There is a saying that if you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans. I have been a big believer in this concept. I think God knows I have a sense of humor about things and as long as not-too-many-bad-things happen too close together I can usually laugh it off.
Well, it's been a LONG time of not-as-many-good-as-bad things have happened, and I will admit I went from laughing, to fake-laughing, to crying, to numb, to motivated, to cranky, to hopeful. Well, now that we are in the hopeful stage I feel that I can share with ya'll DA PLAN that we have had in the works for a few months. Nothing is set in stone of course, but that's what makes plans so sonderful, their ability to evolve.
DA PLAN started blossoming in April when Ammon went to a job fair. He met a rep from a truck-driving school and got really excited about the possibility of becoming a truck driver. However, the school cost $4000, something we obviously did not have! Through some leads he got from the school, Ammon was directed to a government career center that has been one of the biggest blessings!! It has shown Ammon a way to tap into the Workforce Investment Act, which is basically a government-funded... everything. This Act offers so many opportunities including classes to help you improve resume-writing, job-searching, interviewing... and it is also a way to tap into grants offered to people in Ammon's exact situation. There's a lot of work involved in getting this grant, but it is worth it!!
Ammon is on the tail end of finishing up his paperwork and then within a few weeks, we will know if he qualifies for this grant... to go to school... to get a trucking job.
Well, that's the first part of DA PLAN. The second part happened when I realized that I needed a job... and was not getting a job. Something I have been aware of, but not so acutely until my unemployment was running out. Then, I was asked by a friend to do some photos for her family and a friend, and it hit me! I want to be a photographer!!!!! Okay, for people in my family this may not be such a surprise. I have loved doing photography for 15 years! I wanted to study photography right out of high school, but registered so late for my college classes that I never got a photography class. Hence, my dropping out of college 6 weeks later. I've never lost this 'dream', and in fact have done multiple photo schoots with family, friends and random friends-of-friends over the years. However, I haven't known about my resources until now. This, of course, is why I'm in the hopeful stage.
Shortly after this would-be revelation, I went to a class offered by the aforementioned career center that taught me all about the FAFSA. WHAT?!? I could get free money to got to school to become a photographer? (IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS!!). I never realized how little I knew. Anyway, needless to say, I am now registered at a local community college to work toward my Certificate of Completion in Digital Imaging, which is basically a fancy way of saying Photography. Of course, I still have to GET that free money, just like Ammon, but we are both hoping and praying that everything will work out for the best. And don't worry, my plans for education don't end there, I also want to get my Associates and eventually my Bachelors. I'm leaning toward Accounting, but we'll see how everything turns out over the next few years.
So that's DA PLAN!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Baby Bumpin!
This video pretty much explains itself, except to say that Kaleb learned this "trick" after about five or six tries, and now he loves it!!
Da Bowser
For various different reasons, we recently decided to bring Bowser into the house on a more permanent basis.
Firstly, Bowser is a very 'good dog'. He always has been and the one reason we haven't given him away in spite of our awful financial situations is BECAUSE he is such a good dog.
Secondly, he makes a fun little playmate for Kaleb.
And of course, thirdly, it's flippin hot outside.
Now, the reason we haven't had Bowser in the house on a more permanent basis before is as follows:
1-Our backyard is a dust bowl. To have a dog indoors all the time means he literally needs to be inside almost all the time or we have to give him a good bath every time he's been outside for a few hours.
2-Bowser is BIG and he's a CLUTZ! We needed to make sure Kaleb was big enough to have Bowser wacking him in the head with his tail and occasionally step on him.
3- We used to have a real problem with ticks on our dogs. NOw that we have the chickens peckin all over the yard, the ticks seem to have disappeared (one of our initial reasons for getting chickens).
Who knows if this phase will last. I hope so. He obviously enjoys it, and we like having him around... most of the time. Here are some photos we captured:
Firstly, Bowser is a very 'good dog'. He always has been and the one reason we haven't given him away in spite of our awful financial situations is BECAUSE he is such a good dog.
Secondly, he makes a fun little playmate for Kaleb.
And of course, thirdly, it's flippin hot outside.
Now, the reason we haven't had Bowser in the house on a more permanent basis before is as follows:
1-Our backyard is a dust bowl. To have a dog indoors all the time means he literally needs to be inside almost all the time or we have to give him a good bath every time he's been outside for a few hours.
2-Bowser is BIG and he's a CLUTZ! We needed to make sure Kaleb was big enough to have Bowser wacking him in the head with his tail and occasionally step on him.
3- We used to have a real problem with ticks on our dogs. NOw that we have the chickens peckin all over the yard, the ticks seem to have disappeared (one of our initial reasons for getting chickens).
Who knows if this phase will last. I hope so. He obviously enjoys it, and we like having him around... most of the time. Here are some photos we captured:
The LOUNGING Bowser
The PUTTING-UP-WITH-KALEB Bowser
The LOVING-KALEB Bowser
The KALEB-IS-MY-DENTIST Bowser
(Don't worry, he was just yawning)
The LOVING-KALEB Bowser
The KALEB-IS-MY-DENTIST Bowser
(Don't worry, he was just yawning)Saturday, July 17, 2010
In His own little corner
Kaleb has taken to placing himself in corners lately. While he is playing with his toys he will take a little break and go and sit in a corner, alone and content. I hope this is a sign of maturity and self-confidence. Kaleb has always struck me as an 'old soul', somebody a little wiser than his age and I often get the feeling like we've been friends much longer than this life has allowed. 
Adventures in Puppysitting
A few days ago, we puppysat a friend's Yorkie. I've been a little dog-hungry lately, and even though we have a dog, he's not my dog and he's a huge dirty, clumsy dog (that I love dearly), so it's not quite like when we had a couple of dogs to play with. Sooooooooo off the subject, but anyway, Boaz was a fun little playmate for Kaleb for a few hours, and it definitely broke up a little of the monotony. Most of the time, they just followed each other around. As soon as one would lose interest, the other would start getting interested.
Silly little dynamics that made me laugh.
Yes, that is a dog's tongue inside my child's mouth. Don't knock it! That dog's mouth is cleaner than the baby's...
And apparently it tickled!!
Overall Boaz was one of the most easy-going young dogs I've ever seen. Heck, I would have kept him myself ... except that he's already my friend's dog... and he's the size of Bowser's... well anyway, there was a funny little habit this dog had of forgetting that he had met people before. So when Ammon went into our bedroom for a few minutes and then came back into the front room, the dog flipped out. Of course, Ammon decided to play it up and really aggravate the poor little guy, but it made for a fun video:
Swim Party
Last week, we were invited to a swim party. It was basically a gathering of all the guys that were in a priests quorum at any given time, along with their wives. Ammon was oldest in the group that came, so of course, I ended up being the oldest attendant (other than the hosts, who had been the leaders at the time). Anyway, enough self pity.
There was a breakfast provided, then everybody jumped in the pool. I'm not a fan of group-swim parties (partially due to a strange fear of drowning and partially a fear of anyone seeing my ginormous patoot in a swimsuit), so I decided to just sit back and take a few photos!
There was a breakfast provided, then everybody jumped in the pool. I'm not a fan of group-swim parties (partially due to a strange fear of drowning and partially a fear of anyone seeing my ginormous patoot in a swimsuit), so I decided to just sit back and take a few photos!
Ammon got to try out some scuba gear for the first time. Random at a pool party, but nevertheless... daitis!
Landon (Ammon's Brother)... the Waterbender
Ammon and Landon gave everybody a turn on the Teller-Pult, where they throw everybody in the air like a rocket.
Ammon even got a turn getting shot up in the air (notice a few more guys at the base)
A fun photo of the most of the group
Ammon and Landon gave everybody a turn on the Teller-Pult, where they throw everybody in the air like a rocket.
Ammon even got a turn getting shot up in the air (notice a few more guys at the base)
A fun photo of the most of the group
200... and still going strong!!
This is my 200th post and thus and henceforth, I wanted to pay special homage to my blog. It started as a way of communicating to family. Then it morphed into a way to sometimes document my emotions and the many random things that happen in my life. When Kaleb was born, it evolved into a classic mother's blog: listing all the things I want to remember about our sweet bundle of joy. And despite all of the inevitable changes that have taken place, I have consistently placed immortal words for virtually anyone to hear. And I've come to realize that this blog is totally and completely 100% for me. So, with no further ado, I would like to make a list of things that I am wishful and thankful for, and it all includes the number 200:
I wish:
I weighed only 200 pounds.
I had 200 dollars not completely devoted to bills.
It does not hit 200 degrees in Arizona.
I am not 200 years old!
I have more than 200 friends (according to Facebook ;-)
There are less than 200 days till Christmas!
I have taken more than 200 pictures of Kaleb
Our electrical bill was less than $200 this month!
There are more than 200 sunsets every year!
I wish:
I weighed only 200 pounds.
I had 200 dollars not completely devoted to bills.
I had 200 ways of styling my ever-growing hair.
There were only 200 calories in a tub of ice cream or bowl of popcorn... YUM!!
It were only 200 miles to the Harry Potter Experience!!
There were 200 ways to show my husband I love him!
I could remember 200... of anything!
I could have 200 more wishes to help everyone who has helped us.
I'm thankful:It does not hit 200 degrees in Arizona.
I am not 200 years old!
I have more than 200 friends (according to Facebook ;-)
There are less than 200 days till Christmas!
I have taken more than 200 pictures of Kaleb
Our electrical bill was less than $200 this month!
There are more than 200 sunsets every year!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Some of my Favorites
This past week I had the chance to do a little photo shoot for a friend of a friend (turned out I actually knew the mother of the bride). They were married last year and were getting sealed on their one-year anniversary, so they wanted to get some photos around the temple with some friends. I had forgotten how much I loved photography, and this group was a ton of fun!! Here are some of my favorites:
Murphy and His Stupid Friggin Law!
I remember being a very sensitive, negative child; a normal, if not creative teenager; and an eventually optimistic single adult. However, I remember several years ago when I was an 'optimistic' single adult, someone asked me why I was always so happy. I told them that I always expected the worst, so therefore I was never disappointed with what God/life threw at me. Is that optimism? I'm not sure. I do know however that lately I have not been feeling happy. I've been feeling very negative and often depressed. Things just weren't going my way. Then I tried to focus on giving service wherever possible and I even started a 'gratitude journal'. Sounds cheesy but it's been helping. Then these last two weeks hit, and I'm beginning to realize, maybe my 'optimistic' younger self wasn't so silly after all! Recently I have had experiences that make me feel like I'm never supposed to expect good things to happen.
THE BATHROOMS-Since January, our shower has consistently plugged up once a month. We would use a few treatments of Drano and it would clear up. Then, in April, the toilet in our master bathroom started flushing itself. Or rather it would make that wierd running sound like it was flushing. It did it at least three or four times an hour. A plumber friend told us the part to get... we got it... Ammon doesn't have a clue how to replace it... so it still runs. Then, about a month ago the bathtub in the guest bathroom started cloggin up. It now takes at least three hours to drain half a tub. This makes it hard to clean of course, so Kaleb is getting fewer baths. Last night the same plumber friend told us we need to replace a pipe in the wall and then he will be able to snake it out. Oy. Then two weeks ago, I found a puddle on the master bathroom floor. The valve under the sink was leaking. Ammon put a bowl under the drip and bought a part about a week later, after the drip was getting to once every second and there were two more puddles. But don't worry, that one actually got fixed. Lastly, on Sunday, while we had family over, our guest bathroom toilet broke. You can only flush it by opening up the tank and pulling the arm, which is now almost snapped in half. That's it for now, but I'm just waiting... waiting... waiting...
THE BANKRUPTCY- As most of you know, we recently filed for bankruptcy. We just reached that point where we felt we had no other alternatives, so there you have it. Sucky yes, but out credit was already ruined. We decided this back in September, but the lawyer we spoke with suggested waiting until after we get our '09 tax return, spend it, then file, so they couldn't use the tax return moneys to pay off some of the creditors. Sounds good!
When we started doing our taxes it became clear we didn't have a W-2 from one of Ammon's employers. Apparantly the company had gone under and we had to fill out a separate form and file by mail. This delayed us getting our tax return by about six weeks. Then, we got the return, spent it, paid the lawyer, then we realized that we still had Ammon's name on his brother's car loan as co-signer, so we had to wait another few weeks for his brother to refinance... Then Ammon got a temporary job and we had to spend all of his paychecks ASAP otherwise they would take that money... and well, you get the picture. Eventually we filed the beginning of June (four months after we originally planned!!)
This morning, we go into our hearing: THE LAST THING WE WOULD HAVE TO REALLY DO FOR THIS TO BE ALL OVER!!!! We would finally have this debt forgiven! We could move forward! NOT SO MUCH!! Oh, no, they are going to keep our case open so that they can take our entire tax refund next year!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!
THE CAR-A few months ago we purchased a vehicle through a friend of ours. After some repair work that ended up taking a month (they were doing it for free, which was great, but because of the bankruptcy we were kinda in a hurry to get it.) Anyway, when we got it, there was a temporary permit from California on the back that we could use until we got the car registered in our name with AZ plates. When we bought the car, our friend asked us if we wanted California plates put on it, but we said it would be easier to just get the AZ plates. BOY were we WRONG!!
Once the California permit expired, I went into the DMV to get it registered... they said we can't get it registered without the emissions test... so I bought a 30-day AZ permit to give us some time to get that done. Well, between the campout and bankruptcy stuff, we didn't get the emissions done till last week. The permit expires tomorrow. This past Wednesday morning, Ammon was busy taking some classes, so Kaleb and I got into the car to head to the DMV... the battery was dead. About an hour later Ammon's dad was able to give the car a jump, and we headed down to the DMV. Ammon just finished his class, so he met me there to take Kaleb home so I wouldn't have to worry about him... well when we got there, there were 20 people in line... just to get a number! Ammon had only about an hour before he had to go back to class, about the same time Kaleb needed to take a nap, so I said, forget it, I will just come back tomorrow early!
Thursday morning, we leave the house at 9:15. Get to the DMV, their system is down statewide and they have no clue when it will be up and running. Through a chance meeting with my bankruptcy lawyer a little later, he tells me about the off-site offices that can also register vehicles. I get to this office, NOBODY IN LINE. I'm thinking "SWEET!" The lady at the desk tells me that I have to get the vehicle inspected because of the Salvage title on the car. I told her I wasn't told that by the lady that gave me the permit. She said, "Well, that's the law, and here's the number to make an appointment. It costs $50."
"I have to make an appointment? I have 36 hours to get this stupid car registered, but I can't till I make an appointment to get it inspected, and I have to PAY FOR IT?!?!?!?" DIE, DMV, DIE!!!
So I get in the car, call the number... "I'm sorry you can't make appointments through this line anymore, you have to call another number, here it is..." (Do I even have to mention that I didn't have a pen at this time... oh yes, I wrote the phone number in lip gloss). So I call the next number and the only appointment they have before Monday is at 11am, Friday morning at Greenfield and Baseline... Normally I would've been praying a sigh of relief. However, we had our bankruptcy hearing at 10am in downtown Phoenix on FRIDAY. "WHAT THE?!?!?" So I made the appointment, hung up the phone and screamed!!! Then I proceeded to Dunkin Donuts which was conveniently next door.
So, thankfully, this morning our hearing went quickly. They opted to have us go first since we were the only ones toting a toddler. Afterwards, we raced down the freeway, (legally of course) and got to the DMV in 30 minutes. I walked in right at 11 am, checked in, gave them my ID and paperwork, and I got to work with the nicest human being I have met in a long time... Why do I say he was the nicest human being? Because he told me that we didn't have to get the inspection. Our car is a salvageD title, not salvage, which means it's already passed all inspections and is good to go. I would have kissed him... but I didn't.
Anyway, the wait at the DMV was attrocious, so we decided to head to one of those off-site offices again, prepared to yell at anyone that told us we had to get an inspection. Could it be that easy? Were we finally gonna get this car registered without any more hiccups? HECK NO!!! When we bought the 30-day permit, we stuck it in the glove box. We didn't have a plastic sleeve to protect it from the wind and our windows are so darkly tinted you can't see through from the outside. So what do you think happened? YEP!!! For 29 days, we have been driving around with no plates or ID on this car. AND NOW, 1 MILE from getting our car officically registered, we get pulled over. DOH!! Don't worry, the cop was understanding. He looked at all of our paperwork and let us go. We now have plates. I now have sanity!
Why am I telling you this? Mostly because I know I will look back on all of this and laugh. AND a little bit of sympathy never hurts!!
THE BATHROOMS-Since January, our shower has consistently plugged up once a month. We would use a few treatments of Drano and it would clear up. Then, in April, the toilet in our master bathroom started flushing itself. Or rather it would make that wierd running sound like it was flushing. It did it at least three or four times an hour. A plumber friend told us the part to get... we got it... Ammon doesn't have a clue how to replace it... so it still runs. Then, about a month ago the bathtub in the guest bathroom started cloggin up. It now takes at least three hours to drain half a tub. This makes it hard to clean of course, so Kaleb is getting fewer baths. Last night the same plumber friend told us we need to replace a pipe in the wall and then he will be able to snake it out. Oy. Then two weeks ago, I found a puddle on the master bathroom floor. The valve under the sink was leaking. Ammon put a bowl under the drip and bought a part about a week later, after the drip was getting to once every second and there were two more puddles. But don't worry, that one actually got fixed. Lastly, on Sunday, while we had family over, our guest bathroom toilet broke. You can only flush it by opening up the tank and pulling the arm, which is now almost snapped in half. That's it for now, but I'm just waiting... waiting... waiting...
THE BANKRUPTCY- As most of you know, we recently filed for bankruptcy. We just reached that point where we felt we had no other alternatives, so there you have it. Sucky yes, but out credit was already ruined. We decided this back in September, but the lawyer we spoke with suggested waiting until after we get our '09 tax return, spend it, then file, so they couldn't use the tax return moneys to pay off some of the creditors. Sounds good!
When we started doing our taxes it became clear we didn't have a W-2 from one of Ammon's employers. Apparantly the company had gone under and we had to fill out a separate form and file by mail. This delayed us getting our tax return by about six weeks. Then, we got the return, spent it, paid the lawyer, then we realized that we still had Ammon's name on his brother's car loan as co-signer, so we had to wait another few weeks for his brother to refinance... Then Ammon got a temporary job and we had to spend all of his paychecks ASAP otherwise they would take that money... and well, you get the picture. Eventually we filed the beginning of June (four months after we originally planned!!)
This morning, we go into our hearing: THE LAST THING WE WOULD HAVE TO REALLY DO FOR THIS TO BE ALL OVER!!!! We would finally have this debt forgiven! We could move forward! NOT SO MUCH!! Oh, no, they are going to keep our case open so that they can take our entire tax refund next year!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!
THE CAR-A few months ago we purchased a vehicle through a friend of ours. After some repair work that ended up taking a month (they were doing it for free, which was great, but because of the bankruptcy we were kinda in a hurry to get it.) Anyway, when we got it, there was a temporary permit from California on the back that we could use until we got the car registered in our name with AZ plates. When we bought the car, our friend asked us if we wanted California plates put on it, but we said it would be easier to just get the AZ plates. BOY were we WRONG!!
Once the California permit expired, I went into the DMV to get it registered... they said we can't get it registered without the emissions test... so I bought a 30-day AZ permit to give us some time to get that done. Well, between the campout and bankruptcy stuff, we didn't get the emissions done till last week. The permit expires tomorrow. This past Wednesday morning, Ammon was busy taking some classes, so Kaleb and I got into the car to head to the DMV... the battery was dead. About an hour later Ammon's dad was able to give the car a jump, and we headed down to the DMV. Ammon just finished his class, so he met me there to take Kaleb home so I wouldn't have to worry about him... well when we got there, there were 20 people in line... just to get a number! Ammon had only about an hour before he had to go back to class, about the same time Kaleb needed to take a nap, so I said, forget it, I will just come back tomorrow early!
Thursday morning, we leave the house at 9:15. Get to the DMV, their system is down statewide and they have no clue when it will be up and running. Through a chance meeting with my bankruptcy lawyer a little later, he tells me about the off-site offices that can also register vehicles. I get to this office, NOBODY IN LINE. I'm thinking "SWEET!" The lady at the desk tells me that I have to get the vehicle inspected because of the Salvage title on the car. I told her I wasn't told that by the lady that gave me the permit. She said, "Well, that's the law, and here's the number to make an appointment. It costs $50."
"I have to make an appointment? I have 36 hours to get this stupid car registered, but I can't till I make an appointment to get it inspected, and I have to PAY FOR IT?!?!?!?" DIE, DMV, DIE!!!
So I get in the car, call the number... "I'm sorry you can't make appointments through this line anymore, you have to call another number, here it is..." (Do I even have to mention that I didn't have a pen at this time... oh yes, I wrote the phone number in lip gloss). So I call the next number and the only appointment they have before Monday is at 11am, Friday morning at Greenfield and Baseline... Normally I would've been praying a sigh of relief. However, we had our bankruptcy hearing at 10am in downtown Phoenix on FRIDAY. "WHAT THE?!?!?" So I made the appointment, hung up the phone and screamed!!! Then I proceeded to Dunkin Donuts which was conveniently next door.
So, thankfully, this morning our hearing went quickly. They opted to have us go first since we were the only ones toting a toddler. Afterwards, we raced down the freeway, (legally of course) and got to the DMV in 30 minutes. I walked in right at 11 am, checked in, gave them my ID and paperwork, and I got to work with the nicest human being I have met in a long time... Why do I say he was the nicest human being? Because he told me that we didn't have to get the inspection. Our car is a salvageD title, not salvage, which means it's already passed all inspections and is good to go. I would have kissed him... but I didn't.
Anyway, the wait at the DMV was attrocious, so we decided to head to one of those off-site offices again, prepared to yell at anyone that told us we had to get an inspection. Could it be that easy? Were we finally gonna get this car registered without any more hiccups? HECK NO!!! When we bought the 30-day permit, we stuck it in the glove box. We didn't have a plastic sleeve to protect it from the wind and our windows are so darkly tinted you can't see through from the outside. So what do you think happened? YEP!!! For 29 days, we have been driving around with no plates or ID on this car. AND NOW, 1 MILE from getting our car officically registered, we get pulled over. DOH!! Don't worry, the cop was understanding. He looked at all of our paperwork and let us go. We now have plates. I now have sanity!
Why am I telling you this? Mostly because I know I will look back on all of this and laugh. AND a little bit of sympathy never hurts!!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Kaleb-13 months
Another month, another update.
****Kaleb has gotten much more picky with foods. Normally I can still get him to eat healthy and relatively diverse foods (it's not like we have reached the 'he'll only eat peanut butter' phase). But he definitely makes his preferences known. The other day, I cut up some grapes and cheese for him. As soon as he tasted the grapes, he wanted nothing to do with the cheese. After a 30 minute tantrum of screaming every time he saw the cheese, he finally got hungry enough to eat everything. (and yes I am stubborn enough to not let him have the grapes until he ate some cheese too)
Right now, Kaleb's favorite things to eat are: Grapes, Bananas, Tylenol (see next asterisk), Water and Otter Pops
AFTER: (Or as I like to call it: Is that my baby boy?)
****All of a sudden Kaleb started climbing. Still not sure how I feel about it since I'm proud of him for making that step but scared to death of him getting into a really high place he can't escape without calling the fire department (paranoid-much?)
Looking Good on his new perch
So Sad for structural weakness!
****Since we are stuck in the house a lot more in this summer heat, Kaleb has found ways to entertain himself... or me. Here is a video that just cracks me up!!! He does this a lot lately, walks back and forth along the entryway of our house. We call it the Baby Run. Whatever makes him happy right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8tTcPW2MKg
Here's Kaleb just too bored to function:
**We also have discovered that Kaleb is in love with the vacuum. He WILL NOT focus on anything else in the house if he hears the vacuum running. He wants to be in the same room, watching it go and occasionally trying to help by holding the chord. Then, when it's not running he needs to play with chord, plug it into itself, pet it like a puppy dog... whatever.
****Playmates. Kaleb loves playmates, whether it be kids or puppies. We went to the mall the other day and let Kaleb play with a corgi puppy. If we had ANY way to find a way to pay for this expensive little mutt, we would have bought it because it was so perfect for Kaleb... but it's probably a good thing we don't have that kind of money to spend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs6cHq9BDa0
Here's Kaleb piled up with a couple of his cousins, who he spent hours playing and laughing with:
****Kaleb has gotten much more picky with foods. Normally I can still get him to eat healthy and relatively diverse foods (it's not like we have reached the 'he'll only eat peanut butter' phase). But he definitely makes his preferences known. The other day, I cut up some grapes and cheese for him. As soon as he tasted the grapes, he wanted nothing to do with the cheese. After a 30 minute tantrum of screaming every time he saw the cheese, he finally got hungry enough to eat everything. (and yes I am stubborn enough to not let him have the grapes until he ate some cheese too)
Happy Grape-Eating Kaleb
Sad Cheese-Refusing Kaleb
Right now, Kaleb's favorite things to eat are: Grapes, Bananas, Tylenol (see next asterisk), Water and Otter Pops
****Over the last month, Kaleb was diagnosed twice with double ear infections. The only time he was without them was when we were on our camping trip (go figure), so he has been sucking down a lot of Tylenol and antibiotics. Thankfully he usually enjoys the taste of his medicines, but that doesn't make the pain any easier. Along with the ear pain, Kaleb popped out two more teeth (that makes ten) and is working on two more. My poor little baby!
****Kaleb got his second haircut this month as well. It's amazing just how different he looks:
BEFORE (or as I like to call it: his Justin Bieber look)
AFTER: (Or as I like to call it: Is that my baby boy?)
****All of a sudden Kaleb started climbing. Still not sure how I feel about it since I'm proud of him for making that step but scared to death of him getting into a really high place he can't escape without calling the fire department (paranoid-much?)
Looking Good on his new perch
So Sad for structural weakness!
****Since we are stuck in the house a lot more in this summer heat, Kaleb has found ways to entertain himself... or me. Here is a video that just cracks me up!!! He does this a lot lately, walks back and forth along the entryway of our house. We call it the Baby Run. Whatever makes him happy right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8tTcPW2MKg
Here's Kaleb just too bored to function:
**We also have discovered that Kaleb is in love with the vacuum. He WILL NOT focus on anything else in the house if he hears the vacuum running. He wants to be in the same room, watching it go and occasionally trying to help by holding the chord. Then, when it's not running he needs to play with chord, plug it into itself, pet it like a puppy dog... whatever.
****Playmates. Kaleb loves playmates, whether it be kids or puppies. We went to the mall the other day and let Kaleb play with a corgi puppy. If we had ANY way to find a way to pay for this expensive little mutt, we would have bought it because it was so perfect for Kaleb... but it's probably a good thing we don't have that kind of money to spend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs6cHq9BDa0
Here's Kaleb piled up with a couple of his cousins, who he spent hours playing and laughing with:
****Kaleb has found his bellybutton. I have been trying to teach Kaleb parts of the face for months without any sort of response. We mentioned bellybutton like two or three times and suddenly it's the best body-part ever!!!
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