March 25, 2016; 8:21 a.m. Maybe the cutest thing all day and I didn't have my camera. I dropped the girls off for school and watched their little backpacks bounce away side by side. Be gentle girls-you're carrying my heart with you. March 17, 2016; 9:10 a.m. Taken roughly 2 minutes apart:
March 17, 2016; 1:15 a.m.
1:15 and I'm still up. Thank you C.
March 14, 2016; 9:28 p.m.
D got into the iTech program in our school district! It is a STEM program that he's been wanting for middle and high school. He starts next year as a 6th grader.
** A note about this post. D may not show much outward excitement about it but here's how it went down. We opened the email saying he'd gotten into the program but we needed to accept the invitation at the following link. We clicked on the link and before I could get a word out or have my dramatic mom-ment (ie "Are you sure this is what you want? Do you need to think about it? etc.), D had clicked the accept button and it was a done deal. **
March 9, 2016; 9:27 a.m.
There's nothing like feeling good because you're 10 minutes early only to find out you're actually 15 minutes late.
** Best comment: Mary-Ellen P. "I got to an appt right on time in Gresham this morning...unfortunately the appt was for next week. I was supposed to be in Beaverton today. So...you're not doing all that bad!" **
Tonight C picked out his fire truck/ambulance/police car pajamas to wear because fire trucks/ambulance/police cars are his favorite everything. L has the same pajamas in his size so C decided L should wear his too.
Tonight for family home evening the kids wrote get well soon cards for several people in our ward who are either sick or in the hospital. My favorite card came from K. She wrote,
" Dear Sister B,
Sorry for you being sick so often. I hope you get better soon because you can't pass on yet. Also because you are a very sweat lady. Love,
K."
Luckily, she's a very good friend of the family and really loves K. She should get a good chuckle out of the card. They say laughter is the best medicine!
A wrote a card all by herself too. I was really proud of the effort she put into writing legibly and the thought into what she wrote.
"Dear Sister J,
I hope you feel better. Our family is thinking about you and praying for you to get well. Be strong and keep the commandments. I liked coming to family home evening at the Pythian home.
Love,
A Pyatt"
And not to be left out, here's D's thoughtful contribution.
"Dear Mr. M,
Thank you for letting me visit your house on a monthly basis. I hear you haven't been feeling well. I am a so sorry and give you my blessing.
Thank you again,
D Pyatt"
They each wrote their own letter with their own words and own hands. I think it turned out pretty well. Even better, they wanted to write the letters. I was worried about time and suggested maybe we wait but they were excited to send cards to the sick members of our ward. Makes this mama heart proud!
I got to go on a field trip with D this week. We went to Biz-Town which is a culmination of an economics unit the 5th graders have been working on. They have been learning about how to be a grown-up. They had jobs, which they applied and interviewed for. They had paychecks which had to be deposited at the bank before they could to shopping. They had to run their businesses and pay their operating costs. There was a tv station and newspaper, a mayor and city attorney. I helped in the Biz-mart electronic store. There was a utility company and health clinic. There was even a branch of the humane society where kids could adopt stuffed pets. All of these businesses were run by students.
Welcome to Biz-Town!
Applying for auto insurance at Allstate. This rewarded him with a small toy car he gave to C.
Busy at work in Biz-Town.
Meeting with a CEO about ordering a sign.
D was a sign designer at International Sign Company. Only after we were home did he inform me that I could have ordered a sign for him to design!
Geez mom! I'm trying to work!
I was pretty anxious about going because it was an all day event so I'd have to leave the baby for 6 hours. It worked out just fine and I'm so glad I went. Turns out I was ridiculously proud and giddy whenever D would walk by. He just looked so handsome and professional in his suit doing his job. I tried to play it cool so I wouldn't embarrass him too much but I think I lost my coolness after the 70th picture I took. He took it well though. And seriously, I loved getting to see him be a young professional for a few hours. He loved Biz-Town too. He wants me to sign him up for summer camp so he can do it for a whole week!
We went to the airport today to pick up Rike. She was our exchange student from Germany who lived with us last year. She is on spring break for 2 weeks and was able to come visit us for her break!
C was very excited. He remembers Rike at least enough to talk about her still. In fact earlier this week I sent her this message:
Yesterday J was over playing. The boys were upstairs and C asked J if he wanted to see "My Rike". He pointed to your picture and told J, "That's my Rike. She loves me." It was so sweet!
We got to the airport just at the right time as Rike came out of customs only 10 minutes after we got there. C was excited when I said he could run to give Rike a hug and took off up the exit ramp toward Rike. It was all fine until he ran right past her. Apparently remember there's a Rike and recognizing his Rike are two different things!
Once he figured out which one was his Rike he was all over the hugs!
He hit the big 3-5. This means we've been together for nearly 14 years. He's made it through undergrad and law school. He's worked in public service fields, handyman jobs, legal intern, legal associate until finally he's a partner at his law firm!!! We've bought 2 cars and a house. He's served in nursery, Sunday school, scouts, Elder's Quorum, and now a Bishopric at church. We've introduced 5 people into the world that weren't here before.
I know he'd say it's a good life even if every part is always sunshine and roses. We love you, Roy/Daddy!
He's growing up so fast!!! He measured 27.5 inches long, 16 lbs 8 oz. He's actually below the average for his size but he doesn't look it. But he's healthy so we're happy!
We tried some solid foods in January. He wasn't ready -- judging by the fact he just looked at me and completely ignored the rice in his mouth. No spitting, gumming or swallowing. Just plain oblivion.
So we tried again this week. Success! Applesauce is good! And rice! Eating is good! We love food!
Sleeping is going well. He still sucks his front two fingers with a decided preference for his right hand. Although once he is asleep he doesn't really need his fingers for comfort.
L is a happy happy baby! He usually wakes up with a smile. This picture was taken only moments after he opened his eyes one morning.
Even though he learned to roll over months ago he hasn't really progressed passed that. But in the last few weeks he's getting more wiggly and rolling more. I'm not too worried. C was a slow baby to develop his gross motor skills but look at him now! I've no doubt L will be the same way.
L still suffers from goopy eyes. I asked the doctor about it at our 6 month visit and she basically said wait and see. So for now I continue to wipe his eyes multiple times a day and try to work out the gunk. Which of course L loves, NOT.
He's figured out use of his hands. He loves to grab anything within reach and put it in his mouth.
I still haven't cut his hair. I think about it at times because it really is so long! But it's so soft and cute. I just want to enjoy it a bit more.
I am loving having a baby. L is smiley and happy. He plays with the kids and likes to be with people. I love the way his face lights up when he sees me. He is really just delightful!!
Three years passes in the blink of an eye and the blur of a million moments. Our Crazy C-Dog, C-Diggity, Little C or self proclaimed "Doggie-Bear" is quickly moving from toddler to preschooler.
He still LOVES cars, trucks and trains. Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles are particularly fascinating -- garbage trucks too. I was observing the other day that some kids are ball kids, some kids are vehicle kids, some kids are dinosaur kids, some kids are animal kids etc. C is all vehicle. He has approximately 500 Matchbox cars that can be found in every room in the house (including bathrooms) as well as the car, van, garage, yard and even my purse.
His favorite car is this delightful pink number:
I'm not sure why. There's nothing special about it other than it is pink. He calls it his "hmmmm hmmmm hmmmm". It is really hard to type a sound. But the name of his car is a sound.
C also LOVES people. He talks to everyone! I had a technician in the house the other day who could barely get things done because C had so much to say. When my visiting teachers come over, I have to distract C or there will be no adult conversation to be had.
Some of C's favorite people are adults. He's got his nursery leader, Sue (also known as Suep), Kathryn, Stephanie, Sister Pabst, Grandma Betty, Wendy, Shellie (notice a trend here? they're all women!) He also loves the teen-aged girl next door, My 'Kena (whose real name is Makena). He does have a few peer friends: Jeffery, Gabriella, Max, Timber, Carter.
His doggie sometimes gets sad when I'm feeding baby L.
A few of his idiosyncrasies:
Perhaps it is the lingering effects from his hospital stay and multitude of doctors last spring but whenever C get even a slight bump he immediately says, "No go the hospital! No go doctor."
If I ask C if he's okay he always responds with, "No, I fine."
He doesn't have thumbs, he has thumps. He doesn't watch DVD's, he watches DBDB's.
He climbs and jumps constantly. He is a study of perpetual motion!
He loves to pray and generally says a prayer every time we pray as a family but fortunately he will allow someone else to pray after he's done. But never before! He'll interrupt prayer if he hasn't had his turn first.
He is not much for breakfast foods, preferring instead chicken nuggets with BBQ sauce for breakfast. However, when we have pancakes, he will eat them if he has ketchup to dip his pancake in. Gross!
He's the biggest helper and biggest mess maker in the house. Always wants to help but is never quite competent at the job.
He likes to sing and is currently the all time song picker for family nights. He usually picks I Am A Child of God and more recently A Child's Prayer (Heabenly Fater).
He introduces me to people as his Mommy-Bear and calls Roy Daddy-Bear or Papa-Bear.
He's an early riser, popping up sometimes as early as 5:30 a.m. but usually around 6:30 a.m. Doesn't matter when he goes done, he'll be up bright and early. No concept of weekends and sleeping in either.
Some of his favorite movies are Dumbo, Finding Nemo, Monster's Inc. (my monster show), The Polar Express, Cars 1 & 2, and any of the Despicable Me/Minion movies.
He still takes a nap during the day. He's really great about his naps. I just have to put him in bed and he goes to sleep. Sometimes I have to put him in bed twice, but not usually. Night time on the other hand is a problem. He really hates to give up and go to bed. We've tried cutting out the naps but that makes for a terror all afternoon and evening and he STILL doesn't want to go to bed. Not worth it.
Basically, Little C keeps me on my toes. He is everyone's best friend and most irritating pet. The kids all love him and he loves them back with all the love in his whole being. He brings joy and aggravation-- frequently in the same moment! We love you C-Dog!!
I am constantly stuck between two equally undesirable options while swiftly marching closer to the second option.
Friday C-dog, the C-diggity, the delightful Mr. C used the potty while I was showering. Let me be clear that I am practicing "Child-Led Potty Training". I don't know if there's already a thing of this but I'm sure there is. My practice up to a few days ago was to not potty train - ever. He'll figure it out eventually. In the mean time I have the convenience of diapers (no public accidents, no rush to the potty, no scrubbing the carpet etc.). I'll save the environment some other way because disposable diapers and I are very cozy.
Well, this child-led philosophy was great until the child decided to lead to the potty. So now I'm dealing with accidents and potty-rushing. But even better was Friday while I was showering. I thought I was safe- baby asleep in bed, toddler watching a movie. Well, not safe per se but as safe as one gets with two mini's at home. I WAS SO WRONG.
The first clue of serious trouble was when I could hear splashing... coming from outside the shower. But I was still unprepared for the scene awaiting me upon exiting my shower. Here's an expertly drawn and perfectly rendered diagram. Brown represents carpet and blue represents water. Lots of water.
You see, Thursday I had installed a new roll of toilet paper. Thursday evening C unrolled the entire roll. Friday he pottied and used the paper on the floor (nearly a full roll) to wipe. Then he flushed. I can only assume by the amount of water that he flushed and flushed and flushed and flushed and flushed and flushed and .... you get the idea.
It took 8 full sized towels to get the water up. And they were soaked! The laundry basked was a billion pounds of water and towels. Then I got to bleach the floors, clean the toilet, bathe the toddler and take a shower, again.
Saturday it was popcorn. Lots of popcorn all over the rug.
Sunday it was a pee accident and nuclear meltdown over taking a bath after falling in the toilet.
Today is a new day! Can't wait to see where it takes us!
All this to demonstrate the paradox I face every minute of every day.
This kid:
And this kid:
And this kid:
And these kids:
are all marching relentlessly to adulthood. They refuse to be swayed in their drive. And when I'm mopping toilet water up with towels, or fighting over fractions, or cleaning up crumbs (how?! why and how so many crumbs EVERYWHERE!?), or dealing with attitudes - you know the attitudes - and a million other GGGRAAAAAAHHHH things the march is too slow. I can't wait to be done with potty training and teaching kids to read and cleaning up to find everything is a mess. But I know when those things are gone so are the little faces. The little hands and feet. The small voices spouting big phrases. The hugs from arms that barely reach around my neck. The smiles from mouths with a few too many gaps. The introducing me as his mama-bear. The bedtime discussions and loves. And millions and millions of other impossible to hold on to moments.
Hurry up and get out of this stage but please stop growing up.
Paradox.
