More updating. We're getting there. :)
More on homeschooling and learning styles
Finished reading The Well Trained Mind by Jesse Wise. Amazing book. Have had a copy for so long (borrowed from my friend) but hadn't spent much time with it until now (end of May/early June) as it's so big and overwhelming. Yet one night after deciding I needed to seriously consider homeschooling, and feeling strongly led in that direction that it may be the right thing for Bekah, despite my inclination to not want to do it, I read almost the whole thing in one night (all but chapter 1 and the jr high, high school years). Didn't get much sleep, but sometimes you just really feel like God is directing you and wants you to do something even in the middle of the night. It's the only time to really meditate and be able to see the whole picture of something because there are no interruptions. Somehow I was blessed with seeing more of the big picture of elementary education and how to go about it for our situation. Reading review after review of curriculum, yet within minutes receiving inspiration just by having it feel right or not right, and at the same time having to ignore my strong inner makeup that tells me I have to research everything about everything so I can make informed decisions. Learning to trust those feelings and acknowledging that it's help I need, so I can move on and do what needs to be done. I don't think I've ever felt that much inspiration flowing through me in that short of a time frame. (And I sure do look back and remember this night when the days get hard, when I wonder why I am doing this. The scripture somewhere that says "why doubt ye? I have already given you an answer" frequently comes to my mind.)
Sometimes I wish I could feel that 'pure inspiration flowing' into me more often, it's such a wonderful feeling to really feel like you're headed on the right path and not just hoping or guessing you're near it. I wish I had more time to ponder and meditate, but it seems to always come at the expense of leaving something else undone my family or my household needs. Motherhood lately seems to comprise less of diaper changing and feeding, and more of taxi-ing, phone calls, and constant interruptions. I'm not sure I like this increased busy-ness...it's so hard to make time to enjoy. I guess that's a hidden blessing of having another child is it forces you to feed and diaper change which ends up being a wonderful break from the hectic pace of life. If you would have told me this while in the thick of it with Bekah, I would never have believed it!
Later in May...studying more about curriculum and assessing learning styles. Fun side track trying to guess what Meiers Briggs code we each are! My best guess is Bekah is ENFP, but I think that might change as she gets older (Extrovert, intuiting, feeling, perceiving). Myself, INFJ (Introvert, intuiting, feeling, judging). I'm guessing Jason is ISTJ or ISTP (Introvert, sensing, thinking, and either judging or perceiving). Easy to see how Bekah is constantly feeling like life is boring since we're both introverts and she's not! It says a good occupation for Bekah's style is journalist--totally perfect fit! She loves to watch and listen for the news and has to know what's going to everyone everywhere! She loves getting the whole story. And she loves stories that really happened. She will love studying history!
Best introductory homeschooling book I've read so far: So You're Thinking About Homeschooling by Lisa Whelchel, former Fact of Life actress. Really easy read and helps introduce about 17 possible ways to homeschool. Totally makes you feel like you can find a method that works for you.
Piano lessons and summer job
I think in all these updating posts, I think I forgot to mention that I've started teaching piano lessons. Never thought I'd be one of those moms who works two jobs and still holds it together--I always thought I didn't have it in my to do all that and it seems like what supermoms do. But it is what it is. I was surprised to discover what the going rate for lessons out here is, so it makes it profitable in a third of the time it takes to clean a house! So at the end of March I began teaching one of Bekah's friends whose mom asked if I would teach. I also started teaching Bekah as well--wondered if teaching my own child would work, but since she's aware of someone else taking lessons and is at about the same level, it keeps her motivated to learn.
I'm finding I like teaching more than I thought I would. I've taught here and there, but never to do it for a regular paycheck. And I never liked the idea of forcing kids to practice when I know if that had happened to me I never would have liked the piano so much. But at the same time, I'm finding it wonderful to remember how excited I am about music and finding ways to inspire others to find that enjoyment.
So since it's summer now (Jason is done with his semester May 1st) I go back to working 3-4 days a week cleaning houses, and now piano lessons 1 day a week. (Thus the reason for almost no blogging or keeping up with friends since then. And just wait, it only gets crazier in September!) This gives Jason a sorely needed break from teaching, allow us to have an income with a flexible schedule so we can go to Utah for 4 weeks this summer, and frees up Jason's time to finish his office and the family room in the basement (originally for more play space, but now using it for homeschool mostly). I don't mind cleaning houses when you have clients you like to clean for, but these past two summers when you get random clients it's really hard to go to work. You never know what you're going to find. It might take 3 hours, it might take 6. You might be threatened by pets or overwhelmed by mold. It's not easy work. It's hard on my body. But it's worked out to be the best job for me right now as I know my weaknesses and limitations--needing a highly flexible schedule where I can leave the work day at work and not be tempted to be a workaholic. The occasional tips are nice too. :)
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
When I got home from work and taking Jason to the doctor and getting medicine, just in time for Bekah to get home from school, we tried to do something fun and spontaneous since Bekah was having a rough day. So we donned our bathing suits and turned the hose on in the front yard, only to be attacked by mosquitoes! They are extremely bad this year! Even the long-timers say it's bad. They come out in the day now, not just at night, and since we're behind on cutting our grass and haven't sprayed yet, they love our house. Poor Bekah. In 10 minutes we had about 10 bites between us. We had to stop. So to make up for it, we let the kids play in their suits in the bathtub with water guns and spray bottles. Almost as fun! They had a blast. We should do that more often. Except then JJ slipped and hit his head. Poor James.
Jason still has bronchitis and is trying some new medicine. I took the kids out of the house so he could sleep and we found a night light for James! Both kids love it! It's this cute white bear they named Fuzzy as soon as they saw it. It's a rechargeable animal you can carry around with you that runs on LED lights from Target. James has started not sleeping through the night because he's become scared of the dark, so we're hoping this will solve the problem. It's too much for me to deal with a sick husband and a toddler who won't sleep through the night anymore and work during the day all at the same time. This one night while Jason was gone on his trip, went to bed late because of homeschool research, slept for a half hour when JJ started screaming! He took an hour to fall back asleep, then awake again at his normal 7am. This happened both Fri and Sat night. Then Sunday night when I was trying to go to bed early (albeit 11pm) JJ woke up right then screaming and he'd only calm down if I stayed in the room so I ended up falling asleep in his chair until 1am. Finally got into my bed, only be woken up by Bekah who had a bad dream. Then JJ started crying again! I don't remember what happened after that, but I ended up averaging 4 hours of sleep each night Jason was gone! Sure taught me how hard single parenting is. So I'm hoping the night light helps James.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
It worked! JJ screamed for about 2 seconds and then it was silent. He put himself back to sleep! The night light, although not cheap, was worth every penny!
Ended up going to urgent care today because a bug bite I got on my hand while running in the hose started swelling up. Put me on antibiotic and dr also decided to give me a tetanus shot since I think I was 16 for the last one. That hurt worse than my thumb! And it made me feel exhausted. (Come to think of it--it was probably my crazy last several days that actually did it!) Ended up rescheduling work for another day.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Spent an HOUR on the phone with AT&T trying to fix our internet. (Had to be after 9pm since we're out of minutes this month again--luckily their call center is open late.) I'm sensing no savings of time due to technology lately. Sometimes it's so frustrating I almost don't want new things to be invented because I don't want to have to keep up--it's too expensive, takes too much time to learn or starts new habits I didn't have to learn about before.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Bekah and I are reading a kids biography of Abigail Adams, received from her nana for her birthday. Thank you! She loves hearing historical fiction stories.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
JJ went from communicating by noise (could say drink but always preferred making slurping noises instead, knew how to say 'dog' but made 'ruff, ruff' noises intead--that kind of thing--can we say auditory learner!), to very slowly using one word here and there, to fully blasting forward into sentences! And he's using I/me/you in correct form! I'm pretty sure he doesn't realize what he's saying but he copies us a lot. He learns new words every day. He loves big characters he can go hug, like Chuck E Cheese. (He would have LOVED Cosmo!) Favorite phrases right now are "I did it", " 'mon" for come on, "They're coming" for birds (not sure why he got into that), "outside", "lawnmower" sometimes calling it "mow mow", "miwt" or "milt" for milk, and "ug" for hug.
He used to communicate with us by having us ask him a list of questions or so to try to guess what he'd want since having a hard time verbalizing it. So we'd ask things like "diaper change?" JJ: "Nooow" or shake head no or act upset. "Change clothes?" JJ same reaction. "Eat...hungry?" Same. "Blanket?" If this is what he wanted he'd start forced laughing! And that's how you'd know you got it right! It almost sounded like 1/2 crying 1/2 laughing.
He says "Tant U, Wew com" together 'thank you, welcome'--he thinks they go together. He's said "I found it!", "I see it!", "Hold you", "Tee bee" for TV, "mote" for remote, and "Hew-whoa" to mean phone or hello. When he wants Jason to get up out of the rocking chair so mom can rock him to sleep or read stories, while Jason is still holding him, James will grab Jason's shoulder, pull up, and say "Moof!"...which means "out of the chair, I'm done with you, mom's turn to sit in the chair". Hilarious!
His favorite books are A Truck Goes Rattley Bumpa by Jonathan London, "eb-ry-fin" means A Purpose for Everything or A Place for Everything, series by Larry Stewart (love these!)
Went to Chuck E Cheese this afternoon as a family. They added Guitar Hero--my new favorite game! Maybe we should get a wii...
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Favorite moments today:
--Sitting with Bekah in pew during testimony time and being able to trust her to sit alone while I take care of my calling and bear my testimony (since Jason in the hall with JJ), and her helping me set up the hymn numbers up front before church
--JJ walking into nursery, fully decked in his newsie's cap and blazer, hair slightly over his ears, sandwich bag in hand for lunch, all by himself, no crying as I left.
--Pretending we're riding a train while in the car so JJ will stop being upset about not being on a real train (we pass one on the way to/from church), saying things like "the next stop will be..." pretending to be conductors and engineers, "now arriving..."
--family game time playing "mom says" or "dad says" (like simon says). When it was Bekah's turn to choose she said "the chicken dance!" Then Jason found the music for the bunny hop and we hopped around the house and into JJ's room for bed. Totally funny memory I'll always remember, us all acting like chickens and bunnies!
--Papa pretending to be animals for JJ on the phone
--Bekah excited to play piano for me and listening and watching me play
--getting out Bekah's baby quilt and reading the secret message in the stitching
Wonderful day.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Got a bad headache on Saturday and it's still not gone. Pain at the base of my neck, stiffening my neck, throbbing in my throat, ear fullness, little bit of sinus pressure. Feels like a congestion headache but nose not stuffy. Maybe a reaction to spreading mulch on Saturday.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
What a weird day. Headache seemed better, so went to work. Bam--the headache came on hard and fast. I almost passed out from the pain and was almost crying, but I finished the house (in the fastest time ever amazingly), Jason picked me up (he had the car--good thing cause I was in too much pain to drive) and took me to urgent care. I told them it was the worst headache I'd ever had. It was. But that started a chain of events: an iv for pain meds and fluids, CAT scan and other tests, headache still there, so wanted me to go to the hospital for more tests, but since had the iv they were required to send me in an ambulance! So went to immediate care about 11:45am, waved goodbye to family thinking I'd see them in a hour, ended up at the hospital about 3-4pm, neurologist comes in at 5:30/6pm says I need to stay overnight for observation! She said it could be a sinus infection or migraine, but also could be meningitis or a small bleed because of my head injury in Jan. By the time my MRI was done it was 7:30 and JJ was really needing to get to sleep. So I never got to see my family again that day. My visiting teacher (bless her soul) brought me a bag Jason had packed, complete with Bekah's teddy bear and food to eat. So here I am with a 15in TV that's pretty far away up in the corner of the ceiling, a leaky faucet, and wall clock that ticks every 1/2 second when the second hand is from the 6 to the 2 (can you tell I was bored?), plus all the noise from the nurses station across from me with only a curtain between us. It was very difficult to sleep. But I guess no worse than being interrupted by scared kids all night--although I would have preferred that. :{ I miss my family.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
MRI results showed sinusitis. All this for just that! But how grateful I am it was only that. But didn't get released from hospital until 9pm!! The whole day was spent waiting for the neurologist to show up and look at the results. The int med dr and the ENT both said I could go about noon. At 6pm, neurologist shows up and ordered ANOTHER CT, this time with dye. By that time, I told Jason to come and bring kids hoping that would get me out of here faster, even though it was past JJ's bedtime at that point. The nurses gave the kids ice cream. What a day! At least Walgreens filled the Rx in 5 minutes! Obviously had to reschedule work for the next few days.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Substituted for organist in church today. Very humbling since I totally messed up and got all the sound buttons wrong. At least all my music callings have forced us to be early to church.
After church we watched home movies from Disneyland and JJ started calling Darth Vader "helmut". The kids were wanting dessert but we didn't have much and amazingly I had recently got some free martini glasses, I pulled those out and made yogurt parfaits with crushed cornflakes on top (since we were out of granola) and the kids loved it! Maybe a new family tradition. James thought the glasses were candles except you got to eat them.
Tonight Bekah was listing all the things she loves:
"1. Heavenly Father & Jesus the same. 2. Then my family. 3. Next is my relatives all the way until the end. 4. Then my blankies."
She's decided since Jason still has his baby blanket (used as a pillow) that she "will sleep with my blankie when I'm an adult too, since daddy is my relative and we are connected."
Monday, June 14, 2010
Bekah lost a tooth tonight without even knowing it! She wrote a note to the tooth fairy after Jason pointed out she was missing a tooth (we think lost while brushing teeth), luckily the tooth fairy wrote back the she found it in the drain as she's always looking for lost teeth and gave her a $1. The P.S. part said "Thanks for cleaning your room so I can move around easier." Hopefully that will sink in.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Internet still not working! It worked for bit last time the tech came, but now it's been out for a few days. And now our TV doesn't work either. Kids were going nuts waiting in the house all day for the rep to show up, and once he did they couldn't watch TV or play in the living room so despite mosquitoes and the weather, I took the kids for a walk in the stroller to the school park across the street. It started raining and I didn't even care. So we swung on the swings and sang, in the rain which started drizzling and then very quickly started downpouring, so we ran home totally soaked, as Bekah says, "Those people in their cars are so lucky!" I was thinking not. What a memory.
Since Bekah's been out of school she's mellowed out some, is more helpful and patient, and her and JJ play longer together. JJ's vocabulary has increased tons--wonder if this is connected to hearing Bekah more. Homeschooling is looking better and better.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Lately I especially love being around Bekah. I already feel closer with learning new things together (we've started some history and science this summer) and she's become my shopping friend! It's so wonderful to feel us becoming friends.
Favorite memory: Bekah setting up Mommy's Beauty Shop and doing each other's hair. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was in Bekah's place doing exactly the same thing to my mom. Sometimes it's alarming how quick it feels that life comes full circle.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Went to the Crystal Lake beach as a family after dinner. James went up to his waist and chest in the water, no fear, before I had to pull him back some. He loves the water. Bekah's been nervous about swimming and getting in the water over her waist. But tonight she relaxed with Jason there and he was showing her some things about swimming.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Father's Day! I tried putting the pancake batter in a squeeze bottle and made Jason pancakes shaped like D-A-D. Luckily they are letters you can turn around since I didn't realize you need to pour them backwards if you want the even color on top. I was pretty proud of myself for being so creative. :)
JJ kept saying "Appy Faddaz Dey" today--even during sacrament meeting!
Today I found out my sister is expecting!!!! I am so excited for her! It felt good to be the big sister talking it through, something I never got to experience with my first pregnancy.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Bekah really wants a pet, so she's been pretending she has one. A while back she named her plastic Halloween spider "Spike" and set up a portable cage with things for him to do in it. She would ask JJ if he wanted to hold Spike and she would take him around the house. Then it was "Lucky" the plastic goldfish for a week or two. I don't know what happened to Spike, but today she came to dinner with Lucky's baby food jar aquarium except no Lucky. Now it's Sleeping Beauty's gold high heel (plastic) and it's Ricky the cricket! She said he needed air, water, a home and food--"and he eats other insects. I know it sounds gross but that's what they do!" She said she feeds him every day.
I asked her what happened to Lucky. She said he died. "I forgot to feed him." Love her imagination!
JJ's new words: "di-shun-er" for conditioner, "cup a wa-der"
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Cleaned a house. Wanted to be mad at how demanding they were for so little thanks. While cleaning, the question popped into my mind "Why would anyone be like this?" (angrily to myself), then suddenly in a different spirit, "Why would anyone be like this? What happened to make them like this?" And suddenly was able to clean their house without being angry. I felt feeling sorry for them and how unhappy they seemed. Glad I could be someone they feel they got their money's worth on and that I cared about doing the job right.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
My cousin and her family came to visit! It was so fun to stay up late talking to Nate and Julee. We all get a long so well, and Nate is also getting his PhD in English. So fun to entertain company. We are so missing our families.
Showing posts with label James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James. Show all posts
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Pretend it's April 2010
So for various reasons, many of which had to do with internet access being VERY sketchy for a while, I ended up going back to a written journal. And still I haven't stopped. I still love the idea of blogging, but I've found barriers to it.
1-Blogging involves the internet, and invariably I get distracted on the internet so it takes longer to blog than I have time for. I keep remembering things I was supposed to pay for online, or research online, or emails that have to get sent for church callings or other reasons...
2-I am a pretty decent typer. I can type fast. That's a good thing, and actually one of my reasons for blogging in the first place. But I've learned I can type so fast I don't have time to form my sentences before writing (or at least I don't take the time to do so), whereas with hand writing entries I can think about that while I write and say what I mean. And by virtue of the fact that my hand gets more tired I think I learn to be more brief (at least more brief than I would have been online).
3-You can edit what you write on a blog. This is too tempting to ignore for me. I can pour over a post for 30-60 minutes just making sure I said everything I was thinking and that I said it in a good way. Hand writing entries for the most part can't be edited easily so somehow I just turn off my brain to change what I write and just might rephrase it if needed, but I usually just write and don't read it over to remember what I said...again because I write it more slowly I think I remember it more as I'm writing more.
4-Blogging involves technology--like computers that either are being slow, or aren't working, or everyone wants to use at the same time. I can go anywhere with my journal and not have to worry about a strong internet connection or having children pull on my arms because they want to be on the computer too.
I didn't expect to post on the downsides to blogging...
But it explains why I haven't been writing.
So for my own family's sake (those both here and far away), I'm going back to April 2010 and going to do my best to highlight what's been happening.
April 9, 2010--Friday
I've discovered I love pruning--maybe not at the correct time of year, but I loved pruning our trees and bushes after the green leaves started coming out and the blossoms forming. It was easy to see what was dead and it felt good to do something outside in the sun, and you can see your progress. Purging things you don't need always makes it easier to breathe for me, and pruning seems sort of like that. It's sure easier than tackling the 'pruning' that needs to happen inside the house or inside myself. Couple that with the fact that you and your kids have been cooped up in the house for the winter and now we can spread out and not scream because we don't all want the same toy anymore because we're busy exploring--and you have a recipe for enjoying the moment.
April 10, 2010--Saturday
Dates: No matter how much your children protest you not only have to go on dates with your spouse, you need to tell your children that's where you are going and why you need them to go to bed on time. It shows them...
-your excited to be with your spouse
-he is important to you
-you make time for him just like you do for them
-it makes it even more respected by them (in the long run) and by you
'Home' dates are so much more real and actually work when you tell everyone that's what's happening ahead of time. You may not do anything new, but the name and expectation makes it more fulfilling and satisfying.
Even if it seems cheesy to call it a date. Even if your kids whine and complain and makes them try to stay up later. Even if it's easier to not let them know so they don't know what they're missing and they don't put up a fight. If that's what it takes to get you to respect your spouse and date night, then do it. And just by virtue of you respecting it, your children will learn and feel safe that their mom loves their dad and wants to be with him. And that feels good.
What's that quote? The greatest thing a husband (or wife) can do for their children is to love their mother (or father).
(Side note for Sept 2010: I'm definitely still working on this...summer plans and activities seem to throw schedules out the window and I'm still recovering!)
April 11, 2010--Sunday
(Sept 2010--I'm not going to each day, I promise!)
Jason's birthday! I was reflecting on birthdays in general, particularly feeling not great about remembering that I'm getting older each May 10th and somehow realized these things:
The older you get the more birthdays you can see so it's seems it's not worth celebrating cause it's just another year and you've had so many (I know some will laugh at this who are much wiser in years than I!). But tonight I learned something about giving. Birthdays are a chance for others to learn about the joy of giving. Do your children see you excited about giving? Do they know how to treat a gift with care and how to show you care about how it's given?
This led to this chain of thoughts:
We're born into this world.
Our parents are our entire world. (1)
Then parents are just part of our world (like when starting school). (2)
Then we don't want them to be a part of our world. (3)
They aren't part of our world. (4)
Soon we miss them being part of our world (5)
many times because we became parents too (6)
And realize how much a part of our world our parents are and have always been. (7)
Then, as we realize they are gone, they become our entire world. (8)
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could somehow stay in lines 1 and 8? This is a cycle of parenthood.
Sept 2010--more thoughts--The end result is the same as when we're born, but look how much now we've chosen it and are aware of it and feel it. So much to do with why our Heavenly Father needed to send us away for a while. Where am I on this chain with God? He was my entire world before I came to this earth. And He will be my entire world when I return to Him. So am I continuing on this chain? Do I appreciate Him as much as I should?
Had ward conference today and Bekah sang in church with the Marcucci girls part of "Jesus Once Was a Little Child". She was very nervous, but did wonderful! They sang the first part of the song and then the ward choir came in singing "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus". At the end of that, they all sing together
So little children, let's you and I,
Try to be like him,
Try, try, try.
I'm trying to be like him.
Very moving.
Pres. Labrum's talk that day: God doesn't require us to be moving at the same speed. He only cares that we're moving.
So let's you and I, try, try, try.
April 13, 2010--Tuesday
Read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman in one day! Highly recommended for strengthening marriage.
April 16, 2010--Friday
Had to get a new washing machine, and I LOVE it! We brought the netbook with Muppet Babies episodes for the kids to watch in the shopping cart so Jason and I could really talk about what we're doing instead of refereeing the whole time. It was so nice to be able to shop together and make big decisions like that without anyone fighting or complaining! Isn't technology amazing! Then we had pre-dinner with shakes at Jamba Juice.
Funny saying by Bekah:
Jason likes to tease when we say one thing and it can mean another. And today is was getting frustrating to Bekah. She was talking about school library day and the books they were reading.
Bekah said "We were reading 'If You Give a Pig a Pancake'..."
Jason interjected "What? You ate pig pancakes?!"
B: "No! If You Give a Pig a Pancake!"
J: "What? You fed pancakes to pigs!"
B: (this is getting upset and mad at dad...but dad was only trying to joke and tease to make her smile)
(this is me talking for about 3-4 minutes about why dad does this and that he's only doing it in fun...he does understand you)
A couple minutes later...
Bekah says, "So today we read this book about a dad. He has this daughter. And he teases her a lot."
We busted up laughing!! So fun to hear her get it and to try to get back in fun.
April 17, 2010--Saturday
Fav things about today:
-Jason putting up our new mailbox!
-watching Bekah and JJ build a castle out of diaper boxes and blankets.
-JJ's random hugs to Bekah (oh and he started saying Bekah correctly last Sunday! Bekah was so happy she was literally speechless!)
-We got blizzards together!
April 22, 2010--Thursday
Led a book group discussion on The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe. I wonder if Dupin would have been able to solve it without first having the police inspector fail? Dupin made it seem so obvious but it was only obvious after seeing the more complete picture and observing someone else's actions.
Dupin's solution was to place himself in the shoes of G--- to think like he thinks. That is hard. But a valuable skill. Wish I could think like my kids to understand them better!
Taught another piano lesson today. Started end of March teaching one student, plus Bekah. Going great.
Bekah lost a tooth today! I guess the tooth fairy decided the longer it takes for teeth to fall out, the more $?? or maybe just more $ for teeth 5-8?? (She got 4 quarters instead of 2.)
April 24, 2010--Saturday
Bekah and I were doing a puzzle together. We were talking about friends at school and boyfriends. She told me she used to have a boyfriend. I vaguely knew this but had never heard her tell me before. So I asked her what happened.
She said "We just decided it wasn't appropriate at our age."
Awesome Bekah!
April 25, 2010--Sunday
Stake Conference today. Finished The Book of Mormon today. Met the stake goal!
Everything which inviteth to do good, which bears good fruits (helps people do good things)
is of God
April 29, 2010--Thursday
JJ's been going around saying "uh huh" instead of yes now, and in such a happy way!
On the 27th he went downtown on the train with Jason and me and saw so many "people" and "buildings". Learning new words like crazy.
I've always heard if you want someone to trust and respect you, you have to show trust and respect towards them.
How do you make a 7yr old feel trusted?
April 30, 2010--Friday
Tornado watch again this afternoon/evening. Sirens didn't go off but it looked ominous for a while there. We were safe. My prayers were answered.
Started reading A Well Trained Mind tonight. Starting to think more about what to do for Bekah and school. First grade is a challenge. I don't want her to start hating school and learning, or to be labeled. I thought I'd never homeschool...I had so many reasons for why it wasn't a good idea in general or why having her gone during the day makes me a better mother because I get "me" time or bonding time with James. It's just what's done. You send your kids to public or private school. And, forgive me for saying it, homeschool was for people who seem like they don't fit in or are trying to "bubble" themselves away from the world. (Which is funny I think this since I sort of homeschooled for high school.) I would so be doing private school if we had the money. So my options are limited. But this book is amazing at making you feel like you can do it and that it's important to sacrifice now to give your child what they need to have a life full of loving learning. As a mother, it's amazing once you realize that you love your child and you truly want whats best for them that you're willing to do what they need, even if it means great sacrifice. I think that might be one of the greatest lessons of motherhood.
1-Blogging involves the internet, and invariably I get distracted on the internet so it takes longer to blog than I have time for. I keep remembering things I was supposed to pay for online, or research online, or emails that have to get sent for church callings or other reasons...
2-I am a pretty decent typer. I can type fast. That's a good thing, and actually one of my reasons for blogging in the first place. But I've learned I can type so fast I don't have time to form my sentences before writing (or at least I don't take the time to do so), whereas with hand writing entries I can think about that while I write and say what I mean. And by virtue of the fact that my hand gets more tired I think I learn to be more brief (at least more brief than I would have been online).
3-You can edit what you write on a blog. This is too tempting to ignore for me. I can pour over a post for 30-60 minutes just making sure I said everything I was thinking and that I said it in a good way. Hand writing entries for the most part can't be edited easily so somehow I just turn off my brain to change what I write and just might rephrase it if needed, but I usually just write and don't read it over to remember what I said...again because I write it more slowly I think I remember it more as I'm writing more.
4-Blogging involves technology--like computers that either are being slow, or aren't working, or everyone wants to use at the same time. I can go anywhere with my journal and not have to worry about a strong internet connection or having children pull on my arms because they want to be on the computer too.
I didn't expect to post on the downsides to blogging...
But it explains why I haven't been writing.
So for my own family's sake (those both here and far away), I'm going back to April 2010 and going to do my best to highlight what's been happening.
April 9, 2010--Friday
I've discovered I love pruning--maybe not at the correct time of year, but I loved pruning our trees and bushes after the green leaves started coming out and the blossoms forming. It was easy to see what was dead and it felt good to do something outside in the sun, and you can see your progress. Purging things you don't need always makes it easier to breathe for me, and pruning seems sort of like that. It's sure easier than tackling the 'pruning' that needs to happen inside the house or inside myself. Couple that with the fact that you and your kids have been cooped up in the house for the winter and now we can spread out and not scream because we don't all want the same toy anymore because we're busy exploring--and you have a recipe for enjoying the moment.
April 10, 2010--Saturday
Dates: No matter how much your children protest you not only have to go on dates with your spouse, you need to tell your children that's where you are going and why you need them to go to bed on time. It shows them...
-your excited to be with your spouse
-he is important to you
-you make time for him just like you do for them
-it makes it even more respected by them (in the long run) and by you
'Home' dates are so much more real and actually work when you tell everyone that's what's happening ahead of time. You may not do anything new, but the name and expectation makes it more fulfilling and satisfying.
Even if it seems cheesy to call it a date. Even if your kids whine and complain and makes them try to stay up later. Even if it's easier to not let them know so they don't know what they're missing and they don't put up a fight. If that's what it takes to get you to respect your spouse and date night, then do it. And just by virtue of you respecting it, your children will learn and feel safe that their mom loves their dad and wants to be with him. And that feels good.
What's that quote? The greatest thing a husband (or wife) can do for their children is to love their mother (or father).
(Side note for Sept 2010: I'm definitely still working on this...summer plans and activities seem to throw schedules out the window and I'm still recovering!)
April 11, 2010--Sunday
(Sept 2010--I'm not going to each day, I promise!)
Jason's birthday! I was reflecting on birthdays in general, particularly feeling not great about remembering that I'm getting older each May 10th and somehow realized these things:
The older you get the more birthdays you can see so it's seems it's not worth celebrating cause it's just another year and you've had so many (I know some will laugh at this who are much wiser in years than I!). But tonight I learned something about giving. Birthdays are a chance for others to learn about the joy of giving. Do your children see you excited about giving? Do they know how to treat a gift with care and how to show you care about how it's given?
This led to this chain of thoughts:
We're born into this world.
Our parents are our entire world. (1)
Then parents are just part of our world (like when starting school). (2)
Then we don't want them to be a part of our world. (3)
They aren't part of our world. (4)
Soon we miss them being part of our world (5)
many times because we became parents too (6)
And realize how much a part of our world our parents are and have always been. (7)
Then, as we realize they are gone, they become our entire world. (8)
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could somehow stay in lines 1 and 8? This is a cycle of parenthood.
Sept 2010--more thoughts--The end result is the same as when we're born, but look how much now we've chosen it and are aware of it and feel it. So much to do with why our Heavenly Father needed to send us away for a while. Where am I on this chain with God? He was my entire world before I came to this earth. And He will be my entire world when I return to Him. So am I continuing on this chain? Do I appreciate Him as much as I should?
Had ward conference today and Bekah sang in church with the Marcucci girls part of "Jesus Once Was a Little Child". She was very nervous, but did wonderful! They sang the first part of the song and then the ward choir came in singing "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus". At the end of that, they all sing together
So little children, let's you and I,
Try to be like him,
Try, try, try.
I'm trying to be like him.
Very moving.
Pres. Labrum's talk that day: God doesn't require us to be moving at the same speed. He only cares that we're moving.
So let's you and I, try, try, try.
April 13, 2010--Tuesday
Read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman in one day! Highly recommended for strengthening marriage.
April 16, 2010--Friday
Had to get a new washing machine, and I LOVE it! We brought the netbook with Muppet Babies episodes for the kids to watch in the shopping cart so Jason and I could really talk about what we're doing instead of refereeing the whole time. It was so nice to be able to shop together and make big decisions like that without anyone fighting or complaining! Isn't technology amazing! Then we had pre-dinner with shakes at Jamba Juice.
Funny saying by Bekah:
Jason likes to tease when we say one thing and it can mean another. And today is was getting frustrating to Bekah. She was talking about school library day and the books they were reading.
Bekah said "We were reading 'If You Give a Pig a Pancake'..."
Jason interjected "What? You ate pig pancakes?!"
B: "No! If You Give a Pig a Pancake!"
J: "What? You fed pancakes to pigs!"
B: (this is getting upset and mad at dad...but dad was only trying to joke and tease to make her smile)
(this is me talking for about 3-4 minutes about why dad does this and that he's only doing it in fun...he does understand you)
A couple minutes later...
Bekah says, "So today we read this book about a dad. He has this daughter. And he teases her a lot."
We busted up laughing!! So fun to hear her get it and to try to get back in fun.
April 17, 2010--Saturday
Fav things about today:
-Jason putting up our new mailbox!
-watching Bekah and JJ build a castle out of diaper boxes and blankets.
-JJ's random hugs to Bekah (oh and he started saying Bekah correctly last Sunday! Bekah was so happy she was literally speechless!)
-We got blizzards together!
April 22, 2010--Thursday
Led a book group discussion on The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe. I wonder if Dupin would have been able to solve it without first having the police inspector fail? Dupin made it seem so obvious but it was only obvious after seeing the more complete picture and observing someone else's actions.
Dupin's solution was to place himself in the shoes of G--- to think like he thinks. That is hard. But a valuable skill. Wish I could think like my kids to understand them better!
Taught another piano lesson today. Started end of March teaching one student, plus Bekah. Going great.
Bekah lost a tooth today! I guess the tooth fairy decided the longer it takes for teeth to fall out, the more $?? or maybe just more $ for teeth 5-8?? (She got 4 quarters instead of 2.)
April 24, 2010--Saturday
Bekah and I were doing a puzzle together. We were talking about friends at school and boyfriends. She told me she used to have a boyfriend. I vaguely knew this but had never heard her tell me before. So I asked her what happened.
She said "We just decided it wasn't appropriate at our age."
Awesome Bekah!
April 25, 2010--Sunday
Stake Conference today. Finished The Book of Mormon today. Met the stake goal!
Everything which inviteth to do good, which bears good fruits (helps people do good things)
is of God
April 29, 2010--Thursday
JJ's been going around saying "uh huh" instead of yes now, and in such a happy way!
On the 27th he went downtown on the train with Jason and me and saw so many "people" and "buildings". Learning new words like crazy.
I've always heard if you want someone to trust and respect you, you have to show trust and respect towards them.
How do you make a 7yr old feel trusted?
April 30, 2010--Friday
Tornado watch again this afternoon/evening. Sirens didn't go off but it looked ominous for a while there. We were safe. My prayers were answered.
Started reading A Well Trained Mind tonight. Starting to think more about what to do for Bekah and school. First grade is a challenge. I don't want her to start hating school and learning, or to be labeled. I thought I'd never homeschool...I had so many reasons for why it wasn't a good idea in general or why having her gone during the day makes me a better mother because I get "me" time or bonding time with James. It's just what's done. You send your kids to public or private school. And, forgive me for saying it, homeschool was for people who seem like they don't fit in or are trying to "bubble" themselves away from the world. (Which is funny I think this since I sort of homeschooled for high school.) I would so be doing private school if we had the money. So my options are limited. But this book is amazing at making you feel like you can do it and that it's important to sacrifice now to give your child what they need to have a life full of loving learning. As a mother, it's amazing once you realize that you love your child and you truly want whats best for them that you're willing to do what they need, even if it means great sacrifice. I think that might be one of the greatest lessons of motherhood.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Family Pictures
So I knew it'd been a really long time since we'd had a real family picture...Dec 2008 to be exact. We had one "look where we are" family picture in July 2009 at our favorite pizza place Nick's, or "the place where you get to throw peanuts on the floor!" as Bekah calls it.
But nothing since. That's sad. So we decided "Let's hurry and do one right now. No matter what." So the background isn't great, but the lighting is good. And we made it happen. Here's what we came up with in just 15 minutes notice for dressing up and 15 minutes outside.
Don't I have an awesome husband who can do things like this on the fly?! Guess I should listen to him more when he says "Let's have a family picture today" and I always say "Nooooo, do we have to?" It's a hold over from childhood. Family pictures were always so traumatic and boring at the same time. But not to worry, we made it fun too. That's the great thing about being your own photographer and having digital pictures...it doesn't cost anymore so you feel like you can make it more fun. Aren't families great!
But nothing since. That's sad. So we decided "Let's hurry and do one right now. No matter what." So the background isn't great, but the lighting is good. And we made it happen. Here's what we came up with in just 15 minutes notice for dressing up and 15 minutes outside.
Don't I have an awesome husband who can do things like this on the fly?! Guess I should listen to him more when he says "Let's have a family picture today" and I always say "Nooooo, do we have to?" It's a hold over from childhood. Family pictures were always so traumatic and boring at the same time. But not to worry, we made it fun too. That's the great thing about being your own photographer and having digital pictures...it doesn't cost anymore so you feel like you can make it more fun. Aren't families great!
Continuing on with weather posts
So most of last week the world looked like this:
Then yesterday we woke up to this:
Well, so we didn't take this picture on Saturday itself, but that's what it looked like. Full on winter snowfall. Happy first day of Spring to us!
At least today, we're back to this:
P.S. Everyone in Chicagoland leaves up their Christmas lights until mid-March or April. It's MUCH too cold to worry about removing them until it's Spring. So don't worry, we won't leave them up all year. And I will change out our "Winter" door sign as soon as I can figure out what to replace it with.
Then yesterday we woke up to this:
Well, so we didn't take this picture on Saturday itself, but that's what it looked like. Full on winter snowfall. Happy first day of Spring to us!
At least today, we're back to this:
P.S. Everyone in Chicagoland leaves up their Christmas lights until mid-March or April. It's MUCH too cold to worry about removing them until it's Spring. So don't worry, we won't leave them up all year. And I will change out our "Winter" door sign as soon as I can figure out what to replace it with.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Weight, weight...don't tell me...
Sorry if you get tired of my titles--I enjoy thinking them up even if they're cheesy. (...if you even know what this title refers to...those of you who like NPR like us)
Mr. James had his 18-month check up today. His first time with the new ped and I really like the docs I've met so far. Pediatricians are so worth the extra drive and effort (as opposed to family practice). They are so much more thorough. We get to go to the local outpatient center to test for anemia again since his iron level was low a few months ago. That will probably happen this week. The doctor said to back off milk (sorry James...time to start saying good-bye to your bottles) and that sometimes too much milk can cause anemia. His weight is 3% now!! Yay! Officially on the chart now. Here are the stats:
Head circum: 47 cm
Weight: 21 lbs 0 oz
Height: 32 3/4 inches
He cried more while getting his weight checked (since he was almost naked and had to let go of mommy) than he did for his shots!
James first two syllable word was "apple" about 2-3 weeks ago. Almost all fruits are apples to him. He also started saying "da-ses" for "downstairs"; he loves to go down to daddy's office and also to help with laundry. Good thing we have a good gate now. One of his favorite things to do with Bekah is run up and fall on top of her and hug her...and then grab her hair and pull hard...he thinks it's so funny no matter how much we try to discipline him. It's been hard for Bekah cause it's hard for her to leave him alone. She wants to play with him, but we just have to remind her she will probably get hurt. Such a small little boy, and already he beats up on his sister. When he's tired he gets on all fours and buries his head on the carpet and pushes around on his head without looking up! It's the funniest thing! He also head-bangs anything he can, including people, right before he goes to bed. He doesn't say many words, but he has started getting interested in the alphabet and will repeat the letter sounds if you say them to him (thanks to leap frog talking letters movie and help from daddy). He also is interested in the potty now! He helps us flush and loves to play with toilet paper (what kid doesn't) so we got out our little potty seat and he loves to sit on it and pretend to go. Then he'll take the cup out and pretend to dump it in the sink (we're still working on that one) and then carry it around the house (working on un-training that too). It's so fun to see the progress he's making.
Mr. James had his 18-month check up today. His first time with the new ped and I really like the docs I've met so far. Pediatricians are so worth the extra drive and effort (as opposed to family practice). They are so much more thorough. We get to go to the local outpatient center to test for anemia again since his iron level was low a few months ago. That will probably happen this week. The doctor said to back off milk (sorry James...time to start saying good-bye to your bottles) and that sometimes too much milk can cause anemia. His weight is 3% now!! Yay! Officially on the chart now. Here are the stats:
Head circum: 47 cm
Weight: 21 lbs 0 oz
Height: 32 3/4 inches
He cried more while getting his weight checked (since he was almost naked and had to let go of mommy) than he did for his shots!
James first two syllable word was "apple" about 2-3 weeks ago. Almost all fruits are apples to him. He also started saying "da-ses" for "downstairs"; he loves to go down to daddy's office and also to help with laundry. Good thing we have a good gate now. One of his favorite things to do with Bekah is run up and fall on top of her and hug her...and then grab her hair and pull hard...he thinks it's so funny no matter how much we try to discipline him. It's been hard for Bekah cause it's hard for her to leave him alone. She wants to play with him, but we just have to remind her she will probably get hurt. Such a small little boy, and already he beats up on his sister. When he's tired he gets on all fours and buries his head on the carpet and pushes around on his head without looking up! It's the funniest thing! He also head-bangs anything he can, including people, right before he goes to bed. He doesn't say many words, but he has started getting interested in the alphabet and will repeat the letter sounds if you say them to him (thanks to leap frog talking letters movie and help from daddy). He also is interested in the potty now! He helps us flush and loves to play with toilet paper (what kid doesn't) so we got out our little potty seat and he loves to sit on it and pretend to go. Then he'll take the cup out and pretend to dump it in the sink (we're still working on that one) and then carry it around the house (working on un-training that too). It's so fun to see the progress he's making.
Monday, December 7, 2009
More Teeth for James
Last week James was having several particular whiny days. He wasn't eating well or sleeping well. Lo and behold, I was able to look in his mouth and see about FIVE teeth all coming in at the same time! Two of which were molars and two were incisors, which I hear are the most painful at this age...I know it hurts him, but it does seem like it's easier for everyone for as many teeth as possible to come at once so we can be done for a while! Maybe that's mean of me to wish for, since I don't remember what it's like to teeth. We've found that giving him ib profen to sleep through the night actually backfires...he sleeps so deeply that after 4 hours he's up the rest of the night rearing to go! So it actually helps not to use it to sleep. But this week things are much better. And I can't believe how much a difference we already notice on the amount of time it takes to eat...he's much faster at chewing now and is able to eat bigger bites. Yeah!
We are almost finished with his last can of formula and then he'll be on whole milk all the time. He doesn't do well with the iron vitamin drops so we've ended up just trying to feed him more iron rich foods and we'll see what his count is at his next doctor appointment. The good news is I was finally able to get James into a pediatric clinic instead of family practice! I am so thrilled about that! If there are no more sicknesses, he'll see the new doctors in January for his 18-month well check. Can you believe that! Time is going so fast.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Horsey, Horsey on Your Way
I tried to upload a very cute video of James, but I haven't found a way to get it to work. He loves to rock away on this horse we received from a friend. And Bekah and I have had fun learning to sing an old favorite from my childhood:
Verse 1--
Horsey, horsey, on your way.
We've been together for many a day
So let your tail go swish and your wheels go round.
Giddy up! We're homeward bound.
Verse 2--
I like to ride a horse and buggy
As we go traveling through the town.
I like to hear Old Dobbin clip clop.
I like to see the wheels go round and round.
Verse 3--
Get up, Old Dobbin. We're going to town.
Keep those wheels a turnin' a round.
Keep those wheels a turnin' a round.
We've miles to go before sundown.
Then you get to sing all three verses at the same time...if you have enough voices, that is.
Love that song!
Halloween!
Here are some great pics of Halloween this year. James was Batman. (Don't we love these superhero PJs! Great way to reuse something. Great for the environment, since that seems to be a big theme lately around here.) Rebekah was a witch. She decided shortly after last Halloween that that is what she wanted to be, and we stuck with it, much to my surprise. I guess it helps when you buy props on the clearance shelves the day after Halloween and then don't let the kids play dress-up with them for a year so they anticipate getting to wear them in 11 months...well it worked this year anyway. We went to a church party, complete with chili dinner, karaoke, carnival games, and a trunk or treat.Then both Jason and I got to attend Rebekah's first Halloween parade at school! (She's in the middle of the parade photo.) Talk about flashbacks to my childhood! James loved watching all the kids. He is SOOOO in love with skeletons and scary faces. He starts laughing! It's so funny.
Then on Halloween day, we went to a pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin. It was free if you wore a costume so the kids came dressed up. But the wind was REALLY bad and the driver of the trailer had to trust us that the costumes were there underneath all the winter gear...we were wishing we had prepared better and vowed that next year's costumes are going to be super warm! I think Bekah said something like "I'm going to die!" (which actually happens about once a week), but all was back to normal once we got hot chocolate and fresh apple cider donuts. Too bad the pumpkin was rotted through in 24 hours. But the experience was a memory we'll always have and hopefully a tradition to continue in the future, although better prepared next time.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Photos of James
I can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted! And the weird thing is it didn't seem that extra crazy. I need to do better. I'll be posting a few different things to get caught up.
I entered James in the GAP model contest for fun. I've often thought he would make a good clothes model since he's small for his age, likes to sit and watch when there are new things around, and he's just so cute! Finalists are announced Dec 7th. It's a long shot, but it got me going through recent photos to find some favorites. (These are all courtesy of Jason...Thank you!)
Friday, October 23, 2009
Age, Weight, and Time Continuum
James had his 15 month check-up yesterday, including two shots (which he only cried for 10 seconds!), a height and weight check, ear check, etc. All that fun stuff. And I happy to announce that...
JAMES IS ON THE CHARTS AGAIN! This is the first time since he was 2 months old that he's been above zero on the charts for weight-for-age! Granted it's only 5% but that is almost exactly where Bekah was at that age so we're doing just fine. Height-for-age is currently 50%. I guess that formula is really helping...or maybe he's just not burning so many calories, but that's hard to believe since he's starting to halfway run everywhere. He will be keeping me busy these next few years--if not longer. Anyhow, were to keep him on the formula for another few months to maintain things but we can start substituting for whole milk gradually. Yeah! $2 a gallon instead of $22--and I'm not exaggerating that. Formula is that expensive.
Details...
Height 2'7" (I guess he's tall enough now that they start listing it like that instead of in inches only.)
Weight 20 lbs 12 oz
Near the end of the visit, the doctor asked, "So have you started potty training yet?" Can you believe it! I said, "No...my daughter wasn't even trained until almost 4." Doc: "That's way too long. He should be trained during the day by age 2." (As if it was my fault for not making that happen sooner...goodness knows I tried!) I was quite shocked! Not that I was supposed to be thinking about it, but that it hadn't even entered my mind yet! It truly was a wake-up call that he's growing up, and I honestly had a hard time not saying out loud "He's my baby and I want to enjoy him just like this as long as I can. Don't tell me he's old enough for that."
With child #2 I've found it much easier to enjoy each stage as it comes and not seek for the next. But looking back I remember Bekah showed interest at 18 months. (It just didn't last. She decided once she had done it a couple times it wasn't fun anymore and nothing we could say or do would make her change her mind until preschool was coming and she decided she really wanted to go.) James is only 3 months away from that! And yet he seems so much younger than Bekah did at that age!
I'm realizing that maybe that's what makes a lot of the differences in placement in families (oldest, middle, youngest). Child #1 only gets compared to what we remember about being kids, or kids we babysat (which we said many times 'my kids won't act like that'), or even the adults we associate with. I found myself being so excited to see how grown up she was becoming and being excited about the new stages that soon expectations developed that made it seem like she should act more grown up because "look at all the new things she can do." Child #2 comes along and now you have a lot more recent benchmark...which there are both pros and cons that fallout from this, for both oldest and not oldest. Suddenly Child #2 can't be expected to do many things because it's obvious that "he's not as old as you" and "Child #1 you should know better." Then you find yourself at the doctor one day saying "no way, you're too demanding of my child" referring to Child #2 and then you think back and say, "wow, I was sure demanding of Child #1. Will she ever forgive me?"
Being the oldest myself, though, I feel comforted knowing yes, I saw it happened to me, but I think I still turned out okay. :) And there are other great benefits to being the oldest that make up for the hard parts. I'm hoping in the future I can remember this though so I can not be too hard on any of my kids. Yet at the same time remember to positively encourage new stages of development. So I guess that means potty-training here I come! Well...maybe.
JAMES IS ON THE CHARTS AGAIN! This is the first time since he was 2 months old that he's been above zero on the charts for weight-for-age! Granted it's only 5% but that is almost exactly where Bekah was at that age so we're doing just fine. Height-for-age is currently 50%. I guess that formula is really helping...or maybe he's just not burning so many calories, but that's hard to believe since he's starting to halfway run everywhere. He will be keeping me busy these next few years--if not longer. Anyhow, were to keep him on the formula for another few months to maintain things but we can start substituting for whole milk gradually. Yeah! $2 a gallon instead of $22--and I'm not exaggerating that. Formula is that expensive.
Details...
Height 2'7" (I guess he's tall enough now that they start listing it like that instead of in inches only.)
Weight 20 lbs 12 oz
Near the end of the visit, the doctor asked, "So have you started potty training yet?" Can you believe it! I said, "No...my daughter wasn't even trained until almost 4." Doc: "That's way too long. He should be trained during the day by age 2." (As if it was my fault for not making that happen sooner...goodness knows I tried!) I was quite shocked! Not that I was supposed to be thinking about it, but that it hadn't even entered my mind yet! It truly was a wake-up call that he's growing up, and I honestly had a hard time not saying out loud "He's my baby and I want to enjoy him just like this as long as I can. Don't tell me he's old enough for that."
With child #2 I've found it much easier to enjoy each stage as it comes and not seek for the next. But looking back I remember Bekah showed interest at 18 months. (It just didn't last. She decided once she had done it a couple times it wasn't fun anymore and nothing we could say or do would make her change her mind until preschool was coming and she decided she really wanted to go.) James is only 3 months away from that! And yet he seems so much younger than Bekah did at that age!
I'm realizing that maybe that's what makes a lot of the differences in placement in families (oldest, middle, youngest). Child #1 only gets compared to what we remember about being kids, or kids we babysat (which we said many times 'my kids won't act like that'), or even the adults we associate with. I found myself being so excited to see how grown up she was becoming and being excited about the new stages that soon expectations developed that made it seem like she should act more grown up because "look at all the new things she can do." Child #2 comes along and now you have a lot more recent benchmark...which there are both pros and cons that fallout from this, for both oldest and not oldest. Suddenly Child #2 can't be expected to do many things because it's obvious that "he's not as old as you" and "Child #1 you should know better." Then you find yourself at the doctor one day saying "no way, you're too demanding of my child" referring to Child #2 and then you think back and say, "wow, I was sure demanding of Child #1. Will she ever forgive me?"
Being the oldest myself, though, I feel comforted knowing yes, I saw it happened to me, but I think I still turned out okay. :) And there are other great benefits to being the oldest that make up for the hard parts. I'm hoping in the future I can remember this though so I can not be too hard on any of my kids. Yet at the same time remember to positively encourage new stages of development. So I guess that means potty-training here I come! Well...maybe.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
James took his first steps!!
James took his first steps today! And I happened to be at work at the time...sad :(
but he showed me right when I got home with a little prodding from dad. He is 14 months last Sunday. We're trying to get it on video soon.
Last Wednesday I had a doctor appointment and took James with me since I am always wondering if he has ear infections since he always pulls on his ears. Lately, though, he's been covering both his ears with his hands like we're being too loud, folding his ears in half, and putting food in his ears! He hasn't been eating well, but he was sleeping fine and wasn't too out-of-sorts (no fever either). I don't usually bring multiple patients to one appointment, but since we have the same family practice doctor and it's just a quick look in the ears...and with how busy things get I thought about how much time it would save. Anyway, how many times do I make appointments because I think one of my kids have an ear infection only to have nurses and doctors look at me like I'm dumb because nothing is wrong! Then they treat me like I'm one of the those parents who beg doctors for antibiotics. Ahhh! It gets so frustrating. So, of course, the times I don't make appointments are the times where it matters. His right ear looked infected. We had to weigh him right then to see what dosage he needed...and he was just over 20 pounds!! (Yeah! We were finally legal on facing forward in the car. He loves the car so much more now!) I can't remember if it was 20 lbs 2 ounces or 4 ounces or 8 ounces...something like that. Since this was his third infection this year they tried the next family of antibiotics. We'll see how things go. I'm not too hopeful since Rebekah had to get ear tubes and James seems to be following the same pattern of infections with antibiotics not solving things long term, but again, we'll see how things go. Sometimes I think it's a mini-curse to have children who act normal while being sick since doctors think you're just an over-worried parent since the kid doesn't act sick, or, the opposite, you didn't even know they were sick until you bring them in for some other reason and the doctors make you feel like a negligent parent for not bringing your child in sooner! It's so easy to make yourself feel like you'll never get it right.
Anyhow, I am very grateful that I don't have the other curse...kids who act cranky when sick. I do realize that's even more not fun to deal with as a parent.
but he showed me right when I got home with a little prodding from dad. He is 14 months last Sunday. We're trying to get it on video soon.
Last Wednesday I had a doctor appointment and took James with me since I am always wondering if he has ear infections since he always pulls on his ears. Lately, though, he's been covering both his ears with his hands like we're being too loud, folding his ears in half, and putting food in his ears! He hasn't been eating well, but he was sleeping fine and wasn't too out-of-sorts (no fever either). I don't usually bring multiple patients to one appointment, but since we have the same family practice doctor and it's just a quick look in the ears...and with how busy things get I thought about how much time it would save. Anyway, how many times do I make appointments because I think one of my kids have an ear infection only to have nurses and doctors look at me like I'm dumb because nothing is wrong! Then they treat me like I'm one of the those parents who beg doctors for antibiotics. Ahhh! It gets so frustrating. So, of course, the times I don't make appointments are the times where it matters. His right ear looked infected. We had to weigh him right then to see what dosage he needed...and he was just over 20 pounds!! (Yeah! We were finally legal on facing forward in the car. He loves the car so much more now!) I can't remember if it was 20 lbs 2 ounces or 4 ounces or 8 ounces...something like that. Since this was his third infection this year they tried the next family of antibiotics. We'll see how things go. I'm not too hopeful since Rebekah had to get ear tubes and James seems to be following the same pattern of infections with antibiotics not solving things long term, but again, we'll see how things go. Sometimes I think it's a mini-curse to have children who act normal while being sick since doctors think you're just an over-worried parent since the kid doesn't act sick, or, the opposite, you didn't even know they were sick until you bring them in for some other reason and the doctors make you feel like a negligent parent for not bringing your child in sooner! It's so easy to make yourself feel like you'll never get it right.
Anyhow, I am very grateful that I don't have the other curse...kids who act cranky when sick. I do realize that's even more not fun to deal with as a parent.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
My brave little man
Yesterday, James had a routine test for lead and iron levels. You didn't even cry at all, and even smiled at the tech while she was squeezing the blood out of your big toe to fill the tube! I'm glad you were smiling, as Bekah was really worried about watching you getting poked and needed comforting. :) Your iron level was a little low, so you still need your daily vitamin and more iron-rich foods. Results on the lead test take a week or two.
You weighed 19 lbs 2 ounces (with clothes on) and were 29 inches...I don't think you actually shrunk, this clinic just measures differently than the doctor's office. But unfortunately I still can't turn you around in the car seat, much to your dismay. You want so much to be like Bekah and sit forward. Maybe one more month. Keep eating good.
You weighed 19 lbs 2 ounces (with clothes on) and were 29 inches...I don't think you actually shrunk, this clinic just measures differently than the doctor's office. But unfortunately I still can't turn you around in the car seat, much to your dismay. You want so much to be like Bekah and sit forward. Maybe one more month. Keep eating good.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Jump, Jump, Jumperoo!
Here is mommy's new favorite toy for James...it allows him to be near me in the kitchen but I can still be cooking and such. We were so lucky. Someone left it for free at their curb (that's what people do out here--if they're done with stuff, even nice furniture, they just leave it at the curb and it's free reign or the garbage man gets it). It's was extremely dirty but Jason faithfully took apart every little piece and spent hours cleaning it up. Since this is $100 on sale, we thought it was worth it. Isn't it interesting...I had in the last two months been really wishing we could get something like this but knew we couldn't afford it. And then this happens. Not a need, for sure, but even our wants are being provided for. I feel so blessed.
The inevitability of shots
James had his one-year-old shots today. We had a bit of a wait in the exam room and I had luckily remembered to stash a new toy in the diaper bag. He's just started getting into cars and trucks and things with wheels and James was fascinated by the design on the wheels and how it moved. He was so interested in the sound it made on the crinkly paper on the exam table. We were having great fun...until we made him lay down for shots. I think he had forgotten they were coming. But soon that was all forgotten when he got his bottle. Here are the stats for today.
Length: 29.5 inches
Weight: 18 lb
s 4 oz (with onesie and diaper on)
Head: 45 cm
The doctor wants to keep him on high calorie formula for now since he's still below zero percent on the charts, but he is following a curve now so I guess she's not as worried. So no facing forward yet in the car, James, but you can start having a little whole milk! I guess I'll have to remember the new toy trick when you go back for 15-month shots.
Someday you'll understand. :)
Monday, July 20, 2009
To my sweet baby James
Today is your birthday! Oh how I want to squeeze you tight and hold you so you don't get any bigger! How can you already be one?! I can't help but reflect on what I was doing this time last year. And it reminds me that I want to record more of what happened so maybe someday you too will be struck with awe at all the miracles that have happened in the year you were born. I don't exactly know how far back to start. I guess I went through a few things about our house hunting in Chicago in this entry. Little did I know that that was just the tip of the ice berg. (I want to record all the details since it's so amazing...so bare with me if I need to post this in parts.)
Things did not go as planned with closing on our house--but some day you'll learn that things never usually do when you're buying. We thought we'd close July 1st but HUD kept dragging their feet week after week. (We were buying a foreclosed home from the government.) When you have a young family and you have to move across country, definitely rent first to get to know the area so you can be near the house you want to buy. There was so much headache involved with home inspections and utility turn-ons that our angel Realtor had to orchestrate. She was amazing! Her name is Cookie Lamb. Bekah immediately loved her because her name is so cool and they became great friends. Anyway, between lead paint inspections and water pipe issues, things weren't going too well. In the meantime, your arrival was only getting nearer and we needed a place to live! Eventually we realized we wouldn't be able to close until at least the last week in July. So we moved forward the best we could thinking now that your daddy would move out immediately after you were born with the moving truck to work on the house and prepare it for us to arrive a couple weeks later. One scenario was Papa (my dad) would help me drive our little van with you and Bekah at that time to move the rest of our stuff. Another scenario, and the one we settled on, was Papa going with Daddy to help work on the house just after you were born and drive the moving van, then both of them flying back a couple weeks later and Daddy driving you, Bekah, and me in our van out to Chicago then. Things were looking tight on time, but we'd be okay.
Then things got completely out of our control. The week you were born turned out to be one of the hardest weeks of my job as a Hall Advisor. Pranks were getting out of hand and fire alarms continued to go off at all hours of the day and night. I couldn't decide if I wanted you to wait to come so I could not leave the burdens on other Hall Advisors, or if I should take drastic measures to make you come earlier just to escape it. Anyhow, to get away from it and because we wanted to go one last time before we moved, we went with Daddy's family to a restaurant called The Mayan in Sandy, Utah, about a half hour North of us. We wondered if we should risk going that far, but we decided to do it, despite having had contractions off and on for the last several weeks. Not only is the food good and the prices reasonable, the cliff diver shows are so amazing! I hope we can take you some day. You would love it. We had a great time. As we were leaving the restaurant, your daddy went to get the car while we waited with Grandma Douglas. While leaving the parking lot to pull up to the front, all of a sudden the breaks stopped working! This resulted in a minor fender bender which thankfully the driver said don't worry about it. Daddy pulled into another parking lot by using the emergency break and we met him over there.
Then the miracles started pouring in. Of course I was having some contractions during dinner but they weren't progressing--yet still I knew we needed to have reliable transportation soon! We were so glad Daddy's family hadn't left yet, since this meant Bekah and I could sit in their air conditioned car while we figured out what to do. (The temperatures were VERY hot that day.) By a miracle we had signed up for AAA just two days before!!! so we were able to tow our van for free, and luckily there was a Les Schwab near by, our favorite tire chain. This was a Saturday, though, so no repair shops were open, so it had to sit over the weekend in their parking lot. I was able to reach my Uncle Richard, who lived just 15 minutes away, who let us borrow their new and very nice van for the weekend (with awesome AC and a DVD player I might add). So within just a few hours things were back on schedule with working transportation. Still the contractions weren't regular so we were okay.
We got home and put Bekah to bed and decided we wanted to watch a movie to try to relax after the excitement of the evening. Within 15 minutes of starting The Bourne Supremacy though I was pacing back and forth trying to breath through very sudden and painful contractions. So about midnight we called my cousin Cameo to come stay the night with Bekah while your daddy and I were at the hospital. We were so glad she was home and could come over right away! I was also glad you decided to come when you did since I was going to be induced in a few days so we could make sure Daddy was here before he had to go close on our new house. (Your due date was July 25th.) The hospital checked us in quickly and your daddy and I settled in for what we thought could be a while. The epidural was started sometime soon, maybe around 3AM, and we both tried to grab as much sleep as we could between nurse checks. I wo
ke up for good around 6AM and could tell things were getting close. I think my nurse's name was Jenny. She was very nice. Dr. Glenn was my doctor but since it was the weekend, Dr. Broadbent was on call. I'd never met him before but he knew what he was doing. I think it just took 15 minutes of pushing, and you were born. 7:15AM. All 6 pounds 9 ounces of you. All 18 inches of you. With your dusting of dark hair and surprisingly olive skin. We couldn't get enough of you.
Actually we still can't.
We are so grateful we get to be your parents.
There is so much more I want to tell you...of all you had to endure in your first few months of life. But that will have to wait. For now I am admiring the balloons and streamers and the ice cream-soaked mound of cake on your high chair tray, uneaten cupcakes, new toys strewn throughout the house. And thinking maybe now your dad and I can finish watching The Bourne Supremacy. Or maybe we should just catch up on our sleep.
Things did not go as planned with closing on our house--but some day you'll learn that things never usually do when you're buying. We thought we'd close July 1st but HUD kept dragging their feet week after week. (We were buying a foreclosed home from the government.) When you have a young family and you have to move across country, definitely rent first to get to know the area so you can be near the house you want to buy. There was so much headache involved with home inspections and utility turn-ons that our angel Realtor had to orchestrate. She was amazing! Her name is Cookie Lamb. Bekah immediately loved her because her name is so cool and they became great friends. Anyway, between lead paint inspections and water pipe issues, things weren't going too well. In the meantime, your arrival was only getting nearer and we needed a place to live! Eventually we realized we wouldn't be able to close until at least the last week in July. So we moved forward the best we could thinking now that your daddy would move out immediately after you were born with the moving truck to work on the house and prepare it for us to arrive a couple weeks later. One scenario was Papa (my dad) would help me drive our little van with you and Bekah at that time to move the rest of our stuff. Another scenario, and the one we settled on, was Papa going with Daddy to help work on the house just after you were born and drive the moving van, then both of them flying back a couple weeks later and Daddy driving you, Bekah, and me in our van out to Chicago then. Things were looking tight on time, but we'd be okay.
Then things got completely out of our control. The week you were born turned out to be one of the hardest weeks of my job as a Hall Advisor. Pranks were getting out of hand and fire alarms continued to go off at all hours of the day and night. I couldn't decide if I wanted you to wait to come so I could not leave the burdens on other Hall Advisors, or if I should take drastic measures to make you come earlier just to escape it. Anyhow, to get away from it and because we wanted to go one last time before we moved, we went with Daddy's family to a restaurant called The Mayan in Sandy, Utah, about a half hour North of us. We wondered if we should risk going that far, but we decided to do it, despite having had contractions off and on for the last several weeks. Not only is the food good and the prices reasonable, the cliff diver shows are so amazing! I hope we can take you some day. You would love it. We had a great time. As we were leaving the restaurant, your daddy went to get the car while we waited with Grandma Douglas. While leaving the parking lot to pull up to the front, all of a sudden the breaks stopped working! This resulted in a minor fender bender which thankfully the driver said don't worry about it. Daddy pulled into another parking lot by using the emergency break and we met him over there.
Then the miracles started pouring in. Of course I was having some contractions during dinner but they weren't progressing--yet still I knew we needed to have reliable transportation soon! We were so glad Daddy's family hadn't left yet, since this meant Bekah and I could sit in their air conditioned car while we figured out what to do. (The temperatures were VERY hot that day.) By a miracle we had signed up for AAA just two days before!!! so we were able to tow our van for free, and luckily there was a Les Schwab near by, our favorite tire chain. This was a Saturday, though, so no repair shops were open, so it had to sit over the weekend in their parking lot. I was able to reach my Uncle Richard, who lived just 15 minutes away, who let us borrow their new and very nice van for the weekend (with awesome AC and a DVD player I might add). So within just a few hours things were back on schedule with working transportation. Still the contractions weren't regular so we were okay.
We got home and put Bekah to bed and decided we wanted to watch a movie to try to relax after the excitement of the evening. Within 15 minutes of starting The Bourne Supremacy though I was pacing back and forth trying to breath through very sudden and painful contractions. So about midnight we called my cousin Cameo to come stay the night with Bekah while your daddy and I were at the hospital. We were so glad she was home and could come over right away! I was also glad you decided to come when you did since I was going to be induced in a few days so we could make sure Daddy was here before he had to go close on our new house. (Your due date was July 25th.) The hospital checked us in quickly and your daddy and I settled in for what we thought could be a while. The epidural was started sometime soon, maybe around 3AM, and we both tried to grab as much sleep as we could between nurse checks. I wo
ke up for good around 6AM and could tell things were getting close. I think my nurse's name was Jenny. She was very nice. Dr. Glenn was my doctor but since it was the weekend, Dr. Broadbent was on call. I'd never met him before but he knew what he was doing. I think it just took 15 minutes of pushing, and you were born. 7:15AM. All 6 pounds 9 ounces of you. All 18 inches of you. With your dusting of dark hair and surprisingly olive skin. We couldn't get enough of you.Actually we still can't.
We are so grateful we get to be your parents.
There is so much more I want to tell you...of all you had to endure in your first few months of life. But that will have to wait. For now I am admiring the balloons and streamers and the ice cream-soaked mound of cake on your high chair tray, uneaten cupcakes, new toys strewn throughout the house. And thinking maybe now your dad and I can finish watching The Bourne Supremacy. Or maybe we should just catch up on our sleep.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Where does the time go?
In trying to catch up on posts, I realized I never touched on Bekah's latest achievement--kindergarten graduation! Not that they had an ceremony or anything, but I just can't believe her kindergarten year is over. First grade...here we come! Here come school lunches, early morning rushes, more hounding (did you finish your homework yet? "Oh, mommmm" what did you learn in school today? "nothing"), recess ("mom, I ripped another hole in my pants today"), walking to and from school all by yourself! Do we parents ever feel ready for the stages of life that come upon us?!
Our neighbor was sweet enough to give Bekah a graduation card and "Wow, mom! There's a whole dollar in it!" She debated for a while what she wanted to do with it, but after a couple days she decided on the ice cream truck, since it passes by our house almost daily. Too bad a dollar doesn't get you much anymore these days.
Also today I finally lowered James crib to the bottom level. He's cruising pretty well now and stepping on things to look out over his crib. One day a couple weeks ago I went in after he woke up from his nap and noticed a big gouge on the top of the side rail. I thought maybe something had fallen one day there or something. When I noticed about ten times as many gouges the next day it became clear that someone was teething more...we do not have teething rails so the crib has quickly become a battle zone of teeth marks! They say the paint is non-toxic... Jason suggested just not leaving him in there when he's awake, but James has gotten really good at playing quietly in his crib, not to mention that I'm big on putting him down awake. Oh, well. Nevermind that I pictured using the headboard/footboard option into his teen years. I guess he'll just have more things that tell a story in his room. Heck...he's a boy so I doubt anything in his room at any stage of his life will be kept looking new and not beat up. I love him all the same!
Our neighbor was sweet enough to give Bekah a graduation card and "Wow, mom! There's a whole dollar in it!" She debated for a while what she wanted to do with it, but after a couple days she decided on the ice cream truck, since it passes by our house almost daily. Too bad a dollar doesn't get you much anymore these days.
Also today I finally lowered James crib to the bottom level. He's cruising pretty well now and stepping on things to look out over his crib. One day a couple weeks ago I went in after he woke up from his nap and noticed a big gouge on the top of the side rail. I thought maybe something had fallen one day there or something. When I noticed about ten times as many gouges the next day it became clear that someone was teething more...we do not have teething rails so the crib has quickly become a battle zone of teeth marks! They say the paint is non-toxic... Jason suggested just not leaving him in there when he's awake, but James has gotten really good at playing quietly in his crib, not to mention that I'm big on putting him down awake. Oh, well. Nevermind that I pictured using the headboard/footboard option into his teen years. I guess he'll just have more things that tell a story in his room. Heck...he's a boy so I doubt anything in his room at any stage of his life will be kept looking new and not beat up. I love him all the same!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Doctor visits
Bekah had her 6-year old check-up on Tuesday the 19th and was thrilled to hear she didn't need shots and won't until she's about 14! She came in at 3 feet 11 inches (80 something percent) and 46 pounds (I think 30 something percent). She's getting so big! She had so much to say to the nurse and doctor about her life. She is so delightful.
We weighed James while we were there and with a onesie on he was 16 pounds 12 ounces. A little bit better since last weight check he wore all his clothes. Big news for James is he is drinking some formula out of a sippy cup, especially if it's cold! That will help a lot. Also, early this week he started pulling up on furniture and yesterday started pulling up to a standing position! Cruising isn't far behind. He loves to play with things and figure out how they work, but gets bored easily so we have to keep thinking of new ways to use old toys. Go James!
We weighed James while we were there and with a onesie on he was 16 pounds 12 ounces. A little bit better since last weight check he wore all his clothes. Big news for James is he is drinking some formula out of a sippy cup, especially if it's cold! That will help a lot. Also, early this week he started pulling up on furniture and yesterday started pulling up to a standing position! Cruising isn't far behind. He loves to play with things and figure out how they work, but gets bored easily so we have to keep thinking of new ways to use old toys. Go James!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Special Days
Sometimes life doesn't work out the way we want it to and it's especially diffcult when there is not one thing you can do to change it. Such is the plight of Bekah having to share a birthday with her mother and Mother's Day this year. I keep telling her I told her not to be born on May 10th, but she didn't listen to me...funny how that fits perfectly with her personality! It's so hard for Bekah to realize that there is really and truly nothing that can be done...she's already born and she was born on May 10th. It's even more permanent than the name we gave her. So what can we do? Make the best of it, and Jason sure did everything in his power this year to make us both feel special.
Last Friday, he gave Bekah the choice of celebrating her birthday the next afternoon or "how about right now"! Well what kid wouldn't choose right now! So we go to eat out as a whole family at McDonalds (something we haven't been able to do for a while) and Bekah got to play for a long time on the playground. Then, as if that wasn't enough of a birthday treat, we went to play games at Chuck E Cheese. After using lots of tokens and redeeming tickets for prizes, we came home to eat a homemade ice cream cake out of ice cream sandwiches and strawberry cool whip. Wow, Jason! Even James really got into things that night. He got to eat his first bites of a McDonalds cheeseburger...a trend I hope we don't repeat too many times but was so funny to see him so excited to get to eat big people food! (He is so interested in what we eat but as yet has a hard time not choking on anything that's chunky, so McD's hamburgers were perfect because they are ground up so much they don't take long to chew up.) He and Daddy went up into the playground for the first time while I tried my hardest not to be anxious about the germs he was being exposed to. James truly didn't want to leave--except for the over abundance of screaming from all the kids.
Next day, after a Stake Relief Society event, it was mommy's turn. The whole family came to pick me up from the Stake Center, and then we got to go shopping at Woodfield Mall. It seems like forever since I've been shopping in a mall! Then we had a dinner at P.F. Chang's. The dinner was delicious...but we learned the hard way not to take James to nice restaurants for a while. After enjoying the scenery at the Rainforest Cafe (the kids like to look at the fish and mechanical alligator and other animals), we drove home and had another homemade ice cream cake. (Jason wanted to make sure we each had our own special cake.)
Sunday was Mother's Day, so we got to celebrate three days in a row! And so Bekah wouldn't have any reason to feel slighted, and because we love her :) we decided to throw a surprise friend party for her today. Bekah was really surprised. It turned out great. We just played a few easy games (freeze dance, limbo, mummy wrap, duck-duck-goose, hula hoop race, telephone, and bubbles), decorated cupcakes (since I ran out of time to do a cupcake cake), and did a book exchange instead of presents. I really liked that we ended up putting a candle on each cupcake so everyone got to blow out a candle and everyone got to open a present (book exchange) so everyone felt special. It was a great way to have a birthday party without increasing the sense of entitlement and greediness that seems to have built up with each year's birthday. Maybe we'll continue this tradition, except for the surprise part. Bekah asked if we could do a surprise party every year, but I told her it's like jokes. After you do it once or twice, it doesn't seem to work anymore.
All in all, we've had lots of special days this past week.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Another doctor visit for James
I took James to the doctor on Friday because I wasn't sure his ear infection was getting better. He kept going in and out of a low-grade fever and wasn't acting himself again even though he'd been on antibiotics for over a week. The doctor said his ears looked a little better so to keep an eye on him. But he got weighed again...this time (with clothes on) 16 pounds 14 ounces! Way to go James!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
My baby is back!
Jason and I both independently noticed within 24 hours of James being treated for his ear infection that he suddenly became his laughing, happy self again! And the transition from that to teething pain and ear pain was so gradual we didn't even realize he was gone...sad because now we realize how much we missed him. James is doing much better, temperment wise. He seems to be swallowing and eating a little better too. Hopefully that is one of the causes of his being under-weight and we can catch it early. (Bekah had a long chain of ear infections that kept her from gaining weight, too, so we'll be on the lookout with James.)
Doesn't it just make you glow inside when your kids are filled with happiness?!
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