On his way to the rink…

Thomas and Daddy spent the morning at the rink.  Mike said this time he was more interested in skating fast with daddy and watching the zamboni.

When he got home all he could talk about was skating and how the zamboni made new ice with “hot wawa.” 

I just love this picture, I can feel the excitement on his face when I look at it.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

At bedtime we have been reading books, singing, saying our prayers and then saying goodnight.  Our new favorite night time song is head, shoulders, knees, and toes.   I thought this video was too cute to not share, and a rare occasion as he doesn’t like to perform when being filmed!

Seattle’s Snowpocolypse

Over the weekend many areas of Seattle saw snow, yet at our house we remained snow free.  Then on Tuesday big snowflakes started to fall.  Mike’s office sent everyone home just after noon and by the time he got home there were a few inches to play in.   Thomas immediately wanted his “boots, hat” and “mih-ens” on.  

It snowed a little more on Wednesday and by Thursday it was freezing rain.  Although there was not too much snow at our house, many places in the Seattle area had much more.  Thus making it difficult to drive on the steep hills and narrow roads.  Both Mike and I were warned about this and kept to our neighborhood for a few days. 

On Thursday morning while it was raining  Thomas and I made an inside “(s)nowman.”  He loved using the glue and sticking everything on.  When we were finished he couldn’t wait to go show Mike his creation.

We also joined the others in the neighborhood who were out snow shoing, sliding, and skiing.  Thomas made about 4 runs down the sidewalk before he was ready for some “warm chak chak” (hot chocolate.)

We were very thankful to make it through our 3 days of snow, rain and non stop weather coverage on local channels.   Many people lost their power we were also lucky to keep ours throughout the storm.

Weekend Work

We have been busy putting any extra time in our day to heading downstairs to “work” on the basement bedroom.   With our normal life and entertaining ourselves and our kiddo, this bedroom seems never ending! 

Outside of the basement, Friday night we had a couple friends over for fondue. Thomas has fallen head over heals for his buddy Max and Amy.   Mike and I also enjoy having a couple new friends to hang out with and change it up. Sunday we watched the Packers game with a picnic in the living room and were bummed out when they lost. Then we made our first round of noodles with our new noodle maker.  They were yummy and my arms were only moderately tired from kneading the dough.  We used the noodles to make fettuccini alfredo it was yummy and oh so not good for you!

Over the past 2 weekends we were able to tape, mud, sand, prime and paint the basement room.  We have now started the trim work and and then need to finish the closet.  After that we will have the electrician back over to finish the outlets, lighting, and heat.  Finally we will add carpet and stuff!   Only a few more weeks until it will be done.

Thomas Skating

This is Thomas’ 3rd time skating and he loves it.   He thinks he is pretty cool, and so do we, when he is walking on his skates.  Now he just needs to get a little stronger and keep practicing!

These videos still make me giggle.

The first he is pulling Mike to try to get on the ice.

This one is of him “shuffling” his feet to skate.

Finally, walking after skating and feeling so proud!

Play date with Max

Thomas and I met Max and his Mom, Andrea, at our weekly play group.  We saw how well our boys played together and decided to try out a play date together. 

We started off at Barnes and Noble’s train table and then headed into the mall to the play area.  The boys had a blast and so did their mom’s!   Can’t wait for our next play date!

Thomas Wall Art

Thomas was nice enough to paint a few pictures for our hallway.  A few frames from Ikea and a 21 month old with paint and voila two unique pictures to decorate our house. 

New Style

Along with Thomas’ new found independence he has also found  his own style.  He has 3 shirts with “Ha-tee” (hockey) pictures and those are requested when available.

Another big hit are his train PJs that he got from his Great Grandma Gen. If we are able to convince him into a different pajama set he will still request trains to wear the next day. As you can see in this picture he has the PJs he wore to bed on under the beloved train jammies.  Mike and I also think that he looks pretty cute!

Tonight when I was putting away his clothes, he picked out the following outfit.  A flannel shirt, t-shirt to go over that, his Carhartt pants and a tie!  Such fashion sense!

Lastly, he has been very into the difference between “Mama” and “Dada” stuff.  He will walk around the house and point out the things that are either mine or Mike’s.  It can vary from our shoes and clothes to our water glass and toiletries.  The best is his new love for wearing one of each of our shoes…he thinks he is pretty funny when he walks around the house like this!

New Years Eve

We celebrated the end of 2011 and the  beginning of 2012 with a great dinner at home and a sparkling grape juice toast in front of the tree.  We also set up the camera to take pictures 10 in a row and have some pretty cute, funny and nice family pictures to remember this year!   Anyone care that it was at 8 p.m. Pacific Time then Thomas went to bed and it was time for Mike and I to celebrate.  

This is my favorite picture, while Mike and I were stealing a kiss, Thomas was celebrating himself!

Our celebration consisted of making a giant pot of chicken stock and watching episodes of Dexter!  We did turn on the delayed broadcast of New York’s celebration and then shared a kiss with our first born, Stella, who was snuggling in between us, as the fireworks were making her nervous!

Mike started off 2012 by running 13 miles and making Thomas and I breakfast when he returned.  We then spent the day working on our house and with a trip to our home away from home, Home Depot!

Baby #2

With all that has been going on, poor baby number 2 has not been officially announced on our blog!

We found out that I was pregnant on August 24th and then were able to see the baby’s heart beat on September 12th.   Although, it really didn’t hit until I started to feel “the baby” move until 13 weeks. 

It is funny after being pregnant with Thomas it is interesting to compare how similar/different some things have been.  With both pregnancies I was very tired at the beginning, which is part of the reason the blog has been so behind.  Any time Thomas was asleep I was sleeping with him, napping during the day and going to bed early most nights. 

So far with both pregnancies I felt like I had a bad hangover (from what I can remember of being hung over) or just off for the first 11-12 weeks and then with Thomas I quickly began to love food.  With this little girl food has continued to be a struggle.  Some days I love something and other days I struggle to get anything in.

In the beginning both Mike and I thought she was a girl.  I had several girl dreams and then convinced myself the baby was a boy.  So when we went in for our 20 week ultrasound we both were excited to find out what she/he was going to be.  I have to admit I was a little shocked that she was a girl, even though I didn’t have a real gut feeling one way or the other.  The main thing however was that everything looks good on her anatomy scan and hopefully she continues to develop into a healthy little girl, to be born around May 6th, 2012. 

Since finding out she was a girl I have been eager to shop and start her bedroom.  Little girls dresses, bows, and all the frilly stuff is SO cute!    Thomas has been talking more and more about his baby sister and he loves to kiss the belly and he is practicing his big brother skills.

What a change we are all in for in a few months.   There are the typical fears that every parent has shared with me about how on earth will you love another child as much as your first.  I am fearful of balancing my still emotionally developing needs that Thomas has with a helpless newborn.   There are moments when Thomas seems so old, yet he is still so young, so it is going to be interesting. 

One day at a time is how we will make it through.  There are so many questions and it seems at this point not a lot of answers.  With Thomas now sleeping long stretches at night, I am trying to gear up my mind for the exhaustion and sleep deprivation that a newborn entails.  

After co sleeping for the last 21 months we are also exploring the idea of Thomas going into a big boy bed.   Even writing this brings tears to my eyes, I love him close.  I love waking up to my husbands arms wrapped around his son and all the littlest moments that we have shared in the last 21 months.

I am so surprised at just how quickly the time has passed and how all of a sudden it feels like we have blinked and we have an almost 2 year old.   What a journey our first son has brought us on and now with our little girl on the way I am sure the lessons are going to continue to be abundant! 

I am unsure if in the next few months Thomas will fully wean himself.  We are gently encouraging it but I do not believe in taking away nursing if he isn’t ready.   At this point, he is still not ready and one day he will be, it might be tomorrow or a few weeks or months from now, but not today.   He is still nursing down for nap and bedtime and 1-2 times in the morning.  If I am not around he will fall asleep with his Daddy and all is well there.   Another thing “I never thought I would do” is nurse 2 children at 1 time, but as her due date approaches and his love for nursing continues it becomes more of a possibility each day.   So I am also wrapping my head around that possibility and trying to prepare others for it as well.   One day at a time, as long as it works for all of us and we continue to have love and support from our friends and family we will figure out this journey.

More to come on Thomas and our baby girl….