Oh October

October (usually) means:

All things Pumpkin

Pumpkin patch

Cool air

Rich colors

Sweaters, dresses, and boots

Oktoberfest

Polish Festival

Great beers

Soups... and so many more wonderful things!

October this year:

Charlie with double ear infections (twice)

Charlie with a barking cough

Me with Vertigo

Charlie falling down causing a laceration above his eye (thank goodness no stitches- hurray for Derma-bond)!

We had roughly a week this month where we were all healthy! It has been the worst October in history, but we have had some good times in the mist of it all. I am looking forward to November, even with the upcoming election I am hopeful. 

Choose me!

I recently applied for a research analyst position through the county- but so did over two hundred other people. As much as I want this job, it feels wrong hoping 250 or so other people remain jobless. Or at least unhappy in their jobs.

Charlie is One!

So I realize I am a bit late posting this blog, because Charlie's birthday was on August 28th, but better late than never I guess...

Charlie had so much fun on his birthday! I have never seen a one-year-old so ready to have a party, and to open so many great gifts!  The weather was cool but nice, he was well rested, and was wearing the cutest outfit (thanks to Mollie); everything just fell nicely into place.  Instead of jabbering on about it, I think I will just post some photos, but before I do that here is a quick update:

Weight: 22 pounds 6 ounces

Height: 2 feet 7.75 inches

Charlie talks all of the time now, and can say many words. He also uses some signs to help us understand his wants and needs. He is standing by himself, and walks around holding onto furniture and carts/laundry baskets.

He still loves music, balls (he now throws them), trucks, trains, airplanes, and of course SHOES!! He received a few new pairs for his birthday and now he tries them on all day long. He also received a doctor's kit, and now spends the day checking our reflexes, our temperature, our ears and throat, our heart beat, and administering medicine as well as brain juice (talk to Matt about that one).

Apparently Matt and I didn't get any pictures of Charlie eating his cupcake, so we will have to check with Grammy about that, but here are a few for now. Love you all!

A safe statement

Fashion as we know is not static. It is progressive- always moving forward, evolutionary, and pieces of fashion can occasionally be cyclical. Fashion can be art, an expression, a statement, political, and religious. It defines, divides, and connects generations, and can aid in social movements. 

One of the reasons I love fashion is that it can change numerous times within a culture without rapidly changing the culture as a whole. It is a symbol of culture, and of time within a cultural period. For example, paintings of large oxen, English dogs, and exotic animals were all apart of fashion in the Victorian Age. Bird hats flourished (that is before the onset of the 

Audubon Society)  on women's heads in 1880, and can occasionally still be found there...or here.

But now I am getting off track. What I mean to say is that fashion has a way of defining certain moments in history/time/culture. And so does health (think epidemics, vaccinations, etc)- and today these two things are starting to come together (look here). And one of the most inspiring synergies of fashion and health I have seen in a while is this:

Photo courtesy of lifeaftercoffee.com

Yay Beach Vacation!

This weekend we went to Lincoln City and stayed in a beach house with my family and some friends. It was so nice to have a weekend off with Charlie and Matt, and the weather was so nice, it was just perfect!  We relaxed in the sun, played games, had a treasure hunt, roasted marshmallows, made sand castles, and even snuck in a few naps. It had been a while since the three of us had a weekend together, and I am still feeling giddy about all the time I had with my two favorite boys. 

Charlie is also at this great age where he is really excited about exploring. His fine and gross motor skills are developing rapidly and being at the beach just set him off. He was fascinated with the sand, and was so happy to have so many kids to play with! He danced, clapped, and sang all weekend, and impressed everyone with how much he eats. It was a great weekend, but would have been better if uncle Nathan was there. 

Charlie and his buddy Silas

Playing in the sand while the rest of us eat smores

Getting ready to walk down to the bonfire

After we found the buried treasure

Getting some tattoos 

Looking at a helicopter

Mr. Pants is 9 months!

Today was Charlie's 9 month appointment today, and he didn't have to get any shots! Hurray! Since we checked his height and weight at the appointment, I thought this would be an appropriate time for an update.  I apologize in advance for not having any recent photos of him. Most of these photos are from a few weeks ago.  Here it goes. 

Charlie is 20 lbs 8.5 oz, and is 2' 6" tall. He is still not crawling, but he gets around in his own little way. He talks all of the time, and occasionally sings. His favorite things to say right now are: momma, dadda, yeah, bubba, and bob. He also tries to say puff, cup, and quack.

Charlie has six teeth, and loves to use them to chew up little pieces of food. Speaking of which his favorites right now are nectarines and turkey.  Every time we put him in his high chair he looks over at the fruit bowl to see if there are any nectarines.  Right now Charlie loves games, especially peek-a-boo, catch (rolling the ball back and forth), and trying to copy fun sounds that Matt and I make for Charlie. He has also started to do the motions to the Itsy Bitsy Spider, and clap his hands. And sometimes he does the sign for milk.

So that is our update on the little guy for now, but we will do it again in three months. Hopefully most of you can get the update in person at his birthday party! I can't believe he is going to be 1 in three months!

The War on Terror

As our Presidents War on Terror continues day after day I am embarrassed and ashamed to admit some days I don't think about it (not once). Other things come up, and I find myself consumed with me and the immediate things around me. I know I am not the only one who does this, but it doesn't make it okay. 

Today I thought about gladiator sandals (at least five times), hypothesized the physiological process of how panting cools dogs off, thought about when to put in the AC, and many other inconsequential things. Not once did I think about the sacrifice other women and men are making, and that I myself am too coward to make.  That is until my brother called.

Nathan just relocated to Whidbey Island (he reported for duty on Monday), and today he called to tell me that tomorrow he leaves for Afghanistan. I felt like such a jerk. Here I am wondering what I would wear with my gladiator sandal, while my brother spent the whole day trying to find his uniform in storage, pack all of his stuff, make sure he can leave his stuff in storage for the five months he will be gone, call everybody, get somebody to pick up his truck from base, order new tags (because he lost his), get all of his flight information together, etc.  

This was a big slap in the face for me. I am ashamed to admit that I let myself cloud what should not be clouded. 

I am sorry Nathan. Try not to let the sand, the heat, and everything else you know to expect get you down. I love you and I'll email you pictures of Charlie! 

Wii

I have always known Matt to be a gamer. When we first met, him and his friend Joe would play video games, or go to the local arcade when they would get together. And our first year dating I bought him an Atari. I on the other hand have never been a gamer. As a kid I could never master Donkey Kong, barley made it past the first level of Mario Brothers, and maybe shot two ducks in the many times I attempted to play Duck Hunt.  In college, people laughed at me as I attempted to steer a car in Gran Tourismo, and knock my opponent. My friends gathered to watch me as I moved my whole body trying to get my car, character, etc to do just what it needed to do. It was a miracle if I made it five minutes in a game. That was until this weekend.

Joe suggested Matt and I borrow his Wii because he has been busy and has not had time to play. So this weekend Matt, Mollie, Joe (yes, Joe came to our house to play with his game), and I plugged in the Wii, and didn't unplug it for six hours! Yes, six hours. I loved it, every minute of it, and I was actually decent at it, AND I knew what I was doing.  There was no pushing of all the buttons hoping for a miracle. I actually knew how to play the game, was successful at it (sometimes), and was actually enjoying myself. In one night I became a gamer.

So if you haven't had the opportunity to check out a Wii, I suggest you do so. Even if video games are not your thing, I promise you will enjoy yourself. But as a cautionary, if you are like me and you play video games with your whole body give yourself and the others around you lots of room. Ask Mollie, I'm sure she'll tell you it's not pleasant when your opponent smacks you in the arm while attempting a back hand at tennis. I blame it on the vertigo and medication, but really, sorry Mollie.

Lucille II

For those of you that are/were fans of the show Arrested Development, you know its brilliance is mastered by a combination of witty writing/acting, genius plotting, and making everyday family life as manic and dysfunctional as possible.  I still enjoy this show, and Matt and I do watch the dvds on occasion. But what I sometimes find disturbing is when events, quotes, or other show details become parallel with my own life.  Fortunately I have not lost a hand to a seal, my father is not imprisoned, I am not in love with my cousin, and I am not always fighting with my brothers for the affection/attention of my father.

Unfortunately though for me, I can identify with Lucille II. I recently had a case of vertigo and was topsy turvy for about a day. Unlike Lucille, I did not have to check into a vertigo rehabilitation center, but I did have to check into the hospital for a few hours. A few IVs of anti-nausea medication and Valium, and I was well on my way (to sleep). I am getting back to normal slowly by doing my realignment exercises, but have decided not to take anymore Valium. 

Hopefully this experience will be my first and last, which is likely as I will not be going on any rides with Michael in his convertible at any point in the future.

8 Months!

Today Charlie is 8 months! I can't believe it. He is getting so big and tall... and feisty. I have been trying to ween him off of breast milk, one because it just doesn't ever seem to be enough for him and two, I could use a little freedom. But he is refusing. I spent the first half of his life (thus far) praying he would be a good nurser, and now I can't get him to stop.

Enough about me. Lets talk about 'the pants.'

Lately his favorites are:

Favorite book: Goodnight Gorilla

Favorite songs: Row row row your boat, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Old McDonald

Favorite Toys: Basketball Hoop from Grammie, Earth Girl from Grandpa Shawn and Grandma Melinda, and the laundry basket.

We haven't weighed him lately or measured him, but he is out growing all of his clothes (again). Oh, and he has six teeth!  It is incisor city in Charlie's mouth. He is slowly trying to crawl, but mostly he wants Matt and I to hold him in a standing position all hours of the day. 

Tagged by Mrs. Stacia

A - Attached or Single: Attached to my sweet matthewsito

B - Best Friend: Matt, Charlie and Moll Doll 

C - Cake or Pie: Pie, preferably pumpkin

D - Day of choice: Any day that I can get everything done on my list, check my email, read a bit, play with Charlie, do a little work, snuggle with Matt, learn something new, and get to sleep by 10.

E - Essential Item: My planner

F - Favorite Color: Blue and black. Give me anything resembling a bruise and I am a happy girl

G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Both. But they give me a tummy ache. Ek, all that artificial flavoring and coloring

H - Hometown: Portland/Dufur

I - Indulgence(s): Is there a limit?  Moonstruck chocolates, coffee, rice pudding, creme brulee, strawberries, figs, pinot noir, zinfandel, a good beer, sleeping in, anthropologie, Powell's, Carson's hot springs (Mollie we need to go again)...

J - January or July: Both. I refuse to choose between the two

K - Kids: Mr. Charlie Pants

L - Life is incomplete without: Brain activity

M - Marriage Date: August 26,2006

N - Number of Siblings: Six. Three brothers and three sisters

O - Oranges or Apples: Both

P - Phobias or Fears: Yikes. I have a few fears and I hate to admit them... Eh, spiders, deep water, heights, natural disasters

Q - Quotes: Bitch might be the new black, but black is the new president bitch. -Tracy Morgan in response to Tina Fey

R - Reason to smile: I just whitened my teeth

S - Season: Spring and fall. I like transitions

T - Tag Three Friends: nope, I won't do it because they won't do it

U - Unknown fact about me: Sometimes when I wake up at night I think of how Charlie, Matt and I would escape if there were zombies outside. Yep

V - Very favorite Store: Powell's

W - Worst habit: Swearing. Its my dads fault dammit! Sorry Deb

X - X-ray or Ultrasound: Once again, both. X-ray because I can see all my parts, and ultrasound, because I could see all of Charlie's parts.

Y - Your favorite food: Anything that falls in the first trophic level. If you don't know what that means, take a science class

Z - Zodiac: Scorpio

Ouch!

As some of you know, Mr. Charlie pants has not been feeling so great lately. On Easter he came down with a fever, and was not enjoying his goodies and company like usual.  That night Matt and I took turns holding him while he slept on our chests, and he amazingly put up with me checking his temp every four hours or so.

Monday was rough for the little guy since he didn't sleep very well, and his fever just seemed to get worse as the day went on. I checked his temp. one last time before he fell asleep for the night and it read at 102. I decided it was time to call the doctor and schedule an appointment.  We finally made it to the doctor on Tuesday and found out Charlie had two ear infections!! Ouch! Poor little guy. Unfortunately I didn't even suspect an ear infection until Monday night, but he is a brave little boy, and has been dealing with the pain rather well.

Today was a better day... we even got a few of the usual screams, growls, and bounces out of him. Even when we had to go back to the doctor because of a rash (they thought he might be having an allergic reaction to the amoxicillin) he was a happy baby. 

Bonkers

I have had my blog page set up now for about a week and have yet to post a blog. I guess the pressure of my first blog was too much for me, and suddenly had nothing to write.  So tonight I sat down to accomplish the task. Here is how it went:

After sitting at my computer for 15 minutes with nothing to write, I declared my failure to blog. I looked to Matt for comfort, and went to bury my head in shame in his shoulder, but instead hit my head on his glasses and exclaimed, "bonkers!"

So not only do I have a blog and nothing to write about, I also am too much of a klutz to hide in shame, and now exclaim things out loud that I usually say to my 6 month old when he bonks his head.

Stay tuned...