Each week at church I wonder if my family will EVER be able to stay in the chapel for the entire hour and ten minutes. Before potty training and before Henry started walking, it sometimes happened. I can't help but look around the chapel and know that there are other families with children the same ages/stage as ours and they seem to make it through most weeks just fine.
What am I doing wrong? Is it my children or how my husband and I handle them? We pack a bag with snacks and drinks and books and puzzles and toys and stickers and quiet books.... and that usually gets us through the sacrament portion. And this is for the should-be-easy-to-entertain 9AM church time.
It usually starts with Evalyn loudly declaring her need to go potty. So we oblige since it's been almost an hour since her last trip. Then Henry can't abide that his sister gets to walk out of the pew and he stay behind. 10-15 minutes later (so it seems) we'll all be back for round 2. That lasts all of 5 minutes until I grab the escaping/crying child and my bag and retreat to the Primary room. There I turn on the sound feed from the chapel, close the doors and set up chairs while vainly trying to keep the kids from banging on the piano, removing chair covers I've just put on, or fleeing the room and clomping down the hallway to the gym. Needless to say I wasn't filled with the right kind of Spirit as I chased my children down. That's how it played out today.
Only 3 more months til Henry goes to Nursery?!? Eeeks. Matt has Henry during Sunday School and brings him into Primary (usually asleep in the stroller) while he heads to teach Young Men's. We end with Singing Time so this usually works fine. The big downside is when we get home, Henry won't nap again until 3:00, if it all, because his nap was interrupted. That's the toss-up for the 2nd and 3rd hours: Contained napping Henry during church, but no nap at home. Crazy running around Henry at church, but will nap at home. In a few short weeks I'm sure we'll be at the end of "contained napping Henry" as he slowly shifts to a single nap anyway.
So, again, a long rambling post but this is what our Sunday meetings consist of. I'm almost looking forward to sitting in the mother's lounge nursing/feeding an infant so I'll get to hear the speakers again! Really though, it's not like we'd stop going to church just because it's hard. Somehow we'll figure out what it takes to keep our kids occupied and contained whether it be sticker reward charts for Evalyn and I don't know what for Henry (ideas anyone??). This stage won't last forever, right?? I take hope in watching other families with 3 or 4 kids and see the youngest ones quietly playing with their older siblings, content to be in the bench and not wandering the halls.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Henry's 15 month Check-up
On Thursday Henry had his well baby checkup. Height (32 1/2 ") and head are 80 and 90 percentile (same as always) and his weight (25 lbs) is right at 50th percentile. Ever since he started walking around, his weight slowed a bit from 70th, active fellow that he is! I always think he weighs more than he does; he is a very muscular 25 lbs! Usually feeling heavier than his older sister.
Oh, he had to get two shots and even though I told Evalyn that he'd probably cry, she got scared and cried louder than poor Henry! Fortunately all I had to do was remind her that we were going to Trader Joe's next and she calmed down quickly adding, "And I'm going to get a pink balloon!" with a smile on her tear streaked face.
Later that day while I was talking with Aunt Heather on the phone, Evalyn wanted to talk, too. I helped prompt the conversation by asking, "What happened at the doctor's today?" Her response: "The lady stuck a pen in Henry's leg and he cried." : ( Needless to say I'm a little apprehensive about her 3yr checkup in June since I'm pretty sure she's due for one or two shots... (gulp)
Henry's been trying a few more words and baby signs. Mama, Dadda and Jadie/Kitty he's had under his belt for awhile. "Nana" (bannana) and "Si" (paci) are his latest ones. He smiles when I do baby signs for him (more, all done, please/thank you) but only lately has started repeating. I was standing in line at Target (with Evalyn in the cart and Henry on my back in the Ergo) and heard him start panting like a dog (kind of a weird baby sign but really cute). I looked and looked trying to see where the doggie was. Sure enough I finally saw a gift card with a small picture of a doggie! I'd been doing "fish" for him too, opening and closing my mouth, and now he's going crazy with that when we see a fish anywhere.
He loves finding airplanes in the sky and looking for the moon at night. Anything to do with being outside. He will do a face plant and lap up water from the ground before I can stop him. The same goes with eating dirt. Argh! He raids the dishwasher and Tupperware drawers whenever he can. He loves racing up the stairs when the door is left open chanting "Ah Ah Ah" mimicking my scolding words when he's getting into trouble. He climbs up to the bathroom sink at any opportunity and practically throws himself into the bathtub at night. The kid LOVES water.
A funny habit of late that I should get on video is his dramatic pout. He'll throw his whole body on the floor, put his forehead down to the floor with his little crooked arm above it. Very typical toddler posture I suppose, but it makes me smile whenever he does it. Probably because whatever provoked it is so small compared with the effort to make such a pose.
I could go on, but this post is long enough as is! I'd been feeling guilty lately than Henry wasn't getting as much "blog time" as his talkative sister.
Oh, he had to get two shots and even though I told Evalyn that he'd probably cry, she got scared and cried louder than poor Henry! Fortunately all I had to do was remind her that we were going to Trader Joe's next and she calmed down quickly adding, "And I'm going to get a pink balloon!" with a smile on her tear streaked face.
Later that day while I was talking with Aunt Heather on the phone, Evalyn wanted to talk, too. I helped prompt the conversation by asking, "What happened at the doctor's today?" Her response: "The lady stuck a pen in Henry's leg and he cried." : ( Needless to say I'm a little apprehensive about her 3yr checkup in June since I'm pretty sure she's due for one or two shots... (gulp)
Henry's been trying a few more words and baby signs. Mama, Dadda and Jadie/Kitty he's had under his belt for awhile. "Nana" (bannana) and "Si" (paci) are his latest ones. He smiles when I do baby signs for him (more, all done, please/thank you) but only lately has started repeating. I was standing in line at Target (with Evalyn in the cart and Henry on my back in the Ergo) and heard him start panting like a dog (kind of a weird baby sign but really cute). I looked and looked trying to see where the doggie was. Sure enough I finally saw a gift card with a small picture of a doggie! I'd been doing "fish" for him too, opening and closing my mouth, and now he's going crazy with that when we see a fish anywhere.
He loves finding airplanes in the sky and looking for the moon at night. Anything to do with being outside. He will do a face plant and lap up water from the ground before I can stop him. The same goes with eating dirt. Argh! He raids the dishwasher and Tupperware drawers whenever he can. He loves racing up the stairs when the door is left open chanting "Ah Ah Ah" mimicking my scolding words when he's getting into trouble. He climbs up to the bathroom sink at any opportunity and practically throws himself into the bathtub at night. The kid LOVES water.
A funny habit of late that I should get on video is his dramatic pout. He'll throw his whole body on the floor, put his forehead down to the floor with his little crooked arm above it. Very typical toddler posture I suppose, but it makes me smile whenever he does it. Probably because whatever provoked it is so small compared with the effort to make such a pose.
I could go on, but this post is long enough as is! I'd been feeling guilty lately than Henry wasn't getting as much "blog time" as his talkative sister.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Spring Pictures
As much as I like the idea of having small little pictures accompanying each post, I haven't figured out how to do this in a streamlined fashion. Heck, I'm lucky just to get text up! It IS easy for me to drop a bunch of photos in my Picasa Web Album and copy it from there. So until I am efficient enough to download photos from my camera and make an individual post about them, it's the album way for me!
Enjoy. : )
Enjoy. : )
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| Spring 2007 |
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Perfect Spring Days
These weeks, or days, of perfect spring weather in the mid-Atlantic are so fleeting. Every moment soaking up the outdoors mosquito and humidity free must be cherished. Waking up to a crisp sunny morning. Planting and weeding with soft breezes cooling your skin. Swinging in the hammock under a bough of cherry blossoms after a hard days work in the yard. Laughing with friends while eating a grilled meal on the patio. Watching the kids play in the dirt and squeal with delight. After all the dishes are done and the children are in bed (or almost there), swinging in the hammock again while watching the bats swoop overhead hunting their insect prey as the sky darkens. This is what it's all about. Everyday. Every weekend like this is a gift that swells my heart with contentment and peace.
Digging Holes and Moving Dirt
Wow. It's amazing how correlated beautiful spring weather and the level of outdoor activity are in our family. This weekend was no exception. Friday was Matt's flex day, so we started in with digging holes and moving dirt. My goal was to re-locate a redbud tree, put up a fence around our garden area, and buy a patio set. Matt focused on grading the area next to our patio for flower pots, mowing the lawn, and edging the center landscaped area around our maple tree. At the end of two days we saw much of this accomplished.
I ended up buying a tree to plant in my huge hole after realizing we'd more than likely kill the existing redbud if we tried to dig it out. Digging the hole was hard, but fun too. One, because Evalyn delighted so much in it, even though it took a lot more work shoveling dirt AROUND her. Also, once I got down deep enough I enjoyed the lovely scent of sassafras from the roots of a nearby tree. Whenever I chopped through one of these pencil thin (or smaller) roots, I'd pull it out and smell it's sweet pungency. Delightful.
When I came across a worm or two, I gave them to Evalyn. I felt a little bad knowing the poor thing would get ill treatment from her curious hands. But teaching her to take care of something as simple as a worm is important, too, right? This time she discovered giving her worm a bath. Hard to say which it preferred, excessive water or lack of soil. Poor wormie. Like I said, I only gave her one or two. The others stayed safely hidden in the dirt.
The garden fence still isn't up, but if the pleasant weather holds for a few days, it will be! I hesitated a bit because the location I want for my garden isn't where my existing garden beds are. We (rather my dad on the backhoe) moved a lot of scrubby trees and debris around last spring. So the perfect sunniest spot is now available to turn into a garden, but I'm pouting because it will take a lot of work to get it ready when I've already put a good bit of labor into the existing 2-3 beds that aren't in the perfect spot.
It's just my silly nature to put off doing a project (whether it be planting a garden, finishing a scrapbook, sewing a pattern) until I have all the components perfectly gathered and ready to go. I want to have the best outcome so figure that chances are greatest if the parts going into it are top notch. Sure, seeds will probably grow in ground that hasn't had much done to it besides turning it with a garden fork, even if it's not in the sunniest spot in my yard. BUT not as well as dirt that's been amended with a truckload of topsoil from a nearby nursery and is in full sun. Do I want to spend hours cultivating a garden if there is something that will give me greater chances of success by doing a bit more work, even if that work might delay the actual planting?? Enough of my silliness. I'll have my beds fenced in by Wednesday, I'm sure, and I'll push away the nagging sunnier spot until next spring... really, I will.....
I ended up buying a tree to plant in my huge hole after realizing we'd more than likely kill the existing redbud if we tried to dig it out. Digging the hole was hard, but fun too. One, because Evalyn delighted so much in it, even though it took a lot more work shoveling dirt AROUND her. Also, once I got down deep enough I enjoyed the lovely scent of sassafras from the roots of a nearby tree. Whenever I chopped through one of these pencil thin (or smaller) roots, I'd pull it out and smell it's sweet pungency. Delightful.
When I came across a worm or two, I gave them to Evalyn. I felt a little bad knowing the poor thing would get ill treatment from her curious hands. But teaching her to take care of something as simple as a worm is important, too, right? This time she discovered giving her worm a bath. Hard to say which it preferred, excessive water or lack of soil. Poor wormie. Like I said, I only gave her one or two. The others stayed safely hidden in the dirt.
The garden fence still isn't up, but if the pleasant weather holds for a few days, it will be! I hesitated a bit because the location I want for my garden isn't where my existing garden beds are. We (rather my dad on the backhoe) moved a lot of scrubby trees and debris around last spring. So the perfect sunniest spot is now available to turn into a garden, but I'm pouting because it will take a lot of work to get it ready when I've already put a good bit of labor into the existing 2-3 beds that aren't in the perfect spot.
It's just my silly nature to put off doing a project (whether it be planting a garden, finishing a scrapbook, sewing a pattern) until I have all the components perfectly gathered and ready to go. I want to have the best outcome so figure that chances are greatest if the parts going into it are top notch. Sure, seeds will probably grow in ground that hasn't had much done to it besides turning it with a garden fork, even if it's not in the sunniest spot in my yard. BUT not as well as dirt that's been amended with a truckload of topsoil from a nearby nursery and is in full sun. Do I want to spend hours cultivating a garden if there is something that will give me greater chances of success by doing a bit more work, even if that work might delay the actual planting?? Enough of my silliness. I'll have my beds fenced in by Wednesday, I'm sure, and I'll push away the nagging sunnier spot until next spring... really, I will.....
Monday, April 16, 2007
Twilight
So, I picked up the book Twilight by Stephanie Myers at Borders this weekend while we were out running errands (decided I couldn't wait until it came in at the library). Saturday was too busy to read more than the first few pages. Then Sunday after church (I know vampires on the Sabbath....not to mention neglecting my family!) I requested a few hours of solo book reading and napping time. Needless to say I didn't nap and only stopped to help get the kids down for bed, switch some laundry and eat some food. At 1:30AM I finished, exhilarated and wanting more after reading the teaser first chapter for the sequel, New Moon. 498 pages in 10 hours, puts it right up there with Harry Potter!A BIG thank you to my honey for letting me so indulge. ; ) After coming downstairs for a break, I slyly mentioned it was kind of like going fly fishing for an entire day in a secluded mountain stream....
I've been hankering for a good addicting book just like this to zone out with for weeks now. Thanks to Susan for her great book group suggestion, even though we were all a bit skeptical.... The last few I've read were more deep/non-fiction and not just fun easy reads. Plus it was a very clean book in the language and romance department: tantalizing without going over the top. I guess that's why young adult books tend to fill up my reading list, even though I'm in denial about it! ; )
So now to get back to real life and be productive. At least I found the sequel on CD at the library. Thanks to my friend Corinne's inspiration, I'll put it on my iPod so I can still function around the house.....
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Redbuds and Spring
I love redbud trees. They have these amazing bright purple-turning-to-magenta blossoms.
This time of year around the mid-Atlantic they are bursting with color against all the silvery branches and green and red buds of taller trees. I remember seeing them my first spring in Wash DC and asking around to learn what kind they were. Ended up doing a Google image search and found my answer: Cercis canadensis, American or Eastern Redbud.
Last spring I made the amazing discovery that we have one in our yard! It's a scraggly looking volunteer that's next to my other favorite spring bloomer, the dogwood. My only problem now is separating them from their clump and transplanting to a place in our yard where they'll have more breathing room. I'm really into native trees, we also have a sassafras tree in the corner of our property. It gest bright green leaf blooms and then fun lobed leaves that turn scarlet in the fall. All these lovely trees make me intoxicated! Such striking beauty, especially in the natural eastern forest setting.
All the springiness in the air makes me want to get out some more and explore. Friday afternoon I was listening to NPR on the way home from visiting a friend in VA and I learned all about wildflowers in the Potomac River flood plain near Great Falls. Hopefully we'll make it there sometime this week.
This time of year around the mid-Atlantic they are bursting with color against all the silvery branches and green and red buds of taller trees. I remember seeing them my first spring in Wash DC and asking around to learn what kind they were. Ended up doing a Google image search and found my answer: Cercis canadensis, American or Eastern Redbud.
Last spring I made the amazing discovery that we have one in our yard! It's a scraggly looking volunteer that's next to my other favorite spring bloomer, the dogwood. My only problem now is separating them from their clump and transplanting to a place in our yard where they'll have more breathing room. I'm really into native trees, we also have a sassafras tree in the corner of our property. It gest bright green leaf blooms and then fun lobed leaves that turn scarlet in the fall. All these lovely trees make me intoxicated! Such striking beauty, especially in the natural eastern forest setting.
All the springiness in the air makes me want to get out some more and explore. Friday afternoon I was listening to NPR on the way home from visiting a friend in VA and I learned all about wildflowers in the Potomac River flood plain near Great Falls. Hopefully we'll make it there sometime this week.
Monday, April 09, 2007
I'm Dreaming of a White.... Easter??
We drove up to Johnstown, PA to enjoy the Easter weekend with Matt's family. We had a fun time together, except for the freezing weather and relentless snow! Fortunately whatever had accumulated the night before had melted by afternoon. It was still a bit unreal to have the kids hunt for their Easter eggs in blowing snow!
Zeke the dog is a bigger hit with the kids each time we go. He's a very playful smart Border Collie puppy. I think as both he and the kids get older they'll be able to entertain each other for hours rather than minutes! Grammum greeted the kids with a huge bunch of helium balloons. They were magical bouncing around the ceiling. The next day it was hilarious watching Zeke hit the slowly sinking latex balloons up again and again as he crouched waiting for it to fall slowly into jumping range. I'll try and get the video up.
This was the first Easter Evalyn really got into dyeing eggs. She was most interested in doing pink ones (of course). Since the older Baun cousins weren't here this Easter, Grammum, Pappy Roy, Daddy and Mommy "had" to take our turns decorating eggs as well. The tie-dye set was a big hit with us grown ups. We all had multi-colored fingertips and nails to show for our handiwork. : ) I have fond memories of easter egg dying growing up so it was fun to relive that. In typical kid fashion, Evalyn's technique involved plopping the eggs in the cups and sticking her whole hand in to retrieve the egg rather than fiddling with the wire holder. After they dried, she added stickers.
The next day I played Easter Bunny while Betsy was cooking up our yummy Easter feast and the kids and Daddy were napping. Henry had to be coached a bit on egg gathering (he tried to eat the first couple that he found). Evalyn got right down to business and had a blast discovering egg after egg. Henry was more interested in following Zeke into the mud!
It was a memorable Easter, hopefully one of the few we see with snow! Bring on the spring please!! I wanted to add that Betsy's Daffodil Cake was the yummiest and thanks for all the leftovers!
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| Snowy Easter |
Zeke the dog is a bigger hit with the kids each time we go. He's a very playful smart Border Collie puppy. I think as both he and the kids get older they'll be able to entertain each other for hours rather than minutes! Grammum greeted the kids with a huge bunch of helium balloons. They were magical bouncing around the ceiling. The next day it was hilarious watching Zeke hit the slowly sinking latex balloons up again and again as he crouched waiting for it to fall slowly into jumping range. I'll try and get the video up.
This was the first Easter Evalyn really got into dyeing eggs. She was most interested in doing pink ones (of course). Since the older Baun cousins weren't here this Easter, Grammum, Pappy Roy, Daddy and Mommy "had" to take our turns decorating eggs as well. The tie-dye set was a big hit with us grown ups. We all had multi-colored fingertips and nails to show for our handiwork. : ) I have fond memories of easter egg dying growing up so it was fun to relive that. In typical kid fashion, Evalyn's technique involved plopping the eggs in the cups and sticking her whole hand in to retrieve the egg rather than fiddling with the wire holder. After they dried, she added stickers.
The next day I played Easter Bunny while Betsy was cooking up our yummy Easter feast and the kids and Daddy were napping. Henry had to be coached a bit on egg gathering (he tried to eat the first couple that he found). Evalyn got right down to business and had a blast discovering egg after egg. Henry was more interested in following Zeke into the mud!
It was a memorable Easter, hopefully one of the few we see with snow! Bring on the spring please!! I wanted to add that Betsy's Daffodil Cake was the yummiest and thanks for all the leftovers!
Snails and Armadillos
One evening recently Evalyn and I were getting ready to read some bedtime books on the couch. Jadie the Cat was snuggled in one corner. I said "Look, Jadie's rolled into a ball!" Evalyn replied, "She's an armadillo!"
While finishing reading a book at Grammum's house, Evalyn and I were sitting on her big girl bed looking through the pictures again. Evalyn was twirling her hair with her finger and told me, "I'm doing a snail in my hair."
While finishing reading a book at Grammum's house, Evalyn and I were sitting on her big girl bed looking through the pictures again. Evalyn was twirling her hair with her finger and told me, "I'm doing a snail in my hair."
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