Mom = Enabler?

Murdoch went to the doctor yesterday for his 18 month check-up. He has become a picky eater, he is a lot more clingy, and he has been waking up at night crying - not enough for us to go in but that is not his normal routine. Each of these things on their own really wouldn't mean much to me at all but all of them at once lead me to believe that something might be wrong. So for the past week when he asks to be picked up I do, when he wants a different food, he gets it, etc. I had Andy mention this to the doctor - I wanted to make sure there wasn't something physically wrong with him like an ear infection or something like that. Well apparently we are just enablers according to the doctor and though he didn't say it I think I am the bigger enabler just due to the fact of the way Murdoch acts toward me vs. Andy.

Last night when I picked him up from daycare though he screamed, cried, and threw himself on the floor I didn't carry him out. He refused to hold my hand so I held his wrist and though he screamed the whole time he walked out of daycare to the car - granted everyone was staring at us. He screamed for about 5 blocks and then it just stopped and he was perfectly happy. Okay well I survived that one. We got home and he threw himself on the ground again. I offered him food - all things no. I got out little crackers and put some spreadable cheese on them - no again. I ate them. After about 10 crackers and 10 minutes of screaming in the highchair he was asking for the crackers and other food that I had already offered and go the no. After we finished dinner we had a nice time playing and then a nice time in his room before bed - no more tantrums. Clearly I need thicker skin and I need to get through the tantrum because so far they only last 5-10 minutes which really isn't that long.

I am sure that this is something that a lot of parents go through - maybe not but I have to think there are others out there. My goal will be not to give into his every need because right now he seems to be craving attention and if I give into the screaming it just leads to more screaming. Hopefully with this new approach we will all be a lot happier after a long day at work/school. And I am hoping to learn this lesson now so that in 15-20 years I am not on Intervention saying that my picture should be in the dictionary next to enabler because Murdoch is an alcoholic or addicted to some other drug.

Pictures of Liam and the Family

Here are some more pictures! He is such a cute and perfect guy! Murdoch can't wait for him to grow up a little - he is excited that he can get his gang started!

Introducing Liam Kenneth

Karen and Hugh welcomed a new baby boy late Thursday.

Liam Kenneth
Born Feb 19,2009 at 9:41am
7lbs 13 oz 21 inches

Everyone is doing well though tired. The family went home from the hospital yesterday and I have my fingers crossed that they got some sleep - the first night home from the hospital with Murdoch was a tough one for us so we are hoping it went well for them. Of course we forgot our camera but Andy has one on his phone - I will see if he can email that to me and I will post it.

Congrats to Hugh & Karen!

Random Updates

So we went to Target last night to buy a new iron - I have looked for mine for a week and I can't find it. I am sure as soon as I open the new one and use it the old iron will come out of hiding with a drink in hand knowing that his life of manual labor is over because I think this new one is supposed to be better. While I was there I decided to get Murdoch a new toy. Frequently when I pick him up all of the kids are running around the classroom with baby strollers and Murdoch is very upset when he has to give his up and leave. So I decided why not get him one. The only one I could find, without much searching, was a pink one with a purple cloth seat. I know this needs a picture so I will try to get to that now that I am somewhat set up on a new computer. When I was checking out the early-20's guy said - Please don't tell me that is for him. And I said proudly Yes it is! I think that along with the purple Dora the Explorer chair is funny. Murdoch doesn't watch TV so he has no idea who Dora is and right now he has no idea that pink is usually loved by girls. I am thinking that a tutu is up next :) Ah the pictures we can torture our children with later in life!

On a totally different note I saw this article and I thought it was very interesting. Just a little something to read for a raining and cold Thursday - at least that is how things are looking in our part of the country.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/02/17/dying.green/index.html

New Year's Resolutions - a little late

I read this and enjoyed it, I thought you might as well. New Year's resolutions aren't my thing but this year I decided that I could actually take a calcium and iron supplement without losing too much sleep - and so far it has worked. I am trying to eat less sugar - that is my huge issue - I love sweets! So I am trying to eat them only when they are really good and find ways to cut out sugar in other things. This story is a dramatic change but I think if you just try one or two like a little less sugar and flossing your teeth you are much more likely to stick with it. How much better do you think you would look and feel if you got up in the AM and did 20 push-ups - it makes a difference after the first month. So I am trying for small life changes and when I get off track I will enjoy those 10 cookies and then the next day I will happily eat that apple.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/16/oprah.habit.month/index.html

Hello Again!

This isn't the best picture but it is all I have right now. And I am just way behind on the blog - I haven't even posted pictures from Christmas - how sad is that! Oh well. We have made very good house progress so between that and all of us being sick that has taken up most of our time. And the blocked the USB ports on my work laptop so I need to get set-up on our other PC and I just haven't put the time into that.

I hope you all are having a great 2009 and I am hoping for a few more posts in the coming months of 2009. I have so much backlog of pictures and videos that you think it would be easy!

A fun weekend!

Those pictures are from the snow we got last weekend. No snow this weekend, just a slightly warmer start the weekend and the more cold cold temperatures! We are looking forward to March - it won't be warm but it shouldn't be this cold!

We had a pretty good weekend. We took our first trip ever to IKEA. I thought it was going to be horrible - lines at the exit just to get to the store, going in circles looking for a parking space, etc. It wasn't that bad. The store is a little overwhelming but I feel like we were focused on what we wanted so it was a relatively fast trip. We got some new cabinets for our 1/2 bath/laundry room which will be really nice - people won't have to stare at our dirty laundry when they come over and use the bathroom. Andy also got a shelf to go above his desk so we can put things like pictures and such up there to get rid of a little bit of the clutter from the bookshelf. So we are still a long way from being organized but I don't expect to ever be fully organized. Saturday night we had a surprise birthday party and Sunday was Karen & Hugh's baby shower. So it was a busy weekend but while I was at the shower Andy installed half of the cabinets in the bathroom so that mess should be out of the way soon. Now we need to tackle all of the filing clutter to get ready for taxes! Maybe next year we will have some sort of filing system though I doubt it - that takes time and effort, day in and day out - we aren't very good at that. Maybe an decrease in paper clutter of 15% should be our goal.

Now we are back to work! I hope you had a good weekend and you enjoy the week. As always I am looking forward to Friday.

A trip to the hospital anyone?

Just in case you were worried I thought I would say up front Murdoch is not involved in any trip to the hospital. I thought this picture of Murdoch was cute and it would cheer my Mom up.

My Mom had knee surgery on Tuesday. She had her second knee replacement. My Dad said that the surgery went well but it is a long road of lots of pain and PT - she knows this after her experience with her first knee replacement. It is going to be a long road to recovery but in the end she is going to be in a lot less pain.

Apparently I had some sympathy pain - I ended up at the hospital on Tuesday as well - though nothing serious. I cut my finger on a can of diced tomatoes that I had just opened. I didn't have to get stitches because of where the cut was on my finger - too close to the bone - so they used glue. It is basically super glue for your body. So I have that and a splint which makes it very hard to do things because it is my right hand. Only a few days of this though so I really can't complain.

Cold, Tired, and Unmotivated

It is cold out and it is supposed to only get colder - the high on Friday is supposed to be 10! I don't even want to think about the windchill. The commute to work in that isn't pleasant. And getting out of bed in the dark, getting ready in the dark, and getting to work in the dark isn't pleasant either. January and February are definitely my least favorite months of the year. Every year I don't plan a March vacation to a warm destination I kick myself. Two years ago we went to St. Lucia and last year we went to Florida. This year I am just hoping for more sunlight and that these two months fly by. March isn't the best but somehow it seems promising but it is usually a tease.

I need to motivate to get pictures and videos off my camera but right now they are all dead which requires one more step before I can put them on my laptop which just seems like such an obstacle at the end of the day. Maybe it is because I look at a computer most of the day that it makes it hard to do it when I get home.

Thank you for listening to the complaining. I am looking forward to my three-day weekend. Murdoch goes to daycare on Monday and I have the day off which is basically the best day off ever - I know that may seem mean to many of you but I can get some things done and I can pick him up early to see him a little more that day so it is a win-win. Maybe I will actually finish painting one of the bookshelves in his room and we can actually put a few things away - it has only been over a year at this point - we are obviously not behind :) But the office is also screaming to be finished so I will see who screams the loudest over the weekend and on Monday. Maybe the office will get some love this weekend - I don't think I will be traveling outside too much when the windchill has a very good chance of being below 0.

MIA

So I haven't posted in about a month. It was a rough month so I am hoping that things settle down and return to 'normal'. Work has been crazy and then we had the holidays - Murdoch got the stomach flu and gave it to everyone for Christmas. So that really killed us - Murdoch wasn't in bed all day but I sure was. So we got through the holidays and then Ellen was just here for a visit which was great. So hopefully as we get back to our routine there will be more posts. Pictures are coming - again I just need to get organized! I hope you all had a wonder Christmas and Happy New Year! We are looking forward to a great 2009.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I started this post on Wednesday morning because we got about an inch of snow. Now it is Friday and we are all at home watching about a foot of snow fall! So I think this is much more appropriate now. I love the snow - of course in about a month or so I will hate it. As the song says - 'let it snow, we've got no place to go'. That is when snow is awesome! But when you have somewhere to go like work so you are walking to the train, and daycare so you have a little person that doesn't want to put on all of that extra clothes and hates the snow in his face I think to myself - it was much easier to just slip on some flip-flops. The snow is still a novelty so I will enjoy it - maybe even with some fresh baked cookies - but I am sure I will be complaining in about a month about it. Or I could be complaining tomorrow when I need to shovel but I don't know what to do with a toddler and a dog because the other adult is in Denver which makes things a little harder. Oh well - tonight we shall dine on cookies and milk - now I just need that fireplace! Enjoy the holidays!

Getting ready for Christmas

We got our tree on Sunday and we actually got some lights on it. Andy worked on getting the lights up outside - a cold front moved through so it was freezing. Murdoch and I brought hot cocoa out to him while he was working. Deucey kept him company on the front stairs even though she was shivering the whole, she wouldn't leave his side. I don't think we are going to put too many ornaments on this year - maybe a few at the top - I think there will probably be some little hands with a lot of interest in the ornaments not to mention a furry mouth that would like to eat some of them. Here are the other pictures.

Gettin' Messy

Murdoch had some fun last weekend playing in goop - cornstarch and water. It was a fun little afternoon activity and then it was off to the bath! Bob, aka Boppa, thought he just had a really good time eating his lunch :) The guy is messy but it isn't that bad. Hopefully we can catch up on some photos and updates this month!

15 Month Stats

Murdoch had his 15-month check-up yesterday and he is doing just fine. I decided to spread out some of the vaccinations because it would have been something like 5 in one day which means extra trips to the doctor's office but I feel like that should be a big deal. Here are his latest stats:

Height -32.5 Inches - 88%
Weight - 26 lbs. 12 ounces - 80%
Head - 48.5 cm - 85%

The doctor called him very symmetrical - I couldn't agree more!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Sorry that we don't get to see everyone on Thanksgiving. I will try to post some updated pictures over the weekend. Life has been very busy, as usual, so I just haven't had the time to post the picture/video updates - I have chosen sleep this past week.

Therapy via Dogs and Kids

My company had layoffs yesterday. I was not laid off but one of the guys on my team was and that caused an emotional day for me. I didn't know about it in advance, I only knew about it once it was done. I feel horrible for that person and I feel horrible for the rest of my team - this is going to put a burden on everyone now that we are down one more person. By the end of the day I couldn't focus, I needed to eat, and I needed a drink. I got home and there was this gorgeous bulldog waiting for me in her crate tail wagging and ran all over the house and almost knocked me over when she got out. Then about 10 minutes later a little guy arrived at the house and when he saw me he broke out the big grin and walked right over to me to give me his version of a hug. It was a rough day at work and often times the two of them make a day very long and tiring but I have to say the tension that melted away when I saw the two of them was more than worth all of the lack of sleep, extra vet bills, etc. that they cause. They are a form of therapy, sanity, and love that I can't get anywhere else.

My Mom's Visit

My Dad upload the pictures from my Mom's visit a few weeks ago. She doesn't like to have her pictures taken but going forward we are going to have to get some of my Mom and Murdoch - even if she hasn't showered! Enjoy the pictures and enjoy hump day!

For my funeral

No I am not dying, at least any more so than the average person on the street, and I am not trying to be morbid. I found this in the back of my date book that will expire at the end of the year and I wanted to make sure I didn't forget about it. I went to the Body Works exhibit two years ago and wrote this down as something I would like to have at my funeral:

Seneca's (4 B.C.-65 A.D.) quote: "Death is the release from all pain and complete cessation, beyond which our suffering will not extend. It will return us to that condition of tranquility, which we had enjoyed before we were born. Should anyone mourn the deceased, then he must also mourn the unborn. Death is neither good nor evil, for good or evil can only be something that actually exists. However, whatever is of itself nothing and which transforms everything else into nothing will not all be able to put us at the mercy of Fate."

I have no idea why I like that quote but for some reason it is comforting to me.

A Murdoch Memory

So this memory is a little gross but it made me laugh when my sister wrote me the following email yesterday:

I have been meaning to tell you.
Remember how when I came to visit last christmas murdoch's poop smelled like buttered pop corn. Well, my feet and the stink in them and in my shoes has changed from the normal foot funk to the smell of buttered pop corn.
I think of murdoch's pop everytime i take my shoes off.
emily

Before solid foods Murdoch's poop did indeed smell like buttered popcorn. I had totally forgotten about that until that email.

She then followed up that email with the following:

and you should put in the blog that when i was there, before you told me from where the smell was coming, i kept wondering why the people down stairs were eating so much buttered popcorn.

Aunt Emily is coming for a visit a little before Christmas and we can't wait to see her! She is taking one of her two vacations - she only gets two breaks while going to school - to come and spend it with her nephew and she takes care of him all day. It is so nice for everyone! Though I am sure a little exhausting for someone who has just finished a set of finals. I am really looking forward to that visit!

Some of my favorite websites

I like to surf the web - I just don't have enough time to do it! I thought I would share a few of my favorite sites and if you have a favorite site please share it!

Diapers.com - Diapers are expensive and bulky. The last thing I want to do is try to bring up those huge packages while carrying an infant/toddler on my hip. So thank god for diapers.com! It is a great website. If you spend over $49 the shipping is free and it arrives on your doorstep two days later! I compared some of the prices and the Huggies diapers are the same price at CostCo as they are at diapers.com. They carry a lot more than diapers - formula, bottles, clothing, toys, etc. I basically do all of my shopping on there for Murdoch. You can get $10 off your first order if you use code SAPA5662.

Bookins.com - This is an online book swap site. You list your books by ISBN and then other people make a request for those books. A label is automatically produced - you can just print it out, tape it to the envelope, and drop it in the mailbox - you don't even have to go to the post office! The other person pays the postage which is around $4 for all books and you get points for sending your books. You can then use your points to get books from other people and you just pay for the postage. I think the fact that you can just print out the label makes this so convenient so I love it!

Bookmooch.com - Same concept as bookins.com but you don't have the pre-paid envelopes. So you have to go to the post office which is another step but if you send it media mail it is usually about 2-2.50 per book so it is cheaper to send the book.

Radcru.com - For wine! Do I need to say anymore?!

Greendimes.com - Helps you stop junk mail - including catalogues which is very important this time of year, and they plants tree when you join. I can't tell you how much less junk mail I get since I joined - especially all of those catalogues! It is overwhelming. You can pick and choose which ones you want so if you still want your PotteryBarn catalogue you can keep it!

I am sure there are others but those are some of my favorites. Enjoy!

Mr. Giggles at 14 Months!

Enjoy!