Little lessons…

As a stay at home mom I am fairly often the first one to see our children do something.  Both mike and I agree this is one of the benefits of having one of us around all the time.
If the kiddos are doing something Mike will look at me and say "is this new?"
It is also something I struggle with because I truly do cherish all the little things.  I don't want to miss anything and I know that in a blink these two little beings will be heading out the door without looking back (that is until they have kids of their own and have a whole new appreciation for their parents).
Tonight watching Elin study and stare at this strip of light I was absolutely in awe.  She continued to move her fingers and see the light and shadows on the floor.  After a few minutes she looked and giggled to Mike and I and then pointed to the light.  It was like the craziest thing to her.

It was in that moment that I sat completely awe struck at just how much this little girl’s brain has learned in the last year.  The beauty of the human body and how the brain and development work.  In both undergrad and grad school we spent countless hours learning about the human brain.  Thousands of hours spent learning what one of my professors loved to say is “the more we know the more we know we don’t know.”  I may not know if all but of this I am certain, child development has me more mesmerized than I ever could have thought in all my years of school. 

12 Months

So quickly we are here, we have a 12 month old, a 1 year old baby toddler that a year ago stormed into our lives and changed everything once again for the good.  I have to say we are pretty pleased with “just how happy” our little girl is.  She is pleasant from the moment she wakes up, rolls with whatever we throw at her, and is just happy as can be.  Not only is she happy, she is also smitten with herself and her happiness.   It also means that the times she is unhappy or sad are the worst as we semi panic.

She has made some big strides this month and is walking all over the place.  She has finally figured out that walking will get her where she wants to go faster and is not crawling anymore.  She still needs a clear path as looking down doesn’t happen, but she can maneuver around obstacles and turn which is making the walking world a whole new adventure.  She is also a climby little monkey.  She wants to climb everything and will happily find herself in some awkward places and positions.   In the fine motor area she loves to pick up and put things in, on, on top and under.   She will patiently sit and figure out toys, like stacking cups, and putting her coins into a pig.  She loves to pick up things and is starting to color and write.  She also loves trying to dress herself and pretends to put on all her clothes knowing socks and shoes go on her feet and shirts go over her head. 

Her favorite toys are her beaded necklaces, her stroller, her big girl shoes, and of course her brother.  She walks around pushing her stroller picking up and putting things in as she goes, she has had a wide range of things from her toothbrush to a flip flop.   She loves puppies and birds and will happily point them out whenever she sees them, in fact this can make her quite upset if she can’t go and chase after them. 

I forgot how much I love this 12 month old personality as you start to see this baby develop into their own person.  Up until now there has been a steady progression of “I bet she will be like this or that” but now she is really showing us the little girl she is.  She in fact might give us a run for our money with her determination and spirit.  She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to scream loudly or crocodile tear pout to get it! 

She is a little chatter box and dang that girl has a set of lungs!  She is babbling up a storm and is convinced she is telling us long stories.  She has many words now and will try to repeat a lot of what we ask her to, she has 12-15 consistent words.  She is understanding more and more and it is really amazing to watch what she knows and how she learns so quickly. 

Elin loves to eat and has a wide variety of foods that she likes.  She is eating  table foods with us now and we are just cutting or shredding everything.  She has also really started to want to be independent and prefers to feed herself rather than have us feed her.  We got a few peaches on her birthday and she went to town eating them, every time we walked by the fruit basket she pointed and requested more.  She is drinking out of a straw cup and sippy cup and will also take drinks out of an open cup.  Her spoon/fork skills are still a messy adventure.

She still has just 8 teeth although her gums are swollen and she is looking/acting like she is cutting all 4 of her 1st molars right now.  She is still waking to eat a few times a night but sleeping from 8 or 8:30 to between 6:30 and 7:30, give or take.  Most days she takes 2 naps for about 3-4 hours total, sometimes she skips her morning nap if we are out and about and she is too excited about what is going on, but will then take a longer afternoon nap.   At her doctor appointment her doctor was pleased with all her developmental milestones, saying if all continues to go well and I have no concerns she can see us back at 18 months instead of the 15 month appointment.  She weighted 20 lbs  (50%tile) and was 29 inches long (50%tile). 

I am still wrapping my head around the fact that our little girl has been with our family for a whole year, 365 days, several colds, 2 a.m. wake ups, thousands of smiles, more giggles and more memories that one could ever hope for.  My life is more fulfilled since she entered the world, our family is more complete.  This little lady has been a wonderful addition to the world.  We love you little lady more than you will ever know.

Birthday Girl

We spent Elin’s birthday celebrating the little bundle of smiles and hugs.  After dropping Thomas off at his school, she, Stella and I walked over to a coffee shop to meet Whitney and Reier. After Elin enjoyed some very fancy water “coffee” we headed to a park for her to swing.  Swinging is about one of her favorite activities, she loves it, and Reier was happy to join her.

Then we headed back to pick up Thomas.  After lunch, quiet time/naps we were off to the new members only opening at the zoo.  Whitney, Reier and Dahlia again joined us.  We were able to see a couple of the new bear cubs and the new otter exhibit while the kiddos ran out some of their energy. 

Then it was off to meet Mike for dinner.  Not going to lie, dinner with over tired kiddos and company was a lot a bit challenging.  After we struggled through dinner we headed home.  Shortly after we got home, Thomas was in bed and Mike and I got some one on one time with Elin. She opened up a few of her presents and enjoyed having all the attention on her. It was a great day celebrating our little lady’s first birthday.

We Made It…

We are all here in Seattle, 2 cats, 1 giant dog, Mike, Thomas and myself…We also found a few stragglers at the airport in Denver!

Sooo….here for the record books are how the move went down.  Mike flew in on Thursday night his brother picked him up and brought him “home.”  Once he got there we packed up the last stuff in the car and got ready for bed.  5:15 a.m. came sooner than we thought and after slowly getting up we packed up our “bed.”  Stella was anxious to get in the car and then they were off on their approximately 20 hours drive.

Thomas slept for another hour and I “tried” to sleep but kept thinking of everything I needed to remember.   Then Allison and Lilli arrived with some coffee and breakfast :-)  Soon after Deb and Brent were over to give Thomas, Itzy, Tucker and myself a ride to the airport.  After checking in we went to wait for my parents to arrive from Minneapolis!  Whew…so far so good both in travel and typing.

I am not going to lie, it was probably a bit comical to watch 3 adults wrangle a wiggly 1 year old and 2 cats through security.  After that it was smooth sailing until we landed in Seattle (thank God Thomas is such a good flier-Guess that is what 19 flights in 1 year does?)    In true Thomas fashion the car ride, which has been going better, was a disaster.  He was pretty unhappy for about 1/2 the ride to our house and along with me having no clue how to get there it was a little frantic.  We ended up getting to our new house and we were in….next step…let the cats go potty.  BUT…first you need to find litter in 192 boxes that were pretty randomly labeled.  More. Chaos.  

Which brings us to the next several days that were spent looking through boxes to find things and try to get stuff put away.  It is great to have people pack, but somewhere the labeling and room assignment was lost in translation. 

Mike and Stella arrived safely on Saturday about 1 p.m.  It was so nice to know my whole family was safe in Seattle.  I was a lot a bit nervous about Mike driving.

Mike and I were so thankful to have my parents here to help.  We utilized their “services” and put my dad on the construction work and my mom on cleaning detail.  When we allowed them breaks they got to spend time with Thomas :-)

We made many trips to the hardware store and although we felt like we didn’t get too much done the list is pretty long for 3 days with a 1 year old in tow…

1-new toilet, 2-tearing up all tacking from carpets that were on hardwoods, 3-cleaning, 4-putting temporary flooring down in the dining room, 5 organizing and put away kitchen and dining room, 6-assembling a couple Christmas toys for Thomas.  This was all done while making sure Thomas was playing, happy, and safe.  We also were able to make a Coke and Jack Daniels Ham and potatoes for Easter!

Huge thanks for all the help and WORK on your vacation Mom and Dad.       

Potty Chair?

After watching Thomas pee too many times on the floor before or after his diaper changes, showers, or bath we decided that we should see if he wanted to go on the potty chair. 

We didn’t get one before the move but on our first trip to target we splurged.  What do you know, he sat down and instantly peed….the next day….he pooped!  The first day/night he was 4/4.  Since then we are not as successful but we are going to “try” a few times a day unless he refuses.   

A Very Full Week with Lilli

Beware…there is an obsessive amount of pictures in this post  :-)

All week Allison and I have been fighting back tears as we hang out, watch our two bundles play together and enjoy every second that we can before “the move” happens.  We have gotten in a trip to the park, last Monday morning mama, a couple dinners, a trip to the Botanic Gardens and helping us off to the airport.  The week was filled with Al and Lilli and Thomas and I enjoyed every minute!  Tears and all…

I cannot thank Allison enough for stepping in to my life out here in Denver.   When I left Minnesota 6 years ago, there were so many tears wondering “if” I would ever find as good of friends as I had “back home.”   Thankfully, I have other friendships that have remained just as strong no matter the distance, but I am so sad that both Thomas and I will not have weekly “play dates.”

Not only is Allison a great friend she has been a great mother to have in my life.  She is one of the most compassionate and gentle mother’s I know.  She has been an excellent guide and friend in this ever questioning journey of uncertainty.  In a time of doing things a little differently than what people consider the norm, it is nice to have an companion who has similar ideas of mothering.  I guess over our years of working with families and children, in so many homes over the years, you see everything you want and don’t want to do as a parent.  Allison has this same background and we have been able to bounce thoughts and ideas back and forth effortlessly as we both try to be the best mothers we can.

There is really something unique about their friendship and watching the two of them play fills my heart with warmth and belly with laughter.  These pictures can hardly do their special friendship justice.  Thomas even gave Lilli her first (his to) bite :-(

Can’t wait for our next play date whether it is in Colorado, Washington, Minnesota or any other state!  We love you and miss you very much Bennet Family!

Zoo Trip with Zander and Leo

Thomas and I met up with Jess and her boys Zander and Leo for a quick trip to the zoo Friday afternoon.  We enjoyed walking and talking while the boys found and watched animals.  After Jess and her boys took off, Thomas and I went to the pachyderm house and bird world.  These are two areas that I some how always miss at the zoo.  I don’t think I have ever been in the bird exhibit.   It was fun to hang out with my little buddy and talk with him about what he was seeing.

Casa Bonita

Well we have been to Casa Bonita!  This place is an experience.  Apparently, it has been poked fun at on South Park and is notorious for the awful food (and gut rot)!

This article in the Westword describes the experience.  We were lucky and without asking got a great seat by the waterfall.  We were able to watch some pretty bad acting and the “cliff jumper" or a high school diver make several jumps.  All I can say is at least we can say we went!

Laugh Button

Thomas has found his belly button or what he thinks is a “laugh” button.

When he would find either Mike or I’s buttons we would both laugh partly because it does tickly and partly because it is funny.  Thomas would laugh then too.  Then I asked where his “button” was and realized that he thought if you touched it your suppose to laugh.  Too cute…at least we think so!

Zoo With Lilli

Thomas’ Birthday Party

On Saturday Mike and I hosted a party with all of our friends and we had a blast.  Thomas had a great time playing with Lillianne, her cousin Justice and Audrey. 

Mike and I had a blast watching Thomas and hanging out with our friends for one last celebration at our “Denver house.”

Marco Island 2011

Our family was invited down to spend time with Mike’s family in Marco Island.  A week on the beach with family, I couldn’t book our tickets fast enough :-) 

We had a great flight down to and back from Florida.   The trip overall was great and as relaxing as it could be with a sick baby and trying to sell a house :-)

Mike, his dad and grandpa were able to get a few bonding trips in.  Monday they went off shore fishing.  This was a first for Mike and his grandpa.   They caught a wide variety of fish, and Mike caught a 180 lbs nurse shark.   Wednesday they went on “the alligator walk” where they go into the Everglades on an old logging trail to see what they can see.  Thursday they went out for backwater fishing.

Thomas was a sick little guy for our entire trip.   The Friday night before we left he had a little fever, but then Saturday was feeling better and didn’t have a fever.  We packed extra diapers and hoped for the best.   The little guy was doing ok on Sunday and Monday, but Monday night he went from normal to extra clingy and was sick.   With one trip to the ER early Wednesday morning, 3 puking on his mom episodes, and more diaper changes than I care to admit we official had a little guy who felt just plain icky on his first Florida trip and birthday.  It was so helpful to have Mike and his parents around to help take care of Thomas.  I also loved having maid service :-) 

We were able to go to dinner at some yummy restaurants: Snook Inn, Davincci’s, Quinn’s and Cafe de Marco.   Thankfully we had understanding family with us, but it was a nightmare having to try to have our sick baby at dinner.   When he needed to rally he usually did but Mike and I had to work hard to maintain order.

Thursday we went to Davincci’s for dinner to celebrate his    birthday. This was so special as the year prior this is where Mike’s family all toasted his arrival.    The birthday boy was not on his best behavior but we are sure he figured it was his birthday and he would cry if he wanted to!  After a switching to a cooler seat and taking off his shirt he settled down and was ready to dig into his cake. 

All in all it was a great week, even with a sick baby.  Next year we have told Thomas if we are lucky enough to be invited back he is not allowed to be sick.

Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Laschen for everything we had a wonderful time, minus the sick part!