Christopher saw a picture of a super cute baby on a diaper box today and said, "Awww. It's baby Madeline."
Just thought you'd want to know. ;)
Monday, March 31, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Meet Mikey
I've been having a hard time figuring out what to write about so I thought I'd post some spotlights and thoughts I have about each of my kids. Hopefully you'll get to know them a little more.
Up first is Michael, who Christopher likes to call "Yo Mikey" sometimes.
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As you know we really struggled over his name and it really wasn't until maybe three weeks ago that I finally settled in my mind that Michael is his name. For a couple days I played around with the name Augustus--calling him Gus--to see if that might fit. I've always thought it was strange that we are supposed to figure out our children's names minutes after they are born, and in my case, while high on morphine. Naming someone feels really intimate and important, and I really like to feel like I know the person before slapping them with an identity they will carry for the rest of their life. But I hope we did right by Michael because we searched long and hard before bestowing his name upon him. In the end, I feel like he chose the name for himself. I don't know how to say it without sounding like I'm on crack, but there were many moments where I felt like he was saying to me, "my name is Michael."
Speaking of crack induced experiences, I have had a few, and I really mean just a few, spiritual moments in my life where I felt like the veil was parted for a brief time. Three of those experiences were individual visits from my kids over the span of thirteen years. I count those purely as tender mercies in my infertility journey since the visits came at times when I wasn't sure about whether or not I would be able to have children, another child, etc. But each experience involved a little insight into the character of my kids which has been fun to see unfold.
So with that intro one of the messages that Michael brought was something along the lines of "I want to join the party and I'm coming fast." And this is SO Michael. First, I got pregnant with him lightning quick. And secondly, he is just all about being part of the action. When he was first born we had to leave the bedroom door open so that he would sleep. Mind you, the bedroom door is right next to the kitchen where all the loud stuff is happening, but he would scream if the door was closed. He liked the noise. He can now sleep with the bedroom closed but he hates, hates, hates to nap. He gets upset the moment you walk him into the bedroom because he just wants to stay out with everybody else. He'll talk to anyone he can see and is constantly observing what others are doing around him.
Michael loves to laugh and giggle, and is very ticklish. He is a big fan of eating and putting any and everything in his mouth. I think we finally have a fist or thumb sucker in our family! We started him on solids two days ago and he's already into it. We can't get the spoon up to his mouth fast enough, and he complains between each bite. One sad thing though is that we found out he is really allergic to milk protein and has had some intestinal bleeding. That's been a bit hard to navigate, and I've had to give up dairy products to keep nursing him. Good thing I love him because all of my favorite foods have dairy in them. It's been a huge sacrifice for me, but he's worth it.
He's also cutting his two bottom teeth, like Madwell, and is a rolling over machine. I have to watch him every second so that he doesn't roll into a furniture corner or onto the tile. He rolls over to get to wherever he wants to go, and it just cracks me up.
Most of the time he's a pretty happy camper and has a pretty relaxed temperament, except when naps or food are involved.
I'm really glad he came to our family, and quickly too. Three kids is kinda crazy for me. I'm not sure I'm cut out for it, but man, I love them.
Up first is Michael, who Christopher likes to call "Yo Mikey" sometimes.
As you know we really struggled over his name and it really wasn't until maybe three weeks ago that I finally settled in my mind that Michael is his name. For a couple days I played around with the name Augustus--calling him Gus--to see if that might fit. I've always thought it was strange that we are supposed to figure out our children's names minutes after they are born, and in my case, while high on morphine. Naming someone feels really intimate and important, and I really like to feel like I know the person before slapping them with an identity they will carry for the rest of their life. But I hope we did right by Michael because we searched long and hard before bestowing his name upon him. In the end, I feel like he chose the name for himself. I don't know how to say it without sounding like I'm on crack, but there were many moments where I felt like he was saying to me, "my name is Michael."
Speaking of crack induced experiences, I have had a few, and I really mean just a few, spiritual moments in my life where I felt like the veil was parted for a brief time. Three of those experiences were individual visits from my kids over the span of thirteen years. I count those purely as tender mercies in my infertility journey since the visits came at times when I wasn't sure about whether or not I would be able to have children, another child, etc. But each experience involved a little insight into the character of my kids which has been fun to see unfold.
So with that intro one of the messages that Michael brought was something along the lines of "I want to join the party and I'm coming fast." And this is SO Michael. First, I got pregnant with him lightning quick. And secondly, he is just all about being part of the action. When he was first born we had to leave the bedroom door open so that he would sleep. Mind you, the bedroom door is right next to the kitchen where all the loud stuff is happening, but he would scream if the door was closed. He liked the noise. He can now sleep with the bedroom closed but he hates, hates, hates to nap. He gets upset the moment you walk him into the bedroom because he just wants to stay out with everybody else. He'll talk to anyone he can see and is constantly observing what others are doing around him.
Michael loves to laugh and giggle, and is very ticklish. He is a big fan of eating and putting any and everything in his mouth. I think we finally have a fist or thumb sucker in our family! We started him on solids two days ago and he's already into it. We can't get the spoon up to his mouth fast enough, and he complains between each bite. One sad thing though is that we found out he is really allergic to milk protein and has had some intestinal bleeding. That's been a bit hard to navigate, and I've had to give up dairy products to keep nursing him. Good thing I love him because all of my favorite foods have dairy in them. It's been a huge sacrifice for me, but he's worth it.
He's also cutting his two bottom teeth, like Madwell, and is a rolling over machine. I have to watch him every second so that he doesn't roll into a furniture corner or onto the tile. He rolls over to get to wherever he wants to go, and it just cracks me up.
Most of the time he's a pretty happy camper and has a pretty relaxed temperament, except when naps or food are involved.
I'm really glad he came to our family, and quickly too. Three kids is kinda crazy for me. I'm not sure I'm cut out for it, but man, I love them.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Pacing
Still can't figure out how to comment on people's blogs, so before I blog I would like to comment!
Christy - I love the activity! Emma said she wants to do that (although I don't think she is into baking like Christopher).
Dan- Thank you so much for posting those pictures. I love your attention to detail. You are truly talented. I showed them to Emma and she loved them. She is going through a pirate phase, so she's been dressing Madwell up as a pirate and herself as a "great Cowboy".
Jakers - You already have the El Guapo dance move down. I'd say you are well on your way.
So, back to my post...
A few months ago, Jakers and I went on a double date with our newly-married friends who do not yet have children. Going out with them reminded us of how different the pace was of our lives before we had kids. The moments when we were actually looking for things to do and hobbies to pursue have pasted, and our lives are filled with kids, work, cleaning, laundry (we relate to the picture Christy posted!). Movies, biking (Jakers) and running (me) are nice breaks from the daily grind.
I've been really thankful for running. Recently I became a "Pace Mentor" for a Women's Running Academy. That basically means that I pace and take women through various routes in Portland every Saturday and try not to get them lost. Some of the routes have really pretty scenery.
Most of the women in the academy are new to running and are training for either a 5K, 10K or half marathon. So far it's been a great experience and inspiring as I've met women who are dealing with serious challenges (such as lung cancer and hip dysplasia). It's also helped me reflect a lot on my blessings. Even with our pace being crazy busy these days, I'm sure I'll miss a lot of the things that are happening now.
Madwell finally cut two teeth a few days ago. And we just registered Emma for preschool. Kids grow so fast. Jakers was saying that there was a saying on his mission that "the days go by like months and the months go by like days". I think that's probably true about parenthood too :)
Christy - I love the activity! Emma said she wants to do that (although I don't think she is into baking like Christopher).
Dan- Thank you so much for posting those pictures. I love your attention to detail. You are truly talented. I showed them to Emma and she loved them. She is going through a pirate phase, so she's been dressing Madwell up as a pirate and herself as a "great Cowboy".
Jakers - You already have the El Guapo dance move down. I'd say you are well on your way.
So, back to my post...
A few months ago, Jakers and I went on a double date with our newly-married friends who do not yet have children. Going out with them reminded us of how different the pace was of our lives before we had kids. The moments when we were actually looking for things to do and hobbies to pursue have pasted, and our lives are filled with kids, work, cleaning, laundry (we relate to the picture Christy posted!). Movies, biking (Jakers) and running (me) are nice breaks from the daily grind.
I've been really thankful for running. Recently I became a "Pace Mentor" for a Women's Running Academy. That basically means that I pace and take women through various routes in Portland every Saturday and try not to get them lost. Some of the routes have really pretty scenery.
Most of the women in the academy are new to running and are training for either a 5K, 10K or half marathon. So far it's been a great experience and inspiring as I've met women who are dealing with serious challenges (such as lung cancer and hip dysplasia). It's also helped me reflect a lot on my blessings. Even with our pace being crazy busy these days, I'm sure I'll miss a lot of the things that are happening now.
Madwell finally cut two teeth a few days ago. And we just registered Emma for preschool. Kids grow so fast. Jakers was saying that there was a saying on his mission that "the days go by like months and the months go by like days". I think that's probably true about parenthood too :)
Friday, March 7, 2014
Christmas in March
It's still Christmas at our house primarily because Christopher and Ella read Christmas themed books nearly every day. Naturally, this means that a lot of our conversations end up revolving around gingerbread cookies, snowmen and the like. And Christopher is completely obsessed with baking; I think 90% of his sentences have something to do with baking. So when Ella had an early out day of school this week I decided to surprise them with a gingerbread baking activity.
Christopher was literally shaking with excitement as we made gingerbread cookies. Ella had loads of fun decorating the cookies. I guess I made it on the good mom list for once.
Fortunately, Michael was well-behaved enough during the chaos:
And I tried not to stare and stress over the piles of laundry that were going unfolded:
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I, too, have been trying to limit screen time more, and have found that usually means I have to be okay with having more mess to clean up which somedays feels beyond exhausting. It's worth it though, right?
The hardest part for me about having three kids is trying to keep up with all their needs, which seem never-ending to me, without becoming resentful. I feel so grateful to have these three cute kiddos but sometimes forget how to act grateful. I really dislike that about myself, and am trying to change it.
I listened to a podcast about motherhood about a year ago and really liked the direction they took with that loaded topic. One of the interviewees spoke about how she feels motherhood is a gift that many women are given because it gives us countless opportunities to practice becoming more like God. She kept saying repeatedly that motherhood is for us, not for our kids. That makes a lot of sense to me since, as Sarah said, I'm doing most of the learning and discovering. My poor kids are just the lab rats. Sorry about that, kiddos, but sometimes I make you gingerbread cookie dough and let you have at it. I hope that balances things out a bit.
Christopher was literally shaking with excitement as we made gingerbread cookies. Ella had loads of fun decorating the cookies. I guess I made it on the good mom list for once.
Fortunately, Michael was well-behaved enough during the chaos:
And I tried not to stare and stress over the piles of laundry that were going unfolded:
I, too, have been trying to limit screen time more, and have found that usually means I have to be okay with having more mess to clean up which somedays feels beyond exhausting. It's worth it though, right?
The hardest part for me about having three kids is trying to keep up with all their needs, which seem never-ending to me, without becoming resentful. I feel so grateful to have these three cute kiddos but sometimes forget how to act grateful. I really dislike that about myself, and am trying to change it.
I listened to a podcast about motherhood about a year ago and really liked the direction they took with that loaded topic. One of the interviewees spoke about how she feels motherhood is a gift that many women are given because it gives us countless opportunities to practice becoming more like God. She kept saying repeatedly that motherhood is for us, not for our kids. That makes a lot of sense to me since, as Sarah said, I'm doing most of the learning and discovering. My poor kids are just the lab rats. Sorry about that, kiddos, but sometimes I make you gingerbread cookie dough and let you have at it. I hope that balances things out a bit.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Discoveries
This morning as I fed Madwell breakfast, she seemed to discover her voice and how to imitate what I was doing.
Emma too, has discovered her mad skills as interior decorator. It seems her creativity was brought on shortly after I laid down the law on how much screen time I'm allowing each day. I'm glad she's found this for a hobby though because Jakers and I haven't invested much in decorating our house.
Often the kids aren't the only one who are making the discoveries. It's humbling, to say in the least, how much we get to learn as parents. Having an extremely assertive three-year-old, for example, is teaching me too how to assert myself in a polite way. Emma is also teaching us that we need to watch what we say around her because she will (and often does) repeat it. Does anyone know if soap in the mouth really works? Anyway, I digress. But I'm super thankful for these learning opportunities and for all the sweet moments that accompany them.
P.S. How do you post comments? I guess hitting the "Publish" comment button apparently doesn't work for me, because I commented on everyone's blogs and it's not showing.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Beginnings
If I don't start posting now, I'll never catch up to the rest of you. And I mean NEVER.
That is all I have to say for my first post. I hope you enjoyed reading it.
Here are a few paintings I recently did at work. I'll try to edit this post later, and say something profound and witty.
That is all I have to say for my first post. I hope you enjoyed reading it.
Here are a few paintings I recently did at work. I'll try to edit this post later, and say something profound and witty.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Sleepless in Utah
I yawned yesterday and Christopher asked me if I was tired. I confirmed that I was indeed tired, to which he responded, "You need more rest. Go to bed." If only it were that simple.
So if you guys are the gun-toting, food hoarding lunatics, we are the hippie minimalists. Our tiny apartment barely holds enough food for a week, and we currently are packing zero weapons. Alas, we'll be the first to go when the zombie apocalypse hits Provo. This blog will help you remember us as we truly were, and not the monsters we've become.
Introductions seem in order. We're the snow boots side of this blogging adventure and have a girl (10), and two boys (2 1/2 and 4 months). They keep it real. Keep us real. And keep us real tired. That was supposed to be poetic.
Here's a visual aid:
That's it for tonight. But we're crazy happy about this new job for Jakers, and wish we were there to celebrate with you.
P.S. Just finished watching Nebraska. We highly recommend it to you especially if watched while consuming massive amounts of cheese. BTW, we just discovered a new cheese: port salut. WOW. It's like fancy, extra creamy velveeta but like a million times better!
Good night.
So if you guys are the gun-toting, food hoarding lunatics, we are the hippie minimalists. Our tiny apartment barely holds enough food for a week, and we currently are packing zero weapons. Alas, we'll be the first to go when the zombie apocalypse hits Provo. This blog will help you remember us as we truly were, and not the monsters we've become.
Introductions seem in order. We're the snow boots side of this blogging adventure and have a girl (10), and two boys (2 1/2 and 4 months). They keep it real. Keep us real. And keep us real tired. That was supposed to be poetic.
Here's a visual aid:
That's it for tonight. But we're crazy happy about this new job for Jakers, and wish we were there to celebrate with you.
P.S. Just finished watching Nebraska. We highly recommend it to you especially if watched while consuming massive amounts of cheese. BTW, we just discovered a new cheese: port salut. WOW. It's like fancy, extra creamy velveeta but like a million times better!
Good night.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Yes, It's On...
Wow, based on that first post I sound like a gun-toting, food hoarding lunatic. Maybe they're both true though I'm not sure. My therapist and I haven't had that 'breakthrough' yet. But if I am going to be a gun-toting lunatic, I want to be like this guy.
But Sarah and I have two lovely girls and live in the Portland, OR area. We are the "Slickers" in the "Snowboots and Slickers". (Slickers meaning rain jackets [and yes it rained here all day])
On Friday I quit my job at an investments firm after working there for almost six years. It was hard to leave, but I think the new job will afford new opportunities for me in the work place and more for my kids for things like dance lessons or other such nonsense. Having two girls I never thought my life would be consumed by things like dance lessons, tea parties and pillow fights. And yet they are and I am 92% pleased as punch with it. I will say that I spend farrrrr too much time at Target. I think that Target is like the FUBU for soccer moms.
Anyway, I digress. I think this blog is asposed (supposed) to be the musings of two families and their misadventures in life, parenting and the gospel. But i've been wrong before. I promise to do my best to do my part in sharing (bordering on oversharing) the notable, funny or perhaps mundane details of our life in rainy Portland. So saddle up interwebs, for this blog shall not be stopped.
But Sarah and I have two lovely girls and live in the Portland, OR area. We are the "Slickers" in the "Snowboots and Slickers". (Slickers meaning rain jackets [and yes it rained here all day])
On Friday I quit my job at an investments firm after working there for almost six years. It was hard to leave, but I think the new job will afford new opportunities for me in the work place and more for my kids for things like dance lessons or other such nonsense. Having two girls I never thought my life would be consumed by things like dance lessons, tea parties and pillow fights. And yet they are and I am 92% pleased as punch with it. I will say that I spend farrrrr too much time at Target. I think that Target is like the FUBU for soccer moms.
Anyway, I digress. I think this blog is asposed (supposed) to be the musings of two families and their misadventures in life, parenting and the gospel. But i've been wrong before. I promise to do my best to do my part in sharing (bordering on oversharing) the notable, funny or perhaps mundane details of our life in rainy Portland. So saddle up interwebs, for this blog shall not be stopped.
So...is this thing on?
I dreamed last that we had to live in the wilderness and that it was difficult to protect our food from bears. My dream launched an emergency preparedness talk with my hubby, Jakers, on how we ought to prepare for the unknown. Besides cardio, cardio, cardio (which is handy for getting away from scary things like zombies and bears) we thought we may want to purchase a cooler and lock.
We actually have been on a kick for the last few months trying to get more food storage in place & weapons (yes, Jakers bought two guns). We stocked up on baby food, diapers and other necessities around the end of January. So we were able to rest easy when Portland (where we live) had a snow storm & we basically couldn't leave the house for about four days. Baby Madwell had enough to eat and, thanks to our DVD and board game supply, Emma had enough entertainment to not drive us crazy (well, most of the time, anyway).
It was unusual seeing so much snow in a place where we are used to so much rain and a pretty temperate climate. Made us miss the people we love so much who abide in Utah, but not the Utah snow. Looks like we are here to stay for a while though anyway. Jacob was offered a job promotion with a new company. He starts on Tuesday. We are thankful for the opportunity and prayerful that it will go well!
We actually have been on a kick for the last few months trying to get more food storage in place & weapons (yes, Jakers bought two guns). We stocked up on baby food, diapers and other necessities around the end of January. So we were able to rest easy when Portland (where we live) had a snow storm & we basically couldn't leave the house for about four days. Baby Madwell had enough to eat and, thanks to our DVD and board game supply, Emma had enough entertainment to not drive us crazy (well, most of the time, anyway).
It was unusual seeing so much snow in a place where we are used to so much rain and a pretty temperate climate. Made us miss the people we love so much who abide in Utah, but not the Utah snow. Looks like we are here to stay for a while though anyway. Jacob was offered a job promotion with a new company. He starts on Tuesday. We are thankful for the opportunity and prayerful that it will go well!
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