen: nicely
Me: excellent

Now granted he tested me at first and was 'forced' into his clothes one time and has not made that choice again.

Jackdog

Poor Jackdog, he's getting so old. He's officially eleven. He truly is the sweetest, most patient dog on the planet and I honestly do feel so badly for him. I feel badly because Owen LOVES him, to his very core, Owen loves this dog. He wants Jack to play with him, read with him, sleep with him, just be with him. I hear "JACK COME" at least 150 times every day. Jack doesn't always want to play, read or sleep with Owen, but he does and you can see by his face he's clearly saying "a little help here"! We love you Jackdog!

Family Visit!

We headed to Pismo Beach this past weekend to celebrate Kalie's graduation. We had a great time.

Photo proof:

Nathan and Grandma have a FANTASTIC time! Owen wasn't feeling so great.

Gramps, Robin, me and Uncle Greg after a very disappointing casino trip!

Owen loves himself a juice bag and they were readily available!

Shot girls!

Robin made a fabulous hostess with the mostest! Nathan LOVED riding on Joe's shoulders! I mean LOVED it, could not stop laughing. I so, so, so wish we had it on video!

Dinner out!

Tiffany and Owen were inseparable, per usual!

Such adorable cousins. I mean for real, Nathan is happy anywhere and everywhere! Yep, that says chocolate covered crickets.

And yep, Owen wanted one.And he ate it like a champ. But about 10 minutes later he said, "Mom, I didn't like that candy."

Grandma and Owen snuggle at Kalie's BBQ.

Nate takes a nap.

Flying kites.

Sisters! I do believe I'm taller!!!!! This my Grandma and Grandpa with their grand kids and great grand kids. But not all, this is maybe half....maybe.

We had a fun trip. Unfortunately Owen was sick most of it and our hotel was hideous (great location, not so clean), but it was so great to see family and hang out.

OMG just poop already!!

While I am truly grateful that Owen has stopped pooping in his pants, the actual process of taking a dump, is still a huge pain in my ass! I figured out what was happening. As soon as he was about to actually go, he'd say he was done or didn't have to go and get down...not 60 seconds later, he'd poop his pants. So apparently I've discovered one of the many untold joys of parenting-poop-forcer-outer! YAY!

So now when Owen has to poop, he starts complaining and whining that his butt hurts. This can go on for hours. He paces and obviously clenches it all back in, until he can no longer take it and he starts screaming "POOOOOOP"! You get him to the toilet and he sits nicely. Then he starts to cry and scream "OFF" or "I don't want to poop." or my all time favorite "I want my daddy!"

This is actually a last minute panic attack. It's "go time"! I have to physically hold him on the toilet, while he screams, cries and tries to get down! He poops and he's fine. This takes 60 seconds (just like before, when I'd actually let him get down.) I promise you the actual going doesn't hurt him. He just doesn't like to do it.

Well buddy, it's no picnic for me either!

Wrestling Match

Nate is only 7 months and already loves to rough house! This actually video isn't that great, I just love that Owen is the one calling for help at the end!

Beach Day

We took Nathan to the beach for the first time! Owen is already a big fan and was super excited to go. We get there, we set up our towels, spray Nate with sunscreen, set him down, spray Owen with sunscreen and turn around to find Nathan covered HEAD TO TOE IN SAND! I mean head to toe. It was in his hair, ears, nose, mouth, more in the mouth, butt-crack and toes. It was awful. We clearly hadn't thought this through. A crawling baby that loves to eat everything is not ready for the beach. At. All.

We cleaned him up as best we could and put him the backpack.

Luckily, he was just as happy there:

Owen working on his moat:

The boys heading back to get more water.

My guys, I love my little family!

Broxterman's Visit

Angela, Mark, Jacob and Maddie had a brief lay over at SFO on their way to Hawaii and they spent the entire day at our place!!! It was so wonderful to see them and finally meet Maddie (who is so dang precious)!

It was so strange because it honestly had felt like they hadn't been gone for over a year. I guess the fact that Angela and I talk over instant message daily, if not several times a day helps. But Owen and Jacob don't and they didn't miss a beat and started playing like the besties they are!!

I cannot WAIT until they're back for good because it's hard to find friends like this!

A few pix of our visit, I was so busy chatting and kissing the kids up, I forgot to take many pictures!

The boys quickly get down to business:
Maddie joins the fun:
Maddie and Nathan show a little love!

Jacob plays with Nathan (can you see Nathan's HUGE grin?):

It was so fun and I can't wait until it's a daily event!

Sweet Boy

I was super sick the yesterday and Owen was really THE BEST kid ever. Playing nicely with Nathan, getting me water, and letting me rest. At nap time we were reading his favorite Care Bear book: What Makes You Happy and I asked him, "What makes you happy Owen?" And you know what his answer was? "Taking care of mommy!"

How precious is that?