Taxes, rings, shoes and teeth

So today we had to bite the bullet and get our taxes done. Normally this would be an occasion to celebrate, considering we usually get a hefty tax return...but this year is different. We are getting the nice refund, but due to a stipulation issued by the Federal Bankruptcy court we have to turn over all tax refunds to the trustee for it to be divided among our creditors. Sigh. And I looked over everything and THOUGHT I could try to do it free online via the IRS website, but with the foreclosure paperwork I was unsure what and how to file that, so we took it to the experts at H&R Block and they charged us an exorbitant amount for the peace of mind knowing I didn't screw them up! But that was the last issue we had to resolve with our bankruptcy - YEA!

And on a happier note...Ryan was sweet and decided to buy me a new addition to my wedding ring as my early 10 year anniversary present (this goes hand in hand with money we've stashed away for a trip to Las Vegas in November!). It looks just like the ring pictured above except it's yellow gold...now all we have to do is get our rings resized thanks to hormones and hand issues on both parts!

While we were shopping at the outlet shops Owen actually let us try shoes on him WITHOUT throwing a fit! Gasp! He is finally to the point where I can reasonably reason with him (to some extend anyways)! He got some cool kicks for the summer and he is proud that he will be able to splash in puddles with them...sigh...just have to know the way into his heart I suppose!

And the best news was saved for last! Joey is a proud new owner of his very first tooth! It is the lower front left incisor. We noticed it coming through on February 25, just a few days shy of turning 5 months old. I can't believe he is cutting teeth so early! Owen was just shy of 6 months when he cut his first tooth - it was Halloween night 2005. Next thing you know he'll be losing them!

Tom and Jerry

Owen has a new favorite cartoon show, Tom and Jerry. He practically falls on the floor laughing so hard at the chase scenes and the "gotchas". Oh he is so entertaining!

He now has an alarm clock in his room. I put a sticker over the minutes and told him he is allowed to get out of bed in the morning when he sees the number 7. Otherwise he's up and bouncing around anywhere between 5 to 7 in the morning. It works like a charm, he now arrives in my bed at 7 on the dot telling me that the number 7 is on his clock and thank you mommy for the clock and what are we doing today and are we going to grandma's and what are you wearing today and oh I have to go pee-pee now but I can put my undies back on all by myself because I'm three and I'll be four in May on the sixth and for my birthday I'll get a batman and oh the sun is up so its daytime and is daddy working with the bad guys and he will come home and build a fire and I'm done mommy I go pee-pee in the potty so I gotta flush and I can get my pants back on the right way and my tummy is growling so I am hungry maybe I'll have waffles today and oh there's Izzy and hi Joey is Joey awake now?

Sigh...that's pretty much the prattle I hear all day long. I love the fact that he can talk and I'm happy we can finally understand most of what he's saying, but where's the off switch?!

Joey has graduated from boring old plain rice cereal to tasty banana with oatmeal and just recently apples with oatmeal. The bananas were okay, but the apples - oh yum! His face lights up and the child SMILES when you come at him with a spoonful of apple and oatmeal! He's also turned into a little old grandpa...his nightly routine consists of eating dinner, whining until bathtime which I can usually put off until around 6:30 then get dressed (he waits to cry until I am getting ready to actually put the pj's on him) then we wants to be nursing and nodding off to sleep no later than 7 pm. I tell him he goes to bed with the chickens! Owen never wanted to sleep that early! And there is hell to pay if you put off the sleep routine! He is a little old man with his own little routine, what a great baby! Sigh...before I know it he'll be 3 years old.

Babies, Whistles, and Dentists

There is something so comforting and soothing about rocking a baby to sleep. Especially when you also nurse. Tonight I was rocking Joey after nursing him (oh yes, I've read all the baby books that say NOT to rock them to sleep...phooey!) and I was thinking to myself that I am so lucky. I'm lucky to have the opportunity to do this all over again. Rocking my baby to sleep, smelling his sweet smell of lavender and baby shampoo, feeling his soft skin, hearing his content breathing, watching the smiles dance across his face...oh sigh...this is my last baby to enjoy so thoroughly. I was so uptight and scared with Owen and now I have been given the chance to relax with Joey and really take the time to enjoy the baby stage. He is already growing so quickly! He is eager to grab at whatever happens to get within his reach and it immediately goes to his mouth - sweet! His is learning to gobble down rice cereal and I'm getting ready to start him on oatmeal next week. Soon after we'll be on to "real" food! What a tiger!

So last week we were coming back from a VA appointment in Denver and we stopped off at the outlet shops in Castle Rock primarily to check in at the Oshkosh store for engineer overalls for Owen. Last year for his birthday he got a Lionel hat and train whistle from his great Aunt Mary. Just lately he's learned how to really blow the whistle and has been obsessed (to say the least!) So here's what he looked like today - what a cutie pie!

Owen and I had appointments at the dentist's office today. I am happy to report that I have no cavities (yea!) but the time is coming soon for my wisdom teeth to come OUT. Yes, I am turning 30 this year and I still have all my wisdom thank you very much! I am going to try to wait until I am finished nursing Joey so I won't have to worry about passing painkillers through my milk and also for Ryan to build up some sick time to stay home and take care of me and the boys. Owen also had a great report and surprised me by going with the dental assistant without me. What a big boy! They checked him out and gave him a fluoride treatment - the doctor says his teeth look great and that we are doing an awesome job at brushing - yea! I was proud to hear him from the next room telling the assistant that he's three and wants the dinosaur toothbrush...can he spit? Oh you betcha! She reported back that he did a great job soaking the room - tee, hee, hee - don't leave my boy alone with water for a second, you'll regret it! :)

Joey is 4 months old!

I can't hardly believe that Joey is already 4 months old! Where does the time go?! I took him to his 4 month well baby visit and he now weighs 18 pounds 1.5 ounces and measures 26 3/4 inches. He is 97th percentile on all measurements and is on average about as big as a 7 month old - guess the brestmilk is doing good for him! And what a mild and sweet tempered baby he is so far...loves to watch Owen play, tracks him all over the room and smiles. Sleeping in his crib now from 7 or 8 until 12 to 2 - on average about 6 hours a night. Then he comes to bed with momma, nurses and goes right back to sleep...sigh. Such a cuddle puppy at night - I love to cuddle with him! He just learned how to grab at a toy that's being dangled in front of him - he snatches it up and brings it directly to him mouth (so it already begins!) He really is a lot of fun and Owen has decided that he's not going to give him up - he tells people that Joey lives at our house and that he's Joey's big brother. So proud! We really are blessed beyond all belief!