Monday, February 22, 2010

Tidbits...

Most recently, Little Finn has developed an allergy to milk. Two weeks ago we had a really scary incident. I mixed a tiny bit of formula to make his cereal at dinner (didn't have any thawed breastmilk and I didn't think it would hurt).  Within in minutes of eating his food his face turned red, eyes were blood shot, and then his eyes started to swell shut.  Thankfully, Papabear's urgent care is very close and Littleman understood that this was an emergency - Finn was being treated within 11 minutes of me seeing that he was having a very bad reaction.  At the urgent care, they gave Finn a shot of epi, benadryl, and steroids and in less than ten minutes he was back to normal.  It was scary though, very scary. 

SO, we've taken him to an allergist - a pretty UNhelpful one.  He did order a blood test, though, (results to come back early this week, I hope) and said I definitely need to lay off all milk products.  We'll see what the blood test reveals as to any more allergies.  Finn's pediatrician, at his 6 month well visit, is concerned about his eczema - which as far as I can see has gotten better since I no longer partake in butter, cheese, and all the other lovelies made with milk.  BUT, she says it's the worst she's seen. Tomorrow we are taking the little guy to a derm specialist in Dallas.  Hopefully she can sort some of this out - his face is so red and dry and itchy.  He looks so uncomfortable most of the time...I just want him to be healthy and happy.  What else?

So there's the Finn situation for now.

In other news, the best thing that has happened recently is my joining of a new gym.  Costco offers a two year membership at 24hour Fitness for $299.  That works out to roughly 12 bucks a month and you really can't beat that.  It's NO Lifetime (my old gym), that's for sure.  There's no fancy pools for the kids, no eucalyptus steam shower, and definitely no towel service. BUT, it does have Step Aerobics and Zumba classes.  And it does have a lap pool for the days when I am not taking a class.  It works.  Last week was my first day and tears sprang to my eyes as I stumbles up and over and all around my step.  I was SO happy.  I couldn't believe how happy I was .  THIS is what has been missing.  Things are fine and swell, but when it comes to my health, nothing compares to group exercise.  I really just NEED it.  It gets all sorts of endorphins and what not pumping through my veins that makes me sleep better, eat better, and just plain BE better.  I don't know why my lovely elliptical machine and exercise ball at home do that...but, I don't need to ponder that for the next two years.

Well, Finn is sleeping and I'd like to make a chicken salad for lunch. Think I'll go do that. Hope to get some video up soon. Oh, here are some fun Finn stats.

At 6 months:

-15 lbs, 12 oz,  26 inches

-can roll over - front to back, back to front, but prefers to just hang out on his back and swat at things.

-gurgles and coos the CUTEST nonsens.

-has cut his first two teeth just last week - bottom two.

-loves his Jumparoo and walker.

-loves sweet potatoes, pears, peaches, prunes. Is okay with peas, carrots.  Might be allergic to apricots.

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Sunday, February 14, 2010

Winter Wonderland...in Texas!!!

We received over 7 inches of snow!!!  It was amazing. I never dreamed I would ever have to shovel my driveway out here, but it has come to pass.  It was wonderful making snowmen with Littleman AND shoveling the driveway.  We really enjoyed it.

Some say our snowman looked a bit like Harry Potter.

Can you believe this is Texas???

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Wednesday, February 3, 2010

My love of old men...

Not sure how many of you know this about me, but I LOVE old men.  I mean, OLD old - white hair, rough leathery skin, pants too high or too short, perhaps a bit of a hunch or shuffle in their walk.  Man, my heart just melts when they say "Good Morning, young lady," or "That's a fine looking boy you've got there" in a parking lot or grocery store line.  I just want to give them a big old hug or squeeze their hand as they cross the street....it's weird, I know...but it's good for you to know as I tell this recent tale of my adventures in a Wal-Mart parking lot yesterday.

SO, Littleman was off to the movies with his grandma, and I ran out to the store to pick up more baby tylenol for poor little Finny-Finn and a few other necessary items (like bananas and colby jack cheese, yum).  His nose was all runny and he was just looking miserable in his adorable way as I pushed my cart to the back of my car.  As I was unloading, an older gentleman and his wife came shuffling up. The wife was pushing their cart and the man was walking over to me, grinning at Finn, and saying, "Now look at that fine young gentleman." (*sigh*, oh how my heart began to ooze all over my insides at this cuteness...) 

I notice, now, that the man is digging in his pocket for something.  It's probably important for you to know at this point that this was a well appointed couple. They were dressed VERY nicely - I'm pretty sure the wife was wearing a Chanel belt and he had a fancy kind of fedora hat. They were clean and "safe"-ish looking.  Still, the pocket digging did concern me a little.  Then he says, "Now, let me see if I have anything extra here...," and he pulls out a big ole wad of money!  He flips through a bunch of bills and plucks out a dollar.

"Oh, no no, sir, you really don't have to do that," I protest.

With an endearing twinkle in his eye, the kind only older, grandpa-like men can have, he replies, "A handsome little man has to have a little extra spending money, " and he reached right past me and tucked the dollar under the belt of Finn's car seat.  Then he shuffled off to catch up to his wife who was chuckling affectionately.

I mean, have you EVER????  That couple was so out of place in that parking lot....but, still, perhaps I should get Finn a little thong or something in case other people want to start tucking dollar bills on him....

Onto other things.  I somehow missed this wonderful picture of my mom and Finn the first night at Jackson Hole.

Awwww, I can hear all of you sighing.  How precious...

And here is a picture of a picture Littleman drew. It's me and him on a sunny day, with a few clouds in the sky.  My absolute favorite thing about Littleman's drawings of people is that they consist almost entirely of a happy face.  We are just two giant smiles with eyes, nose, a little bit of hair, and a few appendages.  OH, he's recently added belly buttons.  His "people" are just smiley faces...never mad or sad...I hope that this is a reflection of his soul, his heart, his happy view on the world.  Oh, how to keep them this happy.....

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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Jackson Hole pics

Littleman goes to ski school

My brother, Will and I on the gondola.

Me, my sister, Lauren, and Will's lovely girlfriend, Alix.  If you did not know, Grand Teton means "Big Nipple" in French.

Will and Alix

Grabbing a cinnamon roll with Finny-Finn in town while Littleman is at ski school.

Father and son. :)

Red-cheeked from hitting the slopes all morning.

Nothing perks up a four year old quite like a hot chocolate AND chocolate chip cookie.

A low flying cloud...

Bundled up baby...skeptical about what we are going to do with him.

Ready to hit the slopes.

Snow angels!!!

By far Littleman's favorite thing to do in Jackson Hole - sledding down the driveway!

Will, Me, Finn.

Me and my boys.

 

 

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Winter Fun Video

Hey there - here are a few clips from Jackson Hole.  The first two are of Littleman skiing - one outside our house, the second at ski school.  The rest are some clips of sled riding.  Still uploading the pictures.  Hope to get to them later.

Enjoy!

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Monday, January 18, 2010

Questionnaire

A fellow blogger/friend posted this and I felt like doing the same.  Still working on uploading pics and video from the Jackson Hole trip. :)

1. What did you do this year that you’d never done before?

Breast feed.

 

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

 I'm pretty sure my resolution was the same as it's always been: eat less, exercise more...one day I'll actually do it.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

YES!

 

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, Bill's grandfather.

 

5. What would you like to have in the coming year that you lacked in the previous year?

the discipline to control my eating and the volume of my voice when Littleman is pushing my buttons.

6. What countries did you visit?

 Just the lovely US of A.

7. What date from this year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

 August 18 - gave birth to my Finny Finn Finn.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

 successfully breastfeeding - WITHOUT a nipple shield!

9. What was your biggest failure?

gaining ten pounds AFTER I lost the 25 I gained during pregnancy. ug. i am hopeless.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

 gestational diabetes. that was fun.

 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

 Playground/swing set in the back yard for the boys...its even better than the house we bought. :)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

 Liam - he really embraced being a big brother.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

 I guess my own...only because of the overeating situation. otherwise, I am pretty psyched about being a mommy to two and not being completely insane.

14. Where did most of your money go?

 probably mortgage...but I'd bet the money I spend on diet coke comes pretty close to that...

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Getting to take Littleman to Disney World to cheer my sister in the marathon way back in January!

 

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

"Inside of Love" Nada Surf

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?  happier

ii. thinner or fatter?  about the same

iii. richer or poorer?  richer (in many ways...)

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

 write

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

 eat sweets

 

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

 already done -- spent it with family...

There was no #21. Never has been.  Tradition is important.

not sure what this is about...

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?

with Finn...and all over again with Bill AND Littleman

 

23. How many one-night stands?
none

24. What was your favorite TV program?

 The Office

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

i really don't hate anyone

 

26. What was the best book you read?

really enjoyed David Sedaris

 

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

 Rogue Wave

28. What did you want and get?

 an iTouch

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

 hmm....didn't see too many...

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 34 and I had s'mores in my back yard with my hubby, sons, and a few friends.

 

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

more days/time in the Albany area over the summer...

 

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?

 

does it have easy access to the milk factory?

 

34. What kept you sane?

diet coke

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Michael C. Hall (Dexter)

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

 bailouts...

37. Whom did you miss?

It's a pretty long list...you know who you are...

 

38. Who was the best new person you met?

gonna have to say Finn 

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:

 The impossible can be done with support...and often, simply, the right circumstances.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

 

"I wish I were the moon tonight..." Neko Case

 

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Friday, January 8, 2010

So much to say, so little time...

The holidays and the new year have left us cheerful and merry.  Despite a stomach bug running through our family a few days before New Year's, all is well.  The babies are enjoying their new toys, and mostly, we've been gearing up for our big family trip to Jackson Hole.  We will be celebrating my stepdad's 60th birthday.  All but one (dear Maya) will be in attendance and I cannot wait for us to all be together.  As you may have guessed, Littleman is beside himself with anticipation.  He's been practicing making snow angels on my down comforter, checking the days off on his calendar, and pretty much asking me every morning if it's time to go to Jackson Hole.


It will be our first trip as a foursome.  My only fear is taking my little baby on an airplane filled with germs. He's too small for a flu vaccination, so, for the first time in my life I have real anxiety about traveling.  I am trying to ignore it.  What can I do?  I will try to keep him under my shirt, attached to my boob, sucking up all those mommy-antibodies, as much as I can.

In the meantime,  here's a video of LittleFinn (I don't really like "LittleGuy") enjoying his presents from Grandpa ("in Arizona", as Littleman would say).  A swing and a "walker."  He's a bit small for the walker, but as you'll see, Littleman makes up for it.
Littleman LOVES making LittleFinn laugh in the bathtub.
We got him a shaving kit. 
Christmas Day with Grandma (also known as "Gigi" and "Maday.")
Here's little Finny-Finn with his new IKEA toys.

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