Otay Ranch Fountain

6/19/08: We are having a busy week! Today we went to the Otay Ranch Shopping Village. I love that mall. We hung out with my Mom all day and night- which was a lot of fun and a huge help and distraction for me after being on my own all week. Miles had a lot of freedom at the book store to play and rearrange their shelves. Then we headed over to the children’s play area. They have a wonderful fountain where the kids can play (under age 7). I was actually prepared this time with a suit and change of clothes for Miles! He LOVED it. It’s so amazing and fun to watch him interact with other children and explore a new experience. He’s not shy at all. He loves to talk to and watch other kids. You can just see him soaking everything in. He talks a ton lately although not much that’s understandable in English, a lot is understandable in tone. Here’s a picture of the set up. We’ll be back for sure, but next time I’ll bring a towel! (almost perfect!) For more pictures of this week, email me...

The Misadventure of a Novice Mom or Morning at the Beach

Upon hearing that it would be in the nineties today, I decided last minute to go to the beach this morning. I had a vision- We would sit on a blanket under the umbrella and I could read my book while he played in the sand. So with this in mind I put the wagon, the umbrella, a blanket and a lunch in the car and we headed off to Coronado at 8:30 in the morning. This is what really happened. We parked right next to the wheel chair ramp that leads out to the sand. I put him in the Ergo, loaded the wagon and off we went to find a good spot not too close to the water, so he wouldn’t be tempted to run off into the ocean. I laid out the blanket and put up the umbrella and put Miles down and he took off, made a straight line for the ocean. So I hopped up and ran after him, taking his sandals off and running back to throw them in the wagon.

He ran screaming like a wild boar straight into the water and promptly fell on his butt. Okay so his shorts and cloth diaper are wet, no big deal, I thought. I tried from then on to keep him in the shallow water, but selfishly, I wanted to get video of all the cute noises he was making, so I made a decision. I let him go. He ran into the waves and got knocked down and roll in the water, get up shake it off and do it again. So I took off his shorts. All the while I was very aware his sun block only went to his knees. His cloth diaper was soaked and hanging heavily between his legs- probably what kept knocking him down. He had sand all over his body, caked on like sandpaper. After a little while of trying to get video and pictures without letting the ocean take him or getting my camera wet I decided that enough was enough and I would try to salvage my original vision. Having forgotten towels, swim diapers, or a change of clothing and being unable to put sunblock on him as he was covered in sand, I thought I would strip him down and let him dry off in the shade of the umbrella. That was a joke. He ran all over the beach picking up sand and throwing it, mostly on himself, while totally naked. Meanwhile it was nearing 10 am so the beach was starting to become more crowded with other Moms and older kids. Boy did they all get a kick out of seeing me in my wet clothes and floppy hat running after the wild and naked boy.


Cursing myself for being so totally unprepared I made an executive decision to cut my losses and pack up. I decided to try to hose him off at the bathroom shower. So again, naked (him, not me!) I tried to put him under the shower. He was very interested in pushing the button although he was shaking like he had Parkinson’s from the cold. We managed to get most of the sand off him and a relatively clean and dry cloth diaper on him. I let him play in the car while I loaded it up. Finally, donning a cloth diaper only, I buckled him in to his seat and defeated, headed for home.

On the way home I was trying to feed him little pieces of the sandwich I had hoped to eat on the beach. I was driving and reaching back to hand him pieces. He grabbed my hand and steered it to his mouth and then held my hand, patting it and laughing. I felt like he was thanking me for the short time at the beach. And that made it all worth while. But next time I’m bring bathing suits and towels. Duh.

Purple Corduroy Pants.

6/17/08: I went to the San Diego Fair today with my friend Lauren. After the long drive to Del Mar and the hot wait in line to get in, we decided the kids needed to run around and be free from their strollers. So we headed over to the garden exhibit to tear things up a bit. Miles would run up to people- everyone and anyone- stop right in front of them and wave at them with this big, goofy, expectant smile on his face, wait for them to acknowledge him (or trip over him), then run to the next stranger to personally greet them. Most people were older, and kinda hippy-ish and were very responsive to his salutations. Some of the younger crowd just pretended not to see him. But he waves with his whole arm and hand, so it’s hard not to see him.

There was one special couple, who were standing close to each other, the man’s round belly almost toughing the lady. Miles ran up and dashed in between them, under the belly. I think he thought their bodies made a tunnel. The woman had long, grey hair, thick glasses and a fanny pack over her bright purple, tapered leg corduroy pants. When he made his mad dash between them, they kind of jumped back saying “Oh!” Miles thought it was the most fun thing to do, but when he circled back to give it another go they were walking away, so he ran up behind the lady and head butted her in the posterior and she spread her legs so he could run through them! And then back again, and again. Keep in mind he’s a tall boy and wasn’t really ducking so she was kind of trying to hop up to avoid being pegged in the crotch. Miles was laughing so hard the entire time. Finally the couple said good-bye and tried to make an escape from this crazy boy but he followed them until I finally grabbed him, kicking and screaming and went to go find Lauren.

His other favorite part of the fair was the trip to the infield where we had to go through a real tunnel. Miles hollered and yelped and bellowed the entire length of the tunnel so he could hear his echo. We also stopped in an old timey photo booth- which he was amazed with- and we watched a band play some old surf rock for a while.


I managed to be swindled and conned by a carnie at the balloon/dart booth. It was $2 for one dart or $5 for 3. I gave the tall, smiley, man my $5 and popped 2 out of 3 balloons with the darts. The last one I missed. The man said, “Say “Pop!”” So I said, "Pop!" and he said, “You won!” But it was one of those crappy little toys that I won so I decided to go for the big stuffed dragon. When I asked him how much I would need to spend to get the dragon he told me he would make me a deal, and for each dart that hit a balloon it would count for 3 points and I needed 12 more points. So I needed to hit 4 balloons. I agreed and tried to pay him but he graciously told me to pay him AFTER I took the shots. I knew then that he was somehow going to take me for my $20.00 and I even said so. Again, I hit 4 balloons and was so impressed with my dart skills. He gave me a high five and got me the desired Dragon and then told me I owed him $20.00. What?! $20- It should have been $7.00- But each dart counted for 3- he explained. Oh- He got me. Such a con. But I had agreed to that, so how could I argue? Besides I had so much fun winning the dragon, and I knew he was conning me and I thought it was such a funny cliché- that I just handed him my twenty and laughed as I walked away. How he sleeps at night though, I’ll never know.

After that we walked through the farm and headed back to the car, stopping along the way to indulge in a chocolate dipped banana. Miles now thinks that chocolate dipped bananas are the next best thing to num nums (nursing). He clutched it and gnawed on it with his eyes closed all the way back to the car. Not bad for a one dollar ticket to the Fair!

Skin Deep, Green Bag Lady, and More!

6/11/08: You can always tell when my life is crazy by how long I wait to update this blog. Things are challenging here while Miles learns to talk… and listen! And we are always in flux with sleeping arrangements and schedules. Very loosey goosy. As long as he’s getting enough sleep, that’s good enough for me. I do okay with half a brain. Ha.

Here’s a few sites that have been sent to me recently. Sites that will open your eyes to the scary world of chemicals that we live in. My friend just mentioned that the FDA has really let us down, and I couldn’t agree more. http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/ This is the site to check out the products you use on your skin. It’s awesome because once you discover how toxic your products are, you can find ones that are less so. And this one http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/organic-parenting/sunblock-sunscreen-55040201 has some great information in general, but this link will take you to an article on sunblock.

On a happy note, I received my “Green Bag Lady” Bag that I requested through http://www.greenbaglady.blogspot.com/ Not long ago I heard about this artist who sews reusable market bags for people and gives them away for free. In fact she mailed my bag to me for free, costing her $1.95. I noticed that her envelope had a stamp that asked me to reuse the envelope. So I did. I promptly picked out some extra fabric that I had laying around and took it to the post office today. She gets fabric donations from around the US (at least). I’m glad I can add to it. What she’s doing kinda renews my believe in humankind’s goodness. Rock on Green Bag Lady! And thanks for my beautiful bag!

Cartoon

I had mentioned a couple posts back that I am helping a friend with her scrapbooking company as an artist. So I am dabbling in illustration- referencing a lot from the fifties and well really before and after. Not to precise. This drawing I just finished is an adaptation of a Dick and Jane Illustration. I dig it. It's basically a copy- so please don't sue me. I don't take credit. Although the style is quite different from the original. The outfit and theme is the same. What do you think of it?

Growing Nicely

5/20/08: My garden is coming along quite nicely. I am pretty excited that the pumpkin seeds I planted last week have already sprouted. I’ve heard they’re hard to maintain, but so far so good. The tomato plants are loving this heat and seem to grow 6 inches every day. No flowers yet- but I can’t wait to taste that fruit! I need to find out what organic fertilizer people use on their gardens. I’m trying to stay away from the steroids I’ve given my plants in the past. Both lemon and lime trees are doing way better this year just being left alone. I do put down fresh mulch and compost each year. Maybe that’s enough. I’m enclosing some pictures for your viewing pleasure. Any comments or advise is welcome.


Miles had his Well visit yesterday and all is well. He is healthy and happy- but then I already knew that. We are doing a less aggressive vaccine schedule and are doing individual vaccines (instead of the bundled vaccines) one at a time. So he finally received a measles shot- but that’s it. We will go back in a month for the DTap. I feel better about letting his body process them one at a time. Even though it’s slightly more inconvenient for us. I'm afraid to vaccinate him and afraid not to- so this is my compromise. I feel pretty good about it so far. He didn't have any noticeable reaction to the shot yesterday.

We went for a walk in Mission Trails this morning. It was nice, and difficult. Miles really fights being confined in a stroller, but wont walk with me either. He wants to collect rocks to throw at people passing by. *sigh* We're working on that.

Coronado

5/15/08: Happy 16 month birthday to Miles! We went to Coronado this morning to bike ride and picnic. It was beautiful out there. He screams when I put him in the seat, but then he has a great time. No pain no gain, I guess.

gardens a growin'

I adjusted the sprinklers and watered my veggie garden this morning. I planted pumpkin seeds in the yard to ramble among the other plants and I planted carrots in the with the peppers, tomatoes and herbs. It is so satisfying to grow your own veggies. Not that I have harvested anything but herbs and strawberries yet. But things are looking good. And I'm all organic- even the seeds. I've been really good about resisting the temptation to throw weed killer on my front yard. Every time I see a beneficial worm or butterfly- I'm so happy that I pull weeds instead. I do poor boiling water on the hard spots though which kills them safely, without polluting our environment.

Head butt Me With Your Love

5/11/08: Happy Mother’s Day! We had a great weekend, full of friends and family over at out place. It was fun to host and easy to put Miles to sleep in the other room and then continue our party. My Mother’s Day started at 1:30 am as Miles was having a very rough night he kept us up until about 5am. Keith and I alternated trying to settle him back down. Not sure if it was teething or what. But then I got the best mother’s day present ever! Miles said Mama! He is talking a ton right now- in a repeat after me kind of way. He is trying to talk like crazy- today he said, “mama, cheese, ouch, vroom, banana” and some other words I can’t think of at the moment. Of course I probably wouldn’t recognize what he is saying if he wasn’t repeating me right after I say something. But it’s like a language explosion! He wasn’t saying much of anything and then all the sudden! It’s really fun for me.

Miles is also very expressive with his body. He has started to dance! So cute! And he shows his love and affection by head butting. I am trying to break him of that. I sign (and say)“ouch! Hurt mama!” I’m doing my best to sign all the sign I know throughout the day. He is trying to sign more, I can tell. He tried “cheese” today, but it doesn’t come out quite right. He gets real thoughtful and studies his hands and makes a clapping motion. Which is very close!

These days Miles and I have a rough idea of how we want things to go, -what needs to be accomplished that day, and then we fly by the seat of our pants from one thing to the next. I certainly didn't get one of those routine craving babies. He is sooooo unpredictable in his patterns. Just when I think he's settling into something, the next day it will be completely different. It makes it very difficult to plan anything. Oh well. I couldn't ask for anything more!

Rainy Day

It's raining here. Miles slept really well last night and is in a good mood today (yay!). We made banana bread this morning (rainy days are baking days) and I did some crafting too (top secret mom day stuff) I'm also getting a lot of laundry done! I love productive days. I took a shower this morning and put on "house clothes" no makeup- haven't left the house. Miles and I had a short crazy dance party to Daft Punk. We're having some fun. Tonight I'm having a girls night at the movies. Yay!

World of Color Sticks

5/1/08: Miles has started to color with Crayons! He like to take them out of the box more than anything, But he is quite the little artist. He’ll go into his room get crayons, and bring them to me so I will get him some paper. It’s super cute.

Life outside

4/30/08: We have a multitude of bugs this year. Grasshoppers are huge in our yard. I’m hoping they’ll attract more birds. A tasty treat! This guy was sunning himself on the cloth diapers that were drying in the sun.

Leap and the net will appeaar.

4-26-08: I met with a friend yesterday to discuss a possible business opportunity that would enable me to be a professional artist from home and hopefully make some kind of a living from it in the long run. Along with being a wonderful opportunity for me, I would be able to support her in her endeavor and we, along with the rest of the team she is assembling, would be able to follow our bliss. It’s a wonderful idea and the possibilities are endless. I felt like the universe was opening up. Showing me there is always something brilliant and unforeseen around the corner if you are just open to it. Then is a seemingly innocuous twist of fate I was able to achieve something in yoga this morning that I have never been able to do. In the past I have been unable to execute Camel pose mostly because of fear. It’s a backbend where you are on your knees and you bend back to grab your ankles, opening your chest and spine in the process. I have always been so good at forward bends. Calming, and introspective. But back bends?! I have a fear of hurting my lower back, and a fear of not being strong enough to support myself-falling basically. Do to a wonderful instructor, Mary Jo, at the La Mesa Y this morning we did a ton of preparation for the pose, opening the front of the thighs and the chest. Twisting the spine, breathing. And then we just did it! I felt like it was an amazing metaphor for the business idea and venture, and for life in general. I feel my heart and my chest opening up to the future and to love and life and friends. I am learning to trust that life has a plan and the universe can support you if you are open and positive to it. Okay, so some of you must be thinking that I am crazy, or worse, irresponsible. I’m not saying that you have to sit around and wait for things to happen to you. I am saying that with openness in your life and mind you can see opportunities that may not otherwise be seen. And you can seize them! I want to teach my son that anything is possible. That he can dream it, he can do it. I want to live by example. I think this will be my year.

Craft Crazy

4/24/08: Life is swinging along at the Kwasny house. Miles is walking exclusively now- and I think having a major growth spurt. He is eating like crazy. Seems to be starving after a couple hours. And sleeping a lot- or not sleeping. I guess it’s all normal. We are waiting for the talking to start. Right now he has sounds that he makes, and I know what they mean, but they aren’t real words. He seems to say “Duck” pretty reliably. But I think that’s just the easiest sound for him to make. We have been bike riding quite a bit lately. And I have been a crochet maniac.
I even finished a painting recently!

I wish I could take some good pictures but I broke my camera. So I’ll post what I have.


We went to Manhattan Beach for a night with some friends. That was fun…Let’s see- what else. Oh! Miles choked today for the first time. Scared me to death. He finally cleared a monster piece of cheese. Take bites Miles! Bites! He likes to shove the whole thing in his mouth. Maybe this will teach him.

We get together with friends a couple times a week. Not really organized playgroups so much any more as splinter groups. It’s so nice to be making some really good friends at this stage of the game. I hope Miles can hang on to some of these friendships too. It’s a rare treat to grow up with someone. I will always have Aimee- I wonder who his “Aimee” will be. People move so much these days, and in this sad state of economy, who knows where we will all end up. Hopefully here- (but as long as I’m with my man and child- I’m home)

Walking, signing, and crochet

4/3/08: Miles is really walking well now. He free stands and walks catches his balance and keeps on going. We went to the Quail botanical gardens the other day and he loved the bamboo forest. He could swing from post to post and not fall. He had the time of his life.


He is better and better at expressing himself now too. He hasn’t picked up any more sign. I should do a “sign of the day” and sign it all day long and see if that would help. He gets frustrated and signs “more” for everything. It’s his way of saying, ”Hey, I have something to communicate!” The rest is up to me to decipher. So he needs some more sign for sure.

I finished my crochet pig. I’m very proud of him too. Miles isn’t really into playing with stuffed animals right now, but I think he’ll like him in the future. Otherwise, he’ll become room decoration. I started a lion for my next project. I am definitely a hooker now! Ha!

Mindy's last day

3/31/08: Our Mindy dog passed away on Saturday. She had been doing poorly since we started treatment for Cushing’s Disease. I had felt it coming. The vet couldn’t figure out what was wrong, but she stopped eating. I think she decided it was her time and just refused to let us save her.

We brought her home just before Christmas over 2 years ago to be a friend to our older dog Andy. She was so sweet and smart and full of energy and loving. She taught me a lot about dogs, since she was so opposite of Andy. She was a thinker and was eager to please. When we got her from the Human Society they told us she needed to lose at least 5 pounds. But when she was sick she lost that and it was clear that she was really a big boned Min Pin. She was 20 pounds when she was healthy- which is large for her breed. She loved to go on walks and go in the car, she was so excited by car rides that she would be destructive and had to be contained. Best of all she was really patient and loving with Miles. He would pat her a little too hard and she would just lay there and let him- or when she had enough she would move out of his reach. She used to sneak into our bed and burrow all the way under the covers so we wouldn’t know she was there. Sneaky.

Anyway- she was so sweet and she will be missed. We took her to dog beach on her last day with us. She fell asleep when we got home and didn’t wake up again. I think she was so tired. I’m glad she had a peaceful and restful last day with us (not at the hospital). Here’s a picture of her snuggling with me on the beach on her last day. Andydog seems to be taking it well. But he’s never been the brightest crayon in the box, so he might just think she’s at the groomer or something. Ignorance is bliss. Miles turned the garden gnome on its side and put dirt on it while we were burying her. That’s interesting.

Happy Easter!

3/25/08:
Happy Easter! Although it’s already over- I’ll always remember this Easter since it’s when Miles really started walking. He’s suddenly standing up from a squat and taking 6-7 steps at a time. Of course he falls a lot- glad those cloth diapers cushion his fall so well.

We’ve been working hard on the front yard just about every day- trying to get it ready for planting. This has been a huge undertaking for us as the weeds were knee high after all the rain we had this year. My girlfriends have been offering their time and pulling weeds with their babies too. It looks like babies are growing from the garden when they are over. Of course I pay them with margarita time in our already finished backyard.

Mindy dog is doing better, I think. She is eating some- although with some nasty results at times. I think she’s going to pull through- although I often wish she would just get better or worse so we could make some informed decisions about her future. I guess that’s horrible to say, but I am REALLY tired of cleaning up after her. No one can blame me for that.

Well, we're off to finish pulling weeds so we can start planting! Hurray!

Walking and Cleaning

Miles has started walking a little and I'm trying to get the house ready for the appraisal- cleaning like mad and finishing details like touching up the interior paint etc to try to spiff up the place.

We took Miles to a St Patty's day parade and festival in Balboa Park- we had a blast and Miles was in awe looking at everyone and everything. You know how people wear crazy green hats and stuff, so it was entertaining.

Other than that, just stressing about the loan and trying to keep Miles busy. He's moving to one nap a day so we are messing with his schedule and still messing with the sleeping arrangement. I'm not getting much sleep so I have a headache and have been feeling kinda sick and grumpy. We need to do something else- I think he'll be coming back into our room with us- We're going to take our bed off the frame and put the mattress on the floor with a baby gate around it. If you can believe it. I know it seems stupid- but I think it makes more sense. Right now I'm getting up at 12 am after sleeping for only 2 hours and spending the rest of the night cramped in the twin. He is waking a lot right now and in the twin I can't put any distance between us- so we wake each other up. I'm even thinking of putting the crib mattress on the floor next to our bed and having him sleep there- then he can come find us in the night if he wakes up. I don't know- this is just hard.

Also Mindy is sick- the medication made her stop eating and we've spent about 500$ of money we don't have so far just on tests and meds. The Vet told me to bring her in yesterday to get IV fluids and I told him I can't afford it so they did it free of charge. But I can't keep expecting that. I fed her a potato this morning which she ate- she's not even eating her food if I put chicken broth on it. She shakes all the time and has been throwing up bile. Poor baby. He talked about putting her in the pet hospital on an IV. I think we will have to have her put down. I am waiting for as long as I can though. Yesterday when I was painting a wall that she had badly damaged, I was wondering if she would have the opportunity to scratch it up again or not. So sad.

This was kinda complain-y- Oh well.

A revealing little game.

3/11/08: So I’m not sure how this works, but I was tagged- So Erika at http://senwlong.blogspot.com/ Married with Children Tagged me. I’m coping this from her post, “I'm going to play the game! Here are the rules, per luci, who got them via veganmomma:Rules:Link to your tagger and post these rules.Share 5 facts about yourself.Tag 5 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.” I’m not sure I know 5 people with blogs that will want to play, but I’ll do it and hope they think it’s fun too. Here are my 5 things.

1. Although I seem somewhat outgoing, I’m actually pretty shy and have some difficulty joining new groups- although I seem to do it all the time.
2. I think being a Mom is the bees knees and being a stay home mom is even better. I love my life with Miles and Keith and wouldn’t change it, or go back to a paying job for the world. (at this time, and unless I have to).
3. I am trying my hardest to be creative even though actually painting right now is really difficult with a short napping toddler. That’s why I’ve picked up crochet. It’s something I can do to feel creative and productive, without leaving the family to lock myself in my studio. Although, that said I have a couple paintings in mind and I’m itching to do them! Anyone want to babysit?
4. I used to battle with my weight constantly. Dieting and yo yoing. Now I feel pretty good about my amazing milk making, baby producing body and I overlook the things that I used to think needed work. My whole focus is on being healthy, listening to my body and trying to eat foods that I feel good sharing with Miles.
5. Keith and I will have been together for 9 years this St. Patrick’s Day. The best 9 years of my life for sure.

Okay so that’s it. Not sure who I’ll tag. But I’ll see if maybe I can come up with some blogs that I’ve visited. I'll have to do this more- later- Miles needs some attention!
http://vikingjenn.blogspot.com/

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign

3/2/08: Big day for us! Miles signed a few words to me today. He said “more, eat” and “finished” I think he has been saying these things for a week or so but I was misinterpreting them. This time it was clear because I signed it right before him and he copied me. So I’m going to try signing more and more with him now. I knew once he could clap that he might have the dexterity to sign more. Now I know for sure. He is also taking a few steps to me. He did it again this morning. It’s kinda a step, step, lunge. So far he hasn’t done it on his own, just in between furniture or if he is at the couch and I’m nearby.

We are going up to see my Dad this Friday. It’ll be our first family plane trip. Miles is so easy going and easily distracted that I am hopeful it will go well. I can always nurse him too- which is his favorite thing to do in unsure situations. It’ll be nice to get away as a family since Keith has been working so much. Hopefully Dad wont put us to work when we get there!

I also finally finished Miles' new crochet mouse. I think he's super crochet cute!