Did I Forget to Mention...

the pregnancy symptom of moaning? That's right, moaning. Not in pain (although in all honesty that has happened on occasion) but as I fall asleep. Like I need my own special lullaby and supply it to myself! What the heck? I am usually even aware that I am doing it and can't quite make myself stop! What the heck?

I commented on it to Chris and he said the snoring was way worse. Keeps him awake sometimes at night.

What!?!?

The snoring has started (all that extra mucus production coming to haunt me!)? Why didn't you tell me?

Welcome back into my life, Breathe Right strips. I didn't miss you. But you ARE Chris' new best friend!

And just to keep with the sleep-theme, I have been having the most random dreams. Not an unusual pregnancy symptom, I know, but two days ago I dreamt I was a black teenage girl. Oh, and I could sing. And I thought I would have to wait till I was resurrected to be able to sing! Apparently, I really do get to do it in my dreams.

As you can see, if you look to the right, we are almost to the third trimester! 2/3rds down, 1/3 to go!!
And really, the whining is mostly jest. Because I have been feeling better in a lot of ways and whether it is Chris or me or Heavenly Father (my personal vote!) this pregnancy has been much better than the previous two!

PS. Does that mean it's a girl?

My Boys: Noah

Noah has grown and changed so much I hardly know where to start.

He gets up in the mornings and climbs in bed with me and Chris. He always snuggles deep under the covers and tucks his feet up next to me.

I know that I have mentioned it before, but Noah's speech issues are most evident in the lack of original phrases. This means that he is most likely to repeat things that he hears frequently as they are inducted into his list of "scripts" from which he draws most of his speech. It also means we have to really watch what we say because it often comes out of his mouth!

For example:
I used to hear exclamations of "Ian James!" when he really wanted Ian's attention or wanted him to do something. After a couple of explanations about how James was Noah's middle name, not Ian's, I guess it sunk in because I started hearing "Ian Christopher!"

Noah loves playing with Ian. He frequently asks Ian to 'come pway.' Ian usually does but it is funny to see that after getting them started Noah usually takes a backseat to Ian. He talks like Ian and they alternately copy each others actions (falling, sitting, throwing themselves on the couch, etc). I used to always comment about how it was like having two 18 mo. old children instead of a 3 year old and an 18 mo. old. That is still the case but now they are 2:)

He learned the relationship between them and frequently refers to him as his "liddle brudder, Ian." He has always been good at sharing snacks in the car with Ian. He hands over a cracker whenever Ian indicates he is ready for another. And when I would try the 'leave the recalcitrant toddler and walk away' method of encouraging Ian to come along it is always spoiled by Noah going back to try and get him.
He likes to go in to get Ian in the mornings or after naps (on those very rare occasions that Noah has woken up before Ian.) He always speaks softly and says "good morning, Ian." This afternoon before church he was with me getting Ian up. We had to wake Ian up and I rubbed on his back. Noah was not to be left out and quickly found a spot next to me to rub on a leg. His brother-love is sweet and touching. Guileless.
Noah just today offered his first unassisted prayer. It was short and sweet, but all his. He was so proud of himself. Prior to this, we have helped him know what to say. Sometimes, though, he would add in his own words. We had to chuckle (on the inside, of course:) when after praying for some family members to find work he added "so they can do their email." Chris, after all, either works on the excavator or works on his email on his computer.
Noah is super sensitive in some ways and tough in others. He is very empathetic and kind and we received reports about how he goes around preschool picking up toys and such and giving them back so that child could continue playing. He is as likely to cry when Ian gets shots as Ian is. If everyone is happy, Noah usually is too. It takes a big bump physically to get a response out of him and he is usually content with a kiss although since the discovery of band-aids they are commonly requested cure-all, as well.
He is more a follower than a leader. He is not a daredevil and can be easily intimidated. He is still too nervous to go up in the play places at fast food restaurants. He is still shy and introverted when in new situations or with new people and likes to warm up on his own without being pressured by those around him to talk or do something. He is also still very attached to his "soft bwanket." Life, of late, has offered new opportunities for it to be left behind and he has done so with relative ease but when preschool, a play date or primary are over he would really like it back, please.
He is a good about naptime and bedtime and still needs quite a bit of sleep to be happy and even tempered in the day. He takes a 1-3 hour nap each day and usually sleeps about 10-11 hours a night. He usually goes to bed with a million and one matchbox cars, his soft blanket, and since it got cold, his "big blanket" that is a queen size down comforter. (And despite what this picture might imply, neither of them sleep for more than 1/2 hour in the car!)
He refuses to wear socks most of the time and loves to take off his shirt after a good run around the house (please refer to the second half of the birthday pictures on the previous post where he and Ian are shirtless)-he is related to me after all, and gets hot pretty easily. However, on a cool morning, while watching Dora, he can be found laying on the floor, burrowed in the down comforter.
His speech has improved by leaps and bounds and we are starting to have and hear really funny conversations. Here are some examples:

When daddy changed out the light fixture in kitchen the following conversation ensued.
N: What are you doing?
D: Changing the light fixture because it's broken.
N: Yeah, Mommy smashed it. Bang! (What?! I did not smash it. Actually, it wasn't smashed at all-where that came from we will never know!)

While playing with his toy cars, including a little semi truck, Chick Hicks from Cars (aka mean car), and another little car I overheard this play conversation.
ST: Hey, come ride with me.
LC: Thanks.
CH: Hello.
ST: Hi.
CH: Can I come too? My name is Mean Car.
ST: What kind of name is that?
Noah, after seeing me shopping for a minivan online.
N: Is that our van?
M: No, it isn't our van.
N: After the baby comes out of mommy's tummy we will fit in our new van.

Despite explanations that the baby in my tummy will be everyone's baby he is pretty determined that he will have his own. He is also sure about gender.
N:After the baby comes out of your tummy, my baby will come up.
D: Is the baby going to be a boy or a girl?
N: It is going to be a gwil. Mommy is a gwil and the baby will be a gwil. My baby will be a boy because I am a boy.

After putting Ian in his carseat:
D: Ah, there's a crick in my back.
N: (in a very worried tone of voice) What happens if there is a cricket in your back?
A picky eater, if there ever was one, he eats a limited selection of food and would rather go without than try something new when he is tired of his old standbys. We are still hopeful of improvement in the next year or so. And if it takes longer than that? Well, he comes by it honestly (from family genetics) so we will just have to deal. In the meantime, thank goodness for Carnation Instant breakfast ("chocwit miwk") and V-8 Fusion (1 fruit and veggie per serving)!

Noah is not a cuddler by nature but as he has gotten older he has started to give and want a good snuggle and frequently will lay his head on me and say "I love you, mommy." And just the other night, Chris was saying goodnight to Noah and told him that he was glad that he was his son. Noah replied "I am glad you are my daddy."

A lot of growing and changing has been going on and we have been loving to see it! We are so glad that you are ours, Noah!
Above: December '07
Below: January '10

Ain't No Ace of Cakes

Happy Birthday Ian!
At about 8:30 pm, just two short years ago, my water broke and we headed to the hospital. A few hours later, at about 12:45 am Ian made his entrance into the world! His arrival was much anticipated and worried over but he came right on time. He has been a handful ever since, as well as source of joy and fun.
(I just had to include this picture because, in it, Noah is not quite as old as Ian is now and he is wearing the clothes that Ian is just about to grow out of. My how time flies!)

Although his birthday was on Thursday the 28th for convenience we decided to celebrate it today. It has been a bit of day with both boys seeming to have short, short fuses. One might even be safe in saying there have been more tears than smiles today.

Oh, well. The show must go on!

I decided to try my hand at making a Lightening McQueen cake since "mean cars" have been the toys of choice of late. And well, I ain't no Ace of Cakes, but I consider it a complete success.

I brought the cake out to show Chris and get any last advice on making it convincing and Ian saw it. His immediate "mean car, car, car, want it" and out stretched hands were all that I needed to know that I had hit the mark. At least for a 2 year old!

After cake and ice cream the boys got to take a swing at a pinata. (Noah is quite certain that this is essential to any birthday celebration. It quite reminded me of another young man I know!) Ian went first.
Then Noah took a wack at it. Finally, with a little help, the candy was rescued from the pinata!


We segued pretty quickly into the opening of the first present. Of course, Ian had a little help with the unwrapping!
How do you know that you got a good present? All the boys want to play!


The little boys were stuck on it for quite a while. Noah's continued prodding eventually led to the opening of the other gifts.
Thanks Grandma Mar and Grandpa Jim!
We finished the day with off and on tears and upsets but lots of playing. We love you, Ian, tears and all!

My Boys: Ian

So, it has been too long. So long, in fact, that I don't know where to start! But I haven't blogged about the general growth and development of either of my boys. And these are the formative years where they grow and change so quickly!

Be Warned: This is another long post from a proud parent!

IAN

Ian has been growing like a weed. He has been in 24 mo and 2T clothes since the fall. When I went to get some closed toed shoes for the fall I found out that he needed size 7 1/2. His sandals must have been really forgiving because they were only 6's!
He grew out of the high chair but disdained to use the booster seat at the kitchen table (just like Noah did). So, he sits in a big chair and can see just enough to eat his food.

Well, what food he will eat. Also like Noah, he is a picky eater. I hold out hope for him since in the last month or so, he has started to experiment and eat somethings that are new or in the past he has refused. Veggies have yet to make that list, but like I said, we are hopeful!He was not talking for a long time and and when we went in for his 18 mo well baby check the pediatrician and I talked about a First Steps evaluation. Some how, though, his switch got flipped and it all started coming out. It seems like within a few weeks he went from about 10 words to 50+ and using two word sentences. It has kept up from there.

"Oops, I drop it. Car."
"Oops, I drop it. Ian." - when he fell on his bum on the front step
"Head. Wet." - after refusing to wear a hat or hood.

His skills at imitation are great so even if he doesn't know what they all mean he can say most things you ask him too or hears someone else say.

For example, he and Noah love to run around pushing their trucks and wagon talking about the 'ghost.' I didn't really think that Ian had a clue what a ghost was, but this borne out just yesterday. Chris had pulled the love seat out and was cleaning underneath it. In a very worried voice Ian said "uh oh, ghost." I hear Chris say "What? The feather? That's a feather not a ghost."

Another example is "hands." He leads you to either the kitchen or bathroom sink saying "hands, hands" as he tries to push up his sleeves. Don't get all excited-he is not really wanting to wash his hands. He would much rather play in the sink!
And his mispronunciations are just adorable. I'm not sure why I enjoy them so much but I do.

"raybine" morphed into "tombine" - combine
"Nonny" - Noah - used to be "Oah" but later while looking at pictures he identified Noah with this new word.
"phomas the train"
"bideo" - video
"spacky" - Sparky, the name of our car
"'mis songs" - Christmas songs were a big hit and requested frequently in the day and always at bedtime.

When the developmental therapist from Noah's preschool did a home visit in the fall we talked briefly about getting Ian in the 18 mo to 3 yr class. This semester he is participating in the class but as the typical peer model, rather than a client. Go Ian!

He is usually a little shy and nervous around new people and situations. When walking down the sidewalk, if another person came from the opposite direction Ian would stop in his tracks or turn and walk away from them and never mind where I was!
The first day of "preschool" (as we are calling it for universal understanding with the boys about where we are going) went pretty well. Remnants of his reserve were evident as he played by himself (and the grad student who attached herself to him) without much talking and during singing time-all songs he does know-watched without participating much. Given a few weeks to catch onto the routine I imagine he will be a pro!

He started nursery at church about 6 months ago. Chris went in for a bit to get him settled but once he had his snack he was generally a happy camper. Now he goes in without a hitch and generally looks forward to nursery time.

He loves playing with "Nonny" but tends to keep to himself during date night babysitting, content if the others will leave him alone with his cars or trains. He loves the outdoors and was thrilled with his recent opportunities to play in the snow, even if his nose was going to freeze and fall off his face.
He is passionate about cars and trucks and trains. He loves to race around the house with Noah while they push a truck or wagon and crash into each other. Owies once were cause for huge crying and long minutes of upset but have since been easily cured with kisses, thanks to the example of his older brother. And while recent occasions have demonstrated his continued ability to have screaming fits that last a long time he is generally more even-keeled than ever before.

Ian is not one to be ignored and will demand your attention by pulling your face around to him. And he wants things the way he wants them, when he wants them!
He went through a period of running around and then running to me or Chris and plopping his head down. Sometimes this was into a knee or collar bone and then, after all that 'love' he had just given us, we would need a kiss too. He is still pretty cuddly and when reading time comes or a game on the laptop he will sit real close and lay his whole upper body across your arm and chest. It is a most precious and enjoyable position to be in!

He has just started to say prayers with help. My next sneaky camera goal is to record him saying the prayer because it is just too cute!

Tonight it went something like this:
C: Dear Heavenly Father
I: day
C: Thank thee,
I: Tank u
C: that we could go to church.
I: church
C: Thank thee,
I: Tank u
C: for the food.
I: food
C:In the name,
I: name
C: of Jesus Christ
I: Cwhist
C: Amen
I: AMEN!!!!

Within sight of his second birthday, Ian is about 31 lbs and tall. Pretty soon he won't be my baby anymore and while that will be different, it seems appropriate with all the growing and changing he has done in the last 6 months. And while I try not to compare the boys (for all our sakes!) it has been fun to see just how much of an individual he really is.

Another Reason...

Why Chris is the most amazing husband and father in the world and my kids are the cutest!

Join them for part of the Three Little Pigs, enjoy the music and actions and extra explanations!



PS Sorry the camera only records for three minutes and we ran out of time just before you got to hear the wolf howl!

PPS I had to be sneaky so it was taken from far away and you might have to turn up your volume a bit to hear it.

PPPS I love moments like these because they fill my heart to overflowing with love!

Free Day at The Children's Museum

Warning: This is one of those long, 'record the day' kind of posts. If you get bored feel free to move on!

Because it was Martin Luther King Jr. Day there was a free day at the Indy Children's Museum. Chris actually took the holiday and didn't go to work-a pleasant change from years past!-and we got to make it a fun family outing.

We have actually only been once before in all the years we have lived here and it was another free day on Christmas Eve. It was busy but I don't remember it being as crazy as it was by the time we left.

We drove down and I took the exit recommended from the highway signs. We ended up in an insanely long line for the parking garage at the Museum. But being unfamiliar with the area and where we were going I didn't stay in that line (surely it wasn't for the museum parking garage this far away, I reasoned, even though I secretly thought it was) and figured if I overshot the museum I could come back around.

After making what was probably an illegal (but not dangerous) turn we got the idea to drop off Chris and the kids while I parked the car to maximize their time in the museum. After leaving the drop off lot I saw signs for a ground lot right next to the Museum. I didn't even know they had ground lots! I was able to pull in and park right away and I felt bad for all those other people still waiting in a long line to park in the garage! I felt worse when I found out that friends from the ward had waited in that line for 40 minutes and didn't get in!

We started at the Dinosohere. We missed most of the exhibit because Noah told Chris that the loud noises and strobe lights were "scary."
They did get to touch the head of this 'hogwarts dragon.'

There were several interactive toys stations and these were a hit with the kids each time.
I asked Chris to run back and get a picture of this massive crocodile because I didn't even know that they existed! The info made clear that it is not a dinosaur but lived at the same time. The pictures don't give a clear idea of how HUGE this was but if his legs had been pulled straight out it would have been as wide as I am tall!
After the dinosaurs we went to the train exhibit. We stayed there long enough to play with trains and see several model trains. Sadly, the boys were not interested in seeing the real steam locomotive that they have. It was the largest in the US at the time it was built.

We got an elevator (always a hit with my kids!) to the fourth floor and went to ride the carousel. It's horses are original hand carved carousel horses that were rescued after the original building housing the carousel collapsed. They were rescued from the mess and stored in an old barn until they were donated in the 60's to the museum and they built a new carousel and got an original Wurlitzer to play music.

I generally avoid taking pictures of myself and for sure posting them and this is a perfect example why, but it was the only picture of me and Ian. Too bad he wasn't smiling too!
Noah smiled for me but all the other pictures reveal his true anxiety of the moving horse. He held on tightly to Chris and that pole and only looked forward.
From there we moved on to the Playscape. The water was huge hit with both boys. For, Ian who has found the joys of playing in the sink at home and for Noah, who has been reminded how much he used to enjoy playing there as well.

No trip would be complete without a ride on the skid steer loader!


Much fun was had by all. Perhaps too much! By the time we left (about 12) it took us 10-15 minutes to get down one level on the ramp because they were directing traffic and the turns to get through were short. This wouldn't have been the end of the world but Ian took much exception to leaving the toy trains behind and proceeded to have a screaming fit. He screamed and cried as we left the Playscape. As we waited for Noah to use the bathroom. All down the ramp and out the building. Through the parking lot and into the car. As we waited our turn to get out of the parking lot.

And finally, finally, I had an idea.

Sometimes I wish my brain would work better for me! Anyway, pulling out the movie Cars and the portable DVD player dried all tears and demands for 'door open.'

And as a final perk for the day, we drove north a bit and stopped to pick up Bajio for lunch!
Anyway, we had a successful outing but I think we decided that Christmas Eve might be our only 'free day' attempt in the future! Oh, wait...we are moving to who knows where!

Post Christmas Post

So after Christmas we returned to our main vacation occupation of keeping the kids occupied and Chris working in the laundry room.

We had some fun with play dates, a trip to the mall play place and some shoveling and playing in the snow with dad.

Namely, some snowball making education.
Some throwing practice.
"Hit!" Ian would exclaim as he set it on Chris' back or push it against his middle. I think he was a little worried about the fate of his snowball if he were to actually throw it or hit Chris hard with it. And apparently they learned something right because there were a couple of really good shots that even had Chris trying to protect himself.


While Ian protected his snowball.
For New Year's Eve we had a great time at the Tate's house (of course, I forgot the camera!) with the kids playing and watching a movie and the adults playing a game and eating yummy munchies. The kids were up till 10:00 pm for the first time in their lives and they did surprisingly well. When the ball dropped and the clock said 12:01 and the start of a new decade ensued I was technically awake but in bed fighting the not uncommon pregnancy related insomnia.

And now, well, the lights are still on the house and the Christmas tree is still up (ironically, it came down before I published this post but not before it was written!), though unadorned. It is too cold to take the lights off and too cold to go to the shed and get the tree box. The cold-that-would-never-end seems to finally be waning and the kids seem to feeling better too. The laundry room is done and a door frame is primed but the counters need to be measured and ordered and the center island scrubbed, primed and painted too. Not to mention two rooms painted, carpets cleaned and some replaced.

Chris has updated his resume and it will be sent off soon to lots of companies and hopefully we will get lots of job offers for lots of money. I always thought one should dream big:)

We have one more week before preschool starts and the deep freeze is scheduled to continue so good indoor entertainment will continue to be a daily goal.

My little bear cub is growing and moving quite frequently. Oh, and I was mistaken. It will be a grapefruit next, not a mango.

We need to get a Christmas/New Year/...Valentine's Day letter written and distributed as well as a couple of blog posts that I have been procrastinating about the boys.

So. That is how our new year is shaping up at the moment. I admit that I haven't really thought about traditional resolutions for the new year. I think I have been assuming that it will all come at me whether I write it down or not. That is not always the case but seems inevitable this year.