A good week

Overall - it's been a good week. Glad it's Friday - but a good week. We have a new preschool for Alex, which he loves. Lance has a new job that he is liking more and more and getting more into it. He really likes the casual dress - no more shirts and ties! We have our health.

It's been a good week.

New Preschool

Alex started his first Preschool (Avondale Preschool) today and it was a wonderful first day. We arrived at 8:00 AM and I stayed for about 30 minutes to make sure he was comfortable. He was looking around and stacking blocks before you could even say the word "block". It's the kind of place where I just knew it was right for Alex and our family. There are many things to explore & learn, friends to make, routines to learn, and stability from one teacher (Mia), the same children everyday (she will have one other child starting next week part time and also (of course!) takes care of her two children - ages 4 girl and 2 boy) and one place everyday. Mia emailed me about 2 PM to tell me that Alex was having a wonderful day and slept well, ate well and didn't cry at all when I left. She commented on how much he talks! And boy does he talk! He spent the morning saying Choo-Choo Train over and over again. The home daycare has a dog - just like Bella - a Jack Russell Terrier named Jill and Alex loves petting her.

They also have a snake which after stacking the blocks for a bit - Alex seemed really interested in the snake. His new teacher, Mia, pulled the snake out for Alex to look at it and pet it, if he wanted. He wasn't scared at all - all the while in my head is

"It's OK, you're not touching the snake, no bad dreams about snakes OK?, Slithery icky Yucky snake, icky, I can't believe Alex isn't scared of the snake!!!! But, I have to be COOL! Alex doesn't need to see my fear of snakes.... OK - I'm acting COOL, aren't I?"

and I was trying to show on my face ---

"Oh look! A little snake - Alex loves petting a nice wonderful snake, it's so cute! Mama loves snakes."

Soon enough they put the snake away and I could relax a little.

The Back story: I HATE snakes. I think it goes back to my childhood when I would run around with bare feet and step on harmless snakes in the grass in Eastern Washington. And go horseback riding in the hills and come upon a rattler. It wasn't going to hurt me - I know this. But it's the thought of the slithering snake that gets me. Worms are kinda the same - long skinny animals that slither along the ground. Now, worms aren't that bad for me since they don't have a mouth and no teeth. But, they still cause a little bit of the same reaction in me.

Enough about snakes - it's giving me the willies.

When I picked Alex up - he was happy to see me and said "Home". Mia and I talked about his day and he showed me his art drawing from that day - you guessed it a "Choo Choo Train". We also talked about where we were at on the toilet learning - where Alex was at and what we do at home. She has her kids participate in toilet learning at the appropriate stages, including learning to pull down pants, take off diapers, sit on the potty bare-bottomed, etc. Alex will be learning some of this at preschool and we will continue it here - for consistency. I'm excited from learning about toilet training from Mia. It seems like she knows a lot.

They whole way home Alex kept saying "No No - this way!" "No No - That way!" and getting frustrated that I was turning the "wrong" direction. Finally I told him, that if I turned "this" way - then we would go back to preschool.

He was silent.

I asked - do you want to go back to preschool? It was the quickest "yeah" ever! I guess that's a good sign! I told him we'll go back to preschool tomorrow, but now it's time to go home and see Daddy. He seemed to accept this.

Overall - it was a wonderful day where I knew that Alex was learning, exploring and having fun. Thank goodness we found her!

New master bedroom

We've completed the painting of our master bedroom a rich chocolate-mocha color and we are very pleased with the results. We have a "new" headboard made from a door that I found at a salvage place. It is probably 80lbs and is solid wood with a scalloped detail. It was an off white and I repainted it a bright white semi-gloss. We hung it on the wall with a french cleat and I absolutely love it. It's nice having a headboard! It makes you feel like your sleeping on a real bed. I took some pictures from around the house, one of when Lance and I were first dating, one on our wedding day and one of Alex and framed them above the headboard. We have our Ikea night lights that work so well above our side tables and Voila!

Aquarium

Monday we visited the Aquarium for the first time. Alex knows the word fish (sounds like "pish") and shark (sounds like "shock"). We felt some starfish in the touchy-feely tanks and learned the word anemone. That's a tough one to say! We got there early (9:45 AM) and spent a good 2 hours wearing him out! I was able to keep him up the entire time home and he took a long (much needed for Mama) 2 hour nap.

He only cheated death once, too! While walking back to the car Alex kept looking at the train tracks next to the sidewalk. Since there were no trains and a sturdy fence, it was OK. I let him look, no going on the tracks - just looking through the fence. We were right by the car. So, as he was fascinated with the train tracks. I just backed up a few feet, opened the car, stuck our bag in the seat and shut the door. By this time Alex was making his way in between the cars- running - right into traffic! I pulled him by his shirt neck (hard!) and was yelling "Alex No Stop Alex". He didn't really go that far but it was enough to scare the living shit out of me! He could've been dead and flattened like a pancake!

I have vowed to myself that when ever we are on/near streets or cars or other yet to be determined places - he will either have to hold my hand or be carried. That will be his choice. This isn't the first time something like this has happened, but I'm hoping we can stop this. It scares me to death.

Anyways, on to some other nice photos from our day in the big city!

Alex doing his "smile" for the camera.

Alex by the glass in the big dome of water.

Alex by the Orca whale fin.

Sunshine!

We got outside this weekend and enjoyed every last ray of sunshine on our skin! It felt so wonderful! It has been WAY too long to see the sun and I was getting down right sad to have such grey weather, especially when you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark. We went to a park near our house and Alex had a snack. The left photo above was him giving some to the ducks and watching them go after it quite vigorously. Then the right photo was him looking at a cheerio and wondering if he should give it to the ducks again or eat it himself - - -

he ate it himself!

It was so (relatively) warm out (50's!) that all we had to wear was a long sleeve shirt and that was enough.

And, of course, we played on the swings.

Lance has a new job!

We are so excited to say that Lance has a new job!


Yeah! Big sigh!



They actually found his resume posted on the internet! And hired him on the spot - basically.

It's at http://www.stupidprices.com/ and there are 11 locations in Washington and 8 in California.

Aurora, Bremerton, Edmonds, Federal Way, Kenmore, Kent, Marysville, Monroe, Mt. Vernon, Spanaway, Vancouver, & Woodinville. It's overstock from other stores that are sold at 40-70% off retail prices. Clothing, housewares, furniture, electronics, etc.

He started today and is learning the lingo.

First conversation

Scene: Alex wakes up crying from a nap before Christmas (after seeing Santa for pictures) Mama comes in to see if she can put him back to sleep.

Alex: Waaaaa Waaaa Waaaaahhhh!

Mama: Are you OK?

Alex: No

Mama: Did you have a bad dream?

Alex: Yeah

Mama: Are you scared?

Alex: Yeah

Mama: What are you scared of?

Alex: ..... Santa ....... scared (shivers like it's cold) ..... Santa

And he's been scared of Santa ever since. It's totally normal to be scared of Santa at this stage. It took a while to sink in for me - but we had a real conversation!

walking for a year!

Alex has always wanted to move! MOVE MOVE MOVE! And he has been so happy since he can walk. The world has opened up to him and he can explore what ever he chooses. It's crazy to think he's now 22 months old and has been walking for 1/2 his life. He was a very early walker and although some thought it would be great to have a walking kiddo - it poses new challenges. He is now so coordinated that he can move his step stool to where he wants to explore and just climb up!

January last year

The new year has gotten me all nostalgic for how many developments Alex has had in this past year. He wasn't walking yet, he wasn't talking yet, but he was definitely Mr. Spunky and definitely Mr. Personality! Here are a couple of pictures of Alex eating pancakes that his Daddy made him. This has remained throughout the year - his love of pancakes made by Daddy. Each morning he gets up and asks for pancakes. Really!

Eating a pancake

REALLY eating a pancake

Last bite!

Daddy - more pancakes!

Here is a cutie pie with a cute handmade sweater made by a dear friend. He's gotten so big now that it doesn't even fit! I remember when it was so big that I couldn't imagine that he would ever wear it!

Bath tub bubble hair. Well - this is one area that Alex has been working on all year - growing some hair! He's gotten more in - but it's still so fine and thin. Sometimes it looks reddish and sometimes more blond.

I even gave him his first "haircut" on January 1st. I distracted him with playing with running water in the sink and used a comb to get his hair wet - and just snipped off a couple of longer (mullet looking) strands in the back. It actually looks really good! Of course I saved the hair, which wasn't that much and put it in a baggie in his baby book. I was worried that the curls would be gone, but they are still there. I was also worried that I would regret cutting his hair, worried that it would be emotional and too soon. But, not at all. In fact - I wish I would've done it a little sooner. He just looks so handsome now... now that he doesn't have a mullet.

9 Resolutions for 2009

1). Support Lance in finding a job - this is the biggest one and the most important. Be more understanding of where he's at and be nicer to him. Listen to him and validate what he's going through. We will get through this TOGETHER... and only together.

2). Move more, get back to exercise. Lose 20 lbs. I don't know how... but I weigh 20 lbs more now than right after Alex was born! This one is for me - and for my health. Did you know that each pound of fat has 3000 miles of blood vessels? No wonder excess weight makes your blood pressure higher. I would also like to be able to get off BP medication, too.

3). Eat less overall, add more veggies, whole grains, eat less meat - maybe even border on vegetarian??? Cook more, try new recipes - the whole typical thing.

4). Have a garage sale this summer - where did we get all this "stuff"? Our garage is STUFFED with STUFF. I want to figure out what we really need and want to keep versus what we don't.

5). Take the Project 365 challenge by taking a photo a day to learn to be a better photographer - you can see my progress here at www.flickr.com/photos/atorgesen and I will also post some here. What I try to capture is something that I did that day - to remind me of a moment of each day of the year.

Day 1: reflection

Day 2: Melting

Day 3: Driving Home

Day 4: New picture of an REALLY old picture

Day 5: Concentration

Day 6: Mom's Night Out -a diptychDay 7: Drawing with Crayons

6). Go to the beach a lot this summer. After last summer's remodeling and work work work, etc - we are ready to have a fun summer again. We love the beach and want to go and play with Alex. We think it will be really fun! Hope it's good weather, too!

The beach - Gig Harbor

7). We want to install our bookshelves/cabinets in our family room. We were supposed to have finished this project before Alex was born and now he's almost two! A lot of what is in our garage (see #4 above) is the cabinets/bookshelves - that are DONE - they just need to be installed. One way or another - we are going to get this DONE.

8). Connect with people more often - have friends and family over for dinner more, meet up with friends somewhere more, etc. I haven't had a "best" friend in a long time - and I really miss this.

9). Well, I guess that's it (this isn't really a resolution, but who's counting?). One of the things that Lance and I did dream and wonder about when we were thinking about what 2009 would hold for us was - what will Alex be like next year? In this past year we've seen so many changes. Last year he wasn't walking, talking, eating with a spoon or fork, he was only drinking from a bottle or breastfeeding. Now he is walking, running, talking, talking alot, saying 3 word sentences, eating with a spoon and fork, learning to drink from glass and generally so different from just 12 months ago.

What will next year hold?

Will we be able to have conversations?

Will he be toilet training?

For the most part - we are just enjoying where we're at. But, it is fun to think about how many changes took place in the last 12 months and how many more are coming in the next 12 months.

Happy 2009 to all of you!

What are some of your resolutions???

school photos

What a cute set of photos!

Snow fun

If you can still believe it.... we are still getting snow here. So, I thought I would post some snow fun that we've had with all of this unusual weather. Lance just HAD to make a snowman with Alex and they both loved it! First he made a BIG snowman, then measured Alex below, and made a little snoman.

What a cheesy grin!

Then, Alex - such the hugger and kisser - gave his snowman a big kiss.

But, the most fun of all was feeding Daddy some snow!