Merry Christmas!

Hello, well we had another first Christmas this year. It was obviously Abby's first Christmas and it's hard to believe that Matthew experienced his first Christmas last year! Seems like we've had them both much longer. We had a lot of gift opening, eating, playing and other festivities to keep us busy over the past few days. On Christmas eve morning we had our family Christmas. I had put together little gift boxes of candy and toys for the kids from Santa and when I went downstairs with Matthew (at 6:15ish) the first thing he said was "Big Bird!" and pointed to the Sesame Street coloring book by his Santa box. Sam came down later and didn't notice anything for awhile. We started breakfast, then he looked around and saw the Santa boxes, "Train boxes! Mommy what are those for?" Jason and I looked at each other...are we going to tell them it's from Santa or from us? Do we want our kids to believe in Santa or not? After a few moments, Jason said, "Santa came!"

Sam ran over to his box and was excited to find some Thomas underwear. The excitement of underwear quickly wore off when he saw...candy canes! "Candy canes, candy canes!" he shouted excitedly. "Santa brought candy canes!" We had been reading a book about candy canes and he was obviously excited to try the real thing. We opened one for him and he tasted it and said, "It tastes so much better than my toothpaste!" Yes, Sam, they are similar, but I think candy canes are better too. Sam ripped open his gifts, but Matthew opened a gift then was done. He took some convincing to continue opening presents. I'm sure next year will be much different for Matthew, but this year when he got a new toy or book, he wanted to look through it, not tear paper off of boxes. The highlight of the boys' gifts was a train set which they have played with extensively. Abby got some clothes, books and a few soft toys which she seems to be enjoying too. Enjoying for a two-month old baby means that when you hold a toy in front of her she stares at it and might smile.

We went to church on Christmas Eve with Grammy and Papa and Uncle Brian's family. Matthew was giving us a workout as he did not want to sit for and hour and a half. Eventually he was taken out with Jason and I held Abby, who had slept through most of the service, but decided she'd had enough by the time we sang Silent Night and she screamed through Silent Night as I was stuck in the middle of the pew with people holding candles on both sides. Oh well. Sam was pretty good and was being entertained by his cousins for a good portion of the service. We opened more gifts and ate more good food at Grammy and Papa's and the kids were all overwhelmed by toys and clothes which have been played with a lot too. Abby cried a good portion of the evening and the boys were unusually loud too. I guess that's how they were handling the excitement of Christmas.

Christmas day we went to IA and had the Reese Christmas with Grandpa Duane and Grandma Verna and the rest of the Reese crew. Abby was, well, a little crabby, but had a few smiles for people when she wasn't crying or trying to sleep. The boys enjoyed playing with Grandpa and Grandma's trains and tractors and had races throughout the house. We ate a lot of food and after a wonderful dinner, the boys filled up on cookies for snack/supper. Between the two boys they probably at at least 10 cookies, if not more.

Christmas night we stayed with Grandpa Don and Grandma Sue. Abby and I slept in one bedroom and she had a pretty good night, waking at 4:15AM for a snack, then back to bed for a few more hours. Jason and the boys slept in the other guest room. Well, Matthew slept in the walk-in closet, which is an upgrade from his previous lodgings (the laundry room). We forgot Matthew's blankie in MN but convinced him that it was fun to sleep with a special blanket that Grandma Sue had for him. He was ok with that, but definitely missed Blankie. Sam was supposed to experience his first time sleeping on the air mattress on the floor and Jason was going to sleep in the bed, but after Jason put Sam to bed on the floor (around 8PM), Sam tucked himself into the middle of the bed and fell fast asleep. So when Jason went to bed (around 10PM) he ended up on the air mattress on the floor. Enjoy this now, Sam, because when you get older, I have a feeling you will be booted from your coziness and end up on the floor.

We opened more gifts with Grandpa Don and Grandma Sue and Uncle David's family Monday morning and Jason, Abby and I visited Jason's aunt Norie too. The boys got some Cars and tractor gifts which are favorites at this time and have also been extensively enjoyed along with their other gifts. We arrived home yesterday afternoon to a house full of new toys and new clothes. It was a wonderful Christmas! I will post pictures soon, but the camera is missing from being packed up...somewhere...Such as it is these days!

Some pictures

I have a slew of pictures that I've been meaning to post for a while (as well as a few posts that I've been meaning to write for awhile...), but here are some pictures from the past two weeks.

Here are some good ones of little Abby...

And some not so good ones trying to get the three kids together...(that would be Sam's rear end in the upper left of the first picture)

And now some outdoor fun...Sunday it was 47 outside, so we made the most of it!

When Abby gets bigger...

Sam, You are big into telling Abby what she gets to do when she gets bigger. So today you greeted Abby, by saying, "Look, she has wake up eyes!" You say that whenever Abby's eyes are open and she is awake. Then you usually follow that up with something like, "Oh, she's so cute!" or "Abby, you are the cutest baby in the world!" Sam, you are so cute too.

But today, you were telling Abby about her future. You started by saying, "Abby, when you get bigger, you can share a big bed with me at Grammy and Papa's." (Sam spent the night at Grammy and Papas earlier in the week). You told Abby that she could stay with you, but Matthew had to sleep in the crib. I guess we know who your favorite is these days. Then you told Abby about milk. You said, "You'll get to drink regular milk when you are big too. And strawberry milk. And chocolate milk. And syrup milk." You are such a good big brother. Other than you like to talk to Abby about two inches from her face, you're pretty good and loving. Someday that may change, but I hope your deep affection continues for a long time. Love, Mom

Running errands

Running errands has taken on a new look lately. Mostly because I have three small children rather than two. I wrote a year ago about going to the grocery store with the two boys and now, a new layer of thought has to go into going to the grocery store. I still haven't figured it out, but I'm working on it. Some may wonder why I go at all with all three kids, why not go in the evening or on the weekends? Well, there are three reasons why I actually rather go during the week with the kids: 1) it's something to do during the day, 2) I don't like crowds so that rules out the weekends and 3) I'm too tired (so that rules out evenings).

Anyway, the first question is when to go? I used to go right away in the morning after we got dressed and ready, so around 8 AM. But Abby tends to like to nap around that time, so do I go anyway, hoping she'll nap while we're shopping or wait until she's done napping for the morning? Last week I went after her AM nap, so around 10:30. She didn't make much of a fuss on the car ride to the grocery store, which was a nice change, but she definitely made a fuss when we were in the store. I barely made it through the produce section before she started fussing. Soon her fussing turned to crying, then screaming. Red-faced, breathless screaming. I went through the produce and dairy as fast as I could all the while hoping she would ease up. But she didn't. I tried talking calmly to her, rubbing her tummy, anything to get her to calm down. All the while I was hoping the boys would stay in the car attachment in the front of the grocery cart. They did, so that was nice. Of course, of all the days I'd rather not run into someone I know at the store, I ran into a friend from the Y by the milk and she hadn't seen the baby yet, so I got to show off my screaming, red-faced princess. Eventually I had to take Abby out of her carseat and she immediately calmed down. I carried her on my shoulder, pushed my cumbersome cart with one hand and quickly tried to get necessary items, leaving the remainder of my list for another time. Of course, there were few checkout lanes open, and the people in front of me had very full carts. I was flustered and sweating and trying to hold Abby and keep the boys in line, but was not being very successful. Matthew grabbed a Snickers and tried to chew on it (wrapper and all) and Sam squeezed past my cart and was working his way up next to the other customers in front of me. Oh me oh my. Thankfully, after a few minutes a new lane opened just next to where I was and I was able to quickly make it out. in. one. piece. without. going. insane.

Anyway, after Abby's nap didn't seem to work and we'll probably not try that anytime soon. Well, moving on. The next layer of planning that goes into planning for the grocery store trip is when am I most likely to get a big cart (either one with the two seats facing each other near the back of the cart, or those cute cars attached to the front of carts. Generally, the best time to snag a big cart is early AM. Then the boys can ride in the car or special child seats and Abby goes into the basket and I place groceries in the seat of the cart or on the bottom. This really limits how much I can get, but it certainly cuts down on impulse buying. The kids cut down on browsing, as who can really browse around anywhere with a three year old, one year old and baby? Anyway, when I went to Target last week there weren't any of the big carts available (although I was there early, a little after 8), so Sam had to walk. Oh dear. Sam walking in Target is just not good. Every aisle has fun and neat little temptations. I had to get some mailing supplies and a few aisles down was the party aisle. I quickly grabbed my mailing stuff and Sam ran into the party aisle. I emerged into main walkway just as Sam emerged carrying a huge star pinata. Put it back, Sam. Don't touch, Sam. Stay here, Sam. Sam. Sam. Sam. Can you pick some snacks, Sam? Oh dear. I had to give him a job to give him some focus. He was like a kid in a candy store. Apparently a kid in a Target isn't much different.

Ok. So, running errands is different these days. Why do I put myself through this? Part of it is probably because I like the challenge. Come on, I can do this, right? What am I trying to prove? I CAN DO THIS, RIGHT? I can do this. Three small kids? I can do this. If I can make it through a trip to the grocery store with my three children, I can conquer anything!  Next, Mt. Everest.

Coinciding naps

After a morning of being out and about (actually we just went to MOPS --Mothers of Preschoolers--at church this morning) all the kids are sleeping and they have all overlapped for nearly 2 hours! Wow! I am experiencing some new found freedom and don't know what to do with myself. I've so gotten into my head that I will be interrupted in moments that I rarely start any project more complicated than making grilled cheese, but alas, Abby is napping longer and better and the boys, as always, are being good little nappers.

So I've been browsing for yarn on the web for a while, keeping on thinking I will be interrupted at any moment, and alas, I am still browsing yarn without interruption. Had I known this would happen, oh the cookies I could have made, the dinner I could have prepped, the workout I could have gotten...if only I had known.

This napping break didn't come about without turmoil, though. After MOPs we were driving home around 11:45 and Abby was, (as she almost always does) crying/screaming for most of the trip. She stopped a few miles from home and I hoped she had fallen asleep, but when we got home, she was wide awake. I brought her into the house and got the boys inside. She proceeded to scream and scream while I got the boys out of their coats and shoes and went to the bathroom. Matthew proceeded to cry and cry as he was super hungry. Sam was also out of sorts as he had peed his pants on the way home. That's how it goes these days. I prioritized: Sam undressed, pick up Abby, feed Matthew, and went about taking care of my kiddos. Sam was undressed and clothes thrown in washer. Abby was screaming (face bright red by now), Matthew was crying. I got Abby out of the carseat and she immediately calmed down and pretty much fell asleep on my shoulder as I started to put together lunch. What can I put together with one hand, I wondered, as I didn't want to put Abby down quite yet to make sure she was fully recovered from her crying/screaming outburst. I pulled out yogurt and graham crackers. At least they were getting protein, dairy and carbs. Sorry, boys, no veggies or fruit for lunch. That's how it goes these days. Matthew calmed down. Sam was still half naked, but at least out of dirty pants.

I swaddled and changed Abby, took her up to her crib which immediately produced sleep. Wow. THat in and of itself is a miracle. Brought Sam some new clothes and helped him get dressed and dished out more yogurt and graham crackers. Then I sat down with the boys and enjoyed some peace and quiet. Uh oh,the two little ones just woke up within moments of each other. Back to work.

What's your type?

Back to streaky posting...maybe because I'm back to work these days. Meaning it's just me and the kiddos, no Jason or my mom to help me out. So I'm tired and somewhat stressed and burned out. And it's only been a week! Such is life with three blessed little ones!

Anyway, so I've been reading and web surfing in my "free time" in a desperate attempt to help Abby sleep better. The thing is, she's a great sleeper at night (slept in her crib some this past week) and wakes once or twice, but her naps are atrocious. She has a very hard time winding down for naps, then she gets overtired and screams. And she gets so worked up she has a hard time napping. So she screams some more and gets more and more tired. What a vicious cycle. My "research" has led me to pull out the book, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer which I've had since Sam but haven't really used much or paid attention to. The author writes about how to pay attention to and learn about your baby's specific temperament and needs and cater your responses to them accordingly. She writes about five "types" of babies and although I don't think kids fall exactly into five categories, it has been somewhat helpful in understanding Abby's temperament.

Of course, I've classified the boys too and here are how the kids are classified, at least according to the Baby Whisperer. Sam was an "Angel Baby". He was pretty mild, easily transportable, fell asleep anytime, anywhere, in any situation and would sleep for a long time. At two weeks, we gave Sam a pacifier, put him in the swing (wide awake) and he would fall asleep on his own at bedtime and sleep for 4-8 hours. He has since outgrown his angel wings. Matthew would be classified as a "Textbook Baby." According to the author, Textbook babies are very predictable and do things "by the book" or reach particular milestones when they're supposed to. I used to say that one could set their clock by Matthew's self-imposed schedule. He naps for 1.5 hours. He goes to bed at 7, he gets up at 6. He too was pretty easy as a baby, once we figured out that when he yawned, he was ready for sleep. Now we come to Abby. It's pretty early yet, but I think she would be classified as a "Spirited Baby." These babies have very strong likes and dislikes and let you know it. They have a hard time winding down and seem to fight sleep. Yes. That describes Abby lots of time. Jason and I are trying to figure her out, but she definitely keeps us on our toes. "Typical woman" is what Jason says.

I never knew how hard having kids would be, but I tell you, it was much easier getting a Ph.D.

Abby's 1 Mo. update

Hi Kids, I know that someday making comparisons between all of you will not be the wisest thing to do (for example, comparing grades and how one behaves in school), but for now, I think I am safe to compare your growth charts as you are still so little. And someday you won't want me to include your weight statistics either. I certainly wouldn't want mine posted on a blog. Anyway, Abby had her 1 mo. appt. on Monday, so I pulled out Sam and Matthew's stats from that age to see how you all are stacking up against each other. Here they are:

Weight:
Abby-10 lb. 5 oz (50th percentile)
Matthew-12 lb. 14 oz. (WOW!!!--100+ percentile, whatever that means)
Sam-10 lb. 6 oz.  (50th percentile)

Height:
Abby-22 in (80th percentile)
Matthew-23.25 in (95th percentile)
Sam-22.5 in (90th percentile)

So...Abby looks like she could hold her own against Sam, but I don't think either of them would want to take Matthew on at 1 mo. of age. Abby, you certainly held your own during your appointment. I was expecting extensive amounts of screaming, but you only screamed in the waiting room while I frantically tried to fill out the paperwork I was given and calm you (unsuccessfully) at the same time. We were called back and when I placed you on the exam table to get undressed, you stopped crying and didn't cry until you got a booster shot at the end of the appointment. All the poking and prodding, shining bright lights in eyes and ears, rubbing your tummy and back and feet and you just looked around bright-eyed, like a perfect angel. I got you partially dressed, then you got your shot and cried for a few minutes after that. I was really stunned, or shocked, that you didn't cry until your shot. The nurse was surprised too and said that no baby has ever not cried at the shot, but not crying through the entire appt. is unusual. You are one calm and cool kiddo. Only a select few really know the truth, though.

Lastly, I know I mentioned I would post a pic of Matthew wearing a tractor shirt, but I can't find the cord to connect the camera to the computer, so it will have to wait. I bet when you kids are older you will be astounded to read that we once had to use cords to connect cameras to computers (how archaic!), but that's how it is now and it's one more piece for me to lose track of. And I got some good pictures of Sam wearing Jason's work boots and a t-shirt. Yep, no pants. Well, time for me to go to bed. Love, Mom

Matthew and tractors

Matthew, Today was Sunday so we went to church. However, getting you into church clothes was quite a challenge as you are very picky about your attire. Anyone who has seen you lately knows that you are almost always wearing a tractor shirt. Thanks to Grandma Sue, you have one for pretty much every day of the week and you always want to wear them. So when I went in to get you this morning (at 6:03AM, after you had been awake since 5:33AM and I had been awake since 4 AM, thanks to Abby) I said we were going to change your clothes and you pointed at your chest and said "Tractor." I said, "No, church shirt." Then there was crying. Trying to alleviate a full out meltdown (which happened yesterday when Jason tried to put you in an IA State shirt to commemorate their historic win on the football field rather than a tractor shirt--a battle which he won, incidentally) I reassured you repeatedly that you would get to put on a tractor shirt after church, but you had to wear a church shirt (sweater) for now. It was really a struggle to even get you in the sweater as you thrashed your arms about in rebellion, but I won and you wore a sweater to church.

Your love of tractors is really quite cute. You usually point to the tractor on your shirt at least 5 times a day and you hate to have it covered by something like a coat or bib. In fact, you resist wearing a coat or bib because they cover your beloved tractors. And I'll admit that you aren't totally devoted to John Deere, any sort of tractor makes you happy, although I think you may have some favoritism toward JD.

You and Sam are so different and it shows even in how you are both selective (or not) about your clothing. Sam was never picky about clothing and still isn't really. He prefers to wear his Cars T-shirt (and wears it probably twice a week) and sometimes he picks out other shirts, but he overall just doesn't really care. This morning I asked him if he wanted to pick out a shirt to wear after church and he said, "No, Daddy can pick one." Matthew, you however are always interested in what you wear and you are very vocal about your preferences. The other day when I was doing laundry you saw two of your tractor t-shirts in the clean clothes basket and "insisted" as only toddlers can, that you wear them both. I acquiesced (one has to choose her battles) and you wore three t-shirts that day.

We'll see how long your love of tractors lasts. For now, it is going strong. I've been telling Grandpa Don that you will be the grandchild to spend the summers on the farm driving tractors and other equipment and only time will tell if that will come to pass. For now, your love manifests itself in your wardrobe. I'll take and post a pic of you in a tractor shirt tomorrow, as I'm sure you will be wearing one. Love, Mommy

Abby's baptism

Last Sunday was Abby's baptism. Jason and I took Abby to the front of the church along with my brother David and his wife Alicia who were Abby's sponsors. When we got there, Matthew started crying (as I thought he would) and ended up coming up front with us too. As soon as Jason picked him up he said, "Caulk!" and pointed to the wall. What he saw was a little clock that the pastor uses to see how the service is progressing, not a bad caulking job or something else unmentionable.

Abby slept through everything. She hasn't slept through church since she was 4 days old, so it was unusual but also relieving as I was sure she could scream through everything. She does a fair amount of screaming these days and I was sure it would happen during her baptism, but she surprised me. Always full of surprises, our little Abby is. You'd think that with two kids already I have the whole baby/kid thing figured out, but it turns out that they are all so different that what works for one doesn't work for anyone else and you have to start from scratch with every child. At least it feels that way sometimes.

Anyway, the baptism went smoothly and we are thankful for God's gift of grace given to Abby in baptism. We all certainly need it, and Abby is no exception! Later in the service there was a children's message and Sam went up to the front with his cousin Sophia and they both sat so nicely and appeared to be listening and folded their hands and bowed their heads like perfect little angels during the prayer. I was so proud of him. What a good little boy! I'm not going to comment on the times that he wasn't angelic during the past week, other than they were numerous. We had a brunch at our house (which included quiche, an edible fruit arrangement, pumpkin bars and donuts...I tried making freezer cinnamon rolls, but they turned out like hockey pucks so we went with donuts. Who doesn't like a good donut?) and after some family time, it was time for our guests to go home. Sam gave Sophia probably 10 hugs and then slammed the door shut when she left. It's really cute how well Sam and Sophia play together.

Some pics...a week late

Here are some pictures I took of the kids last week. The boys and I got up early one day (well, we get up early most every day, usually around 6 or 6:30, 6:45 if we're lucky) and decided to make muffins with Jason and Abby slept in. Samuel was quite the helper and did a good job of sprinkling streusel topping on the muffins, while Matthew preferred to just eat batter with a measuring spoon. After Abby woke up, the boys crowded around her as they usually do when she's awake and showered her with affection.

Matthew's 18 mo.

Hi Matthew, although you actually turned 18 mo. two weeks ago, we just went to the doctor for your 18 mo. check up today. I didn't think you'd be upset that it was pushed back a little bit and we had a lot going on two weeks ago! So today we went. Sam came with as he wanted to get out of the house too (and wanted a sticker...Grandma Sue stayed home with Abby) and you had your check up. You were much more calm this time around than previous appointments. You only fussed a little when I undressed you and were weighed and didn't really fuss at all when you were being examined. The doctor did allow you to sit on my lap during the visit, so that helped calm your nerves and Sam was always close by, clapping when the doctor completed each part of the exam, so I'm sure that helped too. By the end of the visit, when I was talking with the doctor about how many words you have and you being a big brother and so on, you were happily dancing around the room (diaper-clad) to your own internal music.

So here are your stats:
Weight: 26 3/4 lbs (60th percentile)
Height: 34 1/2 in (95th percentile)

I looked over Sam's stats from that age and you are a little bigger than your big brother was at 18 mo. We already knew you probably weighed more, but you are also a little taller too. I also looked over your stats from 15 mo. and saw that you've grown an inch over the past 3 months, and gained 1/2 pound. It's incredible to think that you've grown an inch in 3 months! Wow!

Anyway, you are completely normal in all areas, congratulations. You say as many words as you are supposed to (actually you say quite a lot of words for your age, too many for me to keep track of) and you are starting to say simple sentences, follow directions and do other things that the doctor says 18 mo. old kids are supposed to do. Daddy and I are so proud of you, keep up the good work. Love, Mom

Milestones

Matthew and I were going upstairs to check on some things on the computer. As we started up the stairs he squatted and started grunting. This is his signature sign that something is going on in his diaper. For a few weeks Jason and I have been commenting that Matthew seems to be showing signs of potty training readiness: dry at night and naps, interest in the toilet, obvious signs of "going", and so on. However, he's only 18 months, clearly too little to start, right? Well, maybe not. I checked Matthew's diaper before going up the stairs and there was nothing. I started working on the computer (downloading white noise sounds, which I'll discuss later...) and then Matthew said, "poop" and climbed onto the toilet in our bathroom. He didn't make it very well, though, as one foot/leg ended up in the toilet and got all wet. I pulled him off the toilet, took off his dirty clothes and diaper and held him on the toilet. Matthew made a few noises, then I pulled him off and said we'd try later. He was very insistent, though, and kept on saying "poop." So we went downstairs, to the garage and got out the turtle potty. I put it in the bathroom, then Matthew sat on it awhile (no results), carried it over by the baby's pack and play, into the pantry and back into the bathroom. More sitting (no results). I put a diaper on and we had lunch, then again, he started with the "Poop" and was much more insistent about it. Again, stripped, again, more sitting and...he went both #1 and #2! I proudly gave him a high five and he washed his hands and hair at the sink and thus begins our journey into potty training with Matthew. Now, potty training Matthew is not really on my agenda right now, but if he's into it, who's to stop him?

Milestone #2 involves Abby. Now, Abby is a mystery in terms of getting her to calm down and sleep. As I've mentioned, at least for Sam, we found out that he likes pacifiers and swings. That was our ticket to 3 or  4 uninterrupted hours of sleep from the point he turned two weeks old on. Matthew wasn't so easy, he'd sleep for a few hours and liked the bouncy seat, and he would take a pacifier, but there wasn't much of an "easy ticket" for him. With Abby, it's been tough because she doesn't fall asleep while nursing, doesn't like a pacifier, gets overstimulated and overtired, doesn't like the swing or being bounced in the bouncy seat, hmmmmm. The only thing that's been working is holding her. Now, we love our little angel, but holding her for all her sleeping hours just wasn't practical for us and with Jason going back to work soon, we clearly had to find another way. So I tried loud white noise. Very loud. As in the vacuum cleaner right beside the pack and play where she was napping. As in vacuum on for and hour and a half. And she napped. She stirred at least two or three times but went back to sleep. I don't know if it's a clear breakthrough, but it's something. Knowing that running the vacuum for all her naps and night sleeping wasn't practical, I went to that wonderful online store called "Amazon." Typed in "white noise" and out came all sorts of options: vacuum noise CDs, dishwasher noise CDs, hairdryer noise CDs, mixed white noise CDs, heartbeat/womb noises, car noises, and on and on and on. I selected a CD that was also available for MP3 download (i.e. I could use it immediately) and it had a mix of 8 white noises.

So when Abby started getting tired this afternoon, I swaddled her and rocked her in her room while track 7 (vacuum) played loudly on her CD player. She was almost asleep, then I put her in her crib and patted a few times, and left. For the next 10 minutes or so, I could hear her making little fusses every so often, but then silence! She was asleep! And she wasn't being held and she was in her own bed! I cried (seriously, I cry very easily when I've been up since 3:30 AM for three nights in a row). It's been about an hour now and she's starting to stir, but oh, it gives me some hope of better nights! How I love my children, but how I love it when they nap too.

A typical day--newborn style

Well, kiddos, while there's nothing typical about life with a newborn (no offense, Abby), I decided to write about what our days are like these days. Before I begin, know that our days aren't typical in that Daddy is home with us these days and was for the past week and will be for most of next week, too. But we are adjusting to our new life together and have some "typical" activities that we engage in these days. Anyway, our "days" begin around 6:30 or 7AM (if we're lucky) with Matthew either crying and waking us up or Sam coming into our room when his clock turns yellow. Usually, Abby is asleep in the morning after eating around 5 or 6 AM (after one or two other nighttime feedings), so the boys are the ones who wake us up.

Generally, I sleep with Abby for awhile, while Daddy helps the boys get changed and then goes downstairs to start breakfast. Sometimes Daddy stays with Abby for awhile and I get the boys ready. When Daddy does breakfast it's usually cereal. When Mommy does breakfast it's something like wheat waffles or coffee cake muffins (which the boys helped make this morning). Surprisingly, I often have enough energy to make breakfast if given the opportunity.

We have breakfast and whichever parent was with Abby emerges around 7:30 or 8AM usually. Then we switch off parenting duties and one parent watches the kids while the other showers or changes or just gets semi-presentable for the day. Mid-morning is when we go somewhere if we go anywhere. Yesterday the kids and I went to Target and Jason went to church. This morning we went to the church Bazaar. We also made it to the Y one morning this week. Other days we stay at home.

Sometimes I just can't remember how we pass our time other than the mornings go by quickly and then it's lunch time. Abby usually takes a good 2+ hour morning nap after being awake from around 7:30 or 8 until 9 or 10. Then, I usually feed Abby around lunch time while Jason prepares lunch. Today the boys had toast for lunch and Jason and I didn't eat. We then switched parenting duties and Jason cared for Abby while I took Sam and Matthew upstairs for naps. Jason and Abby napped, while I worked around the house. Sometimes I nap with Abby and Jason works around the house or runs errands.

After naps, we have been playing outside a lot or going for walks. Sometimes the kids play in the basement. At 5PM we watch the Berenstein Bears and prep dinner (which either comes from generous friends or our freezer). Dinner is around 5:30 or 6, then we play some more and get the boys ready for bed around 7 (meaning we start tidying up, take baths, put on PJs, etc). Matthew goes to bed around 7:30, Sam around 8 and Abby, well, whenever she nods off for the evening. If we're lucky Abby sleeps around 8 or 9, if we're unlucky, Abby doesn't sleep until later and instead has crying spells for an hour or so. Jason and I go to bed around 9:30 or 10 and either Jason holds Abby and rests on the couch for the first part of the night (until midnight or 2AM) or I take Abby and sleep with her all night. Sometime soon Abby will sleep on her own (and she does occasionally), but she's quite comfy in the crook of my arm or on Jason's chest, so there she sleeps for now.

There you have it. Our lives are rather mundane these days although they are very exhausting and long.  Boys, you seem to be doing well. You read lots of books, dance often when you hear music on the TV or radio and play with cars and trains and paint and color. I'm amazed when I look at the house at the end of the day that it's really in pretty good order. I also know that a lot of that is due to Jason being home as there are two of us to keep up with the messiness of small children. Anyway, sometime when life becomes more ordered I will write more about our typical days (as "typical" changes frequently with small children), but for now, you have an idea of what we do.

Happy Halloween!

 Sorry for the two day delay in writing about our Halloween, but that's just how things go these days. Anyway, after thinking we wouldn't do anything for Halloween and stay in for the evening, we decided to get the boys dressed up and visit Grammy and Papa and go trick or treating on our street. The reasoning was that neither Sam or Matthew really understand what Halloween is and since we haven't talked about it or read books about it, neither was excited and looking forward to it. So we thought we'd just skip it this year. But then I thought about how it would be fun and the kids would be so cute, so Jason took Sam to a costume store after lunch on Monday (yes, it was Halloween day) and picked out a costume. Sam debated being a doctor, fire fighter or UPS man and he chose...UPS delivery man. He didn't consider the usual little kid characters opting for more pragmatic career-oriented costumes. 

Matthew dressed as a walrus which was Sam's costume from last year. No, I didn't have my heart set on my kids being walruses for Halloween, but when you shop at Marshalls a few days before Halloween your costume selection is rather limited. Anyway, the walrus costume is actually really good quality and was cheap and the kids are so cute dressed as a walrus. Abby will probably wear the walrus in two years as it should fit her at about that time.  This year, though, Abby went as herself. She's cute enough as a newborn.

Sam wore his uniform as soon as he got up from nap and when we went out to play outside for a bit he was wearing his UPS uniform and screaming around the driveway on his trike with a brown package under his arm. I ran inside to get the camera to get a picture of him with his UPS trike, but when I returned he had moved on to snack. We got Matthew into the walrus with much crying and protesting. He especially did not like to put the hood on with the walrus teeth as can be seen from the picture. Oh well, he was still a cute walrus.

After visiting Grammy and Papa we went to some of our neighbors for trick or treating. Most people said we were there only visitors for the evening, which wasn't surprising since there are just a handful of kids in our neighborhood and I'm sure the older ones probably went to other more trick-or-treating friendly neighborhoods with more houses closer together. Since the kids were the only visitors at most houses, our neighbors were very generous with giving out candy. Some put handfuls of candy in the kids' bags and others let the kids pick out what they wanted. Matthew wasn't shy about grabbing fistfuls of candy. Sam would grab one piece, then the neighbor would tell him he could have more, so he'd grab another piece. They certainly had a different approach to getting candy.

All in all, it was a fun Halloween. The kids really got into it and enjoyed visiting the neighbors. Sam would generally approach the houses yelling, "trick or treat!" and then he'd ring the door bell and wait for someone to open the door. And we got a lot of candy from our neighbors which is quickly diminishing...those kids sure like their candy.

Update

Hi Kids, Well, Abby has been with us a week now and you all seem to have adjusted fairly well to each other. I really am surprised that you are doing so well, and Matthew, I actually feel a little sad that you aren't struggling more with not having as much mommy-time as you are used to. I guess you are more resilient that I thought and a lot more independent. Although I know you are very independent as you frequently go off by yourself when we play outside and find other things to do--you blaze your own trail and do as you please. I have a feeling that may cause some contention down the road, but for now it's an interesting trait.

Abby, you are an excellent baby. You cry when you need to eat, when you are gassy or just when you want to be held, but you are really quite good. You sleep all night, waking only twice for eating and go right back to sleep. Granted, we haven't figured out your sleeping "formula" yet and you mostly sleep in my or Daddy's arms. By formula, I mean that we haven't figured out what gets you to sleep and stay asleep for a good few hours. For Sam, the formula was: swaddle + pacifier + swing = sleep 4 hours. For Matthew it took us a long time to find a formula, but eventually we realized that if we put you to bed right as soon as you started to show signs of tiredness, you would sleep. We didn't even have to have much of a routine, other than give you a pacifier. It was the time window that mattered most. And the time window was usually between 5:30 and 6:30 PM.


Abby, we don't have a formula for you although we've only had you for a week, so it's understandable that we haven't figured you out yet and also, you are just a newborn, so maybe there is no formula to be found at this early stage of life. Anyway, you don't care for pacifiers and the other night, Daddy was extremely frustrated and said, "She hates the pacifier!" You don't seem to care for the swing and don't really like to be swaddled. Hmmm... I don't have any other tricks in my arsenal. You like to be held against the chest, so Daddy or I usually just hold you on our chests and doze as best we can throughout the night. It works, for now. I have a feeling your formula might involve thumb sucking as you seem to have found your thumb an amazing number of times during your first week of life.

In closing I have to include a story about Sam's bedtime tonight. I was feeding Abby and Jason took Sam up to bed. They went up the stairs, then a few moments later Sam started yelling down the stairs, "Hey everybody! Daddy didn't brush my teeth!" Then it was quiet and I assume the bedtime rountine went on as normal. When Jason got downstairs I asked him what happened and he said that Sam asked about brushing his teeth and Jason told him something like, "Oh, we don't need to tonight" and then Sam ran to the top of the stairs to tattle. There are no secrets in our house these days. Love you lots, Mom

Welcome Abby!

Hi Kiddos, Well, now there are three of you. Abby was born yesterday, Oct. 19, 2011. After a few days of fruitless contractions, when they started up again early yesterday morning, I pretty much ignored them. I got dressed to go to the Y, told Jason to go to work and then suddenly, around 7:15AM or so, realized this was the real deal and we needed to go to the hospital ASAP. We arrived at the hospital a little after 8AM and Abby arrived (via waterbirth) at 10:48AM. Daddy broke a few traffic laws on the way to the hospital, but we still made it with plenty of time. Sam, you seem very excited about having a baby around. You frequently come over to the baby, touch her, kiss her, bring her toys and just look at her while saying things like, "Ahhh, look at her eyes!" "Ahh, how cute!". You've said many other cute things over the past day and a half about your new sister, but I can't remember them. Matthew, you are a bit more skeptical about the baby. You point at her often and say, "Baby!" and tried saying goodnight to her tonight, but she didn't wave back. You waved and waved, but got no response. 

Abby, other than being a girl, you seem much different from your brothers. For one, you have a lot of hair and dark hair! I was quite surprised at your hair and didn't want to put on your hat much during our stay at the hospital so I could look at your unruly dark hair. You also seem to have a darker complexion, but I can't remember what your brothers were like at birth, so maybe it's just the hair throwing me off. I'm sure other differences will emerge over the years, but those are the ones that stand out now.

In the picture, Sam you had swaddled a baby doll we have (I bought it a few weeks ago in preparation for your sister's arrival) and were cuddling with your baby doll as Daddy was cuddling Abby. Welcome to our new life together as a family of five. Love, Mom

Fall is here!

Hi Kiddos, Well it's been much too long since I've written anything. I guess I'm a little distracted these days and also tired, so I just haven't sat down to write anything lately and I don't think things will get much better in the coming days, weeks and months, but we'll see.

Fall is officially here! After a weird September and strange start to October, it is finally cool and time to do some fall yard cleaning. Sam, you especially like to rake. So much so that we had to buy another rake so that you, Daddy and I could all have one. I tried using yours a few times (when you stopped raking and were diverted by playing) but you would have none of it. So we bought another. Not a kiddie rake, no, when asked if you wanted a kid-sized rake at Menards the other day, you said no, we already had a rake for you at home, which is a full-sized rake. Matthew, you also enjoy raking, although not to the extent that Sam does and I'm afraid the rake is a little unwieldy for you at this time. You will have to grow into it. Both of you love running, jumping, falling and flailing around in the piles of leaves. This makes for somewhat of a mess and involves much re-raking for whoever is actually doing the raking (generally Daddy), but it also makes for a much more enjoyable time raking. And when Daddy loads the leaves onto the tarp to load into the back of the truck, the real fun begins. You kids get to ride around the yard on the tarp while Daddy pulls you and the leaves to the truck. I can't believe how happy this makes you two, but it sure is fun to watch.

Today, Daddy even threw you two (one at a time) into the leaf pile, much to your enjoyment. Sam, although you are usually one to stay away from risks, you loved being thrown into the leaves. Matthew, on the other hand, although you are usually one to take risks, you didn't really enjoy being thrown into the leaves. Interesting how that worked out today. Anyway, we've had some happy fall days this past week.

Here you two are playing in the leaves from last weekend (notice the shorts and t-shirts...it was quite warm!)

 And here you are enjoying a ride on the tarp...

And this is from today...leaf raking and throwing...(notice the change in attire...it was much cooler today.)

Happy Fall! Love you lots, Mom

Matthew sees the moon

Hi Matthew, last Friday we were at Grammy and Papa's house to celebrate your cousin Josh's birthday. Since there were lots of evening festivities going on, you ended up staying up later than usual which meant that you were awake when it got dark outside. Which also meant that you got to see the moon. It started after Josh opened his birthday presents and someone pointed out the moon outside. You got very excited about it and would regularly interrupt your playing and running around to go to the window and see the moon, excitedly exclaiming "Moon! Moon!" while pointing and waiting for other people to acknowledge your finding. We eventually headed home and the car ride consisted of you saying, "Car, car, car, moon, moon" over and over and over. And we did see lots of cars on the way home, although we couldn't see the moon so I can only assume you were looking for it.

When we got home you again looked for the moon. We went from window to window looking for it and you would ask, "Moon go?" with your palms upturned as you usually do when seeking something. Unfortunately we couldn't see it as it was hidden behind some trees. It was a disappointing way to end a happy evening of seeing the moon. Jason estimates that you must have said "moon" at least 100 times that night and I don't think his estimate is too far off. I was pondering your fixation on the moon later that night after you went to bed, I realized that you had never seen the moon before and had realized that it was actually something real, and not just something that we read about in "Goodnight Moon" and other books. If only we could all be so amazed at something as seemingly simple as the moon.

On Sunday afternoon we were playing outside and again you spotted the moon. It's crescent could be seen in the afternoon sky and you were very excited at it's appearance. We couldn't hardly get you to come inside you just wanted to point and look at the moon and excitedly say, "Moon!" It really made for a fun afternoon and it's neat how something so simple can bring our family so much joy. I love to see how much you love the moon. Well, goodnight and sleep tight. Love, Mom

Sam's Party

Hi Sam, when I was looking through the pictures that we took after the photo shoot on Saturday, I realized I hadn't written anything about your birthday party. Well, it was on Sept. 25 and lots of family came. You were very excited for your party and presents and cake. Uncle Brian brought some helium balloons which you loved.

 You got lots of other great presents including puzzles, games, books, clothes, and of course, cars and trucks. This year you opened all your presents before playing with them (for the most part) unlike last year, where you opened a gift and immediately wanted to play with just that gift. We've read every book you received many times over the past week or so, played with your games and put together puzzles frequently. Matthew has also tried to enjoy your gifts, although he too received some nice gifts for your birthday. Yes, Matthew got some presents too and you have some very nice family. I don't really expect you too much to share your presents, but I do let Matthew try them out if you're occupied with other toys. Sharing isn't a really strong part of who you are right now, but you're getting better and at least more tolerant of Matthew's desire to play with your stuff, and he's also getting used to hearing, "No, that's Sam's" so he leaves some of your stuff alone.

Your cake was a Cars cake that I put together. You picked out the design and enjoyed the singing. You blew out one candle and didn't want to attempt the other two, despite much prodding, so to get things moving along (Matthew was getting impatient for cake) I blew out the other candles. And then both you and Matthew ate cake, well, I guess you just ate frosting. You even picked out the layer of frosting between the two cake layers and your plate was a heap of chocolate when you were finished. After I said you couldn't have any more frosting you tried the cake and realized it was pretty good too, so then you ate the cake. 

We had a lot of fun and I can't hardly believe we've been blessed to have you for three years. I wish I could remember how far you've come over the last year, but you change and grow so quickly. Happy Birthday, kiddo. Love, Mom

Church pictures

Hi boys, Yesterday we had pictures for the church directory taken. We had decided beforehand not to order any because our family is going to change in a few weeks, but we still wanted to get pictures taken for the directory. So we did. Boys, you wore sweater vests that I knitted over nice button down shirts and jeans. You were so darn cute. I hoped to get a promising picture, but wasn't really thinking that was too realistic. Regardless, I figured I wouldn't be too compelled to buy any pictures due to my advanced state of pregnancy and dislike of pictures of me in this state. Anyway, Sam, while we were getting dressed for church Daddy told you to practice a big smile. And a big smile you certainly produced. You opened your mouth wide, with the corners of your mouth slightly upturned and "smiled." It was hilarious. We didn't actually get any pictures of you with your "big smile" but I'm sure you will reproduce it later. I guess you're at the point where fake smiles start. You did really well for the family pictures and we got quite a few nice, and real smiles out of you.

Matthew, however, you were another story. You were chipper and happy while you were running around the church hallways before the picture, but when the photographer started trying to interact with you, you turned very serious, even grimacing or glaring. You do that sometimes. When a stranger tries to talk to you, you just glare. Wow. It's very serious. Your expressions during the photo session involved grimacing, glaring or crying. There was nothing even remotely close to a smile in the 40 or so pictures taken. In fact, for the picture we selected for the directory you were looking, well, ticked off. We really didn't base our selection off of your expression as you were just not cooperative. Of course, when we were looking at the proofs afterward you were your happy self.

After we got home from the church photo session, we decided to have our own photo shoot. We still didn't end up with anything "perfect" or even close to it but there were some funny moments and expressions captured.

Happy Birthday Sam!

Hi Sam, Well, today you turned 3 years old. Wow. It's gone so fast. At times I can't remember that you used to be a little baby and now you are three. I know that someday when you're even older, I will look back and say that I can't believe you used to be three. It's amazing how our memories work--we live in the moment and barely remember what happened before. I think being a sleep-deprived parent of multiple young kids may have something to do with the amnesia too.

Anyway, you woke at your usual 6:30AM, or at least that's what time Jason walked by your room and took you downstairs for breakfast. You got to open a present (Richard Scarry's Busy Busy Town) during breakfast before Jason left for work and then you and I enjoyed reading your new book together before Matthew woke up. You just love books. I thought this one would be a winner for you as the other Richard Scarry books we have are becoming more and more tattered and torn and taped up. We ended up reading the book three times today and you also looked at it on your own a few times as well. You told people today that "My birthday is coming up!" and I had to correct you and say that it was today. The concept of time is slowly coming to you, although you have a ways to go yet. For example, you said, "I went to the boat races a few years ago," when you meant that it was a few weeks ago. But you're getting there.

We also went to the doctor for your 3 year check-up. You were such a brave boy getting weighed, measured and looked over. Didn't cry at all, although you did cling tightly to BaaBaa's legs and sniff his feet often. You weren't very cooperative when the doctor asked you questions. Sometimes I can't get you to stop talking, but you talk when you want to and are silent when you want to be. At every doctor's visit we're given a developmental "what to expect" list and one of the things listed said that you may have an imaginary friend or something similar. While you don't have an imaginary friend, you've talked often lately about what Baa Baa likes or does. For example, you said that BaaBaa didn't want to read books, he wanted to play cars the other day. Also, BaaBaa feels tired and wanted to nap yesterday, but you didn't want to. It's cute to see how you have given BaaBaa a personality and feelings and preferences.

Here are your stats from today's appointment: Height: 38.25", 75th percentile, Weight: 21.5 lb, 50th percentile. You are a pretty tall and lean boy. Maybe you're taking after your Uncle David. Before your birthday you said that when you turned 3 you would be big--as big as Daddy. I don't know it you were shocked today when it didn't happen, but you still persist in saying that soon you will be big as Daddy. Happy Birthday, Sam. Love, Mom

Favorite words

Hi boys, you both have a growing vocabulary and I decided to write about what seem to be your current favorite words. Matthew, yours are pretty easy and typical for a child your age. They are "mine" and "no." You quickly learned the concept of "mine" and use it often, especially with Sam, which is understandable since he regularly tries to take your toys and you need to defend yourself. But you use it frequently when you really don't need to, such as asking for food. You'll point to something you want, like a cookie and say "Mine!" Sometimes you use the actual word to describe what you want (like bread and butter, which sounds like "ba ba ba ter").

You also have mastered the concept of "no". For example, I'll ask, "Matthew, do you want to take a nap now?" and you'll respond, "No!" and run away. Or when we're reading books before bed, you clearly know what you want to read and you emphatically push away the "wrong" books with a strong "No!" Your current favorites are Farmer Mickey, Tractors and Baby Animals.

Sam, although you have an extensive vocabulary, you don't like to show it off, but you do have a few favorite words too. Instead of responding to questions by giving the appropriate answer, (such as, "Sam, how old are you?", and you respond, "Two and a half") you like to respond in one of two ways, "Ta tas!" or "Ka kas!" You respond this way frequently, especially when we're around other people. So someone will say, "What's your name?" and you'll say, "Ta tas". You clearly know the answer, but when pressed for it, you'd rather respond with one of your gibberish words. Daddy thinks your gibberish words may be misinterpreted in the wrong context (let your imagination do the work on that one) and wishes you would limit their use to at home, but you will do as you want. Regardless, Daddy and I are very proud of both of your vocabularies and your ability to communicate when you want to. Keep it up. Love, Mom

Regurgitation

Hi boys and readers, I'm not sure the new format is really working for me. I guess I can't always think of something that I want to write to the boys about. I'd rather write a general post. So what I'm going to do is just write either a letter to the boys or a general post and see how that goes. Although that doesn't fully explain my dearth of posts lately. For one, Matthew has been getting up at 5:30 for the last week and a half. I don't know what brought that on, but it's certainly threw me for a loop and has made me so tired! As if I'm not extremely tired already with one month to go until the baby's due date. Fortunately, today Matthew woke at 6:51, which is more the pattern he's settled in for the past few months. So I'm able to stay up until past 10PM and write a post. And then I have some knitting projects I'm trying to finish up before the baby. No, they're not for the baby, but I know that my knitting is going to be postponed indefinitely once the little girl arrives. So I've been knitting frantically and finished up a vest for Sam (which he is very excited about and wanted to wear it over his t-shirt when I completed it) and a cardigan for myself.

Anyway, back to my original topic for today...regurgitation. What do you think of when you hear regurgitation? Perhaps mother birds feeding their babies? Well, Matthew, you like to regurgitate your food. I've wondered to myself and to Jason how long this behavior will last and when you will stop, but you don't show any signs of changing at this point. It's really kind of funny behavior. We'll start out dinner with something, like bread or crackers or whatever I have ready for you at the time you realize you're hungry and cry and scream at my feet. So you'll get buckled into your booster chair and start eating the initial offering. Then as I get more food and milk ready I give it to you. When you are offered something you prefer you just spit out whatever happens to be in your mouth at the time. Sometimes we will be well into our meal and you will be happily eating the food on your tray, but then you decide that what you just put into your mouth isn't as good as something else on your tray, so you just spit it out and move on. You do this when you want to take a drink. Rather than just swallowing what's in your mouth when you want to take a drink, you spit it out. Matthew, this is really just yucky behavior. You can just swallow it! Sometimes you end up eating whatever you spit out (hence the regurgitation title) and sometimes the partly chewed, drooly food ends up on your tray, the floor or stuck to your bib. Today you spit out a brownie! A brownie! How awful! What a wonderful food! But you wanted a drink of milk to wash down the previous bite, so there was the gooey, chewed up dark brown trail slowly dribbling down your chin and onto your bib. Ugh. The poor, rejected brownie. Anyway, Matthew, we're hoping you move on from this behavior soon. It really won't do when you get older. It's just a little gross now, but will be much grosser when your older. Nigh nigh, time for me to go to bed. Love, Mom

Is that funny?

Sam, Lately you have been exploring what is funny and what is not. You will do or say something, then ask, "Was that funny, Mommy?"  What is funny is that usually you are not funny. For example, you will blow bubbles in your milk and ask if that's funny. Or you will tap your spoon on the metal bar chairs we have. Well, that's not exactly funny. Kiddo, unfortunately, much of what you do that you wonder if it's funny is just annoying. It's not really naughty, but just annoying. Maybe another little kid would think it's funny and often, you make Matthew laugh, so maybe that's where you are getting your ideas of funniness. In the future, I don't think I'd recommend using Matthew as a test audience for your comedian jokes.

You do, however, know who is funny and who is not, although you are apparently uncertain as to what is funny. Yesterday you were saying, "I am funny. Daddy is funny. Mommy is not funny." I asked you why Daddy was funny and I was not, and you couldn't pin point it, but you were certain Daddy is funny and I am not. You also said Matthew was not funny, but that Matthew was cute. Okay. I agree that Daddy is funny (and sometimes annoying) and you are funny (and sometimes annoying and exasperating) and Matthew is cute (and also funny). Daddy on occasion entertains thoughts of doing stand up comedy instead of working in finance, so you are right to pick out the funny parent. I on the other hand, just am Mom. I wonder how you would describe me? Thus far, you've determined that I'm not funny, another day you told me I don't work, except for I make dinner which is work. Other than that, what am I? Maybe your vocabulary isn't ready to describe me yet. I don't think Daddy's vocabulary is ready to describe me either. Perhaps that just comes with being a male. Daddy can give you good advice on working with females, but for now, just tell me you love me and give me a hug. And just be yourself. Continue asking what is funny. Continue hugging and loving BaaBaa and tell me what BaaBaa likes to do and eat. Continue playing and dancing and singing and running and jumping. That will suffice for the time being. Love you, Mom

Sharing

Hi boys, We are at the point your lives where sharing has become an issue. Prior to this time, it wasn't much of a big deal, because Matthew, you just didn't understand that Sam was taking your toys and you didn't want to play with the same things as Sam anyways. But now you have been enlightened as to what are fun and desirable toys and you both want the same toys. So you will both be playing with different toys for awhile, then one of you will realize that the other is playing with a desirable toy. Then the interested party will wander over and grab the desirable toy and run away. This results in screaming and crying by the offended party and the need for intervention by a parent.

The sharing issue even is so bad that Sam, you don't want to go to the bathroom out of fear that Matthew will take your toys. Sometimes when Matthew walks near your toys you will hug them and cover them with your body and say, "No Matthew!" Matthew, you also are very protective and will sometimes just start screaming if Sam even walks near you when you are playing. I guess you have discovered that Sam will often snatch your toy and you preemptively protect your interests.

On a funny note, the other day I was getting two snack bags ready to take to the park and Grandma Sue asked if she could have some of Sam's snack. Sam, you offered up Matthew's snack for sharing. So the sharing concept is just not catching on. We'll just have to keep working on it. It makes for a quite interesting and eventful house these days.

The Children's Museum

Hi Kiddos, Today with the weather being super hot and humid I decided to take you to the Children's Museum. I don't know how much we'll go there after the little one arrives, but over the past year we've gone about once a month or so. This month we may go twice to get some extra play time in before your sister comes to change all our lives forever. Anyway, I included some pictures of your favorite activities, which involve the water play area. We always head there first and spend a good portion of time there (meaning maybe a half hour) before moving on to other areas. Matthew, you especially like the water, which is fitting since you were born into water. Sam, your favorite part of water play is, of course, the "boat races" which is actually what you call the Children's Museum. I will say, "We're going to the Children's Museum today" and you'll say something like, "The boat races? By Daddy's work? By the french fry store?" At our house you have to settle for playing with water during bath time or maybe I'll set up the swimming pool in the backyard. Sometimes I even fill a dishpan with soapy water and lay down towels and let you have at it with measuring cups and spoons. At any rate, you are both perfectly happy playing with water. Although the water stuff at the Children's Museum is just really cool and a lot of fun. Enjoy the pics. 

Matthew's 15, errrr, 16 months!

Hi Matthew, I've been meaning to write you about your 15 mo. appointment for a long time, but just haven't gotten around to it until now. So here it is. And here you are almost 16 months. Anyway, you didn't really like the appointment, even before the shots. Typical of previous appointments, you cried as soon as the nurse came in and told me to strip you down to your diaper. Getting weighed was a tragedy as was getting measured on the exam table. Being examined by the doctor was pretty bad too, although you sat on my lap the whole time which reduced your crying significantly. Then came the shots. Not pleasant. I guess you have a good excuse given your last ER visit which was very unpleasant to watch, so I'm sure it was very unpleasant to experience.

Here are your 15 mo. stats and how they compare to Sam's.
Height: 33.25 in, 95th percentile (Sam, 33 in, 93rd percentile)
Weight: 26.25 lbs 75th percentile (Sam, 21.25lbs, 10th percentile)

As you can see, you are healthy and strong and growing very well! While you certainly are a lot bigger than Sam was at that age, you're by no means huge looking. In fact, I'm often surprised at how you look rather lean compared to some other big little kids. I guess Sam was on the small side of "normal" and you're on the bigger side of "normal."

As far as other development, apparently you're supposed to say 3-6 words correctly at this age. You certainly have that down. Today you said, "Where go Mama?" So there's 3 words strung together in a sentence! You make your mother proud. Every day it seems you say another word that I had no idea you knew. Like two days ago you said "towel" and yesterday at the library you said "giraffe" (it sounded more like raff, but I knew what you meant). I'll try to list some more that I remember you know, but there really are too many to remember...truck, car, go, ball, baseball, blankie, thank you, down, cookie, cracker, water, drink, book, Sam, Dada, Mama, kitty, dog, tractor, baby, shoe, Elmo, shower...hmmm. I can't remember what else right now. Anyway, we are proud of you. Keep up the good work! Love, Mom

What's on the floor?

Hi Kids, Well, you certainly make a mess of my floors these days. Matthew, you are an expert at hurling food on the floor when you are upset. Mostly you get mad when you are not cleaned up and removed from your booster seat immediately upon showing your enthusiastic "all done" sign (rapidly waving your arms around and saying "done done"). You also like to drop your drink on the floor, and although you use sippy cups that are not supposed to leak, the force with which you drop or throw them always leaves splatters on the floor. So there is a myriad of food and drink remnants on the floor, some of which get wiped up and some of which don't immediately until mop up day.

Sam, your floor messes also deal with the kitchen or dining room. Your food mishaps are well, by accident, unlike Matthew's. You are getting very good at using a spoon, using it for oatmeal, cereal and milk and yogurt, but occasionally food misses your mouth and ends up on the floor.

For both of you, however, your "interesting" floor mishaps involve the bathroom. Matthew, you like to play in the toilet. There is no other way to say it. Today you took the toilet brush and tried to clean the toilet. You also try to put various kitchen items in the toilet, as I've previously reported, and other times you simply like to play in the toilet with your hands. Now "they" make locks for toilet seat covers so that little kids like you, Matthew, can't open them, but that also means they would be locked up for Sam, so we can't go that route. Instead, we try to keep the bathroom doors closed. Sam, your bathroom mishaps involve "misses". You are becoming quite good at using the potty, but as a boy, you are sometimes careless with your aim. Anyway, what all this activity in the bathroom leads to is "what's on the floor?" I will walk into the bathroom and see a puddle. Is that just toilet water or is it pee? Neither option is particularly appealing, although I must admit that I'd rather it's toilet water. I will sometimes inquire of Sam what happened, which usually ends up with a incoherent answer. Matthew, I usually catch you in the act, so it's really not much of a question. But at times it is and I stare at it for awhile, trying to determine it's origin, getting disgusted by the puddle, and eventually grab paper towels or a nearby towel, wipe up the mess, then spray it down with cleaner and wipe it again.

Someday I won't ask these questions. I may ask whether a particular spill in the kitchen is apple juice or water, but I won't be pondering whether something is toilet water or pee. I just won't. Except for this post I probably won't even remember that I even considered this question. Such is the life of a mom with little kids. Who knew that I would ponder such things? That's something that you just don't consider when you think of having children. Someday you may be asking the very same question of your own children. Love you, Mom

Sitting on the steps

Sam,

Years down the road you will read this and I'm sure you will be very surprised at what I'm going to write. I think there are all sorts of things that parents know that their kids think they don't know (and all sorts of things that parents don't know about their kids too...) and this is just one case. I wonder if my parents knew that Aunt Jessica and I would play cards or read with flashlights under the covers when we were younger? Well, anyway, we know that after we put you to bed you come out of your room and sit on the steps reading. Yes, we know. We sometimes pretend that we can't hear you turning pages, but we can. Sometimes we just let it go and after a few minutes you go back to bed on your own. The other day, for example, you came out of your room, were on the steps for a few minutes and went back on your own. In the morning you confessed that you came downstairs to see if Big Brother was on and finding that it wasn't you went back to bed. At least you are honest.

Other times we pretend not to hear you and you don't go back to bed. Then we have to tell you to go back to bed. Tonight, for example, you sat for awhile, then I told you to go to bed. You said, "No." Hmmm...outright defiance. That is something new. Usually you just don't do what we ask, but you don't say "No." I had to "convince" you it was time to go back to bed and you eventually did.

Anyway, we know. I'm sure this won't be the first instance where we know what's going on and you think we don't. You are a clever boy, however, and I'm sure you will pull the wool over our eyes in the future. And we are clever parents, so I'm sure there will be times when we don't know, but we act like we do. I mastered that skill when I was a teacher. The students hardly ever called my bluff and Jason is an excellent poker player, so you may have a hard time with us in the future. Although you do have our genetic makeup, so I'm sure you will be a worthy contender. Anyway, go back to bed. Love ya,  Mom

Bath time, or maybe showers?

Hi boys, Jason and I have been trying to get you both to warm up to showers for a while. Matthew, you don't mind showers at this point, but you're much to unstable on slippery surfaces to really have you take a shower. And you're much to slippery to hold in a shower, too. And Sam, although you are stable on your feet (most of the time), you hate showers. In fact, when we took swimming lessons, I tried to shower you off once or twice and you shrieked and cried and in future swimming lessons you begged, pleaded and whined not to take a shower. So I generally haven't pushed it. Jason and I will occasionally ask if you want to take a shower, but that's about it. Lately, however, you've been much more interested in "showering." For you, showering involves taking a bath, and turning the water on to a trickle (out of the faucet, not the shower head) and putting you head under the cold trickle (you also prefer your baths cold). At times it gets in your eyes and I always have a towel ready for you to wipe off your eyes and hair. But you don't cry (which is a major change from previous showering experiences) and you're slowly acclimating yourself to showering.

Tonight during bathtime, Matthew, you grabbed the cup we fill with water to rinse during bath, and started filling it up and pouring it over your head. And you did that repeatedly, sometimes missing your head entirely, other times hitting your ear and other times pouring it squarely over your head, so water ran down your face. You didn't have any problem with that and even inspired Sam to try rinsing his own hair too. Fortunately we have another rinsing cup that Sam used to dump water over his head. Sam, you were amazed that Matthew didn't cry at all with having water in his face, and then you didn't cry either when water went in your face. You were both giggling and enjoying rinsing your hair. After awhile Matthew grabbed a washcloth, pretended to get some soap and then started scrubbing Sam's hair. Sam didn't mind that either and was quite tolerant of Matthew's cleaning efforts.

Tonight was probably the easiest bath I've ever given you two. You entertained each other, and were relatively innocuous in your entertainment (you didn't splash or stand) and just enjoyed each other and getting clean. And you rinsed yourselves and even scrubbed up yourselves. Matthew, you really love to scrub up, although we still need to work on getting areas other than your tummy scrubbed and you like to rub, rub, rub the tummy. It's a start. Anyway, maybe we can delay the showering for awhile. I had a fun time during bath and so did you. Love ya,
Mom  

Babies

Hi Boys, We've been talking about babies some these days for obvious reasons. Sam, a few days ago, you lifted up your shirt to show me the baby in your tummy. We'll see how that turns out. You frequently look for your little sister in my tummy and have yet to find her. Someday soon.

Matthew, you love books with babies in them. And mailings with babies in them (Babies R Us stuff, and other baby catalogs). And you're obsessed with a baby knitting book that I have.  I'm making the boys some vests to wear during the holidays. Anyway, whenever I get out my knitting book Matthew starts yelling and pointing, "Baby, baby!" And he puts up a big fuss if I don't give him the book. And I mean a big fuss. Matthew, you can really raise a ruckus when you want to which occurs when 1) you don't get what you want, 2) you can't get to where you want or 3) you can't reach/do/touch/play with/etc. what you want. The worst ruckus you raise these days occurs when I take away your toothbrush, though. I'm completely serious. I brush your teeth (I generally take your oral health seriously, unlike someone else...), then I let you chew on your toothbrush for awhile. Well, when I take it away it causes serious protests. The protests were so bad one night that I just let you take your toothbrush to bed. This afternoon when I was reading Sam some books before nap you disappeared from his room, which isn't all that uncommon as sometimes you go read books in your own room or otherwise entertain yourself. But today I found that you had climbing onto a stool and up onto the vanity and was chewing on your toothbrush. At least you didn't get hurt and you were happy. Maybe we should try bringing the toothbrush to church and see if that helps you to stay quiet...

Back to babies. Sam, you talk a lot about going to the hospital to get the baby and someday you will make the trek there, and I will be there waiting for you with your sister. Matthew, I'm not sure how that day will go. I have a feeling this will be a hard transition, but you are a pretty tough little guy. I hope your enthusiasm for babies extends toward your sister. Anyway, you are both my babies and always will be, love always, Mom

Sleeping in

Dear boys,

I haven't set an alarm to wake up in the morning since, well, at least since before Matthew was born. See, in those days, Sam used to sleep in until 7 on most mornings. So if I/we had to be somewhere around 8 I'd have to set an alarm to make sure I was up in time. However, these days I never set an alarm. It seems there is always a child awake at 6 or 6:30, so "sleeping in" until 7 or later is just not going to happen. Ever. Matthew, you've been a early morning riser since day one, and I vaguely remember you getting up at 6AM most mornings all winter. Fortunately, with the time change that was moved back until 7 this spring (and has creeped up to around 6 or 6:30 most days), but now with the fall time change coming up, well, I can only hope for the best, otherwise I'm getting out my earplugs and I'll see you at 6AM or later.

Saturday morning was not a good morning for me. I didn't sleep well during the night, so Sam, when you came into Mom and Dad's room at 6:22, I moaned "No, no, no" and rolled over. Daddy, fortunately, wasn't as perturbed as I was and got up with you (and took you and Matthew who woke up moments later to get donuts which I had requested the night before...what wonderful Kirchhoff men). I "slept in" for another half hour or so, then got up, only to feel groggy for getting a little bit of extra sleep. Isn't that funny how that works? Isn't it funny how I refer to 7AM as sleeping in these days? I never would have thought that was sleeping in during my younger years, but now I would love to sleep in until 7AM. That sounds like heaven on earth (if there was such a thing).

Anyway, Sunday morning, Sam, you had learned your lesson and neither you or Matthew made a peep until 6:57AM. Jason and I had both woken up on our own by that time and Jason asked, "I wonder if the kids are ok?" As if on cue, Sam walked into our room moments later and started reading books with Jason and Matthew started crying for attention minutes later, so I brought him into bed with us and he cuddled for a few minutes. See how happy we all are at 7AM? See, isn't life better this way? I'm happy, Daddy's happy and you both get adequate, loving attention. It's not that we/I don't love you at 5:30 or 6AM, I guess that showing my love for you at that time consists of actually getting up with you, feeding you, getting you dressed (or helping you dress, in Sam's case), but the lovey-dovey-ness-my-children-are-wonderful-ness just isn't there. But give me another hour and I'm a completely different person.

Someday you'll understand. And someday I'll probably have to drag you out of bed at 10AM. And I'll reminisce about the days when you got up, full of energy and joy, at 6AM.  Days when you got up and couldn't wait to see Jason and I. Days when you just want to snuggle a bit or read a few stories before starting off the day. Well, I'll see you in the morning. Love, Mom

Guest Post from Dad #2

Boys, I have a confession to make and I think I owe you an apology.  (although I'm not sure as the issue still seems somewhat unsettled in my mind)   Well here goes...   I don't take your dental care very seriously.  When I analyze the situation - it just doesn't make much sense to me.  Your teeth are going to fall out, in fact it is a cultural tradition that we celebrate the fact your teeth fall out. There is even a mythical creature? or person that has been created to assist with this celebration.   So why do we need to be so concerned about brushing all the time.  Now I normally do brush your teeth but there are times when you're (read - I'm) very tired and just want to go straight to bed.  Whats the big deal?  It's like having an old car that you are going to take to the junkyard but stopping to get the oil changed on the way.  So... I'm sorry I will try to do better.

God Bless,  Dad

Earliest memories

Dear Sam,

Last night Jason and I were talking and I was saying how I would probably approach the John Deere electric riding toy the same way you did--tentatively. You see, yesterday was the first day you really relished in riding the little John Deere at Grammy and Papa's. Not only did you relish it, but your were pretty much overjoyed as you drove the tractor around the driveway and sang incoherent songs which Jason thought were in German. Anyway, you initially were scared to even sit on it, but Daddy and Papa nudged and urged you to try it and took baby steps (running it while you walked beside, sitting on it without it moving, slowly moving, then off you go!) and eventually you warmed up to it. I think I probably would have done the same thing. I was always more tentative and careful with things, preferring to watch before jumping right in to something. Some call it fearful, I call it careful.

Jason joked that he wouldn't have approached the John Deere in that way, he said he was way to big for it. Silly Daddy. He knew that I meant I would have acted that way when I was a little kid, not right now, then I started teasing him about being old and not being able to remember his early years. We then reminisced about my earliest memories which are from when I was three years old. And you're almost there now. It's a little scary for me to think that you may retain some memories from your third year and time will only tell what you will hold onto. But for now, you'll have to deal with my earliest memory.

I remember going to Chicago when I was three with my mom, Grandma Sue. We went to the Lincoln Park Zoo and I remember riding in the backseat of the car on the way there and it was raining. When we got to the zoo there was a huge line of strollers for rent since the zoo wasn't busy because of the rain. I can vividly remember the line of strollers just outside the zoo. I can't remember any of the animals, but I remember the strollers. More importantly, I remember what wasn't on this trip to Chicago and the zoo. It was my sister, Aunt Jessica. I remember feeling quite smug that my sister had to go to school and couldn't go to the zoo, but I got to go. I felt so important. How's that for human nature? Attached to my earliest memory isn't the joy of seeing exotic animals, but enjoying something that my sister couldn't. It's funny to think that my earliest memory includes such details, but it's also a reminder of the reality of the ugly side of human nature. Watch out for that.

Soon you'll be able to remember things from your life too and you'll share stories with others just like I am now. Hopefully, they'll be good stories and you won't remember the uglier side of my nature which you sometimes see these days, and as we've all seen, has been present from the beginning. Time will only tell what your little mind will retain and relish and share in later years.

Guest Post - Dad

Well since this was my idea lets get this started...

Economic Lesson 1- Supply and Demand
Sam, although we have had several discussion about this specific lesson I thought it might be helpful for you to have it in writing as well.

So when we started the potty training exercise it quickly became clear that there should be remuneration for your ability to "produce".  In the beginning your production of #1 flowed freely and we were more than happy to give you a treat every time your production was localized in the proper receptacle.  I even enjoyed shopping for matchbox cars to pay you for your "work".
Unfortunately you became so efficient and productive in producing #1 that our willingness to pay dropped due to this excess supply. Now at the same time you were having trouble delivering #2 to the desired location and therefore we raised the stakes and offered you a trip to the toy store where you could have whatever you desired.  In summary this is an excellent example of what happens in a free market system: ceteris paribus - excess supply will cause a drop in value while limited supply will lead to an increase in value.
 
On a side note - I hope by the time you read this, the ramblings of John Maynard Keynes will no longer be viewed as economically viable. If for some strange  Keynes is still required reading in your education journey, please also read Ludwid von Mises.
God Bless,  Dad