Bittersweet

Over the last couple of months Tegan developed this (what I thought was cute) habit of grabbing her hair and playing with it when tired, frustrated, or just plain bored. Somehow that habit then evolved to her pulling gobs of her hair out. Soon she was pulling Jessie's, and mine and pretty much anyone's that she could grasp onto. Several bald spots were forming on her poor little head. All the sudden it didn't seem so cute anymore. More than anything, it was just downright sad..

After talking to others about this and speaking with her pediatrician the census was that I either had to glove her hand or cut her hair really short. I tried gloving her hand for a day and just felt really bad watching her try to play with essentially one good hand. Pretty soon she just stopped using it all together as if it didn't exist. It was kind of heartbreaking.

The breaking point came one night after a Halloween activity. She was tired and began pulling it out. Something in me just snapped and I couldn't take watching it anymore...so

This is the before...



...and the new cut she'll be sporting for the next few months.



It was hard to cut her beautiful hair shorter than it has ever been, BUT despite her best efforts, she has been unable to pull anymore out. Jess and I still have to be careful...if we turn our backs on her for too long we can say good-bye to a nice clump of hair.

To my Little One...

This is a thanks of sorts to my younger daughter who will eat just about anything. I can't describe the feeling of being able to feed her just what I've made and have it gladly accepted. You name it, she'll eat it. Broccoli, cheese and potato soup, spaghetti and meatballs, peanut butter sandwiches, oatmeal with blueberries. No special meals and no worrying that I'm starving my child because I refuse to give her chicken nuggets for all three meals. There is a down side to this of course--she really will eat anything. I've found toilet paper, plastic toys, lint, hair and much more in her little mouth and who knows what's made it past there.

Not to say that I'm resentful of my older girl for being a little bit more selective. Because of her, I've become an expert at sneaking fruits and vegetables into her diet, and planting oatmeal, cheese and other things where she would least expect it. I'll admit I spent many hours worrying, making separate meals, racking my brain and bugging my friends about how to best handle the situation, only to discover later on that it was really all for nothing. It still takes a little more work and some bribery, but she's up at the table eating just what we're eating.

Now I know at any moment things could change. Tegan is still young and tomorrow she may decide to follow in her sister's footsteps, but at least now I'll save myself the trouble of worrying.

Rainy Day Painting

We are officially back to the weather where trips to the park become almost non-existent and I have to try to be a more creative mom and think of things to entertain the kids indoors. In this case, I'm taking from the creativity of another mom and thanking her for the fun idea.

I've seen this before and thought we could give it a try to put a spin on the same old, same old painting. I quickly realized that I was having a lot more fun with it than Jessie. She was preoccupied with painting a monster. I even decided to venture out and experiment with a cucumber. Here were some of the results...


Jessie's monster

Interesting...

This is what my husband was walking out the door with for breakfast this morning. Does anyone else find this funny??

Happy Birthday to our Tegsters and other stuff.

It was about a year and 1 hour ago that Tegan came into our lives. I looked at her with all that dark hair and cute dimple on her right cheek and was instantly in love. To say that time has sped by at lightning speed would be an understatement. Now Tegan is sporting a lighter, longer hairdo, walking, kind of talking, and making sure to giggle all along the way. She has been such a joy to us. So quiet and easy going, and ready to break out laughing at any moment.




Went to Detering Orchards for their apple celebration. The girls got a pumpkin and we got free apple cobbler and vanilla ice cream. I inhaled it too fast to get a picture.




Tommy and I spent some time in Seattle. We had a lot to celebrate...five years of marriage, getting a home, and Tommy passing the bar. The weather was beautiful. Besides getting pooped on by a bird it was a lovely trip complete with my favorite doughnuts ever!!! And I got to spend it with a pretty amazing guy.

This is pretty much the face I saw after Tommy got the good news about the bar.






We were learning how to african dance at the Seattle Art Museum.



Random pictures of the kids and Tom at the Rose Garden in Eugene.