Ivy makes an appearance

6/23/10: It’s time I write a little bit bout this pregnancy-#2! I re-read some of this blog- the early days of pregnancy with Miles and I was so glad I documented it since I remember zilch.

I’m about 19-20 weeks already! Half way to the finish line! We had out big ultrasound today and discovered we are having a little girl. She was very active and quite cooperative today so we got a ton of great pictures of her and we just watched in awe as our ultrasound tech tried to capture each heart valve and measured each long femur. She doesn’t look like Miles did at his ultrasound- as much as you can say that with a fuzzy, blurry black and white photo that looks slightly skeletal.

So a quick catch up of this pregnancy so far. I had some morning sickness this go around that I didn’t have with Miles. I was dead tired for about a month and a half, but now I’m mostly back to my old self- energy wise. I have the usual complaints of interrupted sleep and achy hips and back but I really can’t complain. I’m hopeful that I can avoid some of the medical intervention that was required with Miles. Like, no hospitalization, medication or bed-rest please! I’ve been trying to keep up an exercise routine, well, at least a little, and I’m trying to keep my weight gain under control with mixed success. It could be worse.

I have started to feel Ivy move around, but only sometimes. Not consistently. Oh, yeah, we like “Ivy” for a first name so now we can try it out. Not set on a middle name yet, but leaning toward Caleah.

Miles is very excited about being a big brother and talks about it all the time. He kisses my tummy often during the day and before night and talks about the baby putting things she shouldn’t in her mouth. He’s already tattle telling! The other day he told me the baby would travel down my leg and come out my foot. Although, if you ask him seriously where the baby will come out he points to my crotch- so he has enough of an idea. We have many books that explain the whole pregnancy/birth process in detail that he can understand.

So I’m looking forward to moving smoothly along with this pregnancy and trying to keep a calm uterus, as opposed to an irritable one (like last time)!

Chicken Crazy

For Mother's day Miles and Keith got me 3 chicks. We have been having a lot of fun with them, but they are getting big fast and need a coop! So we have been spending all our free time and more money than we have trying to get a gorgeous coop together in the backyard. We moved our gazebo to the deck (where it's getting much more use) and we have started construction.


While we were painting Miles kept saying, "Everyone is going to love this! Daddy will be so happy!" His enthusiasm is infectious.

Miles has been involved from day one. He helped me pick the chicks, he has been helping with the construction. He is getting to be such a very grown up boy!
The coop is still unfinished of course, but we are making progress however slowly.

San Diego Wild Animal Park

4/24/10: We went to the Wild Animal Park today. The butterfly exhibit is still on and was more amazing than I anticipated. It felt a little magical. Miles loved it. My sister took this amazing picture.

Miles is talking up a storm. He loves to tell stories about the adventures of Miles and Scooby Doo. Miles loves Scooby. He’ll start by asking me to “read” him a Scooby story but after a few sentences he takes over, talking fast and very animated, usually ending with Scooby and Miles in a Rocketship going through a meteor shower. It’s wonderful. He also draws rockets over and over. He’s still rocket/space obsessed.

Spring Planting and Weaning

3/22/10: We are getting ready for Spring!

We have completed our paper pots, planted seeds and watered every day. Now we are finally seeing some results! Most of the seeds have sprouted so it’s time to get their permanent home ready. I bought some worm castings and some organic planting mix to till into the planter box. I also admired my friend’s amazing results after she put in a soaker hose last year, so this year I am copying her. I just planted the soaker hose today. The seeds aren’t quite ready to go in the ground yet, but soon. The artichoke in this picture is from one of the four artichoke plants in my front yard.



This year we have basil, red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce (I know it’s late for lettuce in SD, but I had to try), big and little tomatoes, garden beans, carrots, pumpkins and decorative birdhouse gourds. I think that’s it. Hopefully we’ll at least get some tomatoes! We did pumpkins 2 years ago and it was awesome. I really regretted not doing it last year.



I didn’t post the following post because I didn’t feel like it. But I will now. I think it’s important to do what’s right for your child and your family, without regard to what other people think. It’s not their child, right? Miles nursed for a few minutes this morning although I’m pretty sure I don’t have any milk anymore. He nurses about once every couple weeks for a few minutes. Sometimes I tell him no and sometimes I let him. When people ask, I say I just weaned him. Which to me, is true, considering every time he nurses I’m pretty sure it’s the last time. Ah well, he won't be my baby for much longer and I’m sucking every last minute out of it. Excuse the pun. Here’s the post…


2/24/10:
So- I let him nurse this morning. Not that I plan on going back to an every day thing, and I did restrict him- once he started to play he was done. I do get tremendous pressure to wean from family, etc...But I also feel so torn, cause it's 3 weeks later and he STILL asks for it every day. I feel so bad that I didn't let him wean himself. So now- on occasion, if I want to, I'm going to let him nurse. I guess it's a step back, but I feel like it's the right thing to do. And I'm hoping maybe he just never asks for it again. I must say- we've had the most pleasant morning ever this morning. He helped me make breakfast, keeps telling me how much he loves me, helped me with dishes, got dressed without a fight, let me brush his hair and cut his bangs, and brush his teeth for a long time. It's been awesome. Now he's letting me write you all this crap! I just feel like it was a right decision. Maybe things just aren't as black and white as I thought with weaning. I guess it's a longer process. Which really makes sense considering he's nursed his whole life. It's a huge transition.

The other thing I'm dong is being more restrictive of sweets and TV time. Which is necessary and good, and has positive results.

Miles goes to Pre-School

2/19/10: Miles started a pre-school class the second week of February. It’s more of a play school. It’s a kind of a Reggio Emilia approach to pre-school that is play/creative based learning. And best of all, we can almost afford it!

So he goes to school now 5 hours a week. Whoo hoo! I get to go to the gym and run all the errands that Miles doesn’t exactly enjoy. He gets to socialize and figure out who he is without his mommy right there! He likes it, I like it. We’ve never had any real tears although he does ask me to stay with him. And after the first class he asked if I was mad at him. Yikes! He didn’t quite get why I was leaving him there. But already he is interested in what time it is, how to spell his name and he has muttered some interesting phrases that Keith and I don’t know where he picked them up, if not pre-school.



Today, for example; Me: “Miles you need to wear a jacket.” Miles, “Jacket?! Count me out!” Whaaaa?!! I don’t know where he got that. Then today, I’m reading a book called “Stuff White People Like”, by Christian Lander and Miles says, “Mommy, Don’t call me Whitey…” Again. Whaaa?! I even asked him to say it again. And I have no idea where he would get that…Unless he’s been talking to my neighbor Alfredo. ;)

Well, I’ve always said at this age pre-school is more for socialization than academics. I guess he’s getting an education one way or another!

A Snowy Stay in Idyllwild With A Crazy Three Year Old

It's funny, everyone told me that 3 years old is more difficult than 2 years old. And I thought, that can't possibly be. Two was hard. But Three is turning out to have it's own special challenges.

Miles is really asserting his independence and his desire to make his own decisions about what to wear, where to go or not go, when and what to eat, etc. We try to give him choice but usually he wants something outside of what is reasonable and healthy. We're really having to choose our battles.

Like with the snow suit today. I wanted to go for another hike in Humber Park and when we had gone the day before, Miles was is more casual play clothes and froze his butt off. So I decided to assert that he would wear the snow suit we borrowed for him so he would be comfortable in the snow. He was not having it. We're back to feeling like he needs to do what we say because we said so- and trying to decide if it's worth it. In the end we did give in and he wore his regular snow clothes, but we didn't go on our hike. In fact, after a short time of playing outside we put him in the car to go on our hike and he peed his pants. Which almost never happens anymore. So we had to bring him out to change him and he completely refused to put his pants on at all. Seriously, unable to force the pants on him without hurting him or ourselves.


So, we went home instead of our hike, pants-less. It's just insane. The intense emotions and tantrums that overshadow his normal personality. I think he's going through a growing spurt or something though. He naps about every other day. Completely unpredictable. I'm trying to encourage him to wean. There's a lot of change going on for him right now.

Toddler Led Weaning

1/5/09: Today Miles woke up asking if it was okay to have numnums. I said sure. He nursed for a second and then wanted to switch sides. (we aren’t nursing much at all these days). He stopped nursing on the other side and I asked if there was any milk in there. He said no. He said he was going to go “to outer space in a rocket ship and fill his big boy boobies with milk and my big girl boobies with milk.” I’m sorry, but how cute is that!? This toddler led weaning has some benefits. I love knowing what he is thinking!

The picture is from our recent trip to my Dad's in Lodi.

Money, Smarts, and Mission Trails

11/19/09: We opened Miles' first savings account today. He had saved $47 and change in his piggy banks over the last (almost) 3 years. He brought his huge bag of money and coins to the teller and said, “ Savings account please!” He’s getting pretty smart, and crafty.

For example yesterday, Miles was playing with a balloon in the living room. It was just a regular blow up balloon. There was a lot of static electricity in the air and the balloon stuck to the ceiling. Miles called that he needed help and I was busy in the kitchen so he announced that he had an idea and left for a minute. He came back with a broom and held up the handle tall enough to knock the balloon off the ceiling. I thought that was pretty clever for a 2.5 year old.



We went to Mission Trails yesterday with some friends. One of the other Moms thought to bring all the kids magnifying glasses to look for bugs and tracks. Miles thought that was the best idea ever and used it to look for shoe prints, ants and leaves. It was a wonderful hike, despite Miles taking his shoes off every few minutes and insisting I carry him the last half of the way back...

Lake Cuyamaca and Other Adventures

11/8/09: I started reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com) to Miles tonight. I was thinking we could do a chapter a night- if he was up to it. I wasn’t sure if he was way too young to sit through a chapter book. Well, he’s not! In fact, after the first chapter he wanted another, so we read 2 chapters and plan on the 3rd tomorrow. I’m so excited to be able to read a real book to him- something interesting and beautiful. When we get to large words like, “illumination” and “agitated” we briefly discuss them- or I give him examples of the meaning. Anyway, it was nice, and an added benefit, it seemed to make him really sleepy. Some of the books we usually read seem to actually wind him up, so this was a nice transition.



We had a busy weekend. We went to Lake Cuyamaca and rented a boat, paddled to the little island, and went on an easy hike. So beautiful. When we returned to the “mainland” Miles fed the ducks right out of his hand. He was thrilled. Then we made our way to Julian and walked for a while and had pie.

Today we went to Legoland for the first time. There are a lot of things to do for the little ones. Most of the rides had height requirements but there was so much else to do, like playgrounds, musical water fountains, trains, water games, etc…It was more fun than I had imagined it to be. I’m glad we finally went. Tomorrow we’ll be headed to the zoo again to catch up with a friend. I love the zoo walk. I’m trying to squeeze in as much walking as I can since that seems to be my only form of exercise right now.

Crocheting for a Craft Fair

I've been invited to join a fine art and craft show. I'm planning on bringing some paintings to sell, as well as take orders for commissions, or at least give quotes. But I'd love to also sell some of my Amigurumi toys. So I've been crocheting like a mad woman trying to pull something together when the date is fast approaching- October 25th! Here's the flier and one of the dolls I will be selling.

Imagination Play

10/7/09: Miles has a new friend named “Witch”. Miles says when she "comes home" Miles and she will "play blocks" and she will "eat his oatmeal". Miles also has a “big, BIG, BIG! tattoo of a monster” on his back, he says. Funny, I never noticed it.

Imagination play is coming on strong over the past week. I think that Halloween is pushing him, considering how much imagination is needed to make the leap into the season. This year has been a blast decorating the house and putting on wigs, wings, and hats from years past. We have spiders, real, imagined and rubber all over the house. Yesterday, I went to Target for pumpkin LED lights, more spiders and webs.



If all goes as planned, we’ll be robots from space this year. I’m still putting the costumes together in my mind. I’m not sure if spray paint and cardboard boxes will be used or if we will be more organic robots from space. Since I’ve never really seen one, the sky’s the limit. I prefer homemade costumes to the store bought ones. I think half the fun is making the costume. I’ll be sure to post pictures when it finally comes together.

Miles really does put the magic and fun into everything.

Danger at the YMCA

Miles was jumping into the foam pit at the Santee Y in Tumbling class- all very normal- There was a new thing in the pit this big circular bolster thing and Miles was trying to jump on it. It was about as tall as he was so I was helping him jump on it. What I didn't see was there was a carabiner (a metal loop with a sprung or screwed gate- or closed hook) hanging from the side of the bolster. (I guess they hang the bolster from something?) So he jumped in, hit the side of the bolster and his nostril somehow got caught on the clip and he was hanging suspended from the hook by his nostril.

I saw his nose stretched so far that I thought it was his lip (cartoonishly far) and I jumped in the pit trying to hoist him up and take his nose off the hook/clamp. I couldn't see his face though and I was in a panic screaming, "Someone HELP me!" over and over. All these moms jumped in but were just getting in the way, meanwhile I'm sinking in the pit and trying to hold him up so he's not hanging from the nose. Finally a Dad (just home from Iraq- Yay!) jumped in calmed me and Miles down and magically unhooked Miles. (Thank you mystery hero!)

Blood rushed from his face and the instructor got him ice and advised me to take him to Urgent Care. I took him to Urgent Care who said he needed a specialist and possibly surgery to repair the inside of his nose and referred him to an ENT. The ENT (Dr. Keefe) said it was a miracle he wasn't more tore up and we were sent home to watch for infection. That's the short end of my day. I'm glad it's over. By the way Miles was a trooper through the whole thing. I'm pretty sure I cried more than he did. :) I can't wait to see if his nose is black and blue in the morning...

O'Dell's Organic Pear Farm

9/26/09: One day recently, I was feeling like I needed to go on a drive and get out of SD. O’Dells Organic Farm in Julian was a wonderful place for Miles and I to escape to. The owners Camille & Carl gave us a very warm welcome and Camille took Miles around to see the goats, chickens and her Donkey, Dolly. Miles was able to pet the goats and pluck the farm fresh eggs right from their nests! He was in heaven. The reason we went was for some self picked organic pears, which were also wonderful, but turned out to be hardly the reason to visit. We left with bags of fresh fruit and a camera full of memories. We can’t wait to go back!

S. Carlsbad State Beach Camping

9/26/09: Wow, I guess it’s been about a month since I updated. We have had a very busy summer- always on the go it seems. Miles is growing fast and talking more and more.


We went beach camping again at S. Carlsbad State Beach last week. That is the perfect little mini vacation for us and it was wonderful to spend some time together alone as a family. Keith has been working in LA and staying overnight quite a bit lately so we needed some bonding time. Miles is so at home in the dirt and muck. He loved playing in the ocean and staying up late with us by the fire. Sleep was a little difficult, but that was more because of Keith snoring than us all being so close in one full size air mattress. I love sleeping to the sound of the ocean, and snuggling with my family.

Are you still painting?

I get that question a lot from people that haven't seen me in a while or since I had Miles. And YES! I am still painting. It's part of me, and luckily, I have been able to squeeze in even more painting since Miles' arrival.

I am a part of The San Diego Art Institute in Balboa Park, in San Diego, CA. They have juried shows every 6 weeks. You can submit a painting and if the juror approves it, then you're in the next show. They accept about 20% or what is submitted. So it's a real honor to get in.

I haven't submitted in a couple months since, honestly, the last few paintings I submitted were of Miles and were turned down. This time though, "Midnight Train" was accepted for exhibit. The show runs August 28th, thru October 4th 2009. The Opening night is Friday, September 4th 2009 from 6-8pm. They have food and wine and a lot of mingling- and people watching is great! I hope to see you all there, it's a fun night out. For more info on this even see my other web site www.bendystar.com

Love the love

8/16/09: Getting Miles dressed, I’m on my knees on the floor of his room and he’s sitting on the edge of his bed- he gave me a kiss and a hug, then said “One More!” another kiss and a hug- I laughed. Then he grabbed my face kissed me on both cheeks (something I’m sure he learned from Aunt Pat) said “Welcome!” and walked off. Ahhh, feel the love.

Space Monkey

7/30/2009: Miles is talking up a storm. He won’t stop talking. He tells me all about everything he observes, from the "big hills" and trees to the moon in the sky.

His favorite subjects right now are, “honey bees” and how they take the pollen from flowers to make honey, and anything to do with space rockets, the moon, earth and all related subjects.

Tonight we ate dinner in the gazebo at his request (he calls it “the big house outdoors”) and Miles looked up to see the moon. It was about 5pm and still very light outside, so Miles wanted to know what happened to space? And he wanted to “check it” (the sky) over and over to look for the earth in relation to the moon. I had to explain the earth, moon, and space over and over to him but he never tired of it. Now he wants a “space room” with “space monkeys”. I’ll have to start painting over his old mural and prepping his room asap. He’s very insistent.

Lifestyle Changes...

Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows that it's a living thing. It fluctuates, ebbs and flows, some days are good some days are not. I'd like to lose weight before attempting another pregnancy, so I'm training for pregnancy.

I am at a good place right now. Doing my best to live my life and eat well. Eat when I'm hungry, try to eat less meat in general and eat more plants. I have been working out. I think that's essential. Not just in the weight loss itself, but in keeping my mind in the right place. I am the kind of person who needs somewhere to go -to work out. I have a hard time just doing lunges or crunches in my living room. I like a designated time and space. I prefer a predictable schedule. Something I can rely on and get in the habit of. But I don't really have that luxury right now. With a very spirited and wonderful little boy who has strong opinions about when he'll wear clothes and whether he can share his toys at the gym babysitter. So- I have to catch a class here and there and hope it all adds up.

I went to a yoga studio in La Mesa this morning called "A Gentle Way". I love yoga studios. They are calm and relaxing safe havens of exercise. You can do yoga as hard or as gentle as you want. The class this morning was taught by Helen and was a more beginner class, but she gave me the freedom to do a more advanced level of yoga- which I loved. I got to do Bird Of Paradise for my balance pose and the Wheel to wrap things up at the end. It was nice to be free to be me.

I got a tattoo on my ankle yesterday- it wraps down my foot and up the back of my leg. I have a single green star on my toe. I've decided that star represents my growing boy. That's my Miles Star.


Anyway I've lost 4 pounds this week. I am sure that will level off and I will be doing a good 1-2 pounds from here on out- but I do love that jump start at the beginning. Here we go!

I'm taking a poll.

Here's a picture of my latest painting. You can see more at www.bendystar.com

Been going to the gym everyday again- I took Miles for the first time today and was only gone about 40 minutes, when I came back the woman said Miles "went crazy" on a baby and pushed a little boy. They didn't call me out of the gym to get him though and he seemed really happy there and wants to go back. Not sure if it will work out.

My big question is, do I keep the membership if I can't take Miles? (I have 'til Friday to cancel with a full refund) My whole reason for switching is so I can take Miles. I'm not a huge fan of the yoga that they have at LA Fitness. Or should I go back to the Y? But I can't go to the Y yoga because I can't take Miles. There's a place downtown that's a donation based yoga studio and I could get my yoga fix there once a week...I just don't know what to do. Miles should grow out of this phase soon- I'm hoping by 3, so it seems worth keeping the membership even if I only take him in half hour spurts so I can get a quick elliptical and some stretching in. It feels really good to be back at a real gym and actually working out. What do you think?

Potty Learning

This is an email to a friend about how Miles is potty learning and how we are helping:

Miles basically did this on his own because I would have assumed he's too young.

He is naked most of the time at home and eventually he just learned not to go on the floor. We bought him a potty seat at 18 months which he used on and off. But he hates, HATES his cloth diapers and I think that's a big motivation for him. I don't want to buy disposable pull ups and I have a couple cloth pull ups, but I just moved him to big boy underwear- Hanes, and keep a change of clothes with me at all times. He will grab himself and say "pee pee!" and we are getting to know all the bathrooms in public. We also carry a potty seat in the trunk of our car for emergencies and parks.

So that's it! he wears a diaper at night still, but not at nap time. He is just a really strong willed kid who really knows what he wants. It's such a battle to put clothes on him and a nightmare getting a diaper on him. So we basically had no other choice but to potty learn. There you have it!