I took Trinity with me to get her toes painted while I got a pedi.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Happy Birthday Auntie Choo Choo!
Today we headed to the burbs to celebrate Eddie's Aunt Arlene's 60th Birthday. It was a nice, relaxing Spring day. Actually, not much relaxing gets done with a 1.5 year old trashin' the place. Still, a good time was had. Aunt Arlene had fun...as did the kids.
sugar high?
Jessica made a fantastic cake. Trinity didn't pay too much attention to it as she gulped down the ice cream. As soon as Everett saw the whipped cream can, he ran to Grandpa Eduardo and demanded he be picked up since he is well aware that he will squirt the whipped cream directly from the can to his mouth as many times as he likes. It was the only time he sat still all afternoon. Think I cared...not one bit.
"Backyard"
Since we will be residents of the fine City of Chicago for quite some time, I have made our patio as kid friendly as possible. This past weekend, we opened the sandbox, hung the swing and brought out the bubble machine. It is so much fun for the kids that Everett bangs on the sliding door demanding to go out there, even in the cold and rain. Sorry pal.
Belly...it speaks for itself
33 weeks...
Everett likes to sit on my belly as if it is his own personal chair.
35 weeks...
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Letting Go
As I write this my dear daughter is gone away for the night to Eddie's sister's home for a sleepover. She has been asking to stay the night over there with Eddie's niece Ava (5) and his sister Abby (10). I thought it was a good idea to have her stretch her legs past home. I thought this a good idea up until the night before or day of. I have full confidence in my sister and brother in law and know for sure Trinity will have a blast but it is my anxieties I have a problem with. I have been away from Trinity in the past for a couple nights but she has always been watched her in her own environment and with her own comforts. Never has she been away and I have been home to sit and reflect on the silences.
I did have my share of tears over the last 24 hours. I am sad she is not with me. I am sad her room is empty. I am sad she is growing up way too fast to digest it all. I am sad she does not need to depend on me and need me 24/7. As much as this is an annoyance sometimes, it is moments like this that I realize that those daily annoyances are some of the most richest moments of the day and I should embrace them instead of let them frustrate me.
She should be returning home in an hour or two and I long to see her and cuddle her. In this case, absence truly makes the heart fonder, and softer.
On a side note, I am not sure Everett is aware she is gone but I do think he appreciates the more attention we have been giving him. It is the first time ever that it only has been Eddie and I with Everett alone. He got a taste of the luxuries of an only child. Lets hope he is not mad when he gets up from his nap to see his big sis home.
I did have my share of tears over the last 24 hours. I am sad she is not with me. I am sad her room is empty. I am sad she is growing up way too fast to digest it all. I am sad she does not need to depend on me and need me 24/7. As much as this is an annoyance sometimes, it is moments like this that I realize that those daily annoyances are some of the most richest moments of the day and I should embrace them instead of let them frustrate me.
She should be returning home in an hour or two and I long to see her and cuddle her. In this case, absence truly makes the heart fonder, and softer.
On a side note, I am not sure Everett is aware she is gone but I do think he appreciates the more attention we have been giving him. It is the first time ever that it only has been Eddie and I with Everett alone. He got a taste of the luxuries of an only child. Lets hope he is not mad when he gets up from his nap to see his big sis home.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Spit
Everett has learned to spit while brushing his teeth. Too bad for me he isn't tall enough to actually spit in the sink. I see a lot of granite cleaning in my future.
Fun at the Park
I babysat today and was getting cabin fever so I drove the kids to a park that was gated so no one could escape. It was pretty easy watching the 3 kids since Everett wouldn't get out of the swing despite other kids begging him too. I finally had to physically remove him myself.
Trinity had fun pretending she was on a motorcycle and spent most of her time here.
Happy Easter!
Jesus is Alive! YAY!
We had a great Easter season this year. First of all, it was post stomach flu. We are all mostly healed which makes a holiday much better. Also, Trinity really grasped the meaning and understanding of the holiday...without an abundance of information from us. It's funny how kids can grasp the concept of Jesus dying for your sins and the fact He is in heaven now. I guess they are more open to the Truth than most adults. It all makes sense to her, naturally.
Anyway, we purchased Resurrection Eggs this year which are plastic eggs with tangible things inside that tell the story from Palm Sunday to Easter. For example, there is a donkey, a cross, a crown of thorns, a cup, a whip, a linen cloth, etc. It was a great way to tell the story. I highly recommend them for any child over 2 or 3.
We had a great service on Good Friday and Easter at our church. We even got to hang out and chat with friends after service which is rare for a holiday. We came home and hid the kids Easter baskets. Trinity had fun finding both Everett's and hers.
After Everett's nap, we headed down to the burbs to my mom's where we had a big dinner with family and friends. We did a little Easter egg hunt at her house and opened more baskets and a whole lotta candy.
Happy Easter!
We had a great Easter season this year. First of all, it was post stomach flu. We are all mostly healed which makes a holiday much better. Also, Trinity really grasped the meaning and understanding of the holiday...without an abundance of information from us. It's funny how kids can grasp the concept of Jesus dying for your sins and the fact He is in heaven now. I guess they are more open to the Truth than most adults. It all makes sense to her, naturally.
Anyway, we purchased Resurrection Eggs this year which are plastic eggs with tangible things inside that tell the story from Palm Sunday to Easter. For example, there is a donkey, a cross, a crown of thorns, a cup, a whip, a linen cloth, etc. It was a great way to tell the story. I highly recommend them for any child over 2 or 3.
We had a great service on Good Friday and Easter at our church. We even got to hang out and chat with friends after service which is rare for a holiday. We came home and hid the kids Easter baskets. Trinity had fun finding both Everett's and hers.
After Everett's nap, we headed down to the burbs to my mom's where we had a big dinner with family and friends. We did a little Easter egg hunt at her house and opened more baskets and a whole lotta candy.
Happy Easter!
On a funny note, we do do baskets for the kids but say they are from Mama and Daddy, or whomever else. We do not do the "Easter Bunny." Assuming most people do, anyone who called that day to say Happy Easter to the kids, asked Trinity if the Easter Bunny came. She said every time "The Easter Bunny is not real."
Other person on the phone: "Ohhhhh, you know that?"
Trinity: "Yes, I am very smart!" "Easter is all about Jesus!"
Friday, April 10, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Tis The Season.
When All Else Fails...
get the bubbles out. On a particular cranky day for Everett I thought it wise to break out the bubbles. Why I didn't think of it sooner, I am not sure. It kept him happy and entertained for about 20 minutes. I tried again today and it was successful for 3 minutes. grrrr!
Trinity's Actual Birthday
Abby, Ava and Trinity sharing a hug during their freeze dance game.I forgot to post pictures from Trinity's actual birthday. We spent the AM at Fantasy Kingdom where she got to pretend and dress-up. We then headed to the burbs for a small gathering at my sister-in-law's and hubby's home for a nice birthday dinner and celebration. Thanks Auntie Coo Koos and Uncle Jason for the great party!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Training
It's not all fun and games around here all the time. I have really been struggling this week with patience, health and perspective.
Last weekend Everett started to get under the weather. It quickly went from a cloudy day to hurricane. The poor little guy suffered all week with teething, a fever, puking and many explosive diapers. Yep, the stomach flu. I came down with it on Wednesday. It came on so sudden that I thought I had food poisoning. Trinity's symptoms started on Thursday. I praise God for a husband with a flexible schedule and a mom who came to the rescue in the thick of it.
In the midst of all this, my suspected vertigo became worse and my doctor became concerned. So, weak from not eating, tired from not sleeping, I ushered myself to the neurologist who had nothing more to say other than she didn't seem to see anything unusual...but I might have a benign brain tumor. Thank you Doctor! I crawl to get an MRI to be caged for a half hour with a jack hammer blaring in my ear. Through the noise, the headache and sleep deprivation, I am bitter that I should be on my way to the airport to see my sister in Seattle and her kids for a nice vacation. (My doctor made me cancel my trip until we figure out my head problem. By that time, my OB will not let me fly because I will not be cleared to fly 6 weeks from my due date. No hope of rescheduling.) So, I pray since I thought of no better plan. It actually worked. I rattled off a list of concerns, hopes, needs and praises. The MRI went fast. As of right now I do not have the results of that phantom brain tumor.
This is all background information for my next set of trials: my darling children.
The last time I had an 18 month old, she was the only sparkle in my eye and I was not pregnant with Everett yet. The daily fiascoes were much more manageable. Now, I am 7.5 months pregnant with a over-tired, healing 4 year old and an over-tired and inpatient 18 month old.
Please note how hard it is to get around these days as the torpedo belly has full control over my body. During a particular hard day, I struggled to get the dishes done. As I was getting close, the phone rings. As I grab the phone, Everett grabs Trinity's uneaten lunch off the counter which happened to be a bowl of soup. I clean up the floor (hard to get down there) and yelled at Everett to get out of the kitchen! I thought it missed him but didn't check the bottom of his socks. I then noticed the soup footprints across my freshly cleaned floor. ugh!
So, today is Sunday. The kids haven't slept at night, we haven't slept at night. I decided to let Everett cry it out last night since he is now healthy and is simply used to be comforted at 2AM. So he cried, screamed and threw things in his crib for an hour last night until he finally settled back down to sleep all the while I am pleading, begging and arguing with God...and then wake up Eddie to join in the fun. Everett gets to bed and then Trinity wakes up at 4AM. Coughing, puking, crying....PLEASE Lord!!!
7AM: Everett crying. Milk, comfort, back to bed, no choice Mama and Daddy need it!
9AM: Everyone is up. We are feeling a bit better after that last shift of sleep.
Eddie rushes off to Palm Sunday service. I am feeling confident to handle the kiddos. Just then: crying, whining, grunting. I just need to run to the bathroom for 10 seconds!! Forget it, I go pee behind a locked door. What do I hear? EVERETT, NO!!!! Please, just 10 seconds people!!!!
Everett made Trinity mad about something, she made him mad. I try to settle her, he runs into the bathroom and goes right for the drawer with all the no-no things in it.
ME: Everett, NOOOO! Please just 10 seconds of peace!!!
These are my days, every day for the last week. I try to be patient, I try to understand they are both a bit off track due to illness and sleep. However, I also know that my reality of sibling conflict will never go away. At times, I think "what the heck am I thinking having X amount of children?" But mostly I am reminded, not only of how hard of a job this multiple kids thing is, but what a joy they are. Boundaries and sibling space is a must, as is mama space and it is not going to be easy to train each one of us. Training and discipline for all of us will be much easier with a good attitude and heart.
So, the point of all this is how incredibly blessed I am. I am reminded of how I fervently prayed to be in this exact position. I want 3+ kids, I want them pretty close together and I wanted happy and fun times. All these things I do have and I am grateful for God answering my prayers precisely how I prayed them. Now, I must keep perspective, and my patience. The joys far outweigh the juggling. And those crow's feet might just be because I am getting older, not because my children are causing fine lines on my face.
I hope I can document this time of my life and look back with tears of joy to be out of the thick of things as well as remember these exact moments of chaos, learning, balancing and training...of my heart.
Last weekend Everett started to get under the weather. It quickly went from a cloudy day to hurricane. The poor little guy suffered all week with teething, a fever, puking and many explosive diapers. Yep, the stomach flu. I came down with it on Wednesday. It came on so sudden that I thought I had food poisoning. Trinity's symptoms started on Thursday. I praise God for a husband with a flexible schedule and a mom who came to the rescue in the thick of it.
In the midst of all this, my suspected vertigo became worse and my doctor became concerned. So, weak from not eating, tired from not sleeping, I ushered myself to the neurologist who had nothing more to say other than she didn't seem to see anything unusual...but I might have a benign brain tumor. Thank you Doctor! I crawl to get an MRI to be caged for a half hour with a jack hammer blaring in my ear. Through the noise, the headache and sleep deprivation, I am bitter that I should be on my way to the airport to see my sister in Seattle and her kids for a nice vacation. (My doctor made me cancel my trip until we figure out my head problem. By that time, my OB will not let me fly because I will not be cleared to fly 6 weeks from my due date. No hope of rescheduling.) So, I pray since I thought of no better plan. It actually worked. I rattled off a list of concerns, hopes, needs and praises. The MRI went fast. As of right now I do not have the results of that phantom brain tumor.
This is all background information for my next set of trials: my darling children.
The last time I had an 18 month old, she was the only sparkle in my eye and I was not pregnant with Everett yet. The daily fiascoes were much more manageable. Now, I am 7.5 months pregnant with a over-tired, healing 4 year old and an over-tired and inpatient 18 month old.
Please note how hard it is to get around these days as the torpedo belly has full control over my body. During a particular hard day, I struggled to get the dishes done. As I was getting close, the phone rings. As I grab the phone, Everett grabs Trinity's uneaten lunch off the counter which happened to be a bowl of soup. I clean up the floor (hard to get down there) and yelled at Everett to get out of the kitchen! I thought it missed him but didn't check the bottom of his socks. I then noticed the soup footprints across my freshly cleaned floor. ugh!
So, today is Sunday. The kids haven't slept at night, we haven't slept at night. I decided to let Everett cry it out last night since he is now healthy and is simply used to be comforted at 2AM. So he cried, screamed and threw things in his crib for an hour last night until he finally settled back down to sleep all the while I am pleading, begging and arguing with God...and then wake up Eddie to join in the fun. Everett gets to bed and then Trinity wakes up at 4AM. Coughing, puking, crying....PLEASE Lord!!!
7AM: Everett crying. Milk, comfort, back to bed, no choice Mama and Daddy need it!
9AM: Everyone is up. We are feeling a bit better after that last shift of sleep.
Eddie rushes off to Palm Sunday service. I am feeling confident to handle the kiddos. Just then: crying, whining, grunting. I just need to run to the bathroom for 10 seconds!! Forget it, I go pee behind a locked door. What do I hear? EVERETT, NO!!!! Please, just 10 seconds people!!!!
Everett made Trinity mad about something, she made him mad. I try to settle her, he runs into the bathroom and goes right for the drawer with all the no-no things in it.
ME: Everett, NOOOO! Please just 10 seconds of peace!!!
These are my days, every day for the last week. I try to be patient, I try to understand they are both a bit off track due to illness and sleep. However, I also know that my reality of sibling conflict will never go away. At times, I think "what the heck am I thinking having X amount of children?" But mostly I am reminded, not only of how hard of a job this multiple kids thing is, but what a joy they are. Boundaries and sibling space is a must, as is mama space and it is not going to be easy to train each one of us. Training and discipline for all of us will be much easier with a good attitude and heart.
So, the point of all this is how incredibly blessed I am. I am reminded of how I fervently prayed to be in this exact position. I want 3+ kids, I want them pretty close together and I wanted happy and fun times. All these things I do have and I am grateful for God answering my prayers precisely how I prayed them. Now, I must keep perspective, and my patience. The joys far outweigh the juggling. And those crow's feet might just be because I am getting older, not because my children are causing fine lines on my face.
I hope I can document this time of my life and look back with tears of joy to be out of the thick of things as well as remember these exact moments of chaos, learning, balancing and training...of my heart.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Everett 18 months
Favorite Things to Do:
whine
Sit in a nice warm bath, stand up to pee in a nice warm bath, sit back down to play.
Complete a minor task and throw his hands in the air and say "Ta Da." As shown...
whine
Sit in a nice warm bath, stand up to pee in a nice warm bath, sit back down to play.
Complete a minor task and throw his hands in the air and say "Ta Da." As shown...
Throw food on the floor.
Climb onto anything he can fall of off - esp. dining room table.
Scream like a pterodactyl.
Throw things.
Harshly point out body parts. A little sausage finger in the eye isn't good for anyone.
Stick his finger down his throat to make himself throw up.
Climb onto our bed.
Have Mama or Daddy's undivided attention.
Start "acting up" at the dinner table to make Trinity laugh.
Grab his pee pee when his diaper is being changed.
Take off one shoe and only one shoe. Most of the time one sock follows.
Drink milk from a bottle.
Have his pacifier in his mouth.
Hit Trinity on the head. Pull her hair.
Cuddle.
Cute Things He Does:
Crosses his legs at the ankles when happy, content or relaxed.
Give kisses and huggies which comes in the form of biting your face and body slamming you.
When you ask him: "Everett, how are you?" Response: "Good!"
He is always eager to throw something in the garbage for you, esp. diapers.
He likes to clean up toys...when asked to.
Loves to chase Trinity throughout the house.
Blows kisses and says "mwah!"
Knock on the window and wave to the people passing by.
He has some mean dance moves. He spins in circles with his hands straight out at the sides or bounces at the knees.
Blows his nose.
Words:
Hi! or Hiiiiiiiiii!
Good!
Amen!
TaDa!
Mama, Daddy, Clarkie
Boom!
No, Yeah
Hey!
Thanks! All Done. Up.
Bubble
Apple
He "signs" more and please.
18 month stats:
27.2 lbs. - 50th %tile
34.5 inches - 97th %tile
48cm head circ. - 50th %tile
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Pastor's Business Card
A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote 'Revelation 3:20' on the back of it and stuck it in the door. When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, 'Genesis 3:10.' Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.' Genesis 3:10 reads, 'I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked.
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