One thing that has surprised me about parenthood is how quickly my son catches on to my tricks. If we have a beverage (coffee, beer) that we don't share with him we will tell him it's "yucky". If something is really spicy and he wants some we tell him it might give him an owie. He will generally agree with us and repeat emphatically "yucky!" "might get owie!" and move on.
The other day Roscoe and I were enjoying some goldfish crackers (him enjoying more than I since I was only eating the leftover soggy ones he so generously fed me). He offered one to Luka and I said that she can't eat crackers yet because she is too little. He looked her in the eye and told her (very seriously): "yucky; might get owie" and then ate the cracker himself.
This told me two things:
1. He clearly knows we are lying to him.
2. He humors us by "going along with it"
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Growing Up and Growing Old
Life keeps marching on and we all keep growing up.
The kids are changing almost daily. Roscoe just looks different. He has little boy (not toddler) eyebrows. That is the thing that is really striking me right now. Luka rolled over the other way last night (back to front). I know she will be eating food and crawling before I know it. It is like she grew up over night. She is even letting other people hold her! And has started napping unattached to me! I was thinking last night that I am willing to keep waking up one million times a night if it just means time will slow enough for me to take it all in... it is going so fast!
Last week was such a sweet time between jobs to spend with them. Oma (Roscoe is now too mature for Ahmoo, I guess) came to visit and save the day. She mended my clothes, re-taught me to use my own sewing machine, scrubbed down our kitchen and bathrooms, did my hair, let me convince her to do something fun and drastic to her own hair (and then trusted me to execute - ha!), ran every thinkable errand with me, watched the kids while Ray and I had our first date night since her last visit in November 2010. It was just what I needed. Now that things are so much busier, I don't have to worry about cleaning or organizing or mending for a good long time. Three cheers for Oma!
In a (very) tangible sign of my own growing up, my mom found 2 (that's TWO) gray hairs while highlighting my hair during her visit. Alas, there is proof (well, I guess the wrinkles counted as proof, too) that I am not as young as I think I am. Yet (in a flash of sick pleasure) I was pleased that Ray found his first gray hair before I did. He might have the genes of eternal youth, but at least he won't look 20 when I look 40.
The kids are changing almost daily. Roscoe just looks different. He has little boy (not toddler) eyebrows. That is the thing that is really striking me right now. Luka rolled over the other way last night (back to front). I know she will be eating food and crawling before I know it. It is like she grew up over night. She is even letting other people hold her! And has started napping unattached to me! I was thinking last night that I am willing to keep waking up one million times a night if it just means time will slow enough for me to take it all in... it is going so fast!
Last week was such a sweet time between jobs to spend with them. Oma (Roscoe is now too mature for Ahmoo, I guess) came to visit and save the day. She mended my clothes, re-taught me to use my own sewing machine, scrubbed down our kitchen and bathrooms, did my hair, let me convince her to do something fun and drastic to her own hair (and then trusted me to execute - ha!), ran every thinkable errand with me, watched the kids while Ray and I had our first date night since her last visit in November 2010. It was just what I needed. Now that things are so much busier, I don't have to worry about cleaning or organizing or mending for a good long time. Three cheers for Oma!
In a (very) tangible sign of my own growing up, my mom found 2 (that's TWO) gray hairs while highlighting my hair during her visit. Alas, there is proof (well, I guess the wrinkles counted as proof, too) that I am not as young as I think I am. Yet (in a flash of sick pleasure) I was pleased that Ray found his first gray hair before I did. He might have the genes of eternal youth, but at least he won't look 20 when I look 40.
And the photos!
Roscoe's first Muay Thai lesson:
(yes, I know, I still haven't learned my lesson about videoing sideways...)
Sweet Pea:
Helping Oma work:
I guess this counts as her First Food?
"Helping" Daddy prep the front yard for sod:
Oma's new 'do:
Luka showing off her Calvin Klein jeggings she got from Tita Stephanie:
Bed Head!:
Cousins playing in the sandbox:
I tried (really I did) to get a picture of Roscoe to show how much he is growing, but this is as still as he gets:
Self Pep Talk
And so it begins... Although we have been having clandestine work meetings for a month already, Tuesday was my first official day of work. I knew this job would challenge me. I knew it would be a tough transition. I knew my experience does not directly transfer and it would feel like starting over. I knew I would be jumping into a high-stress situation with immediate deadlines while having no idea what I am doing. I still wasn't prepared for how hard it is. If I am honest with myself, I have to admit that I am terrified and wondering if I made a very, very big mistake by leaving my familiar, manageable job (and hoping I can pull it all off without getting fired for my utter lack of competence/sanity). Right now I cannot imagine being able to manage this job along with the rest of my life and not sacrifice The Most Important Things To Me and (the few) hours of sleep I am currently getting.
But here is the thing about me. I jump into these ridiculous situations, knowing that I want to be the person that grabs the bull (i.e. life) by the horns and doesn't use fear as an excuse. But I am the biggest chicken in the world. So I put myself into these challenging situations (I mean, who really packs up a Uhaul and moves 3,000 miles by themselves to a place where they don't know anyone? Or decides to study abroad in Spain when they don't even know Spanish yet [I didn't even know more than two tenses existed in Spanish!]? Or starts a consulting business doing something they have no experience doing? Really. Who does that? Oh yeah. Me.) and then (since I am not capable of being easy going) I figure out a way to make it work. And then when it is all done I think, "Damn, girl, that was ridiculous. Don't do that to yourself again." But time goes on and another opportunity hops along and I think about how much I grew during those times and how much more I want to grow as a person and I DO IT AGAIN. And then I curse myself. AGAIN.
So, here we are. This is where I choose between panic (which won't make it go away and will just give me more to stress about) and pep talks. I start giving my self pep talks to convince myself that this situation isn't really as dire as it currently seems.
"C'mon, girl, everyone's first week at a new job is tough."
"If you could pull off consulting doing something you didn't know and learn it all before anyone caught on, you can do it again."
"What is the worst that can happen? You get fired? At least then you would get to see your kids more (temporarily)."
"This is your chance to figure out how to kill it at work and then leave work at work so you don't end up in the emergency room again. What a noble pursuit!"
"Maybe I can work really hard for a year and then I can quit and we can sell our house and cars and move to the country and live off the land and embrace The Simple Life." *cue Excel analysis*
"If I come out alive I could charge big bucks as a fancy consultant and work less..."
I know I will be fine; I always am in the end. If I were single I think I would actually be embracing the intellectual challenge. Life is different now, though, and I am hoping I don't sacrifice my family relationships and my health for something that isn't as important to me. So, here we go... *jumping in with both feet*
But here is the thing about me. I jump into these ridiculous situations, knowing that I want to be the person that grabs the bull (i.e. life) by the horns and doesn't use fear as an excuse. But I am the biggest chicken in the world. So I put myself into these challenging situations (I mean, who really packs up a Uhaul and moves 3,000 miles by themselves to a place where they don't know anyone? Or decides to study abroad in Spain when they don't even know Spanish yet [I didn't even know more than two tenses existed in Spanish!]? Or starts a consulting business doing something they have no experience doing? Really. Who does that? Oh yeah. Me.) and then (since I am not capable of being easy going) I figure out a way to make it work. And then when it is all done I think, "Damn, girl, that was ridiculous. Don't do that to yourself again." But time goes on and another opportunity hops along and I think about how much I grew during those times and how much more I want to grow as a person and I DO IT AGAIN. And then I curse myself. AGAIN.
So, here we are. This is where I choose between panic (which won't make it go away and will just give me more to stress about) and pep talks. I start giving my self pep talks to convince myself that this situation isn't really as dire as it currently seems.
"C'mon, girl, everyone's first week at a new job is tough."
"If you could pull off consulting doing something you didn't know and learn it all before anyone caught on, you can do it again."
"What is the worst that can happen? You get fired? At least then you would get to see your kids more (temporarily)."
"This is your chance to figure out how to kill it at work and then leave work at work so you don't end up in the emergency room again. What a noble pursuit!"
"Maybe I can work really hard for a year and then I can quit and we can sell our house and cars and move to the country and live off the land and embrace The Simple Life." *cue Excel analysis*
"If I come out alive I could charge big bucks as a fancy consultant and work less..."
I know I will be fine; I always am in the end. If I were single I think I would actually be embracing the intellectual challenge. Life is different now, though, and I am hoping I don't sacrifice my family relationships and my health for something that isn't as important to me. So, here we go... *jumping in with both feet*
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The Happenings
Time is flying. I am having a hard time keeping up with the basics, let alone extra blog time... but I hate that I am not recording all of the little moments. Here are a few of the happenings around here:
* Big Boy Rocs has officially made the transition into his Big Boy Bed. Mainly because he found a new hobby climbing out of his crib and trashing his room (silently) while we thought he was sleeping. The bed has not stopped the occasional room-trash, but at least now I don't worry about him falling on his head climbing out of the crib. Plus now we can move the crib to Luka's room (not that she has used a crib yet, but maybe soon...)
* I had my last day of work and also started meetings with my new boss. I have gone from being excited to terrified and wondering what I got myself into and am now feeling cautiously excited again. I have a week off before I start, but I am already sad to think I will be away from my little cuddle bug Lu for such long days. :(
* Roscoe continues to entertain. He plunges his sandbox, makes us all play Marching Band several times a day (favorite instruments are the saxophone (must be Joel's influence), the drums and, of course, the microphone) and generally keeps a hilarious commentary most of the day.
* Lolo was gone for several weeks in the Philippines and ever since then Roscoe thinks everyone who is out of sight for awhile is in the Philippines. If Ray works late and he doesn't see him - Roscoe says he is in the Philippines. The other day Roscoe was watching Sesame Street and Ernie and Cookie Monster were doing a segment. Roscoe asked where Bert was and I said maybe he was hiding. Roscoe said (dead serious), "no, Bert Philippines."
* His imagination continues to thrive. Yesterday he was playing on the playground with Nani and he was upset she was "hovering" as he climbed some structure. He tried to give her a Time Out. And then told her the reason was to protect her from the Scary Dinosaurs. Right.
* Luka is still as attached to me as ever. I LOVE that she will cuddle me (Roscoe was never big on that), but the months are catching up to me and I am getting very tired. I hold her almost all day and she is still waking up every 1.5-2 hours at night. Plus then Roscoe comes and wakes me up at the crack of dawn. SO TIRED.
p.s. As I was writing Roscoe was playing with a toy and I heard him saying "oh, dear!" Hahaha. What a nut. Where does he hear this stuff?
* Big Boy Rocs has officially made the transition into his Big Boy Bed. Mainly because he found a new hobby climbing out of his crib and trashing his room (silently) while we thought he was sleeping. The bed has not stopped the occasional room-trash, but at least now I don't worry about him falling on his head climbing out of the crib. Plus now we can move the crib to Luka's room (not that she has used a crib yet, but maybe soon...)
* I had my last day of work and also started meetings with my new boss. I have gone from being excited to terrified and wondering what I got myself into and am now feeling cautiously excited again. I have a week off before I start, but I am already sad to think I will be away from my little cuddle bug Lu for such long days. :(
* Roscoe continues to entertain. He plunges his sandbox, makes us all play Marching Band several times a day (favorite instruments are the saxophone (must be Joel's influence), the drums and, of course, the microphone) and generally keeps a hilarious commentary most of the day.
* Lolo was gone for several weeks in the Philippines and ever since then Roscoe thinks everyone who is out of sight for awhile is in the Philippines. If Ray works late and he doesn't see him - Roscoe says he is in the Philippines. The other day Roscoe was watching Sesame Street and Ernie and Cookie Monster were doing a segment. Roscoe asked where Bert was and I said maybe he was hiding. Roscoe said (dead serious), "no, Bert Philippines."
* His imagination continues to thrive. Yesterday he was playing on the playground with Nani and he was upset she was "hovering" as he climbed some structure. He tried to give her a Time Out. And then told her the reason was to protect her from the Scary Dinosaurs. Right.
* Luka is still as attached to me as ever. I LOVE that she will cuddle me (Roscoe was never big on that), but the months are catching up to me and I am getting very tired. I hold her almost all day and she is still waking up every 1.5-2 hours at night. Plus then Roscoe comes and wakes me up at the crack of dawn. SO TIRED.
p.s. As I was writing Roscoe was playing with a toy and I heard him saying "oh, dear!" Hahaha. What a nut. Where does he hear this stuff?
Greeting his sister in the morning. "Sweet dreams?":
Lu chewing on her giraffe's ear:
That sweet face just melts my heart:
Like I said, the Prettiest Girl in the World:
Lu and Ollie (Chris & Maria's):
Giving me attitude already:
Rocs loves bath time:
Do you think I caught her by surprise?:
The boys eating burgers on the patio:
Nani gave Roscoe her coffee sleeve to play with and he insisted on using it for like 2 days on his Special Mug to drink his Special Coffee (warmed almond milk):
Roscoe drew me pictures and told Nani what to write. Nevermind that it's not my birthday - I love them!:
Rocs had his blood drawn again to check his vitamin D levels and (so generously) shared one of his stickers with his little sister:
Waiting for the local Easter parade to start:
Ray so appropriately dubbed this one "Big R, Little R and Old R":
He pronounced this train ride "too loud":
Easter basket:
Sweet girl:
Making his Big Boy Bed:
Tucking in his and Luka's animals:
Ach, the sweetness:
Last day of work with Mama (she can wear her pretty shoes Uncle Joel and Aunt Karen!):
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Moopers
Mooper Pooper (a.k.a Mela) had to go to the vet today. As the dogs get older they have been having all kinds of crazy growths. You may remember a couple of the more memorable growths - Ikaika's cancerous testicular tumor and Mela's elbow tumor that the doctor thought was likely cancerous, but was just fiberglass (?!). Well, another particularly odd growth has appeared on Mela's face, under her eye, and it is getting huge and squishy. Ray just brought her in and the vet said,
"FIRST we'll deal with the growth...
THEN we'll deal with her teeth...
THEN we'll deal with her weight."
Ray said, "I know, I know and I know." Apparently her teeth are really awful and her breath is extra stinky (I could have told you that). Her teeth have have been bad since we adopted her 6 years ago - much worse than Ikaika's. And (duh) she is overweight. They are already on elderly-dog-diet-food and we even give them less than the recommended amount. We could certainly walk them more, though Roscoe can walk much faster than them these days. I feel like a dog owner failure. They are well loved and spoiled in a lot of ways, but our attention is spread thin these days and Mela is not a squeaky wheel. (Ikaika on the other hand...) They biopsied the growth and the vet was surprised that it was so "cell-y" because it wasn't what she was expecting. We find out the results on Tuesday. Let's hope it is just some more fiberglass or another freakish-but-benign ailment.
I love them dogs.
"FIRST we'll deal with the growth...
THEN we'll deal with her teeth...
THEN we'll deal with her weight."
Ray said, "I know, I know and I know." Apparently her teeth are really awful and her breath is extra stinky (I could have told you that). Her teeth have have been bad since we adopted her 6 years ago - much worse than Ikaika's. And (duh) she is overweight. They are already on elderly-dog-diet-food and we even give them less than the recommended amount. We could certainly walk them more, though Roscoe can walk much faster than them these days. I feel like a dog owner failure. They are well loved and spoiled in a lot of ways, but our attention is spread thin these days and Mela is not a squeaky wheel. (Ikaika on the other hand...) They biopsied the growth and the vet was surprised that it was so "cell-y" because it wasn't what she was expecting. We find out the results on Tuesday. Let's hope it is just some more fiberglass or another freakish-but-benign ailment.
I love them dogs.
The Yin and Yang
These two kids we find ourselves raising are already proving to be very different from each other:
Roscoe was bald till, I don't know, 15 months or so.
Luka has a head full of black hair.
Roscoe came out a ball of (screaming) fire and started to get easier after a few months.
Luka seemed such a content little bug when she first arrived and has seemed to get harder every week.
Roscoe got his first tooth (well, actually, his first six at once) at nine months old.
Luka is already sprouting her first at 3.5 months.
Roscoe's first noises were dinosaur-like and not especially common.
Luka already has a repertoire of coos and noises that all sound quite different and sweet and she can spend a half an hour just having a conversation with me. It seems to be her most favorite thing. (and I quite enjoy it myself...)
Roscoe was independent from the get-go and attempted to stand on his little newborn legs immediately, always wanted to be on the move and showed no special attachment to Mama until maybe 18 months old.
Luka has no desire to stand, wants to be held at all times and only by Mama. She will literally scream her (pretty little) head off if anyone else tries to hold her. Ray is only just now able to take her for short intervals. She is one dedicated Mama's Girl. Even Roscoe has noticed - when Ray was holding her this morning Roscoe said, "No! Mama's Luka!"
It really is incredible to witness these perfect little people grow and change and develop their own unique personalities. Last week I got a chance to catch up with a dear friend who had her first baby a bit before Luka. We were just marveling at how much life changes when you become a parent and how much you sacrifice and yet how it is all worth it and you are still You, but different, but somehow more You than ever before. Fascinating, this parenting thing. I am so glad I have had the chance to experience it. Especially with Ray because he is a pretty amazing co-parent. And extra especially with these two particular kids that I love so darn much.
Roscoe was bald till, I don't know, 15 months or so.
Luka has a head full of black hair.
Roscoe came out a ball of (screaming) fire and started to get easier after a few months.
Luka seemed such a content little bug when she first arrived and has seemed to get harder every week.
Roscoe got his first tooth (well, actually, his first six at once) at nine months old.
Luka is already sprouting her first at 3.5 months.
Roscoe's first noises were dinosaur-like and not especially common.
Luka already has a repertoire of coos and noises that all sound quite different and sweet and she can spend a half an hour just having a conversation with me. It seems to be her most favorite thing. (and I quite enjoy it myself...)
Roscoe was independent from the get-go and attempted to stand on his little newborn legs immediately, always wanted to be on the move and showed no special attachment to Mama until maybe 18 months old.
Luka has no desire to stand, wants to be held at all times and only by Mama. She will literally scream her (pretty little) head off if anyone else tries to hold her. Ray is only just now able to take her for short intervals. She is one dedicated Mama's Girl. Even Roscoe has noticed - when Ray was holding her this morning Roscoe said, "No! Mama's Luka!"
It really is incredible to witness these perfect little people grow and change and develop their own unique personalities. Last week I got a chance to catch up with a dear friend who had her first baby a bit before Luka. We were just marveling at how much life changes when you become a parent and how much you sacrifice and yet how it is all worth it and you are still You, but different, but somehow more You than ever before. Fascinating, this parenting thing. I am so glad I have had the chance to experience it. Especially with Ray because he is a pretty amazing co-parent. And extra especially with these two particular kids that I love so darn much.
Monday, March 19, 2012
A First Time for Everything
We had a lot of family firsts this past weekend:
It was our first road trip as a family of six (to Tahoe).
It was Luka's first time to the cabin.
She also rolled over for the first (and second and third) time.
Roscoe slept in a big boy bed for the first time.
He also got his first (and second and third) time out.
We were too busy wrangling the Crazy Littles to take any pictures, but I think the snow was about to my waist. And it was blizzard-ing both ways. It was most certainly an adventure.
For me the weekend was split about evenly between thinking "this is so refreshing and great to be disconnected and enjoying family time" and "what the heck were we thinking; I am never getting into a car with these two screaming children and whining dogs ever again." So, an overall success. Now let's not do that again for awhile...
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