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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Tired Daddy!

Tonight, I started dinner- chicken, brown rice and steamed broccoli & cauliflower.  I asked Ryan to see how things were coming...was the broccoli and cauliflower going to be done the same time as the chicken?? 
Well, he said "everything was perfect!"   OK! Thanks dear!! :)

Well.... I went to check on him checking on the dinner.... this is what I found....

He was sleeping under the counter!  Ok, I get it, you are exhausted from life. 


Thank you Ryan for all you do!!  I know you are burning the candle at both ends- being a dad, husband, working, and getting your masters.  I love you, thank you.

And, yes- Ryan went to bed tonight at about 8:30.  Sound asleep... until the 5am buzzer...

A Little Story Time

JR and SJ looking at books while I was making breakfast.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Nap Time! Really??!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

Two Year Old Moments

As I sit here watching John on the little monitor while he is at speech.... they are learning animals, specifically the giraffe or as John just keeps saying neck.  haha

We drive past 3M where Ryan works almost everyday, sometimes a few times a day.  I started pointing it out to John, saying "Look John!  That is where daddy works!!  ... He drives there every morning in his truck and reads books about money all day!"   (Ok, I was simplifying things for the sake of talking to a 2 year old!) ;)  Anyways, now every time we get on to a freeway John screams, "Dada VVVERRR" (that means dad driving in his truck)  Then every hotel and high rise that remotely looks like the color of 3M's main building on 94, John screams, "Money Books!!! DAD! Money BOOKS!!!" 

John is really into the word "ME" ... Everything is ME!  
When I try to change SJ's diaper, he says "Yuck! Poop! Baby!!" Then, he tries to get in on the action, "ME!"  Umm... NO! 
He wants to zip every zipper, put on every shoe, do everything... ME!

John has been asking for Nana.  Well, Nana is in Cabo and then she is going to AZ for a few weeks.  Eeek!  It will be a while until John sees Nana.... I knew we needed to address this request that was coming often throughout the day.  So, after the potty party at the MOA, we went to the airport to see "Nana's airplane leave"  ... I know what you are thinking!  BUT- it worked perfectly.  We talked all about how Nana was going on a vacation to the ocean with Bompa and Lauren.  So, we waved bye-bye  to about 30 planes... and each one went like this... "Nana! nero-nero (that is the airplane sound he makes...) Bompa! Doggie, Woof woof- Bye-BYE!  NO! WATY WATY!!  YEEEAAAAA!  Bye Bye Nanny."  (all that means: Nanna went on an airplane with grandpa Steve, Sabo did not go with, and Nana and Bompa went on to the ocean/water. I am sure you followed that...) haha

When John is walking down the steps in our house he has decided to wants to be very independent.  We have very steep steps, so I worry he may loose his balance and could fall.  He will not go down backwards anymore, he won't let me help him, nothing.  So, I would tell him everyday, "hold on to the wall, it will help you if you get tipsy"  So now every step, every step John says, "Wall, Yeap!  Wall, YEEAP!" All while nodding his head in agreement with my request to carefully hold the wall so you don't fall. 

When we were at the mall yesterday, I was returning something at Nordstrom's  ... and it was taking a few minutes which seemed like forever at the time.  John saw a bra, and loudly said, "Boob! YUUUCK!!!!"  I wanted to die.  Then, he turned around and saw a big (yes, they were quite large) pair of undies, with his arms in the air flying he yelled, "A  BIG-A, BIIIG!"  Oh, boy-  couldn't the lady speed up this return??  I wanted to sink into the floor.  But, at the same time, I was SO excited that he was talking... LOL.

Oh, I love having a 2 year old... even though he hasn't learned to edit.... haha  John, I love you so much!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Do the *CLAP* *CLAP* Potty Dance!

This morning I woke up John woke me up at 4:40AM because he was ready to play... I was not.  I fought keeping him in bed until 6:30 and by then I realized it was a battle I was done fighting.  I was not going to get back to sleep.  By 8am I had a headache and was not too excited for the rest of the day so I decided to rally and find something to get us out of the house.  That is when I realized my Mom's group was hosting a get together at the MOA for Ralph's Potty Dance Party!  Wahoo!  I got the boys ready, packed a lunch and got together some goods I needed to return/exchange at the Mall.
We got there at 10:10am... Just in time for the 10:15 start! :)  Holly and Christin saved me a little space to dance!  The boys had a blast, it was very well organized and they sure put on a show! haha




Me and John, He really was having a great time!  I just couldn't get him to look at the camera! : /


  Stephen dancing away to the Potty Dance!







We had a blast!  Are they potty trained now?? haha, NO.

After the dance party we went and had lunch and then I did loads of returns/exchanges! I love how good it feels to get that done! :D 

Stephen was alert .... very alert until ...

His after lunch food coma set in!!! LOL 

A little tuckered out you might say....

(Thanks Holly for taking these pictures for me!! )

Stephen at 9 months

Stephen was last weighed about a 2 weeks ago, at almost 9 months he weighed 20lbs. 10oz.  and was 28 inches long.  He is wearing size 24 mo on top (shirt size) and 12-18mo for pants.

Eating:
Stephen loves to eat!! He eats 3 meals a day of table food.  I can't even pick a "favorite food" for him- he eats everything offered.  He is really good at feeding himself but also will eat from a spoon if I am going to feed him yogurt/soup/cereal etc.  So far I have not held back about what he can or can not eat other then peanuts, honey, eggs, strawberries and milk (not dairy in total, just milk.) He has shown no reactions or sensitivity to anything- YEAH!  I am still nursing him full time, and he has gotten over the biting phase for the most part. 
He has 4 teeth on top and 2 teeth on the bottom. 

His schedule:
5:30-6am: Wake up, nurse and snuggle
8:30am: Breakfast  (oatmeal, fruit, cereal, breakfast meat, toast, yogurt, etc.)
9:30am If we are in the car driving, he will take a morning nap....  Otherwise, he will just play all morning with his toys, crawl around, sing and snuggle.
10:30am: Nurse
12pm: Lunch (Deli meat, fruit, veggie, crackers, pasta, soup, beans, etc.)
1pm: Nurse him and then he takes a nap
3:30: wake up and nurse again.
5:30/6pm: Dinner  (meat, veggies and grain)
7pm: Bath time and then snuggle and nurse.
8:30 bed time!! :)

Sleeping:
Stephen sleeps in his swing at night and is pretty good about sleeping through noise and light.  He really likes to sleep with
 a blanket.  We wrap him up and then he holds onto the edge of the blanket almost white knuckled! haha
We don't let Stephen sleep with us ever, he is super mobile, and I am so tired that I need to sleep when he is.  It wouldn't be safe, even though John was still sleeping with us at this age.   I must not have been as exhausted when I only had one babe... because, now when I lay down to sleep I am instantly sleeping!

Movement:
Towards the end of February Stephen began to pull himself up on me but it quickly progressed into standing up at many things.  He is crawling everywhere!!   However, sometimes he will still do the "belly crawl" (it kind of looks like an army crawl.)  Luckily, he hasn't been interested in the steps.  He usually crawls right past them and hasn't yet given them a second thought.  (BUT, it won't be long until he is interested....) 
Stephen used to be stuck when he was sitting up.  I loved this! haha  But, now he can go from sitting to being on his stomach to crawling all in the last couple days.  If he pulls himself up to a standing position, he is stuck there.... he needs help getting down- obviously!

Stephen almost never ever cries!  He only does if he is poopy or  hungry.  Go figure!  He has an infectious laugh and dimples on both of his cheeks.  He says, "dadadada"  and  "mamamama"  and babbles and sings a ton! 

When I asked Jana about what Ryan's temperament was as a baby she once told me that Ryan was the kind of boy that would sit and play with a wooden spoon for 4 hours on the kitchen floor.  I used to think this must be an exaggeration.... Let's just say, I believe her now!! haha  And, on that note... Stephen definitely gets his temperament from Ryan! :) 

9 months.... where has time gone?!!!!!!!


I couldn't resist!  Here is Stephen with his first sucker!  He loved it- 
When we were at the MOA today, I bought John a sucker but he didn't like it.... so SJ wanted it when we got home.  I really didn't think he would like it because it was sour raspberry!   He cried when I took it away, I know... MEAN MOM. :D

Monday, March 7, 2011

Grandma's Birthday at Mad Jacks

Sara organized a lovely birthday card for my mom.  She mailed it to our out of town siblings; Ryan and Jinette in SD and Mark in St. Cloud.  Kelli signed it before she left for her cruise and last it was dropped off on our porch for John to finish the card with his art work and stickers.  Sara delivered the card to my mom with all of her kid's, grandson's and husband's signature's on it!!


John looking at the menu, hmmm.. Mac & Cheese, strawberries and french fries sound GREAT! :D

Waiting for dinner... it is hard to wait for food when you are young and hungry!  But the crayons and snacks helped.  Stephen ment businesswith his little snacks. 

John was practicing saying "happy" to my mom!  We have been working very hard on the phrase happy birthday with John... he can say happy as clear as day!!  It is really cute!  And, his Great Grandma Glennie Ann would be so proud- Happy is her favorite word.  :) 


Birthday Girl!!!  Posing with her Sundae... and then it quickly got passed off to the grandsons. 

John was not interested in the ice cream, but Stephen was in heaven! :D

SiStErS!!!! 
We look like triplets! haha  Kelli is all tan from cruising the ocean and Sara is sporting her new 'do!!  :)  Love you Sara and Kelli. <3

Outside time and Avocados!

John had a great time outside last week.  It takes him forever to trudge through the snow.  I love it!  The fresh air is crucial for John- he needs it everyday.  Lately, he has been "shoveling" the snow. 

As I was changing the laundry, John helped himself to an avocado.  Ok, I get it... you are hungry?! 
Stephen got in on the action too.