and now for my final TRICK: 07/01/2009

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Swimming

Check out my friend Nichole's blog. She just posted a cute story and pictures from our recent playdate!
http://www.coloradotiptons.blogspot.com/

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Thank god we are getting this show on the road! Poor Ev has been struggling with two little monsters and one of them finally popped up last week. He is attempting to show me through the mashed bananas, but isn't quite there yet. These two teeth have been threatening to poke through those tender gums for weeks now. Every time Everett freaks out for no apparent reason, Ian and I look at each other and nod, say, "it must be teeth," and quickly run to the medicine cabinet for baby Motrin. I was starting to feel like a drug dealer dispensing my goods at the drop of a hat, but he really seemed tortured by the pain. One sharp little tooth has sprung and I am hoping the second is close behind, so we can have a little break from teething.

Other than that our 7 month old son is eating like a monster. I actually asked the Dr, "how much food is too much food?" He kinda laughed and told me to keep feeding him. He seems huge to us, but is still in the 10% for height and weight.

He is not crawling...yet, but I am convinced this child will find mobility before 12 months. For those of you that don't remember, Holden never crawled... well until after she walked at 12 months and 1 week old. I was warned by many of the over 50 crowd that she was sure to be developmentally delayed and ruined forever if she didn't crawl. Meanwhile, the Dr. and all of my mom friends assured me it is very common and normal, and really no big deal at all. I am pretty sure she turned out ok...so far anyway. I mean jeeze, she can count to ten in english AND spanish and say her ABC's. I know L,M,N,O,P sounds like LelemmmmmmennnnO,P! But I am sure she will come around any day now!

I am hoping the teeth popping through will also give us all a break in the sleep department too. I am ragged. Everett is up between 4:30-6 every morning. Usually more towards 4:30. I am DONE with Dr. Ferber. While it worked like a charm with Holden, it DEFINITELY did not work with Ev. So we have had some substantial screaming, but he is now usually falling asleep on his own for naps and bedtime. If only we can get the little bugger to sleep till 6 I think I may survive this last first year with an infant. Oh yeah, I said last....how people have 18 kids I can't imagine. I love my children more than anything, but we are done!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Remember, Mommy, Remember

Holden is completely crazy.

When we are on a long car ride, or at the grocery store, or some other torturous activity I make Holden participate in, she demands lollipops. Screams for lollipops. Cries for lollipops. Up until now I have only purchased the organic, all natural, no sugar added gems. Which actually do taste pretty good. They have always delighted and appeased my little monster.

A week ago H asked ever so politely for a lollipop and I reached into the backseat and handed her a pomegranate sucker. After about 3 seconds she threw it on the floor and said," don't like it Mommy, don't like it." HUH? OK whatever, I gave her the organic gummy bears and she calmed down. The next day at the grocery store she asks again for a lollipop. I gave her the "lellow" one she requested. Mango, I think. Again, 3 sucks and, "I don't like it, Mommy." And into the basket it went.

Yesterday she demanded a lollipop on our long drive back from Colorado Springs and I thought, ok, I will try again. This time she tasted it once and said,"Don't like it, remember, Mommy, remember" while pointing ever so knowingly into the air with her pointer finger. Like she was trying to teach me a lesson. I thought the sticky lollipop game was over.

But no, this morning in the car she again asks for a lollipop. Just for fun I gave her another organic treat and she just looked at it threw at me in the driver's seat and yelled, "DON'T LIKE IT! Remember, Mommy, remember." Pointy finger shaking at me like she was scolding me for being bad.

UM, who needs to remember?

Anyway, I am convinced this has occurred as a result of the pinata at my family picnic in PA. Where she landed and devoured two Tootsie Pops. I knew this healthy organic thing could only last for so long.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Victory

So, finally I got up the courage to take my two little munchkins to APEX (the rec center) which we joined one month ago. We have gone as a family and Ian was the first to venture over there alone (without a diaper bag!). I have been so nervous about leaving them in the child care center while I worked out. Not because I thought I would miss them or was afraid they would perish without me, but because I was afraid of the embarrassment when my name was called over the intercom and I was instructed to remove my maniac children from the premises!

Alas, that did not happen, They were both perfect angels and Everett even took a nap. I got to work out and take Holden swimming. I have to admit the most challenging part was walking in and out with two kids, a car seat, a swimming bag, a diaper bag, and a swimming noodle. Especiallywhen Holden weasels out of my grasp and runs away. Running while lugging a car seat is not an easy or pretty task.

I forgot about these pics my mom took while we home. One is with my Nana's sister, Aunt Marcy. Aunt Marcy never had kids and she completely took us on and would have sleepovers with us and let us demolish her house. She doesn't hold her tongue and is still a spitfire-she is awesome! Then we have my brilliant and talented cousin Dan hanging out with Everett.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

PA Summer Visit 2009

WOW!
We had a fun filled event packed week in Allentown! Yes, I made Ian come too because there is no way I am flying with those two kiddies by myself for quite a while. Ian and I were basically terrified to find out what a 4 hour long plane ride with our two angels would be like. It was better than we had expected, but not easy. Holden loves sleeping in her bed.She will sleep for 12 hours a night and take 3 hour naps. However, not in a bed, she does not sleep...at all. So she was pretty energetic for the plane ride, the ride back to Allentown, and until about 1 am. Everett pretty much ate and slept and made the trip super easy.

We got to spend lots of time with family and eat tons of "bad" food...cheese steakes, hoagies, pizza, and pierogies! YUM Holden has never eaten so badly in her life. Ian and I got to go out to dinner ALONE and spend Saturday night out with a big group of my high school friends. How nice to feel adult and human again!

Surprisingly Holden stayed perfectly healthy throughout the entire trip, a definite first. However, Everett had some issues. Teething, reflux, fever, not sleeping on schedule, and I swear the jarred baby food, had him in fits for most of the trip. Lots of tears and screams, which is such a shame, because he is the smiliest baby I have ever seen.

My mom had a big party at her place. Just the usual 45 closest family members! We also had a big family picnic on my dad's side. Holden got to whack at her first real pinata, and I even let her eat two lollipops!

Everett found a fan club in all of the little girl cousins...and Grandpa!

And what a shock, Holden got to play in the rain-since it rained EVERY day. She did not like being told to come in!

We had a wonderful trip, but as usual I felt like I needed a vacation when I got home. There are so many friends and family to visit and when we are only back twice a year, I don't want to miss out on any fun with anyone. Here is the link to all of our pics
http://picasaweb.google.com/KimHanou/PASummerVisit2009#

Recent Reads

Honolulu by Alan Brennert- 4 Stars
A lovely tale told by a Korean woman who came to America as a "picture bride." We learn of her challenging and oppressive childhood in Korea, her journey away from all she knew, learning the new culture in Hawaii, escaping an abusive husband, becoming an entrepreneur, finding love, becoming a mother, and living a fulfilling life. I previously read Molokai by the same author and loved it, which is why I snatched this one up as soon as I heard of it. I think I enjoyed this one even more! The writing is smooth and easy, the tales are gripping, and the experiences are harrowing which keep you wanting more of this woman's incredible story.

The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha- 2 1/2 stars
This book is a collection of vignettes celebrating the awesome things in life. The cold side of your pillow on a hot night, finding money in your coat pocket, popping bubble wrap, when cashiers open up a new line at the grocery store, and watching Price is Right when you were home sick from school. This guy also has a blog where people can submit more awesomness. It was fun to read, but not as great as I was hoping. I will probably read his blog though, because he is pretty witty and definitely made me chuckle and remember to appreciate the small things in life.

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson- 3 stars
PAGE TURNER! I read this in 1 1/2 days. The story begins with a woman waking up in a bed, next to a man, in a house and she recognizes none of it. Over the next few minutes she learns that she has amnesia and every night when she goes to be she forgets most of her life. She begins working with a psychiatrist who convinces her to write in a journal, so she can reread it each morning and hopefully begin to build memories. The mysteries of how she ended up in this condition and her relationships with friends and loved ones kept me on the edge of my seat.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - 4 1/2 Stars
Another winner here folks. This book was AWESOME (and a bit shorter than Cutting for Stone). This was a new perspective on World War II for me. The story follows a boy growing up in a Chinese household in Seattle during the war. He befriends a Japanese girl, which is STRICTLY forbidden by his domineering and emotionless father. He realizes he is in love with her just as her family is removed to a Japanese Internment camp for the remainder of the war. The stay in touch through letters and his enormous risks to visit her . I don't want to give away any more, but you simply HAVE to read this book. The relationships between the children and their families and even the public during these war years was an interesting perspective for me. The twists and turns kept me up till midnight and the ending was wonderful!

Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese- 5 Stars
Oh my! I LOVED LOVED LOVED it. It was long and delicious and I did not want it to end. The premise is a nun working at a clinic in Ethiopia dies while giving birth to twin boys. The story explores the people and relationships in these boys' lives through the eyes of Marion, one of the twins. He grows up in the clinic in Ethiopia with amazing adoptive parents who were friends with his parents and gives us a taste of the culture, food, and everyday life of an Ethiopian. He heads to America to pursue a medical career and his birth father. We read this for book club and had wonderful and rich discussions...I wish there was a part 2!

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton- 3 stars
This was pretty darn good. It took me about 100 pages to really get into it and the ending was a bit too quick, neat, and tidy. But not nearly as terrible as the ending of Handle with Care by Jodi Piccoult (I threw that book across the room and into a wall as I read the last word). I was hooked and couldn't stop myself once I was into it. It was a book club choice and there was more discussion than I remember in 3 years of book club. We were talking over each other and jumping into other conversations. I couldn't even keep up. This story centered around the lives of three sisters who grew up in a castle in England from World War II to the present. They had an eccentric family and extremely odd and famous author father. The mysteries weave through history and the walls of the castle, revealing themselves to the woman chosen to write a piece about the famed play written by the father. It was very good and I would highly recommend it.