More Memories!

Ian's vocabulary is developing at a feverish pace. I can't even keep up with all the new things he is saying DAILY, but here's some newsworthy developments...

-We've entered the phase of questioning. "What doing mommy?" will echo me around the house. Even after I've already explained to him 10 different ways!

-Speaking of questions, "Why?" has slipped out once. I know life will forever change once it becomes more commonplace!

-Throwing a tantrum, he will now often toss in a painful jab, "No mommy! You mean!"

-He seeks praise for his behaviors, "I did it!"

-Children's television shows that ask questions of the audience will actually get his participation! I'm surprised by things he can actually answer sometimes!

-He's becoming aware of health concerns, asking and informing us of different maladies. "Mommy you sick?" or "Ma foot hurt," and even reminding us, "No milk. Make-a tummy hurt."

-Just a little bit bossy at times, "No do it!" or "You sit. You play with me."

-And yes, you read that correctly, he's adding in the occasional preposition. He even uses pronouns correctly about 95% of the time. (I, me, you).

Zoe's still growing just as fast, just a little quieter!

-Although perfectly capable of low-crawling, she will only chase down objects within a 3 foot radius.

-She's up on all fours, and rocking back and forth...very close to a fully-recognizable crawl.

-Little babbles escape her lips every once in a while, with raspberries still being the favorite. (Especially if she's just eaten some rice cereal).

-Speaking of cereal, we've just introduced potatoes as the first taste of "real" food. Matt apologizes to her, but she doesn't seem to mind!

That's about it for now. Or at least all I'm going to type up tonight! :)

Zoe is FIVE MONTHS OLD!

Little Miss has gone from 14.3 to 15.4 pounds and is 24.75 inches (if I remember correctly, I didn't write it down)!

Ok, so I'm late, but what else is new? Zoe's getting ready to take off and get into everything...(& this post has been sitting in draft because yet again I forgot to hit "post").

-We're putting away some of the 6 month size clothing, and starting to bring out 9 months! She's getting a little tighter with the size 2 diapers too.
-Her favorite things to do are play with daddy or brother, and splash in the tub...giving so many smiles for us at those times!
-Is very content, but still pretty quiet for the most part. When she does make noise, she kind of squeaks!
-When she's on your lap, will grab at everything within reach. Guard your dinner plates!
-Rice cereal is a new introduction. She frantically grabs at the spoon, and tries to shove it in her mouth faster than I can spoon it in.
-Drooling a LOT less. But, trying to chew on our fingers and arms a lot more!
-Really appears to be giving us kisses...she'll pull our faces in to her, and open mouth slobber all over!
-Will pull her knees underneath her and slowly crawl across the floor!
-Rolls easily from side to side, but her favorite method of locomotion is swivelling around on her stomach.
-Likes to "steal" Ian's little people toys and throw them. She'll squawk at Ian if he takes them away, too.
-Can sit up on her own, but when she gets tired she falls frontward!
-Tries to sit up in her car seat. When we're driving, she looks like she's trying to get out.

Zoe is quite a little character. I can see she is determined to keep up with her brother, and get into everything. She's ready to take on the world, and doesn't want to be held back. Although happy and content, she's a very intense little person. Smiles can come easily at times, but much of the time she's seriously taking in the world around her. I can't wait to see what the month ahead will bring...but wait, maybe I can, since I know all too soon she's going to be showing me where my child-proofing needs work. :)

Time marches on...

...even though my fingers haven't been doing much marching on the keyboard lately! How on earth can I keep up with these two when they are growing so stinking fast!! As I type this, Zoe is CRAWLING across the floor (albeit snail-paced) to get her elephant toy. Ian is sleeping (an amazing feat in itself), which is recharging his brain for more antics later I'm sure.

We've enjoyed Matt graduating and having a week at home with us. We cheered him on at his first triathlon event, and had wonderful family time together! Now, he's back to work and my camera is full of pictures that need uploading, and my mind is full of stories that need telling. Here's some recent moments from the past few weeks.

(Of course I haven't even made it to these moments until 2 weeks after the fact!)

-Ian's latest phrase/concern is asking people repetitively, "Are you ok, mommy? Are you ok, daddy?" or letting us know everyone's current status, "Mommy ok, daddy ok, Zoe ok, Ian ok!" It's heartwarming to see that he is concerned with other people. Most of the time when he's asking these questions, it's because HE just hurt himself!

-Another new development is Ian's insistence on specific pajamas on some nights. Of course, he has yet to choose a pair that are not at the bottom of the laundry hamper.

-Matt's first day back to work, and Ian was definitely missing him. He packed up his new wheeled backpack...with a sippy cup, some rubber ducks, a book, and a few stray pieces of cereal. Proudly marching to the door he announced, "I going see daddy. See daddy work."

-Ian calls his pacifier a "firetruck." No really, he does. For those of you wondering why he made it 2 years without a "firetruck" and only now has one...ask Bubby. Our little friend has one, and Ian has insisted on having one too. He doesn't suck on it, just chews it with gusto. We appreciate having something to redirect his teeth from people...Why he calls it a firetruck is a better question. The only thing I can figure is that he hears the word ending, paciFIER, and just added truck because that was the logical leap his brain made. Whatever the reason, we can laugh to ourselves at the child who chews on an emergency vehicle.

-Little ears are listening to everything that is being said. After phone conversations, he often asks me questions relating to what has been said. For example, I was asking my friend, "Well, does he have a fever? Is he acting tired or out of sorts?" After I hung up, Ian questioned me, "Bubby sick?" I guess he also heard me say we might go to Wal-Mart, because the next question was, "Go shoppin' now?" Hmmm...

-We met Matt for lunch at Subway, and Ian boycotted the apples that came with his meal. It was odd, because usually he eats them first! We shrugged and I told Matt he could take them if Ian didn't eat them. You remember I mentioned that Ian is listening more closely? I do believe this overheard conversation just encouraged him to form an elaborate scheme...We drove away and Ian threw a tantrum, "NOOOOO DADDY WORK! NO! COME HOME! WANT DADDY! NO DADDY WORK!" Then just before we passed the turn off for Matt's office, he said very sweetly, "Ok, I eat apples. Go get apples. See daddy 'gain, get apples." Either he had this planned right from the start, or came up with it on the fly. Stinker! (Yes, we went back and got the apples. He didn't eat them, but also did not tantrum on driving away the second time.)

-On a recent excursion to the store, Ian earned a reward for his good behavior. He got to choose any car he wanted! (Hot Wheels). He was so excited there was a new color-changing car on the shelf, and I was excited he took interest in such a neat toy. Both of us could hardly contain our excitement to purchase and play with this cute little coupe. "Ok mommy, gotta go pay," he smiled up at me, "Wow so cool, colorrrs." I beamed back at him with pride...he'd chosen a new kind of toy and was actually excited about what it could do! Forgetting the other half of my list, we headed to the check-out, patiently waited to ring everything else up, and headed to the car. He was now nearly bouncing with enthusiasm at the "Color car!! Color car!!" we were about to open. I had my cold water ready! He handed me the car and watched as I poured the water over the bright yellow car and it turned green nearly instantly. How cool was THAT?! When I looked up with my own ear-to-ear smile of excitement at my little boy, I was shocked to see tears welling up in his eyes. The beautiful smile of anticipation had contorted into a face of pure agony, and a wail escaped his lips. "Mommy, oh no, you broooke it!" Forgive me for laughing at my son's pain yet again. I reluctantly poured hot water back on the car, instantly changing it back to yellow, and Ian's face from pain to indignation. He clutched the car tightly to himself, "Mommy no have car. No broke it, no fix it. Color cars is colors, mine!" Ok, no more color-changes. At least not for a little while.

-Another car/store dilemma. We purchased a train that would hold all of his little cars...and I'll make a long story short, but Ian was quite upset that the packaging showed a train FULL of many little cars, and when the package was opened there was not a single one to be found. I know it will make his life a lot more stress-free when he can read those little words on the bottom of the package, "Not included." Or maybe, that will mark his entrance into the adult world of frustration with gimmick marketing. He was not very happy with me because I didn't listen to his pleas to, "Take back, other one cars more mommy. It broken." Life lessons!

-As we all sit at the dinner table, Ian makes a strange request, "Daddy, pink fork." Matt rolls his eyes and informs him that of course we don't have pink forks. (And, he wouldn't want to give him one anyway. I have to laugh at Matt because he thinks this will be the end of it...). "Daddy, want pink fork. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease." Now he's forced to at least go into the kitchen and walk through the motions. So he returns with a handful of forks in many different colors. Ian purses his lips and thinks carefully about his selection. The right color fork can make or break a meal, you know. Ian chooses a red fork (it's close enough to pink), and informs his daddy, "I got pink fork, like a reeeeal man." I don't think I could do justice with words trying to explain the look on Matt's face. But I can tell you that I nearly fell off my chair laughing. Where do kids come up with this stuff?

-Last but not least, I will leave off with one of my favorite little moments yet. Ian is drifting off in the back seat, Zoe just fell asleep for her nap, and I'm starting to feel myself get giddy. If he takes a nap, I'll actually have free time! They'll both be sleeping! I encourage him gently, "Ian close your eyes, it's OK to take a little rest." (Why oh why can't I leave well enough alone?!). He pops his little head up, and blinks at me stubbornly. A few tense moments pass as I realize I just ruined my golden opportunity. But, it gets better...Ian then rationalizes with me, "No sleep mommy. Go play. Go home, go play." Something in me thinks I can convince him otherwise, "No Ian, we're all going to rest. See Zoe is sleeping too, and we're all going to take a rest and THEN we can go play. Won't that be fun?! After a nap, we'll all play together!" Ian is stubborn, "NO NAP! NO SLEEP! NO CLOSE EYES!" his protests get louder and louder. OK, I realize if I don't want Ian to get any louder with his refusals (and wake the baby), I'll let the issue rest. I don't need to tell him anything, just put him in his room when I get home. Then, my little plotter turns to his sister and throws a toy at her in the carrier (a soft one, thank goodness), "Zoe wake up! Wake up! No close eyes! No nap! I play! No nap, wake up!" He gets a sharp reprimand, and I told him to be quiet and leave her alone. Then the faces and giggling commence. Mutually. Zoe is now WIDE awake and laughing at her brother's antics!) Ian looks at me with one of his biggest grins ever. "No Zoe nap. Go home, go play." I have one of those mom moments where I desperately want to laugh so hard at his crafty disobedience, but am forced to be consistent and in charge...all while realizing it's really not funny. Losing my quiet nap time is the least of my worries. Ian just used his sister as a weapon against nap time. Oooooooh!

I know some of these moments are just little things, but they are little things I will treasure! I often wish in the heat of those toddler tantrums to be far, far away...and many years forward from now. But, I wish just as often that even though these are some of the most challenging times (if not THE most challenging times) of my life, that I could freeze them right here and enjoy my LITTLE Ian, and my BABY Zoe.

But, I know time will continue to march on, and even though I will miss these days, I'll also look forward to sharing these stories with them when they are bigger. I can only imagine how wonderful it will be to look at Ian and Zoe all "grown up" and have known their little hearts from right now. I don't know how to explain it, but wow I'm so thankful for being a mommy! :)



Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. - Proverbs 20:11

Firecracker!

...sometimes I would think I was just imagining things! But, I'm so glad Matt is around so he can witness just how quickly a little baby grows up!

Tonight Zoe was playing around in her exersaucer, and Ian came over and yanked a toy right out of the holder. Zoe starting crying, and it was obviously because she was scared. It's actually amazing how much she'll "put up with" from him. I wish I could protect her little noggin from her brother, but too many times he has smacked her on the head! She simply looks up at him and winces, then continues playing. So the fact she reacted made it clear she was scared. Normal enough...

A few minutes passed, and Ian was crouched on the floor, and grabbed at the toy again. Both Matt and I were watching, because it looked like Ian was trying to play with her this time. Not so.

I am not kidding you, that little baby looked Ian straight in the face and cried, "WWEhhhhh." It was a very strong statement, not a scared cry, or a I-want-to-be-picked-up cry, but a demand for him to leave her toy alone. I don't even know quite how to phrase it into words, but Matt and I looked at each other in disbelief. "Did she just...?" I asked.

"Uh, yeah, she did," was all he could say!

We weren't the only ones that noticed Zoe taking a stand. Ian understood, and tried to push her hand away. Our precious little girl brought her OTHER HAND up to the toy and let out ANOTHER matter-of-fact cry!

I just can't believe they are having a battle over a toy already! She's only 4 months old! Again, if it wasn't for Matt being there to witness this exchange with me, I'm not sure I would have believed it!

Then again, I saw Zoe's cute little baby blues spark and I just can't imagine it away. Baby girl is a firecracker! :)

Books at bedtime...

A couple nights ago, Matt took over the nightly routine so I could make it to the gym. When I came home, Zoe was in bed fast asleep, and Ian was calling to me from bed! I asked Matt how everything went, and questioned if I had wakened Ian with my entry. He assured me I didn't, and Ian went to bed easily.

So I went in to Ian and told him goodnight. He was whimpering, and I asked what was wrong. "Want book," he requested...which is a typical nightly part of the routine (bath, book, prayer, bed). I handed him another book, but he was obviously not satisfied. "No, mommy, read book," he told me. I told him it was time for bed and started to walk away. After all, Ian will continue asking either of us to read books to him in a feeble attempt to prolong bedtime.

He sat up in earnest, "Mommy! Daddy no read! No book. Uh-uhn, no book, Daddy. Want book read read you," He was so upset! I considered the possibility maybe he didn't have a book he wanted read to him. Or, was he telling on Daddy?!

I asked Matt if he read a book to him, and he said, "Ian has his book."

"No, what I meant was, did you READ him a book?"

"How would you have known THAT?" (Guilty look).

Daddy admits this isn't the first time he's skipped the book-reading portion of the nightly routine...but, it looks like Ian isn't going to let this slide any more. Especially now that he has the words to tell on daddy!

I guess I'd better get my act together! Next thing I know, he'll be telling on ME! :)

Where oh where did July go?

Seriously...it's over! The last month of summer has arrived, and I'm not going to let any opportunities to soak up the sun pass us by!

Here's some snippets of activities and vignettes if you will, from the past month. I actually have a legitimate excuse for it taking so long. We've had the motherboard on the desktop crash, and software issues on the laptop - all at the same time! I'm very thankful for our friend Marcus that has enough computer knowledge to get us back up and running again. So much to do and so little time! In the next month or so, we'll be adding a Mac (mini) to our family! I'm very excited because this means even more fun with photos...and more importantly reliable and fast computer accessibility! In the meantime, here's the past month in review:

*Ian attended his first VBS! Our theme was the Australian Outback...and how, like a boomerang, it all comes back to Jesus! I taught the 3rd/4th grade class while Ian played with his buddy Chandice in the nursery. They did a few lessons, but mostly spent time having way too much fun! Completely exhausted after a full week of VBS I collapsed on the couch the following day...but Ian asked to go back to church!



*The 4th of July was great fun...with all the greats on Matt's side of the family! We had fun playing games with the cousins (Ian is slowly grasping the concept of turn-taking...very happy to announce, "my turn" at any time!) and even more fun exploring Georgia Aquarium to celebrate the Great-Gayler's 65th wedding anniversary! Ian was completely in awe at the aquarium! There is no denying that he is a huge fan of fish! He loved to point out the sharks to us, and was talking about them for days after the experience. Only in Ian world, sharks chase people to tickle them! I must add here that he was a little nervous to touch the glass at the aquarium. I'm pretty sure he was afraid that the invisible barrier between him and the sharks was not enough! But there was not a single tantrum, or foot misplaced...for the entire time we were there. I would happily spend a day with him at this amazing showcase of God's underwater creation! It was a very fast weekend trip, but such a great one!



*Ian and his sister and becoming increasingly inseparable! Every morning, Ian wants to sit on the couch with Zoe and hold her. She smiles up at him lovingly, and he amuses her with his funny faces and noises. He has a very peculiar way of touching his hands to her face (which he really likes to do), and she never complains. It's amazing to watch how hard she will laugh at him when he's being silly! Matt relayed a story from a ride he had with them in the car while I was at the gym...Ian was saying, "Heeellllp meeee!" and Zoe would burst into laughter. Ian figured this out and was "performing" for her, and they were laughing at each other! This is one of the first times Ian was clearly interacting with Zoe, but it's happening more and more as the days go by.



*Zoe is on a mission to crawl already. Rumor has it that I was an extremely early crawler/walker. I didn't believe the time frame before (6/9 months), but I'm inclined to now...Zoe has totally got the motions down! She's rolling confidently from back to stomach, and then kicks off with those back legs as hard as she can, driving her head into the ground! She'll eventually get frustrated and fuss when she's not moving as far as she would like...but she's got nothing to be ashamed about - going a few inches! If I leave her in the crib for a few minutes, I'll come back and she's turned all the way around and at the other side!



*Ian cooked his first meal! He has often helped in the kitchen...but this was the first start-to-finish experience. And he did stay engaged for the approximately 30 minutes it took to complete! Matt was cooking chicken, and threw some scrap pieces in some water to make chicken noodle soup. We passed Ian the ingredients one cup at a time (noodles, vegetables, spices) and he added them and stirred with intense concentration! He was SO proud of himself...saying, "I cookin! I cookin, Mommy Daddy!!! I cookin!" The excitement was even greater when the bowl finally made it to the table. You could just see the pride radiating from his sparkling eyes and smile. His little shoulders and head were cocked and tilted in his quaint little expression of accomplishment. He devoured everything but some of the chicken. Next step is making him an apron!!




*We have two water babies! Ian will ask to, "Go cool" every day! Unfortunately, we've had a lot of late afternoon thunderstorms, so this hasn't always been possible. When we do make it, he has an absolute blast! He is getting SO close to swimming on his own, it's amazing. The pool on Laurel Bay has little swim vests available for use, and it took a little time for Ian to trust it would hold him up. This was actually surprising to us, as Ian shows a scary "no fear" approach to throwing himself into the water. The fact that he's aware he might sink is GOOD! However, with his current progress this phase is not going to last very long. He's dunking his head under the water and holding his breath all on his own, and no longer drinking insane amounts of pool water! Zoe loves to take a dip too. She kicks and kicks those little legs and makes happy noises!



*The summer has been full of play dates galore...Ian has had fun with friends at home, the beach, park, pool & friend's houses. It is interesting to watch his personality blossom around others - and how different he can be with older and younger play mates. Or how different children will bring out various aspects of his personality! We're so blessed to have such wonderful friends to spend our time with! I am so happy to report that his biting/hitting phase is nearly past! I don't think I blogged too much about it before (since I didn't really want to think about it!) but he had been getting a little frustrated at times with his friends over toys. It wasn't that bad (the crying on the other hand, ugh!), but I'm glad he's learned his lesson from the time out rug. Can I tell you how much my heart celebrated when for the first time he was hit by a friend, he just stood there (without hitting back) and whined, "No hit!" A few other moments have showcased his developing compassion for others...when he has seen another child so upset at the toy he's taken, he will give it back and say, "No cry. Here you are." It's so wonderful to watch Ian develop empathy for others and learn to take the focus off himself!

*As was hinted at above, Ian's language has skyrocketed! He is using very complex sentence patterns, and generating language I thought far above his age level. For example, he is now using emotions to express himself..."I scared of bees, Mommy," or "Zoe sad, she hungry." He's even using personal pronouns with amazing accuracy. "MY turn," "I do it," etc. I would expect him to say, "Ian do it," and the like, but he's caught on very quickly! He's also using adjectives regularly in sentences, and started expressing the concept of size...well, "big" anyway! My favorite words will always be, "I love you."

That's about all for now...but if I blogged all that the past month has contained, I would never get to bed! Such blessings, and such wonderful FULL days! I'm looking forward to this month's outpost when Matt will have more time at home, and we'll have some needed family time! Enjoy your summer while the sun is still hot!! :)

Zoe is FOUR MONTHS OLD!

Little Miss has gone from 13.5 to 14.3 pounds and 24.25 to ____ inches!

Another month gone! And life with a very determined little girl continues to be a joy in so many ways!

A few things about Zoe this month!

-Really filling out the 6 month size clothes! She's definitely long! Size 2 diapers.
-Smiles a lot more...but she's still mostly a responsive smiler, she'll smile back at you or in response to noises/play.
-Won't laugh for just anything - she's got a special affinity for her brother's antics!
-Will play in the exersaucer for 20-30 minutes! She grabs at the toys, and is working on standing up!
-Brings both of her hands together to grab at toys in front of her! It's amazing how quick & coordinated she has become!
-Has mastered rolling from her back to her stomach! She can do this within seconds of being put down!
-Wants to be in bed by 8:30pm every night...in her own bed! It's the most consistent thing she asks for (ok demands!). If she's not in bed, she's NOT happy one bit!
-Definitely requires a bib most of the time! Drool monster!
-Has discovered her feet! She holds them up with her little hands, but hasn't pulled them up quite far enough to look at them yet!
-Loves to be held standing up on your lap!
-Is becoming more interactive with Ian...grabbing at his hands/face. It almost looks like she's trying to get his attention!
-Has stopped pulling up her own dresses as much. Now, she's intent on grabbing anything else within reach!
-Seems so close to crawling...she has managed to low crawl across the floor almost a foot! Uh-oh!

It's amazing how much a little person can grow in a month! Not only has she physically grown, but her mental abilities are clearly reaching new levels every day. She seems more and more a determined little girl, very set on reaching into our world and joining in the fun!

I can't wait to see her crawling around, smile more, play with us, and hear what she has to say! I know Ian can't wait until Zoe is big enough to really play with either! :)

One small word at a time.

I was going to be the mom that always explained things to her children like an adult. That's how you gain intelligence, when people speak intelligently to you! I was not going to "dumb down" my vocabulary to speak with my miniature adults! Descriptive language is the key to growing better language skills! Every situation is an opportunity to learn!

Including today's trip to the grocery store:

We go through the store and I label as much as I can while I shop. Shopping is an educational field trip, he can build his vocabulary from me simply telling him the names of groceries! We finish and head to the car, only to be faced with a downpour...

"Oooooh. It raining. Raining. Raining." Ian helpfully points out from the "car" in the front of the shopping cart.

Everyone is standing around at the door, waiting for their significant other to go fetch the car. Or, reaching down into the cart for the umbrella and confidently walking out. A few brave souls run through the rain with a few bags and manage to only be half-soaked to the bone. My first temptation is to be frustrated, but you know what...I'm woman, here me roar! Thank God for those fun shopping carts...Ian is sheltered from the rain in his car, "driving."

"Turn on your windshield wipers, Ian, we're going out in the rain!" I pop out the "awning" on Zoe's car seat and we go out into the deluge. It's water people, and nothing will stop us now!

"Remember, Ian, you have to drive carefully in the rain because the roads are slick."

My super-smart little toddler intently steers his car while beeping the squeaky horn.

I get the kids (and groceries) loaded into the car, and I'm feeling pretty proud of myself! Here I am, mom of 2 kids: I'm smart, I'm resourceful, I rock! (Well, I'm also dripping at the moment, but that's ok...it's just water). Sitting in the dry car I can now relish in the fact that we've made it through another trip in one piece, and learned a lot of helpful things simultaneously!

Ian starts chanting, "Mommmmeeeeeee, booooobooooo. Mommmmmeeeee, boooobooo." I look back, and he's picking at insect bites. I am focused on being the only person who can actually drive in the rain.

"Yes, those are your bug bites from earlier. Remember when the bugs bit you? It leaves a raised part of your skin and takes a while to heal. Stop picking at your bites," I tell him, "Your booboo can only heal if you don't pick at it." Another wonderful learning opportunity!

"Mommeee, it hurt. Booboo. It hurt."

Thoughts of clotting cells, and the biology of a wound were hovering somewhere beneath the surface. After all, I don't need to talk to him like a baby.

"Ian, bug bites sometimes take a while to go away. You have to let it heal."

What was I expecting? He's suddenly going to get this? "Booobooo. Booobooo. Booboo!! It hurt!" He continues to pick at it.

"Don't touch your booboo, Ian. Leave it alone. It needs to heal."

"Mommeeee, booboo hurt. It HURT!" Now he's scratching at it with vigor.

My brain is now no longer with me. It is in the swirling vortex of planet mom. It has been replaced with jello.

"Ian, stop picking at your owie! You're going to make it...owier!"

He instantly stops picking and resumes kicking the back of the seat.

There you have it, folks. Owier.

As soon as it passed from my lips, I couldn't help but smile and laugh at myself. I'm a mom for sure. I'm helping my child build his vocabulary! One small word at a time. :)


A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. - Proverbs 25:11

Zoe is THREE MONTHS OLD!

Wait a minute? Where on earth did the time go?! I just realized last night...I haven't done her three month post!!!

Little Miss has gone from 11.5 to 13.5 pounds and 22.25 to 24.25 inches!

Time flies by so quickly...it's a wonder. I thought it was a blur with Ian, but I'm now wondering where did my tiny baby go?!

A few things about Zoe this month!

-In 6 month size clothes with a few exceptions! She's definitely long! Size 2 diapers.
-Is very smiley and happy! She loves people!
-Will carry on a "coo conversation" with you!
-Laughs! Is very ticklish on those adorable chubby cheeks, under her chin, and her chunky little legs!
-Holds herself up in the exersaucer for a while, and is even discovering how to play with the toys.
-Blows bubbles at us...and sucks them back in again! (I must admit, this grosses Mommy out, amuses Daddy, and causes Brother to imitate!).
-Just beginning to grab toys within reach, opening and closing her fingers with increased dexterity and curiousity.
-Loves bath time! She becomes wide-eyed and excited to get into the water.
-Takes 3 definitive naps a day: morning (a couple hours after being up); afternoon (around lunch); evening (usually after dinner). She even puts herself to sleep!
-Sucks on her thumb for comfort, and to go to sleep.
-Drools a lot when she's awake!
-Often is seen holding her own hands together and staring at them!
-Stares directly into your eyes and smiles with a little sparkle.

FIRSTS:
*Field trips!: Sandbox @ Hilton Head and Georgia Aquarium...she loved them both, watched intently from the sling, then passed out!
*Favorite toy: It's definitely taggie blankets! Give them to her, and she picks it up and brings it right to her mouth!

I really can't get over what an amazingly contented child Zoe is! She really and truly only fusses when she is hungry or tired. Even then, many times in that situation she will just pop her fingers in her mouth and go to sleep, or placate herself for a while. She is such an amazing blessing to have in the family, I'm so thankful!

I know the months ahead will bring more and more growth...and I stare into her beautiful eyes and want to freeze time for a while! She's so beautiful, and such a joy! :)

Exersaucer Fun!

Little Miss Zoe is 3 months old and enjoying the exersaucer already!

From 06.2009 - MISC

It is so much fun to watch her learning how to hold herself up, make noise with the toys, and attempt to spin around!

But, my favorite moment was watching little brother actually playing with Zoe while she was in it! For five beautiful minutes, Ian gently turned Zoe to different toys on the side and patiently pointed out what they were. He even said, "Hear bird?" to her when the toy was making noises. "See, Zoe," he so sweetly announced, showing her the bee, as she stared at him intently. It was a truly amazing moment that Matt and I got to witness! I was so mesmerized I didn't even want to move to get my camera!

Zoe's little upturned face looking purposefully at her big brother in wonder, and Ian's gentle but intent gaze fixed back on her as they played...and the most amazing little exchange of smiles made eye-to-eye. It's one of those moments I won't even need a picture to remember. It's etched in my heart. :)



The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him.
May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice! -Prov. 23:24-25

Learning to laugh!

Zoe is finding her laugh more and more, and it's so great to hear it! She's ticklish under her chin, and listening to that guttural giggle turn into an out-loud-laugh makes us laugh too! Ian really wants to join in on the fun, but it turns out getting so close to the smiling one and bonking her head makes giggle disappear! What amazes me is how quickly she forgives...back to that open mouthed, whole face smile in seconds!

Zoe isn't the only one learning to laugh. On my adventures as mom, I'm finding joy in so many things I don't think I ever would have imagined...

For example, how it makes me want to scream like a little girl with joy at a double stroller! Or getting excited that a $3 bag of chicken nuggets doesn't have dairy in it (so Ian can have some nuggets as a quick meal!). I can pick out any kids' toy I want...err, I mean, that Ian wants! How about the simple joys of completing a puzzle all by yourself (it's just as fun with 6 pieces, as 600, and takes a fraction of the time!)? You know those things you search and search the house trying to find? How happy would it make you to see your little child chewing that very item! Eureka! And, I feel like throwing a party for my child when he picks one toy up out of the 500-toy pile and throws it into the bin.

I think I could go on and on! But, mostly it's been those trying moments as a mom I'm learning to laugh about as we make the journey...

"No cookies!" I angrily scold Ian as Matt pushes the cart past the minefield known as, Aisle 10 - Cookies & Crackers. "Why do they even have this aisle?!" I wonder to myself. Instead of saying anything, we hurriedly push the cart down the aisle, hoping that everyone is ignoring the requests coming from the cart. After all they are becoming louder and louder by the second. We're almost done! We can do it! We smile and say hello to people, and excuse ourselves politely. I'm also wondering why Matt isn't pushing the cart faster down this deadly trap. Now at fever pitch, requests from the cart become a full out tantrum. "NOOOOOOOO, WANT COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKIIIIIIIIEES!" he stretches his arms out like he's reaching for life itself, cookies whizzing by now...

And, as he realizes the cart is NOT stopping, it starts. Ian throws himself wildly and angrily up and down, flailing his arms out as far as he can (I'm sure hoping to knock some cookies into the cart). Matt continues pushing the cart around the corner in frustration, as I've done a million times before (mostly in embarassment of the terror's behavior). I can still hear him screaming for cookies, his bouncing up and down breaking up the words similar to someone driving over an extremely bumpy road and trying to talk. "WAAANT COOKIES! NO! STOP!!!"

Any other time, I'd duck my head, scold the child, and pray the moment would pass without invading anyone else's sanity. Gosh, how did little old me manage to birth the LOUDEST child on the planet?! I could just kick myself for going down that aisle! Why do people have to look at me that way? I didn't do anything but innocently roll my cart down a booby-trapped aisle! Ugh, they were kids once and threw tantrums too! Stop looking at me that way!

But not this time. Today, I burst out laughing. Not just a little chuckle, but honest to goodness belly laughs! I just can't help myself, it's so ridiculous! Over cookies! How truly hysterical. I've felt that upset over things in my life personally, but never cookies (ok, wait, there was that one time).

I don't know why suddenly I was so overcome with the humor of the situation, but there I was laughing in the cookie aisle! I had to continue laughing, and shopping...enduring the exasperated look from Matt as the tantrum peaks and finally ends. It's not funny! Oh, but yes it is! In this crazy violent world we live in, we're so blessed to witness a two year old cry about cookies. No, not just cry, but perform a display for everyone. I chuckle to myself even now, picturing that ridiculous fit rolling by. Hey, it was a show on wheels!

THAT, my friends is another thing to add to the list of what I've learned about being a mom. Just about everything can be funny if you've got the eyes to see that the moment is going to pass before you know it...

...and as a friend of mine told me, I'll be staring up at him, pulling at his whiskers to watch him flinch. Sound like fun at the moment? Eh...But I'm sure I'll be laughing soon! :)



Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. -James 1:2-3

Ramblings of a busy mom...

The past few weeks have been a blur of activity...from Krista's wedding to MOPS and everything in between, finding a spare moment is ever-challenging! Right now, my blogging prowess is taking priority over a pile of clean laundry awaiting my specially honed folding skills.

Little Zoe is steadily growing - now working on filling out clothes in the 6 months size range. From day to day she may look more like mommy, or more like daddy, but there's never any doubt that her brother is Ian. Besides, if we forgot, Ian would probably remind us! It's so cute hearing him say "Soooeeee" and "sisser."

I believe Zoe is our observer. Unless she's hungry, we don't hear too much out of her. You can engage her in "conversation" of "goo" and "ga" (sometimes both), especially with raspberries. It's very humorous to hear her speaking in the stereotypical language of infants, as Ian had a language of his own from the beginning.

Daddy is very much her favorite person in the world. Looks from him can send her into bursts of giggles! I love those baby belly laughs!

Zoe is also working very hard at sitting up in the car carrier, and rolling over. We had a little talk about this, as I really feel like not enough time has elapsed for this to begin! Honestly, where does time go exactly?! Her tiny little hands still learning to explore the world, and every day farther away from the helpless baby of mine! (And one step closer to toddler-hood...do you see my dilemma? Haha!).

Her favorite toy at the moment is a "taggie" blanket. For those of you who don't know what this wonderful little invention is, I'll tell you! A mom (it must have been a mom, dad was too busy avoiding diaper duty to catch this little detail!) noticed that little baby was always playing with the little content/care tags on the baby blankets. So she had the idea to just sew a blanket with a bunch of tags around the edge! Brilliant! Two scraps of fabric and some ribbon, voila!, instant baby entertainment. Zoe is enthralled with entwining her fingers around those tags and pulling them into her mouth. I couldn't be happier because the best part about it is that it doesn't make any noise! You moms out there know what I'm talking about! :)

Ian loves to get right into Zoe's face to nuzzle her nose, or just stare at her! I guess he figures there is nowhere else for Zoe's wandering baby eyes to look if he's right in her face! She greets his very enthusiastic shows of affection with a quirky little grin, and often crinkles up her nose at him. I wonder what goes through her mind as she peers at her brother in macro! I'll say this much, she doesn't seem to mind it...not even crying when she gets bopped in the process. This leads Matt to believe she's plotting her revenge already.

At the moment, Matt and I blissfully stare with love and awe at how wonderfully they get along! They share their toys (Zoe doesn't mind a bit when Ian yanks things from her), play together (staring and drooling counts for Zoe, right?), and never complain to us, "Make him/her stop touching me!!!" (it's a good thing we really don't have personal space "bubbles", hers would have been popped long ago!).

Ian is very interested in making sure little sister follows the rules, though. When she waves her little arms and legs around, and happens to brush him in the process, he emphatically tells her, "No hit. No kick!" So we humor Ian, and gently instruct her not to hurt her brother. You should see his pleased little grin. Big brother enforcing the rules...Priceless.

He definitely likes to exercise his authority. I peeked into the nursery one day, to watch him telling the other kids to sit down and eat their snack. Of course, he had a particular chair in mind. He's also insistent that everyone use utensils for eating. Even finger foods require a spoon or fork. Well, all finger foods but ketchup. Sticking your whole hand in the red mess is perfectly acceptable, as is wiping it all over the table in the process.

Little bossy pants is also a chatterbox. A drive in the car is quite entertaining for me these days. He talks and talks and talks... This past Thursday, he was playing with a rubber duck (his latest fascination), and had a dialogue going, "NOOOOOO! Duck! A shark, a shark! Aaaaaaah. Bella coming, oh no! Look out! Got you...tickle, tickle. I gonna get you." Vivid imagination!

He's also come out with some phrases that stopped me in my tracks. For example, bringing me a toy, "Show you sompin" and getting excited about it hopping up and down. Or, "Where daddy morning? Work. Daddy at work. Go go see daddy work."

I know Matt's favorite expression of speech at the moment, though. Observing recruit training every day has led Matt to introduce certain routines into OUR routine. For example, they did "dress by the numbers" for a while. This was Matt acting like a Drill Instructor while getting Ian dressed. "Ok, when I say go, you will put on your shirt...Go!...One, two, three, four, not moving fast enough, better hurry it up..." I wish writing out this dialogue could even marginally capture the humor of watching this little skit. But, the recent crowning glory for Matt was yelling out, "Five minutes until bedtime!" and hearing Ian respond, "Min, min, aye sir, sir, sir!" We both died laughing! That was Ian saying, "Five minutes, aye sir, good evening, sir!" as Matt and I have jokingly modeled night after night. Daddy is so proud his son does better than some of the recruits!

It's interesting to see the different phases that pass as we turn into bigger kids. (I can't bear to say grown ups! I don't ever want to grow up!). I'm glad to remember that some of these are indeed "just phases" and with consistent reminders to stay on the narrow path, he'll be a well behaved gentleman. I know his playmates will appreciate when he's no longer pinchy. And, his parents will appreciate when his crabbiness level drops in decibels!

I guess that's about all I can think of for now...we begin with some cereal and a book...and eventually will end up passed out on the bed wondering what exactly happened to the day! :)

Zoe is TWO MONTHS OLD!

This past month has flown by even faster than the first, if that can even be possible! Our little girl is getting bigger by the moment, and I treasure these baby days so much! She is now 11.5 pounds, and measures 22.25 inches long.

Other milestones...
-Stares at your face directly for as long as you'll look at her it seems.
-Is just beginning to experiment with a little chuckle-laugh...it's a different kind of coo, but I know it will turn into a very recognizable laugh soon!
-Is still in 3 month size clothing for the most part, but moved up to size 2 diapers!
-Tracks objects in an arc with her eyes almost 180 degrees.
-Can hold her body up in a sitting position for a couple of seconds!
-With propping, will sit up in the exersaucer and turn to look around.
-Is making pursed lip faces and blowing bubbles on purpose!
-Will side crawl...literally! When she's lying on her side, she can scooch herself all the way over to me - a foot or so away! (When she's hungry and has the motivation, that is!).

Other fun observations about Zoe...
-Has a definite preference for the swing...going side-to-side. It's also a favorite place, she smiles in recognition of the mobile when I put her in it!
-The baby wrap is her napping tool - almost without fail, 5 minutes after being put in the wrap, she's out like a light!
-Really wants to face out and see everything! She really likes to move around a lot on your lap and change positions!


The older she gets, the more she seems to be a calm and calculating one...content to take things in, but when they get quiet, more determined to see what's going on.

She loves to lay and watch her brother trying to entertain her, and it is exciting to see the bond developing between them. I know Ian is completely in love with his sister, and you can see his protectiveness of her already. She is beginning to acknowledge him with smiles that are unique between them...and I can't even explain, it's just something you have to see to believe!

We're enjoying every moment with our little girl...and the chance to watch another person grow up is so amazing! :)

Ian is TWO YEARS OLD!

Wow...two years ago today, Matt and I were staring at our brand new baby boy! We say again and again how quickly time has flown by...and that little baby is now 34.25 inches tall and weighs about 27 pounds!

Ian has developed in so many ways over the past year. Day by day his personality and independence blossom into a little man that is loving, determined, playful, and stubborn!

His language is so developed that it would be hard to make a list of all the things he says. Besides, he comes up with new additions almost daily! It's so funny to hear him putting together his own sentences, generate names for things he doesn't know, or babble completely unintelligibly with what must actually make sense to him!

Physically, his growth has been no less impressive. To watch him on the playground now is a wonder...going down the big slide all by himself, climbing up and down, and trying to swing. We can see that someday soon he'll be outrunning us, something Matt is still in denial over. He can open just about anything with those agile fingers...he'll zip and unzip, unscrew, pry, and manipulate with gusto! And, what a water baby! His swimming skills are beyond any expectations we could have for him at this point. Holding his breath under water for longer and longer periods, and becoming more coordinated with his arm and leg movements, we know he'll be swimming before long.

Watching him learn is the most amazing opportunity! He's begun experimenting in new ways with objects, and trying to use others beyond his skill level with determination. Puzzles are getting easier for him, as he's learning to match up patterns as well as shapes - so he can complete not only simple object to object puzzles, but also simple pieced ones. Reading is also developing as he tries to memorize books we have read and then repeat them back to us.

Obsessions with cars, Wall-E, balls, Little Einsteins, blocks, and the infamous Little People have come and gone as his preferences change constantly with his development. Some things have remained a constant...his absolute passion for books, the simple joy of pulling (or pushing) around a little wagon, taking apart anything with pieces, and collecting similar items in piles or any container he finds (including laundry baskets, bags, and the dog dish).

That's Ian...the boy that seems to have energy that is limitless, a curiosity to match, and is truly the most loving little boy I know. I'm so thankful for having such a wonderful son that has taught ME so much these past two years. Of course, that's another story for another day! Happy Birthday, Ian! :)

**(In progress is a list of snippets of his current interests/development! Post will follow when we return from our trip! We gotta hit the road!)**

Strawberry Pickin'!

From 05.2009 - MISC

Here we are on our MOPS "Moms on the Move" trip...with Ian, the Strawberry picking master! As you can see, Zoe also dressed for the occassion and wore her little strawberry hat!

At first, he wanted me to do all the picking for him...but Zoe had other ideas. When I turned from taking care of her, Ian was well down the row, picking like a pro! (He even threw away rotten ones, proclaiming, "Ew! Yucky! Yucky!").

I can't believe how much he looked like a little man, stooping down, pushing the leaves aside, and finding the little red treats! Of course, he quite often would pick one, eat one...but hey, I did too! At one point he even sat down in the middle of the row with his basket and had a little snack before moving on to collect more!

From 05.2009 - MISC

His little basket stayed full! As he walked down the row, reaching over to pick new ones, more would fall out of his basket and on the ground. He didn't notice they kept falling out, but kept filling the basket. I walked behind him to gather all the ones that fell on the ground. (His little strawberry trail!) He picked enough to fill FOUR baskets! There were only a few that I had to toss, most were beautiful, sweet, red strawberries!

At the very end, he started to slow down just a little bit...but still didn't want to leave even though it started to sprinkle. He loves to be outside, and apparently is a little farmer in the making!

It was a great adventure, and we'll definitely be back for more as the season progresses! He's passed out taking a nap now! :)

It's the littlest things...

...that give meaning to life! Here's some little observations of Ian's love for his sister that have made our hearts smile!

*Ian continues to say, "Want hold you," when he's feeling snuggly, and reaches his arms out to us with the sweetest expression. He even extends this want to Zoe - such a sweet boy!

*I do believe that if Ian did anything to hurt Zoe, it would be smothering her with kisses! He loves to get right up to her face and kiss, kiss, kiss! (Or nuzzle her nose!).

*It is very upsetting for big brother when someone other than mommy or daddy takes Zoe out of his sight..."No! Zoe! Come back!" He is very interested in keeping her with the family!

*When I put Zoe down to sleep, a concern of his is that she is covered. "Want bank! Want bank!" (He calls a blanket, "bank").

*Zoe's cries are often met with a brother's translation. He has come up to me several times to tell me, "Zoe hurt. Tummy hurt. Hungry." Unfortunately, he even joins in on the crying if I'm not responding soon enough! I do believe he's learning empathy on some level!

*As much as he obviously loves his sister, he's still not going to share his toys! He continues to show them to her briefly, or even try to get her to hold them...but as soon as she does, "No mine!" and they get yanked back! Oh well, all in due time...

*It is so cute to hear Ian say Zoe's name - but even more heartwarming to hear him proudly say, "MY sisser."

I think all of these moments are totally overshadowed by what happened earlier, though. Ian walked over to Zoe (who was "playing" on the floor), hugged her and said, "I love you." My heart melts even now thinking about it. :)

Baby bottles!

A miniature celebration is taking place over at the Gayler household...Zoe takes a bottle! :D

This may not seem like a big deal, but Ian wouldn't take a bottle for anything! In fact, when I returned to work for a whole week, he essentially starved himself ALL DAY, and waited for me to feed! Of course, he turned out all right, but babies are definitely happier when they're willing and able to eat!

Zoe didn't even struggle with it at all, just popped the bottle in her mouth and she ate like a champ! It was so neat to watch daddy have a turn to feed his little girl! Thank God for small victories!

It's definitely going to make life easier when it comes to date night! :)

Gearing up!

We're settled enough that I can make a long overdue post! It's going to be a very busy summer around here...so there will be lots going on, and lots to write about (when it settles down enough for me to get to it, that is!)! Just a preview of some of the activities we'll have coming up:

*My grandmother (my mom's mom) is turning 90 this month! We're driving down to wish her a happy birthday and visit some family we haven't seen in ages!

*Kate made valedictorian, and we're going to hear her speech and celebrate her amazing accomplishment and acceptance to Georgetown!

*I'm taking on the job of MOPS coordinator for the 2009-2010 year, and I'm very excited to have the opportunity to work with such an amazing group of women! Within MOPS itself there will be trips to the park, Bible studies, and even a strawberry pickin' day! :)

*Playdates! We look forward to playing with our friends Bella and Paul (and you too, Anna and Marcus!) and other friends we're sure to meet along the way.

*Training program 2009! June 1st is the kick-off for my training program that will hopefully lead up to running the Atlanta Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day. It's my absolute FAVORITE race, and I'm hoping Matt's work schedule will allow us to go, and for him to join me!

*My sister is getting married June 12th, and we'll jog over to Georgia again for the wedding!

So...if there's a lapse in blog posting, please forgive me...we're packing as much as we can into the warm days ahead! :)

Zoe - ONE MONTH OLD!

Wow, time flies when you're having fun! It's so hard to believe that this time last month, we were holding our precious little 7 pound, 9 ounce bundle who was only 19 inches long! She is now around 10 pounds, and measures 22.5 inches long.

Other milestones...
-Stares at your face directly for 2-3 minute stretches.
-Is recognizing mommy with a smile!! (I'll catch this on camera soon!)
-Sleeps 4-6 hour stretches at night!
-Is in 3 month size clothes for the most part, but still has a little head!
-Will pull on my shirt when it's time to nurse!
-Turns her head to look towards voices!
-Tracks objects in an arc with her eyes for approximately 90 degrees.
-Looks like she is trying to crawl...she lifts her head up VERY well when on her tummy, and kicks her feet against the floor! She's even moved about an inch!
-Holds head up for 1-2 minutes at a time!

Other fun observations about Zoe...
-Tries to suck on her arms and knuckles when she is hungry.
-Really loves bath time! She gets quiet and very alert! I even saw a smirk!
-Is not a lap baby...she wants to be moved around when you're holding her, and gets "bored" of a position after a few minutes.
-Enjoys the bouncy seat, especially when brother comes by and acts out his "puppet shows"!
-Does not like the bassinet! Will wake up within a few minutes of being in it, and won't stop fussing.
-Getting used to the swing, and stares intently up at the mobile.
-LOVES to be in the sling, and looking out at the world...but also will grab a little nap while she's in there!

I could describe a lot more, but these are the big things!

Zoe reminds us a lot of Ian at this stage*...ready to go-go-go, but definitely has a personality all her own! It's such a blessing to watch all her different preferences come out, and watch her growing! :)

*For those of you who are curious, Ian's "one month" post can be found HERE. And, for the record, I'm not holding Zoe up to any kind of standard, but it is amazing to notice the difference and similarities between our two kids! It's reinforcement of the journey of life common to all of us, but with the unique footsteps we leave behind!

Growing up fast!

The title of this entry definitely applies to both children! Yesterday, Zoe turned 2 weeks old...and according to the differential weight from our scale, she's about 9 pounds (plus or minus half a pound, although I'm inclined to believe it's right on this time). She is awake more and more, and again it's so amazing to have the blessing of watching a baby grow up! Her little face is so expressive already, and learning her personality is part of the fun!

And, thinking of so many moments recently, I realize how quickly Ian is growing up too! For example, when we were watching Wall-E with Aunt Kathy, and we commented on a few parts, Ian turned to shoosh first me - then daddy! SHHHH!! Hilarious!

It's been a busy two weeks...with visits from grandparents and a wonderful Aunt Kathy who cooked for 8 hours and filled our freezer (and some space in a friend's!) with home cooked meals! I think it's just about the best present ever! Not only did she cook up a storm, but also taught me some new tricks. [Anyone like Thai soup? Throw a can of coconut milk with a box of chicken broth, add juice of 3 limes, and whatever vegetables you have lying around...voila!] It was hard seeing Matt go back to work this week - the family time flies by all too quickly! But, we are so thankful that we had him here with us, and loved every minute of it!

I'd love to write that we are getting settled into a routine, but we're about to break from routine again and head up to North Carolina for a few days. Pray for good weather and a fast trip! It's just me and the kids - I think I'm crazy, but I'm really looking forward to visiting with friends and family again! As a matter of fact, I need to finish my tasks around the house so I can get on the road very soon! Looking forward to the tales from our newest adventure! :)

Zoe's 1 Week Check-Up!

Last Thursday, Zoe had her first check-up, and the doctor wanted to keep an eye on Zoe's weight gain. She lost a few more ounces since being discharged, and was having hardly any wet diapers. I was sure that once we settled into the feeding routine, and the supply was established, everything would be fine...but, a weight check wouldn't hurt anything! So we were supposed to come back Friday to check in, but had to reschedule for today...

I'm very pleased to report that Zoe is doing extremely well! Doctors look for babies to gain 1/2 to 1 ounce per day (which means Zoe should have gained around 4 ounces since the last visit). Little Miss Piglet gained 12 ounces! She now weighs 8 pounds 3 ounces!

Another interesting measurement...Zoe's birth length was recorded at 19 inches, but at the pediatrician 2 days later was 19 and 3/4 inches. Of course, babies don't grow THAT fast - the doctor explained right after birth they are so curled up, it's very difficult to get an accurate length. (Ian must have cooperated, at his first check-up we got the same measurement, lol). At any rate, this means Zoe and Ian were even closer in measurements than we first thought! I'm curious to see if little sister will be bigger than her brother! My sister towers over me after all!

Another thank you to everyone for their love, support, and prayers...the transition is going so well, I know it's a true blessing from God! Ian loves his little sister, and I will write more later (and hopefully post some video) of their cuteness! It's so amazing to see BOTH of our children together and happy! :)

Home as a family!

First off, I have to say thank you to Marcus, Anna, and Anna's mom for taking care of Ian while we were at the hospital. Not only were we completely comfortable with leaving him (and able to direct all our focus onto the beautiful arrival of Zoe), but they greeted us with excited SMILES and wonderful love at FOUR AM! :) What a true blessing you are in our lives...thank you again! :)

Speaking of blessings...it is so amazing to be home again, and all FOUR of us able to settle into our routine as a family!

Matt continues to be a wonderful supportive father, tending to Ian, reminding me to drink (and sit down!), and overall shining his love on all of us.

Ian loves his little sister! (She can't take his toys yet, after all!). He is especially thrilled to have company in the lonesome back seat, and squeals with delight when she is locked and loaded. He shows her toys, but promptly pulls them back to himself and says, "No mine!" It's ok, we have time to work on this one! Overall, he seems very happy and is a great big brother!

Little Zoe had her first appointment this morning. She lost a few more ounces, which is normal, and otherwise is doing great! We are going back tomorrow for another weight check, because she isn't having as many wet diapers as we would like...but there isn't too much concern, just keeping tabs on everything! I truly believe she knows she is home...she is eating and sleeping very well! Praise God for a good night's sleep! Hopefully we'll continue the trend! :)

I am feeling wonderful...very hard to believe that I just had a baby! God has really blessed me with an amazing recovery period. It is such a great feeling to be able to eat a big meal again, sleep on my back, and bend over! (Did I mention eating a lot was great too?).

My camera is getting geared up for some serious abuse, so within the next day or so keep checking Picasa (link on left) for new pictures. Hopefully, I'll be able to capture some of the adorably cute big brother/little sister moments too!

Thanks to everyone for their wonderful love, support, prayers, and congratulations! It is overflowing happiness to have you as family to share the excitement! Most of all, our true prayers of thanksgiving to a glorious God that is shining down some of His love through you and a precious baby girl named Zoe. :)

Guessing Game! :)

So...at my shower back in December (wow, time flies!)...we had most of the guests write down their guesses for Zoe's height, weight, and birthday! We're down to the final 2 contestants on the date, but I'll go ahead and see who wants to continue playing the game anyway and add a guess! Hey, if we've got to wait, might as well have some fun!

Here's the players so far!

NAME - Height/Weight/Birthday!

ME! - 20 in/7.5 lbs/Mar 20th
Erica - 21 in/7.1 lbs/Mar 27th
Lea - 19 in/7.3 lbs/Mar 19th
Sophie - 22 in/7.2 lbs/Mar 29th
Parisa - 20 in/8.5 lbs/Mar 21st
Octavia - 21 in/8 lbs/Mar 27th
Louise - 21 in/7.9 lbs/Mar 25th
Nancy - 20 in/7 lbs/Mar 22nd
Gail - 18.75 in/6.75 lbs/Mar 15th

And, if you already guessed the date and were wrong, feel free to guess again, but only the first one counts! The prize? Hmmm...I'll think of something! :)

Button, button, he's got the button!

So there I was, taking a shower while Ian was peacefully watching his video. Looking at the clock, I figured I should probably hop out since the episode was probably ending. He'd come looking for me anyway. (Which usually involves pulling the shower curtain out and getting water EVERYWHERE!).

When I left him, he was watching Little Einsteins. I come back, and now Veggie Tales is up on the screen. Ian is jumping up and down squealing with delight behind the coffee table, "Tales! Tales!" and clapping his hands. I rub my eyes, pinch myself, walk back out of the room, and stare at the screen dumbfounded.

HE CHANGED THE DVD ALL BY HIMSELF!?!?!?!?!

Oh yes, he did. Now we're really in for it! I can't believe how smart he's getting!

Of course, since it's actually an XBOX we use as the DVD player, you can't get the movie to play unless you have the remote. I wonder how long it's going to take him to get THAT trick down? Not very long I'm sure. Mommy needs to get with the program and start thinking ahead of him again!!

Another example of his intelligence in action happened the day before yesterday. I'm sprawled out on the couch watching a show with Barb, and Ian really wants me to follow him into the kitchen. (To get another pop I'm sure). I told him that I'd get up in a minute, he'd have to wait. Not stymied in the least, he then grabs at my feet and pushes them onto the floor...THEN pulls my hand leaning backwards with all his might. I don't move. (Ian had to get his stubbornness from somewhere!). He stands there looking at me a minute, and heads directly over to the TV and very deliberately and with a flourish turns it off! Next he turns and looks at me and says, "UP!"

The tables have been turned!

This is such a humorous and humbling time - learning that my little baby is growing up even more into his own little person, and yes, is probably smarter than me already!

Yes, it's all fun and games until he starts pushing MY buttons more than the TV's! :)

Waiting on Miss Zoe! :)

Well, today is the "magical" due date...which means absolutely nothing other than what we already knew...any day now! Of course, with the advanced preparations my body has gone through already, we expected she might be early - but she is reinforcing the concept that there is no "sign" out there that can give you a reasonable idea of a baby's arrival! It's all up to God's timing!

And, wow, am I glad He knows when that will be! Of course, you've noticed the lack of recent posting. This is due to welcoming Barb's arrival to help with last minute preparations (and to be here to watch Ian when the time comes), and then promptly celebrating her arrival with an all out viral fun-fest. I say fun with the most extreme sarcasm the word can evoke...

I do believe every towel, washcloth, sheet, mattress pad, and most of our clothes have been washed at least three to four times in the last week. Now is a good time to express my thankfulness for the amazing invention called the washing machine. I'm telling you, it is not taken for granted, that's for sure!

It definitely appears that we are now coming out from under the cloud of sickness (I definitely feel 100% again!), but please keep praying for us all! Matt was gone in the field at just the right time and missed the fun...I'm hoping it stays that way! Ian is still not back to his full-throttle self yet, but getting there gradually as he's able to eat more.

Even though the past week has not been quite what I would have planned, again I am so thankful for God's provisions - for Barb being able to help at a MUCH needed time, that my run of the sickness was not that long, and most importantly that Zoe is waiting for a HEALTHY time in our family to make her grand entrance!

So, the waiting continues, but the excitement is always tempered with a reminder that God really does know best, and the PERFECT time is still yet to come! (But, hopefully very SOON!) :)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Glasses!

This morning, I woke up with some irritation in my eyes. Time to put the contacts away for now and pull out the glasses!

Ian notices (of course) that I have something new on my face and keeps trying to reach for them. I'm not even going to experiment and see if he would be nice with them! Instead, I chose to go into his room and pull out his "sunglasses" as a substitute for curiousity. After all, mine cost over $100 and his are most definitely under $10 (and probably even under $5!).

The most surprising thing to me is that after almost an hour, he's still wearing them! I guess he really does want to be just like mommy. I'm glad I gave him his own pair, or I'd be blind!!! :)

From 03.2009 - MISC

Another doctor's visit closer...

...to no more doctor's visits! (For me, for a while anyway). I might actually have to admit I like this particular doctor though! You'll see why...

He greets me with, "Isn't it just a beautiful day outside, the sun is nice and warm, and it's just wonderful!" I must say, I am very easily won over by positivity (and sunshine). We went through the usual progression of listening to the heart beat (which is located a lot lower now), and measurements (right on again!). I mentioned that I have been having some very productive feeling contractions, and unlike my pregnancy with Ian - I am at a point where I really feel like she could just fall out.

He says he knows that I would like a birth without interventions, so we won't talk about any induction scenarios, or do anything invasive...he has faith that beginning labor spontaneously, I'll have another uncomplicated birth. I really do trust God that His hand will be on me again through the process, but it is SO VERY NICE to have a doctor that also has faith that everything will go smoothly. This may seem like something obvious, but from most of the other encounters I have had, doctors are always on the lookout for abnormalities and that infamous "err on the side of caution." Their job is to prepare for the worst case scenario. I'm sure he's prepared, but it's nice to get the positive side for once! :)

A quick check indicates in his words, "Well, you're definitely ready for the wind to blow the right way...the barometric pressure to drop...the full moon...or whatever other mysterious trigger happens to cause labor!" Did I mention I might actually like this doctor? :)

So there you have it - Zoe is ready to go! Now, just to wait on that wind to blow the right way. It still could be a couple of weeks off, but we're most definitely in the home stretch!

I'm definitely very excited, but probably not as excited as Matt. He demands I go into labor tonight so he can avoid officer drill this week. Ha! I guess he figures since he installed the car seats, he can call the shots. (For those of you who may not know or remember...I took a nap after Matt installed the car seats when I was pregnant with Ian, and when I woke up my water broke!). Maybe I shouldn't start laughing at him until tomorrow...wind is so unpredictable you know!

The exciting time of anticipation continues, and I'll definitely keep you updated on any more developments! My next appointment is Monday, and this week will definitely be busy! It remains to be seen if I will make the appointment...

:)

Stinky Dog and Determined Toddler

We shall visit a time I like to call "the other day"...(For you time-sticklers, that was last Thursday).

The house had been cleaned, and all of the bad smells banished (for now). Or so I thought...

Now that everything else was smelling so lovely, something distinctly odiferous caught my attention. Five minutes later, Stinky Dog had an appointment with De-Stinkying Lady at Petsmart.

I must say, I love our trips to Petsmart! It's not just the fact that I will return home without Stinky Dog, but Petsmart has the wonderful distinction of serving as a FREE zoo! Where else can you go to see such a wide assortment of scurrying, swimming, and fluttering little critters for no cost? (Besides a book, smartie pants!).

At Petsmart, Ian gets plopped into a cart immediately. It's enough work for a Pregnant Mommy to drag a very stubborn 50+ pound Stinky Dog to grooming section (conveniently located at the very back of the store), without having a very stubborn 25+ pound Determined Toddler pulling a different way towards the fish.

When we get to the grooming section (did I mention it's at the very back of the store...and my arm hurts), Stinky Dog turns into Stinky Freaked Out Dog. She's only been here once before, but has an excellent memory. She begins doing her best imitation of dog-running-on-a-treadmill (without the treadmill) on the slick floor. Determined Toddler turns into Terrible Two Toddler and continues to become louder demanding to see fish.

FINALLY, the leash is taken and now Stinky Nervous Breakdown Dog is being scraped across the floor to the kennels to await her torture. She is a crazed maniacal sight, pulling backwards, thrashing her head around, and overall acting like she's facing imminent death.

I will interrupt this story to point out that Ian really loves his dog. He demonstrates this love on a regular basis by jumping on her, pulling her tail, taking her food away, and occassionally attempting to poke her eyes out when labeling body parts. His only redeeming quality in her eyes is that he is a messy eater and always drops food on the floor for her to clean up. That was, until this moment.

Back to our narrative...Ian's care and concern for his beloved dog stops his demands for fish in mid-yell and creates a new tantrum of epic proportions. Terrible Two Toddler now transforms into THAT Toddler and screams, "No go! Sera! Sera! Back! Back!" while trying to claw his way out of the cart. The demonstration is quite convincing...his face was even streaming with tears. Don't ask me how, but he managed to grab the leash and attempted to help On the Brink of Heart Attack Dog escape her fate.

I have to admit, I am touched that Ian senses the dog's emotional state of distress, and I do feel bad that Sera is so traumatized by the groomer...but forgive me for laughing hysterically. Ian has now added to his worth in the dog's eyes I'm sure. I must now watch all of their interactions closely, as I am sure they are plotting against me.

We left the grooming area with Ian still carrying on about Sera. It didn't take very long for him to calm down though. It is a scientific fact that watching fish lowers your blood pressure, you know. :)

It takes anywhere from 2-3 hours for the process that leads to Clean Dog, and we don't hang out at the FREE zoo for all that time. After all, since it's free, no need to worry about getting our money's worth!

There are more errands to be run, and Ian does not cease to remind me every once in a while that we are indeed going back to get Sera. "Sera back. Want back. Want Sera home."

I wish I could write of a wonderful reunion of Joyous Toddler and Clean Dog once we finally did pick her up. But, Determined Toddlers being what they are, he merely looked her way and turned back to me saying, "All done. Fish."

Thank goodness for Lollipop Ladies at checkouts. We waved goodbye to all of the animals at the "zoo" and headed back to our own little circus.

Ringmaster Mommy over and out. :)

He pulled a fast one over on me!

A year ago today, Ian took his first tentative step from coffee table to couch. Tonight, I find myself faced with a little boy who not only can RUN, but has also developed into a force to be reckoned with...

There I was, sitting at the table eating my ice cream pie while Ian finished his sherbet. (Matt brought us all home treats from Bruster's...to show his excitement, mine was oreo emblazoned with, "Zoe wants OUT!"). Ian obviously enjoyed the little treat immensely, as he even tipped the bowl to get the last few drops of sugary goodness. I still had a few bites left.

Ian of course asks for more, but it's too close to bed time! Then he gets a little more agressive with his technique and asks, "Hand." This is his new technique for getting us to follow him (usually into the kitchen for food). I obligingly follow him, only to find he is now pushing me away toward the kitchen!

What follows next is enough to find me laughing incredulously at his little impish mind (CAN ANYONE SAY, MATT?!)...he pushes me again, turns and RUNS back over to my chair and climbs it frantically, then pulls my plate of pie close to his chest. He had a mischeivous plan to steal my pie! What a stinker!

I can't believe my little baby is plotting against me! Forgive me for my tears of joy after I get over laughing so hard. They grow up so fast!! :)

37 Week Check-Up

Had one of my last check-ups today...woohoo let's celebrate! LOL.

I'm measuring right on, and starting to dilate/efface a little just as to be expected! She is still head down, and dropped slightly, but hasn't engaged yet. None of this means anything until after she's out when you can figure out the process in reverse, but interesting I guess! At the very least it means progress has begun, and that is definitely a good thing!

The doctor gave another brief on signs of labor and when to head to the hospital, and now the waiting game truly begins. Another short and sweet visit, and another week closer to Zoe!

I'm very excited to meet our little girl, but I know she'll come out when God is done "cooking" her! We still have the countdown to the end of Matt's training cycle, so we'll definitely be keeping busy until the big day arrives. I'm going to enjoy these last weeks as just Ian and I and make the most of the opportunity! :)

Playdate with Bella!

Ian really didn't want to leave the house this morning. I had some things to load into the car, and asked him to come out with me. He said, "No! Bye, bye mommy!" So I walked out to the car and shut the door behind me. When I came back, he was still happily playing in his room. He saw me out of the corner of his eye, and dismissively said, "Bye mommy!" I thought I would see just how much he was really willing to stick with this, so I walked just outside the door and waited.

Three lonnng minutes later...(I think that was 1 minute for playing, and 2 minutes to search all corners of the house for me?)...

I hear fumbling at the door handle, then whining of frustration, and finally, I can tell he presses his face right to the crack of the door because of the volume..."MOOOMMMYYY NOOO, BAACCKK!!! MOOOMMY!" I admit it, I let him cry out a few times! Then, opened the door acting surprised and said, "Oh I heard you, but you said b--" and he completely cut me off running straight for the car!

On the way, he amuses himself by playing with a bag of Little People we brought with us. Only problem is the Little People ended up on the floor of the car. This brought on a full-fledged tantrum that lasted until we FINALLY arrived at Anna's house for a playdate with Bella.

Oh, but it wasn't over...that was only 10 minutes! Once I finally managed to get my screaming child into the door, the tantrum continued as he insisted that no one else touch the toys we brought in with us! Ian, oh my dear little sweet boy that I love so much, you most definitely get this side from your dad! :P

I mention this fit because the play date went so well, he threw a huge tantrum the ENTIRE way home. Screams of, "WANT PLAY! GO BACK! PLAY!" were a wonderful reminder that mommy does indeed know best, and I'm not actually torturing my child by making him play with other kids. (It really wasn't a concern mind you, but the "You were right, mom," in the form of screaming is always nice to hear...well, perhaps better without the screaming?).

Truly it was a wonderful play date! Watching Bella and Ian interact was so amusing, Anna and I both found ourselves laughing at their curious interactions. The way they gradually warmed up to eachother was endearing, and by the end of the play date I think they had actually figured out how to share! I learned a lot about how to help the process too. (And you must know, Ian really is the one who needed more help with sharing, that little stinker!).

One of my favorite moments was when Bella decided that Ian's hair needed brushing. He tolerated it for an instant, and was off playing again. Bella patiently waited for him to be still, and was trying to brush his hair once again! "No, STOP!" Ian would say, and Bella (unphased) would try again a few seconds later. Adorable!

From 02.2009 - MISC

Ian also loved pretending to ride on the not-so-little pink horse. I'll have to be sure to grab a blackmail photo of that one. Daddy will love it!

Watching them play made both of us (we have the same due date, only she is having a little boy!) think that even though it is truly heart-warming to watch our children play with eachother...how much more amazing it will be to watch the siblings interact and grow together.

I'm so glad that God has blessed our lives with a beautiful family to share wonderful memories! :)

But happy are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God. -Ps. 146:5 (NLT)

A classic kids question...

So, we've asked Ian, and he's pretty good...

What does a cow say? "MOOOO!"
What does a pig say? "OINK!"
What does a dog say? "WOOF! WOOF!"

And oh, if only I had a video camera running at this one! Just for fun I ask him a new (and non-rehearsed) question...

What does Ian say? (He stares at me for a few seconds, and I have to repeat the question...)
What does Ian say? "NO!" (With the biggest smile on his face).

I think this qualifies as one of those truly priceless moments! I will treasure this one for a long time! :)

Spork of Doom!

We have had a very nice weekend...at least I think we did...I can't remember any of it right now! Yes, that is what we call pregnancy brain! (Of course, Matt says it really doesn't matter, but anyyyyway...) :D

Thursday night we had a bit of excitement. The idea was to go to the pool, wear him out, treat at Taco Bell, and crash at home! Then, introduce the next character of our drama...the SPORK OF DOOM! (Dun-dun-duhhhhh!)

From 02.2009 - MISC

As you can tell, the spork isn't in one piece...that's because Ian swallowed that part!

(Now, we have eaten at Taco Bell with him many times, and even used the sporks with no problem. Comparing with the extra ones we have at home, this one is indeed manufactured out of a more brittle plastic. Lesson learned: subject all plastic utensils to stress-testing before surrendering to the toddler!)

We were faced with the parental predicament of going to the emergency room or not...and decided since we are blessed with 100% ER coverage, we'd exercise the benefit. Especially since this was not exactly an innocent piece of plastic! (Sharp edges, aaah!)

As much as everyone knows I am irritated by doctors and hospitals, I don't have a single complaint about this visit. We were in and out within 30 minutes. Matt kept him occupied by walking him up and down the hallway in the stroller. When he was checked out the main concern was that it was stuck in his mouth. Matt and I know he would have been screaming if that was the case, but better to check! Indeed Ian managed to swallow the chunk without doing any damage in his mouth (praise God!). Next concern would be doing damage internally, but we were sent home with instructions to watch him carefully for any other symptoms. (Who knows where the spork is?!) "Ninety-nine percent of the time, these things pass."

Of course, we were a little concerned, but God gave us peace when we laid our burden on Him, and we actually finished the rest of our nightly plan! SLEEP!

The following morning, I was on diaper patrol. As Matt joked, I now have the campaign ribbon for diaper investigations... Let me just say, I was fine with not having that one!

At any rate, as you may have assumed, I found the bit of spork, and no harm done!

Well there you have it folks, another parental rite of passage down!

That night brought to mind the experience that my own parents had when I swallowed the turn key off an alarm clock. Unfortunately, they didn't get sent home. I had to stay in the hospital for observation. I'm very thankful everything worked out the way it did for us this time!

All I'm left thinking is thank you God for looking out for us once again! :)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7

Swimming...with wings! :)

So, I could write a long post about how amazing it is to see our little fish getting better and better every time...but I'll let the video speak for itself!

I will add that I didn't have the camera out for the first 5-10 minutes he had them on...with the biggest smile on his face, and squeals of excitement that Matt and I agree are some of the happiest we have seen and heard. And, to reiterate how INDEPENDENT our little swimmer is - he wants to do it ON HIS OWN! (I think you can catch glimpses of that from the video). And lastly, how once we took them off due to his arms getting a little uncomfortably purple, he pitched a fit to put them back on again!!

It is such a blessing to have a little boy growing up before our very eyes. Matt and I are so overcome with joy at moments like these...it really is hard to put into words! :)

From 02.2009 - MISC

Swimming and Sunshine

Last night at the pool, I managed to grab some pictures of our little fish in training. He has so much fun, he literally squeals with delight! He recognizes the drive to the pool...as soon as we make the turn, he starts saying, "Swimmin, funnn!" Every night, it seems he gets braver and braver, throwing himself with reckless abandon into the water (and under it) from his little haven on the steps. Once we acquire some swim wings or something similar, I know he'll be thrilled to be swimming "on his own." A funny little moment NOT caught on film (I was putting the camera away *tear*) was when daddy threw Ian up in the air, and his swim trunks went floating away! Ian wanted desparately to get them and get dressed again! He knew that he was done with the pool though...finally he will surrender to coming out of the pool when he starts shivering (even telling us, "cold" on his own!). I'm so glad Matt found the pool!

From 02.2009 - MISC

We have some rain moving in tonight, but the forecast for next week is still rather mild. I'm looking forward to more park weather! I'm ready for spring! (Because spring is one step closer to summer! lol). Ian and I definitely are enjoying our walks outside in this beautiful weather...and my camera is loving some of the gorgeous views! :)

From 02.2009 - MISC

Struttin' it, Marine Corps Style!

Yesterday, Ian and I had a picnic lunch on base with Matt. We found a table near the parade deck, and several platoons were practicing drill. (Organized movements, coordinated marching, etc). So much was happening for Ian to observe! There were rifles being snapped around, Drill Instructors running around shouting commands, and recruits yelling in response, besides the marching that Ian obviously found fascinating!

From 02.2009 - MISC

I hope the video is clear enough to make out that he's trying to "step it out" like the recruits! He was even shouting babble words that might have been his attempts at, "Aye, Sir!" It was quite hilarious to watch! He's quite the little mimic. :)

33 Week Check-up

Yes, this week is the week of doctor visits! We braved the freezing weather and headed to my appointment (I truly was tempted to reschedule because of the weather, but I guess that's pretty sissy, LOL).

This was my best appointment EVER! I met with the doctor who is also the commander of the OB department - and I think I like him the best of the doctors I've seen. Hard to say, as literally I was in the room for 5 minutes. (Did I mention this was my favorite check-up?) :)

I measured right at 33cm, and weighed 165 (gained my pound per week like I'm supposed to, yay me, yay Zoe). My glucose results were back, and I got an "A" (110) - not that I had too much to do with that, but comforting anyway. Zoe's heart was beating strong too! Blood count normal...I think that's about it.

The only concern I mentioned were some of the hospital policies we weren't so happy about (3 hours of "transitional care" in the nursery after birth topping the list), and he said that was really only an issue for C-section babies. Besides, I'm praying that God-willing, the mother-baby nurse pairing will be in full swing by the time I deliver (in this case they would do everything right in the room with us).

This doctor was very interested in how I would rate my experience in "his" clinic compared to Lejeune, and I can tell he takes pride in running the office smoothly, and desires a more personal care level than occurs in some Naval hospitals. (I know this because he told me so). :P At any rate, overall, I have been as happy as I could be with the doctors, I think...and am glad and thankful that I am having such an uncomplicated pregnancy. It truly is a blessing I'm not taking for granted!

"Do you have any more questions?" Nope! See you in 2 weeks! :)