Injections

As most of you know, I have psoriatic arthritis (fortunately a relatviely mild case). I have been taking Enbrel for about 4 1/2 years via a weekly injection. I have a vasovagal reflex and almost passed out the first time I got the shot and then when I tried to do it myself. So, for the past 4 1/2 years, Karri has done my injections. She does not like doing it, but she has been awesome in always being there for me.

However, I am excited to report the coolest new thing in my life: Enbrel® (etanercept) SureClick® 50 mg/mL autoinjector.

I can do it myself, it hurts less, and I don't actually see the needle.

Pink Song

Yes, songs can be pink - according to Willa. And the one that she will listen to, spin to, and dance to is We Got the Beat by The Go Gos. Good thing the iPod has a repeat button because that is also the only song she will listen to. You can listen to the song here.

Haircut

It's official - more grey than dark. Got my hair cut today, so I can be arm candy at Karri's 20th high school reunion. Happy to have it, but it's very grey (or is that gray?).

Father's Day Weekend

Saturday - brewed beer with Dad. It was great to spend 3 1/2 hours catching up, shooting the shit, and brewing beer. Most of the time when we hang out, there are so many other people or there is something to do, this was just us and mellow, which was really nice. On the way up, Dad picked up Willa's big-girl bed and on the way back we picked up a twin mattress at Costco.

Sunday - by 9:30 we had taken Willa's crib apart, built the big girl bed, and made it. By 10, Willa was jumping off the edge, rolling on the bed, and very excited by her "pink" bed. Ethan and Karri went to Up! - the Disney movie (PG). He loved it, but when they came back he had Karri tell me the whole story. While they were gone, Willa and I went to Top Pot and we both had pink doughnuts; we both ate our whole doughnuts. Then when she went down for her nap (she had a little lunch), I took her pacifiers and told her big girls sleep in big girl beds and don't use pacifiers. So far she hasn't asked for one since. Woo Hoo!

Of course there was lots of scootering and a couple trips to the playground. And our monthly trip to Costco.

Did you see that beautiful, beautiful animal?

Ethan did - he likes to channel his idol, Jeff Corwin, when he is playing with his rope (which he calls a cobra) and in the bath when playing with his penguins, seals, and whales.

Who leaves a country packed with ponies to come to a non-pony country?

Willa and Ethan named Grandma Linda's ponies:

• Pink Scooter Skateboard and
• Rocket Satellite

I think they even know which name goes with which pony.

I think I am trouble given how much Willa likes ponies, but fortunately between Linda and Nana, there will be no lack of ponies in her world.

Hopper likes 2 Scoops

Willa is a big fan of hopping, so one of her nicknames is "Hopper". She likes to jump off things like the last stair anywhere and anytime the flooring changes in the house, especially between the kitchen and dining room.

Willa also likes raisins and she can be seen many mornings carrying a little yogurt container full of raisins and happily munching them. However, as 2 is her favorite number, she always likes to make sure there are 2 handfuls of raisins in her cup and will let you know if there are not enough in there when you hand it to her. Some mornings she asks for those raisins as you are picking her up out of her crib.

I'm # 5

Last night Ethan ranked the kissers in our family:

1. Mommy
2. Daphne
3. Willa
4. Daphne
5. Daddy

This morning Ethan took his first packed lunch to school. We put it in his backpack as he doesn't have a lunchbox yet. He was so excited and concerned that it would be forgotten at home that he went downstairs immediately after getting dressed, opened the fridge, and put it on. He was not going to take it off until he got to school.

Pretty in Pink...

Thanks to the Psychedelic Furs and John Hughes for creating the theme of Willa's 2nd year.
Or, as we like to say sometimes - today is being brought to you by the number 2 and the color pink.
Or, as we also joke - pink is the word, is the way we are feeling.

Feel free to ask if you don't get the jokes.

I like to ride my bicycle

Ethan is really trying to learn to ride a bike. He will go around the block 3 or 4 times with me pushing him on his bike with no training wheels. However, on Karri's advice, we are going to try a skuut bike (or a coaster bike). However, before we do that I am going to take the pedals off of his bike and lower the seat to replicate the experience without an additional wheeled item in the garage. Yesterday we startled a robin and almost had it hit us (literally about 3 inches from my nose).

Scooters are going well for both of them as they both seem really confident on them.

Cinderella

Willa loves Cinderella. She is copying big brother and peeing on the potty (when we put here there), so we got her pull-ups. The pull-ups have pictures of princesses on them. Between that and having seen the movie once, Willa's favorite princess is Cinderella. I like to call her Cinderwilly. She giggles and happily shows anyone who asks her fancy pull-ups.

Willa's Vices

Willa reports that the following are "tasty":
Beer (had a couple of sips of mine last night) and
Coffee (likes mochas, but iced lattes are also a hit)

Math, and other scary subjects...

Just read this op/ed column: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009278185_opinb31mass.html
First, I am worried about the quality of education, especially on the math front, that Willa and Ethan will get.
Second, note that the author is one of Karri's favorite NPR commentators.
Third, reminds me why I will likely run for school board at some point in the future. People elevating process over kids is a travesty.