Max

Well, Max is finally active enough to start having his own cute/funny stories! I was lucky enough to stay home with my kids for a couple hours on Thursday morning, because my sitter had to attend a parent breakfast at her son's school. The boys loved the extra play time at home. Max was everywhere that morning, I was using this extra time to catch up on some housecleaning and while doing so I was having a hard time keeping up with Max, one second he was by his toy drawer, the next he was in the closet where all the other toys are housed, then he would be at my feet, or taking straws out of the dishwasher. I swear he did not stay in one spot for more than a minute.

This morning I had to wake him up, when I turned on his lamp in his room he instantly got to the crawling position and started rocking back and forth, like, "ok, I'm ready to go!"

He is ready to start giving his big brother a run for his money!

Probably too Much Information!

Last night, Gavin and I were trying to organize our paperwork to get our taxes done, while Owen was performing his usual shinanigans upstairs instead of actually going to sleep. We heard him in the bathroom, but didn't bother to check on him because well we were busy and usually checking on him starts the whole going to bed process over again! When we finally did head up to bed we noticed that Owen's bathroom light was on. When I peeked in to turn off the light his duck toothbrush holder and little duckie stuffed animal sitting on the closed toliet caught my eye. When I went in to put them back on the sink I discovered a poopy smear on the top of the toliet, then I spotted the dirty underwear and PJ bottoms on the floor. I was horrified at first because well they were poopy and I didn't know where the poopy butt was! I looked in the toliet to discover that there was poop in the toliet too! As I turned to go to Owen's room he appeared in the bathroom doorway, fully dressed in a new pair of PJ's, (the shirt was on backwards).

From this experience I learned that my child is big boy enough to dress himself, complete with a fresh pair of underwear. Now, if he could only start a load of laundry and wipe his own butt we would be all set!

Owen's Official Big Boy Outing!

Today we took Owen on his first official big boy outing to Disney on Ice. After our friend, Shonna, reported to us that there was a long "Cars" segment during the show, we decided it would be worth a shot at seeing if Owen wass ready for such events! Shonna agreed to watch Max and Gavin and I put on our patience hats and headed to the show. Owen was dressed in his Cars sweatsuit and very excited to be seeing "Cars Disney" and eat popcorn.

The first thing we did after buying our tickets was head straight to the concession stand for popcorn. Who knew that with a purchase of popcorn you would also receive a Mator hat. Of course Owen only wore it for 30 seconds! Next, we found our seats. We sat for just a few minutes when Owen and I headed to the bathroom for the first time. After we returned, Gavin was going to hit up the concession stand for our treats, but Owen insisted on going, so we all got up again to go for another walk. When we returned to our seats we discovered that we had originally been in the wrong seats, therefore, we had to find new seats just a couple rows above. It realy didn't matter where we sat as the multiple rows behind us were basically empty. Owen sat for a few minutes before he decided the tall stairs leading up to the higher seats was just too appealing. So, he and Gavin headed up. This is when Owen decided he liked the view from up there better and settled in. I stayed in our original seats thinking that Owen would eventually come back down.

When the announcer told the audience that the show would begin within five minutes Owen decided to come back down by me. He sat in aw of the show for the first half hour. Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Donald did the opening act, which was followed by the "Cars" segment. They had Owen's attention from the moment the lights went down, but he was in complete heaven when the "Cars" characters began to come on stage. After the "Cars" segment was over, and after yet another trip to the bathroom, he again decided that the top seat would be the best place to sit, so this time we gathered all our belongings and headed up. This is where we sat for the remainder of the first half.

When intermission came we headed out to the lobby for a potty break and just a change of scenery, since the Zambodie wasn't really as exciting as Cailou on TV had shown Owen. While outside the Arena we had to stop at all the little vender's stands because Owen would spot a race car, or some shiny spining thing they were selling. We finally got him away from the third vender stand when he spotted a kids life size Lightning McQueen!! His first instinct was to run right to it, but we had to pull him away, because it was set up for picture taking. He of course cried and I had to explain to him that he would need to stand in line and wait his turn. Luckily for us the line only had one other person in it. He was so proud to get his picture with Lightning McQueen! When he was done we said it was time to go back and find our seats. He replied that he wanted to go see Max. Of course, this melted my heart, but I asked a few more times just to be sure and each time he replied that he wanted to go home. We were content with this, we thought he did pretty good for his first outing!

As we were leaving, the people at the door were concerned that he didn't have a good time. I was sure to correct them on that, and we happily headed to the car. About five feet away from the car he informed us that he wanted to go back to his seat. I lied and told him that the show was over and that everyone else was coming out too. He bought that story and willingly got in the car!

I would say that his first big boy outing was a success, although he told me tonight when he got in bed, that he didn't have fun, it was too loud!

We're in Trouble!

As usual when leaving the gym Owen was running ahead of everyone else. Last weekend, Deric was in town and he and Gavin took the boys to the gym. When leaving (Owen running ahead) a little girl and her Daddy were heading into the gym. This little girl not only caught Owen's eye, but got his full attention. He made a complete stop, turned around looked at the girl and then nonsuttily looked her up and down. The Daddy of the little girl witnessed this entire thing, laughed and said, "that's awesome!"

I think we're in trouble!

Where's the Remote?

A common question in our house, is "where is the remote?"

Owen was prancing around the house dramatically stretching his neck high and low in search of the remote earlier tonight. He kept repeating the question, "where is the remote," and my response repeatedly was, "I don't know, keep looking."

As he shuffled back toward the sitting area of our house, he stopped, turned around to look at me, and asked with a grin, "where's the remote?" Before I could answer he said, "is it here," and pulled down his pants revealing his bare bottom.

WHAT??? Honestly, where does he come up with this!? And no, the remote was not there!!

Let's Roll!

Getting packed into the car in the morning is quite the ordeal. In the time it takes Owen to putts around packing his backpack, walking to the car, and climbing into his seat, I make one trip out with my stuff, one trip out with the boys stuff, another trip with Max, and then finally a last minute check to make sure I didn't forget anyting and to set the alarm. Every time I pass Owen I am telling him to hurry, or get a move on your another phrase along those lines.

By the time I actually get both kids buckled, all the doors shut (sometimes I realize Max's door is still open as I am going to get into my door), and sit down in my seat, I take a second to catch my breath.

This morning when I got in the driver's seat I let out a sigh, looked in the rearview mirror at Owen and said, "are you ready?"

He replied, "yeah, let's roll!"

New Phase

I think it is safe to say that Owen is over the "I do it," phase and has now entered into the "what's that phase."

Everything from toliet bowl brushes to his own pajamas he is asking, "what's that?"
When I answer he will reply with an unthusiastic, "wow," as if he was hoping for these ordinary objects to miraculously change into something more interesting/exciting!

Lightning McQueen

Last night, Owen told Gavin, "I'm Lightning McQueen and your a race car, come on with me!" Then he ran in place for a second (kinda like Fred Flintstone) and sprinted across the downstairs!

The obsession with race cars is out of control!!!:)

Is it my Birthday Yet??

After we took the Christmas tree down, Owen said, "I want Christmas to come back."

In an effort to make him feel better, I told him that his birthday was coming up next. Now, he keeps asking about his birthday. I went out last night to get everyone some party hats for New Year's Eve, he asked as I was leaving if I was going to bring back a race car cake with candles! We explained that it still wasn't his birthday, it was New Year's.

When he got up this morning, he came down only a few stairs and was peeking through the bannister, I said, "Happy 2010!!" And he replied, with a very serious expression, "it's my birthday?!"

I'm afraid it is going to be a long month and three days before his birthday arrives, but that gives me time to get everything off his list, so far:

1. candles
2. hats
3. race car cake
4. glass of chocolate milk

His guest list includes all of the normal people we spend holidays and birthdays with, but now he is reguesting that his friend from the gym, Jade, come to his party too!! I guess I will have to get over my shyness and introduce myself to her Mommy! (Sigh)!