The Rhodes Family

Moving Day

2010-01-06T22:28:00.004-06:00

I'm frustrated with blogger to the point of not wanting to post because of it. So, I've migrated to Wordpress. It will hopefully inspire me to post more.

Check out the new blog for more posts! I'm hoping to be more of a regular now On the Rhodes since Gratitude is over (tear).

http://ontherhodes.wordpress.com

September Photo Update

2009-09-20T20:46:00.006-05:00

Here's a little of what we've been up to this month.

Going to the park as a family before Jason starts school, Noah trying out his new helmet, and Dylan's push bike, Camp Menno Haven fun, Champaign fun with Jeanie at the mall and Curtis Orchard with Grandma Cindy, Dylan's first day of school, Noah pretending he was going to school too (needed his own bag).

from rock star to rock climber

2009-09-15T21:57:00.002-05:00

Noah tried rock climbing this weekend at the church retreat.
I put him up on the wall and he took a few steps up...actually doing it...and then got a little stuck and started freaking/crying. Of course I took him down immediately.

Here's from the few moments before he cried:

Kiddieland is fun for whole family

2009-09-13T21:34:00.006-05:00

We went to Kiddieland back in August, and took our niece, Michaela, along for the fun. The kids had a blast, and so did Jason and I! Kiddieland is a wonderful, clean park. Actually, make that WAS a great park. It closed it's doors for good this month. Something about a family dispute over land and leasing or something.

We will miss you Kiddieland. We only went once, but that time was a special one, and we wish we could go back!

Noah and I try out the Roto-Whip. I think my legs were bruised afterward.

Dylan and Noah's first real roller coaster experience. They didn't like it much...something about the dips.

Noah takes daddy on an old-fashioned car ride. Meanwhile, Michaela, Dylan and I were on the very scary log ride. Dylan did not like that one either - BIG dip. "I am glad that is over," she sad.

My big boy riding his motorcycle. He thought he was such hot stuff on all the rides.

Noah loved this boat ride in real water - he went several times. The joy of no lines.

The drop ride was by far my favorite. I laughed so hard I cried crazy tears. It was hysterical. It wasn't a huge drop, but just kept going up and dropping you, up and dropping you like 15-20 times. I was almost peeing my pants. Thank goodness for kegels. Dylan was a rockstar and LOVED it too - she went on twice - once with Jason and Michaela and once with me and Michaela.

They all four crammed in this teacup - and wow, Jason looked real uncomfortable. Not made for 6 foot, 1 inch men.

Holding hands by choice, waiting in line for the kiddie ferris wheel.

Enjoying a brother/sister kiddie ferris wheel ride. So glad they have each other!

everyday at our house.

2009-08-31T09:44:00.003-05:00

My Little Rock Star

Afternoon at the farm

2009-08-03T13:33:00.011-05:00

I can't go back and do things chronologically or I fear I'll never catch up, so I'll just go with what JUST happened, to keep things current.

We visited Dale and Charlene Rhodes' farm yesterday (Dale is Jason's dad's cousin). - Their daughter, Sara, is a friend from Goshen, and she and her husband Dave have two girls around the ages of our kids. We saw them at the reunion, and she said we could come visit and see her dad feed the sheep! Well, as you can imagine, us city folk jumped at the chance to do that!

Dale and Charlene were so welcoming to us, and gave us the 4-star farm treatment. They showed us around and gave us some really interesting facts about their life there and the history of the farm itself.

This is Dale feeding the sheep as we watched.

My little city kids watching on in amazement...

Aunt Jeanette, Uncle Eddie, Auntie Mo-Mo and Eli also were along for the fun.

They had a llama who watched over the sheep and kept the coyotes and dogs away.

We got to see several pregnant cows too!

And they ended the tour with a ride on the 4-wheeler! Thanks so much Dale and Charlene! It was a perfect Iowa field trip.

Independent goof balls.

2009-08-02T21:56:00.002-05:00

Wow I finally found my camera cord - I put it on top of our office armoire so I wouldn't lose it - and then I lost it for many weeks. Duh.

So, I uploaded 492 pictures and I'm now totally overwhelmed where to even start. So, I'm going to now just post this one silly picture of the kids on 4th of July. They are just being their fun selves, playing together, being goofy, and being 4 and 2.

I love these moments, and I love them. I'm so savoring this time in our life right now. It's a really precious time.

Back to the Beach

2009-05-23T14:44:00.005-05:00

I love Pebble Beach. It is the most wonderful place in the summer for me. I feel in an entirely different world, emotionally, mentally and physically when I'm there. We took our first walk to pebble beach this week. And it was marvelous as always. We had the place to ourselves.

Noah eating a snack on the rocks.

Everyone is just so happy at the beach.

Noah spent pretty much all two hours we were there throwing rocks into the lake.

Dylan loves climbing on the rocks.

Hear the waves crashing and how peaceful it is there - in the middle of the city! Come join us sometime!

Recital

2009-05-16T20:10:00.003-05:00

Dylan had her first ballet recital today. It was so darn cute. I couldn't keep the tears from flowing pretty much the whole time - halfway from laughing hysterically, halfway from not even believing she could possibly be doing this on stage. She's so old!!! :(

Here are the three best pics from the recital that I took - uggghh. Can you tell I was trying to watch first and photograph second? The rest you could not even tell where she was - so blurry. So, here are three terrible shots, but it will give you the gist. And you would be seeing the video, but we can't find the firewire cable...so no-go on that.

She's the red bird second from the right (of the little ones)

This is when they all do their own "free dance" and Dylan's (that she is very proud of and showed us at home) is to jump around in circles with her feet together and arms out. Looks a little more like a cross between a bunny and a penguin than a bird, but it was real cute.

The final bow. Everyone is supposed to put their hands up like a picture frame for the bow. Dylan, instead, was fervishly looking into the audience for us. She did not find us, and did not believe at first that we were actually there when I told her later.

Dress Up

2009-05-16T17:35:00.002-05:00

Dylan dressed up and ready to take on the world.

Gorilla day

2009-05-16T17:11:00.004-05:00

I found my cord to my camera in the closet and am catching up now on some fun pics.

Here's a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo we did with our good friends the Cunninghams. Dylan, Noah, Caroline and Case had a blast together.

And the main event was this amazing gorilla that came up close and personal to say hello to the kids. The glare on the glass is terrible in this photo but you can see if you look hard how he's glaring at the kids!! He was SO close. Sooo cool.

This gorilla was cracking me up lounging in his habitat. He looked like a real man laying there...eyes open, legs and arms crossed. So funny.

Caroline put a dollar in this guy's violin case so he stood up and serenaded us! It was hilarious - the kids all started dancing and it was a festive event - he wouldn't stop playing we finally just had to walk away!

Caroline and Dylan digging in the rubber dirt gardens inside the barn at the zoo. They were make believing that they were cooking up vegetables to serve.

Class Photo

2009-05-11T20:01:00.003-05:00

Dylan's Creative Movement class photo came out today. It's so cute. I love how their little bellies stick out over the top of the tights. And aren't the posing well? There's the beloved Miss Allison...and Anya, the pianist who plays with class. Dylan loves that the pianist is the same name as her cousin. :)

Ferris Wheel

2009-04-20T14:02:00.004-05:00

Dylan has wanted to go on a ferris wheel for a long time. So for her birthday (the night before), the weather was fabulous and we decided to head up to Navy Pier to do it up right - on the 150-foot Ferris Wheel at Pier Park. She was ecstatic and excited and scared at the same time (but yet still wanted to do it!).

Waiting in line (only about 5 minutes!). See the excitement on the birthday girl's face?

See how freaking high this is? I admit I was a little frightened...okay a lot frightened when I thought of falling...

Dylan thoroughly enjoying herself.

Thanks Navy Pier for a fun family evening. Sometimes it's fun to be tourists in your own city.

Easter photo collection

2009-04-20T12:39:00.005-05:00

Dylan just had her birthday two days ago, but since Easter came first and I have a billion Easter photos, I thought I would update you on our last few weeks through an Easter photo collection. Here's what the Rhodes family has been celebrating...

Dyeing Easter eggs at home, a week before Easter. I had high hopes to use "natural" dyes, but just didn't have the motivation when it came down to it - so we again went with Paas.

Sitting with the Easter Bunny at the Easter Egg Hunt at Cantigny Golf Course in Winfield. We went with Grandpa Warren and it was PACKED. There was an actual "hunt," but it should have been called a grab - it was mass chaos as HUNDREDS of kids and parents fought for eggs in the grass - ridiculous. So, I have no pictures of that manic 2 minutes.

Cousin Michaela with Dylan, dyeing eggs again at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Winfield. Dylan was attached to her hip.

Cousin Eli and Noah doing the same. Noah was obsessed with this process.

My dapper little boy enjoying some outdoor time on the deck with family.

Auntie Susie and Noah decorating Easter sugar cookies. I think Noah ate a few sprinkles... :)

Opening her Easter basket - and hugging a chocolate bunny. Now you see how the last week has been with the Easter candy.

The official Rhodes family Backyard Easter Egg Hunt. Dylan was WAY into it.

Noah was WAY into it as well! Here cousin CJ lends a hand pointing out some well-hidden eggs.

Look at these proud Easter Egg hunters! They both got lots of eggs. And the fun was not over. They wanted to then hide them for ME to find! So while everyone else went inside to open their eggs and check out their loot, they ran around the big backyard and hid them (mostly in plain sight) for me to have a turn. They didn't even realize candy was in the eggs - and it didn't matter to them - THIS was the fun part!

Good clean fun

2009-03-12T21:50:00.002-05:00

If you have a front-loading washer, and ever want a really exciting activity to do with your children that also gets things clean, try washing stuffed animals! I am ashamed to say I have not washed their stuffed animals...umm....ever (unless one got peed on or thrown up on or something of course).

So, a week or two ago, we went around the house and chose some friends to throw into the washing machine. What fun that was - Dylan would have thrown in our whole house if I let her.

Here is the fun in action - they stayed here for so long I had to peel them away to eat dinner. They could see them going ROUND and ROUND and getting SUDSY!

Simple pleasures.

Pillow covers

2009-03-12T21:44:00.003-05:00

My wonderful, amazing, talented sister, Lara made me some covers for my pillows on my plain couches in our front living room. They look totally awesome and make the room look so much more interesting. I'm posting them here for mainly her benefit, but I also like the picture of the kids, who I told to go pose by the couches for Aunt Lara...and this is what they did - very THEM.

Thanks Lara!!

Preschool Part Two

2009-03-11T21:12:00.002-05:00

See, I knew there would be a part two before it even happened.

Yesterday the director of a city waldorf school in nearby pilsen, called to chat about Dylan possibly going to preschool there next year. It's a long shot - probably out of our financial reach, and we don't even know for sure that we'll be here, but I really like the idea of this school, and I SO wanted to make a good impression.

If you don't know anything about Waldorf education look here. One key element for this post: they are anti-screens (tv, computer, etc.) in early-childhood development.

So, this wonderful woman calls me on the phone at 3:30 - a volatile time at our house when no one took a nap. We are playing with playdough, and I had to abruptly stop and talk to her. In hindsight, I should have excused myself from the conversation and told the kids I needed to have 5 minutes of important mommy time. But, instead, I just left the table and went to go talk.

Dylan starts yelling in the background - nothing terrible, but just lots of embarassing NOISE.

And then she comes storming to me and yells at the top of her lungs, "I want to play a computer game NOW!"

Whoa. Not only is she yelling at me, which is just not acceptable, but she is (shuddering in shame) asking about computer games while I'm talking to the waldorf lady!!!

We're not even screen people. Yeah, she gets one show or equal time on the computer per day, but that's it! It completely mortified me, but was so perfect at the same time. Served me right for trying to impress anyone with my parenting...over the phone or not.

Preschool Part One

2009-03-09T20:29:00.003-05:00

Dylan is almost four, and she is very ready for preschool. A year or so ago, I tossed around the idea (in my head mostly...and checked out a few library books) of homeschooling. Not for long term, but for a couple of years possibly - especially if we were in the city when she starts kindergarten. Don't get me wrong - that still might happen - and so I'm not ruling out homeschooling completely. But, I'm beginning to see how interested Dylan is in school. She loves her art and ballet classes, loves Sunday School. She loves following directions (even mine - so other adult's are even more desirable). She asks me sometimes why she doesn't go to preschool. And while I don't regret one second for keeping her out of school this year, I think it's time for her to start something this fall.

So, the search for the right school begins. It would help if we knew exactly where I should be looking. Alas, I can't obsess too much or make too many plans. I just have to wait and see where life takes us. And wherever she ends up, she'll (I'll) make it work.

Park in Oak Park

2009-02-10T22:53:00.004-06:00

We went to the park today - afterall, it was 63 degrees outside! We joined our friends Erin, Avery and Ryan from Oak Park at their local playground. So fun to be out running around again!

Here are a few pictures from our fun in the sun...in February!

Dylan could have stayed on the swing for hours. She is a girl after my own heart!

Noah was a sliding machine! He would slide down, run around to the stairs, slide down, run around to the stairs. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

This is when they started running down this little hill that was at the edge of the playground. Noah started, then Dylan joined in, and held his hand - which led to him falling repeatedly and getting all grassy/muddy. He didn't like that. So she went by herself...

She's obviously enjoying this freedom.

And Noah escaped from the hill to run around in wet muddy grass - he had a blast and kept running away from me. Tears ensued when I had to strap him into the stroller to walk back to our friends' house. Not pretty. But so worth it!

Cackle, cackle

2009-01-27T17:59:00.003-06:00

Noah loves to dress up - probably more than Dylan does. He doesn't do it unprompted, but he does do it when Dylan encourages him. He was all about the witch yesterday. He even paired the outfit with a real broom, riding around the family room.

Snow Play

2009-01-14T21:06:00.008-06:00

Here are some pictures and video of us playing in snow, and then eventually painting snow today. It was a cold, snowy day and we didn't feel like doing much, but this rocked. Do try this at home!

They are finally into it (took a little time for them to catch on that this was fun to wear mittens in the house (they usually hate mittens).

This video is Dylan describing what they are doing. It's funny because she is almost doing a video postcard or something - she definitely is saying things just for the tape - in order to see herself later. Thus the "I love you, you can have fun soon, etc." And yes, she says we're "planting" snow. :)

Here's the painted masterpieces!

See my other blog for the whole story: http://momsyearofgratitude.blogspot.com

Maple Syrup Bowls of Snow

2009-01-12T21:41:00.004-06:00

A rare delicacy of my childhood - and something I wanted to give to my children.

ABCs

2009-01-12T19:28:00.003-06:00

Noah has become quite the little musician lately and he is so happy when he's singing. Here's a glimpse at his latest performance.

New blog

2009-01-01T15:56:00.002-06:00

Well loyal blog readers, I have decided to add posting on another blog to my growing list of things to do.

So, feel free to visit One Mom's Year of Gratitude at:
http://momsyearofgratitude.blogspot.com

I'll be here again soon. I just got my computer's hard drive upgraded (thanks mom and dad and Steve) for Christmas, so I can now upload pictures again. Yippee!

Portraits

2008-12-26T22:49:00.005-06:00

We (read "I") wanted to get a good picture for our Christmas card this year, and after a marital disagreement ensuing from our last family photo shoot, I decided it would be just the kids this year. So, I took the kids to get their pictures taken the Friday before Christmas when everyone else and their brother was getting photos taken.

The kids did great. I didn't even have to tell them about the cookies I brought until the shoot was almost over. And I did have to pull out the lollipops when I took almost an HOUR looking through all 85 pictures and deciding what I liked... But, other than the sugar high, it was a beautiful success. Nothing we couldn't cure by a trip to the nearby mall where I let them run wild at the mall playground for an hour before we headed home (in another one of our recently typical snowstorms).

Here are some of my favorite shots, and believe me, it was hard to choose from 85!

Isn't this one hilarious? I can just see her say, "Seriously mom?"

This was after the photographer said, "Show me your muscles!!"

So, this last one is the one that ended up on most of the Christmas cards. I love it because it just looks like both of them how they are every day. I could just eat them up right there on the screen.

Copycat

2008-12-16T07:18:00.002-06:00

Noah has been mimicking Dylan's every move for several months now, but it's really getting out of control sometimes. Mostly it's language. If he is paying attention and she is telling us something important, or answering a question, he repeats it. It's almost like there is a tape recorder that we record what she says and then distort it and speed it up just a little when we play it back. No sentence is too long for him to repeat. Yes, the longer it is, the more it gets slurred together and comes out as mush, but he always says it with similar emphasis and enthusiasm.

For example:
Dylan (excitedly): I want another cookie please. Lots of sprinkles!
Noah (yelled with enthusiasm): Noddercookiepeeaselossprinkles!

Stay awake!

2008-12-08T14:37:00.002-06:00

I think I'll start a list of things I'm not proud of that I find myself doing with/to my kids. Otherwise known as,

Things I never thought I'd do as a parent:
- Let them eat three bananas each at one sitting - I mean, is that bad? Still undecided on that one.
- Let them eat food off the floor (not everywhere, but well it's a sliding scale...)
- Worry about my kids as much as I do - the worst kind of worry yet!
- Let a not-yet-two-year-old have a lollipop (I blame the older sister)
- Do anything I can to keep them from falling asleep in the car if I have to run an errand before we go home for naps (imagine tickling, throwing food at them, "Don't go to sleep yet Noah!")

Who can help with the list? Please leave your own additions to the list in the comments section.

Creative Movement

2008-12-06T10:27:00.004-06:00

Dylan has been taking Creative Movement (it's like pre-pre-ballet) from the Hyde Park School of Dance this fall. She has learned a lot and seems to have an incredibly enjoyable time. She loves her teacher Miss Allison and especially enjoys "Talk Time" when they get to tell something, show something they brought, or do a dance for the rest of the class. Dylan always chooses to show a dance. Usually it's a butterfly dance (think running around in circles flapping arms), but last week she did break out a bunny dance (so she told me). Parents are not allowed in, except for on visiting day, which was a couple of weeks ago. These pics are from that day.

Here is a taste of ballet class:

Dancers sitting in a circle, pointing and flexing toes (Dylan is on the far right if you didn't notice the blond curls...)

Doing their "fast ballet walks" with hands on hips around the room. Dylan is loving this one!

Pointing toes, getting ready for her turn to gallop across the room!

I wasn't sure whether we should continue doing it this winter or not - I mean it does cost money, and it's cold and snowy and hard to get out of the house sometimes. But these pictures say it all - she really does love it and I think it's probably pretty good for her to listen to the teacher and follow directions in a way that uses her body. I asked her if she wants to keep doing it, and the answer was yes, so we'll go with that for now.

X-ray, Wash it out, Stitches

2008-11-24T20:34:00.002-06:00

Dylan got stitches 10 days ago. She stepped up onto a balloon next to the heater in our living room and slipped off - catching herself on the heater - and slicing open her hand. I called Jason to come home from parent-teacher conferences (sorry J) to stay with Noah - there was no way in hell I was taking both kids with me to the ER at 4pm with Dylan bleeding everywhere (not to mention Noah was still sleeping, so I would have had to wake him up). Long story short, we were there 7.5 hours - from 4pm until 11:30pm. It was lots and lots and lots and lots of waiting.

But now to the real point of my post. It's been so fascinating watching/listening to Dylan process this experience. It was very traumatic for her in the ER. She was on a hospital bed laying there for 7.5 hours!! Yes, I was there, and thank you Paul Gottlieb Nipkow - we watched an insane amount of PBS kids Sprout TV. But what did she want to do the whole time she wasn't occupied with Angelina Ballerina? She wanted to hear stories. Stories of me getting hurt as a child. And when I ran out of stories (that was pretty quickly...if you know how good I am at remembering things) I was supposed to make them up! Using all my real family as a child, in my real life, but totally fabricated stories. Essentially, she wanted ME to get hurt standing on a balloon by the heater - or some other equally freakish accident.

Now let me just take a moment to put in a word for my creativity. I think I'm pretty creative...I mean I wouldn't have majored in Graphic Design if I didn't...right? But golly-gee-willikers. After 20 minutes of telling made-up get hurt stories, I was plum out of ideas. But she wanted to do this for 7 hours! It was incredible how she would never get tired of hearing the same story-line over and over again. And if it didn't resemble her situation enough, she would tell me how the plot should go. "First you have to get an x-ray, then you have to wash it out, then you get stitches." See, that was exactly what we were doing.

Fast forward 10 days. Today we got out her stitches at the pediatrician's office. It wasn't too terrible for the 20 minutes we were in there. But the anticipation was brutal. We had several meltdowns just thinking about it all. So, once again, her typical kid coping mechanism - telling stories - putting me as the hurt one - and she is more in control.

If any parent out there hasn't read Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen, I highly reccomend it. It talks about just this. Children go through experiences that they need to "play out" later. So while I was cringing as we played doctor for the 10th day straight...I understood why. You got something good there Dr. Cohen.

Trick-or-treat!

2008-11-01T09:56:00.003-05:00

My kids are old! They got really into the trick-or-treating last night and it was so fun!! They both got sick of their costumes by the end ("This is itching me!!!"), but with no naps, they really did awesome, holding out until almost 8:30. We came down to trick-or-treat in Champaign because we were going to the Illinois vs. Iowa football game on Saturday. So, we went around in their neighborhood.

Dylan and Noah examine the candy loot.

Riding from house to house, snacking on candy. Grandpa Clark is pulling them in their neighborhood.

My little bumblebee flitting around for more candy!

Dylan was our "social butterfly." She would literally enter into conversation with everyone we talked to/got candy from. It was HILARIOUS. She even made a thank you card to give to the person who gave her the best candy (totally her idea). Hah!

Tom Moore, my parents' next-door neighbor, gives Dylan some chocolate!

Noah and Dylan get candy bags from Grandma Cindy!

The family Halloween shot. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the fun!

Beatitude lesson for the day

2008-10-03T16:24:00.003-05:00

Dylan was making up rhymes while eating lunch today (a usual scene at our table..).
We were eating carrots. I came up with parrot to rhyme with carrot. Then it was her turn.

Dylan: Harrot rhymes with carrot!
Me: What's harrot?
Dylan: You know, harrot the earth?
Me: Ohhhhhhh...The meek shall inherit the earth!
Dylan: Yeah!

Of course.

Belly Contest

2008-09-24T07:41:00.002-05:00

Last night Dylan and Noah made up their first game together. It was called Belly Contest. Here's how you play:

1. Dylan chants, "Let's have a belly contest!"
2. Dylan lifts up her shirt, exposing her belly.
3. Dylan encourages, "Noah, lift up your shirt! Lift up your shirt!"
4. Noah lifts up his shirt, exposing his belly.
5. They rub bellies together, laughing hysterically.
6. Hugging ensues.

Everyone wins.

"Backyard" by Dylan S. Rhodes

2008-09-21T19:41:00.003-05:00

"Backyard" by Dylan S. Rhodes

We were testing out the idea of studying backyards in our hope to incorporate the Project Approach at home. I'm reading this awesome book, Teach Your Child to Love Learning which I HIGHLY recommend for any parent who wants to get a little more intentional (yet still be organic) about learning at home. It's a super easy to follow, functional book. I'm still trying to figure out what our first project should be...and I'm pretty convinced we're going with "trees," but like I said, we were testing to see if backyards was a good idea. Above is Dylan's initial drawing of what a backyard looks like to her. She was very detailed with it, and as the book suggests, we used a felt-tip black pen and we labeled all the pieces of the drawing after she was finished. I am enamored with the drawing and my favorite part is the picnic blanket with the little grape tomatoes in the bowl. Click on the picture and you can see an enlarged version if it's too small to make out what everything is.

when i grow up...

2008-09-17T20:05:00.006-05:00

I want to be a firefighter.

Or so we pretended today. My friend Megan set up a visit to the Evergreen Park Firehouse this afternoon for our playgroup. What a blast the kiddos had - and us adults learned a thing or too as well.

Here are a few highlights:

Ruby (Megan's daughter) and Noah sitting in the classroom at the firehouse, listening to Fireman Ed.

Noah gets his first look at all the fire trucks.

The overall highlight of Noah's visit. The dress-up. Here he casually turns for a candid.

This is the picture I was really hoping for when I saw those dress-up firefighter outfits laying there on the floor. Wow, this is one happy-photographer-who-likes-posey-pictures moment.

Noah did NOT want to take the firefighter outfit off. This is to show how thrilled he was with the whole thing - even that hot sticky smelly mask (and I didn't tell you it was 85degrees and humid out during all of this...)

Fireman Ed lets the kids see inside a Firefighter's Ambulance. Wow...

Now for Dylan's highlight: sitting in the firefighter's recliners watching their gigantic TV. Seriously - see how everyone else is standing up - note my two sloths making a home in the easy chairs. Fireman Ed tells about how this is their favorite room...my kids concur.

We also got to go inside a fire engine. Learning moment: Fire engines are the trucks that carry the hoses. Fire trucks are the ones with the ladders (no hoses). Thanks Fireman Ed.

NOW.

2008-09-11T21:13:00.004-05:00

I can be a bit spontaneous sometimes. Not in the buy a ticket to Europe on a whim kind of way, but in the I've made up my mind in the last 20 seconds about this and I need to do it...NOW. Call it a craving for instant gratification.

This is why I never spend less than $100 when I go to Target. Why I buy three bags of Brach's Mellowcreme Pumpkins at Walgreens on August 29th. And why I never make advance appointments for haircuts. I delay, put off, don't think about it...and then when I want it...I want it now.

I am this way with my own hair, and now my children's hair. So Dylan has a new haircut...this was after I asked my sister on the phone (about 20 minutes before the scissors were cutting off the first lock) - do you think I should cut Dylan's hair? Then I proceeded to convince myself that it should be done (while not really giving you a chance to say your opinion much...sorry Lara). And then I drove straight to a hair salon in Hyde Park and called them like a stalker from outside the salon, reading their phone number off the front door. No appointments. Drive to next salon, call them... Me:When do you have any appointments in the now-ish future? Them: How about 4:00 (it was 3:15). Me: How about now? Them: Ok, come on in.

And so Miss Rita cut her hair, did a marvelous job and I love it. Even though when I paid on the way out...they said "How old is HE?" hmmmm...and I never thought I'd be "that mom" who cut their daughter's hair boy-short. C'est la vie.

Oh yeah, and I bribed her with a lollipop. No shame.

What kind of mom am I?

2008-08-22T07:41:00.003-05:00

I never know which kind of mom to be...the one that gives you good healthy food on your plate every night and makes you try at least one bite of everything on your plate before you can get down OR the one that gives you good healthy food on your plate every night and trusts that eventually you'll taste, enjoy and learn to love a variety of foods so to not pressure you to eat.

All I really want out of the deal is for my children to try many different foods, develop a healthy wide ranging palette and get the nutrition they need from a variety of foods - fruits and vegetables included. I know I can't really complain about the way my kids eat - and I'm not - I do understand that I have it really good in how much they'll try new things and how much they love certain fruits and veggies. BUT, what kind of mom am I? I can't decide what is better for them - to make them try everything I have made? I mean, I did slave over five different food groups on purpose - for their essential growth, right? So then why should I watch two of them go untouched, just to be tossed down the garbage disposal (or if I was really green, in the compost...more on that later in life). So, lately the rule has been you have to at least TRY one bite of everything on your plate. I also hate the idea that you have never even tried something but you just choose not to eat it because you don't like how it looks...that doesn't fly in my book.

BUT, I also want my kids to have a healthy association with food. And to be able to make their own choices about what their body finds healthy and satisfying (as long as it really is healthy!...disclaimer!...I want to be in control!). So, I like the idea of them saying, "No, I'm full, I don't want to try that." or "No, I'm not going try that tonight." And I hate hate HATE the idea of them having bad memories of sitting at the table for 3 hours because they refuse to try the green beans. That luckily hasn't happened yet - not even close. But she has sat for 10 minutes. And that is long for a 3 year old to think about eating one green bean.

Goat riding

2008-08-13T08:35:00.005-05:00

We visited Steven Rhodes in Iowa last week - and thus we got to visit his goats. He has them to chew/mow his grass. It was a highlight for the kids, even though Dylan walked away with about 20 mosquito bites (and we were only outside for about 20 minutes!).

Here are some pics...

Someone (who's name starts with an S) thought it would be a great idea if Dylan rode the goat.

Falling off the goat...

Noah and I chillin with the mosquitos. Noah looks hot.

Daddy and Noah exploring the grounds.

A slice of our summer

2008-08-07T07:54:00.008-05:00

Finally I'm getting a moment to blog! We've been around the midwest visiting family in Champaign and Iowa for the last week and a half. When did this summer get so busy? Let's just get right to it. I'll not talk much, but instead let the pictures do the talking and show you what we've been up to the last month or so.

Noah feeding a bite to his sister. She clearly enjoyed it.

Noah's summer obsession: "ball-ball" The last few days he has literally asked us to play ball every waking moment of the day - either carrying around a baseball glove and bat/ball or a basketball.

These pictures start a series where we are visiting the Japanese garden near our house - it's really cool and Jason discovered it recently while on a walk with the kids. It dates back to the World's Columbian Exposition here in Chicago. Everything from the World's Columbian Exposition has been demolished except the old Palace of Fine Arts, which is now the Museum of Science and Industry and this Japanese garden. Come visit us and we'll take you there!

Dylan loves to bring bread and feed the ducks there.

What you can't see is that I am yelling "hold on to her!" while I take this picture.

Queen of the world!

Mommy/daughter cuddles while we have a snack in the garden.

Chewing on grass.

Guess where they learned that from? (it's hard to see in this pic, but they all have grass in their teeth)

"Happy and Blessed" - putting on a Beatitude Attitude show for us on 4th of July (on Grandma and Grandpa Karen and Warren's deck).

Playing frisbee golf in G&G's backyard.

Dylan and Auntie Susie were out on the backyard picking flowers .

"Noah - can you do surprise face?"

Laundry hamper FUN! Dylan figure out how to get in here by herself, and of course, monkey see, monkey do.

The Beatitude Attitude

2008-07-18T21:31:00.002-05:00

I really have to post about this - it's outrageously cute and hilarious (at least for me and my mom). My mom wrote (yes WROTE all the songs, dialogue, etc.) and directed a children's musical for her church in champaign called The Beatitude Attitude. It was an amazing performance (May 11th, 2008) and Dylan was thrilled to be there to be in the audience. WELL, fast forward more than two months. We now have the DVD of the performance, and we watch it at least 4 times/week. She LOVES it. No, that is a gross understatement. She is insanely obsessed with it. I can't fully describe how much she is nuts for this thing, but here is my attempt. First of all, she sings her own soundtrack of the musical pretty much all day long (for several weeks now). She busts out with microphone (usually a drumstick, traintrack or baseball bat) and all, and does a very convincing rendition of "Remember What Jesus Said" or "Poor in Spirit" (all with motions and dancing...). It's hysterical and of course adorable. She talks incessantly about the characters, acting like they are celebrities. And most hilarious/cute of all, she quotes the dialogue to me randomly in normal conversation. Here are two examples of the direct quotes from the show she has repeated to me:

"Mom, don't expect me to be your best friend." (as we are walking back to the park from a potty break...ummm...OK!)

(as we are shopping downtown) "Mom, you're not exactly rolling in the dough." Yes, Dylan, you are right on that one.

quick sleep update

2008-07-03T11:03:00.003-05:00

I haven't blogged in awhile about my sleep issues with Noah. So, here is a quick update. We are on night 4 tonight of "cry it out with reassurance by daddy." Mommy stays out of the whole bedtime routine and daddy gets the pleasure of one on one time with Noah reading stories, prayers, etc. and then he goes in his crib. He is thrilled let me tell you (that was sarcastic...hard to get that over the internet), but it is getting better and I feel remarkably good about letting my child cry and scream alone in his crib. I am usually quite content on the far side of the other camp - cosleeping, breastfeeding, babywearing - really most things attachment parenting. But when your kid is almost 17 months old and you haven't had a full night of sleep (he still wakes up 3-5 or more times/night) in that long (or more since you don't sleep that well at the end of pregnancy)...well then you take a one way ticket to the "cry it out" camp and you don't look back. At least that's what I'm trying to do here. I still have moments (like the first night when Jason came out and said he was asleep finally - after an hour - standing up, head laying on the side of the crib rail) - where I want to abort and snuggle and nurse and be that mom that I "am." But NO...we must go through this for I will be a better mom when I can finally say, "Wow, that was a good night's sleep." Ahhh, the mouth-watering craving I have for sleep.

Sibling Harmony

2008-07-01T08:35:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to post quickly about how much our kids are love love loving each other these days. I think the sharing a room is a huge part of that, and they really are just playing better, hugging more, and talking to one another. Noah mimics everything Dylan does, which at this point does not annoy her whatsoever. Glory be...

Here's a cuddle moment caught on camera:

Go Cubs Go

2008-06-12T13:56:00.004-05:00

I think I mentioned that Noah is saying "Go Cubs Go" now. Here is a video to prove it.

And here's Dylan SINGING "Go Cubs Go." Wonder who she learned it from...

we live in the state of Illinois...

2008-06-11T13:55:00.001-05:00

Dylan: "Jesus lives in a state called Paris."

Me: "Jesus lives everywhere - and in our hearts!"

Dylan: "Yes, but he lives in Paris too."

beach day!!!

2008-06-06T22:44:00.004-05:00

We went to the beach today in Ogden Dunes, IN for our playgroup. Our dear friends, the Cunninghams have friends who live ON the beach, and we played in their backyard and in their backyard - is the beach! Here's a photo essay of our time there. Yay summer!

Dylan is thrilled with the take-your-breath-away-cold water.

Baby Noah, Baby Case and Baby Charlotte all hang in the baby pool.

Noah is not amused with the blowing sand in his face.

Drawing pictures in the sand.

Pleased as punch that he got a big kid lunch plate too!

My little sun goddess on the slide in the backyard.

72% humidity

2008-06-05T18:31:00.003-05:00

It was hot today.
The first day of 2008 that I was actually sweating.
The first day of 2008 that I wore a sleeveless shirt.
The first day of 2008 that I wished I had air conditioning.
The first day of 2008 that the weather channel said it "feels like 92."
The first day of Noah's life that he ate a popsicle! (yes, the whole thing)
And just so all the sugar purists out there don't think I'm a crazy mother, it was a homemade 100% orange juice popsicle. Thanks Ikea for the molds!

He was in popsicle heaven.

So was Dylan (as always).

Dylan Goes to the Dentist

2008-06-04T19:40:00.003-05:00

Such is the title of several children's books that we have checked out over the past month to prepare for this event. Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist, Vera Goes to the Dentist, the list goes on...

She did awesome. The dental hygienist painted her teeth purple and she got to brush the paint off, showing off her brushing "skills." I waited to be ashamed, and she did me proud! :) No cavities (thank GOD...all those times I forgot to brush her teeth...phew!).

The picture is of her trying out all the tools (this one the suction) with the hygienist before the dentist came in to see her.

Check that milestone off!

less sleep

2008-06-02T10:51:00.002-05:00

I guess it gets worse before it gets better? I'm clinging to that hope. Two more nights under my belt. The second easier than the first, but the third way worse than either of the first two. So, now where are we? Frustrated and exhausted. Well, I'm still committed to trying this for a solid week and then reevaluating if necessary. So talk to me on Friday I guess. Please God let this get easier.

If you are wondering how the rest of our life is, say during daylight, well it was remarkably unphased and fun, until this morning. Noah is clingy, overtired and grouchy. I wonder if it is from lack of sleep...

sleep issues

2008-05-31T20:28:00.002-05:00

How can your child's sleep torture you so much that it causes you to be up all night, then think all day about it, yet never come up with a plan that lasts more than 24 hours without being questioned, doubted and redefined. Am I indecisive or just plain crazy?

We moved Noah into Dylan's bedroom last night. I had this grand plan - I would not nurse him (which I already was trying not to do between 11 and 5am) but make him go to sleep on his own - checking on him periodically. I knew it would interrupt Dylan's sleep, but I just figured I would dive in headfirst. I prepared her, and she really did pretty good. The first time he woke her up at 11:56 I thought they were both never going to stop crying. She eventually calmed down, but Noah? He was standing up awake and screaming crying from 11:56 until about 2:15. I went in every 15 minutes and reassured him. But it never stopped. Finally at 2:15 I put my hand on his back as he laid down until he fell asleep. It only took about 5 minutes. But then he was up again at 3:30. So, I did the same thing - holding my hand on his back until he fell back asleep. And he did, until about 4:50. When he woke up this time I was beat. I hadn't slept since 11:56 - questioning myself, doubting myself, trying to psyche myself up for this "sleep training." But I was done. So, I brought him into bed and nursed him back to sleep, and did that off and on for the next two hours. At least he wasn't crying anymore...

This sucks. I'm now at bedtime, night two. And I totally feel like I am doing the wrong thing. I know he needs to sleep in his own bed now - for my sanity if nothing else. And I think he should be in there with Dylan. Those things I believe. But how to make that happen is totally in question. I don't think I'm doing the right thing by leaving him in there to figure it out, so I guess I'll try to help him get back asleep tonight right away - with my hand on his back? If he can't fall asleep on his own at the beginning of the night - how am I expecting him to do so in the middle of the dark night?

Now you've seen a window to my crazy sleep world of doubt. You probably stopped reading this post last paragraph, but that's ok, it's therapeutic for me anyhow.
Why can't this be easier? Nothing in all of my three years, one month and thirteen days of parenting has caused more frustration.

I am so unsure of what I should be doing right now. So if I seem a little obsessed with pediatric sleep issues, you now know why. I need therapy.

a day in the life

2008-05-29T08:08:00.023-05:00

Note: this post is insanely long. It is inspired by my sister Lara, who wanted to answer the question she always got from people who didn't quite understand the stay at home mom thing: What do you DO all day? Here goes...

6:02. Dylan wakes up (still thankfully on New Mexico time) and Jason goes in, convinces her to lay down for another 30 minutes so we can all sleep.

6:32. Dylan can't wait to play any longer. With daddy's permission, she gets up and plays quietly on the floor reading books and drawing with her magna-doodle.

6:58. Daddy gets up to get ready for work. Dylan comes in to wake up mommy and Noah. She brings every book (around 25), stuffed animal and the magna-doodle that she was playing with onto our bed.

7:06. I get up to make coffee - I can barely keep my eyelids open...this must happen now. Noah comes with me and Dylan stays on our bed reading for awhile.

7:25. Dylan comes out and decides she wants pancakes for breakfast. Why not? So, she comes up on the counter and helps me mix up some batter. (i'm trying to be more spontaneous)

8:03. Pancakes are done. Pancake picnic in the kitchen!! (this picture is what started this post)

8:10. Noah takes his straw out of his milk cup for the 5th time, dripping it all over the floor. OK. All done.

8:12. Noah and Dylan are blissfully playing in the family room by themselves. Right next to each other. Not bothering each other!! Quick, get a picture! I take a few moments to check my email.

8:17. Dylan asks, "Do I have a Pull-up on?" Me: Yes. "Then I'm going to poop in my Pull-up." Me: Why don't we go poop in the potty? Dylan: "No, I'll just poop in my Pull-up." (we have only been potty-trained for about a week now, so we got the peeing down pat, but mister poop is still iffy)

8:32. Diaper changes for both. Dylan gets on underpants. Noah escapes and runs NAKED BABY around the room playing ball.

8:40. Noah sits in front of the kitchen wall and throws the ball against it and back to himself repeatedly. I remember some stories about Jason doing this sort of thing with balls when he was little. Let the obsession with sports begin. I take this opportunity to empty the dishwasher.

9:15. I catch a quick shower (phew). Dylan reads to Noah on our bed, showing him the pictures so sweetly. Noah "listens" in crib.

9:30. Dylan and Noah want to play legos. No, trains. No, legos. No, trains. Noah: Help mommy!

9:39. We did it! Finished track. Dylan creates a track jam with her foot. Noah is not amused.
10:01. Yogurt snack!

10:19. Our friends arrive (Calvin is on the right - I babysit for him two mornings a week. Megan with Ruby and Iain on left)! Train fun for all.

10:24. Noah and Ruby love. They are literally hugging every 5 seconds for awhile. It's overwhelmingly adorable.

10:50. Bike time! Noah got this great little bike as a hand-me-down from our friends the Steelbergs at church. Thanks Cameron and Graham! He loves it.

11:03. Dylan and Calvin build castles in the playroom. Dylan tries to verbally keep Noah from knocking them down. (look at Noah eyeing Calvin's tower)

11:04. Noah tries to knock them down, but he gets diverted by dumping out all the kitchen stuff and then tossing it one by one back into the box.

11:41. Lunch time. Vegetable appetizers while the pasta cooks. Dylan eats the carrots but skips the broccoli and snow peas.

12:12. Ruby and Noah are still eating lunch. Ruby keeps taking bites from Noah's pasta bowl. Noah keeps eating the noodles with his fingers. There might not be anything messier for two one year olds than a bowl of slippery noodles with red sauce. This picture is just after Ruby stole Noah's carrot from his tray and now she's trying to feed it to herself whole on the fork. Noah looks to be in a trance and hasn't noticed...or cared.

12:45. Clean up time! We set the timer for 4 minutes and all run around the house like crazy while we put every toy in sight away. The kids do awesome and even Noah and Ruby try and "help." Cleaning up is always easier with a timer to beat!

1:00. Downtime. Megan, Ruby and Iain have gone home, so Calvin, Dylan, Noah and I sit on the couch to read for awhile before Calvin's mom comes to pick him up. Noah falls asleep nursing. I successfully transfer him to the crib (after some crying, falls back asleep).

1:35. Dylan and I read stories together in her bed. Today it's "Not THAT Bear," "Happy Father's Day" and "Pig Pig Rides Again." It's a rare treat to get to do this just the two of us since Noah is asleep. After a cuddle, an animal and a stack of books, it's time for quiet time.

2:04. Seriously, whoa. I have a few minutes to myself. This is divine and I can now catch up on writing this long entry (while watching a few minutes of tivoed So You Think You Can Dance).

3:05. Just finished writing and uploading pics. Noah woke up 30 minutes ago and is now sleeping on my lap as I type on the laptop.

Jason will be home soon so I can run to the doctor. So, I'll sign off for now and stop carrying my camera around. Hopefully now you get a better picture of how full a day can be - even when you are a "homemaker." :)

kite festival!

2008-05-28T08:03:00.010-05:00

This is an old post, but in the effort to put up new pictures, here goes.

On May 10th we attended a kite festival on the lawn of the Museum of Science and Industry. It was so fun - even though it was freezing and not real spring weather. Dylan and Noah loved the kites and Dylan especially got so excited that we got to fly our very own kite (which she had gotten for her birthday). We were able to make our own kite (cheap paper thing that we ended up throwing away - she wasn't that into it by the time we did it - we were FREEZING). We visited a storybook bus where they got to go inside the world of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. And Jason got to play Mariokart Wii (and loved it so much we went out and bought the game later that day). But most of all, best of all, we FLEW KITES!!

Putting together the new birthday present kite. Dylan is staring in amazement at the sky filled with kites!

Dylan and Noah in front of the Museum of Science and Industry enjoying the kite festival. Still waiting for Jason to put the kite together. :)

Noah is so pleased with himself walking in the grass.

Jason and Dylan try to get the kite up. Repeatedly. It was really really windy.

It's up!!!!!!

Dylan flying to kite (see her holding it?) with daddy's help.

The kite festival!

i do!!

2008-05-07T09:58:00.001-05:00

Noah has his first sentence!

I guess I say this phrase a lot..."Who wants to _________"
And then we all raise our hands and say.... "I DO!!"

And yes, Noah now joins in wholeheartedly. He says it almost like it's one word..."EYEDOOO!"

So...
"Who wants to go outside?" "I do!"
"Who wants to go to Grandma's house?" "I do!"
"Who wants a snack?" "I do!"
"Who wants to take a bath?" "I do!"
"Who wants to color?" "I do!"

Really, anything his sister does, is "I do!"

trip to the farm

2008-05-07T07:46:00.002-05:00

We visited Cosley Zoo with Grandma Karen yesterday. It's really more of a children's farm than a zoo, but they have a few more animals than a normal farm (i.e. peacocks, foxes, coyotes, turtles, etc.).

The kids had a fun time and really enjoyed seeing all the animals, that is except for the peacock. I forgot just how loud they can be...

Peacock: SQWUAAAAAAAAAACCCKKK!
Dylan: under breath, starting to walk briskly away..."Let's go. I'm freakin' out."

I'll post pictures soon - I can't find my cord to transfer from the camera. I have good one with noah and the llama.

let's go over this one more time...

2008-05-04T08:02:00.004-05:00

Jason: Dylan, who plays left field for the Cubs?
Dylan: (shyly) Alfonso Soriano
Jason: Who plays right field?
Dylan: (eyes rolling, shaking head) Kosuke Fukudome
Jason: (smiling and trying to keep from cracking up)

my poor kids...let the random memorization of your future school-aged life begin now.

screw the terrible twos

2008-05-01T07:30:00.003-05:00

It's been a long time. And i apologize for the lack of posts.

Dylan is now officially three years old. Hard to believe it. But yet, not so hard to believe if I look at how our daily whine factor, defiant factor and just plain frustration factor has gone WAY up. My sweet little cuddle bug can be quite the hair pulling button pusher.

Some days (like today) it just seems as though she got up on the wrong side of the bed. Is that possible for kids? I thought only adults had bad moods where everything just seems to go wrong.

Dylan is officially 32 lbs, 37.5 inches tall. She is right on schedule for all development and did really great in her 3-year old appt where she had to get a finger prick for a lead test. "I am worried about the prick..." But then she didn't even feel it - and enjoyed a pink Pez post-prick.

She really is a wonderful, sweet, caring little girl. Her personality and sense of humor evolve more each day and I am amazed at what she is able to figure out on her own these days. She is becoming more and more independent and sometimes it crushes me how fast she is growing up. Our favorite way to get her to eat vegetables, drink milk, etc. is to say, "Don't drink the milk. I don't want you to grow up anymore. I want you stay little forever!!" And then of course she is cracking up and yelling "I will grow up! I'm going to!!" And she drinks and drinks and drinks and it's happiness for all.

Here are a few of her current faves:

Favorite toys: people - as in fisher price little people to make up stories with, magna-doodle, any art supplies (especially markers)

Favorite music: Ralph's World, Sesame Street songs

Favorite thing to watch: Super Why on PBS

Favorite place on earth: the hot tub at "grandma cindy's cabin"

Favorite drink: chocolate milk

Favorite dinner: Thai noodles (pad thai) with peanut sauce

Favorite dessert: tie between popsicles or ice cream

Favorite color: pink most often, but depends on the day

Favorite obsession: ballet, ballerinas, dancing, tutus, anything FANCY

Favorite book (see above): Fancy Nancy

Favorite lastest quote: "Ooh-lah-lah, my family is posh!" (yeah, see favorite book...)

What a girl!

Hug

2008-03-18T20:40:00.003-05:00

This is why you have siblings for your children.

And no, it's not posed.

successful mommy moment

2008-03-04T20:22:00.003-06:00

if you need something for your 12 month old and your almost 3 year old to do...TOGETHER...(this is key to those who don't have these two ages at the same time - they don't DO the same things...) Take a look! This was my genius idea of the day:

Let's wash our legos!!
Put a huge bag (I'm talking 200+) of duplos on the floor and let them toss them one by one into the bathtub full of soapy water. Honestly, what is more fun than that?!?!?!

Feel free to take that one to the bank.

Goodbye hair and hello big boy!

2008-02-09T21:13:00.000-06:00

Noah got a big boy haircut. Jason and I took turns with the at-home clippers (whatever happened to the Flobee?). I thought I might regret cutting off the curls. But I don't, not one smidgen...Lara, you were right. :) Here's a before and after:

Before

After (he looks so much older!)

Noah turns 1 on Tuesday, so we had a little bash for him this evening. He is obsessed with basketballs (promise, he is, it's not just his dad wishing...), so we had a basketball (illini) themed party. First a cute shot of his big stuff uniform, and then a short clip of him walking after the party. He's had a bit too much to drink. :) He has been taking steps now for a week and he thinks it's hilarious.

Dylan loves to eat snow

2008-02-04T19:32:00.000-06:00

This weekend Dylan figured out how much fun it is to eat snow! Jason and I took her sledding and afterwards, she told us her favorite part of the whole event was "eating snow." OK...

So, today, with Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Clark, we got some snow from the backyard and poured maple syrup on it and made an amazing dessert treat!

And here's just a shot of the sheer love Dylan has for Noah (yes, this is tough love...)

DuPage Childrens Museum

2008-01-25T20:00:00.000-06:00

We had an awesome time this morning at the DuPage Childrens Museum. It was so fun there! I can't believe we've never been as it's 20 min. from Jason's parents' house. The kids were in heaven. Here are a few slices of our morning...

Noah working on his light board shape building. So sweet for the camera.

Sister joins in on the fun. Quick, take a picture, they are working TOGETHER!

Caroline, Iain and Dylan crawl up into this awesome tunnel near the ceiling. Us moms watch and take pics from below. They loved how independent it made them feel! And we loved how there was only one way out!

Noah watches in laughter as Dylan stands stoic in a "wind tunnel." She loved it in there and stayed for about 20 minutes, just holding these butterflies on a stick and "taking the wind." (It was a huge industrial fan blowing into this clear plastic tunnel. The kids could put scarves and other lightweight things at the front and watch it blow them through the tunnel...or they could just stand there and get air in their face... :))

Playing in the bubble area. There were several tables of bubble fun. She just preferred to stick her whole arms in the bubbles (wet shirt) and swish around her fingers.

Dylan loved the water area too, and took it upon herself to find all the rubber duckies and line them all up along the edge. Then she proceeded to hide them all (hord them) in a corner of the water area before we left...saving them for later?? (not pictured)

This was one of my favorites. It was so simple and so GENIUS! They had a regular chalkboard and chunky paint brushes with water cups on the side. Dylan literally painted water on that chalkboard for over 30 minutes, SOLID. I finally tore her away to go have lunch. But, not before Noah joined in for a few minutes of sibling teamwork.

Ahh, the simple joys in life. Jason saw these pics and was jealous of the fun we get to have. It really is fun. And for some reason, I had to justify it all, "Remember, I took pictures of the high moments. It's not all this picture perfect you know." But why do I have to justify it? It really was a wonderful, special outing. And I really am blessed and extremely grateful to have this time with my children every day. So yes, it comes with low times too, but let's just keep on bloggin' about the highs. Thank you God for my little babes who keep me humble and show me how to have fun every day. And thank you God most of all for my husband, who supports me, stands behind me and walks with me on this crazy parenthood journey, allowing me, through the HARD work that he does at school, to be at home with our kiddos.

Snow pics

2008-01-22T21:10:00.001-06:00

Here's some fun in the snow, from late 2007.

He was so into it! He just crawled right through...

Packing snow into buckets is always a good time for a 2 year old. Then we made a mini snowman! Then we got FREEZING and went inside.

Sleep Update

2008-01-22T20:55:00.000-06:00

yes! Noah is going to sleep in his crib! I hold his hand (very sweet) and he lays down (no crying!) and goes to sleep! It's beautiful and wasn't even that painful. After about 3 nights of crying off and on, he gave up on the crying and accepted it all! He enjoys our nightly routine now and I really enjoy that time with him too.

Now, we have to work on the night wakings...it's still not good. But we're taking really great baby steps. :)

He's asleep, he's asleep!

2008-01-09T20:52:00.001-06:00

Quick update:

It's 8:50 and I just got out of his room, made myself a nice cool beverage, and am relaxing on the couch! We were reading stories at 7:52, probably lights out at about 8:02, and he was asleep 45 min later! Not too bad!! It almost took only like 20 min, but then he woke himself up again and it started again with the standing up, the sad faces, the sad crying, etc. But 45 min is not bad - and most of that he was not crying. I feel good. That is, unless he wakes up in the next few moments...

Yay, Noah, I knew you could do this!

You Need to Go to Sleep

2008-01-09T19:32:00.000-06:00

It's 7:33pm and I'm about to put Noah to sleep. Yes, that sounds pretty average. But it's not. You see, I'm going to do a form of "sleep training" tonight. Not the all out cry it out, I leave you in the room while I go down a bottle of wine while we both cry our eyes out method, but the one where I stay there. Stay next to him in his crib, soothing him, letting him know his crib is a happy place, encouraging him to cry if that's what he needs to do.

Because that really is what he needs to do. He needs to sleep. And the way we're doing things right now...not so much working. Noah is waking up all night long and can only get himself back to sleep by nursing. That was OK when he was 2 months old and just home from the hospital. That was OK when he was 6 months old and still such a babe. But he is almost hitting 11 months and I need him to come along with me for the ride. We have to get a more mutually agreeable sleeping situation. He isn't sleeping good either in our bed - he wakes up ALL NIGHT, sometimes 20 minutes after the last...so something has to be done.

I've backed out of this training several times now. And every time I don't do it because I can't bear to let him cry. But, I've been reading this book, The Aware Baby. And it's really incredible and making me think about things in a whole new light. Just a twist on my old philosophy. But it's allowing me to let him cry tonight. Crying is good for him. Cathartic. Necessary. I'll still be there. I'll still be with him, reassuring him, touching him if necessary, talking to him. But, I'm not going to just nurse him to sleep tonight.

Tonight will be different.
(ask me tomorrow if i chickened out...)

Shake Out Your Arms And Legs!

2007-12-13T21:53:00.000-06:00

Dylan loves to dance. She also loves Sesame Street. Here is a fun clip of her "Shaking out her arms and legs." The song is from a Sesame Street Sing-Along video. She's showing off specifically for the camera, and thus her storming for the camera after she is done so she can "see it! see it!!"

(We are at Grandma Karen's house...)
Enjoy.

Timeout, Broncos!

2007-11-25T21:31:00.001-06:00

Dylan, Noah and I went to our first Bronco basketball game of the year on Thanksgiving Eve. Jason's team played Thornwood at the Lincolnway East Thanksgiving Tournament. Grandpa Warren and Grandma Karen met us there to watch the game/help me watch the kiddos.

Most of the game was spent doling out books, snacks and toys, keeping Noah from scaling the bleachers, and keeping Dylan from jumping down the bleachers. But then, there were moments when Dylan did watch the game. And then there was this..."Timeout, broncos!" All eyes on daddy and his team. Dylan looking very concerned..."Mommy...did daddy and his team get a timeout?"

Maybe this two-year old is getting a few timeouts herself lately...?

Halloween at the beehive

2007-11-02T08:52:00.000-05:00

Halloween has come and gone. Dylan had the privilege of being a bumblebee once again. And I was lucky enough (although Noah might disagree someday) to find a honey pot (or hunny pot - as Pooh bear spells it) costume for Noah. The only thing that would have been cuter is if Jason and I would have dressed up as beekeepers (I really wanted to...just no time to make costumes...)

So here's a couple of shots from our day.

Dylan "fingerpainting" with orange vanilla pudding. Yeah, not so much painting but licking repeatedly.

Decorating Halloween cookies. Not so much spreading as licking.

The family all ready for trick-or-treating!

Daddy and Dylan finding another house with a porchlight on! Dylan can't stop staring at her candy. She would say, "Do I have SO MUCH candy!" and laugh.

Waiting patiently at a door for candy. She would usually say "trick-or-treat" at our prompting. But then would always wave after she got the candy...and say "Happy Halloween!" on her own. Oh yeah, and one time she took one candy and then reached back for more saying, "I should get one for my baby brother..." So sweet or so sly?

This is how Noah spent his first year trick-or-treating. He was pretty content considering it was bedtime.

Showing off her night's accomplishments.

Kalona, Fall Festival

2007-10-10T09:27:00.000-05:00

The last weekend in September, the kids and I visited Jason's sister and bro-in-law Mo and Dwight and their kids Michaela, Eli and Caleb in Kalona, Iowa. They had a Fall Festival that weekend, so we went twice and enjoyed the rural fun! Dylan had a blast. Here is a taste of the weekend.

Grandma Karen and Grandpa Warren have HUGE pumpkins by their farmhouse. In the foreground is Gypsy, one of Dylan's favorite friends.

Dylan holds MVP, the most mellow of the kitty cats. She's in HEAVEN! Every morning she would wake up and the first words out of her mouth were "Can I hold the kitties now?"

Dylan and Michaela rode this little train around downtown Kalona.

They had this HUGE pit of corn for the kids to play in. It was awesome! A mega sandbox of corn! Dylan could have scooped and buried for hours.

My first apple fritter. YUM.

Yes, Noah was there too. But there wasn't much for a 7.5 mo. old crawling baby who puts everything in their mouth. So, we did a lot of sitting, slinging, holding.

"I got a golden ticket..." Actually, it's a ticket for a PONY RIDE! What joy.

Look at that big girl riding a pony all by herself. Of course, it was "Again, mommy!" as soon as the ride was over. No, I didn't give in.

dialogue

2007-09-30T20:29:00.000-05:00

Inspired by my sister's post of a conversation with her daughter.

Recent dialogue between me and Dylan. I was going to teach a couple a Bradley Method of Childbirth Refresher course that night and I was telling her that I had new students. Sidenote: I just finished a couple of weeks ago my first series of classes with one couple who Dylan had the privilege of meeting.

D: Mommy, are your students broken?
H: No, they're not broken - what do you mean?
D: You had to get new students. Are the old ones broken?
H: (laughing hysterically). No honey, they're not broken...they had their baby.
D: (laughing hysterically). Can you believe it darlin'?

I guess I've made it clear that when things are broken, you have to get new ones. We obviously don't reduce, reuse, recycle enough...geeeesh...

Mourning

2007-09-08T15:08:00.000-05:00

Jason went back to school this week. Well, actually, last week for teacher days, but he had students this week. The day before he went back I spent my time mourning.

Mourning the long summer days now getting shorter.
Mourning the end of vacation season.
Mourning my husband leaving everyday at 7:15am, only to return 9, 10, or 14 hours later.
Mourning the thought of cold weather and winter coats.
Mourning the idea of doing the 2 kid thing on my own again.
Mourning the fact that I would no longer get a leisurely shower during the week.
Mourning for Jason that he didn't get enough time to "just relax" this summer.
Mourning that our kitchen floor and walls are still not finished.
Mourning that daddy won't be home to play.

Now, it's been over a week of those long days, and they happily don't really seem so long. The anticipation of the scary is always way scarier than the scary itself. And while, of course, I wish neither of us had to work, and I deeply miss Jason while he's at work, I have really enjoyed getting back into the routine that is two children at home. We are finding our groove again as a threesome and that is a familiar, jovial experience. Playdate anyone?

Summer Pics, Round 2

2007-08-19T12:40:00.000-05:00

I haven't showed you any summer pics lately, so here's a few. Note: these are from before our vacay to So. Carolina. I'll put up some from vacation soon when I get pics from other family members.

Enjoy!

Noah is trying his first bite of rice cereal! His sister wanted to do the honors...
Notice...most of it is not in his mouth...

Dylan is really getting good at holding her brother now, and he's all for it!

Spending some time at the Kalona pool when we went to Iowa to visit Jason's sister Mo's family. Dylan starts to show us what a true waterbug she is! She wanted to jump off the side of the pool into your arms the whole time!

Some auntie Mo-Mo time for Noah - he loved the zero depth pool. SO cool in those shades, man.

They had new kittens in Iowa! Dylan was attached and asked me every day if we could take one home. "Can we have one to my house, momma?" She held them gently around the belly ("not the neck!")... most of the time.

Noah is starting to crawl! He was scooting around a bit in Iowa in this picture. But So. Carolina sealed the deal. He's a crawler! Let the babyproofing begin.

Dylan is becoming quite the little girl. She just looks so old in this picture to me. She has so much curly blond hair. I could just eat her up! Well for that matter, both kids are pretty delicious these days. :)

house with a view...

2007-08-14T13:24:00.000-05:00

We currently are inhabiting a GORGEOUS beach house on Folly Beach in South Carolina - about 10 min. south of Charleston. AMAZING. We are having the time of our lives with my family and the house is perfectly set up for our needs. Each family has their own little suite with a jack and jill bath, two bedrooms (one for parents, one for kiddos), and a master suite for my parents. The main living area is a huge great room with a massive kitchen, large living space (with plasma TV...who says you don't need to watch 'So You Think You Can Dance' on vacation) and 10 seater table. We have porches spanning the backs of both stories of the house.

Now get this. The house in ON the beach. Like walk out the back door and you are in the sand dunes. It's so beautiful. We walked in on Saturday evening and looked through the back windows to the most amazing view of sand, water and peace. NATURE! It is amazing and so fun.

Our days are spent on the beach, of course. Dylan is a waterbug and is having an amazing time splashing, digging, throwing sand, jumping waves, etc. Sometimes I have to pinch myself as she runs up from the water with a bucket in hand, looking so much like a commercial for special summer family moments.

We ate at the Folly Beach Crab Shack last night and Jason and I split a big bucket of crab legs! Those of you who don't know, crab is one of my favorite foods, if not THE favorite. It was succulent, melt in your mouth delicious and I enjoyed every bite.

Noah is enjoying the vacation as well. He is army crawling around the wood floors like nobody's business. He sleeps pretty well on his stomach under a tent on the beach, and the one time I took him in the water, he just wanted to nurse the whole time, and he kept getting interrupted by the waves splashing all over him.

Now, I'm currently enjoying the A/C while the kiddos are all asleep. It's a scorcher out there, so we're taking a breather...

on the road again...

2007-08-04T20:55:00.000-05:00

We've been logging miles. This past week we put exactly 1000 miles on my mom's van as we toured a triangle of Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. We first headed to Marshfield, Wisconsin for the Rhodes family reunion. It was great fun and I (and the kids) got to meet some of Jason's other first cousins we had never met before! We did lots of swimming, eating good food, chatting, playing sports (not so much me as Jason and the other dads and kids), and just being together. It was wonderful.

From there, we headed down to Kalona, Iowa to spend three days with Mo, Dwight and the kiddos (jason's oldest sis and fam). SO FUN! They have a gorgeous new home which we fit right into. We spent some time at the Kalona pool, the Iowa City mall, and Jason worked the IMS basketball camp.

Traveling with 2 kiddos was really quite a blessing compared to what it could have been. They were amazing. Dylan was mostly occupied with music, snacks and books. Occasionally I'd try to pull out a new activity or puzzle or something, and it was quickly boring to her. Next time I'm just going to bring 100 books along (for the record, I did bring about 30 and it was not enough). Noah was awesome and slept record amounts of time, and then he would wake up and we wouldn't even know it - he'd be looking around, hanging out and just chill. He did eventually get sick of the car on each trip - crying on and off the last hour or so of each trip. But considering we were in the car a total of about 20 hours all 3 legs, it was pretty impressive.

Now, we're at home for a few days - Matt, Emily and Olivia Rittenhouse were just visiting for awhile, and Mo and the kids come to Chicagoland on Monday. We'll be out in the burbs hangin with them most of the week.

It's getting sort of depressing for me that it's august. Jason is of course home and it's AMAZING, but I'm starting to get all sad about him going back to school and that our uber-family time is drawing to a slow close. :( I need to take some deep breaths and realize we still have some time.

summer picture update

2007-07-17T20:52:00.000-05:00

It's been way too long. So, here's what we've been up to lately...enjoying the summer heat...

enjoying some beach time at the indiana ogden dunes, where good friends christy, carson and caroline recently moved. so fun on their private beach!

sharing some pringles at grandma cindy and grandpa clark's house. my sister lara's kids, anya and evan, were there for the weekend too! so fun.

anya (2.5) and new baby evan (3 months old)

ooohh, daddy's head is so fun to rub.

dylan and noah have recently become real buddies. noah CRACKS up at everything dylan does. true giggles. and dylan is always doing stuff "for my brudder" or "make my brudder laugh"

Noah is going for his first swim in grandma karen and grandpa warren's back deck - they got the kiddos a little pool! he loved it! such sweet pasty skin.

one of our summer projects was THIS! jason put together this swingset and put mulch in our shared backyard behind our condo building. here dylan and michaela (dylan's 10 year old cousin) are swinging together. Michaela came from iowa to spend 4 days with us in chitown this past weekend.

Yesterday we all (Michaela too) went to the beach that is 2 blocks from our house. It was great fun and Dylan had a BLAST! Noah slept for most of it which was a great break for us from watching 3 kids on the sand... Dylan is eating her peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the water...she crunched more than a few kernels of sand that day...

sing a song

2007-06-07T22:11:00.000-05:00

Dylan loves music and has for quite some time. She started to sing on her own a few months ago, but would only sing aloud for us while driving in the car - I guess she was embarassed, and somehow the car, sitting in the backseat not seeing my face, gave her the freedom to let loose. Now, she pretty much sings anywhere and everywhere. She is not embarassed by it, but rather is in her own little world when she sings. She likes to be acknowledged, but would be just as happy singing along for her own benefit.

Sometimes you'll hear full songs you know (most common are the ABCs or the Elmo Song). But usually it's a conglomeration of made up songs with snippits of stuff she already knows. You'll hear lots of repetition and lots of rhyming. Frequent song portions include Pop Goes the Weasel, Twinkle twinkle, Happy Birthday, Twiddle-dee-dee (from Musikgarten class), Lalala, and various other songs from her fave CD "The Best of Elmo." FYI, 5 months ago we got this CD from a friend. I was so mad I ever popped it into the car stereo...it was an instant favorite. I didn't get why - it was SO annoying. But, lo and behold, fast foward to the present and I don't actually cringe anymore when Dylan asks for "Elmo Songs!" each and every time we get into the car. And I find myself singing along more often than not...there's something oddly catchy. In fact, a week ago I was going to the store in the car by myself (hallelujah!), and I didn't even realize until I had returned home that I had listened to Elmo Songs on full blast the whole way to the store and back, singing right along...yikes.

Anyways, back to Dylan's singing. It's really quite adorable. And she usually moves her head and arms to the rhythym she's singing and get's really into it. Sometimes she does a grand finale and raises her arms and goes real high with her pitch. We clap, but usually that just starts her up again and she goes back into her music trance. When do we stop being so fancy free, not caring about our correct tune, or if someone is judging us? I don't want that to ever come. I just want to stay here, now, where music is our medicine, where songs can stop a tantrum (most of the time).

what's up with this mess?

2007-05-24T13:48:00.001-05:00

When is the next time I'll have a clean house? I've heard from others that that will be when my youngest child is 4. Somehow that gets me mentally off the hook for a few moments, but I just can't seem to cope with this messy house. There is stuff everywhere, all the time. And I hate it.

I don't care if it's justified or expected with 2 kids. I know I have excuses...I guess. So, anyone want to come over and clean my house?

splish splash

2007-05-17T20:16:00.000-05:00

We conqured our first pool event of the summer with only a few hurdles and meltdowns. We went over to our friend Megan's house. Iain, her son, is 7 weeks younger than Dylan. And Ruby, her daughter (not pictured in any of these pictures because she is also a second child, getting the shaft on photographic documentation), is only 6 weeks younger than Noah. We had a blast, truly. That's the thing about hanging out with someone who totally understands where you are in life...you don't have to worry or stress out when your son wails through your conversation and you have to pace the yard back and forth in the almost 90degree heat. You don't have to explain why your 2 year old is yelling "No!" in a very hurtful voice to you as we try to go inside for lunch. And you don't have to justify why you are exhausted, frustrated, overwhelmed, or even full of joy for these two little demanding angels in your life. She just gets it. And you can talk in fragments, lose your train of thought, and ignore your disobeying toddlers together.

It really was awesome. Dylan and Iain definitely had fun, but honestly, I think the get together was more for the moms' benefit.

this is how dylan "swam" most of the time. to her credit, it WAS pretty cold water.

really, mom...is this swimming suit from last year or WHAT?!

YAY! We finally (after about 1.5 hours) got up the courage!

this is why i like camera's that have more than 1 megapixel...

and this is how you end a swimming party when you're 2. You eat a naked lunch together!

moms day

2007-05-13T19:42:00.000-05:00

I want to share a couple of pics from mothers day...jason dropped me off at best buy and said, "go pick out a new camera!" (ours had recently bit the dust...and we needed a new one anyway, so it was sort of a blessing in disguise)

Here are a couple of my first attempts at capturing some good moments...

dylan sleeping on the way home from the 'burbs...long day...

jason and noah chillin together after we get home from the store...

cutie pie lifting his head up so good!! so big!

Plane trip from hell

2007-04-24T12:07:00.000-05:00

So, every once in awhile there is a moment when all you can do is survive. And you almost don't think you can, but somehow you do, and even in that horrid moment when you feel like nothing will ever be right again, it eventually does end. And here we are 3 days in the aftermath of our trip home from Colorado and I'm almost smiling...almost.

I took Dylan and Noah out to visit their new cousin, baby Evan, my sister's new baby, only 9 days old. I was dying to see my new nephew and I decided whatever the trip might bring, I had to do it. The trip there was a breeze and both kids behaved remarkably well for the craziness that was a flight with 2 children under the age of 2...well, actually Dylan turned 2 on the day we flew out there. And the pilot even invited her up to the cockpit and let her sit in his chair. We took a pic which I will pass along soon. But this is not why I'm writing...

I got a violent case of the stomach flu while we were out there and ended up in the ER with dehydration on Saturday morning before our return home. Semi-recovered, I decided to still go ahead and travel, as both kids seemed to be OK. WRONG. As we were ready to shut the doors and pull away from the gate, Dylan threw up. EVERYWHERE. She was terrified, bawling and I was helpless. I had Noah on my lap and was trying to catch the vomit in my hands so it wouldn't spill over onto the poor woman in the seat next to her. Her clothes were soaked and I didn't have an extra set. The flight attendants did the best they could to help, but asked me if I would be getting off the flight...Off? I don't have anywhere to go! Denver is not my home, and my sister and brother in law live an hour away with 2 little kids, I'm sure as heck not calling them. I have to go home! So they closed the cabin doors and we took off into the sky with one very sick (naked) child and one almost psychotic mother. I won't go into the rest of the details on how many more times she threw up, or how she cried most of the trip as I tried to impersonate Zoe and Elmo characters to keep her mind off of her bellyache. Needless to say, it sucked.

We're all recovered by now and everyone is happy and healthy. I just needed to write this down so when I'm having a bad day, I can go back and read this...which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

New Pictures!

2007-03-19T20:24:00.000-05:00

Noah is trying to eat his big sister...Dylan was a trooper (we promised her a big bowl of ice cream and a lollipop...)

Look at that goofy guy. We think he's pretty cute.

One month old!

2007-03-12T20:07:00.000-05:00

Noah Quinn Rhodes is one month old today!

No cast buddy, laying on Grandma Cindy's knitted blankie.

Grandma Cindy came to help out for the day. We're buds now!

baby brother

2007-03-08T07:28:00.000-06:00

He's here! He's here. After all of our complications and the crazy journey we've been through the last 3 weeks, we're home and attempting to settle in and be normal. Noah got his cast off on Tuesday afternoon, and we hope for him to get his catheter out this tuesday. Life will be so much EASIER!

Here's a few pics from the end of the hospital and the first days at home.

Noah in the hospital making silly faces before we took him home.

Dylan with her fave new toys...sesame characters.

Dylan and Noah...first sister/brother pic at home.

Noah sleepy after the trip home from the hospital.

kiss the belly

2007-02-11T16:39:00.001-06:00

We're now at 40 weeks + 3 days. My due date was Feb. 8.

We asked Dylan if she wanted to kiss her baby brother. She did!

Finger Painting

2007-01-30T19:47:00.000-06:00

This morning Dylan and I did some fingerpainting. We always do this sans-shirt as it inevitably ends up very messy. It was all very fun times, that is until she suddenly started acting super tired. She started melting down and rubbing her eyes...with paint all over her hands. So, I took the opportunity to show her how hilarious she looked by taking her picture. She's half crying, half laughing here.

Snow Play!

2007-01-30T19:24:00.000-06:00

Two weeks ago on MLK day we had a great beautiful snowfall and Jason didn't have school. We went out as a family to play in the snow at the nearby park. It was a magical evening with the flakes coming down and the sun setting over the city. It was so WINTER.

Here's some fave pics from the night.

Jason is trying to get Dylan to touch the snow.

Jason tackles Dylan in the snow...she wasn't super amused.

More snowfall moments...

Still waiting...

2007-01-26T13:33:00.000-06:00

Dylan was 2 weeks early to the day. We went into labor at 37 weeks + 6 days and she was born on the morning I would have been 38 weeks. For this baby, that day was yesterday. And it has come and gone! For someone who has already visited labor and delivery twice during the end of this pregnancy for complications and false labor, you would have thought I'd go even earlier with this little guy. Apparently not the case. Maybe he's just already a mamma's boy and doesn't want to leave the warm comforts of the womb. Me, I sort of am ready for him to meet the world, meet his parents and meet his charming older sister. And I'm really ready to not be pregnant anymore. So, let's go little boy...we are anxious for you!

I know, every child, every pregnancy is different. I'm being told that by many moms with more than one kid. But you hear all the typicals. You hear that the second one you usually have earlier. You hear the second one is a faster labor. And I've even heard the second is usually an "easier" baby. Not to be negative, but I'm pretty sure this one will be later, longer and harder as a baby. It's just that we were sort of spoiled with Dylan. She did come conveniently early (not early enough to be scary, but early enough that we were never REALLY waiting and waiting), my labor with her was very fast, and she was a pretty "easy" baby. What are we in store for?

Anyhow, I can't wait to meet you little boy. It's really hard on my need for control to just let you come when you are ready. We could see you tonight, tomorrow or in 2 weeks! Who knows....only you and God. In the meantime, you are in my prayers.

Soon to be big sister

2007-01-07T08:07:00.000-06:00

We had a couple of false alarms on the new baby recently. Last week I started having premature labor, contractions that sped up to 2 min apart, and needless to say we had to go into the hospital (I was only 34 weeks at that point and we wanted to stop contractions if possible, NOT have the baby). We were finally (after about 6 hours at the hospital) sent home after successfully stopping contractions with a couple of shots. False alarm one.

I was then told to lay on my left side a lot, take it easy, etc. So I did for most of the week. Then we had an opportunity to do some amazing work on our condo with my sis and bro-in-law leading the way on laying tile on our fireplace, doing built-in bookshelfs, etc. It was an amazing transformation and I should post some pics soon of before and after. Anyways, all my family left by Sat. morning about 9:30am. 3 hours later, I was walking in the kitchen and thought my water broke. Turns out, the midwife said the baby probably stomped on my bladder, giving me no warning and feeling just like my water had broken. Apparently she's seen this a lot. 4 hours in the hospital to double check amniotic fluid levels and make sure it didn't break so I could go about life as normal. False alarm two.

The huge benefit to false alarm two was that we had to get another ultrasound to check fluid levels, so while they were looking I had the tech check the sex again (since they couldn't tell because of position the first time). He saw testicles!! He showed them to us and it was pretty clear...so I guess we're having a boy! It's pretty wild considering we were told 75% girl and Jason was convinced we were having a girl. I think he just wanted a boy so bad he didn't want to be dissapointed. Now he gets his male heir.

Hopefully the next hospital story will be of real labor with a real baby and is several weeks down the road. We want to at least get to January 19th, cause then I'll be 37 weeks and can do the water birth in the alternative birthing center.

Thanksgiving Weekend

2006-12-05T19:40:00.000-06:00

Jason, Dylan and I hosted Thanksgiving dinner for 16 people this year. Quite an event, and a fun one at that! We had my parents in town for 3 nights, and Jason's whole family came out from the 'burbs and even all the way from Iowa for the day itself. We had the whole traditional spread and Dylan was in heaven with her cousins and BOTH grandmas and grandpas there at once. WOW. Here are a few fave shots we savored from the weekend.

Thanksgiving Eve: Dylan watches her daddy's team, the Kenwood Broncos, from the bleachers. She is TOTALLY into the game right now. That lasted about 5 minutes, but those were awesome five minutes. Then she wanted to mainly crawl around the bleachers and get into trouble.

Michaela (Kaywah) and Dylan enjoy her Maisy flap book together after Thanksgiving dinner. Dylan still is talking about Michaela and wanting her to pick her "Up, Up!"

The Day after Thanksgiving we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo with Grandpa Clark and Grandma Cindy. Grandpa Clark takes Dylan on the carousel...a way to win her affection forever. She is OBSESSED with carousels and even cries when I stop showing her the video of this experience.

Grandma Cindy and I spot the tiger in the distance! Actually, I don't remember what they were looking at, but they look excited, don't they? We are somewhere in the zoo, enjoying ourselves. And Dylan is doing her favorite thing, touching "Hair! Hair!"

Backseat Driver

2006-11-22T10:35:00.000-06:00

I have a backseat driver on my hands. She'll keep me in line I guess, no? Background info is that Dylan lately is a climber. And I feel like I'm telling her quite frequently, "Be Careful, you don't want to get hurt." She gets the concept and will say "caywful. hurt." herself when she is climbing into a situation that she thinks is potentially dangerous. It's quite helpful in knowing when I need to give her a hand.

Anyways, I was driving this week on the highway and we were only going about 30mph. The car in front of me stopped suddenly and I had to mildly slam on the brakes. I think I might have said, "Oh!" or something like that. Dylan pipes up from the backseat..."Careful! Car! Hurt!" I was cracking up. I think I said, "Yes Dylan, mommy needs to be careful so I don't hit that car, huh? We don't want to get hurt."

Then the next day I was pulling into the midwife's office and I slightly ran over the curb. (I'm sounding like a semi-crazy driver here...promise, I'm safe) Again, I hear a little pipsqueak voice..."Careful! Car! Hurt!" Ok little girl, I get it. Sooooorrrrryyyy!

Halloween Photos

2006-11-03T20:19:00.000-06:00

happy to be sitting on the table, Dylan proudly shows off our freshly carved pumpkin

This look pretty much captured how Dylan reacted to trick-or-treating...that is, until we gave her her first ever M&Ms. Then she was running up and down the street making funny sounds.

AFTER the M&Ms...

Dylan and Caroline pose by a pumpkin after grabbing some candy for their parents...thanks girls!

Surprise Face

2006-10-29T07:15:00.000-06:00

This is Dylan's surprise face - a face she'll do if you ask her for the "Surprise face." I personally think it's a classic. And I finally got her to do it for a camera - my cameraphone...hence the quality of the picture.

Halloween bumblebee!

2006-10-27T20:32:00.000-05:00

What a good sport she was for this picture...so darling.

Distinguishable Dylan (pictures added)

2006-10-27T07:40:00.000-05:00

So my sister did this great post entitled, "All About Anya" that was great to read cause it really gave you a sense of what she is like, and the stuff you don't know when you live a thousand miles across the country from one another. So, I'm going to copy her great idea and do one about Dylan so ya'll can have a sense of what she's up to these days. Enjoy!

Foods–we are very lucky in this area. Dylan is an eater and has been for life so far. Even though she'll try anything once, she does have favorites. She loves cheese in any form. She frequently asks for cheese throughout the day, and for breakfast for the last week or so she's eaten a piece of cinnamon raisan bread with cream cheese on top every day. She will eat vegetables (especially fond of frozen peas - don't even have to heat them up - just frozen!), but LOVES fruit. She will ask for peaches, pears, oranges or MANGOES a lot. Usually I don't just have a whole stock of mangoes lying around, so I have to offer her replacement options.

Drinks–she mainly drinks water and will ask for it once in awhile. The funny thing about her saying water is it used to sound like "wawa" and that was also what Lara sounded like. Now, she can say "wawer" and somehow she's also changed Lara's name into "wawer." I guess she didn't realize she was right on that one. She won't drink plain milk, period. But I do occasionally get her to have around 1-2 oz. of chocolate milk per day, if I'm lucky. When I'm watching Caroline, she always wants to drink juice, cause Caroline will always have a juice cup for the day.

Books–Dylan loves books. That is the one thing she will do by herself - read books. Last night I made dinner and for 45 min. she sat in her room and read books to herself in the corner by her bookshelf. I kept going in there to peak on her and she literally was sitting in a SEA of books...probably about 60 or 70 books strewn around her. Her favorite books at this moment (it changes a lot) are The Witch Casts a Spell (a halloween book sung to farmer in the dell tune), If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Where's My Teddy, and It Looked Like Spilt Milk. Check them out. I tried to get her to read a book in front of the video camera, but she got really shy and was hiding her face from the camera and wouldn't blab on and on like she usually does. I'll have to sneak up on her sometime. Here are 2 photos from that sea of books experience yesterday...

Get You–This is Dylan's favorite new game in our new condo. She mainly does it with Jason, and whenever we speak of daddy throughout the day while he's at work, she almost always then asks, "Gitchu?" This game involves you chasing Dylan around the whole condo (mainly through the long hallway) saying, "I'm gonna get you! I'm gonna get you!" And she giggles and runs away as fast as she can and then eventually lets you catch her...followed by, "More! More gitchu! More gitchu!"

sitting on the front steps of our new condo building, on moving day 2 weeks ago

Ice Cream–Dylan really loves ice cream and thinks about it all the time. I've only personally given it to her maybe twice EVER, but she has had it a few times at grandma Karen's house and I know a couple times with grandma and grandpa Cindy and Clark too. She totally now associates ice cream with "grandma." The two words are basically synonymous. Whenever we speak of one, the other one is mentioned shortly after. We were reading a book where there was a picture of ice cream. I wait and let her say that word of the book usually, but yesterday instead of saying ice cream, she shouted "Grandma!" It was a hilarious exchange of words in the story, which had nothing to do with grandmas. :)

Colors–Dylan loves identifying colors. She occasionally does get them wrong, but most of the time, she is right on and it never ceases to amaze me. We'll look out the window and there will be a red car on the street below and she'll shout, "Red! Red car!" Or she'll identify your shirt, her shoes, colors of animals in books, just about anything she sees, the first thought to her is to say it's color. Then if she sees two of that thing in the same color, she'll say "two blues!"

Airplanes–If you've been around Dylan lately outdoors, especially where we live so close to Midway Airport, you'll know how much she loves finding airplanes in the sky. I swear, she can hear them, see them and shout out AIRPLANE! faster than you will ever have a chance. She can see the smallest pinpoint of a jet far far away, and we'll be looking in the sky forever just to try to say, Yes! There's an airplane! I wanted her to be an airplane for halloween, but with the move, no time to make a creative costume. So, she's another flying object, a bumblebee instead. Dylan and I are going on an airplane with my aunt Jeanie in about a week to go to Colorado and visit Lara, Steve and Anya...I'm so curious what she'll think of the experience at 18 months and since she's so obsessed with airplanes.

Well, that's good for now I guess. Thanks for reading and glimpsing what Dylan is like these days.

Where ARE you?

2006-10-16T06:50:00.000-05:00

Dylan loves hiding and finding games. And now her latest sentence is, "Where are you?" She'll say it to just about anything and it sounds a little like this pronounced, "Wherw AWyooo?" We'll say something like, let's go find daddy, and she'll then say, "Da-da, Where are you?" Or when I say, Dylan we need to find your jacket so we can go outside, she immediately goes into the finding mode and starts, "Jacket? Where are you?" My favorite though is when we see an airplane in the sky, after it leaves our view, she'll say "Bye-bye airplane. See you later." Then moments after..."Where are you airplane?"

Ring around the rosy

2006-10-04T14:54:00.000-05:00

I know all my posts are about Dylan talking, but that's her thing I guess. So, here's another. Dylan kept saying this phrase a lot that I didn't quite understand. Then it hit me one day as she tumbled to the ground as she said it....a little clearer this time..."Ashes, ashes, we all fall DOWN!" Now whenever anything falls down or she throws something down, it's at the minimum "All fall down!"

O. K.!

2006-09-18T13:56:00.000-05:00

Today I noticed how much influence I have over this little being living with us, watching our every move, and eagerly imitating us. About 2 weeks ago, Dylan started responding to "yes" questions by saying, "O.K!" Now, it's really hard to share this hilarious emphasis in writing, but just believe me. She draws it out real long and has such passion behind it without yelling. I can only call it spirited. I wondered where she got this response from, until I noticed myself responding to her wants and needs by saying, "OK! We'll play with crayons." or "OK! We'll get you some cheese." I was using this same spirited OK to her and she had began to mimic it perfectly. It still (even after 2 weeks) cracks me up every time I hear it. Immediate smiles on my face and probably a giggle or two encourage her I'm sure.

Then today at lunch (Dylan and I are spending the day in Champaign with Gma and Gpa Breeze), she was eating some delicious baked beans and she started saying, "Nummm, so Good!" Her first 3 word sentence! Then I realized, hey wait a minute, I say that all the time when I'm trying to convince her how delicious something is so she will taste it. "Dylan, YUM! It's SO good!" How cool...what else should I teach her to say?!

Caroline!

2006-09-07T11:11:00.000-05:00

Cayowhine! Cayowhine! That's what Dylan yells when Caroline goes out of the room and she can't see her. I just started babysitting yesterday for our downstairs neighbor and good friends Carson and Christy. Their daughter, Caroline just turned one and so she's 4 1/2 months younger than Dylan. They are becoming fast friends/sisters as they play together during the day WAY more than they are used to seeing another little peanut. They seem to be having a good time, and I know it's way more interesting than hanging out with boring mom all day long alone.

We were playing in Dylan's room and Caroline ran out of the room. I called out, "Caroline! Caroline, where are you?" in a playful tone. Dylan repeated me calling out pretty loud, "Cayowhine! Cayowhine!" It is hilarious and now whenever I call out her name, Dylan will repeat me, like she's the big sis helping out.

Right now they are both sleeping and it's awesome that they are doing that at the same time so I can relax for a bit. It's a lot MORE work and a lot LESS work watching two. It's less work cause they sort of play together, or at least are entertained by one another. It's more work cause you have to change 2 diapers, feed 2 mouths, keep 4 hands out of the garbage can, stop 2 little bodies from climbing up the toychest, etc. Ohhh...I hear one waking up now. The rest is over. Caroline and Dylan pics and more stories I'm sure are to come.

two word sentences and ray charles mimic

2006-09-04T13:14:00.000-05:00

Dylan recently has decided to put together two words into sentences...amazing us and showing us what a true verbal kid she is. She has said, "Hi Bear, Hi Mama, Bye-Bye Dada, I know, and me too" to name a few. Yesterday I was at the park with her and she was getting super dirty. I told her, "We're going to have to wash your hands when we get home...they're dirty!" She immediately replied "No way!" and ran away across the playground. It was so funny.

The other funny thing she's doing lately is imitating Ray Charles. She has this shy routine that she goes through when strangers are talking to her, flirting with her, waving at her, etc. She looks at them and then crinkles up her nose, closes her eyes real tight and sways her head back and forth with a little tilt in it...just like Ray! We've called it that a couple of times when she's done it, and now we can say "Do Ray Charles" and she'll do it! Oh she is so eager to please.

lots of pictures!

2006-08-31T20:28:00.000-05:00

Seriously, how adorable is that daddy/daughter combo?

I'm so long overdue for a post! So, I'm going to post a bunch of pics here to make up for lost time. (especially for you, Lara!) So, Dylan wasn't the total gem we hoped for during our roadtrip out to PA, but we still had a great time while we were there. A highlight was going to the beach - Ocean City, NJ with Matt and Emily and staying overnight at a hotel right on the Boardwalk, Ocean 7. It was so fun and something I won't forget. Dylan had an AMAZING time on the beach.

Before we went to PA, we also went to Iowa to visit J's family for a family reunion. We had an awesome time with everyone and really got to relax and enjoy the great outdoors, Iowa style.

Dylan LOVED the fountains at the Coralville, Iowa pool.

We put these on her as a joke, but she didn't want to take these goggles off! I don't know how she could see anything, but we thought it was hysterical.

This is when we realized we can't live in the city forever. She's so happy out here in the "wild!"

In between both of those trips we went to Lollapalooza, an amazing musical extravaganza in Chicago's Grant Park. We saw SO many fabulous bands and it really started to feel like pre-baby with all the time we had together as a couple. We did bring Dylan with us one afternoon and she had a fun time participating in a drum circle and just chillin in the outdoors.

She walked up and down these little mini "hills" under this tree about 60 times. So cute!

Well, that's all for now. Thanks for watching!

journey out east

2006-08-09T09:04:00.000-05:00

Now is when I ask all you mothers and fathers for your advice. Traveling with youngsters. We embark on a 12 hour car trip to Souderton, PA this afternoon (broken up nicely in half with a stop at a motel with a pool in Youngstown, OH tonight). We are visiting college friends Matt and Emily Rittenhouse for almost a week, and I am having a girls weekend thrown in there with three other girlfriends from college too. I am slightly worried about a screaming one year old in the backseat with my whole back of tricks exhausted within the first hour. I wish she was old enough that we could all listen to a family book on CD, or I could give her a fun new coloring book and crayons and she'd be thrilled, but most likely she'd suck on the crayons and then just throw them on the floor. SO...any advice for entertaining a one year old on a long car ride? Anything you have for me will be much appreciated.

Here's what I'm planning so far:
lots of snacks to pass back
books to read from the front seat
good kids CDs to sing along to
a few favorite toys that might last 30 seconds each
????? I'm drawing a blank...

Write back soon if you read this and I'll be anxiously awaiting your help.

talking baby

2006-08-08T09:38:00.000-05:00

Dylan has recently (the last few weeks) exploded with a vocabulary. It's amazing and I am constantly shocked at the words she spews out and her eagerness to try almost any word if you encourage her. I thought I'd include a short list of my favorite recent words she says (or at least has said once)...Dylan pronunciations are in parentheses

sleepy (seepee)
clock (cock)
ladybug/bug (bugga bugga)
blender (bendee)
santa (satah) - dylan on santa's lap is our desktop wallpaper on our computer
happy (hahpeee)
no-no-no-no-no - I guess we say this enough now that she points at something she's not supposed to touch and says this just like we do, with the same emphasis and everything...we need to come up with alternative ways to say no.

We also realized that she is listening to EVERYTHING we are saying. In the car, I yelled at the car in front of us, "Why are you going so SLOW?!?!" And Dylan immediately yells "SLOW!" It was hysterical and we were cracking up, which now causes her to crack up. She wants to be in on the jokes, so she always laughs when you laugh at something. Let's all take inventory of the words that come spewing out of our mouths now!