Thanksgiving and Turning 4

Photos from Thanksgiving...and Christopher's 4th birthday.

1. The men took the big kids on a hike to see the Cumberland Waterfall.
2. Christopher with his cake (and learning to put up 4 fingers instead of 3).
3. The boys as reindeer.
4. Garrett with the turkey headdress.
5. Garrett as a reindeer...didn't get a photo with the Rudolph nose, though.

*photos of Christopher's Toy Story birthday party are coming!

As Requested

Boo at the Zoo, etc

Boo at the Zoo was so much fun for Christopher this year...he was Woody and got to ride a pony. What could be more cool than that?! Garrett was our Baby Bumblebee...sing the song!

*At 4 months, Garrett is 13 lbs 7 oz and 25.2 inches. To us he seems HUGE! I suppose that's because his big brother was so small...and because Garrett has CHEEKS. Lovely, yummy cheeks.

ETA: I just checked Christopher's stats...he was one ounce larger and a half inch shorter than Garrett. What?! I was SO sure Garrett was fatter! Must be those cheeks...

2 months

At 2 months he is 10 lbs 10 oz and just over 22 inches. Getting chunky...especially in the thighs. :) We are so proud! (I doubt Christopher was even 8 lbs at this point...so skinny.)

Garrett likes to look at his toes, spend time in the swing, "talk" to Christopher, smile at Daddy (he smiles more at Daddy than anyone else), eats like a champion, and still sleeps 6-8 hours a night. He still likes to nap in the front pack and is slowly learning to like the double jogger.

*Photos: with Grandpa in Canada, at Uncle Garrett's wedding, bonding time with Christopher.

Summer Fun

Falling asleep in the jogger. Being silly at the Dublin Irish Festival. Visiting the polar bears at the Columbus Zoo. The butter sculpture, rides, and Ohio State Fair food (ice cream at the dairy barn...didn't try any chocolate covered bacon, yuck).

One Month

At one month Garrett was 9 lbs. 6 oz. and 21.5 inches...by now he's chunkier. I promise! He's a champion eater, sleeps nearly 8 hours a night, smiles, makes half-laughing sounds and adorable coo-ing sounds. He prefers to be held while awake (although the bouncy gives us a few minutes most days)...and naps in the front pack. He hates to be on his back, so long naps happen in the pack while we run errands. He's napped through many trips to the library, the Ohio State Fair, the zoo twice, and the Dublin Irish Festival. Even bagpipes can't wake him!

Christopher loves to have him ride in the double jogger with him while Daddy walks them the park.

July 4th

Garrett Scott

Baby Garrett arrived Monday morning at 5:59am. We are so very happy to have him in our family! Christopher seems to be adjusting well to the change. Enjoy the photos!

Thomas and Lindsay

Christopher loved seeing/riding Thomas. Even better? Spending 4 days with Cousin Lindsay! Failed to get photos of them on the trampoline...which is odd because they spent at least 4 hours a day on it. So glad they are such good friends!

Nothing Much

Seems I didn't blog at all in May...hmm. Sorry to the grandparents and great-grandparents that are most likely the only people who read this!

Photos from our Day Out with Thomas and Memorial Day weekend to come.

No baby yet...but no more than 3 weeks left. Waiting impatiently for this little one to arrive. And then there will be more photos than I'll know what to do with!

Happiness is...

...knowing that I won't be pregnant all summer. It's 9am and 75 degrees in the house. Time for some air conditioning? I think so!

*We've been trying VERY hard not to turn the a/c on before May...but I think until it rains we may need a little. Fans just don't cut it for this pregnant lady!

Conversation with Christopher

While brushing teeth last night...

Christopher: You're brushing your teeth?

Me: Yes, I am.

Christopher: I'm not brushing my teeth (he already had). I don't have Germans in my mouth!

*We've been talking about germs a lot lately.

29 weeks

Feeling a little out of control at this point...like everything is moving along without me and that I'm not nearly ready for this boy. And then I remember I have a couple months left. (10 weeks or so...as he's a big boy...supposedly.)

The nurse/midwife I met with last month said that now is the time for the "big" physiological changes. I'd add that the big mental changes happen at 28 weeks or so, too. I feel it. And it's much stronger than last time. It's overwhelming!

I have this insane urge to throw everything away and donate ALL the toys on the living room floor. And then I go and make a cape for Super Christopher (to wear to the superhero storytime at the library) and another in miniature for his Tigger (the next day).*

Why?! I claim temporary insanity. The kind that lasted the afternoon before the library storytime. The kind where I get this need to make something at the last minute because it will be awful if I don't. And then proceed to make said item in 1.5 hours.

So now there are more things to pick up and put away. Of course.

Just glad Christopher liked it. And that Grandma and Grandpa are visiting this afternoon/evening. That should calm things down a bit! After I clean the bathrooms...and mop the floor...and go through all the winter clothes...etc.

*Forgot my camera...

Happy Easter!

Peeps! :)
Apparently we need a tie to watch General Conference. Even if we are still in jammies!
Dying eggs...so much fun this year!
Happy Easter!

Ready

We are READY for a break. Only 3 more days, 4 more finals (Steve), one more trip to the store (out of milk), one book group meeting, and one night of Cub Scouts...and then we pack up and LEAVE town for over a week!

I doubt I have ever been this excited to get out of town! I just hope Grandma and Grandpa can handle us. We are potty training...still. And now he wants underwear...which means being super-vigilant.

A Whatever Day

It's a whatever day. The kind of day where we do whatever we want and don't care how long it takes. We need one!

Yesterday was one as well...except we ended up at the zoo with Kiffer's little friend for a couple hours. Totally not planned! Love that. Such a nice day to be there! The new lion cubs were on display with their loving mama (she is SO big, but incredibly gentle). Glad we were able to see them while the zoo was so empty. And that's the advantage of having a zoo pass...you can go in the "off season" and not feel like you're wasting money even though more than 1/2 the animals are "off exhibit" for the winter! If you want to join us next time, let me know.

Back to today: baking, sewing, watching movies, play doh, reading new library books, sewing some more, and maybe even a walk! Feeling very blessed by the sunshine today. Energizes the house a bit...may even open a couple windows. And NO laundry...unless I have to.

Surviving Cabin Fever

We're ready for warmer weather a little sunshine. The weather reports keep promising sun, but no such luck! Ugh. Still have mountains of snow left.

In the last week we have: danced like maniacs in the kitchen, played with the bean bags (from Cub Scouts...made them in blue and yellow), played with Play Doh for hours, watched Piglet's Big Movie (at least 6 times), gone to the library for more books (3 times), gone to the dollar theater to see "The Princess and the Frog" (and liked it!), and had ice cream at Graeter's just so we could have access to the indoor play place. Potty training happens every moment in between.

Still left on the list: bubbles (bought them yesterday), sidewalk chalk on the basement floor (if we are desperate), and much more potty training. Baking shamrock cookies is also on the list, but I've been avoiding that for fear we'll all get fat. Well, more fat. ;)

Cross your fingers that we can finally go to the zoo tomorrow. Praying for a warmer day so we can see the manatees...because a certain little boy is going to go nuts if we don't see them soon!

Only 2.5 weeks until spring break!

Losing My Mind

How do you keep a 3-year-old boy dressed?! I am going to lose my mind if I find him naked one more time...argh.

Usually happens at night when we think he is asleep...he strips and then knocks on his door to let us know he needs to use the potty. And last night Steve went to check on him (can't remember why) and he was totally naked...2+ hours after bedtime.

I just found him naked on the living room floor eating his snack. AHH! It might not be so bad if he were totally potty trained. We're working on it. Just thankful we haven't had any accidents during these streaking sessions!

Geez. Between the stripping, refusal to poop in the potty every time (3 times in the last 6 days), and the talking for 1+ hour(s) after he's in bed...I think I may go insane.

Any ideas?

*Really glad we got that carpet cleaner for Christmas...I have a feeling we're going to need it.

Official Snow Day

Ohio State is CLOSED. HURRAY!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Steve wanted to make fake wings and turn Christopher into Cupid...but we ran out of time. A photo of our delicious cookies will have to do! Enjoy.

*They are now pink with red sugar sprinkles...too good to last. ;)

"Go get a sister for me?"

How about a brother instead?

I could cry. I am SO HAPPY! Not that I wasn't dying to add ruffles and pink things to our house, but I couldn't be happier to be having another boy. Ruffles will have to wait. Bring on the elephants and manly plaids! ;)

Baby Garrett will join us sometime at the end of June (22-26) or so. He is measuring a bit big...like 4 oz. bigger than the average 20 week fetus. So, he may actually come on time!

Unfortunately he spent the whole ultrasound burrowing his cute little face into my back, so the photos are awful! We do have a decent one of his feet, his spine (quite cool, actually) and his *ahem* boy parts.

Will share (some of) those soon...just need to get them scanned in and cleaned up a bit (b&w grainy photos don't scan too well).

*Note: Christopher is just as happy with a brother, of course. It's just that he has two girl cousins and ALL of his little friends (save one) have a sister. Guess it seemed natural to him!

Snowed in...sort of

Yesterday it snowed nearly 5 inches...and today we are expecting 5-6 more. At least that is what I have been told. Looks like it will be more like 2 more. Not really "snowed in"...but we are celebrating anyway!

Aside from the sledding, I have managed a couple loads of laundry, 3 sewing projects (including some pjs I think I could wear while 9 months pregnant with twins...since we are having only one, I will be extra comfy), lots of picking up of toys and books, and some super-secret Valentine's Day packages for our family members (watch for them!).

All I need to do now is get ready for the longest Sunday ever (ward council, church, baptism preview for the soon-to-be-8-year-olds, rearrangement of the ward bulletin boards). That means making sure I can find healthy and portable foods for snacks and lunch...and more snacks. 10am-4pm is a long Sunday. Did I tell you they changed the time we meet again? We now meet at 11:30am. I feel sorry for those in nursery and Primary!

Only 3 more days and 40 minutes until the big ultrasound...dying to know if this baby is a "Garrett" or not! (Still unsure of a girl's name.)

*Photos: Sledding down a teeny-tiny hill at the high school next to our complex. See the size of those flakes?! Crazy-huge.

Fresh Snow

Fresh snow at night means bunny tracks in the morning! Love that.

December 2009 and Christmas

At the zoo...to see the visiting reindeer.

Writing a letter to Santa at Macy's.
Zoo Lights with Grandma and Grandpa.
Christmas jammies!
Christmas Eve
The loot from Santa!
Watching a movie in his jammies with Uncle John.
Building a snow kangaroo with her Joey.