Ready to have my husband back...

A went to the bathroom today... mostly for 90 seconds of peace.
Owen followed me in and closed the door.
I told him that I wanted privacy and could he please leave.
He said, "No mom I will just turn on the air (fan!) and stay with you.  It's okay".

No seriously.  90 seconds of peace.  Please.

What's for Dinner?

Tonight Owen was less than satisfied with what was being served for dinner.  After much whining and being told several times that there were no other dinner options, he looked right at Scott and said,

"Fine, then I am going to have THIS for dinner... my thumb".

And so he did.

Trip to the Dentist

Owen had his first trip to the dentist last week.  He was a champion.  He had been to the office a GAZILLION times since it's also our orthodondist.  He walked himself right back without even being called and pretty much acted like he owned the place.

When we were there a few weeks ago for the girls appts, Owen & I had this lovely interaction:

Me: (mouthing so that the receptionist can't hear me) "Owen, get that gum back in your mouth."

Owen: (yelling across the office for everyone to hear) "Mom, I have to take my gum out of my mouth so I can put my thumb in."

nice. 
guess we'll be needing the dentist AND the orthododist for a very long time.

Little Old Man

This was Owen on one of the MANY snow days we had in January!  Watching TV, in his PJ's with his favorite "Sunday" socks on... the leg crossed just cracks me up!

Sometimes Buzz Lightyear lives in my house.

Have you seen Toy Story 3?  Love it. Love it.

Do you remember the scene where Woody is trying to escape from Sunnyside Daycare through the window in the bathroom.  He nearly loses his hat in the toilet.  Then, he jumps up on the toilet paper and does the classic "running in place" cartoon move.

Yeah, that scene keeps getting played out in every bathroom of our house.  How do I know this?  Because I keep having to "REROLL"!

Please tell me you would all reroll as well, because I just can't see wasting all that toilet paper.

Who wears the pants?

The other day we were running late for afterschool activities.  Possibly because two of my kids needed to be at different places at the same time.  I forgot something in the house and so I gave Owen a very specific instruction to get in the van and climb in his seat while I ran back inside.

When I came out, he was not in his seat, but instead jumping around in the back of the van.  I redirected him to his seat.  While straping him in the carseat, I began my verbal discourse of how I needed him to obey the first time and explained that I needed his cooperation... blah, blah, blah.

When I finished, he looked right at me a calmly said, "Mommy, thank you for using your words."

Pick-up lines and Bump Removal!

Warning: Graphic medical content and pictures of pre-schoolers on drugs to follow!

Despite the snow storm, we successfully made it down to CHoP on Friday morning for Owen's hernia & ear tube surgery.  I was going to rent a plow if necessary because a mom should really not have to push her son's intestines back into his body 5 times a day!  Or what Owen so cutely named "his Bump".

We had an 8:30 arrival time.  Unfortunately, the procedure before us went VERY long so we waited in pre-op for nearly 4 hours.  Owen was a champ!  Honestly, we were grumpier than he was - and starving!  Probably would be really bad parenting to eat in front of you child that has been fasting for 16 hours. 

(This was around 9am ... before we realized we'd be in that little room all morning!)

They finally gave him the "gigglejuice" (sedative) around noon.  This of course is hysterical for the parents.  Okay, maybe some parents get all weepy and wigged out watching their child dozing off before surgery.  He is just so funny on drugs you can't help but laugh (and take pictures).  He was a little confused at first because he thought it was time for his popsicle and instead he got a syringe of medicine and three drops of apple juice.  He made sure the nurse was aware of his disappointment.  LOOK AT THAT FACE! 

A new nurse came in a few minutes later to take over.  By this time the drugs are kicking in, thus "happy" Owen.  Seriously, is that little surgeon hat not so stinkin cute.

Owen is gripping the sides of the bed and swaying back and forth looking quite intoxicated.  He leans over the rail and says to the nurse, "Hey, ya wanna hear me hiccup?". 

The nurse is clearly amused by this novel pick-up line. 

She goes to check his ID bracelet and says, "Now are you Owen?" 

To which he quickly responds, "No, call me DASH!".  *that would DASH from the movie the Incredibles*

He continues his charade and insists that everyone that comes in the room must refer to him as DASH.  I, of course, am ElastiGirl and Scott is Mr. Incredible.  The residents, nurses and both surgeons were happy to go along with his drug induced illusion of being a superhero to the point where someone actually wrote it on his chart so that the nurse in the recovery room would call him DASH when he woke up.

He did have a rough time in recovery coming out of the anesthia.  A totally normal reaction, but hard nonetheless when it's your child having the inconsolible, combative, irrational screaming fit that lasts for 30 minutes.

Everything went great though and the Bump has been removed (apparently quite a large bump accord. to the Urologist).  We are so fortunate to have such an amazing, world renowned hospital in our backyard.  It's an incredible place.  Even more fortunate that we were there for two rather minor/routine procedures.  Many in the parent waiting room were clearly not having the same kind of outcomes.  It's a sobering reminder of the blessing of a healthy child.

DASH is back in action.  In fact he was running around that night after dinner!  hmmm... i don't think the other boy in the house will fair so well after he has his visit to the urologist....

Happy 3rd Birthday Owen!

I love THREE.  It's the first time kids really "get" the whole birthday thing.  And, one great thing (maybe the only great thing) about a December birthday is that you can "count down" to your birthday with the Advent calendar:)  Owen has been moving the calendar each day in anticipation of the 1 and 3 day.  And the day did not disappoint.

We spent the morning at Giggleberry Fair in Peddler's Village with his friend Emily.

He soaked through two shirts after playing at the water table... he spent the rest of the morning drying out.

 



Grandmom and Grandpop Landt came at night for dinner.  Owen's friend Jonathan joined us for cake.

Before going to bed he asked me if he was still three:)

Paybacks... take two.

The sister abuse was getting serious.

I had to step in and take action.

Thank goodness for the hand-me down bag from Aunt Vicki to save my poor son from further humiliation.

Poof. Bam. Pow. To the Batmobile Robin.

What do you see in the clouds?

Warning: Graphic Content.  Reader discretion advised.

So while we were in Disney, Owen decided he wanted to potty train himself!  His idea... not ours.  Although it worked out kind of nicely, because we didn't change a single dirty diaper while in the parks!  Seriously the kid pooped in Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.  Now don't think he is by any means potty trained... but he does manage to "make the magic happen" anytime we put him on the throne.

Since we have been home, he began this unique habit of "naming" his "products".  Some people see figures in the clouds... it seems my son see things in his.. poop!  It started with moustaches, meatballs, and hamburgers.  Then it advanced to Chip & Dale, arms, noses, and animals!  As soon as he is finished, he peeks in and begins to label his prizes.

There are no limits to this kid's humor.  He cracks me up on a daily basis.  I only hope we will find a way to  positively channel his intelligence and humor before pre-school:)  I am thankful for my daily reminder of God's special blessing in our life!

Paybacks....

"Someday my sisters will be in big trouble for this one..."

A new take on Veggies

Last night I asked Owen to sit down on his seat and eat his beans and finish dinner.

He looked at me and said, "Umm.. how about jelly beans?"
"No, eat your green beans."
"Pretty please mommy."

Kids say the darndest things...

Owen showing me how strong he is...

and then "hiding" behind the stairs!

Recent Quotables by Owen (2 years old)

"Mommy, your hair cut fell down" - I guess he rarely sees me when my hair isn't in a ponytail! This happened to be a day that I actually did my hair.

"Hoey mackeroal" - translation: holy mackeral

"Barn it" - I guess it could be worse... but I believe he means darn it.

"Yaya is noying" - translation : Ella is annoying.

"I yove diapers." - this is what he said when I asked him to throw away an expired Huggies coupon. Guess potty training is out of the question.

"I stink, got some poops." he tells me this daily!

Me "Where are you going with that lunch box?" Owen "To my office"

Me "What do you want for lunch?" Owen "Fruit salad, yummy, yummy."

"Oscar (the grouch) is hiding in the bathroom." - he told me this when I found him rummaging through the trash can!

Owen's Birthday - Dec. 13th

Owen had a wonderful birthday! His "happy to you" as he would say. It far exceeded his expectations, as he really just wanted an Elmo balloon. He was all smiles, all day long. Two is great - old enough to know that the attention is on you, but not disappointed about anything b/c you have no preconceived ideas about what a birthday should be.

Verbalizing Emotions... at two!

Last night Owen and I were in the rocking chair going through our nightly routine - the usual books, songs & prayers. After singing the "Dee-sus song" (Away in the Manger) five times, Owen looked up an said, "again, Mommy". "No, it's time for bed now." Then he turned to me and said, "Mommy, I sad."

So I sang it again.

It's the little things...

The other day I had a thought... why am I cutting up bananas, the kid eats steak! So I peeled the banana and handed it to Owen. At first he just looked at me. Then, he quickly realized his new found freedom with the yellow fruit.

Hmmm... this is just how Curious George eats his banana!


Owen is quite pleased with himself.

He proceeded to inhale it in record time.

As excited as he was to eat his banana from it's "container", he was equally devastated to find out that the peel then went in the trash.

Success!

Owen has been desperately trying to suck on his toes for nearly two months. He has finally figured out how to squish all that fat down so he can reach his foot to his mouth - lovely!


It's so close I can taste it...



Yes! I finally got it!


Mom, make sure they can see the rolls on my thighs:)

Sibling Love

It has been so fun to watch the girls interact with Owen! Ella, of course, wants to marry him and use him for dress-up. Makenna wants us to leave so she can babysit and be "in-charge".