Sunshine!

For the last week the SUN has made daily appearances in Seattle!  The weather here is not what I would have expected before I moved here, yet the grey days (even without rain) do get a little redundant. 

So every time it is sunny, we try to get outside to soak up some vitamin D.  Thursday we headed down to the beach with Whitney and Dahlia.

Friday we went for an adventure walk to Lake Washington with Stella.  Also in this collage is pictures from our walk Tuesday to see all the garbage trucks and “wooommsss” or worms under rocks. 

Saturday the whole family spent the morning at Discovery Park walking down to the Sound in search of the “wawa” and “seals.”   We could hear the seals, but couldn’t see any.  We did see a lot of birds and found shells on the beach.  Thomas was determined to hike and run the whole way in and out.  At the end he finally was carried for the last quarter of a mile.  He crashed on the car ride home and was ready for more once we were there!

Sunday Sweet Tooth

During the summer and occasionally in the rainy winter months you can find my family out on a stroll in the morning to the bakery.  This is where we get several comments on how “big and beautiful” our dog is.  Stella gets her morning treats and greetings from the workers at the fish market, and we all get our share of sweets!   

After riding to the bakery in the wagon, our independent big boy decided he wanted to pull it on the way home.  After a few minutes of struggling to pull it a couple feet he let Daddy help.  Oh how cute it was to watch the two of them walk home holding hands and pulling the wagon!

27 Weeks…hello 3rd Trimester

Seems like in a flash I am in the 3rd trimester. Then I look back at pictures and see that we started this journey in August and many memories ago. Truthfully, the pregnancy has been flying by and I hope it continues!

I just had another appointment and all is going well in baby growing land. Every day she is getting stronger and stronger and I am starting to see, rather feel, a pattern to her schedule. It also feels a lot more real as I have all my appointments on the schedule from now until baby time.

She has a very excited brother who loves to talk to his baby, blow raspberries at her (I wonder what she thinks), and talk about how she kicks him. He has also started to ask to say goodnight to her and wants to talk to her randomly on his own through out the day. Thomas is ever increasing his excitement when he sees a baby and then tells us what they are doing and if they are with their mommy or daddy.

I am holding up pretty well, I wish I could trade out my hips as they HURT and by the end of the day I am done. I have to admit I have to focus much more on trying to find time to think, reflect and just be with the baby. So far I think she is going to be a healthy eater as I am craving vegetables and fruits. My latest favorites are cantaloupe and cucumbers. I also feel like salads are the only thing that sounds appealing. Regardless, I am having no problem with getting a belly and am very excited to have her and try to regain my normal shape and size again. The picture to the left is how I feel…BIG and I know she and I only need to get bigger from here on out!

22 Months

Last year about this time I can remember thinking the same thing, I almost have a 2 (1) year old!  Time has flown by and quickly our little baby is a little boy and developing a fierce independence.  Everything, I mean everything, must be done by him or done to make him think it is on his terms.  If not, watch the furry of tears, madness, and possibly a tantrum. 

Thomas is all adventure at this point.   I am finding it harder to capture all that he is about as it changes and involves so much these days.  He still loves running, jumping, climbing, throwing, crashing and anything else that means physical activity.  The boy has energy like I have never seen and I still try to steal some of it on a daily basis.  

What has really changed in the last few weeks is his expressive language.   He is adding words by the day and is able to put short phrases and sentences together.   With this new found language no situation in our house is safe from Thomas retelling it.  He is also really good at telling on one of the pets or his mommy or daddy if he is upset about something, little stinker!  Mike and I continue to understand him best, but he is getting more clear words and others are understanding more and more. 

Thomas loves watching his signing time video and enjoying a warm chocolate, playing with his trucks, playing hockey/soccer and on his train table with Daddy.  His daddy is his best buddy and he waits for him to come home from work nightly.  As soon as Mike walks in the door all we hear until bedtime is “dada play,” “dada choo choo” or “dada no mama.” 

His tummy seems like a bottomless pit that we can’t keep full.  Cheese, veggies and citrus fruits are his favorites.  Yet, there isn’t much he won’t eat at this point.  He is sleeping from 8 or 9 until 7 or 8 and is still taking a nap (1.5-3 hours) during the afternoon.

His awareness of poop and pee is also a brand new adventure for us.  I am equally as excited as I am terrified of this!  He has had many successful potty experiences and will tell us now if he needs to pee or poo.   He really doesn’t like having a wet/soiled diaper and it has in fact been waking him up at night.  A few times in the night we will hear “pee, pee, diaper.”  Thankfully, as soon as he knows we are changing him he is back to sleeping and all is well in the house.  We will see if we continue on this path or if we take a step or two back.   It is still a little early and ambitious to see the light at the end of the diaper tunnel for him, I think?!

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!