JTOK Chatter > Page 375

Sneaky Renters

Posted on by

Long story short, they “suddenly remembered” they had a third dog—ANOTHER GREAT DANE—the day before they were supposed to move in! Riiiiight. Why don’t I believe that? No wonder they easily agreed to another $50 in rent.

We told the property manager we wanted another $25 per month OR a $200 flat non-refundable fee for each pet (instead of the $150 we typically have) but, gee, she didn’t go to bat for us on that one. Instead, she just said “Well, the poodle is 12 so they don’t think it will last that long. And we will do an inspection in three months instead of six.”

>:XX

I really REALLY think the property manager should have OUR best interests at heart, and not the renters.

Of course we don’t want to piss them off and want them to move out (or stay and destroy the house)…but we really do think they tried to be sneaky about this and then they’re all moved in and probably thinking “Well what can they [the owners] do about it now?”

>:XX

12-Month Check-Up

Posted on by

I couldn’t wait for today’s appointment, because I was VERY interested in how much Owen weighed—I was positive he had gained a few pounds from the last visit when he was 26#. So imagine my surprise when he weighed…26 pounds 4 ounces. Big whoop, he gained four ounces. I guess my back is just getting worse and worse and I thought (assumed) he gained more then he did. 😳

So, his stats:
Height: 32″ (95th percentile)
Weight: 26# 4oz (95th percentile)
Head: 47cm (75th percentile)

His head size also surprised me—his head looks so big that I couldn’t believe it was only in the 75th percentile.

And he apparently doesn’t like anyone to touch him now. He fought tooth and nail when the doc was trying to look in his ears, listen to his heart, and whatever other things she was looking at. Sigh.

He did, however, enjoy playing with the vertical blinds and spinning the doctor’s chair:

We now get to transition to whole milk in a sippy cup (not even a bottle!) AND get to brush his teeth after each time. That means an entirely new routine. IF he even likes the sippy cup for milk. IF he even likes the milk. I can’t wait. |-|

Then it was time for his immunizations. Four of them (well, three plus a flu shot). Two of which apparently sting like the dickens. Oh, there was screaming and crying and tears…poor kid. He was pretty okay a few minutes later, but I am guessing that was the Tylenol kicking in. He had a bottle on the way home and is now napping.

To Owen on his 1st Birthday

Posted on by

Dear Owen,

We can’t believe it’s already been a year since you were born. It seems like just yesterday we were headed to the hospital, completely unprepared to have a baby (you were three weeks early, after all!). We also can’t believe how much we love you—we never thought it was possible to love something or someone SO much. Your dad and I constantly tell each other (and you) how much we love you, and we hope you can tell, even if you can’t understand us yet.

We are very, very thankful for the great little boy you are. Your mommy wasn’t sure she’d have the patience for a baby…but you have really been so easy—such a wonderful baby—that we feel very lucky.

  1. You have pretty much been a happy baby since Day One.
  2. You rarely cried and were never colicky.
  3. Once you started sleeping through the night, you slept like an angel.
  4. You continue to nap well and sleep well.
  5. You never needed to be held or rocked to fall asleep.
  6. You have only been sick once, and even then you weren’t that cranky.
  7. You really didn’t care what brand bottle we tried with you.
  8. You liked the cheap formula from Costco.
  9. Once you started solids, you were a really good eater and ate most whatever we gave you, quickly and easily.
  10. You have never had any major potty accidents (“poopsplosions”), at home or in public.
  11. We have never had to change the sheets in the middle of the night.
  12. You have the best laugh, and you laugh easily.
  13. You can play by yourself and keep yourself amused.
  14. You love to cuddle and watch Sesame Street.
  15. You haven’t been terribly cranky while teething.
  16. You transferred from a bottle to a sippy cup without missing a beat.
  17. You transferred from formula to milk without missing a beat.
  18. You love water and love baths!
  19. You don’t mind getting water on your face or in your eyes.
  20. You don’t mind getting your teeth brushed.
  21. You have always traveled well.
  22. You have always liked other people and will let anyone hold you.
  23. You are amazingly cute and unbelievably photogenic.

Of course, there are some things about you that we’d wish you’d quickly outgrow (every one of your books has chewed corners and your crib looks like it was attacked by a beaver) but these things pale in comparison to the love and joy you bring into our lives on a daily basis.

We can’t wait to see you continue to grow and develop, and we hope the upcoming years go by a bit slower than the first year.

Love Always,

Mommy & Daddy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OWEN!!!

Posted on by

I really can’t believe Owen is a year old already. I think this past year might have been the fastest year of my life so far (if I forget about his first 6.5 months when he wasn’t sleeping through the night, which seemed like the longest 6.5 months of my life!).

Unfortunately, the morning didn’t start off too well…I decided to change him in his room (where all his clothes are now—we moved them earlier this week) because I wanted to start the day off in his “1st Birthday” onesie. Well, he really kicks up a storm now during diaper changes—and he’s also started to LOVE throwing things (repeatedly!)—so he kept throwing his toy and kicking like mad AND reaching back behind him for the lamp.

UGH.

So I was trying to give him the toy (again and again) so he would stay still for just a minute, while trying to wrangle him back on the changing pad, while trying to keep him away from the lamp, while trying to take off his PJs…when he kicked EVERYTHING off the dresser—including the humidifier—so there was water spilling everywhere.

Needless to say Mommy wanted to scream and she was NOT happy about being frustrated with the little man on his birthday. 🙁 But then we had our quiet cuddle time on the couch watching Sesame Street, and I loved him again. 🙂

Then, as usual, he wanted nothing to do with sitting still to take pictures—but with Grandpa Mike’s help, we did manage to get a few (overall, so far today, about 10 out of 80 were decent).

Third haircut!

Posted on by

It’s been time for another haircut for a few weeks, and today I decided to brave taking the little man on my own. I figure he’s done well enough both other times, so it shouldn’t be an issue.

Well we got right in, and of course today was the day he decided to be fussy. He didn’t want to sit down and instead wanted to cling to me…which made for quite a difficult haircut. The guy got most of it done except for the razor over the ears—it just wasn’t happening. So, now I have to try and finish it sometime when he’s more calm. Hoo boy.

But he sure is a cute little boy (again) now!

Since I was alone, I couldn’t take pictures, but here he is at home afterward:

Barf.

Posted on by

Tom fed Owen tonight while I was working on dinner. I was amazed, because he went through a 3.5oz veggie, then a 6oz veggie, and then during the last bit of a yogurt, I asked Tom if Owen had burped at all…and just as he was saying no, Owen barfed.

Yeah, I thought it had been too much food too fast, but I didn’t make a big deal about it because it’s rare that Tom feeds him so I didn’t want to criticize anything (love you, babe!). We just cleaned him off and put him in the bath.

Then, since he had barfed up most everything, I made a big bottle, which he sucked down crazy fast. Before I put him down, I wanted to make sure he burped…and boy did he. I heard it coming, but it wasn’t just a burp.

That’s right, folks. He vomited all over me. Then turned to the other side and barfed some more, which got in my hair. I immediately yelled out — HELP! HELP NOW! — and Tom rushed up to see me and the boy covered in barf. He took the boy to get changed. I hopped in the shower. Then Tom got out the Rug Doctor and cleaned the green bean vomit (first in, last out!) while I played with the VERY HAPPY boy.

I was scared to try another bottle, but he needed something before bed—so Tom took a turn (he called me a wuss for not wanting to try again) with a 6oz bottle but I don’t think he even ate 2oz.

Poor baby.

Poor mom.

Wonderful dad for rushing to my aid.

Don’t miss this video!

Posted on by

Or should I say THESE videos…

December 5, 2009

December 25, 2009

Grandpa Mike and Grandma Linda brought Owen his first sled! He loved being pulled around inside the house!

December 26, 2009

In the middle of Owen’s first sledding experience. The actual sledding videos are jiggly and headache-inducing to watch, so this is what you get!

Our good deed for the month.

Posted on by

We just did our good deed for the month: We’re letting our renters out of their lease commitment early without penalty.

Legally their lease ends on January 31, but the lease still requires them to give written notice, because the lease automatically goes month-to-month if nothing new is signed. They apparently gave a “kinda sorta hopeful” verbal notice to our real estate agent in December and casually mentioned to our property manager a week or so ago that they were moving to base housing—but they didn’t actually turn anything in in writing. Until about two days ago.

So, legally, we can hold them to the next 30 days of rent. It works out to just 12 days worth—but it’s still $600 (a decent chunk of money)! Especially since we have no buyers or renters on the horizon, which means we’ll be hemorrhaging $1500 a month (again) until it’s sold or rented.

Let me just say if they weren’t Marines, and one of them wasn’t currently on an apparently very dangerous deployment, we’d hold them to it.

Karma better help us out on this one…

Fun with chopsticks!

Posted on by

Grandma Linda got Owen his own chopsticks for Christmas…and he LOVES them. As soon as you get them out, he smiles and laughs—and he loves it when you click them together. He will even take pieces of food from you!

Chopsticks2
Chopsticks3

I dropped a puff (hey, give me a break—I was using my left hand because I had the camera in the other hand!) and he tried to give it back to me (the chopsticks)!

Chopsticks1

Sleeping in, part 2!

Posted on by

Yessiree, we both slept in again this morning! I woke up at about 7:30 and by the time I got up to pee, Owen was banging on the walls! (So, granted, he might have been up a bit earlier, but still…that’s later than it usually it.)

Unfortunately, I think it might be because the house is quiet in the early morning, with Tom being gone…so when Tom comes home, the early mornings will start again. I want Tom home, of course, but MAN do I love sleeping in until 7:30.

Scrambled eggs!

Posted on by

So, Owen and I just ate some scrambled eggs with turkey and potatoes and cheese for breakfast. Well, he ate some jarred peach muselix for his main breakfast, but then I tried out the eggs…and he really liked them. (I was pretty sure he would, as he likes the eggs that I put in fried rice.)

The funny thing is, I tried just the plain turkey first. No way, out it came. I tried a plain potato. Not interested at all. But scrambled in eggs, with a little butter and seasoning? Nom nom nom.

Except that I’ve noticed (or at least it seems to me) that he isn’t so much chewing (gumming) but just swallowing. I know he can “chew” because I can hear him crunching puffs, but when I gave him a pretty big bite of egg/potato/cheese, I didn’t really see him chewing at all. I guess he could just be swallowing (the stuff is soft so it would go down easy) and he doesn’t seem any worse for the wear, but it just seems off/wrong to me that he’s not chewing.

I’m not terribly worried, because I know he does chew/gum things…but it just seems very odd to me.

Food issues

Posted on by

I always say food issues would never bother me. But now that I’m having to deal with them….

Owen can drive me nuts. One day he will love pears and eat, I swear, half a pear. The next day, he won’t touch one piece. One day he loves real corn, the next day he won’t touch it. Or he will eagerly eat two spoonsful of a jarred food, but then refuse to eat any more.

He won’t eat ANY food I make, regardless of the consistency (he used to at least eat my sweet potato). He loves the dried strawberries, so I got fresh berries and he pretty much won’t touch them (although I did manage to get two pics and a short video).

He started eating chunkier food (and will pick up pieces) but doesn’t really like chunky stage 3 food. But he will still eat the hell out of stage 2 food, so I still give him that so he gets some veggies.

I think if he could live on YoBaby yogurt and puffs, he’d be thrilled.

So we just keep plugging along, knowing that every baby is different and this is all normal.

Sigh.

Four movies!

Posted on by

We hardly ever watch movies, but this weekend we ended up watching not one, not two, not three—but FOUR movies!

  1. Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian
  2. UP
  3. The Hangover
  4. 500 Days of Summer

Our thoughts?

Night at the Museum 2 was cute—we enjoyed the first one, and this was more of the same. Good free Redbox rental, for sure.

I knew I wanted to see UP (SQUIRREL!), and everyone has loved it, but I really didn’t have any idea what it was about. Turns out they were right when they said it was a sad, but good, movie. We enjoyed it, and I was teary more than once. It was certainly worth the $1 Redbox rental. 🙂

We wanted to see The Hangover because it seems everyone has been ABSOLUTELY RAVING about it, watching it multiple times. Well, about a half hour in, we were still waiting for it to get good. 😐 It had some funny bits and some good lines, but it’s certainly nothing I need to ever watch again. Apparently it’s just not our sense of humor—or we need to be drunk to fully enjoy it. 🙂 I’m just really glad we didn’t actually pay to see it (it was a free rental from Redbox).

I also didn’t have any idea what 500 Days of Summer was about. At all. I just knew a bunch of friends had enjoyed it. Well, FYI, it has nothing to do with a long summer, but rather a girl named Summer. 🙂 It was cute, but it felt like it dragged on a little too long. I probably could have turned it off halfway through and not cared much if I ever finished it. We should have saved it for a $1 Redbox rental instead of a $3 Netflix rental.

Naps, they are a changin’…

Posted on by

First, I think we are slowly moving towards one big nap a day. For the past few days (this morning notwithstanding) Owen has slept in until 7:30 or 8. We assumed it was because Tom stopped showering in the guest bathroom (which he did to try not to wake me up, but was very loud for Owen’s room). While my dad and stepmom were here, and he didn’t need to go to work, he stopped showering in the early morning and Owen seemed to sleep longer. Well, on those days that he slept in, he only took one long midafternoon nap—still going to bed at his normal time. BUT…just when we thought we had a new pattern emerging…this morning he was up—babbling and playing—at 6:15. So who knows what’s going on.

But, second, I think Owen’s naps have moved to his crib vs. the living room pack-n-play. We (I) loved having him in the living room because it was easy to put him down and know when he got up. We could also, of course, peek in on him and how cute he is when sleeping. He would nap without any issues 99.9% of the time.

Things started to change once he could stand up, however, because if he wasn’t quite tired enough, he would pull back the blankets (which we had covering the pack-n-play to make it darker) and grin from ear to ear…not wanting to miss anything because he knew we were still around (which used to be helped by the blanket because he couldn’t see us). But, even with his new ability to stand up…if he was tired enough, he’d still fall asleep eventually.

But lately he just doesn’t seem to want to sleep in there. I know he’s tired but he wants to stand and look around and see me and play. So I’ve started putting him in his crib when he seems tired—and for the past two days, it has seemingly worked well, with him falling asleep in under 10 minutes and sleeping anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours.

So now, I have to decide if I want to totally remove the pack-n-play from the living room. One one hand, it would free up a big chunk of space…but on the other hand, we use the diaper changing part of the pack-n-play religiously throughout the day. We could relocate the changing table part of it to the ottoman, but then that would require us (and grandparents) getting on our/their knees to change a diaper. XX( (Although, honestly, the day is coming…as he’s technically already over the suggested 25# weight limit on the p-n-p diaper thingy.) We don’t even have a changing table in his room that we could bring down–we just used the top of a dresser. Or we leave the pack-n-play where it is and use it for storage. 🙂

Decisions, decisions…

STAIRS!

Posted on by

I forgot to mention this (yes, I’m behind on my blogging)…Owen can now zip right up the stairs! I knew he could do multiple stairs because he did that at another mom’s house, but he really never even ventured towards ours. Until Grandpa and Grandma Smith came and somehow he “discovered” the stairs and now will rush right up if given the chance. 🙂