First Day of Kindergarten

We woke Annie up a bit early, to the smells of her favorite breakfast food . . . which today was specially called "Kindergarten-Annie Pancakes", complete with pureed fruit and whipped cream.  

Isaac enjoyed them immensely:

 She was dressed and ready to go with plenty of time to spare.  She was so excited.

 

And even more excited as we met up with her fellow Kindergarten students on our way to the bus stop.

The three of them were giggly and excited and giddy with the sheer anticipation.

 And all the older kids at the bus stop were so cute with them -- promising the girls and their Moms alike that they'd make sure these three made it to their class room when they got off the bus.  

Here's the first graders, the newbie Kindergarteners and three younger siblings who were just wanting to be a part of everything:

Waiting in line for the bus:

Bye Mom! 

 

Annie seemed to have fun.  But, since I'm pretty convinced they have all kids sign some kinda confidentiality form the first day of school (since from the beginning of Preschool Annie has come home on the first day all, "I don't remember what we did . . . it was good," and has been unable to ever tell me more beyond that) we have not gotten a ton of info out of her.  She seems to have enjoyed it.  There is a drinking fountain INSIDE THEIR SINK.  That seems to have left an impression.  It was definitely the highlight of her day.  And the bus ride.  Both bus drivers seemed to get a bit lost (getting them to school a tad late, meaning they didn't get to line up with their classes, but instead make a mad dash to catch up with their classes who were already inside . . . and then they got home about 10-15 minutes late, which was making us three 'first time Elementary school' Moms just a teeny bit nervous.  Their normal bus driver in the morning is supposed to be back soon -- and hopefully the Kindergarten bus driver bringing them home worked out all the kinks on her route today). 

Unfortunately, the rest of the day Annie was a tiny woman possessed, screaming and flailing and freaking out left and right.  We will probably avoid playing with friends tomorrow after school and have a nice movie afternoon instead, 'cause I think someone is a tad overwhelmed and tired, even if she won't admit it.  Maybe a couple someones.

Random Pictures of the Kids

This is one of those blog posts that pretty much only appeal to those who are blood related to my children (and even then, pretty much just their Dad and female relatives).  It's all just adorable pictures from the last week of the kids, doing nothing in particular!  Yay for digital cameras and no longer needing to justify wasting film on random crap!  :-)

PLAYTIME

Pictures from playing in the front room (and with 'Big Bear').  These all just include Isaac, since his sisters are social butterflies, and wouldn't be caught dead inside the house hanging with Mom during the middle of the day when there are half a dozen neighbor houses and backyards to go hang out in!

This is how Isaac likes to watch TV -- don't judge me about the TV thing, I already feel guilty enough :-)

BEDTIME

My sweet sleeping angels look so cute and innocent!  Except Annie.  Who refuses to fall asleep at night now . . . we catch her in bed with books and contraband flashlights at all hours. We sometimes confiscate multiple flashlights in a single night.  I'm convinced she has like 30 stashed under her mattress or something, but nothing keeps this kid from her books!  She so has my family's blood running through her :-)

Zoo Day

Greg's work had their annual party, and this year it was held at Hogle Zoo. From 4:30-9:00 the zoo was open to all Kennecott employees and family, complete with face painting, open concession stands for free food, and unlimited carousel and train rides.  Unfortunately, we never got near the rides, 'cause we stayed so busy and it was REALLY crowded.  But, the kids loved it.  The highlight was the dinosaurs and the dinosaur digging pit.  And the zebra face painting -- the girls LOVED that.

Checkin' out the giraffes -- you can see my baby bump (which was a tad exaggerated in this pose, but isn't entirely inaccurate.)

Isaac eating sand.  Yum.

My cute boys.

Annie in the sand, rocking her brand new Rio Tinto/Kennecott hat.

Ellie VERY enthusiastic about seeing snakes -- there was pretty much an interpretive dance of joy.

Isaac checking out turtles.

Isaac chillin' out in the misters -- 'cause it was FREAKING hot.

Greg (with his new visor) and Isaac with sand and ice cream on his face.

Man, I love this kid!

The kids as Rio Tinto employees.

The girls showing off their zebra faces -- they LOVED them.

At the end of the night, it was late, they were all getting cranky, and when they found out we'd JUST missed the last train, Ellie went into full on freak out mode and screamed the entire walk to the car.  Good times.  :-)  Overall though, it was so awesome -- I'm hoping we get to do it again next year!

Sisterly Love

Ellie to Isaac, "Baby, I love you.  I love you into small pieces."

Kindergarten, Here We Come!

Today Annie went to meet her Kindergarten teacher and see her classroom before she starts school next week.  She is so excited, but was adorably shy and cuddly while we were there.  Fortunately, after a few minutes of introductions and showing me all the papers I need to go through, the teacher was able to take Annie into the classroom for one on one testing with no objection on Annie's part.  Thirty minutes or so later, Annie reemerged and cuddled up on my lap and the teacher declared Annie's testing 'perfect'.  After checking out the Kindergarten doors and where the bus drops off, we headed home.  On the drive, I asked Annie what the test included.  "I don't know . . . I don't remember," she predictably answered.  But then she excitedly remembered, "Oh!  She asked me to count as high as I could . . . so I counted to 100!  Then I stopped, 'cause 100 is like zero all over again, and it just starts all over." 
"Wow," I said.  "What'd your teacher think about your counting?"
"I think she was impressed," Annie said with a smile. 
"Did you read for her?  Does she know you can read?" I asked.
"Oh, I didn't show her I could read!  Wow . . . she's gonna be really impressed when I start school!"
I think she's even more excited to start school now.  :-)

Overthinking

We have the travel Brain Quest books, and Annie loves for us to read her questions from them.  We're working on the First Grade books, and she's really enjoying them most of the time.  (Until she gets frustrated with a question, then she shuts down and starts answering questions crazily.)  But, because some of the questions are a bit tougher, she sometimes overthinks the easier ones and psychs herself out. 

Earlier I asked her one of the weather questions, "What is the name of what blows through the trees?" 

Annie thinks for a split second, then answers enthusiastically, "Air pollution!"

Close, but the answer we were looking for was wind . . . :-)

7 Years

Well as I have not so far hijacked this blog for my own purposes (I have been biding my time for the perfect opportunity to strike) I think that now is the time.

I just want to tell you my wonderful lovely wife that I love you Hilary, and am grateful for seven wonderful years of wedded bliss. 

I didn't know at the time that I would be getting into such a wonderful situation, but I am so happy that we have each other and the joy that we have together with our family.  You mean so much to me and I love you for everything that you do for me and for the kids.  You are wonderful, and you make my life complete. 

Thank you for everything that you do and that you are.  You make me want to be a better person, and I am so glad that I have the priveledge of being your husband.

I love you always and forever.
Greg

Sleepy Time . . .

We were driving home from the grocery store shortly before bedtime.  Ellie, who'd already proven herself super tired by falling asleep on the five minute drive to the grocery store, was starting quietly out her car window when she quietly asked, "Why is the sun going down?" 
"Well," Greg answered, "It's getting ready to go to bed.  Just like how Annie and Ellie and Isaac and Mommy and Daddy are tired and need to sleep when we get home."
"Especially Mommy and Daddy," I added.
It was quiet for a minute as Ellie thought about the tired sun getting ready to go to sleep for the night.  Then Annie suddenly adds from the backseat, all knowingly, "The moon is nocturnal." 

Each Pregnancy is Different

I've been really amazed at how different all four of my pregnancies have been.  With Annie's pregnancy, I thought I'd never feel the baby move.  And I was well past 20 weeks before I was feeling her consistently (despite an ultrasound that showed her doing several somersaults, and every appointment the doctor having a hard time finding the heartbeat 'cause she was so wiggly.)  I remember being a tad bit freaked out by a nearly one pound being inside me, moving nonstop, and me not being able to feel the vast majority of it.  I now think of those 'baby octopus living in a woman's stomach' urban legends in a whole new light.  With Ellie I remember being surprised to feel very subtle, but noticeable movement around 12-13 weeks.  Isaac was the same . . . I felt him first right around 12 weeks.  Once, at 15 weeks, he even bumped me so hard that Greg, who happened to have his hand on my stomach, even felt that kick!  (Although he did not feel another one 'til 25+ weeks.)  So, it's weirded me out, big time, that I don't feel this baby yet.  I think I've felt him/her once, maybe twice, but nothing I can for sure say was the baby.  And I'm past 16 weeks now.  I think normally I'd be pretty freaked out about this, but I've actually been pretty calm about it.  Mainly because I feel like puking so often.  Who knew there'd be a plus side to rampant nausea?  :-)  Hearing my daughters ask their Dad at dinner time last night, "Why did Mom just run out of here?  What's she doing in the bathroom?" while I'm heaving in the toilet, is actually fairly reassuring when my pregnancy doesn't feel exactly like I think it should.  :-)  And this one definitely hasn't felt like I thought it would, including, but not limited to, my morning sickness.  I've had nausea, even a little puking, with all my pregnancies.  But none that have made me feel quite as crappy as this one.  I spent a lot more time nauseous, and I've definitely thrown up more (but I'm really not complaining, it's been so mild compared to some of my friend's pregnancies!)  I don't know if it's just me getting older, me having been pregnant more recently (and still nursing), or if it's just this pregnancy -- but I've just felt sicker and weaker.  (Although I've had less fatigue, which is good!  Nobody around here lets me nap!)  :-)  But the nausea, like I said, has been oddly reassuring.  I remember getting out the maternity pants at like 9 weeks with my last two pregnancies -- this one, I was wearing all my same clothes, and besides looking a bit 'thicker' in the middle, I didn't really look pregnant (not even to myself) until this last week or so.  (I finally had Greg help me get the maternity clothes out of the garage last night.  Now I just need to wash them.  Again, I'm past 16 weeks.)  I'm not sure why my belly took so long to appear this time -- it was another thing that mildly freaked me out.  I'm blaming the 10-15 pounds I hadn't lost since Isaac's birth though -- I think it was acting like camouflage :-)  I have to admit though,  having my belly finally pop out a bit this last week has lessened any mild concern I had floating around the back of my head -- plus, I'm just looking forward to the day when I'm noticeably pregnant, and not just going to be leaving people thinking, "Wow, she's put on some weight," in my wake. 
I have an appointment this week with my midwife.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't getting super antsy about going in and hearing the heartbeat (this not feeling the baby thing is freaking me out -- I now remember what it was like in my first pregnancy, where you're thinking, "How do you expect me to believe there's an actual human being growing in there if I'm not feeling anything?!")  Plus, this appointment is the one where we make our appointment for the ultrasound.  We're all so excited around here to find out if this is a baby boy or girl, that I don't know how much longer we can wait :-)  The girls talk nonstop about 'Baby O', and there is much debate as to the gender.  Ellie keeps asking for a little sister -- she's never wavered from what she wants when her and I have talked about it.  Annie on the other hand likes to weigh the pros and cons; and while she initially felt this baby needed to be a boy, to even out the gender ratio in our home, she's since realized there are more boy cousins in the family than girls, and another little girl would even things out in the cousins-world of things.  Tough call.  :-)

Big Sister

"Hey Mom!" Annie cried enthusiastically as I came in to check on the girls in the bathtub (I was in the next room, folding clothes, listening to them play.)  "I was thinking . . . if you were sick or something, and the new baby is a girl, and you couldn't do it, I could brush Ellie's and the new baby girls hair for you!"
"Wow, thanks Annie!  You sure are helpful!"
"Yeah, but it could be kinda hard . . . " then she added kinda forcefully, "I'm only five years old, you know!"

Oh, and the other day, she brought Greg and leaf and said in a reverent tone, "It's very valuable, you know.  It's worth ten hundred eighty dollars!"  Greg commented to me, "I wish we had a tree that had that valuable of leaves . . ."

Only a Year or So Late . . .

Look what I finally scanned in and got on my computer!  Annie's dance recital pictures from May 2010! 
Marvel at my efficiency . . . and freakishly cute progeny . . .

Sign of the Times

Did I tell y'all about the time where Isaac was using sign language to try and communicate with me for about a week, and I totally missed it?  I know that sounds super unobservant, but although I occasionally sign a few things to my babies, I'm not very consistent, and he really did just looking like he was clapping (albeit kinda awkwardly), and since he's usually pretty psyched about eating food in his high chair, him enthusiastically clapping while having food shoveled in didn't strike me as that different.  One day though, it clicked, I noticed it wasn't just him 'clapping', but his little finger tips were coming together and it was like a light when on and I called out, "More!"  Got it.  He's signing 'more'.  (Fortunately, both clapping while eating and signing the word 'more' have the same effect -- I keep feeding him.  So, his sign was effective for him even if his Mom was a bit slow.)

Such a big boy now!  Who said he could grow up this fast?!

Since then, we've added just a few signs to his repertoire.  He made up his own sign for 'fan', which is just whirling his arm around in a large circle whenever he comes into a room with a ceiling fan.  (And, interestingly enough, he did the same sign when we were caught outside in a wind storm earlier.)  He also signs 'all done' or 'all gone'.   (I don't know if they're actually interchangeable signs or not, but we use the same sign to mean both things.)  We've also started signing 'food'.  With even just these few little signs though, Isaac's totally started throwing together simple sign sentences and 'conversations'.  Simple stuff, like, 'more food'.  And the other day when we were in Smith's and got cookies from the bakery.  I gave him a small piece of mine, and after finishing it, he looked up at me and signed, "more?"  I said, "Oh, sorry baby, I don't have any more."  He sadly put his head down and slowly sighed a very pathetic looking, 'all gone/done.'  Then the next day we were cuddling on my bed, when he looked up and noticed the fan wasn't going.  He stopped what he was doing, looked at me and signed 'fan', followed by, 'all gone/done'.  Indicating the fan was not on.  (A rarity given the temperature and my bedroom's tendency to heat up like Hades in here!)  Then he smiled and asked for 'more'.  So, I turned the fan on for him.  He was quite pleased.

He's also started shaking his head 'no' when he doesn't want something.  Which was sad today, when I had to take him to KidsCare to get checked out.  We got home from a fun day of boating at East Canyon Reservoir yesterday evening, only to find Isaac had a 102 degree fever.  Sigh.  My first concern was that his ear infection (which we're 9 days into treating with an antibiotic) had reared it's ugly head again, and we needed to get him on another round of antibiotics sooner than later.  So this morning I took him into KidsCare where I paid $20 to hear that fortunately, his ear infection looks a lot better.  Unfortunately, that means he has a new, nasty virus in his body causing these 102 degree fevers that keep coming back as soon as the Tylenol wears off.  And that, as the doctor put it, 'his ears are still filled with some fluid, which is a 'viral breeding ground' . . .'  So, he expects we'll be back in later this week with another full fledged ear infection.  'Cause this kid cannot catch a break.  You could tell this time though, that poor Isaac 'got' where he was.  Just over a week since his well child check up and immunizations, he screamed as soon as we were inside of the exam room (and royally freaked out while they were trying to do his pulse ox, with the little foot thing . . . since that's not something they typically do at doctor's appointments, I can't figure out if he remembered it from his hospital stay with RSV, or if it just freaked him out to have them messing with his feet.)   The poor boy was not a happy camper, and kept emphatically shaking his head 'no' when the doctors or nurses came towards him with thermometers or stethoscopes or that ear-looky thing.  (What is that called? Just a scope?)  Hopefully though, he'll be feeling better soon.  Maybe we'll even avoid that second ear infection (fingers crossed, not holding out hope though since my children seem contractually obligated to get every single ear infection humanely and situationally possible). 

I took a few videos the other day, 'cause it was one of those, 'Holy crap, he's growing up so fast, he's practically a kid now' kinda days.

Here he is participating in one of his favorite activities -- 'driving' his bus.  Then I ask him to dance . . . whenever he hears music, he happily just shakes his head from side to side.  Apparently this kid inherited my lack of rhythm and dance skills.  :-)

Not the best example of his AMAZING walking skills (since he walks everywhere now), since he trips on a ball only 2 seconds into the video . . . but you do get to hear him say 'ball'.

 

Unfortunately, he's not walking towards the camera in this video -- but I do think his adorable toddling in a perfect visual example of where the name 'toddler' comes from.  You can also hear a little of his talkativeness in this video.

This one you get to see him take exception with the manhandling he deals with on a daily basis (Annie does not understand the phrase, "Leave your brother alone!"  Despite hearing it approximately 12 million times a day.)  And then Ellie's sheer cheesiness.

That Sounds Like . . .

I've mentioned before that Isaac is a chatterbox.  I'm talking long rambly conversations that convince you that if you just understood the language he was speaking, it would clearly be complete sentences and thoughts.  Sometimes though, he says something so completely familiar looking, that it causes everyone around him to stop and stare.  I mentioned that our doctor was quite convinced she heard "What's that?" and "Thank you" from Isaac.  And when we were at a wedding reception on Saturday, Isaac kept reaching for women's necklaces and saying a word that sounded a lot like 'necklace'.  Or today when we were on crawling down the stairs (something Isaac hates -- much like Ellie, he believes he should just be carried down all stairs.)  After crawling down a few on his belly, I clapped and he triumphantly squealed, "I-di-it!"  I laughed and clapped, "You did do it!"

The one that blew Greg and I away the other day was when Isaac walked up to where Greg was sitting in the computer chair, lifted his little arms up, and almost as clearly as Ellie would say it, spouted out, "Wannasitonyalap."  Greg and I looked up at each other in shock and both said, "Did you hear that?!"

Of course, he hasn't said 'necklace' since, despite the fact I wore one all Sunday as an enticement to get him to say it again.  As far as his sentence long ramblings, I doubt we'll hear repeats of those any time soon.  It's just so interesting to hear what comes out of a mouth that never stops talking!  (I kind of imagine it to be one of those 'if a million monkeys on a million typewriters' type of things -- he's bound to hit on the right sounds some of the time when he chatters them nonstop!)  :-)

He's also taken off walking.  It went from slow, wobbly steps, to pretty confident cruising around the room in just the last day or so.  He looks so grown up walking!

McShrimp the Third?

I had these two tiny little girls.  Then along came my big ol' 8 lb. baby boy.  Who quickly doubled his birth weight in a matter of just a few months, and topped out at 95th percentile on the charts in weight, and in the 70's in height.  I'd never had a kid above 30-something percent on height before!  But Isaac, he was different.  He was big.  Then, as is often the case with breastfed babies, he stalled out, and his chart has a downward curve.  And at a year old, he's ALMOST 21 lbs. at 19 percent on weight, and just over 29 inches, at 29 percent on height.  The only thing that kept growing was his head :-)  That was at 93rd this time, up from 91 percent at 9 months.  :-)  My boy has slimmed down quite a bit, and he went from 60th percent in height to 29% in less than three months.  My kids are just shrimpy, I guess . . . even when they psych you out for awhile with huge numbers and rapid gains.  He seems to be settling in to where he fits at in the curve, which happens to be smaller than we'd expected.  (Even with all the non-stop, from morning 'til night, eating!) 

Fortunately, we have a pediatrician who isn't hung up on numbers.  Instead, she takes in the whole picture, seeing this active little boy who's happily pointing out everything in the office, and asking, "Mo?"  (Which means, "What is that, Mom?")  At one point he said something that sounded to me like, "Ah at?"  To which the doctor exclaimed happily, "I think he's asking 'What's that?' . . . he's a genius!  He's going to be talking in sentences before you know it!")  She was thrilled at all his pointing and clapping and verbalizing . . . she oohed and ahhhed over his motor skills (both fine and gross) and made me feel like an awesome Mom to an obvious genius child, and didn't even make me feel bad about the double ear infections Isaac was sporting that I didn't know about.  She gushed, and was a tad sad, about his good looks that are reshaping his face from that of a baby to a toddler.  She teased me about my children's GINORMOUS heads, but assured me he looks completely normal and proportionate :-)  Even pointing out what Greg and I had already noticed, that our kids' head size is mainly from the forehead to the back of their heads (i.e., they have deep, not wide heads.)  I like having a pediatrician who acts like a gushing Aunt.  And though I'm sure she's like this with all the kids, she always makes me feel like my kids truly are exceptional.  Which, of course, they are.  :-)

The one dark spot on the day was, of course, those pesky ear infections.  I tried to treat the last ones holistically, which blew up in our faces, and we ended up with an ear infection that resisted TWO whole rounds of antibiotics, and took a third round to knock it out.  I'm a little nervous to see what this one holds for us . . .

Fourth of July

We celebrated Independence Day all day long!  First, it was off to the Gateway, to run through the fountains with my siblings and parents.  Then to the Clark Planetarium to watch a movie and eat more popcorn than any of us needed to eat.  Then to Sampan's to eat lunch with my grandparents and family.  Not that the kids (or Greg and I) were hungry after all the popcorn!  Then we headed out to meet up with Greg's family, where we had a BBQ and hung out and played for the next several hours.  The girls drew with sidewalk chalk while Daddy fixed Aunt Andrea's brakes, and Isaac whined he didn't get to play with Dad's tools.  As it was getting closer to nightfall, we headed over to Murray Park, to meet up with my family to watch the fireworks.  The kids did so great all day -- there were a few meltdowns, but amazingly all three functioned on a lack of sleep with surprising ease.  They all enjoyed the firework show, almost as much as the glow sticks Uncle David brought!

The girls played in the fountains until they were too cold to play anymore!

After the water fountains, we changed the girls into cute, matching Fourth of July dresses -- which I never got a good picture of them in!  The bottom corner picture was one of everyone's favorites of Ellie mid-meltdown.  Fortunately such meltdowns were miraculously few and far between.

Annie showing off a mouth full of Circus Animal Cookies, Ellie being sad, then happy (about three seconds apart), and my Mom pouting 'cause she had the trail mix taken away after being caught (again) fishing out the M&Ms.  Bad Grandma!  :-)

The glow sticks were a hit!  A very excited David and Ellie -- I don't know if there were two people there more excited about the fireworks (and glow sticks!) than these two!  Grandma and Annie showing off their glow stick jewelry.  On the bottom, it's the family (Grandma, Star, Annie, Talina, Ellie, Isaac and David) 'chained down' by a glow stick creation of their own making.

Dang, Isaac could not be any cuter, right?!  Then Grandma showing Annie something.  I don't know what, I was taking pictures, not listening to conversations.  Greg and Isaac getting into the glow stick action.  Star showing off her mad juggling skills :-)

These are my favorites.  These are all of Isaac watching fireworks for the very first time.  Last year, at this time, we watched fireworks at the same location while I was overdue, anxiously awaiting this one's arrival.  This year I have this near-toddler who sat there fascinated by the loud sounds and bright lights, and who would whisper, "Boo, boo" with me as I'd exclaim, "Boom!  Boom!" when the fireworks went off.  He only made it half way through the show though -- then he had his own personal glow stick rave, where he frantically and happily waved glow sticks around, smacking whomever was in his way.  Even fireworks can't compare with that.

Look Who's One!

Wow.  My baby boy turned one today.  I can't even think of what to say beyond that, 'cause it's still sinking in. 
I could not love this little kid any more than I do.  He's growing up right before my eyes, and I'm constantly amazed at what he's doing, learning and how well he navigates the world around him.  I can't imagine my life without this little boy -- and I get a bit emotional at the thought of my baby only being the baby in the family for another six months . . . 

I love you Bugaboo!

Happy Birthday!

Isaac was pretty taken with his GIGANTIC (53 inch) teddy bear that Grandma Karine surprised him with today!

Isaac opening his first wrapped gift (and yes, I know the wrapping paper says 'Noel' . . . my Dad mocked me mercilessly . . . have I mentioned I feel like throwing up the vast majority of the day?  I'm not exactly bringing my 'A' game this year on the birthday party front!  I've had a few people ask me when his birthday party will be . . . to which I respond with a 'deer in the headlights look and an, "awww, man!"  I knew I forgot something this year!)  He ripped that one piece of paper, then we let his sister's rip everything else open, since he had about zero interest.  Then on the bottom, Ellie fell asleep at the dinner table, sitting straight up in her chair.  She was so tired (and grumpy!) today while Isaac was opening gifts!  And lastly, before she melted down and fell asleep, here's Ellie giving Bear a piggy back ride.  Isaac loves the bear -- his sisters love it approximately ONE TRILLION times more.  They've never been so excited about a toy they didn't actually receive!

Isaac's First '1st Birthday Party'

We had a bit of a birthday party for Isaac for his first birthday this weekend (since several family members would be out of town on his actual birthday -- which is tomorrow.)  It took him a minute to warm up to his chocolate cupcake, but then he really dug in.  He also got a new toy Elmo he was quite excited about.  He also thought that Grandma Ruth's front room was the bestest place ever to walk, and he was taking 5 and 6 steps and more every single time he'd stand up. He's getting so big!

We also were happy to spend some more time with Aunt Andrea before she moves away later this week!  Got lots of fun pictures with her and the kids . . .

My In-Laws are the Luckiest People in the World . . .

'Cause they have six of the most ADORABLE grandchildren on earth!

Nathan, Annie holding Isaac, Ellie (happy in this picture, 'cause Grandpa said he'd give her ice cream if she stopped crying (see first picture where she's screaming like a banshee)), and Ian being held by Connor.

(And I don't think I'd really ever noticed this before -- but all of my children have remarkably similar eyes -- look at all those under-eye circles!)  :-)

Cleanliness

Just finishing dinner, Ellie headed for the toys.  "Wait," I cautioned, "you need to go wash your hands first!"
Ellie stomped her little foot, then whined a retort, "But, I already licked 'em!"

Scanned Pictures

I have a few pictures that I needed to scan in . . . the first two are Annie's t-ball pictures from this year. 

(Annie's the second kid from the left on the top row).

 Then on Saturday we went to our local hospital's "Health Fair".  The kids had so much fun, bandaging teddy bears, seeing fire trucks, eating slushies in recovery, and seeing a pseudo-Elmo (who taught me once again why the characters in Disneyland NEVER talk -- it just sounds SO wrong.  No adult male should try and mimic Elmo's voice -- it's beyond creepy).  :-)  Isaac was so excited to see Elmo, you just can't tell from this picture.

In other news, the pregnancy is going well -- I got to hear the heartbeat again last week, and I'm officially entering my second trimester.  I'm hoping to leave the horrific nausea behind . . . I have glimpses of feeling better, but we're not there yet.  The girls talk a lot about 'Baby O' and have started kissing my tummy.  A lot. 

Isaac wasn't feeling well Friday -- and a little worse Saturday and Sunday.  Just a cold,  but it's thrown off his sleep again.  Unfortunately, Greg, Annie, Ellie and I all woke up with it today.  The girls are whiny, moody, sulking, snot-factories, and Greg and I are congested, overly tired, grumpy parents.  It's summer, right?  What's up with everyone I've been talking to being sick?! 

Almost a Year Old . . .

With him being a little over a week away from being a year old, I thought I'd throw together a bit of an update about Isaac:

Three teeth are in . . . one more fighting its way through.  Still pretty grumpy and pissed about this.

Taking steps.  All over the place.  Up to 6 or 7 at a time.  Never walking to Mom or Dad, but he will walk for the vacuum cleaner or to his toy bus. 

Talking.  The boy is a chatter box -- he babbles whole paragraphs.  The vast majority unrecognizable.  Although, occasionally he nails a word so right-on it's amazing (like while counting in the tub this morning with his sisters, Annie said the word 'seven' and Isaac mimicked it so perfectly you would've thought the kid was counting along.  I don't imagine he'll say 'seven' again anytime soon though.)

He still loves patty cake and Elmo.  The two together is about as good as it gets. 

Sharing.  He's CONSTANTLY handing us soggy cheerios or goopy puffs to eat.  We have to palm it, pretend to throw it in our mouths and he squeals and claps.  It's disgusting and adorable. 

Loves going down his slide -- this freaks me out a little.  He only gets the 'feet first' position down about half the time.

He's obsessed with trying to get up the stairs.  He loves going up them.  Gets really, really angry whenever I try to show him how to turn backwards and go down the stairs. 

He wakes up around 6AM or so every morning.  This is not my favorite thing.  But he goes to bed at 7:30 every night, and that I do like.

Told You He Liked Elmo . . .

Now that his sisters know that "Ehmo" is Isaac's new favorite word, they found him their old Elmo toys from the basement . . . and this is what Isaac looked like in bed tonight when I went in to check on him . . .

Furry Red Milestone

So, it's official.  Isaac has a first word.  I always find this such a tough thing -- pegging milestones.  Like when does a baby start to crawl?  The first time they make forward progress while up on hands and knees?  When they get the hang of it?  When they can get around purposefully?  'Cause with my kids, those things sometimes span WEEKS.  What about walking?  Isaac's taken one or two steps here and there, but is nowhere near walking on his own.  But, his very first step was probably close to a month ago.


And first words.  Don't get me started on first words :-)  I'm kinda hard on my kids on this milestone -- I don't count it 'til the word is fairly clear, other people would recognize it, and it's consistent.  Isaac's been saying "Mama" and reaching for me for months.  But he also says "Mama" when he wants a toy, some food, comfort, attention, etc.  He's looked across the room, caught his Dad's eye, and yelled out, "Da!"  But, he only really did that once and "Da da da" is babbled dozens of times a day to his toys, sisters and push toy.  One time we were throwing the ball around, and he chased after it, got it and thrust it into the air with a triumphant "BA!"  But hasn't referred to a ball as a 'ba' since.  He babbles constantly, and he often responds with sounds that sound like the words you'd expect to hear from him.  ("Thank you" is a big one, we've had three seperate times where people have responded "You're welcome" to Isaac after handling him something and then him responding with a happy babbling that sounds strangely like 'thank you.')  But, I've still been waiting for a consistent first word to put in the baby book.  And I think we have it.  The other day, Greg and I took Isaac shopping for new pajamas.  Isaac saw a red pair of Elmo pajamas and shouted, "Ehmo."  Coincidence?  Maybe.  But then this morning, Ellie was watching Elmo's World, and a happy Isaac threw his hands together, bounced around, kicking his legs, and said, "Ehmo!" three seperate times.  Annie looked up, surprised, and squealed, "Mom!  He said Elmo!"

So, his first word is Elmo.

Which made me happy.  My little boy has a consistent first word.  And I find it mildly embarrassing.  :-)  I feel a strong need to explain . . . he doesn't 'watch' television!  He's not even a year old, I don't sit him in front of the TV. He occasionally catches approximately 30-90 seconds of 'Elmo's World' when Ellie's watching it at 6:40 in the morning (since they're both up and I'm trying to nurse him and keep Ellie entertained at the same time).  We point out Elmo on shirts, in books and on TV, 'cause Isaac's always like the red furry monster, and his sister Ellie is a big fan.  But I never imagined it'd be his first word.  It was pretty freaking adorable though.  But don't judge me that my kid's first word was a television character :-)  I'm already a bit self conscious about it in the first place.  I'm sure 'Mama' will become a staple word around here sooner or later . . . :-)

Well Child Checkups (a month late)

We've been a bit busy lately, so we just got around to getting the girls in for their annual check ups.  Annie got to do an eye check and everything for Kindergarten, and she got her blood pressure taken.   Ellie didn't.  She was pretty miffed about it.  Ellie helped Annie cheat on the eye exam though, by yelling out one of the shapes (on the second to bottom row) that Annie couldn't quite make out.   Looks like Ellie's vision is in good shape too.  :-)   I had to drag her down the hall another several feet to prevent her from further throwing off the results.

Everything looks good healthwise with both kids.  The doctor suggested never ever mentioning potty training to Ellie (the most stubborn child ever) and just wait for the day she comes walking out of the bathroom in underwear.  She took Ellie aside and told her she's a big girl now, and nobody can tell her when or where to go to the bathroom, that only she can decide that.  BUT, that preschool was starting soon and reminded Ellie she can't go to preschool in diapers.  Please, don't let this backfire.  :-) 

Turns out we were a bit premature taking Ellie on the Matterhorn, since she measure at 34.5" (1/2" shorter than the height requirement at Disneyland), but this is up to  4% on the charts!  (She was 2% last year).  As far as weight goes, she's actually put on 3 lbs. in the last several months and finally cracked 29 lbs (fully dressed, but still.)  This actually put her up to a whole 33% on the charts.  Of course, this all meant that her BMI went up.  According to those oh-so-accurate charts, she's amazingly overweight and borderline obese.  I would've never guessed Ellie was so grossly overweight, what with the fact she's three years old and we can't find any 24 month old pants that'll stay up on her diapered butt.  I keep worrying that when we do get her in underwear, we'll have to put her back in 18 months shorts or just put her in dresses all the time :-)  The doctor laughed when she saw the charts and said Ellie's the furthest thing she's seen from overweight, and commented on her amazingly muscular build for a girl so small -- she guessed it had something to do with the fact Ellie had not stopped RUNNING FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROOM TO THE OTHER for the whole 20 minutes we'd been in there.  Annie also checked out great -- a bit taller on the charts than she's been before, up to 21% (from 13% last year) and her weight stayed about the same around the 65th percentile.  Annie was also tested on her ability to hop on one foot, write her name, drawing a picture of a person, and Annie threw in reading the "Medical Office Building" sign, just to show off.  My children were passed off as talented, adorable and healthy.  And nobody had to get shots.

We're done for another year.

Ellie

This morning there were about 20 stupid magnets on the floor in front of the refrigerator.  I'd stepped on a couple, and frustrated I called out to Ellie, "Can you come in and pick these up while Mom cleans up breakfast?" 
"No . . ." Ellie calls out from the other room.
Greg, who was on his way out the door for a meeting, told Ellie, "Ellie, go pick up the magnets or go sit in time out for three minutes."
Ellie groaned, sighed, and rolled her eyes, then angrily shuffled over to the base of the fridge, plopped herself down and started picking them up.  I left the room to put something away, when about 20 seconds later I hear a voice call out, "MOM?  Can I just go sit in time out . . . "

Creative People

I had been talking with someone recently about how Ellie's middle name, Sophia, comes from a great-great-some-number-of-great's grandmother.  Curiosity got the best of me tonight, and I pulled out the family history album.

Turns out that Sophia is Ellie's great-great-great-great-great-grandmother.  Sophia Kellogg was born in 1828, and would go on to give birth to Irinda, who had Jennie, who had Helen, who had Kay, who was my Mom's Mom.  Then my Mom obviously went on to have me and then Ellie's the latest in the line.  So, I figured it out, just how many greats were in the picture.

But then, as always when I pull out the family album, I can't help but become engrossed in the names and people who came before me.  I love some of the names I've come across.  When my Grandma Kay was born, she had two cousins born at around the same time, who were named Ray and Fay.  I've been harrassing my sister Talina ever since . . . our babies will be three months apart, what names can we rhyme?!  :-)

There were the twins Elbert and Wilbert, who pose in a picture with their nephews, Pennell and Parnell.  (Pennell being my grandfather).

The four sisters who all had 'v' in their names:  Belva, Elvira, Verona and Olive. 

Apparently the 'themes' are big in my family, as we have our A(nnie), E(llie), I(saac) vowel thing going (although it really did start out accidentally!)  So I got a few new ideas for 'O' names we could possibly use for our new baby from my family history:  Olive or Orville.  Surprisingly, Greg's not jumping at either of them.

If we opened it up to all vowels (just from within my Mom's side of the family) we could go with: Irene, Upham, Elvira, Adelia, Ella, Almer, Amasa, Amanda, Edward (there's a line of like 7 or 8 Edward's in a row in our family tree), Albert, Anderson, Anders, Ingeborg, Elizabeth, Esther, Emerson

If we left the vowel theme altogether but stuck with family names, we could pick from such awesome choices as:  Petronella, Movell, Phylinda, Cordelia, Sophronia, Spicer, Moses, Rhoda, Lucinda (who's full maiden name was Lucinda Blood), Spinda (Sophia's daughter), Lemar, Parley, Prudence, Burns, Morrel, Bethia, Gunhild, Niels, and of course, the 'V' names that weren't started with vowels, Verona or Belva.

But to this day, my favorite names ever belonged to my great-great-great grandparents on the other side of my family.  Wilmurth LaMaude married Mahonri Moriancumer (those are their first and middle names).  I am convinced that they met and fell in loved, based at least in part on the fact that they both had tremendously horrible names.  :-) 

Seriously, these people were creative -- you don't come across names like these every day! :-)   (Unless you're indexing names of pioneer stock or something, of course.) 

And people thought my daughter's names were 'unique' (Annalise and Elliana) . . . I guess it's just in my blood! :-)

Family Home Evening & Buffalo Poop

Tonight was Family Home Evening -- the kids were so excited.  (Well, Annie & Ellie -- I don't think Isaac cared much.)  Annie helped Daddy fill out the 'chart' . . . it was decided Ellie would pick the song (or as Ellie put it, "I will sing the song for you"), Annie got to say opening prayer, Daddy was doing the lesson, Mom made the dessert (and oh my goodness, can I just tell you how much we highly recommend these?!), which left Isaac in charge of the activity.  We all figured he'd want to do Patty Cake.  So, it was all decided.  We gathered our little family in a circle in the front room and asked Ellie to pick the song.  "Buffalo Poop!" she excited offered.  (In Yellowstone last year, Ellie and Uncle Cody would point out all the bison droppings and excitedly sing a song of their own making, that goes, "Buffalo poop!  Buffalo poop!  Buffalo poop, poop, poop!")  Annie helpfully offered, "Um, maybe we could sing 'Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam'?"  "Nope!  Buffalo Poop!" an enthusiastic Ellie reiterated.  "Give said the Little Stream?" I asked.  "No, Buffalo Poop!" Ellie confirmed again.  I think I hear the words, "Buffalo Poop!" no less than 20 times a day.  She even told me her diaper was so stinky the other day 'cause she ate too much Buffalo Poop.  She's a child obsessed. 

Uncle Cody would be so proud.  :-)

Patty Cakin' Baby

Isaac LOVES playing Patty Cake, and it's become a new obsession.  He also loves feeding himself.  This is when the two come together when he's overly tired, teething and grumpy.  Enjoy!

Oh, and you can kinda see this in the video, but Isaac now FINALLY has a tooth.  In came in this last week -- just in time to turn 11 months.  I think there's three others closely following, but then again, 'closely' could mean three months, just like last time . . .

Sleep Talker

Ellie's been waking up a lot at night lately.  There's nightmares of cows pouring water on her, and tigers and the occasional monster.  Tonight, it was only 9:30 or so the first time she woke up upset. 
"Mom!" she cried from her bed, still mostly asleep, "Mommy!"
"What is it?" I quietly ask as I crawl into her bed with her.
"Mom?"
"I'm here baby . . . what's wrong?"
"Something . . . " long pause as she falls mostly asleep again, then a sudden, "smells."
"Something smells?"
"Yeah."
"Um . . . what smells, Ellie?"
"Snow White . . . " long pause again as she drifts off.
"Snow White smells?"
"Yeah.  Smells like . . . " asleep again.
I sit there, wondering how long I have to wait 'til I crawl out of bed again.
The her eyes fly open, "Snow White smells like dinner."  She's out like a light again.
"Snow White smells like dinner?" I whisper.
She sleepily answers, "Yeah, like dinner."
Then she's asleep again.  For good.  (Or, until midnight or so, is my best guess.)

Weird.  :-)

(Add to the frequent night wakings due to Snow White's odor issues and water tossing cows, Isaac's also dealing with serious teething issues (and a possible ear infection, I'm thinking of taking him in again, 'cause his level of 'angry baby' is off the charts, and overly-tired-and-nauseous-first-trimester-Hilary is possibly not dealing with screaming-all-freaking-day-long-Isaac as well as she'd like to.)  He went from FINALLY sleeping through the night (well, until 5:30AM, at least, but I'll take it) to waking up every 2-3 hours all night long.  It's like they're conspiring against me.  I'm not sure to what end, 'cause they may not realize this, but it's not like their life will get suddenly super awesome or fun if Mom ends up institutionalized.  But for some reason, they're co-conspirators in the great 'sleep-deprivation-torture-campaign-against-Mom&Dad-of-2011.)