Wanderlust

Winter Revisited

Just when the world was beginning to warm, we've plunged into a taste of winter again. Check out the webcam (which is back online) for a live image.

Pictures, can it be?

Yes, we got on the ball fairly early this month and have posted pictures already. Check them out here.

Letters to the O

Fourteen Months

After last month, I began to seriously consider giving you to someone else for a little while- at least until you were capable of rational conversation. I started to think that I had jinxed us by speculating that the happiest baby in the world could only become the most difficult toddler ever. But then your cold cleared up, your teeth came in and you returned to your delightful little self, full of laughter and clownish antics.

It's hard to condense the million and one little things you have begun to do that are endlessly endearing. Like when I started bringing you downstairs with me to do yoga and you began to do it with me, giggling through your "downward dog" poses at a world upside down and reaching for the sky. You've finally gotten the hang of "peekaboo" and frequently hide yourself in your playhut tunnel, peeking around the sides to see if we're enjoying the game as much as you are. But my favorite has to be the way you've learned to dance, rotating your wrists and waving your hands as you walk in circles. The music is inconsequential. You'll dance to death metal, country and even just a drumbeat as long as there's an audience to cheer you on.

Your language is growing rapidly this month and you've added "Night-Night," "Bye-bye," "What's That?" and funniest of all "Raisins" with an extra syllable so it sounds like "raisinins". You're fascinated with your books and often, when you've grown very quiet, I'll find you in your room, paging through them and staring at the illustrations. You love to do as much for yourself as possible, including turning on and off the light switches, putting your bath toys away, and reaching your hands into cereal and raisin boxes to get your own helpings. We also took you to the playground recently and guided you down the slide and let you swing, although you were much more interested in the other little people than any recreational fun the playground had to offer.

This month marked the end of your pacifier. According to plan, two weeks after you finished weaning, we began to withdraw it's soothing effects, first during the day and then at night. While you didn't throw any horrific tantrums, you were a tad bit cranky and much LOUDER than you used to be. When we were at the Baby Expo in Salt Lake City, you began fussing to get down. I let you and followed in your toddling path as you crossed the room and much to my horror, attempted to grab a bottle off of a strange baby's stroller tray. I apologized and whisked you away, trying hard not to laugh at my own naivety. And I thought you just wanted to say hello.

Your father and I have spent lots of time rolling around on the floor and being goofy with you this month. You've learned to point to different body parts when prompted, including your nose and ears. But our favorite is that you've discovered your tummy and when we say "Where's your big little belly?," you proudly pat your round tummy and smile. This delighted your father when he first saw it and subsequently, every time you heard him coming you began patting your belly just to hear him laugh his approval. Like father, like son.

Day Three - I'm done

I am so disappointed. I've caught a cold. More specifically a sinus infection. And it is getting worse by the hour.

When I woke up this morning, I didn't feel right. I was confused why my throat was slightly sore. But I trudged on, thinking that it's been 2 1/2 days since I've eaten anything, so I must just be tired from that. So when I got to work, I was so out of it, and my nose was slightly runny. I had to eat something or I wasn't going to make it. I ate a granola bar. After 30 minutes I felt better. But as the day wore on, my head got more stuffy, my nose more runny, and my concentration was severely lacking.

I went home early to eat. I had some white rice which was excellent. My fast is now over, only half of it complete. This sucks bad. I was so excited to make it five days, but I am not willing to get really sick because I 'm not eating. Plus I didn't want it to affect work. I am very worried I'm going to miss work tomorrow because I am only feeling worse as the day wears on. I gave this cold to myself, and I don't want to miss work just to be sick. That is just plain stupid. So far this year, I've escaped a cold Owen had for two weeks, and Kaz had it a little. I guess I am now catching it.

Well, I guess I need to try some other time for a 5 day fast. Right now I can't even imagine fasting, I just want to lay down and relax.

Day Two

I am hungry. Very hungry. Today was so much better than yesterday. Yesterday was really tough, and I asked myself repeatedly why the hell I'm doing something so stupid. But I made it through. So I am now going into my third day of no eating. 48 hours of no food.

I'm going through the I need fatty greasy food stage. Soon, I suspect, I will be going through the I want beef right now stage. That's when my body tells me I need protein to survive.

It's amazing how the feeling goes in waves. Sometimes I'll feel great, like this whole experience is so cool. Then other times I'm so weak and tired that I just want one bite. I went to lunch today with Kaz and some friends, and I didn't eat anything. Owen had a really good looking grilled cheese on fresh bread. Wow, it looked so good. I kept asking myself if one bite would hurt the fast. But I resisted. Later on, after I came home, I actually took a 20 minutes nap. I just fell right asleep. A little bit ago I was feeling good, now I am feeling bad. That's how it goes I guess.

Last note. It's amazing to me how much I think about food. About what I would eat, when I will eat it. I think it is mostly what I'm thinking about when I'm not concentrating on a task. I have to keep myself engaged, or I think too much about the hunger.

Day One

I can't explain how great the past week has been. It's been in the 60's here, and I only worked 45 hours this week. I've been home early and we've spent some time outside. On Tuesday Owen, the dogs and I went for a walk. Friday we went on another walk. And Saturday we pruned the rose bush, grape vine, lilac bush, and some other bushes. All the trimmings then went to the transfer station (dump). Some of the windows in the house have been open, and I even let the window open a little in the bedroom for some fresh air sleeping. It's been real nice.

But now, I am going to fast. The picture is of the last thing I had Saturday night around 7pm. (Notice the organic seal on the upper right). Yesterday we ate very light, I actually didn't have any meat. My last meal was organic Tofu Parmesan, which was really yummy. Since then it's been water. Nothing. But. Water. I am so hungry right now, I have a HUGE headache, and I am extremely cold. Ugh. This sucks. This first day is always the toughest.

Two years ago Kaz and I fasted for four days. It was very interesting to say the least. Why am I fasting? For two reasons. One, it's good for your body. It forces the body to release and remove anything it doesn't need. You would be amazed the stuff that still comes out of your body after not eating for three days. The second reason is mental. I really enjoy challenges, and this one is tough. After the second day, it's all mental. To me, fasting is almost spiritual. Spiritual in the fact that you are forcing yourself to do something when your body is screaming at you to eat. Looking towards your inner self to overcome your nature inclinations. That's probably what drives me the most.

So in about 1 hour, it'll be 24 hours since I've had anything but water. My plan is to go five days, which gives me until Thursday night. After today, it should be alot easier. I just need to drink more water than I care to think about.

Photos are In...

The pictures from Owen's one year mark have been posted in the gallery. Once again, sorry for the delay... blah, blah, blah. We'll get it right some day. The photos this month are, for the most part, pretty goofy. Lots of milestones like first birthday, haircut, etc. on display. Enjoy!

Memoirs on Mommihood XX

A VERITABLE ARSENAL OF VICES

I recently engaged in the much anticipated and celebratory weaning of the breast. This carefully and strategically planned event was a great success and left me free to take up with all my old vices- caffeine, wine, women and song. I was even able able to begin popping pills again and my cabinet full of supplements has been called into action.

So I was surprised to find that taking up all my old, bad habits was not as satisfying as I had anticipated. My first days of coffee left me light headed, with an acidic stomach and a case of the jitters that resembled a mild case of Parkinson's. George and I knocked off a bottle of wine together one night and while I felt pleasantly warm and fuzzy, it didn't compensate for the annoyance I felt with my sluggish reactions or my marathon headache that stretched on and on for the next three days. I eagerly filled up my pill box with a rainbow assortment of antidotes for varicose veins and vision problems, but it took me nearly three weeks to empty it because I continuously forgot to actually swallow them despite the fact that they sat out on the counter in the bathroom and stared me in the face every time I peed.

I find myself feeling miserably elderly. At that tragic age when being bad is just too much of a bother. There is, however, a certain satisfaction in knowing that I own my vices and not the other way around. That any day I could choose to dump them all overboard and go back to drinking herbal tea and offering to save drunk college women from themselves. Because seriously- I'm just too old for this crap.

The First Steps

Owen has been walking for about a month now and the progression from those first faltering steps to his toddling around the house has been amazing to watch. This video was taken on a Saturday morning when we were hanging out in the living room and documents Owen's first unassisted steps. We've sped up the video because it's only interesting or even cute the first thirty seconds or so and then it gets unbelievably boring and repetitive, even for me. And I was there. Both George and I like this version much better. As you can tell, he enjoys bouncing up and down between steps and the encouragement of constant applause. We'll be posting a regular time video of Owen's first real walk in a few days, but for now enjoy the shortened version.

Owen's Birthday

For those of you who missed it, here's a rehash of Owen's first birthday party. Thanks to Lauren & Scott, Alex and Aunt Gretchen & Uncle Bert for being in attendance for the celebration and all the wonderful folks who sent gifts as well. And thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Jones, who sent the Retro Rocket. It was lots of fun. Enjoy!