Category Archives: Moments

Charlie is 2!

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I can’t even believe how fast the last 2 years have gone!  Charlie has gone from this baby boy…

Baby Charlie 020

to this little boy!

New Cars!


More pictures here.  Photography in the midst of entertaining is not my strength…

Charlie at 2 loves cars and trains (choo choos). He loves books, especially books about dump trucks. He loves balls and being outside! Blocks are great fun as he figures out how they fit together. It’s fun to watch him as he solves a “problem”.

He loves his sister and his bum-pas and bum-mas (grandparents). He also loves Elmo and Curious George.

He is also independent and pretty fearless. He does not mind being dropped off at the church nursery or the YMCA kidstuff to play for an hour or so. He jumps right into activities that look fun.

He does not like to sit in the shopping cart but prefers to walk when we’re out. His vocabulary is exploding and it is fun to see how he associates different things from memory.

Although he has his “two year old” moments and part of me fears that his two’s will be more terrible than his big sister’s, we still think he’s pretty great! And looking forward to the times ahead and trying new things as our family of 4 gets more and more “mobile” every day!

Hello February!

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So maybe it seems like time is going by like crazy, because weather wise it really feels like Spring!  I mean today it seems cold (16 degrees F).  so yes, that is cold, but not relatively for MN for February!

So the last time I wrote we had finally gotten some snow.  Well that snow has gone. A little more came, but now that snow is gone too.  

Maria has also recovered from her tonsilectomy. She is doing well. Even had a cold that did not turn into an ear infection!  And she is sleeping and just generally seems to be feeling well overall.  She is sleeping well. Wondering if we have a growth spurt on our hands. As they say this is likely with her body finally feeling on par!  She is all about writing notes, primarily Love notes “I Love you Mommy”, “I love you Grandpa”.  And also cutting and coloring and taping! :)  

Charlie has also grown. The kid is walking around in short pants. Oh and he’s talking a lot more in just the last month. He amazes us.  He loves his dumptruck and will be 2 next week!  We are having a dump truck themed party. If you ask him how old he will be on his birthday, he whispers “ump-tuck”.    ha! 

Will try and add some pictures later tonight (no promises… I’m just saying..)

Snow!!

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We didn’t get much, but we finally got a little snow and Charlie finally got to wear his snow pants! He loved it! All boy! He helped shovel the whole time Chad was shoveling! And cried when they were done, so then Chad pulled him around in the sled for a while, and he even got in a quick swing on the playset.
Daddy's Helper
Note: the wall behind him that I “took out” last week with our truck.

Outside fun with Daddy!

Quieting the Noise

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So not a resolution, but my intention for 2012 is to quiet some of the noise in my life.  My head is always going… always.  unless I’m sleeping then I’m out – I don’t dream (or remember my dreams) at all.   I’m a tired mom!

So to obtain the goal of a quieter mind and life:

  • plugging my iPhone in for a recharge earlier in the evening between 7-8 pm – this should help me avoid “1 more play in Words with Friends” or checking to see if anyone updated facebook, when I should be sleeping or getting ready for the next day.
  • unsubscribing to emails.   Way less mails popping up on my phone or computer each day is a time-saver and it actually keeps me from visiting websites because there is a sale. Sales often don’t save me money, they just invite me to spend more.
  • daily devotions.  I downloaded a devotional book to my Nook, that I can read on my Nook or phone… so either when I first wake up or on the bus on the way to work.  It’s a great way to gain some perspective as I start each day.
  • watching TV in the kitchen.  If I have a show that I really want to watch, then I have started doing that in the kitchen instead of the recliner downstairs.  First, I can’t stand my dirty kitchen, so I tend to clean while I’m watching TV. and 2nd, if I do sit down, it’s not comfortable, so I am more likely to get up and go to bed when I’m tired (vs. checking facebook one more time in the recliner.)

So it is January 18th, we’re currently just over halfway through the month, and how am I doing?

The first week was really good. The second week, work got busy, life got busy.  And that Friday was the 13th.  And it was NOT. A. GOOD. DAY!

I got to sleep in a little, because the kids were going to the back-up daycare center, so I was planning on driving in to work with them in the morning.  So I had just bought my daily devotion the day before, so I read it before I got out of bed.   It was about letting God guide us through our days. So after I read, I prayed that God would help me to listen to him. So I got up, got ready, got both kids fed, dressed and loaded in our Traverse (because it had snowed a little and I just feel safer in the bigger vehicle with both kids in bad weather).

Soooo…. I back out of the garage and Maria asked me a question about music.  I said no, we were listening to my radio station and then … crunch.  I backed into a our brick privacy fence (that is attached to our house).  crap.  The whole wall fell over and the truck now has a nice big scratched up dent (2 separate panels).   argh!  that is 2 separate insurance claim (homeowners and vehicle!)

Go back inside, tell Chad (he’s mad!), find the insurance papers, put the kids in my car, because I still have to go to work, because my daycare is downtown today and I’m missing work the next week.

So driving to work, carpool lane, because I have both kids with me.  Probably about 3 times, I checked my speed.  I don’t normally have to do this, because my Corolla does not go that fast without being kind of loud.    But I did, and decide that I’m OK, a little over the limit, but that’s pretty normal for the carpool lane (and me).

Driving into downtown (Charlie is shouting and pointing at the skyline – “dow-tow” where did he get this??!)  And I leave the interstate to a different highway which takes me into downtown.  Go to change lanes, as there is an intersection right ahead and I don’t need to be in the left lane. Realize I can’t change lanes, and BAM – rear-end another car.  The kids are OK.  I’m able to follow the driver to get off the road and onto the median.  We exchange information, the state patrol and tow truck drivers come. We hang out in the cold backseat of the state patrol until Chad (who was now even more frustrated) gets there to take us home.

Anyway, I didn’t total the car (came close though. it’s already fixed.).  Paid the deductible. The Traverse and wall, we’re planning to fix out of pocket, because it’s not much more than the deductible.  It was a bad day!  Really, it was a bad hour!

It was a long day, just thinking about what happened.   Plus I took myself and the kids to Urgent Care after Maria started complaining of a sore back. (We all checked out fine, except for her pink ear, which they treated with antibiotics. not related to the accident)

But the more I thought about it, my prayers were answered. Again, not in the way I’d expect… but I’m pretty sure God was telling me to slow down.  And that He was the voice in my head telling me to check my speed.

This is a long post, I realize.  And in the end, the accidents boil down to money we don’t want to spend, but no one was hurt.  And it gave me another reason to be more conscientious and deliberate about quieting my life.

Post-Op

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Maria is home and recovering.  She is loving smoothies, ice cream shakes, popsicles and TV.

She impressed everyone at the hospital with how well she behaved for the anesthesiologist and then woke up and ate popsicles RIGHT away.    She was awesome. I don’t think she has shed a single tear today!

The doctor warned that day 3 or 4 might be worse as scabs heal, they may become more irritated.   But everything went well and recovery is going about as well as can be expected right now! I’m hoping I’m able to do a little work at home tomorrow while she recuperates.

Ready for February!

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I am ready for January to be over. And I realize I haven’t posted a lot.  I have plans in my head on what to write about (hint: it’s related to my new year intentions), but then part of achieving those intentions is why I’m not sitting at my computer blogging.

Plus some catching up on our life this January, but again I can tie it back to the other post.  AND yet, tonight I’m not writing about that, because tomorrow bright and early, Maria gets her tonsils and adenoids taken out.  So just a little prayer for my sweet little girl on getting through tomorrow and the next few days, possibly the next couple weeks would be much appreciated. Hoping to finally put an end to this vicious cycle of ear infections and antibiotics!

Word Explosion

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In the past 2-3 weeks, Charlie’s vocabulary has exploded!   Maria at this age was already an active talker.  Charlie is just a slow talker.. he gets everything else!  He understands a lot, just has never verbalized it, so he is already putting words together to get sentences.  And he is also ennunciating the words he knew better.  About a week ago, he added in the letter “K” sounds to many one syllable words and it is so cute when he says them… 

Here’s a list of words I can remember:

booK, nuK, rocK, pray, on, light on, elmo, dora, um-tucK (dump truck), snaCK, ya-ya (Maria), baTH, duCK,

Other Charlie observations: 

  • if he is excited about something he shouts “Hooray!”. 
  • he loves hugs. And if he is saying goodbye he gives multiple hugs and not just to people. he hugged our Christmas tree goodbye the other day before we packed it up.
  • blows kisses when it is time to go to bed.
  • sleeping through the night fairly consistently (knock on wood and I’d personally like to thank his 4th molar for finally cutting through last week!)
  • will go find his Grover doll, if you ask him where the monster at the end of the book is
  • is adventurous and loves Pump It Up!
  • loves copying his big sister and “rough housing” with her.

 

The Concerns of a 4 1/2 Year Old Girl

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Maria told me last night that she is nervous to have a baby, because she doesn’t know what will happen when she goes to the hospital to have it.

I told her she has a long time to worry about that and that the doctors could give her medicine so it wouldn’t hurt so much.

New Year’s Eve Day

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As we are recovering.. yes again.  Maria from Strep & Charlie just from a nasty cold/cough, we spent the day and evening at home.

But it was in the mid-40s, so we did get outside for a little bit. Most of the toys are put away for winter, including the bikes, so we just got out the “little” bikes.  Even though both kids were a bit too big, they still enjoyed the time outside.   Rumor is that snow is on the way, so maybe we’ll be able to get out the sleds tomorrow!

 
Outside on New Year's Eve!
 
Outside on New Year's Eve!

Looking Back at 2011 – 35 Questions

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Janet posted this, and RA and Kelly did too.  Here’s my answers:

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Used my camera in manual mode…  I took a photography class last winter to help me understand my camera.  Unfortunately I need to dig that material out again and re-read, so that I can continue to work on it.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t think I made any official new year’s resolutions for 2011.

For 2012 – I resolve to get more sleep.  Even if it means cutting back on my TV time or other things going.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

 One of my very close friends had a baby girl in August!  She also went through chemo while pregnant and then with a newborn. Pretty amazing stuff.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Not me, but my husband’s childhood best friend died in July.  In his sleep overnight. Unexpected. It was a very sad situation.   I barely knew Mark, but I know from my husband and his family that he was a wonderful person.

5. What countries did you visit?

Hmmm… I barely left the state. I made it to Hudson (WI) a handful of times and that was it.  I was excited just to make it to South Minneapolis for an entire weekend!

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn’t have in 2011?

2 Healthy Kids.  Charlie got tubes last February and has been pretty healthy since. Maria is getting her tonsils removed and tubes put in January. Hoping this gets both kids on the healthy path

7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

February 18th, My baby turned 1.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

Running a 5K.  Basically just starting to exercise again.  It felt really good. And when I say “felt” it is because December was one big disaster of sick, so the routine was thrown off a little.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Probably not working out enough, not sleeping enough. Not taking as good of care of me as I should.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Umm… nothing major.  Some neck issues, that the chiropractor has fixed.  A strange rash – Granuloma Annulare –  It wasn’t too big, but a trip to the regular doctor to rule out Lyme’s disease along with a trip to the dermatologist for a correct diagnosis and biopsy, it wasn’t cheap…

11. What was the best thing you bought?

House Cleaning Services!  Not kidding.  Reduces stress and nagging immensely!!
I like my Nook Color a lot too.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My co-workers.  I am one of the few with young kids, so my work-life balance Is a little more unbalanced than others and I really appreciate the support in choosing to try to do both work and life.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Kim Kardashian ??

14. Where did most of your money go?

My kids.

15. What did you get really excited about?

My weekend in South Minneapolis with Karin.  Granted I was just going 15 miles away, but it was a weekend on my own with my good friend.  Movies, shopping, sleeping… all good!

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

Move Like Jagger -  no meaning behind it. Just played a lot on the radio!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Probably happier, sleeping better, that’s for sure!  Thinner… about the same. I hit my pre-pregnancy weight last December.  Financially, not much has changed…

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Played more with my kids.  Read more books.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

.watched less TV, played less games on my iPhone… less facebook

20. How will did you spend Christmas?

Christmas Eve with my in-laws, Christmas day at home, The 26th with my family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Yes, with my family of 4. Not that I didn’t love all of them already, but I really love the dynamic of our family now that Maria is a preschooler and Charlie a toddler.  We are much more mobile than we were a year ago.  I don’t like to sit still. So being mobile is awesome for me…

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Modern Family

23. What was the best book you read?

I really liked The Happiness Project. I think it just gave me some prompting in self-reflection to make sure I don’t lose sight of the little things that enhance our everyday life.

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Hmmm… I am not really into music that much. I like it.  Just don’t spend a lot of time keeping up on it.  My kids really got into Kidz  Bop this  year. :)

25. What did you want and get?

I really wanted a swing set for the kids.  I figure it is a good gift for the adults too, as it provides us a little more flexibility and outdoor entertainment.  Luckily our tax return came through for us.

26. What did you want and not get?

A vacation with my husband.  More time out with my husband.

27. What was your favorite film of 2011?

Win Win.  Loved it!

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

38 – I worked.  I had a lot of meetings, but I did take time for lunch with Chad.  Not even sure where we went though…

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A shorter  work week.  Even though I like my current job a whole lot more than I’ve liked previous jobs, I wish it was shorter. These 40 hour weeks take a lot of my time!

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011 ?

Simplified, buying less and really thinking about how much I would wear individual pieces.  Once I got back to pre-baby weight, I got rid of the clothes that I’d been holding on to for years in case I gained weight.  I think this year, I was more about picking out select pieces that could go further than finding a great deal.  I still have work to do, but I’m thinking about it…

31. What kept you sane?

Honestly, I think my job keeps me sane.  It’s where I get to exercise my brain beyond Sesame Street and meal planning. Plus it’s probably my main social outlet these days.

32. What political issue stirred you the most?

mostly just the paralysis of our government/country in making changes to fix the current situation.

33. Who did you miss?

Friends.  Never enough  time to see them. Especially my camp friends who don’t all live in the area. And also my circle of girl friends. Besides a few, I don’t see them more than one or 2 times a year.

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

That I have a lot to be thankful for.  We have had ups and downs with sick kids and stupid house repairs, but I’ve got a whole lot to be thankful for.  We are healthy (besides some minor illnesses) and have great family support and no major issues that threaten our livelihood or relationships.

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

 Again, I am not a musical/lyrical person. Sorry, and this question is going to take a lot of effort for me to feel like I’ve answered it the best I can, so I’m going to pass.