kids

In the last couple days, I read this...and then I felt inspired by this and this.

I LOVE my summers at home with Keatin and Will...I wouldn't trade them for the world.

But this is hard work sometimes...

And when I took a moment to think about the times I was feeling flustered, frustrated, or angry with my kids...I thought to myself - was I being the best mom I could be? I realized I shouldn't jump to be upset with them...instead, I need to take a look at myself and what I have been doing (or not doing)...and that is hard to "see" sometimes. I was thinking about all the times I have said to Keatin "hold on a minute" or "just wait" - I am sad to say it is a lot. And I know "life" has to happen and there are times she needs to wait, but I don't want her to always hear that as my initial response.

SO...on Friday afternoon, I decided, for lack of a better word, to be more "intentional" with my kids. Do something fun...and different...a new activity that they would enjoy together (this is a hard one folks)...something I did with their sole enjoyment in mind. And turns out...my heart enjoyed it too. :)

I was inspiried by some other moms who had made rainbow noodles...and decided to give it a whirl. In the end, I could have cooked up way more noodles...but Keatin and Will didn't seem to care and they happily played (together!!!). I had a great time watching...and snapping a few pictures. :)

They spent lots of time filling plates of noodles...

 

Will kept walking around the deck with noodles behind his back like this...and then he would drop them...like I wouldn't notice he was doing it???? :)

 

Keatin used the trucks to try to scoop noodles...

 

...and spent a lot of time squishing the noodles between her fingers.

 

Ah - he has a great smile. :)

 

I knew getting into the noodles would happen at some point...

 

...and then you have noodles on your bottom. :)

On another note...

My mom recently gave me this book...

...and this book.

I think they are both circa 1975 (ha ha ha)...but they are good...and I hope Josh and I can get some good ideas about how to help encourage Will to talk more.

He is cutting some teeth and I know that hurts...but man oh man, he was VERY grumpy this morning. I was trying everything to keep him engaged, doing activities he likes...giving him extra cuddle time....but he had pooped (thank you God and Miralax) and needed his diaper changed...and he was not having it. I was wrestling him while trying to change this dirty diaper...he he hit me hard across the face. I hate when he hits....I hate it, hate it, hate it. Urgh - and I just found myself so angry at him...and that is an awful feeling as a mom.

Anyways...my point is...I think his lack of expressive communication is frustrating to him...he is quick to get frustrated and hard to get turned around when he is.

But man oh man - I love him to pieces...and I just wanted to throw my "angries" away.

So I read this...and I felt rejuvenated. :)

  Whew...enjoy your Sunday! :)

Will - 18 month dr. appt.

Will had his 18 month well-baby check at the doctor's office on Tuesday morning.

His stats:
Weight - 26.4 pounds (50th -75th percentile)
Length - 34 inches (90th percentile...I knew he looked tall!)
Head Circumference - 19.5 inches (90th percentile...what can I say, I think he has some big brains in there) :)

In my effort to compare my 2 children at 18 months, I scrolled back on the blog to February of 2010...when Keatin would have been 18 months old. Below is what I found.

Josh took Keatin to her re-check with the ENT this morning...and her 18 month well-baby check. According to daddy, both appointments went well...and that is about all the details I got. :) :) Josh said she weighed in at 24 pounds even.

I laughed when I re-read this post...because I can remember Josh coming home from one appointment, me asking him for all the "vital" weight/height information, and he announced that "they don't give you that paper anymore." Uh-huh, right hon. I am positive you didn't just leave it there. :)

Oh well...not shocking at all to me that Will weighs more than Keatin at 18 months...over 2 pounds more! And when I was lugging him around this morning, I decided 26 pounds is way too much weight to be carrying around!!! No wonder my back hurts some days!

Dr. Paschen recommended Will start taking Miralax everyday to help with his pooping problems...and I hope it works...poor guy. :( Will also got 2 shots...which he HATED...and I hated. Poor babies - so unassuming when the nurses come at you with those needles. But I had to giggle to myself Tuesday afternoon when I got Will up from his nap...there were 2 bandaids laying on the floor next to his crib...apparently he did not want those on his legs anymore and chucked them over the side of the crib.

Will was a great little patient and was reported to be "perfect." I think this mama knew that already. :)

this morning...

...Jack came to hang out again. No Baby Reid this time.

And it was gorgeous.

And I heard the clouds and rain would be coming later today.

Too nice to stay in...we had to go play.

Off to Peterson Pit we went.

Look at the backseat of happiness I got to travel with. :)

Unloaded the van and with kids, bags, and toys in hand...we headed down to the beach.

I just couldn't resist snapping a picture of these 2 little blonde heads on our walk down.



Keatin and Jack saying "cheese."

Warning - this is the cleanest you will see these 2. :)



My kids have been to the pit...Jack has not.

Oh my - his mama better bring him back soon.

There was a couple of other sun-bathers there, watching us play.

I think they spent the whole time smiling and laughing at Jack's giggles and squeals. :)

He threw lots of sand...lots and lots.

He didn't even care when it landed on his head.

Jack. :)

I love this picture of these 2...best buds. :)

Umm...do you see his tongue hanging out? :)

Will was not as crazy as Jack was in the sand...but he still enjoyed it.

Keatin made him this hole of "chocolate milk."

He played in it for a long time.

All 3 headed straight into the bathtub when we got home.

There was sand in places I won't describe on this blog. :)

It was a great morning!

Thanks Jack for coming along...you make me laugh. :)

the day after :)

Whew! Josh's birthday was a big day at our house...and to end the night, I threw a little surprise party for him. Lots of friends, both young and old, came over to help us celebrate. It was great! I tried to get some good pictures throughout the day...here is what I ended up with. :)

These first two are random shots from our morning at home.

1. I told Keatin to go brush her teeth...here is what I found her doing.

2. I heard "talking" from my bathroom...this is seriously where I found Will. He had climbed in the trash can.

Once everyone truly had their teeth brushed and we were cleaned off from being in the trash can, we were off to meet daddy for a birthday lunch outing in downtown Ames. Keatin and Will were quite excited to eat lunch with Daddy!

(Need I say this was the birthday boy's idea???)

After lunch, we swung by the chocolate shop for a few pieces of awesome chocolate. Keatin and Will have come here before with Grandma Barber...and they sat right down at this little table like they knew right what to do!

Back at home...after naps...Keatin was DYING to decorate daddy's birthday cake with sprinkles. I honestly can't describe how excited she was to "sprinkle" her daddy's cake...so I just let her do her thing. She had a blast...and see the end product below...please contain your smiles and giggles. :)

And the surprise party! It was so fun...but so crazy and busy with kids and adults...that I only got 2 pictures taken...but Jack and Will are 2 handsome little men to take pictures of if you ask me. :)

Happy Friday - have a great Father's Day weekend!

32

Happy 32nd birthday to the best daddy in the whole world...

With today being your birthday...and Father's Day this Sunday...it has really made me think about you, as a father...and how amazing you are.

I know there are a lot of really great dads out there...but I am just so sorry to say, that Keatin and Will may have the best. :)

When I think about what a good, solid father is...I think of you and how in countless, simple ways, you put Keatin and Will first. They don't care about extraordinary trips or expensive gifts...the ways you make them feel most loved is by truly being with them...spending time with them.

I love how I catch Keatin humming a tune that I don't remember teaching her...and when I ask her about it, she tells me that is one of her "daddy songs"...because every night when you put her to bed, I can hear you singing to her.

I love how when I am home with Keatin during the day and I am laying her down for a nap, she shows me just the right way to lay my arm so she can fit in the crook...and tells me - " this is how my daddy does it."

And I know Will can't tell me all the ways he thinks you are special...but the way his face lights up, the way his arms go up, and the way he squeals when he sees you...makes my heart smile.

Your love for these 2 is so delightful for me. Knowing that my babies are going to have/do have a daddy who is so present like you means the world to me. I love that you teach them and explain things to them in ways I never could. Keatin is so outgoing, polite, inquisitive, thoughtful, and exuberant (and I know Will is going to display these qualities as well)...and I feel you get credit for instilling these qualities in them.

So...happy birthday hon...and an early father's day toast to you as well. Thank you for having babies with me - you are an ever-present blessing in our children's lives.

Josh & Keatin - August, 2008

Josh & Will - December, 2010

random

Random thoughts...

1. I bought this the other day. LOVE IT. If you like coffee...go get some...now. :)

2. We have officially put our house on the marker, trying to sell it for sale by owner. Check us out at www.forsalebyowner.com.

3. Will is officially 18 months old today...where has the time gone? We have Will's 18  month check-up next week...I am anxious to see what he weighs/how tall he is. I have had 2 people tell me in the last week how "big & tall" he looks. :)

Will, at 18 months, you...

Wear size 4 diapers. I recently dug out the little potty, just for fun...but I think your big sister has already taught you that it is just a fun toy to sit on, say "shhh" so you can hear the potty (even though you are fully-clothed), and then jump up and yell "yeah!" :)
Wear 18-24 months or 2T clothes.

Have maybe 8 teeth??? Myabe it is 10??? You still just have your 2 bottom teeth up front, which you show every time you smile - it is cute. :)

Go to bed around 8 and get up anwhere between 645-8 am. Nap in the afternoon - anywhere between 2.5-3.5 hours!

Words you say: mama, dada, various animal sounds, uh-oh, ball, cheese (smiling for the camera), "ke" for Keaitn, "ooz" for shoes, "ta" for hot, and do-da for Dora...maybe some other sounds, but not consistently. I am trying my hardest to get you talking more! You are easily frustrated and I honestly think your mind is understanding about 1,000 more things than you can say!

Know what "do you need to sit in time-out?" means. (Sigh.) :)
L-O-V-E to play chasing games with your daddy and sister.

Love to play outside...especially down the sidewalk...like halfway down the block...where I have chased you many times. :)

Mimic your sister a lot...sometimes this is good...sometimes this is not-so-good. :)
When you are tired, you are still cuddly...or just like some quiet time and space. Before naps, I tend to turn on cartoons for a few minutes...and you will just lay by yourself in the middle of the floor...relaxing.

You challenge me, but you fulfill me and make my heart smile. I love you little man!

4. Tomorrow is Josh's 32nd birthday - he is excited to celebrate by working at the bank all day - ha! Happy early birthday hon!