nine weeks

Can you believe it? Owen is nine weeks old today! We went to Costco this morning. It's much easier when two adults go, but Owen was out of diapers, so I really had to go. Just me and Owen. He did great until I was unloading the truck at home, and he decided he was done being in the car seat, and he was HUNGRY! But, I had to unload the milk and all the other stuff. By the time I was done, his face was RED and tears were rolling down his face. Someday he'll understand. Though I really don't think he even remembers how upset he was...
I couldn't catch a good smile, but I did catch a sneeze!

Go for the Gold Raj

It's no secret, I love the Olympics. I LOVE THEM! I love that for two weeks, the entire world gets together and competes. They compete to be the best. I love that even small countries, like Tuvalu, can send their best athletes to compete. And that that all the athletes will always be able to say, "I'm an Olympic Athlete" even if they didn't win gold.

I love hearing national anthems, even if they aren't mine, and watching the tears of joy stream down the face of the new gold medalist. I love watching the little bios of the athletes, and learning of their home lives, their struggles, their dedication to their sport and then watching their dreams come true. Like Dara Torres, the 41 year old Olympic swimmer. She's in her fifth Olympics and does the 50 yard freestyle. The sprint of all sprints... and she just set the American record! Amazing! I love the victories, and I love the defeats. I just love the Olympics.

I love all the sports... even curling in the winter games, and archery in the summer games. I get hooked on all of them. Have you watched the steeplechase in track and field? It's fascinating! Since I won't ever be an Olympic Athlete (unless I take up curling), I live vicariously through these athletes... I'm sure they don't mind.

At first I thought having Owen at the beginning of summer was great because I had the summer off. But really... I love that I don't work one day of the 2008 summer games. I'll be able to watch, and/or tape every last hour. And don't you think I won't watch all of it, from the opening ceremony, to the final Olympic cheer.

A few weeks ago, I watched the Olympic trials for men's gymnastics. NBC did a little bio on Raj Bhavsar. He was an alternate for the 2004 Olympics, and he was trying again for Beijing. It was a great piece, he's so humble and talented. He did great in the trials, placed third. But, he did not make the Olympic team. He was an alternate... again. After NBC made my heartstrings pull for Raj, he didn't even make the team. To make me love him more... he said that he was proud to be an alternate, and that "he would do his job for team USA". Of course, I was mad at NBC, mad at the Men's Gymnastic Olympic Committee. Why didn't they want Raj?

But I just learned that, unfortunately, Paul Hamm (the reigning gold medalist) had to pull out of the Olympics because of a broken hand. While I am very sad for Paul, his dreams vanished, I am very happy to say that they made Raj part of the team! That's just another reason I love the Olympics, when one dream disappears, another dream comes true.

The Olympics start 08-08-08. I may not answer my phone, I'll be watching the Olympics.

Slo-Mo Owen

We were working on our "tummy time" today. I started him like the first picture. He's quite strong and will keep himself up like that for a while... But then he starts to lose his balance...
and he winds up on his side... very upset. I can't really claim he's rolling over yet, more like falling over, but hey... we all have to start somewhere.

Some of his favorite things

We posed this picture of Owen's favorite things: the remote, an empty bottle, a warm blankie... but he was still crying. Then we remembered we forgot his most favorite thing.
ah... happiness... the magical binkie

bottle returns

Yesterday, I thought I would be productive and take all of our beer bottles and soda cans to the store to return them. I had decided it would be too hard to do with Owen with me, so it made sense to leave Owen with Lucas and go make us some money (and clean up the garage a little bit). Lucas helped me load the truck up with all the bottles, they filled the bed up! I thought, "OK, 5 cents a bottle, I might make us some good cash"

First off, returning cans on a Sunday is what EVERYONE does. It was VERY busy.
Second, at no place you'll go, will all the bottle return machines be working.

At the first Safeway, none of the glass return machines worked. So I had to leave.
At the Fred Meyers, only two of the four return machines were working, and there was a line of four people with their shopping carts full in front of me.
So, I went to another Safeway. I surveyed the scene before unloading all my bottles from the truck (yes, by attempt number three I had learned). All the can machines: working. All the plastic machines: working. They had two glass machines, one broken. There were only two people in front of me. I went and loaded my cart.

Returning bottles is disgusting! I had old beer and soda dripping down my hands. I got some as far up as my forearms. I cut myself on a broken bottle, so I was bleeding everywhere. The glass machine broke twice during my return process (luckily both times it was able to be fixed).

I was there for over an hour returning my bottles and cans. I took my paper receipts up to the cashier to see how much loot I had earned. Ready for the grand total? The amazing amount that was worth sticky and stinky hands? The hour of time away from Lucas and Owen? The money that was worth the icky smell of the return room? I made $10.40.

It was enough for us to go out for coffee. But REALLY?!? $10.40? With drive time, gas prices, and the pure frustration of having to go to THREE places to return my bottles... not worth it! I don't think I'll ever do that again. Come to my house high schoolers needing money for a trip to D.C. Come to my house homeless people needing cash. Come to my house young people earning cash to rebuild a church. I will give you my empty soda cans. I'll give you the empty beer bottles reminding me of parties thrown. They are yours. And if you don't ask me for them, they will be waiting for you on the curb with the other recycling every Tuesday night.

Finally

Thank goodness for digital cameras. Owen has such a great smile, but I have had the hardest time capturing one on the camera. He'll either turn his head, or quit smiling right as the flash goes off. But, finally, in Lucas' arms I caught one! I love that he curls his upper lip up a little bit. Maybe he's trying to avoid the Oshel "gum smile".

Camping Trip

WE DID IT!! We went on our first camping trip with Owen. He's only eight weeks old, and already a man of the woods. We said we were going to go last weekend, but chickened out. So this time we invited our friends Susan and Dave to go with us. We can't cancel a camping trip if we are meeting up with friends.

So, we ventured to our favorite campsite, Elk Creek, in the Tillamook Forest. It's a small campsite with only 14 spots, really secluded and really nice. Usually we camp mid-week, but with Lucas' new job, we were there Friday night. It was quite busy, and we got the last site... I think we were lucky to even get a spot.

The nice thing with car-camping is that we brought the "baby papa-san" so we had a nice place for Owen to hang out both in the tent, and while we were setting up the camp. I think he really liked being outdoors. (I bet its from the nature lessons my mom gives)

A family shot taken by the park ranger... notice Lucas' wrapped ankle, and the tie-dye burp rag.
Me, Owen and the fire that Lucas built.
An action shot with Dave and Susan.
Dinner with Susan.

I think Owen did a fine job camping. He only woke up once during the night, and that was at 0330. I do think that I packed way to many clothes for him... what if he peed on something?! But by night's end, he was in 4 layers: a onsie, a long sleeve onsie, pajamas, a hat and a blanket. I had one more layer on hand, but I think he was warm enough. He did have really cold hands at 0330, so I put a pair of socks on his hands. I think it made me feel better than it did him!

We had a fun time... we'll probably even do it again.

Music Lessons

We are starting music lessons with Owen. We have very eclectic musical tastes, so it only makes sense that we had both classical and beat-boxing lessons (courtesy of Matisyahu). I hope they make you laugh as much as they made me and Lucas laugh... Owen is just so talented!

Two Mornings

For the past two mornings, I've been working on getting a smile shot of Owen. We're close, but not quite able to snap the shot. Yesterday morning he wore the ABC outfit that all of Suzi's kids wore... Owen is number 4 in the attire. Good thing that little baby clothes really don't get worn out, and most bodily fluids don't stain. I'm sure it will make it through Suzi's fourth baby. We found this cute blue striped pajamas in the bottom drawer. Owen is growing so fast that there are some clothes that I don't think he'll ever wear. This is his first time in this one... and this week I need to dig out the 3-6 month clothes!

Red Right Ankle

Lucas really wanted a picture of his ankle on the blog. So that for all of eternity, we will both know how painful it looks... and that he "out sprained" my ankle, which never bruised, and while the swelling wouldn't allow my foot in a shoe, you couldn't really see the swelling. Yes, Lucas won the sprained ankle competition. AND it reminds me of a Decemberists song "red right ankle". So here it is, Lucas' right ankle. OUCH!

Eight Weeks

Owen had his eight week doctor's appointment today. His stats are:
12lb 3.5 oz (75th percentile)
23 inches (50th percentile)

He had four shots, and only cried for 38 seconds in the doctors office... but I think he held it all in until we got home, then he cried and cried and cried and became a whole new shade of red. Poor guy doesn't really like the aftermath of immunizations.

Floor time

Whenever Owen is awake I want to hold him. Whenever Owen is asleep, and I'm awake, I want to hold him. I'm really trying to work hard at giving him more time on the floor, both on his tummy and on his back.

Isn't he just a handsome little man!
I love this picture of Owen and Lucas... even though Owen is crying, it's just so sweet!

We had a bad day

I don't know what or who I should blame, but Karma wasn't on our side today... or maybe it was, because it all could have been so much worse.

Without too much details, our Sunday started at 0030 with a phone call from dad. We rushed down to Salem, Mom is OK, but had been taken to the hospital. We returned home at about 0630. We took a little nap until 0900, when we picked up Owen from our friend's house. (where we abruptly dropped him off at 0035)

We were tired, but didn't want to waste our day... and since we are trying to make Sunday our "hiking day" we left for I hike. We set off at about 1230. It's a five mile loop through Forest Park, a beautiful hike we discovered last summer. So, with Owen in the Baby Bjorn on me, we set out. At about 2.5 miles into the loop (the exact halfway point... the FARTHEST away from the car), I tripped on a root, and had a slow-motion fall. I twisted my left ankle, hit my right knee pretty hard, but my right arm kept Owen from hitting the ground. He started to cry, but I'm sure it's because his binkie fell out, not because he was hurt.

We switched who was carrying Owen, and started hobbling back towards the car. About 0.1 miles later, I heard Lucas trip and make a horrific noise. He hadn't fallen, but he had sprained his right ankle. We have never harmed ourselves hiking, now two injuries in 10 minutes. It took a long while for us to hobble out. When we made it to the car, we examined our wounds. Lucas' ankle looks like a half a tennis ball got shoved in there... mine more like a golf ball.

It all could have been worse... broken bones or a harmed Owen. Now, Lucas and I are just laid up on the couch for a while... we were going to make a nice dinner... now I think we'll order pizza. On an up side, we'd do very well in a three-legged race today!

Here are some quotes of the day that should have either foreshadowed our hike, or at least jinxed us!

• "I don't know if I'll have the energy for the entire hike today" (marla)
• "When I hike, it seems I always look down to see where my feet are going, rarely at the scenery" (lucas)
• "I haven't sprained an ankle in a LONG time" (marla... said a week ago)
• "I'll laugh if you sprain the other one too" (lucas, after I sprained the left one, about two minutes before he sprained his right one)

While I was going to take a picture of Owen on our hike today... the camera stayed in the backpack today. I probably would have dropped it if I had taken it out!

Captain Quiverchin

Meet Captain Quiverchin. This is right before we fed him... you'd think we starved him from the dramatic cry... but I assure you, we do feed him! We find his cry so cute... but luckily for us he doesn't do it THAT often.

Saturday

It was a wonderful Saturday. It started a little cold, but wound up to be a very nice day. It stared at the Portland Farmer's Market. I know that there are other markets closer to us, but there's something about the Portland one that I really enjoy.
Notice how Lucas and Owen have the same shape centered above their eyebrows. As we continue to stare at Owen daily to see who he looks like, this is the first picture where I think he looks like Lucas.

After the market, we went home for awhile, then headed to the St. John's Jazz Festival, underneath the St. John's bridge in the evening. I'm not a huge jazz fan, but it was a nice evening, the concert was free and we got to meet up with Dave, Tony and Deb. It was entertaining to watch everyone trying to keep Owen in the shade, since we now know that sun screen is illegal!
Owen with Dave in the background
Tony, Deb and Owen.
A very nice shot by Lucas of Owen at his first jazz concert. (no Bob, it wasn't too loud) Owen was awake for most of the concert, many people stopped by to comment on how cute he was. You know what... I agree! (Even if the past two nights he hasn't slept well!)

twins

Owen started looking at "the other baby" yesterday in the bathtub. Of course, as soon as I went to snap a picture, he looked down. Similar to how I keep trying to catch a picture of his smile, and it vanishes as soon as the camera flashes. Look at that belly!!

Kate and Owen

Well, I finally made it up to Seattle to accomplish two things. 1. I met my new niece Kate, born four days after Owen. 2. Owen met his aunt, uncle and cousin. Now all aunts, uncles and cousins have been introduced to Owen... next we work on his great aunts, uncles and cousins!

Mom and I drove up yesterday morning, a drive that should have taken 3.5 hours took more like 4.75 with only one stop, but HORRIBLE traffic. Nevertheless, Owen was a champ and slept the entire journey up. He slept most the trip home, and only started hystarical crying two miles from the house... not bad for his first out of state road trip!

We got to Jill's, and Owen had had a huge poopy blowout. Sad thing is, I new he had pooped about 40 minutes before we got to Jill's, but I refused to stop... we were so close. So, serves me right that he pooped to his ankles! Poor guy, but he didn't cry in the car, so he couldn't have been that uncomfortable right?!

Anyhow, we introduced the kids to each other, and they started a cry competition. I call the first round a tie, but the second round Kate invented a whole new type of cry, so I give the overall match to Kate.

Once they both had full bellies and clean pants, they calmed for some good photos. I think mom was in a little bit of heaven having both new grand babies in her arms. Next goal: ALL the grandkids around her! (Suzi's having a girl in November so soon, mom will have 3 boys and 3 girls)
It's very challenging to get a good picture of two babies. We were lucky one or the other wasn't crying, but their arms are both spastic... so they kept hitting each other. Funny thing was I think they are both so used to hitting themselves, they really didn't mind getting hit by their cousin!
During our second pose, we were so worried about their heads colliding. This is the one shot without hands holding up the kids, but it's also the shot where Kate projectile spit up on Owen. A perfect shot. Really it's a good way to treat the boys! We'll teach Owen to respect women, and we'll teach Kate to spit on boys!
It's much more challenging to get a self portrait with four faces in it! I think three and a half faces is pretty good. We did get one of Owen's eyes!
Me and Kate. Jill and Owen. It's so wonderful to be a new mom with my sister! It's even better that we have another sister to ask all of our questions to! What a great new adventure for all of our families!

A day in the life

Today is the second day of Lucas' new job. So, while he at work, this is Owen and my second day "on our own". It's been so nice having Lucas around for the past six weeks, but I suppose it's good to start heading back into reality. Someone has to bring in the bacon!

So, the morning started with us taking Lucas into work. (even with gas prices, cheaper than paying to park) Then we came home and LUCKILY Owen took a little nap, because I really needed a little more REM sleep!

Then our morning walk. I took a picture of him his car seat... but I have so many pictures of him in the car seat I decided not to post that one.

Then we posed for some comparison pictures on the quilt Jill made us. He's in the same outfit, and you can tell how much he's grown into the onsie he's wearing. And look at those chubby cheeks!

Next we played on the floor. Owen decided to wrestle with a bear. He actually pulled the bear on himself, but then he stayed down for the count of three. So, I guess the bear won. But look at Owen's left fist... he's prepared for round two!
Next, we cooked dinner for tonight. Yes, I know, I'm getting domesticated. Two nights in a row I've prepared dinner for when Lucas gets home... I even did laundry today... and yesterday, I vacuumed (gasp)! I don't know how long this "Betty Crocker Homemaker" Marla will be around, but it's nice for now.
Then it was time for lunch. My hungry hippo didn't like it when the bottle was empty.
But, I put him in the swing, and he was sleeping within four swings. It was a busy morning. It takes a lot out of a little guy to wrestle with bears and help mom cook!
Tomorrow we are going to Seattle to meet my niece Kate. I can't wait to see her and Jill!

Maybe I want to be Japanese

WARNING: This entry has NOTHING to do with Owen. There will be no pictures. There will be no cute stories. The only thing this entry has to do with Owen is that he is sleeping and I am typing while he sleeps (finally). IF this bothers you, read no further. Wait and tomorrow will be a picture. I promise.

I have found two new show on television that I am in love with. They are not a new series. Not a "new summer sensation". One of them has been on for over 20 tournaments! They aren't a series that you needed to start from the beginning, and if you didn't start them you feel left out. (Please don't ask me if I watch Lost or Grey's anatomy... I never started them, and honestly it's too late for me now)

My two new shows are Ninja Warrior and Unbeatable Banzuke. They are on cable channel G4 (if you are Comcast subscribers, channel 136). They are fabulous. They are Japanese shows. Not crazy game shows that make you sit on blocks of ice the longest... no nothing silly like that.

Ninja Warrior takes these freakishly strong people through a serious of crazy obstacle courses. 100 people start, and MAYBE 5 will pass the first stage. You have to pass 4 stages to become the Ultimate Ninja Warrior. I think only 3 people have done so... and they've done this 20 times!

Unbeatable Banzuke takes people with crazy talents through crazy obstacle course. Imagine watching a unicyclist jump over rocks, or a person climb stairs while walking on his hands. It's amazing! And if you make it over all the obstacles, you get your name on the Banzuke. I have no idea what that means, but it doesn't happen very often. And who wouldn't want their name on the Banzuke!

They don't win millions of dollars. They don't win a new car or a show in Vegas. Their win is knowing they did something very few others can. That's it.

To make these shows even better, it's all in Japanese! It's subtitled, but you don't need them. The excitement of the voices is contagious! But if you do read the subtitles... they too are hilarious because not everything translates. Or maybe that's just the way they talk.

I now know why Lucas wanted Owen to be Japanese... I want him to become the Ultimate Ninja Warrior... or perfect his stilt walking so he could get his name on the Banzuke.

goodbye Libby

Allie, Matt and Liberty went back to DC this morning. Yesterday we asked Libby if she would miss Owen. She said "NO." We asked "Really? you're not going to miss him?". She said, "NO, I'll remember him."

A nice Sunday

The other day we found a great little park by our house with some trails. We've lived in our house for over five years, and just found this little pearl. It's just two miles aways, but in a direction that I guess we RARELY go... so today before it got too hot, we went on our first "hike" with Owen.

Owen and I go on a walk most mornings, either up to the grocery, or over to coffee... all about one to two miles away. When I go for a walk, I've learned I need to have a destination. It's hard to just walk around the neighborhood I get bored. Yet, if I call it a hike, I can just hike and hike, it must be something about being around trees. Me and Owen by the car, getting ready to be one with nature.
Isn't he so cute!

Owen was napping in the carrier, when we took him out for a photo-op with Lucas. This is the best one I could get before he started crying! Mean mom waking him up for a picture! (He'll thank me later!!)

After the hike, we went to a winery for a picnic. It was nice in the shade, but really really hot in the sun. By the time we got home and got Owen out of the car seat, he was a sweaty little man. I think he had a good day, but I'm sure he likes our air conditioned home just as much as I do right now!
He appreciated the vanilla smell in this pinot noir.
A beautiful view... the vineyard's nice too!

Quote of the Day

We were driving along, when this conversation took place.
Lucas: Do you ever wish that Owen was Japanese?
Marla: uh... no... WHY?
Lucas: So he could become an Ultimate Ninja Warrior?

One time only

My in-laws are hippies. OK, maybe not full fledged hippies, but they both love tie-dye. More specifically my mother-in-law owns more tie-dye than Jerry Garcia. She wears it probably four times a week... and she pulls it off. Not many people I know can pull off tie-dye, Amy can.

So, to push her tie-dye love, she gave Owen a onsie. She said he only had to wear it once, so we put the little man in it, and amazingly, I think he can pull it off too! Maybe, just maybe, he'll wear it again.

Cannon Beach

We went to the beach this past Tuesday. It was going to be 100 degrees in Portland, so Lucas' family decided it was a great day for the beach... we couldn't have agreed more. Luckily the beach is about an hour drive from our house, so it makes our first "road trip" a little easier. It was a lovely day, probably about 70 degrees... much nicer.

Most the trip Owen stayed in the sling to provide good shade. A quick escape outside for a family photo was about all we would gamble on his pale baby skin. His skin is even paler than mine! We learned that baby's can't use sun screen until 6 months... this is after we had already used it, but our pediatrician swears I didn't harm him by using it once!
Lucas and his mom playing in the water.
Liberty, Matt and Lucas

I'm growing up

A few things you should know about me before I start this tale:

1. I do not eat meat off the bone. I love meat, but I'd rather not know exactly where it comes from. I like Thanksgiving turkey, but honestly the carcass grosses me out. Please just give me a slice of white meat turkey.
2. I like red meat, white meat, fish...but I don't eat "cute" animals. This includes but is not limited to: bunny, baby cows and baby sheep (aka rabbit, veal and lamb)
3. I like cooked meat. I will say I have improved greatly since knowing Lucas, but about the reddest I can do is medium. Eight years ago it would have been medium-well, I'm now to medium. Lucas and most "real" meat eaters will go for medium-rare.

Tonight we went to Le Pigeon (www.lepigeon.com). It has been nominated the best restaurant in Portland, and the chef Gabriel Rucker has been written up in national magazines for best chef. We have been there multiple times and have never been disappointed. Anything Gabe cooks is beyond delicious... you want to like the plate clean. And you eat foods that you never would eat before. I've tasted beef cheeks, beef tongue, pig tail soup, snails and many other odd foods.

Tonight, we took Allie and Matt (Lucas' sister and brother-in-law) here. I had beef tongue salad, and for my main course, I had a rack of lamb with a cucumber, blue cheese salad and lamb tongue radicchio salad. Yes, I had a cute animal, off the bone, and it was medium-rare. I licked the plate clean.

I can either blame this transformation on Lucas or Gabe. Being married to Lucas has definitely broadened my food intake, but Gabe sure can cook a mean tongue.

For anyone in Portland, I highly recommend a trip to Le Pigeon. If you want a better description of dishes, just call Lucas. If you want a dining buddy just give me and Lucas a call!

More Family

Lucas' sister, brother-in-law and niece are in town... so Owen has met more family. Now we only have to get to Seattle to meet the last aunt, uncle, cousin combo. (soon Jill, I promise). Liberty had been talking non-stop about how excited she was to meet her cousin. She told Allie that she wanted to feed him, hold him, help put him to sleep, and change his diaper... as long as it wasn't poopy. She is definitely a mom in the making... or at least a great older sister someday. Liberty, Lucas and Owen
Aunt Allie and Owen

Moses came to our party

Since we are both nurses, and most of our friends are nurses, we usually have to work the fourth of July. So, we celebrate our nation's Independence on July fifth. On Saturday, we held our 6th annual 5th of July party. This year we had just shy of 30 people at our house for booze, burgers and bombs (aka fireworks).

The parties always start off mellow enough, but somehow each year has a momentous occasion that will describe that party for years. For instance, we have "the year the cops came", "the year Dave saw a T-Bone accident on the way home" "the year people made out in our kitchen. This year will be known for two things... "the year the bush caught on fire" and "the year Scott's chest ricocheted a firework that caused a bush to catch on fire."

Let's back up just a little bit. Oregon and Washington have different ideas of what legal fireworks should look like. In Oregon, you can't have any flying/shooting balls. In Washington, you can light the sky afire. Luckily (or maybe unluckily) we live close to Washington, so it's easy to get illegal fireworks. I think that since we live in Washington County, Lucas likes to think they are legal at our house. I will just assume that if we kept with the legal ones, the following story would not have happened.

Anyhow, after much drinking, four boys started setting off the fireworks. The sky was glowing, the sparks of light sparkling. Scott was just minding his own business, enjoying the show, when he was hit in the chest with a misfire. That same misfire veered off and landed in a bush, that then caught fire. Thank goodness for a hose, and quick thinking by Dave and Tony, the bush fire was quickly doused. (No talking bushes here)
Scott came inside, where we found some frozen edamame for his chest. We assumed we were looking at a burn on the right side of his chest... but with closer inspection, we realized his shirt was NOT burned. From what we all can come up with here's what happened: A firework that hadn't caught fire yet, hit Scott so hard that it friction rubbed SO HARD it created fire which then shot into the bush. Scott will now be known as "Captain Ricochet" or "Captain Friction" I haven't decided which I like more. ( I have a picture of Scott's battle wound, but he said he would sue if I posted it... while I am quite sure that he wouldn't REALLY sue me, it is a picture of his nipple, so I thought I should be nice and just NOT post it)

After the fire, the firework display quickly ended. Overall, good party... with another good story (only because no one was hurt too badly, and our house (and our neighbors homes) are still standing).

Quotes of the night:
"Tequila's funny"
"I'm from the geographical center of Alberta"
"The bush is on fire"

He is truly his father's son
Me and Owen before the party
A small group of people, before the liquor started flowing freely Lucas and Captain Ricochet (aka Scott)
Eric and Tiffany drinking some Tequila