A few of my favorite pictures from this week - of course they're of my favorite subjects.
What? You didn't think I'd forget Millie, did you?
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Randoms From Today
We went bowling. Wyatt proceeded to tell everyone that he went bowling and that was his present. Turns out it was, seeing as how we didn't even give him the gift we had stashed away. Between the birthday goodies from family and the balloons from his friends, he's sure it was a plentiful day.
**********
As I put him down for his nap, I told Wyatt "happy napping, my three-year old." He sat bolt upright and asked, "Mommy, I still be three when I wake up?"
**********
I felt like I was in a flashback episode of The Sopranos today at the pool. The other two kids in the little pool were Anthony and Carmella. I made sure to stay on their good sides.
**********
We captured a lightning bug tonight in Wyatt's brand-spanking-new bug bungalow. We turned out all the lights and laid on the family room floor waiting for the little critter to light up. Turns out he never did but those few minutes with Jeff, Wyatt and me huddled together in the twilight were magical.
**********
Next year someone needs to remind me that Wyatt doesn't actually need a cake. I should just heap the frosting on a plate, let him decorate it and then dig in. It reminds me that I had such serious frosting cravings when I was pregnant with him that I finally broke down and bought myself a 1/32 sheet cake. It was so good!
**********
Last year on his birthday, Wyatt could barely string three words together. This year, he talked on the phone to his aunts, cousins and grandparents with minimal parental supervision. When I look at how much he's learning every single day, it's really no wonder that sometimes it's just too much for him to remember his manners, too.
**********
As Wyatt went upstairs for bed, I said, "I'm so glad you're my baby." He promptly replied, "kid." I stand corrected, for he is certainly a kid these days. Tomorrow I'll remind him he'll always be my first baby, no matter how old he gets.
**********
As I put him down for his nap, I told Wyatt "happy napping, my three-year old." He sat bolt upright and asked, "Mommy, I still be three when I wake up?"
**********
I felt like I was in a flashback episode of The Sopranos today at the pool. The other two kids in the little pool were Anthony and Carmella. I made sure to stay on their good sides.
**********
We captured a lightning bug tonight in Wyatt's brand-spanking-new bug bungalow. We turned out all the lights and laid on the family room floor waiting for the little critter to light up. Turns out he never did but those few minutes with Jeff, Wyatt and me huddled together in the twilight were magical.
**********
Next year someone needs to remind me that Wyatt doesn't actually need a cake. I should just heap the frosting on a plate, let him decorate it and then dig in. It reminds me that I had such serious frosting cravings when I was pregnant with him that I finally broke down and bought myself a 1/32 sheet cake. It was so good!
**********
Last year on his birthday, Wyatt could barely string three words together. This year, he talked on the phone to his aunts, cousins and grandparents with minimal parental supervision. When I look at how much he's learning every single day, it's really no wonder that sometimes it's just too much for him to remember his manners, too.
**********
As Wyatt went upstairs for bed, I said, "I'm so glad you're my baby." He promptly replied, "kid." I stand corrected, for he is certainly a kid these days. Tomorrow I'll remind him he'll always be my first baby, no matter how old he gets.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Three.
Dear Wyatt,
How did you get to be three? It's been an interesting year, kiddo. You're still my little guy, but you're just turning into such a boy that your toddlerhood is turning into some sort of foggy memory. Just yesterday we watched the video of Daddy's surprise return back in February and already I see such changes in you. Your conversational skills are impressive. You hear things once and then all of a sudden you're repeating them, in the appropriate context, to someone else. Thank goodness the worst word you use is poop. I'll congratulate you, your dad and myself on that one. I think it's probably divine intervention that worse language hasn't emerged from your little lips.
I was trying to think of things that you used to do but don't anymore, now that you're three. I'm happy to say that sometime in the last few months, you've started keeping your shoes on. Hallelujah! I got so tired of always. putting. shoes. back. on. you. in the car, in shopping carts, all over creation. So thanks for that, buddy. And I am particularly impressed that you now take your shoes off as soon as you get into the house and, more often than not, put them in the shoe cabinet where they belong.
You have become such a fantastic big brother. It's kind of hard to believe that you were the only child a year ago; Natalie was merely a figment of our imaginations. But now she's here and you act as though you can't remember life any other way. Maybe you can't, now that I think of it. I'm not really sure what your memory span is. Either way, you make us so proud by being so loving to her. I asked you yesterday what your favorite thing about Natalie is and you said, "playing with her." Too funny, since she's pretty immobile. You work hard to get her attention (so hard that meals suffer) when we're all at the table. Then you turn to me and tell me that Natalie smiled at you. I really hope you always love her this way and will work so hard to make her smile. I can tell she already thinks her big brother hung the moon because she does, indeed, beam from ear to ear when she sees you.
You still love any sort of ball and you have a massive collection of all types and colors. Somehow you never think you have enough, though, and will always ask for more when we see them. We rarely cave since our house might be overrun as it is.
You love, love, LOVE your bed and beg to show it off to anyone who comes over. You also still refuse to get out of it without one of us being there to tell you it's okay. You hoard a million toys in there - stuffed animals, books, your little license plate, train cars and cargo, plastic bracelets, balls, tubes - you name it, it's there. Yet even with all that stuff, you get sad if you realize you can't find your nana when it's time for sleep. Tiger, hedgehog and birdie bird are your recurring favorite stuffed animals, with Tiger always being at the top of the list. He's your go-to guy.
Your favorite thing to do is move objects from one container to another. You are still playing with a box of penne pasta that you've had for more than two weeks. It's currently divided between a laundry basket and an old formula container. I find random penne all over the house, but it makes you so happy to pretend it's cookies or some other item you've "cooked." As for real cooking, you help make the coffee every morning, dutifully counting the scoops, dumping it into the filter and then pressing the button to start it. It turns out you're also really good at running out to get the paper off the driveway. You ask me every day to save the bag for you - I always do - because you can think of a million things to store in it.
You love airplanes, always requesting to watch for them when we go to the commissary and as we drive past the airport up the road. We got to see five jets take off and three land today after our grocery run and that just about makes your day. You are always pretty sure that it must be Daddy, or maybe Jaws. Today you thought it might also be Sammy and Julie's daddy, so I think you're starting to figure out the whole Air Force thing. You also tell us that you want to be a pilot and that you want to fly Eagles. I wonder if this is how Daddy used to be.
You love the park ("the one in our neighborhood"), you're very tolerant of our trips to the Y, you love Costco for the samples, Trader Joe's for the balloons and Target for it's fancy carts. You've requested that we go bowling for your birthday and have said that will be your present.
You're just like Daddy in that you've never met a stranger. You're pretty sure that all adults and children alike want to be your pal. You try to hold hands with just about everyone; you think all the neighbors are out there for your entertainment. And maybe they are; they let you get away with almost anything, like the other night when John let you use his broom to play in his sprinklers.
You love to snuggle and often request to cuddle with one of us. You give fantastic squeezy hugs, lots of impromptu kisses and often tell us out of the blue that you love us. You're sure that anytime Daddy and I hug, it should become a family activity and you wind yourself around our legs. We laugh about it every time. You're starting to be nicer to Millie, often asking if we can take her out to play in the afternoons. And you're getting really good about feeding her twice a day then yelling, "Millie! Your breakfast is ready!" You always put your hand up by your mouth as you shout, as if it helps the sound carry.
Isaac is still your best friend and you point out his neighborhood every time we drive by. You enjoy talking on the phone and will walk around the house holding it, just like I do. You love to dance, you sing silly songs with me, you know all the words to "Call My Name" by Third Day and you keep asking me what the songs on the radio are about and who's singing them. It's like you already sense my weakness in the music trivia category.
Most importantly, you keep me on my toes all day, every day. You are an inquisitive, sensitive, loving, rambunctious, ornery boy and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you and can't wait to read what I write about you in another year.
Love,
Mom
How did you get to be three? It's been an interesting year, kiddo. You're still my little guy, but you're just turning into such a boy that your toddlerhood is turning into some sort of foggy memory. Just yesterday we watched the video of Daddy's surprise return back in February and already I see such changes in you. Your conversational skills are impressive. You hear things once and then all of a sudden you're repeating them, in the appropriate context, to someone else. Thank goodness the worst word you use is poop. I'll congratulate you, your dad and myself on that one. I think it's probably divine intervention that worse language hasn't emerged from your little lips.
I was trying to think of things that you used to do but don't anymore, now that you're three. I'm happy to say that sometime in the last few months, you've started keeping your shoes on. Hallelujah! I got so tired of always. putting. shoes. back. on. you. in the car, in shopping carts, all over creation. So thanks for that, buddy. And I am particularly impressed that you now take your shoes off as soon as you get into the house and, more often than not, put them in the shoe cabinet where they belong.
You have become such a fantastic big brother. It's kind of hard to believe that you were the only child a year ago; Natalie was merely a figment of our imaginations. But now she's here and you act as though you can't remember life any other way. Maybe you can't, now that I think of it. I'm not really sure what your memory span is. Either way, you make us so proud by being so loving to her. I asked you yesterday what your favorite thing about Natalie is and you said, "playing with her." Too funny, since she's pretty immobile. You work hard to get her attention (so hard that meals suffer) when we're all at the table. Then you turn to me and tell me that Natalie smiled at you. I really hope you always love her this way and will work so hard to make her smile. I can tell she already thinks her big brother hung the moon because she does, indeed, beam from ear to ear when she sees you.
You still love any sort of ball and you have a massive collection of all types and colors. Somehow you never think you have enough, though, and will always ask for more when we see them. We rarely cave since our house might be overrun as it is.
You love, love, LOVE your bed and beg to show it off to anyone who comes over. You also still refuse to get out of it without one of us being there to tell you it's okay. You hoard a million toys in there - stuffed animals, books, your little license plate, train cars and cargo, plastic bracelets, balls, tubes - you name it, it's there. Yet even with all that stuff, you get sad if you realize you can't find your nana when it's time for sleep. Tiger, hedgehog and birdie bird are your recurring favorite stuffed animals, with Tiger always being at the top of the list. He's your go-to guy.
Your favorite thing to do is move objects from one container to another. You are still playing with a box of penne pasta that you've had for more than two weeks. It's currently divided between a laundry basket and an old formula container. I find random penne all over the house, but it makes you so happy to pretend it's cookies or some other item you've "cooked." As for real cooking, you help make the coffee every morning, dutifully counting the scoops, dumping it into the filter and then pressing the button to start it. It turns out you're also really good at running out to get the paper off the driveway. You ask me every day to save the bag for you - I always do - because you can think of a million things to store in it.
You love airplanes, always requesting to watch for them when we go to the commissary and as we drive past the airport up the road. We got to see five jets take off and three land today after our grocery run and that just about makes your day. You are always pretty sure that it must be Daddy, or maybe Jaws. Today you thought it might also be Sammy and Julie's daddy, so I think you're starting to figure out the whole Air Force thing. You also tell us that you want to be a pilot and that you want to fly Eagles. I wonder if this is how Daddy used to be.
You love the park ("the one in our neighborhood"), you're very tolerant of our trips to the Y, you love Costco for the samples, Trader Joe's for the balloons and Target for it's fancy carts. You've requested that we go bowling for your birthday and have said that will be your present.
You're just like Daddy in that you've never met a stranger. You're pretty sure that all adults and children alike want to be your pal. You try to hold hands with just about everyone; you think all the neighbors are out there for your entertainment. And maybe they are; they let you get away with almost anything, like the other night when John let you use his broom to play in his sprinklers.
You love to snuggle and often request to cuddle with one of us. You give fantastic squeezy hugs, lots of impromptu kisses and often tell us out of the blue that you love us. You're sure that anytime Daddy and I hug, it should become a family activity and you wind yourself around our legs. We laugh about it every time. You're starting to be nicer to Millie, often asking if we can take her out to play in the afternoons. And you're getting really good about feeding her twice a day then yelling, "Millie! Your breakfast is ready!" You always put your hand up by your mouth as you shout, as if it helps the sound carry.
Isaac is still your best friend and you point out his neighborhood every time we drive by. You enjoy talking on the phone and will walk around the house holding it, just like I do. You love to dance, you sing silly songs with me, you know all the words to "Call My Name" by Third Day and you keep asking me what the songs on the radio are about and who's singing them. It's like you already sense my weakness in the music trivia category.
Most importantly, you keep me on my toes all day, every day. You are an inquisitive, sensitive, loving, rambunctious, ornery boy and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you and can't wait to read what I write about you in another year.
Love,
Mom
Growing Up
Natalie just rolled over, back to front. I've been watching her all day because it was apparent this new skill would be showing up any minute. Of course she waited until I was distracted by something else before doing it. So I missed the actual first rollover, but it obviously occurred and she was pretty pleased with herself. Apparently it's also exhausting, because shortly thereafter she had to go back to sleep.
Hard work, that baby stuff.
Hard work, that baby stuff.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Topics of Missing Posts
1. We recently went to Busch Gardens as a family, arrived at 10 am, left at 6:30 pm, and as we were leaving, Wyatt wanted to know why we didn't ride any rollercoasters. This after we spent the entire 8.5 hours seeking out all kid-friendly (under 42" allowed) rides. My little adrenaline junkie!
2. I'm officially another year older and this is the first time I have wanted to disavow a birthday. It wasn't even a milestone and I feel all weird about it. What gives?
3. I'm now the proud owner of a new lens for my DSLR camera and am signed up for a series of photography classes. Totally looking forward to learning something new.
4. Father's Day was a good one (and I guess I can judge since Jeff doesn't write a blog). Wyatt wanted to know what we were doing after church and I asked him what he thought his Daddy might like to do since it was his special day. He suggested Daddy would like to go to the park. When Jeff said that he might rather go out for Mexican food, Wyatt agreed that was a good idea but then reiterated that maybe later in the day Daddy would find going to the park very fun.
5. It's a good thing I love my Natalie so very much because the last ten pounds she contributed to my frame are having a hard time saying goodbye. I'm trying my best to be rational about it. I guess I should just be thankful it's kicking me into gear and getting me to the gym on a regular basis.
6. I talked to one of my oldest and dearest friends over the weekend. It was so good to catch up and I'm so thankful it's the kind of friendship that allows us to go far too long without talking and then chat as though we haven't missed much. I'm really best at that kind of no-pressure, no-expectations communication.
7. Wyatt is turning three - THREE - in a few days. Where do all the days go? And why does he keep insisting he wants a pink cake with pink frosting? Tomorrow's commissary day so if that's the word tomorrow, too, a pink cake it will be.
8. We have pretty great neighbors. When we left Okinawa, I was sure we'd never feel that same sense of community. While there's nothing like sharing a wall with really great friends who are also instant playdates, we've managed to get lucky twice in the awesome neighborhood department.
9. Changes are afoot. Another round of assignments just came out and by the first of the year, Jeff and I will be the "old timers" in the squadron. It seems like it was just yesterday that I went (nervously) to my first coffee here. Time for me to get serious about enjoying this assignment!
10. Wyatt, upon learning that we could go to the pool this morning, directed me to, "go go girl! Get us home so we can go to the poooooooool!"
2. I'm officially another year older and this is the first time I have wanted to disavow a birthday. It wasn't even a milestone and I feel all weird about it. What gives?
3. I'm now the proud owner of a new lens for my DSLR camera and am signed up for a series of photography classes. Totally looking forward to learning something new.
4. Father's Day was a good one (and I guess I can judge since Jeff doesn't write a blog). Wyatt wanted to know what we were doing after church and I asked him what he thought his Daddy might like to do since it was his special day. He suggested Daddy would like to go to the park. When Jeff said that he might rather go out for Mexican food, Wyatt agreed that was a good idea but then reiterated that maybe later in the day Daddy would find going to the park very fun.
5. It's a good thing I love my Natalie so very much because the last ten pounds she contributed to my frame are having a hard time saying goodbye. I'm trying my best to be rational about it. I guess I should just be thankful it's kicking me into gear and getting me to the gym on a regular basis.
6. I talked to one of my oldest and dearest friends over the weekend. It was so good to catch up and I'm so thankful it's the kind of friendship that allows us to go far too long without talking and then chat as though we haven't missed much. I'm really best at that kind of no-pressure, no-expectations communication.
7. Wyatt is turning three - THREE - in a few days. Where do all the days go? And why does he keep insisting he wants a pink cake with pink frosting? Tomorrow's commissary day so if that's the word tomorrow, too, a pink cake it will be.
8. We have pretty great neighbors. When we left Okinawa, I was sure we'd never feel that same sense of community. While there's nothing like sharing a wall with really great friends who are also instant playdates, we've managed to get lucky twice in the awesome neighborhood department.
9. Changes are afoot. Another round of assignments just came out and by the first of the year, Jeff and I will be the "old timers" in the squadron. It seems like it was just yesterday that I went (nervously) to my first coffee here. Time for me to get serious about enjoying this assignment!
10. Wyatt, upon learning that we could go to the pool this morning, directed me to, "go go girl! Get us home so we can go to the poooooooool!"
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Time Flies
From this
to this,
and this
to this
Life is good.
And I think I feel even better since both children were bathed and in bed at 8:02 pm, with no husband here to help. Things are starting to look pretty good around here!
Friday, June 12, 2009
He Has Limits
Wyatt is unbelievably patient with Natalie's rare fits of crying. In all fairness to her, she really is a great baby and cries are reserved for hunger and sleep-protesting. Unlike Wyatt, she doesn't have the world's quietest cry so it can get a little grating. He's started simply putting his hands over his ears to block out the sound or, if he sees her headed down that path, imploring me to "talk to Natalie, Mommy!"
Last night Jeff had to work crazy-late so bedtime was just the three of us. Unfortunately, Natalie's need-to-eat cry and sleep-protesting time converged and it was ugly for a little while. Since she would neither eat nor sleep, I couldn't get her to calm down and Wyatt's bedtime was long overdue so we just took our crying Natalie upstairs while Wyatt got ready for bed. Through teeth-brushing, face-washing, clothes-changing and book-reading, I jostled and juggled her in attempts to get her to quiet down. It was all for naught. So by the time the actual getting in bed part rolled around, I just laid Natalie on Wyatt's floor so I could give him a proper tuck-in.
We did our standard "what we doin' tomorrow" conversation and a blessing over Natalie's noise pollution and then it was lights out. On my way out of his room, I gathered up his dirty clothes but apparently I wasn't moving quickly enough because Wyatt sat up in bed and said, "Mommy, I want you to take Natalie with you!" I laughed and said, "you want me to take her with me?" and he said, "Yes! She will keep me awake if you leave her here!"
So I guess a shared room is currently out of the question.
Last night Jeff had to work crazy-late so bedtime was just the three of us. Unfortunately, Natalie's need-to-eat cry and sleep-protesting time converged and it was ugly for a little while. Since she would neither eat nor sleep, I couldn't get her to calm down and Wyatt's bedtime was long overdue so we just took our crying Natalie upstairs while Wyatt got ready for bed. Through teeth-brushing, face-washing, clothes-changing and book-reading, I jostled and juggled her in attempts to get her to quiet down. It was all for naught. So by the time the actual getting in bed part rolled around, I just laid Natalie on Wyatt's floor so I could give him a proper tuck-in.
We did our standard "what we doin' tomorrow" conversation and a blessing over Natalie's noise pollution and then it was lights out. On my way out of his room, I gathered up his dirty clothes but apparently I wasn't moving quickly enough because Wyatt sat up in bed and said, "Mommy, I want you to take Natalie with you!" I laughed and said, "you want me to take her with me?" and he said, "Yes! She will keep me awake if you leave her here!"
So I guess a shared room is currently out of the question.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Same But Different
Just when we're thinking that yeah, they might look alike we take a gander at old pictures and realize, no, they kind of don't. Gene pools are a curious thing. I love digital archives for the precision of the dates - these photos show my babies within days of the same age (if that makes sense). And I love how we look back at baby Wyatt pictures and recognize expressions we see all the time now.
P.S. For all my insistence that there will be no more babies in our family, I'm realizing that Natalie's babyhood is a little fleeting. If I could be guaranteed another one with her temperament...and issued another whopping dose of patience for the toddler years...
Friday, June 05, 2009
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Even it Out
Wyatt certainly gets the lion's share of the coverage in this forum, but Miss Natalie is doing her best to earn some mentions, too. As in, right now, she's cooing and smiling and kicking her little heart out in her bouncer. Just so you can envision it:
Only a Pilot's Kid
Wyatt was testing the limits a little during breakfast today and, after a slight reprimand, replied by pointing at me and saying, "you don't say that!" (it's his favorite retort.) When I said, "Wyatt, that was not appropriate," he replied by using his elbow to point at me and repeat himself.
What fantastic manners.
What fantastic manners.
Monday, June 01, 2009
So I Don't Forget
Conversation with Wyatt:
W: gibberish
Me: What?
W: gibberish
Me: What are you saying? I can't understand you.
W: It's from Kai-Lan (the show is entitled "Ni Hau Kai Lan" or some such thing on Noggin. You know, preschool on tv that's teaching our kids Mandarin)
Me: I don't know Kai-Lan. What can you tell me about Kai-Lan?
W: She's Kai-Lan.
Me: Well where is she from?
W: Messigo.
Me: What?
W: Kai Lan is from Messigo!
Me: Mexico?
W: Yes.
Obviously you get what you pay for with that free, self-proclaimed "preschool on tv". Let's hope the school we're paying for in the fall will teach him something more useful.
W: gibberish
Me: What?
W: gibberish
Me: What are you saying? I can't understand you.
W: It's from Kai-Lan (the show is entitled "Ni Hau Kai Lan" or some such thing on Noggin. You know, preschool on tv that's teaching our kids Mandarin)
Me: I don't know Kai-Lan. What can you tell me about Kai-Lan?
W: She's Kai-Lan.
Me: Well where is she from?
W: Messigo.
Me: What?
W: Kai Lan is from Messigo!
Me: Mexico?
W: Yes.
Obviously you get what you pay for with that free, self-proclaimed "preschool on tv". Let's hope the school we're paying for in the fall will teach him something more useful.
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