New Nephew! Harold and the Purple Crayon, Mom utterances!

First and foremost, I have a handsome, sweet new little nephew named Samuel Eric! He was 7 lbs and 19 in long born on Saturday in the afternoon to Aunt Steph. We are so excited for their family, and can’t wait to meet him and hold the little bundle. We are planning a trip out to CO soon to visit. I enjoyed a few phone calls out there to each person to talk about the new addition. I even got to talk to Ellie and Frisco about their new little brother!
Kaylee went to see Harold and the Purple Crayon with her Aunt Becky. They had a great time. Afterwards we went out for ice cream and she exclaimed, “this ice cream is delicious!” She also sat down with her Harold and the Purple Crayon book later that night, reading it to herself over and over. She then held it tightly in her hands, hugging the book, and said, “this is a lovely book” with a sigh. It was so cute to see! She loves stories and to read, she commonly rhymes to herself and tells stories. She also narrates her activities around the house, “Then she sits down on the chair” (she sits)… At the birthday party for my Mom the next day, she told everybody about it and brought the Harold and the Purple Crayon book out, reading it over and over for everybody. She lifted the book up to show each page off to the audience, just like a librarian after my sister told her to show people the pages. Very cute! She enjoyed being the center of attention.
Kaylee starts her new little class called, “Junior Gym Games” tonight. It’s just a 3 week CE class so we’ll see how it goes! I’ll keep you posted.
I’ve been astonished lately at the things I say, the things Mom’s say:
• “ Kaylee get off from on top of your brother’s head.”
• “Levi stop pulling your sister’s hair, Kaylee share - or else I’m taking it away!”
• “Levi go nite nite (lay him down again) Levi go nite nite (lay him down again) Levi GO NITE NITE. (exhausted!) Daddy! Tell Levi to go nite nite please!”
• “Levi can you tell me you need to go poo poo? Can you say “Poo”?”
• “Levi don’t hang on the oven door!” (putting him on lockdown in the highchair)
• “Levi don’t hang from the toilet paper holder!”
• “Levi don’t throw toilet paper in the bathtub. Don’t throw all the clothes in the bathtub, please!”
“Jackson, where’d you find a diaper to eat?”
• “Kaylee eat your veggies! Califlouer is so good. At least TRY a bite. (putting cheese on) Try a bite with cheese on top”
I am so busy. I can’t possibly explain how busy we are with the kids. It’s exhilarating and joyful, it’s also exhausting and a LOT of responsibility and effort. It’s well worth it, but somehow in the comments above I was trying to capture the ironic hilarity that is our common existence today.

We took kaylee to her first dance class last night! It's just a community education one focused on developing their coordination and giving them a fun time, it's only 5 weeks - a commitment we could handle and happily very inexpensive! Anyways, it was so awesome! The teacher was so sweet and nice and fun. An older lady in tap shoes with a lot of grace and words of encouragement to the kiddos. I was amazed at how receptive the kids were, how they gladly followed direction, weren't scared and were ready for the good time. All the girls were in tutus so. Was really glad I had found kaylees ballerina costume for her. These kids were smart...wow! There was one little boy in the group, i Swear he was the best one there! They'd sometimes get distracted some girls were caught in the middle of comparing outfits and missed their turn (kaylee not included) and the teacher was so nice about it, just letting the girls have their turn. I was so glad I went, I considered staying home with Levi to give him some one on one time but I just had to see her first lesson! My favorite part was the blowing kisses built into the end of every song, i am so corny! Wow! i felt so proud of my big girl and complimented her on her listening and her hard work! Way to go kaylee!

Next time we'll bring our camera! And post a photo.

The (military?) routine

Something clicked with Levi yesterday. He had a very talkative day. As soon as I got home, he was saying “I!” “I!” for “Hi”. Then he was saying at the highchair at dinner when he was done “Momma – I done” and then “Get down.” He also looked at the fish tank and said “fish” many times. I said “Levi, let’s go downstairs and play with toys.” He heads to the gate – saying “toys!” and rejoicing. (we LOVE the new playroom!) He also when we read a book, said “rarh” a whole bunch when he saw a tiger. Very very cute. Eric and I speculated on why all the sudden, he had so many words and communication. We think he has crossed out of a pain threshold he’d been dealing with with his teething. He now has one set of front upper and lower molars that have surfaced. The top ones are not all the way out yet, but at least have begun to poke through. While getting ready this morning, he wanted Kaylee’s toothpaste, and was gesturing with me not seeing what it was he wanted. Then he said “Ayee!”

Kaylee is getting to be a bigger girl -- has been not crying and fussing so much when I need to wash her hair, and now sometimes actually does it by herself. A couple tattoos here and there helped that effort…maybe that is what I have to do with teeth brushing now – so I don’t have to hold her head while she screams and fights to get away. Kaylee is getting a bit easier to get ready in the morning, she has started sometimes saying to me, “You pick it out and I’ll put it on.” Music to my ears! We have been trying to pick out our clothes, including mine, the night before to make the mornings go smoother. Knowing where everything is is half the battle, so at the last minute we’re not saying, “Where’s Levi’s other boot?” It’s tougher with all the bundling required at winter, probably adds a good 5-10 minutes to the morning routine. I have also been trying out preparing a menu and sticking to it, so that I know what we are making for dinner and pulling out what we need to defrost the night before – you can only live through about a year of some prepackaged dinners before you burn out on them it turns out. (just kidding, they were not ALL prepackaged…just SOME of them! ) It’s been very nice and Eric has been very happy with the new system. We’re hoping to also at the same time reduce the amount of wasted food out of the refrigerator and do leftover nights when necessary. We are trying to save money after Christmas to pay the bills – Good news I was able to increase my hours to 36 now since things are a bit smoother at home after Levi’s over 1 year and my firm now has more work.

Here’s to increased sanity at our house in 2012! Cheers!

Happy 10th wedding anniversary Eric!

Eric and I had a great 10th anniversary celebration! We stayed overnight in a hotel, had very pleasant adult conversation (tried and failed on not focusing on the children during our talks), a wonderful dinner out full of decadence and a to-die-for breakfast to follow the next morning. Everything was perfect especially the man I am so lucky to have enjoyed it with…I love you Eric!

Kids had a fun night with my parents, enjoying the carausel and the indoor playground. Levi didn’t do so great overnight, crying for his Mommy and sadly laying by the baby gate waiting for me to show up! Oh no! My parents said it was nothing they couldn’t deal with. The next day he was very clingy and at first I thought it was because I left him, but after awhile Eric and I thought this was more. Loud screaming and crying, writhing in the middle of the night not really too relieved with pain med and gas drop…brought him in the next day and wouldn’t you know the day before I am to return to work he comes down with a double ear infection….thankfully after meds he’s doing well at daycare who graciously accepted him back anyway because he’s not considered contagious. We had to act fast on the remedy in order to get the household back to work/daycare. It all worked out!

Levi is getting better at saying no. He shakes his head emphatically back and forth and sneers like “ewww!” at whatever it is you’re offering. He’s gotten all the sudden much more picky on the eating. He’s liking yogurt all the time and generally isn’t eating as much. Not sure if it’s the multiple molars that he’s got coming in (teething pain) or if he’s not in the growth spurt mode and doesn’t need as much or starting his two behavior of making more of his own choices clear (exercising independence). He’s also got a ‘wrinkle up my nose and eyes, aren’t I funny?’ new expression to show his silly side. It’s super cute and totally new. There’s a boy at daycare who does a similar look, he’s almost 5 years old, maybe Levi is mimicking the look (as they say ‘imitation is the highest form of flattery’ after all…) Levi has also routinely been saying at his highchair, “All done.” Sounds like “A-done”.

Kaylee is getting so that she is more and more sophisticated with her thinking and language. She continues to love to “read” and sits there remarkably putting together stories from the pages, rhyming her words together all along the way. She may have some sort of gift for language…maybe she’ll be a writer, poet, teacher or … lawyer? She’s got the whimsical side of language fast developing, reminding me of my two sisters. Though she’s got the logic of language coming through in her negotiations reminding me of my lawyer relatives her grandfather and my sister-in-law (and let’s be honest Eric). She’s also got an authoritative, managerial style making me think she’d be a good teacher similar to my mother in law and my sister. But, I’ll tell you, I’m not going to pigeon hole her, she’s got so much potential. She’s getting exposed to building toys, books, race cars, dress up gear (doctors, vets and of course princesses), forts, preschool…there’s so much to discover about what she likes to do. Eric and I signed her up for Tiny Tot Dance for kids 3-5 (it’s only 5 weeks) through community education. Cross your fingers for her that she gets in – she’s really looking forward to it and asks, “Why is it taking so long to get to dance class?” I also think I’m going to sign her up for the “Junior Gym” one that rides along the same time schedule exposing her to soccer, t-ball, and follow the leader. She agreed this would be fun but had a lot of questions, “Who will be the leader?!”

I’m seriously looking forward to my new nephew being born, my sister in law is due on the 25th. I’ve been excitedly awaiting the news, and updates. I hope we can visit soon after! So EXCITED to be an auntie again!

We had lots of fun with the Smiths since I last posted. The whole crew went over to the zoo, all of us had lots of fun seeing that and their new Jungle room. Levi is loving having less time tied up in a stroller and more time independently toddling. Though it’s more work, with someone requiring 100% of their attention on following/guiding and as necessary carrying him when he is down. Kaylee loves to ride on her daddy’s shoulders when she gets the opportunity and very seldomly requires a ride in the stroller these days. The double stroller is getting used only on warm days on long walks.

Enjoy the unusually warm weather we’re experiencing while it lasts. Take care all.

Vacation happenings!

We've been having a great vacation! So glad to have 2 weeks off, it's certainly been awhile since I took this long off. Very nice, the holidays are so busy do it gives some time with a slower pace to enjoy. Having the smiths in town this week has been lots of fun. Before they came, my mom and sisters took the kids to the santaland elf show at Macy's, and over to my sisters's new place. It was a very fun day, and Eric was very nice to rescue us after I locked my keys in the car...The kids loved the show and were in awe. They also very much enjoyed their aunties and their grandma.

In between, I took the kids to a couple outdoor parks (the weather was great until recently) and Eric and I got a whole day to ourselves to devote to cleaning up the basement. It was fun for the kids to be watched by my parents and do something fun with a play area and train, meanwhile Eric and I cleaned up so much. We reflected on things that had been once valuable to usbut now after 10 years and 2 children, these things have no value other than taking up our valuable space...feels good to donate it to someone whol may now value it. Our space is progressing, Eric took down his huge weight machine (hope his back recovers!) so we'll see what he does with that. It was fun all the who,e to talk with Eric with no children and to catch up, we had a great day. Thanks mom and dad!

With the smiths, we had fun going to the mall with a carasel and a play area, the out for ice cream and to the holiday lights show. Kaylee loved it, exuberantly participating in the viewing of her favorite vignettes. Adorable to hear her be so articulate. Unfortunately, they didn't make the show very viewable from a rear facing carseat and though Levi did see a bit and benefit, he fell asleep shortly after it started. We also had a very nice visit over it Cindy and chucks and to see qt and Nadine after. The kids had a great time with all the attention! Kaylee loved playing hide and seek at c and c's house. Then yesterday barb and I took the kids to the huge remodeled indoor playground. The kids had an excellent time! Today we're thinking we'll take them to the zoo. Excited!

Overall, it's just good to have time with the kids and with extended family to help out. Kaylee went to preschool yesterday and saw two kids from daycare and her provider. She got very long hugs (and one kissed her ) they miss her...obviously she is loved while we are at work, they are I mean and for that I am ever so grateful, beyond explanation...as I enter into 2012 I am so thankful for my family and friends - thank you to you all. May you 2012 be a great one, and for some who've had an incredibly tough 2011 may this new year bring you much relief and a new beginning! Hugs!