Monday, September 18, 2017

Snapshots


Luke

...Turned 6 months old today. I forget how big he is, and new milestones always surprise me, because it seems like he was just born a few weeks ago.
...Loves to be smiled at, and is extremely interactive and friendly. He smiles at everybody, including complete strangers. 
...Tends to be more sensitive and reactive then I remember JJ being as a baby. He cries longer and harder when something scares him or he gets hurt, and takes a little longer to calm down
...Wears 12 month jammies to accommodate his long legs and big feet.
...Rolled from tummy to back at 13 weeks 6 days, and at 14 weeks rolled from back to tummy...and has not stopped rolling since. He rolls everywhere. It's like he's on autopilot; as soon as I lay him on his back, he rolls right over-changing his diaper is like trying to wrestle an alligator. He can't crawl yet, but he somehow manages to wriggle and roll several feet in very small spaces of time. Occasionally, he'll roll over consecutively, one after another. I'm a little nervous for when he really gets going!
...Is a full-on, almost exclusive tummy sleeper. He has been ever since he figured out how to roll over.
...Likes goodnight moon, patty cake, and trying to watch Monster Trucks with his brother
...Loves books
...Likes the toys on his bouncer and play mat a lot more-he gets laser vision and a look of pure determination as he bats at them tries to grab them. Very cute. Then he loses interest and rolls away
...Can sit up, but doesn't like it. He prefers to be on his belly. And when he's buckled into his bouncer,he pulls himself upright and launches himself forward, like he's trying to propel himself out of his seat.
...Tried his first foods in Colorado, alongside his twinner cousin (rice cereal and avocado). He didn't love it.
...Favorite foods include beans (especially refried), banana, baked sweet potato, softened carrots, bell pepper sautéed in olive oil and garlic salt, tomatoes, boiled apple, and French toast. He also sucked enthusiastically on a slice of cucumber and an apple slice. Least favorites: containers of baby food in any form, and avocado. 
...Is super strong. His Mimi and his Grammy have both told me they think he's going to crawl early-he gets his belly and hips off the ground, and just pushes off those little legs like he's trying to take off. He's going to keep me on my toes, I think!
...Loves looking at himself in the mirror, and I love watching him look at himself in the mirror. He smiles so big and squirms with joy. I would too, if I was that cute. 
...Still loves music. He's especially partial to the acoustic stylings of the late 60s and 70s, like James Taylor, Kenny Loggins, the Beatles, Bill Withers, etc
...Will lately fall asleep on everyone's shoulder at nap time except for mine. When I put him down, he just always tries to nurse. I am the milk-maid. 


Jace


...Some new Jace-isms:
"Pay wonger?" (Play longer)
"Too buggin!!" (When his clothing, such as socks or shoes, are uncomfortable to him in some way and wants them removed)
"Weee mad!" (Reaaallly mad) 
"Diggles!" When he has the giggles
"Wish-iss!" (Delicious!)
"Helmet on?" "Turn around?"
"A kick snuggle?" (A quick snuggle?)
"Dance a me?" (Dance with me?)
"Bye, have a nice day!" 
"Bak-man" for the movie Ratatouille 
"A hold you hug?" (When he is feeling snuggly or clingy and wants to be held)
...Is learning all the emotion words: happy, sad, angry, mad, frustrated, bored, and proud are ones he knows and can identify in pictures. Now, we are working on learning to identify them in himself and others and using those new words instead of screaming! 😂
...His language is exploding-up to 8-10 word utterances, including articles/prepositions/copula "is". He's also repeating everything we say, and he's memorized most of his books, including long phrases from books (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, his books about ambulances and tow trucks, If You Give a Dog a Donut, Going On A Bear Hunt, and The Little Mouse, A Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear)
...Pointed to a word in his book and said "letters!"
...Is starting to get really social. He wants to play with kids sometimes, and not just next to them. He loves his cousin Bentley, and while he was playing with kids at the park, I overheard him say "thank you," "excuse me," and "sorry." He wanted to be involved, and I even caught him pretending he was stuck while climbing on the jungle gym so that they bigger kids would stop and help him. Genius.
...Has been super into his sandbox lately. He rolls around in it like a puppy, takes all of his trucks and diggers in there...and yes, eats the sand.
...Loves to go "simmin!!" He's a total fish and can swim on his own with his new floaties. After an afternoon swimming at Lake Tye, he kept telling Colt and I that he had "a sun (fun) day!"
...LOVES to visit the fire station! The front desk lady knows him well, and they are always super nice. He was finally brave enough to climb inside the vehicles this time (he's always been too shy before), and he was pointing out the "scene lights!" and the "marker lights!" on the ambulance...this kid knows his stuff.🚒🚑
...Has been asking for cupcakes. We don't eat a lot of cake at this house-we are more cookie/brownie people. But all of a sudden, he knows what they are and talks about them a lot. I guess I'll have to bust out a batch of cupcakes one of these days with my tiny helper by my side!
...When we are waiting in line, or at a red light, he is always asking us to "Move, please?!" Often, he gets pretty upset. So we've been explaining the concept of patience and how it means quietly waiting for our turn, and he's started to remind himself by saying "Patience...patience a turn!"
...He's starting to give up naps. He still needs one, but it's getting later and later in the day, and sometimes he ends up not taking one at all. Those days can be tough. 
...Strokes my hair very softly. Sweet boy. 
...Calls corn "yellow beans"
...Calls me, Colt, and Mimi "honey bunny," even when he's angry or whiny. 
...Has started to sing to himself!! He knows a lot of songs, including 5 Little Monkeys, Patty Cake, Happy Birthday, Apples and Bananas, and various primary songs. He also recites big sections of books we've been reading. He'll be driving his trucks on the living room floor, just talking to himself: "One piece of chocolate cake, one lollipop, one slice of Swiss cheese..."
...Still loves Pooh Bear, and has adopted some of his phrases, such as  "Oh bother!" and "Think, think." He giggles every time he says a Pooh Bear phrase.
...He knows about so many things I didn't realize he was aware of, like Santa Clause, tunnels, cupcakes...I guess he really has just been soaking in every single thing everyone says over the last two and a half years.
...Randomly decided his brother's name is Bobby. Then, the next day, he informed us his own name is also Bobby. We don't know anyone named Bobby. I guess I do now, as Jace currently refers to himself as "Jace-Bobby."

I Love my Bobbies.

6 Month Outtakes







I had to post these. How could I not? All eyes and smiles, that's my Luke.

And because I know you are wondering: Yes, his little noggin is as perfectly round and fuzzy as it looks. And yes, I absentmindedly stroke his head about 50,000 times a day.

Apple Picking







We went apple picking at our favorite farm on Saturday. It was a quick trip (see last photo). We filled our bag with crisp, crunchy apples, paid, and spent the ride home thinking of how we are going to use up all the apples we picked! I've already made a batch of apple sauce, and I think I might just see an apple cake in our future...

I wasn't sure I was ready to say good-bye to summer. It went so quickly, as the summers in the Pacific Northwest tend to do. But we had our last heat wave the first few days of September, and then we woke up one morning last week and the air felt fresh and brisk and it smelled like autumn. And just like that, I welcomed fall back with open arms. Yay! I love this time of year.

Summer Adventures








Jace had not one, but two chin incidents while we were in Denver! Poor babe. And he still hates bandaids, turns out.

The first week of August, we were able to fly to Colorado to spend a week at Grammy and Grampy's house! All of Colt's sisters and their families were able to be there, and we had so much fun spending time with cousins. Luke and Corbin met each other for the first time, and Jace had such fun with his cousin Bentley. They dug in the dirt together, played next to each other in the play room, and chased each other around Grammy's house giggling like madmen. 

Our little niece, Bailey, was so sweet with both babies. She wanted to hold Luke, give him his binkie, and play peek-a-boo. When I needed to go help in the kitchen, she would sit right next to Lukey in his bouncer and talk to him, sing him songs, tickle his toes...she was such a mama, and a huge helper! It was really sweet to watch. She left with her parents and brother the night before we flew out, and she was sobbing that she had to leave her baby cousins. It was heartbreaking. 

We love our family, and we don't get to see them nearly enough! So it was nice to be able to spend some time catching up, visiting, and watching our kids play together. There's never a shortage of fun and excitement when cousins are involved!

The Big 3-0


This is the only picture I have from Colt's 30th birthday party. Ha! I have a couple of videos, but clearly, taking pictures was not high on the list of priorities that day. 

I had a tough time deciding what to do for my babe on this milestone birthday. I spent a lot of time thinking about it, because he's such a great dad and husband; he deserved something different and special this year. On our anniversary in June, we had a family birthday party, and Jace had a blast. Colt kept mentioning how much he enjoyed that day, and how happy it made him to see JJ having so much fun...and thus, my idea was born. I decided to throw another birthday party, complete with decorations, a cake, and piñata! I even chose a theme: Construction Zone! Colt and I aren't typically "party people," but I thought 30 would be a good time to stir up some childhood nostalgia and take him back one last time to the birthday parties of yesteryear, before he had to dive headfirst into middle-age. And I knew Jace would love to have another birthday party.

I made all the boys a special breakfast of Mickey Mouse sprinkle pancakes, and Colt opened a couple of his gifts. We took Jace to get a haircut, picked up some lunch at our favorite burger joint (Nicks' Jr), and took our food to Payne Airfield to watch the airplanes take off and land. When we returned home, we ate a special birthday dinner and dessert (Colt's favorite custard trifle), and then busted out the main event: the construction truck pinata! Jace had been eying that pinata all day, but when it came time to whack it with the baseball bat, he was a bit hesitant. After we showed him what to do, he was more enthusiastic and took a few solid swings before we gave up and pulled the tassels to release the candy.

This year, I had Colt's closest friends and family all write him a personal letter, then I bound them all in a book and gave it to him on his birthday. He also got some money, and he's thinking he'd like to spend it on a few wood-working tools so he can learn how to build awesome things like a kitchen table for his wife. ;)

Happy Birthday, Colt! You are the peaches to my cream, the honey to my bee, and the cheese to my macaroni. Yum. I'm hungry.

4th of July








I really let blogging get away from me! I'll keep these entries short and sweet, but I wanted to make sure I recorded our summer adventures, even if it isn't as detailed as it could have been if I had managed to write more regularly. Both our boys have grown and changed so much over the last couple of months, it's crazy! Jace is talking more than ever, and Luke is almost crawling...he's got a big brother to chase, after all.

Our 4th of July was really low-key. We went to a barbecue at our neighbor's house in the afternoon/early evening. When we came home, we lit sparklers and threw poppers in our driveway. I think by next year, the boys (or at least JJ) will be able to stay up late enough to see the show, which will be so much fun. But this year, we decided we'd rather have sweet little boys than cranky bears the next morning.

Around 11:30 pm, one of our neighbors decided to start setting off HUGE fireworks, the kind that sound like a bomb and rattle the windows. It woke Colt and I out of a dead sleep, haha! Scared me to death. Ah, well. 'Tis the 4th!

Also, I recently discovered that my phone makes these awesome little memory movies out of the pictures and videos on my device! I love them. And I think they  will come in handy for quick recaps here on the blog!

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Enjoy the Little Things In Life, For One Day You Will Look Back and Realize They Were the Big Things




Just a couple of Mouseketeers!

Please note JJ's hand placement and his concerned expression. He's such a sweet brother.





We've been able to do some fun things lately! Both my sisters and their families were in town, so we packed up the boys, my dad drove up to get us, and Jace, Luke, and I spent a week with my family in Oregon! Colt had to work, so he joined us later in the week. It was hard to be apart, but it was nice to have a good chunk of time to spend with my family. With two brothers-in-law going through the medical school process across the country, this may not happen again for awhile. Jace and Luke were  able to meet their new cousin Millie for the first time, spend time with their Aunties, and play, play, play! Luke was passed around like a hot potato, and he just soaked up all the attention. We also threw my littlest sister a baby shower. She's due in December with her very first babe! I'm so excited for her and her husband, Jefferson, and I'm loving this growing pack of nieces and nephews!

Then last weekend, we ventured out to Remlinger Farms for berry picking and some fun rides! When we took JJ to Disneyland in September, he wasn't particularly interested in most of the rides (except for Jungle Cruise and It's a Small World) and DEFINITELY wouldn't have been up for getting on them alone. But this time, he was completely fine riding by himself, and he did great waiting for his turn in line (granted,  the lines were incredibly short and he didn't have to wait long, due to the fact that we ended up getting there about an hour before the park closed). But I was so proud of him! And it was very sweet watching him enjoy himself. It's funny how I experience so much joy and excitement myself just watching him have fun. He's getting to be such a big boy. Luke was a champ the whole time; he napped in his stroller, ate his meals, and just chilled like the sweetheart he is. 

We've had a fun couple of weeks! From here on out, our summer is pretty open-ended. We don't have a lot of big plans or any major vacations on the docket. But that's completely fine! I'm loving these mellow days and enjoying the fun summer activities and events all around us. I love creating sweet memories with my boys, even (and perhaps especially) when they aren't anything big. I'm working on looking for the positive and trying to find joy in any circumstance, and I'm realizing just how much joy there is to be found in the little things, in the everyday.

Jace Snapshot (2 years, 5 months)

...This kid is so spirited, silly, and social (with a shy streak, when he is around unfamiliar folks)
...He loves to FaceTime with his grandparents ("a talk a Mimi?" "A talk a Gammy?")
...Jace is loving his books lately. He can finish all the sentences in his favorite books, and sometimes flips through the pages while reciting the phrases he's memorized on each page ("Boom boom, bear tromp!")
 ...Current literary favorites include: "Quick as a Cricket," "King Jack and the Dragons," "The Little Mouse, A Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear," "The Napping House," "Duffy Time," "I Hear a Pickle," and all of the books I got him at the library about different kinds of trucks and cars and how they work. He could read those over and over again...and he definitely tries to get me to do so. I always told myself I'd never say no when my child asked me to read them a book...but after our fifth go-round of "I Hear a Pickle" while trying to eat lunch, I had to tell him we'd read it again later.  He often brings me books to read while I'm on the bike or trying to eat, the little goob.
...Whenever he greets another person, he says "Hi, Jace!" Haha!
...He started waking up in the middle of the night again, and all of a sudden he could count to three, tell me when something is "weh-woh" (yellow), and has been using much longer utterances, more verbs, and his articulation is becoming increasingly more precise. It's exciting! Helps put those night-wakings in perspective ;)
...Jace calls rice and orzo noodles "cheese." I'm not complaining, because since he thinks it's shredded cheese, he'll eat it!
...He's been such a snuggly, kissy little guy lately. He asks to "snug a mama?" and then curls up in my lap and leans into me. And he's been kissing us on the lips! Haha! It's so funny.
...Grammy sent him these cute little Winnie the Pooh figurines that are meant to be displayed in a garden, and Jace was SO excited when we opened them up. He's been playing with them for three days straight, and he cannot get enough. So, on Sunday, I filled a flower pot up with soil and created a little "Pooh Garden" ("A Pooh dard?") for him, complete with a stone pathway, a little log for Tigger to bounce on, and a house of sticks for Eeyore. Jace was captivated, and spent Sunday afternoon digging in the dirt and playing with Pooh and his friends. However...toddlers aren't especially gentle in their play (at least mine isn't). By the end of the first day, only Tigger and Eeyore were left intact. As of today, due to over-affection and a terrible case of the dropsies, everyone but Pooh Bear and Eeyore has lost their noggins, turning a whimsical Pooh Garden into Pooh's Corner of Horrors.  It looks very sinister.
...Loves to shriek at the top of his lungs. We address it when it's an angry, tantrummy shriek, but have been ignoring it when it's a scream of joy. But it can kind of drive us crazy (Luke included). Any tips for curbing this age-appropriate yet ear-shattering habit?


Luke Snapshot (13.5 weeks)

...Luke is so sweet, smiley, and sensitive.
...He continues to grow like a weed. He's got such long legs, and I'm loving his little round tummy.
...Luke laughed for the first time at 12 weeks old while we were in Oregon, at his Papa Todd. I heard it, but I was in the kitchen when it happened, so I didn't get to see it. Right now, it's more like a short chuckle rather than a full-out belly laugh. I love it! 
...He's ticklish on his sides, neck, and thighs (that's how I produce the chuckles).
...Luke had a scary fall a few weeks ago and hit his head. He had to go to Urgent Care, then the ER, where he had to have a CT scan (luckily he was just fine).
...He loves to be sung to, especially Old McDonald Had a Farm. And we discovered the album "Sleep Baby Sleep" by Nicolette Larson. It's a game-changer, folks. She is God's gift to mamas, and I told Colt if we ever have a girl, we are naming her Nicolette, because I owe her my sanity. Out running errands and forgot the binkie? Turn on Nicolette. Baby's upset for a reason you can't identify? Nicolette. Little one fighting a nap? Fussy? Expressing extreme displeasure about being strapped into his carseat? Girl, get on that Youtube channel or Spotify playlist and play yourself some Nicolette. 
...Luke is scared of sneezes (except for his own). They startle him and make him cry. In fact, most sudden, loud noises upset him. Makes things a little dicey, as he's sharing a house with a rambunctious big brother.
...I love when I look over and Luke will be staring at me, waiting for me to make eye contact. As soon as we lock eyes, he smiles with his entire body. His little legs stiffen up, he squeezes his elbows into his ribs, his tiny hands ball up into fists and he tucks them under his chin, his eyes light up and he smiles his huge, gummy smile. I hope he's always this happy to have my attention ;)