Wasted Life- AKA Bee Attack

So I was stung by a bee for the first time in my life today. Erik J and I were outside playing and letting the dog go potty. We have a lot of bees in our area because there are flowers and a lot of plants and the such. Erik J was walking the dog leash with no dog on it, and I bent down to take his jacket off him. It's hot today! As I was removing his hoodie he stepped on my foot, and it really felt like he had a sticker on the bottom of his shoe that he drove in to my toe. But when I looked it looked like a little white fleck, glass maybe? I brushed it away and sure enough there was a stinger attached and a poor little bee dead on my shoe.

This is quite an experience for me because I used to be really scared of bees. The stories everyone always tells about their own bee experiences make the pain sound excruciating. This really wasn't that bad. At first it really just felt like I got a sticker in my foot. It did get worse after that, but I think I did well with it. I iced it and put hydrocortisone on like Big Erik suggested and now I am writing this story.

I do feel bad for that bee though. He had such a life before this, flitting from plant to plant to pollinate our earth. Then he had to get all mad, sting me and die. What a waste, kind of like gang violence.

Hobbies

So I have been advised to "get a hobby". I am not even really sure what a hobby is anymore, which is probably why my advisor asked me to concentrate on finding one.

Everything that comes to mind that I could do in my "spare" time just makes me tired thinking about it. I used to love to scrapbook and stamp cards, but I really don't do that as much anymore because then I have to clean up the huge mess it creates. When you spend your day keeping up with two men, one tall, one short and working and keeping a house as together as you can, adding something else you have to "clean up" is not an attractive idea.

It is all this work that got me into this in the first place. I feel like I lost myself a little this last year. I am sure this is normal, but I am not happy with it. I feel like I have not personality anymore. I have nothing to talk about with my husband because I don't do anything interesting. I wake up with the baby. We hang out and eat breakfast, then I put him to bed. I run out the door to work. Then I come home and make dinner, and get big Erik out the door to work. Then I feed the baby, give him a bath. We play. Then I put him to bed. Then I normally clean the house, or work.

I love my life. I love the job I have taking care of my guys. I love these guys so much. I just have to find some kind of fun hobby so I have something of my own. So I will continue to love taking care of my guys. It needs to be fun and creative, but not too much mess. Any Suggestions?

First Birthday Pictures

Hey Guys! We almost forgot to add the first birthday pictures. These are professional pictures done by Mike from Md Photography. They also did our Christmas Pictures last year too! A little advertising never hurt anyone. =)

My mom has a tradition of buying birthday photo's for her grand children's first birthday and the pictures are always done on their actual birthday. So, when she took a trip out to San Diego for Erik Jr's birthday we scheduled a shoot at La Jolla Shores.

This place was great because they have a park and the beach. It went really well. Erik J was a little fussy at first, a pound of cake will do that to you! He kept giving Mike dirty looks. Then we got out to the water and he loosened right up. He loves the beach. You can't keep him from the waves.

All in all I think these pictures are pretty fabulous. I couldn't ask for more, except I wish Big Erik could have been there. But Que Cera Cera. Enjoy!

What we all have been waiting for.... He Walks!

I was getting a little anxious about Erik J walking, especially when I discovered that every single one of his friends were already cruising around on their own. I know that every kid has their own timing, but you know I am a little competitive. I don't like being last.... We knew he could do it, he just didn't know he could yet.

Then our friend Janice showed us a new way to support him so he would feel more comfortable on his own. The Sunday before the 2008 presidential election we started trying to hold on to his hips instead of his hands and sure enough, just like Janice said a few days later, while we were watching the election coverage he walked from Erik to me. WOOHOO!

I managed to get this video the very next morning. It is still not his automatic first choice, but he is doing it more and more everyday of his own accord. Today when Daddy was saying by to him from the hall outside his room, he walked all the way across his room to the hall to give him a hug and say goodbye. They both were so proud.

Haloween!

This Halloween was so much fun. Holiday's are so much more fun now that we have Erik Jr. We get to make the event for him. How fun is that?
This year I took Erik J to our friend Kristen's neighborhood to do some trick or treating and hangin with the his baby friends. We had been very concerned leading up to the 31st about the costume. In order to get him prepared, we tried it on him a handful of times through the month before, but every time he would not just transform into a Dragon, he would transform into an ANGRY Dragon. To my suprise everything went off without a hitch though. I got him dressed in the back of the CRV which he was a little upset about, but once we got going he did really well! I didn't even have to cut out the feet! He did get to go trick or treating with his friend Kelle. They both went around knocking on doors and holding out their bags. They had a really good time. Then we went back to Kristen's, had dinner and then he had his first baby sleepover. All of his friends were there sleeping in different rooms while the adults drank beer and played rock band and poker! Aren't we just the picture of good parents. =) (more pictures to come...my camera was full when I got there... I went as Sara Palin! lol)

Whew! That was a lot of work!

Well if you are going to get a camera out I could maybe give you a smile! Such a hamm!

Cute Butt!


Do I really have to Momma?!?!?

Gotcha! or Feeding the Dog

Well I guess all I can say is Clovis better start liking him soon, or I don't think she ever will! A couple weeks ago I noticed that Clovis was being very attentive to Erik J, which is odd because she is usually trying to get away from him, unless of course there is food involved. I came around the corner and there he was with his little jam hands in the dog food bin! He was so proud of himself. He would dig his hand in, get a handful, and throw it on the floor for Clovis. I think he may have also eaten a few pieces himself... Oh well!

The Pumpkin Patch

The weekend before Halloween we all hopped in the car and headed north to Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center California. (read the hott place- as you can see in Erik J's flushed cheeks) They had the coolest pumpkin patch, complete with pumpkins of all sizes and colors and petting zoo. Erik Jr. liked the bunnies the best. They were so soft. We had to watch him or he would have sqeezed them to death. He wasn't too sure about the big pigs, didn't trust them. Although I feel like it is important to add that Big Erik wanted to take the pigs home. =)


Picking out Thanksgiving dinner...


Daddy is so silly!


Taxi!!!!






Not quite a fair trade if you ask me...


The Erik's chillen with the white folks! The first year we were together Erik told me that his grandmother used to get him white pumpkins. I totally didn't believe him because he had the tendency to pull my leg, until we pulled up to one of those pumkin stands out side of the mall and there they were. Doh!


Which Pumpkin do I want.....


Baby Sign language for more...a little greedy considering all the pumpkings

"It was a long ride home..." AKA- Grandma Lil's 80th Birthday Pallooza

Once apon a weekend in Mid October Erik J and his mommy took a big trip to Davenport, Iowa to wish his Great Grandma a happy birthday. What a trip it was too! They woke up dark and early on Friday morning and boarded a plane for Kansas City. Then at about noon they met up with Grandma Chell, Aunt Corby, and Uncle "Dabe" at and got in a "Red Ford Explorer" that really turned out to be a blue Expidition that they stole from a lot in OKC. Then they set out on the open road to a quaint B and B in Davenport Iowa, the town that Great Grandma Lil grew up in. As you can see Erik J had quite a great time with his cousins, and by the end of the weekend they all felt like it was too short of a trip. They could have stayed and played much longer. Till Next Time!





Now I have to tell you that Grandma Chell would be very upset about this picture because she wouldn't like her smile, but I have a secret for you... Grandma Chell smiles like Chandler on Friends. She as a very pretty easy going smile, until you bring in the camera! WE love you!



Dog Pile the Birthday Girl! You can see it in her face, she is in heaven!

Skipping a Step

Well, I think he had decided that he is going to skip that whole sippy cup nonsense and go straight for the good stuff. We were playing with his big blue bucket at the beach yesterday and he picked it up and tried to drink out of it. Here are some videos of him with his new "talent". He really is turning in to that Brawny Boy! We figured Grandma would be very proud!

He's Walking! - Almost

He can use his walker toys to walk around the house now! We are so excited.... this is him walking to his daddy.

Here is is walking to mommy! If you look close, Clovis is obviously jealous. =)

Trip to Oklahoma August 9th -16th 2008

Okay Okay.... I know you are thinking it. Wow it is September and she is just now blogging about a trip they took almost a month ago? I know it's sad.... but here it is anyway. We "recently" took a trip back home to see family and meet a new addition to the Martyn-Farewell/Pagel clan. We had a such a good time as you can see from these pictures. I will let the captions tell the rest.

Little Michael Ian.... isn't he so cute and cuddly!

Mommy and Baby.... are they just sweet!

Erik Jr posing with Michael just before he tried to grab his hair and poke him in the eye!

The Guys-Grandpa Suiter, Erik Jr. and his Daddy in front of the dorms (Couch Center) I lived in my freshman year at the University of Oklahoma. We happened to go for a walk at the University the same weekend they had new freshmen moving it. Wow! I was so excited to be in the middle of it all. Moving in day was really one of my all time favorite days.

Michael- Kelsey-Me-Erik Jr. - The boys were pooped, but we had to stop and take a picture of the new mom's together at our old stomping grounds. This is one of my favorite areas at the University. I love how quiet it is, and the ivy that covers the walls.

The Johnson's on a Bench! Awe inspiring! I am so lucky that my husband is cool enough to take boring walks around places that are this hot! I swear it was 110 degrees in the shade. I loved every minute of it. It was great to have my family together at a place that means so much to me. I never feel like I am really home when we go back to Oklahoma until I am in Norman.

Snuggle Snuggle- this time Erik J was comfortable enough to get down and really play and explore while we were there. So no I wasn't doing this the whole time. Thank you Lord! =)

Do you like Sea Food?

This was so cute. He was really reasoning it out! Where did my ball go? How am I gonna get it back?

My Tired Guys- he never sleeps with Daddy- he is only for fun time!

What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?

Look Ma! No Hands!

Well, I think we are knocking on the door to a new phase in Erik J's life. He is 10 months old as of yesterday and he can stand up all by himself. He has been practicing for a week or two now and he is getting better every day.

I can't believe how quickly this kid learns. It is like he just decided one day, "Hey I wonder what would happen if I let go of mommy's leg?" So he did. He crawls up to an object, read object as: my arm, my leg, my back, daddy, or the couch, climbs to standing and cautiously lets go and tests his own balance. Today he was doing it and then clapping for himself. Next, he will be walking, then the dog will really have to run and hide and big Erik and I may need to get on some sort of medication. =)

Shake Your Groove Thing....

I don't think many people know this about our little chunk, but he loves to shake his groove thing. Which I realize many of our short little friends do, but what is funny about little Erik is that he likes to shake is tail feather to rock and the classic stuff; the kind of stuff you would hear on Guitar Hero Legends of Rock! His dad jams while the little guy grooves to "Low Rider". His dad couldn't be more proud.

Lately though he has expanded his moves to listing to music on the computer. Daddy searches for fun songs on You Tube and they bounce to the beat. One of his all time favorite songs is "Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard. As soon as it comes on he turns and looks at us with the biggest grin. He has actually liked it since he was in the womb! :) These pictures depict our latest jam session which included, "Jungle Love" by The Time and "Girl All the Bad Guys Want" by Bowling For Soup. What can I say, this kid likes to rock! I think rocked himself out because at the end he just had to take a rest.