April 10, 2012

no longer a baby?

So many things are leading me to believe that my cute little Grizzly Bear is no longer a baby. Acting like he wants to use the toilet. Starting to talk. Teasing us and his older brother.
And, I mean look at those jeans! Does he not just look so grown up in them?!
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At least he still cuddles with me and sucks his fingers and likes me to hold him. I wish he could stay little for longer.

 I know he won't though. This one wouldn't either...

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Preschool in the fall. Really!?  Where has the time gone?

April 9, 2012

proud moments

Caution to reader: If you're not amused by stories about kids poop and pee then you might want to skip to the next post (unless wedding pictures bother you too, then skip on to the next post, unless children bother you too, which if that's the case just don't read my blog). ;) For some reason I find these stories worthy to tell but I understand if you don't. Feel free not to read ahead, I won't be offended.
When you're single or have just a little baby in  your arms and you hear stories about kids pooping and peeing in places they shouldn't and all of that nastiness you have this illusion in your mind that you can probably prevent that from happening. Your kids will never do things like that! And then your kids get older and you realize  that you have less control than you think and kids will be kids.
Just in the last two days I've had two such experiences.
I walked outside to check on Chico and it looked like he was pulling up his shorts. For some reason I didn't think much of it for some reason. But then a little later he just randomly told me, "I peed in Grizwald's bike".
Fabulous, this is Grizwald's bike in case you were wondering how he could pee IN it. That's how.
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And then the other morning Chico had just gone potty and he came out and I was helping him with something. Then I sensed that quiet that comes when one of your kids is up to something they shouldn't be. I told Chico to run and check on Griz.  Next thing I hear is Chico yelling, "He's drinking pee!!!" I sprinted for the bathroom and sure enough Griz was dipping a flosser in Chico's freshly peed in water and putting it in his mouth. Blech!!! Man I need to be even more viligant about making sure Chico remembers to shut the lid and close the bathroom door when he is done.  The reason he doeesn't have much practice in this is because he poops almost every time he goes to the bathroom so I come in and wipe him. His mode of telling me he needs to be wiped is classic. He yells at the top of his lungs, "Mom! You are ready to WIPE me!!!!"  Then he hides his head in the shower curtain and I walk in and he says, "Say, where is Chico?" and I say it then he says, "Say, I can't see his eyes or his mouth!" and I say it while I'm wiping him. Then he says, "Say, I'm just going to shut this lid on him." and I say it and shut the lid on him.  Then he throws the curtain aside and I say, "There's Chico!"  There are of course a few variations to this scenario but it usually follows that pattern.  It's quite the ritual.  So anyway, I'm usually in the bathroom with him and shut the lid for him and shut the door behind us. Guess I've got to start making him do it instead so that Griz can't get in again!

An interesting thing happened last night.  Brent was giving Griz a bath and he kept climbing out and at one point started peeing on the floor. Brent put him on the toilet and he finished it up on the toilet. Then a tiny bit later he wanted to sit back on it and he pooped in the toilet! We're shocked! He's only 18 months old, I'm not sure what to do. Part of me wants to seize the moment and potty train him.  It might not hurt to try, he's so interested in using the toilet. He just seems so young to me!

April 6, 2012

Flash from the past

I've had a certain event that happened about five years ago on my mind lately. Thought I'd share some pictures for a fun trip down memory lane.

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April 5, 2012

flossers and achey legs

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A while ago Chico got out the flossers out of the drawer and they had so much fun playing with them. Kinda a waste of flossers I know, but they were being so cute and entertained I couldn't say no.
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Chico is growing up so fast.  Last night was rough for him. He woke up crying telling me his knees were hurting. I got him back to bed but then a couple hours later he woke up again crying about his legs hurting.  It was right when Brent and I were going to go to bed so we laid in our bed with him trying to get him calmed down. I had given him some Tylenol but he was still crying.  I finally got him to listen to me and asked him if he wanted to say a prayer.  I said the prayer and after I finished I had the thought to tell him WHY it was that I was trying to rub his legs (because he had been fighting me off when I had been trying). I told him about how when I was a kid my legs would hurt during the night too but that my parents would rub my legs and it would make them feel better.  After I told him that he started to calm down and within minutes he was asleep.
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April 4, 2012

Singing Songs

Chico looked so handsome a couple Sundays ago in his blue shirt and blue tie and I was really trying hard to get a picture of him smiling to show how grown up and handsome he looked. Every time I would ask him to smile he'd do this new lip thing he's picked up...  (I happen to pull that face a lot myself but never would have thought he'd pick up on it!)
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We have been singing a lot of songs lately. I cannot tell you how much it helps cheer up my kids. Especially songs with actions. Like, "I'm bringing home my baby bumble bee", "The Wheels on the Bus" and "The wise man built his house upon the rock".
So, when he wouldn't smile for me I asked him to sing a song to see if I could sneak a smile. While it may not have been what I was going for they sure turned out adorable...
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April 3, 2012

becoming scientists

As Brent is becoming a Scientist at school, he's teaching our boys to become little scientists as well.  The curiosity and interesting questions that Chico asks always exite Brent and he loves teaching Chico about red blood cells, white blood cells, bacteria, you name it.  In fact after he taught Chico about bacteria Chico started cooperating with me about brushing his teeth quite well! Thanks Brent! :) We felt that the description of white blood cells was necessary to put bacteria into context. We were worried that our bacteria lesson would backfire and produce a germophobic three year old who has nightmares of killer micro organisms. 
We got a really great deal on a microscope on Brent's birthday. The real reason Brent wanted it was to teach the kids with though.  I must admit (and I'm the non-science brained one here) that it really is quite fascinating!

A couple Sundays ago after church the boys whipped out the microscope and started looking at stuff in the kitchen on the slides.
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How about peanut butter?
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Grizwald's cute little hand...
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Wait a second Chico, the salt is supposed to go on the slide!
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Behold, Salt!
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(That picture was actually quite hard for Brent to capture, so be impressed!)

I haven't looked through a microscope since high school or junior high I think!
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I don't think Grizwald quite gets the concept...
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No Griz, we're not smelling the stuff in there, we're looking at it. :)

April 2, 2012

I love Spring!

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I feel so lucky that every day I can look out our window and see beautiful blossoms in ours and our neighbor's yards. I love it! There is such excitement and beauty in Springtime. I think I've always liked Spring, but I'm pretty sure getting married in Spring contributed to the joy I feel at this time of year...
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Such a magical scene, can't believe it's almost been 5 years!!! 

Anyway speaking of beautiful trees and blossoms please check out our photography blog. I'm doing mini sessions in the Orchard later this month and it is going to be beautiful! Let me know if you want to schedule with me, if you need to discuss the pricing with me to understand it better or want to work out how to get your kids or family scheduled for the best cost for you guys let me know. I'm happy to do what I can to work with you!
For those of you who read my blog you probably know me fairly well and are surprised by this sudden change.  You've probably heard me complain about not wanting to be too busy and not wanting to have photography take me away from my boys too much. The time has come for me to make a sacrifice to help Brent get through school. He is working SO hard at school and took on even more responsibilities at school.  We felt like he needed to quit his full time job in order to make this happen. So that's what we're doing and now I'll be advertising for photography again. Fun fun! The Lord is watching out for us and I know he wil continue to. I have faith that he is guiding us along and leading us where we need to be.