Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Jingle Bells - The Full Length Feature Presentation

Ok, so there is a lot of stuff I need to add, and I will add at some point, but for now...please enjoy the collective singing and dancing styles of the Lowe kiddos!

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Opps again...

So much for that tweener post. I am just so, well, I don't really have an excuse, I am just lazy and don't want to sit in front of the computer when I can be in front of the TV; any better? I don't think so. Anyway, since my last post, Owen turned 1. Yep, did it again. I do love my kids, even if I am not showing it so well.

Let's see, if we were to go in chronological order, then next in the series of events would be that Avery got the stomach flu, no one else got it THANK GOD! It was awful. She said before going to be that her stomach hurt but she fell asleep so I thought that she needed to poop. She was, after all, notorious for holding it for days. Then I hear it...I hear her in there moaning (it was like 2)...yep, she had done it! She puked all over herself and her bed. Ewwww grossssss! Ian and I made a deal way back when we decided to get pregnant with Avery, I will deal with the poop...you give me ass-plosions and I will handle them (dry heaving or not) and Ian will take the puke! Ok, can I tell you he has gotten so fortunate to have been at work for almost all, I did not say all, but almost all of these lovely experiences. It gives me the willies thinking about it now! Anyway, she puked, I stripped her down and gave her a showie. She was clean and in good spirits. She then sat on my bed watching a show (yes at 2:30 in the am). I get her bed cleaned up and in she goes...then, as she is getting cozy and I was going to cover her, there she blows! Are you fricken kidding me??? Back in the showie and another sheet later, well, towel, I had just changed their sheets and there weren't any more. By this point it is just after 3 and she does not want to sleep alone. Sweet, she is going to puke in my bed. Awesome. Well, I throw down a towel under her and use one as a blanket. She pukes a couple more times, all the while refusing to puke in the "bucket" (an old zoo kiddie meal-highly recommend them for any of you out there looking to have a good time. I did try to get her to the toilet once-won't make that mistake again. It totally freaked her out). This is how our lives went for about 3 days and now we have anti-nausea meds at our finger tips. Ian has already had to help himself once.

Anyhoo, we could not really celebrate Owen's birthday with many family members-no one wanted to be around Avery-always about her isn't it! Oh well...he did not care. Look at him (the coloring is intentional, I was messing with the editing stuff...I think I will keep my day job).
Oh and man did he love cupcakes. Yes, there is chocolate frosting...I was over avoiding chocolate. It won't kill him and obviously he loved them. P.S. the kid still can't bite things very well but did not seem to have a problem shoveling this down. When he was all done, he looked like Pancho Villa...
And then he got to eat cake! Look ma', no hands! (This was at his birthday party the following Sunday. And yes, we actually hosed the kid down in the middle of the grass.)

Ok, so next, is Avery's huge accomplishment of being potty trained. It took less than a week. She is a rock star! She does not want to pee pee in her chones so she was quick to adjust. Especially when I came home with "Princess Chones". Ok, really, where did this princess thing come from?? She loves "Princess Dresses" and all things princess. It is kinda cute but really?
Not sure what happened to the resolution of this photo but you get the drift! And yes, those are snow boots she is wearing on one of the hottest days of the year!

One afternoon I decided that I was going to take the kids to Fanual Park for a picnic. Avery thinks that they are great and well, it is something different. Ok, note to self, always bring a seat to strap Owen into. He won't sit still to eat. He just kept climbing on me or crawled right into another group. This is a picture of my poor mother trying to let me eat...
The kids had a great time though...

For all of you who are interested, I finally remembered to get a movie of Owen crawling like a crab that had a stroke...(sorry, I forget that I can't turn movies...just turn your head). Also, take note of what ever it is that the boys is saying as he moves right along.

Ok, so Owen seems to be the topic of this, what seems to be quarterly, update. He has started crawling/climbing up everything! Seriously, Avery was crazy but nothing like this...(and yes, to answer your question, graffiti is becoming an increasingly more acceptable form of expression-especially at our house).
He is finally starting to stand without holding on, and for good periods of time, clapping and eating things. He is a funny kid. He has also starting feeding himself. Urgh, for all of you who know how Type A I am, this kills me, especially because he can't seem to help but stick his hands in his hair when they are super sticky/dirty. BTW, yogurt makes a great natural gel!

Let's see, I think that may very well cover all the bases, oh, I did go away this past weekend for the first time without Ian or the kids. It was a batchlorette party and well, it was SUPER FUN! I loved being with all the girls and really, it felt like collage all over again-everyone's doors open girls walking in and out, borrowing clothes and just having lots of fun! Yeah, Ronna's Getting Married!
Ok, that was super long but very necessary for catching up. I will try to be better but I won't bother making any promises.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Oops, Avery turned 2!

Ok, so I get mother of the year, I never posted any pictures of Avery's 2nd Birthday...yeah, it was May 15th...well, there is nothing in the rule book about trying to make it up. She had a great birthday and an amazing birthday party...I was overwhelmed, I can't imagine how she felt...anyway, that is how I am going to start off this blog, attempting to catch up a little. I will try to do one more post between now and Owen's 1st birthday to get you all caught up in our very exciting and fast passed lives!

This is a picture of Avery on the morning of her 2nd Birthday. We decorated a chair for her and she got to wear her birthday hat and open all of her birthday cards.

On Avery's 2nd Birthday, we had to say good by to her "night night". Yep, for all of you who did not or do not know what a "night night" is, it is a pacifier. She gave it up proudly...well, really she did not have a choice but took it like a champ. I think that Ian had a much harder time with it than she did. Here they are, Ian kneeling down, ready to have a serious talk about where the "night night" is going to go.
Finally, the day of Avery's 2nd Birthday Party...isn't she a fox! She loves a good tutu and well...she did not want to disappoint on her birthday of all days! Also, please note the single hump camel, it came all the way from "Egyp-a-gypt", as a gift from Grandma Itsy.
So the kids seem to be able, between swatting and stealing and whatever else they do to each other, to actually enjoy each other for like, say, 15 seconds...enough time for Owen to down a bottle. Yes boys, he is a man after his father's heart. (Check out that belly!)
Owen has really started to get into things, and when I say get into things, well, this series of photos is calm and welcome...I will narrate for you:

Hey, look, this chair looks like a fun place to hang out. Yeah, ok, maybe not...I'm outta here!
Here I go...out from under the chair.

Side bar, this is extra challenging because well, for any of you out there who have not seen Owen crawl, he looks like a crab who has had a stroke; the one legged thingy (I am trying to get it on video)! So he gets his one half over but then has to swing his other leg over at the hip...so odd.
Alright, so I am almost out...man, this is taking me forever, I think I will need a little liquid refreshment post this little adventure.
Ta-Da! I have now made it out from under the chair. Please, hold your applause!

So as to not totally ruin, and well, remove anything else I have for the "tweener" blog, I will conclude with this picture. Guess?? Yes, Avery dumped water on poor unsuspecting Owen. Once again, Owen has been had. Avery just better watch out though, he is going to out weight her in a matter of minutes!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Drum Roll Please...

Happy Father's Day to all dads...yes, it is late, but better late than never.  Shoot, I am still holding on to the Mother's Day cards I was supposed to mail this year.  Oops!  We went to Karl Strauss for brunch and hung out the rest of the day.  So relaxing.  The kids painted daddy a great poster and we hung it in the living room!

So, it is true, since my last blog Owen has transformed into a little boy.  Let's see, he has actually gotten 3 teeth and I think that there are two more pushing through...way to be little dude!  Also, he is all over the place.  He is crawling, or crab walking, everywhere.  He is standing up on everything, in fact, this is what I found the other day when I went in to check on him at nap time...not napping.
He is not just standing up on everything but he is really trying to walk.  He holds your hands and walks and then lets go!  He just does not care, the best is that he will actually stand there for a second and then...down he goes!  He has also taken to sitting back up again after you lay him down for a nap...he feel asleep like this last week.
Ian decided that Avery was old enough and would enjoy getting a T-Ball set.  He had it waiting for her when we got to the fire station for lunch.  Unfortunately, Owen liked it just as much.  Yeah, another fight in the making.  (Check out Avery's boots!)


So I think that Franny is back to hating us for having children.  Just as Avery started to leave her alone and stay off her bed, here comes Owen...
Owen has also taken to "dancing".  I tried to take video but I did it with my phone and it won't upload.  Either way, what he does is he gets excited when the music begins, he flaps his arms and then, while sitting on his tushie, twirls in a circle.  It is so funny...he is going to ware the bottom out of his pants.  It is like he is doing doughnuts or something.  I am going to try to catch it on film.

I hate to admit this but on Saturday, the kids and I were driving to a friend's 2nd birthday party when, I am guessing Avery rubbed sunscreen into her eyes, she kept telling me that her eyes itched.  Then, I hear it..."My eyes are itching, f**k".  Yes, I laughed but no, she did not see me.  We have gotten so good about our language...how the heck does she remember that???

Ok, so not too exciting but I am tired.  

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Teeth?

Yeah, no, Owen still has no teeth.  Poor kid, he has been teething, like soaking shirts teething,  since something like 6 months.  He will be 10 months old on Father's Day, can you believe it??  He is such a character.  So quiet and mellow.  So unassuming...but man can he take apart a room faster than his sister can!  Here he is acting as if he has no clue what is going on...
Hi mama, oh yeah, he says "mama" and "dada", and means it.  He can sign "milk"...would you have thought otherwise?  Do you see a resemblance in the 'o' lips between he and his sister?  Must be genitic.
Avery, Owen and I were playing the scale game.  Ok, not so much a game for me, but that is not your problem.  Anyway, Owen weighs 20.5 lbs. and Avery is a whopping 26 lbs.  Owen looks huge!  I mean HUGE!  Avery looks like she just went through a growth spurt.  She is so long.  Ian dressed her Wednesday morning for school and well, her pants looked like they would stay dry in a tsunami.  I sware that they just both changed over night.  Owen is crawling and well, I put him on the floor of the kitchen this morning and when I went to pick him up, he looked like he actually ate Franny.  So gross!  Avery is a total parrot.  She has taken to a few choice four letter words.  Ian thinks it is all my fault and I have to openly object!  Either way, it is not ok.  This morning Avery told me that she is in love with Pete.  You may recall, "For the love of Pete", so that is now why my little daughter is in love with Pete.  She also frequenty uses "Oh my gosh!".  

So, Avery has been having a little trouble with spacial awareness these days.  Not sure if she has some sort of inner ear thing going on but had two crashes in like three days.  First, she was running to her room to get her "cwoks" (crocks) when she over shot the turn from the living room to the hallway and ran smack dab into the door frame to the bathroom, like it was new or something.  Yes, I could not help myself, I actually started laughing out loud.  She was fine.  The second was when Ian, and I took the kids to the zoo one afternoon.  We were all walking up one of the "trails" and we saw an exhibit with a large bird in it.  We were all moving in to get a better look, it was no joke, as tall as Avery, and well, it let out some noise (not sure what it was really, almost catcall like at a seriously loud volume) when it saw the kids and scared the ba-geeze-us out of Avery.  She started crying and then, yep, you guessed it, Owen started crying.  She finally gets it together just in time to miss her step (she tripped up hill) and ran right into a light pole with her chin.  Again, we laughed out loud.  Does that make us bad parents?  It was so funny.  She is perfectly fine for all of you who were worried.

Avery came into the kitchen the other morning like this.  Those are her pants around her ankles...NO NO NO...get your minds out of the gutter!
We painted on Sunday.  We wanted to prep for Father's Day and, well, Avery was an old pro but Owen, well, take a look.  We went into the jacuzzi right after; it was that or hose them off and I thought the 'cuze would be more fun and a lot warmer.


Sunday, May 10, 2009

Mother's Day...

Happy Mother's Day for all of you celebrating.  Today was a bit nuts.  We all got in a little breakfast, nothing too exciting, actually Avery had two breakfasts, and then we were off.  Ian was on his way to the Depot, the first of three trips today and I was home getting myself and Owen ready for a wedding that Avery was actually in.  We made it and Avery looked great.  There was no napping for Avery and Owen fell asleep in daddy's arms mid-ceremony.  We left early, or earlier than most because Avery was melting quickly.  She looked so adorable and nope, we did not have a free hand to take pictures.  I hope we can get copies from the Bride!

Ian turned 30 this week and we decided to take our first trip without children since Owen was born.  Let's not be hasty, we left Avery once for less than 24 hours for our anniversary in '07 and then when Owen was born.  We don't do this often and we have never left Owen.  I have to say that they were in good hands and we had a blast!  Ohhh, do I love Vegas.  We won money  playing craps and blackjack and got some good alone time.  I only wish we slept more.  Seriously, my internal clock is so messed up.  I just wanted to sleep in.  The first morning we made it to 7 am and the second morning we made it to 8 am.  Really?  Urgh, on well...it was worth it.

Avery has taken to run by pushings of poor, unsuspecting Owen.  He is usually just sitting there playing with something and squeaking and here comes Avery and just knocks him down.  Typically I am alerted to what has happened by the thump of Owen's head hitting the floor.  She does this at least twice a day.  It is making me nuts!  The best is that she loves him and wants to play with him or get his "boogies" or even bring him (more like throw at him) some toys.  Deep down she loves him; right?  

Everyone has remained pretty healthy.  I am the only one who kept getting sick and it turns out that I had been losing an ongoing battle with a double ear infection.  My ears weren't draining so I kept getting sick.  Of course, why didn't I think of that.  Meanwhile, I went to visit the doctor for some help (this had been going on for about 3 months) and well, not only did one of my ear drums blow, but yep, you guessed it, they both did.  Amongst getting felt up by the doctor, get your minds out of the gutter, he was feeling my neck and such, he noticed my thyroid felt "strange".  So I left have my weight in blood at the doctors and a script for a sonogram on my neck.  Turns out I have a mild case of hypothyroidism...maybe now I will start losing weight!  The best is that through all of this I could not hear anything.  It was kinda nice.  The kids would scream and well, I could hardly hear them.  I am on the road to recovery and well, my hearing is back.  Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

Avery has been asking lots of questions lately about anatomy.  We take showies together and Owen joined us one evening not too long ago.  She was trying to figure out where his pee pee was.  You could tell by the look on her face she was totally confused.  Finally, I tried to explain that Avery was a girl and Owen was a boy.  This has been an on going conversation and we finally decided that we would just call it like it is; she now know that girls have a "Gina" and boys have a "Kleenex", yep, like the tissue brand.  I did not lead her astray, I gave her the right names and this is how they translated in a 2 year olds' mind.  The best is that she went up to daddy and said, you have a Kleenex and whacked him, open handed right where it counts.  I almost peed!

Owen and daddy get some quality man time when Avery is at school.  They are so cute aren't they??  Check out Owen's gut!  You think that kid gets enough to eat? 

Avery has also recently gotten serious about fashion...yep, she dressed herself!  Check out the belly button poking through.  I will say that I had to add the shirt, that was missing from her original selection.  The second photo is Avery holding daddy's hand as we are getting ready to go get "fozen yogert"...there is a new place that just opened by us and we love it.  My daughter can't get enough of the chocolate!  Owen sticks to vanilla but there is not a bite that goes past him that he does not open his mouth for.

We call Owen "roomba" for anyone who does not know what that is, it is a vacuum that cleans for you.  Owen can scoot on his tummy like it is no body's business.  He cleans the floors and well, seems to get around ok.  You can always find him by following the stream of drool pouring out of his mouth.  I think that he would have a better shot at beating off his sister if he were a bit faster.  Here is a quick look at something we hope will turn into a crawl.  He has been doing this plank and the rocking maneuver for a few weeks now...good luck little man, you will need it!
Please join us next week for Avery's 2nd Birthday!  We are going to be making our first go at Disneyland and saying bye bye to our "night night" (that would be her pacifier to the lay person).  Wish us luck and I will post pics when I remember.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Ok, so it has been a while...

So it has been a while, and well, lots has happened.  For starters, both kids and both adults in the Lowe house have seriously been sick since the last post.  No joke!  I finally asked the doctor if this was for real, and her reply was simple, "This is the worst cold and flu season I have seen, so yes it is for real".  Avery has had bronchitis, ear infections, and the ever popular "Barf-o-Ramma" on top of the various strains of colds and flu's that she has brought home to share.  Such a giver that child is.  Owen has had RSV, an ear infection and well, some sort of bronchial irritation.  Both kids sound more like seals than little monsters.  I feel so bad for them.  Avery has taken to coughing so hard she barfs, so that is fun.  Love cleaning up her barf in the middle of the night and having to bathe her and well, having a 102 fever myself.  That was a hoot.  Wish you all could have been there to join in the fun.  The best part of it all, is that the really nasty-yucky stuff happens when Ian is stuck at work.  Urgh, karma is a, well, you know....worst of all, Franny has slowly learned that her lot in life is at the bottom...such a sad state for her.  She is still such a love though!
We did seem to manage a trip to Big Bear or Big Duck-we like to mix things up a bit.  Avery got to play in the snow but was not a fan of the sled.  Something about it being, "Too Loud".  Ok, so we figured out that that meant scary...took a while but we did eventually figure it out.
Owen started eating solids...ok, so he has gone from cereal to actual baby food in the time it has taken me to get this blog back up and going but you all understand.  I have to say that that kids digs food!  He is now eating 3 meals a day plus nursing-wtf?  He is going to pass Avery up in the L-B department sooner than later.  The best is that the doctor said that he was in the 50th percentile for everything...really?  He is a beef cake!  His next appointment is not until May.  The kids were born such that their appointments actually coincide so they both go at the same time.  Such great planning by their parents, if I do say so myself.Well, I am sure you all remember the last "Pooping in the Showie" experience.  Well, I, yes, it only seems to happen to me, had another bout.  Avery sat there and pooped while I was getting out of the shower.  Really?  She said, "Avery poopied in the showie", like how do you get mad at that?  Still, I had to revert back to my trusty breast pad maneuver...

Both kids seem to really enjoy each other.  The two of them will sit there and laugh at each other until the cows come home.  Avery really has no clue as to how "nice" she needs to be with him.  Today she ran over to him and knocked him right off his seat.  Oh, yeah, he sits now.  He is pretty good.  I am not sure why I sound so surprised.  He is a bit bottom heavy, although, I think that his head is catching up and then some.  I have to admit, I asked Ian the other day if his head looked too big.  Then in asking the question I looked at him and realized that that was just a dumb question.

This picture was a day when both were a bit under the weather, weird I know, and Avery was dragging around this stuffed bunny that was bigger than her.  She and the bunny and Owie watched Dora...haa, I love that Latina.  She can entertain my kid for hours.  We have also branched out, FINALLY, and like Oswald and his pet Wennie; get your mind out of the gutter, it is his Dachshund.I had also started to give them both baths together, that was, before Ian destroyed the bathroom.  Where we both frequently get, "What did daddy do to the bathroom?".  This is said in what one may think is one word, but no, it is 6.  She also likes to throw up her hands to add punctuation.  Ok, just to clarify, we are mid remodel on the main bathroom.  There were holes in the walls because as most of you know, we had a leak in our slab the week before Owen was born and had to get all new plumbing.  Unfortunately, the 70's tile that had once hung so lovely from floor to ceiling is no longer.  I can't wait to begin this evening tradition once again.  Owen is outgrowing the sink and well, he crapped in it the other night and well, that is just gross, bleach or not!Owie is just a happy boy.  He is always smiling, well, that is unless he is crying.  But you get the idea.  A far more easy going child than Avery, that is except is does not sleep.  We were actually on our way, finally slept through the night once and then we went camping.  That threw everything off, but we are trying once again, a special bedtime "dance" and maybe back to the once a night feeding and then nothing...here's to hoping!Both of the kids love books; Owen more to eat than to read, but you have to start somewhere right?  Anyway, here is a picture of Ian reading "The Moose Book" (If you give a Moose a Muffin).  He seems to be the only one enjoying the book.  Mom is way more fun than a stupid moose anyway.Ian has wanted one of these bike trailer thingys for ever and he finally got the most amazing deal on Craigslist.  He wanted to use it so badly that he actually hitched it up and road Avery down to the park while Owen and I walked.  Yes, in case you did not know, we live a block away.  Avery seemed fine with it one way or the other but Ian was just tickled pink!This is Owen waiting for daddy to get it together so that he could go "Pinging" with his sister.
Well, that is all for now.  I have a project to finish and I must eat.  Hope this finds everyone out there well.