730 Days…

It has been seven hundred and thirty days since our lives forever changed when Thomas was born.  What an adventurous 730 days, it has been some have been great, some mediocre and some all around bad but here we are 2 years later with a little boy who we couldn’t love more!

Thomas is sure his own individual with his own set of rules and ideas about how things will go.  Every day he does something that Mike and I can’t help but laugh.  These days he is changing so quickly it is hard to keep up on what is new and different from day to day. 

Physically the kid continues to be a mover and a wild one at that. His balance and endurance continue to amaze us.   We need to do something active on a daily basis to get his energy out.   Thomas loves challenging himself with his balance and will run/walk up and down hills, balance beams, backwards, and sideways.  He likes to climb and jump off things and fly into a bed of pillows.   Sports continue to be a favorite and he loves watching any type of “go go’s (sports).”  He continues to use the left side to shoot and swing, so we will see if this sticks.  He throws right and is catching bigger balls and his new Green Bay Packers football with lots of excitement.

His fine motor skills are something that he is always challenging himself with.  Right now he is working on getting his thumb to “stand up alone,” and “show 2 fingers” which is tricky.  He also likes practicing his zippers and buttons  and dressing and undressing himself.  Painting, coloring, gluing, playing with stickers and play doh are some of his favorite art/fine motor activities.   He also likes to cook and help pour and stir.  He is helping getting himself undressed and dressed and is still a little unsure of things getting stuck on his head.  He is also a very big helper around the house and will help Mike with work projects and both of us with cleaning. 

His language has exploded and he is telling us more about how he sees the world and what he wants than I think we were ready for!    He will often say a new word and Mike and I will look at each other in awe because we didn’t know he “knew” that word.    He still has many sound (phonological) errors that are age appropriate and oh so adorable.   He is pretty consistent in dropping of his beginning “s” sound for “h,” reducing multisyllabic words, has fronting and backing errors and a whole slew of cute adorable speech sound errors!  I know most of the above doesn’t make sense to anyone not in the speech world, but I want to keep if for my mental record.  I can’t get over how much fun it is having my own little science experiment to watch develop and compare to my education and learning.   Some of his favorite things he says are: “here you go,” “be right back,” “1 more, “all better,” “love you,” “Amen,”  “thanks dad,” “choc choc,” “Nana and Bampa,” “coke,” “homework,” and pretty much every new phrase or short sentence he uses to communicate with us.

His understanding of language continues to flourish.  He loves pointing to and naming animals and things he sees while we are driving, playing or on walks.  He is very into concepts and opposites. 

We are still practicing having gentle hands with the pets and friends and he continues to make progress (although I wish I could say he was ALWAYS gentle).   He has a pretty wide personal space bubble, unless he had decided that he wants the pets/child in closer, and if your too close he has no problem pushing them aside.  We keep working on having him move if he needs more space, walking away, sharing and having our touches be gentle or not at all.  UGH…I know I used to do this day in and day out at work, but when it is my kid and I do it for the 10 billionth time I sometimes have “those days.”  

He is an eating machine at this point and will eat pretty much everything we give him.  His favorite foods are all kinds of cheese, calamari, cucumbers, carrots, red peppers, avocado, pancakes and syrup, choc choc milk, apples and peanut butter and nuts.  He sits at the table in a booster chair.  His big boy room and bed have been completed.   He is still bouncing back and forth between his room and our room at night depending on his/our mood, day and if he is feeling well or not.   Aside from a wet diaper that wakes him up saying “uh oh mama/dada pee” he sleeps from bedtime (typically 8:30-9) to morning (7:30-8). 

So that is a quick snap shot of our little guy.  He is so much fun to have around and a constant source of pride and laughter for Mike and I.  We both feel so blessed to be his parents and can’t wait to continue to watch him grow up!

He has his 2 year well check on Friday so I will be back with his height and weight later this week. 

Loving Art Time

This is one of those weeks where Thomas couldn’t get enough of art time.  Every afternoon after he got up from nap he was asking for “paint,” “play doh,” or “ark projek.”

Tuesday we decorated Tuesday we decorated Easter foam eggs and put a little glue paint on them. 

Wednesday we attempted to paint flowers and we did successfully get 3 done before it turned into a Thomas painting himself party.

Since Wednesday we have been playing with play doh at least 1 time a day sometimes more.  He likes to cut the dough with his knife and roll it out.  He is also starting to make shapes and a ball.  I love art projects and still do to this day.   Here is my art project from for the baby’s room.  I got the idea off of Pinterest and then pulled old scrap book paper and went for it.  I am happy with how they turned out and can’t wait to hang them in her room.  We are very close to having both her room and the basement finished…we are hoping to have both done this weekend or next week. 

Roop-Beer

Thomas is a big fan of 3 things at the moment, saying “cheers,” his Daddy and drinking “roop-beer.”  We snuck away from cooking on Tuesday and Thomas got to enjoy a dinner out with Mike and I. 

We went to one of our favorites right on Puget Sound and it was far too “bright” for Thomas to take his hat off.  Mike also had to keep his body in the right spot so the sunlight didn’t bother him.  Thomas just might be made for this Seattle Grey!

Little Mr. Helper

Thomas has always been a great helper around the house, however this week he has stepped it up a notch!  He now wants to clean morning, noon and night and loves using his wipes to clean.  He will dip them in water, ring them out, and proceed to clean everything in his path.  Not a bad trait and desire to have.  I have started to wonder if he is taking a little after my crazy cleaning nesting a little bit?!  It feels like when I have a free moment not playing, cooking or doing a normal routine thing I am cleaning or organizing. 

Really a half marathon?

That was what I said when Mike told me again that he was going to run a half marathon on Sunday.  He had been talking about it for awhile, but after not training and having the flu Wednesday I thought it was out of the question.  I guess not to him, as he ran and completed the half in 1 hour and 52 minutes.  He is nuts and that is why I love him.

Thomas and I went and met Amy at the race just after the guys started their run.  Thomas enjoyed watching the runners and even picked watching them over playing on a playground!

Max finished in the top 10 and got 2nd in his age group.  After he finished Thomas made sure he was loaded up with trail mix.  Once Mike finished we were off to lunch and then home to watch the Sioux hockey game.  Cheers to the start of the triathlon season!

Spring is here???

Well the calendar says it is spring, yet Seattle seems to still be deciding if it wants to listen.   I remember this from last year when we were moving too, but the gorgeous spring like days happen and then just for a reality check there is a gloomy rain day in the mix too.  Oh well, the flowers are blooming, the trees are blooming and the sunshine has been out…we will take it!

This weekend we added got the 2nd level of our garden going.  This year we are adding a herb/lettuce/spinach box off the ground.  We battled snails and slugs last year so this will solve the problem without having to use/kill them. 

After adding compost to the old garden box we planted peas and most of our seedlings have sprouted and are growing well indoors for the time being. 

Thomas liked digging in the dirt but was not a fan of the lawn mower.  He was very happy when Daddy was done and the lawn mower went back in “garage night night.” 

I have been resisting every urge I have to plant more color in our front flower bed.  The tulips and daffodils are starting to bloom and hopefully that will help.  Mike and I can’t wait to get the house painted and fix our front yard disaster, we have lived with it for a year and the eye sore that it is will soon be beautified with a lot of elbow grease and hard work.

Thomas and his baby Sister almost 34 weeks…

Thomas loves his sister as far as we can tell!   When he snuggles he will often be found rubbing my belly and will come over and ask to see the “baby.”  

I never know exactly what is going through both of their minds when they do this.  She kicking him from the inside, him feeling it?    So far he has been at all but 2 of our doctor appointments.  He loves seeing the “baby doctor” and hearing the heart beat.   I can only hope that this carries over to when she comes out of the belly and he realizes she is here to stay!

Last week when he had his very first ever scary dream and woke up crying and very upset, after calming down, he asked to fall asleep next to her.  My heart about melted watching him want to protect her.   As days go by, I am quickly realizing that the due date clock is ticking down.   I am hopeful that she comes out full term healthy and right around 39 weeks   As the days go on, I am getting more uncomfortable, tired, and feeling BIG!!!  She also is very active and although I will miss this when I am holding her in my arms, my ribs and stomach muscles sometimes could use a break from all the gymnastics, dance recitals, or who knows what she is doing in there.  I am also getting equally as excited to meet her!

So far nothing too out of the ordinary from my pregnancy with Thomas.  I have to admit, I wonder how I am going to keep up with my quick moving little boy as I/she continues to get bigger.  One foot in front of the other I guess!? 

Stel-ya Puppa

There are so many things that make Stella one of the most needy human dogs in the world.  If I made a list it would be far too long, but a short version goes something like this: she has a cancerous eye tumor, she cries at her food and spills it everywhere, she still wakes up to potty in the middle of the night, she “talks” to the fridge, her food, her treat area if she is in “need” or “wants” something, she howls if we are away, she loves us unconditionally, and really she is the worlds best annoying dog!

So when I read this story and saw just how extra gentle and great Stella was this week as we were all sick, I couldn’t help but think about just how lucky we truly are.  I hope one day, hopefully far far away, Thomas and our new baby girl can reflect so beautifully on a life well lived.    Until then I can’t wait to deal with all the annoyances, licks in the face, eye goobers and hugs our giant girl give our family.  Call it pregnancy emotions, call it being a die hard animal lover, but ugh a bug what a special dog we have been blessed with.  The end of the story on how a dog lives, brings tears to my eyes, because this is how Stella (and most dogs I know) live.  They are wonderful words to live by, in my opinion!

A Dog's Purpose?
(from a 6-year-old).
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa , and their little ...boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.
He said,''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,
''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So, love the people who treat you right. Think good thoughts for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of LIFE...Getting back up is LIVING...
Have a great life.
by: Ultima National Resources, LLC

Family Moon in Oregon

Friday after a doctor appointment for me and baby girl Thomas, Mike and I headed down to the Oregon coast for our last family vacation, sans Stella and the new baby.  All is well in my and baby world so that started off our vacation on the right foot!

We took off late about 5 and drove a few hours before stopping for dinner and a little out of the car time before heading on our way to Oregon.  Thomas was either too excited about getting to the hotel with his new beloved possession, his own “suitsuit” (suitcase) or overstimulated from the constant movies playing in his face, either way the 4 hour trip was pretty good!  Thomas fell asleep 10 minutes before we got to the hotel and once in the room we all crashed pretty quickly.

Saturday morning we were greeted by a wonderful view of the ocean, rolling waves, and our 2 seagull friends looking for some treats.  I had a few crackers that we crunched up and threw at them which both Thomas and I thought was pretty cool. 

Then it was off to breakfast before checking out the beach.  As we walked to breakfast it was nice, sunny and fairly warm.  When we finished and attempted to head to the beach we were cold and quickly headed in right as the rain started.  Boo!  We thought our day was going to be filled with rain.  So we packed our bags and headed to Astoria and the Maritime Museum.

What an interesting museum it was.  Neither Mike or I had much knowledge (or any for that matter) of this area before we got here.  We were surprised to find out that the area where we were staying has been called the “Graveyard of the Pacific” and one of the most deadliest stretches of water in the world. We did a little reading on it and the strong Pacific Ocean currents going into the bay area and meeting with the Columbia River makes it a nasty place for boats to travel.  In the last 200 years, approximately 2,000 ships/boats have sunk right off these waters.

In the picture below, we were staying directly East of the compass on the coast.  Astoria is just behind us in the point on the bottom right of the page.   All the little dots you see are boats that have met their end in these waters.   For many years now they have what are called Pilot boats and now a helicopter that takes skilled captains to any boats that are coming in from the Pacific to navigate the harbor.  The Captain  must pass a series of tests to be considered “elite and knowledgeable” enough to navigate the waters.  You can read more about this area here.

We also read about how this was an important port for protection during WWII and about the dedication of the Coast Guard.  After touring a boat out on the harbor we were off to our next adventure.

We headed up to the Astoria Column.  After climbing the 164 steps, 125 feet up in the air to glide off our airplanes, this mama was tired and terrified!  The views were breathtaking and as you can see the rain had stopped and we were enjoying the sun and blue sky!

Once we made our way to the bottom we headed down for some lunch.  We found The Baked Alaska and grabbed lunch.  We were able to see boats in the harbor and watch one of the Pilot boats take a captain out to meet a ship.  After lunch we drove up to Fort Stevens State Park to see the old barracks and learn a little about its history.  This base was in operation from the Civil War until just after WWII.  We learned that this was the primary support in defending the harbor along with 2 other military bases during WWII and that it was the only place that was attacked on US soil in WWII.  During the attack no lives were lost and it missed the barracks as well.

After touring around for a little bit we decided to let Thomas finally go into a puddle with his rain boots.  The whole day he had been searching for puddles, as he knows that with shoes we don’t do it, but with rain boots it is go time!   Then it was time to head back to the hotel.We made the 20 minute drive and once back decided to see if we could just head down to the beach and push nap off a little further.  It worked and Thomas had a blast playing in the sand, chasing after Mike and I and the ocean was stunning.  We had a little episode when we were exploring the low tide and a small wave came in to fast and his little feet couldn’t move…a quick plop in the water and Mike was there to swoop him up.  Needless to say he was tired, cold, wet and done playing in/near the ocean.After a nap and a snack we were back down to enjoy the beach, a campfire and some s’mores before dinner!  Yep, we were on vacation and we did it backwards, because we were afraid the rain would ruin our fun.  We stayed on the beach for a couple hours before we started talking about heading in and Thomas turned looked at us and said “bye home” and started for the hotel!   We went and had dinner at one of the resorts restaurants and then it was back “home” for bed. 

We were all exhausted and quickly fell asleep only to wake up with a sick little guy.   Thomas woke up at 3 a.m. throwing up and was pretty miserable until he cleaned out his tummy at 6 a.m. poor little guy.  When we woke up we ordered some room service breakfast, packed, let Thomas sleep in and hit the road.   The waves as we left were pretty amazing.  The pictures don’t do their size justice.

On the ride home we made one stop at a park for Thomas to get some quick out of car duties finished.  While we were playing and enjoying the park, the Tsunami warning siren sounded.  Our little guy high tailed it out of that park into his dad’s arms and wanted guickly into the car and out of that town.   Oh well, sickness in all, it was a wonderful trip and a great way to celebrate our family of 3 (6) becoming 4 (7)!

Sioux Hockey

This week started off tournament time in college hockey.   Thomas loves putting on his “go go jersey” and playing hockey in the basement with Mike.   Today he had to settle for me upstairs while we waited for Mike and the pizza delivery man with dinner. 

Thomas wore his Sioux jersey Thursday and Friday all day and to bed, he loves his “go go’s!”  Very excited to report that the Sioux claimed the Broadmoor Trophy this weekend and will be playing again next weekend in NCAA tournament.  Go Sioux!!!