Intellectual Nonsense

Owen Jeffrey

Wow. One year. It's been a whirlwind.

Owen, you are such a perfect addition to our family. It's hard to remember what it was like without you here. The day you were born I was so anxious. Anxious because I was so eager to meet you. So excited to see how you would change us. How you would fit in. What role you would take on. What you would look like, how you would feel, smell, be..... I was just ecstatic that God was blessing us with a new son. Owen Jeffrey. You were more then I could have imagined.

I know I have said this before but when you were born you were screaming at the very tip top of your lungs, madder then a hornet at the world. How dare we interrupt you in your little safe haven. The doctor announced "He's a fighter". And boy, has that rung true in this first year. Owen, for a one year old you sure are feisty. Even without words you tell us like it is. You're very vocal about what you want. And I love that about you. It makes it easy on Daddy and me. You don't take any grief from your older brother either which is so fun to watch. Fynn tries to take a toy from you.... HA!.... watch out because you will holler, lunge at him and grab for it back. When you're hungry and ready for bed it's like clock work.... 8:15 and you're at our feet jabbering and antsy to get the routine going. Demanding? Yes, but we prefer opinionated and verbal.

Owen, for awhile there your Daddy and I thought you might not ever smile. We tried our darnedest too. You would just sit back and observe your surroundings taking it all in, ignoring all of our efforts to make you crack that grin. It was frustrating. But Fynn would come into view and you would instantly light up. There is a special bond there. I can see it already. You two play together, laugh and wrestle together..... you even have long conversations that only you and Fynn understand. It's so amazing to watch you both together. Something so amazing, genuine and unique that you share. Makes my heart ache with pride and love for the two of you.

This first year obviously was full of firsts for you. You got your first teeth. Four to be exact. So cute too. These cute little buck teeth. Can't help but smile when you see that big gaped grin. You rolled over really early which lead to crawling and then walking before your first birthday. And what is so amazing to Daddy and I is that you are really good at falling. Which sounds strange but you have good balance so when you actually do fall you catch yourself. Unlike lots of other toddlers who just fall flat on their face (Ahem, your brother). The walking milestone came a few weeks ago. It was sudden too. It went from you taking very strategic, careful steps to full on walking across the room and back. And you were so proud of yourself. Smiling from ear to ear.

Lets talk about food for a minute. Owen you can throw it down! And when I say throw it down I mean, there is absolutely nothing that I could put in front of you that you will not eat. Nothing. You eat everything. And I am not complaining. I love that I can just whip something up, grab whatever is in the fridge, give you random meals and you just chow it down like it is the best thing you have ever had. It's great. You love food. I couldn't even list your favorites because you eat it all. Can't blame you. I love food too.

Owen, you are just the sweetest little chunk around. You have this great temperament (even with your feisty-ness) that is so addictive, a laugh that is contagious, (a deep and hearty chuckle). A face that will melt any heart and of course just that loving, spunky spirit about you. YOu have brought so much joy into this home. As parents sometimes it's hard to imagine how much your heart can really grow.... but there is no doubt. My and your Daddy's heart grew twice the size when you were born.

We love you Oboe. Obs, Stinker, Oboe-c-toe!

Happy First Birthday.

My Madre

Today is my wonderful, beautiful, lovely, sweet, compassionate, funny and self-less Mom's birthday. There really isn't enough kind words to say about her... she encompasses all the things that you could want in a Mother. She has a heart deeper then oceans; would do anything for me (anyone). I love her so much and my heart-aches with pride knowing that she will always be MY mom. MY friend.

This birthday is a little bitter-sweet for her (for all of us). But I am focusing on the positive. Life. Her life. The blessing she is to all of us. And the crazy wacky mom that I love in her...one of the only ones (my sister included) that can make me laugh until I cry!

............................... 

I hate swine.... But I still love me some bacon

We found out that Jeremiah had the swine flu this past week. For reals people. H-one N-one. For reals. It didn't really sink in until I started thinking about my kids and the media hub-bub of the potential of it being extremely serious if they were to get it. So, I had my freak out moment, cried and then gathered my sh*t together and got the F out of dodge.

The boys and I camped out at my parents house while Jeremiah drank ungodly amounts of gatorade and watched anything remotely interesting he could find on TV. He didn't leave the house for a straight five days. I think he had a case of cabin fever along with his swine flu. Not good.

It was all rather scary. Even calling the pediatrician didn't relieve me of any fear. They had to call the Infectious Disease Society to find out what they should do for my kids. Talk about unnerving when your family's case is the first in the area. Awesome. Combine that with the media making it seem like my kids were going to start morphing into little piggies or worse even die if I didn't act quickly. Ugh. I was frantic all week.

Fortunately, Jeremiah recovered and the boys and I dodged the freaking hog virus. But it did convince us that we are for sure vaccinating our boys as soon as it becomes available in our area. Not worth the risk.

PS. I felt that this post was very deserving of some of the above harsh phrases. I mean, my husband had the Fing SWINE FLU!!! Good gawd, if that doesn't call for some good 'ol cussing I don't know what does.

Move over all ready!

For the life of me I can't get my banner to be centered. So, it's Left Justified. So be it.

Domestic

I was all about being domestic this past week. I got this baking/cooking bug that I just couldn't shake. I made homemade pumpkin pancakes, clam chowder from scratch, 3 dozen molasses cookies, a lemon jello yellow cake and homemade tomato sauce for penne pasta. We ate like kings around here.

I love to cook but I particularly love to bake. It's a blessing and a curse all wrapped up into one because the things I like to bake usually consist of lots of butter and lots of sugar; hence the reason I'm not a size zero. But I am totally fine with that because it is all so freaking delicious!

My goal is not to be the next Julia Child or Martha Stewart. It's just to have fun and hope people (mostly Jeremiah and the boys) love it too. Luckily for me Jeremiah is a really gracious and truthful guinea pig. He will taste test and tell me if he thinks there is something missing or if I need to add something. Like with the pasta sauce; I got a little carried away with the cayenne so when he mentioned it had a bit too much kick I was able to remedy it with some cream and a dash of sugar. He also is very quick to compliment me. I think one of the best compliments is when someone raves about my food. Isn't there some quote about "the fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach"? So, I know I have done well if they're going back for seconds!

Cooking/baking is relaxing to me. I find great enjoyment in the kitchen; something about it is so refreshing and inspiring. Jeremiah is also a great cook. Specifically, Stir-frys and hearty meat dishes. I'm hoping that the boys get the itch and are able to make their way around the kitchen when they are older. Fynn already wants to help every time I'm experimenting in the kitchen. It's really quite cute. Nothing wrong with a man (boy) in an apron. I'll take someone cooking for me all day long.

Next on my "need to try" recipes list: Pad Thai, Apple Butter and Beef Stroganoff. And maybe even a Sangria for bookclub I'm hosting later this month.

Inspired

I am feeling inspired. Big time. I've even been dreaming about it. Dreams of houses and furniture and art projects. It's been awhile since I have felt any type of motivation to be artsy or fartsy for that matter. But I feel it again. I want to paint and re-do furniture. I even have an idea for a kids clothes design. I want to shop thrift stores and vintage shops. I want to sell this modern furniture and replace it with funky pieces that have character and meaning. I want to print my photography, frame it and actually hang it on my walls (if you know me this is a big deal). I want to buy fabrics and textiles. I want to rid myself of the new and bring in the old.

It feels good to be inspired again. Since having kids I've just been in a major slump. I haven't enjoyed the arts like I used to or even been interested in it. Haven't picked up a paintbrush or canvas. But now, now I want to give new life to old pieces and bring in some spunk to this house. I want this place to be a reflection of us. What makes this giddiness so much more exciting is that Jeremiah is on board. He is encouraging me and even wants to be apart of this change.

So, yes, we don't have a lot of money to just go buck wild. But I am going to start. Start slow. Maybe pick out a new paint color. Sell some of this drab furniture. Buy some cool fabric and make some funky drapes for the living room. I am just going to ease into it. First stop.... Jeremiah and I are going on a date night tomorrow. Thai food and vintage shops in Hawthorne here we come! Can't wait.

The Gavel

The last three days have been a combination of one bad judgment, a stress case, a misdemeanor and a happy ending.

First, I made the mistake of thinking I was 13 again and went water-tubing with a couple of pre-teens. You would think I would be smart and just go for a short ride but no, I was thinking like a teeny bopper and went tubing for a good 30-40 minutes. Mind you, I was having a freaking blast but good golly this old body was taking a beating. I think it was when we were in mid "whip" when I saw our own wake coming at us when we caught at least three feet of air I thought to myself "this is gunna hurt". And it did. A lot! My left shoulder blade to my spine up the side of my neck feels like it is being squeezed in a vise . I am pretty sure I have a mild case of whip lash. Funny, how when you are having that much fun you don't think about the lasting effects on your body. But I do have to say, laughing and spinning around on that inter-tube with the pre-teens was one of the best times I have had in quite awhile. Ah, to be young, fearless and carefree!

Verdit: Really stupid judgement = pain. Remember you're not 9 you're 29!

Second, is going to be a little hard to explain so I will just summarize it for you. I have sky-scrapper pile of work projects that have been consuming me lately which has been causing me some un-needed stress. I took on an extra project that in itself is pretty substantial (along with my typical work responsibilities). The deadline has been looming for weeks; yet, what I didn't realize is that it would fall on a week that is beyond chaotic in the office. With me being part-time and having so many people count on me for a pelthora of tasks (not to toot my own horn too much) it can sort of be a disadvantage. Two days a week plus forty hours of work = brain exploding like a watermelon Gallagher style.  End of story.

Verdict: Punch yourself in the neck the next time someone asks you to take on such a huge project. And then run. ;-) Or just learn to say no.

Third, I was summoned for Jury Duty. I wasn't too happy about it* but had no choice so I marked it on my calendar at home and then entered it in my outlook to remind me the previous day. But somehow I managed to get the date all wrong. I thought I was scheduled for Wednesday, September 9th but in actuality I was scheduled for Tuesday, September 8th. When do you think I found that out? You guessed it. Last night at 8PM. I panicked! In small print at the top of the summons it stats, very clearly, "Failure to report for jury service is a misdemeanor offense. RCW 2.36.170". Oh Gawd, I am going to jail.I started to cry. I had just had too much. With the stress of work and the neck/back pain I was just to my MAX. Of course, at 8 in the evening the courts are closed and there is no one to take my frantic phone call to explain my flub. So, the thoughts in my head were racing... jail, handcuffs, communal toilet, bunk beds, solitary confinement, chain gang, fines, community service, liter patrol, bail, misdemeanor on my record, I look terrible in stripes, yadda, yadda, yadda. Not good. SO NOT GOOD! The only thing I could do was wake up early and get down to the office to plead my case. And that is just what I did. I was a good twenty minutes early thinking that my diligence would work in my favor. Unfortunately though it didn't matter, the jury office didn't open for another 20 minutes. Der. So, I waited. My palms were clammy. But I just kept thinking in about 20 minutes at least I'll know my destiny. The doors opened. I made my way to the front and spoke with the clerk. I told her my story and she just looked at me funny. She informed me that my group number wasn't even called yesterday. That today was when my official summons began. So, I didn't need to fret, I was right on time. THANK YOU JESUS! Apparently if I would have read more of the finer print the summons also stats that my date of service is for the entire week. My obligation is to call in everyday and wait until my group number is requested. Once I hear my group number on the recording then I am to show for jury duty. Thankfully my number wasn't actually called on Tuesday so I didn't miss a thing. Just so happens that it was called for today! Perfect! Although, that nightmare was over I moved on to the next phase. Finding out what type of trial I would be placed on. Only thinking the worst I just knew I would get on some murder trail or worse yet, a child molestation case and be completely traumatized for the rest of my life. I was a bit terrified. I sat through the orientation. And the waiting commenced. I got comfortable in my seat prepared to sit the whole afternoon waiting for my group number to be called back for the trail proceedings. I was about 4 pages into A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when I hear the clerk call group 5. Here we go, I thought. Groups, 2,4 & 5 gathered in the hallway when she announced that the Judges had emailed her stating that the trails had been canceled and that our jury duty is now complete. Thank you for your service. Those were the sweetest words I had heard all week. 

Verdict: Read all the fine print and gosh darn it, don't be such a head case.

All I need now is a good neck rub and my project to go off without a hitch! After that I am going to eat a box of chocolate covered donuts, sit on the porch and veg out! 

*Before you all get pissy at me for not being all gung ho about jury duty. I want to clarify that it really was about the amount of work/stress/chaos I was already enduring. The thought of having to consume myself in something else could have put me over the edge.

My heart grew a size bigger last night....

Last night Fynn and I snuggled in bed and instead of making up stories we played a new game. We took turns whispering all the different animals we could think of. As simple as that sounds it was so much fun. We went back and forth for a good half hour naming animals and giggling over the silly ones. I laid there next to my little three year old watching his eyes light up with pride as he came up with new animals; and in those moments I thought to myself "I don't want to forget this". He smelled lovely, his expressions were adorable and of course he blew me away with his memory/knowledge. I could feel my heart expanding.