Golden CO Trip

We went to Clear Creek Canyon and visited Golden CO for lunch today. We went through a tunnel in the montain to get to the river. Enjoyed D'Deli's sandwiches and splashing in the river looking for gold. Then we went to visit our friends' Audra and Harlan's new house (model) that they are building in Thornton. After that dinner at Arte's Pizzeria in Loveland! We waved to Uncle Judah working across the street at Silvermine Subs.

Teaching Adrian to Read and Other Updates

Adrian is reading his first book! It is called 'The Park" and has two word phrases 6 pages,, focuses on sight word 'the' and has pictures for the other words...such as 'the trees.' He spells out words, he rhymes words, he loves to be read to! He has his alphabet down, knows the sounds of the words, can spell words that he sees, and can sound some things out, as well as is grasping the concept of words, by showing memory of sight words. He practices writing his letters a couple of times a week on worksheets. I have a work Tablet that he has downloaded some apps on for sight words, story books, and memory games. We go to the library weekly and he has his own library card, and is taking part in the library summer reading program! YAY for my smart little boy. Hopefully school will come easy for him. We are already talking about college! Currently he would like to mow lawns and for mommy to pay him. We discussed that as a good job for a teenager and that other's could pay him too otherwise I'll need a better job or a raise of substantial worth.

In other news: we aka Barry has mounted the tv above the mantle and moved out the loveseat and oversized chair to make way for two rocking recliners that Barry happened upon one day that an older couple were getting rid of.  Barry also cleaned out the garage of a bunch of junk and trimmed the tree in the front, taking a big load to the landfill last weekend! He also has resorted to part time vegan dieting and is limiting his red meat intake to stay healthier and feel well. He has also resorted to trying to ride his bike more, daily if possible for exercise.

I am 3 lbs away from my ideal weight and hopefully another couple of walks will cure me of them. Getting strep this summer was a good weight loss idea...but never again do I wish that.

Adrian and I had a dentist appointment today! He did great! It's so enlightening to hear him talking to other adults when I'm not visibly present. He reminds me of how old he's getting. I've been craving every minute I get with him because he's growing up fast.

Adrian began a nail biting/skin biting habit at the end of the school year and it's gotten worse over the summer. He bit his toenails off one day even. He was quite proud. I've explained the germs factor, I've explained the reason for nails, I've taped his fingers, bandaided his fingers, had him wear gloves, had him sit on his hands and say 'I will keep my fingers out ofmy mouth', reminded him verbally and non-verbally, and even resorted to peer pressure and peer accountability.  Every time I turn around his fingers are in his mouth. I think he's picked it up partly in 1. wanting to be noticed as Kaili is a baby and does baby things like chewing on everything and is allowed 2. nervousness/shyness 3. Seeing peers do it. What to do??? I know I give it attention and that can be part of it's continuing...but Barry and I both chewed our nails as children. Is it genetic? I really want it to stop. Maybe it's a phase. Maybe I'm the reason it's gotten worse...or maybe I didn't try to stop it soon enough. AAAHHH...he chewed off an entire toe nail on one toe, AND he has started biting his skin to the point that it bleeds. Hopefully he stops by the time school starts, or we'll all be sick from everything he brings home from school. I tried ignoring it in the beginning, maybe I'll try ignoring it again.

I am so tired these days. Can't seem to sleep enough or get good sleep at night. Kaili actually slept through the night in his bed last night and only woke twice...but that was only one night so far. He always starts off in his bed, now that he's so mobile, around 730-830pm. Then he wakes around 1030/1230 and I nurse him and put him back in bed. Then he wakes again what seems like 2-3 more times a night after I've gone to bed. I occasionally put him back in bed but he usually ends up back with me by morning. I've at least been managing my work hours pretty well so I feel good about that. I'm also planning on taking off when my parents come to town!!!

Kaili will be 10 months on July 23rd. Kaili pulls to standing on everything, crawls really well, and climbs stairs! He loves being held and near his mommy or daddy or grandpa, he loves his brother and squeals when he sees him. He babbles. He yells 'yayayaya' and 'mamama' and 'dada' and all sorts of other sounds. He screams and loves drumming, whistles, and to eat and chew on everything. He has 6 teeth-2 bottom and 4 tops! He loves to eat-eats the best at lunch or dinner, and only a small breakfast. Probably because he nurses all night. He also feels heavier this week! He is a good listener and doesn't go down the stairs even if I'm downstairs-he sits and waits at the top if I remind him 'uhuh'. He squawks till I come get him! Kaili loves paper-to eat of course, dirt and rocks and bark as well. Dog food bowls are pretty tasty and plastic bags are the best! Really have to watch this one! He ate an entire lemon wheel slice including the peel with dinner. He has no food allergies so far and loves berries and potatoes! I don't make as much home made food but do give him pieces of whatever we're eating. I did make a batch of beet, beet greens, and potatoes for the freezer stock yesterday though. He still doesn't hold his bottle on his own but is learning to use a sippy cup. A new fun game he has learned is to throw things on the floor and watch the animals eat it or mom pick it up! 'Peek a boo' and clapping 'pat a cake' are pretty funny and he's super tickle-ish! He plays 'hide and go seek' and 'I'm gonna getcha'! He signs 'all done' and 'milk'!! Such a smart baby! We love him. We think we'll keep him!

Summer's going by fast! We've been swimming quite a bit and I have some water babies! Adrian will swim even if he's purple and shivering! Kaili will bear crawl it to the water if he's set down anywhere near water! No fear! I was going to put Adrian in swimming lessons but am having trouble finding any openings. Maybe we'll just swim a lot and he'll figure it out.

Not my bed anymore

Sweet Corn

There He Is

Me? A water bug? What's that?

Swimming with Gma and Gpa

4th of July 2012

Due to the fires there were no fireworks this year in many of the Colorado towns. Surprisingly I slept well through th enight without fireworks going off all week long! The kids and mom went to cousin Cavyn and Nyco's house for the day while dad stayed home and did some major yard work!

Kaili 9 Months Old June 23 2012

My nine month old ...so weird since I still feel like he's so little. He is 17 lbs 1.5 oz. He is 28 inches long and that puts him in the 10th %ile for weight and 39th for height.  He can sit up in his crib now but is still working on sitting up from lying down on the floor. He can do it on a mattress usually or by pulling himself up using rails, bedding, etc. He still sleeps with his momma and if momma is around then he won't fall asleep on his own lately. I have created a little monster...a cute little cuddly monster.
He can wave his arms...'all done,' 'up,' when he dances, and we're working on hello/goodbye waves but he will wave when he gets excited and sees you so that counts as hello! He army crawls/scoots all over the place which he started in May, and can get on his hands and knees but doesn't crawl on them. He loves to play with balls, drums, and....his thing is strings, rope, cords, hair. He puts everything in his mouth, including the cat. Water: Favorite thing ever!! Loves bath time, splashes and wiggles all about the bath, enjoys splashing his brother, his mama and the entire bathroom really. He also sometimes gets baths in the kitchen sink which is fun! He doesn't mind playing inthe shower when mom needs a shower and he's awake.
He loves to eat!!! He feeds himself and eats chunks of fruit, bread, his sippy cup, and lots of fruit and vegetables. I haven't started meats, or beans, egg yolks or much cheese yet. He loves yogurt-plain old whole fat yogurt. YUM! I made homemade foods but I am also buying baby food this time around, as well as just feeding him what we eat as he likes to eat and will eat more than Adrian did! Favorites are mango, strawberries, and toast! Next I will start making him beans and feeding him cheese...he's tried goat cheese and chedder...so far he likes cheese! He likes to drink water out of a big cup too! I had to start supplamenting with formula because we ran out of frozen breastmilk. I have just been too busy to keep up a good supply...but I don't feel too bad since he's healthy and eats well!
He loves his brother and gets a big old smile on his face when he sees him. He loves to give him kisses...which looks a lot like they are eating each other's faces. Adrian loves to stick his fingers in Kaili's mouth...yay for germs...and sometimes gets bit. Kaili now has 2 bottom and 2 top teeth. He grinds them together which is a disturbing sound...but I think Adrian went through that phase too.
Grandpa Tim still watches them Tue, Thur, Fri. Liza watches them on Mon and Wed with her boys. Sometimes Patti is there and they will watch other kids too. Lots of boys.
Kaili loves his dad! He isn't as much of a mama's boy as Adrian was but still needs his mama in the evenings or he's just plain cranky and nothing makes him happy.
Kaili is a crier...Adrian never cried so that's what I compare him to. A content baby overall and when he has what he needs. He is more serious and even tempered like his dad. He looks like his mama did when she was a baby. He has his dad's hair, lighter and thinner, and his mama's ears. Adrian has his mom's hair, dark and thick, and emotional temperment, and dad's ears and looks. Such opposites. They will be good buds and already enjoy playing together. Adrian is still showing lots of jealousy and always wants the baby's toys, attention, and reverts to baby talk and nonsensical jabber. He disrupts the baby by talking and laughing when he nurses, and of course big brother is so much more fun so I have to send him out of the room to feed the baby or put him to sleep.
Kaili loves tv. He, his brother and his dad  are mesmirized by that thing. Can't focus on anything else when it's on. Of course he doesnt' get tv time but sometimes he is downstairs when it's on.

6/23/12

Father's Day

Lemon Tree for dad ready to bloom, Human Bean coffee and a vegetarian breggo for breakfast! Homemade footprint cards and big hugs! Library re-opening festivities trip. Awfully smoky so we had to retreat inside. Visited Grandma and Grandpa and Bobby at the pool but couldn't stay long becuase of the fire/smoke. And since he's such a good dad, he made a dad's day grilled pizza! What a dad!!! We think we'll keep him around!

8 Months Old

May 5, 2012 I can Sit by Myself!

Kaili is 8 Months Old as of May 23rd. He can sit, enjoys eating, and loves playing with toys. He screetches and sometimes babbles.
He had a 7 Month Reunion playdate with his childbirth class pals and seems to be right on developmentally with the rest of them...although some were already crawling.

 Escape artist

 Where have those boys gone now?

 Yum-1st Graham Cracker

I'm just little



Support in sitting

Sleeps like a baby...as long as mom is near

Teaching brother to crawl!...Like this?

Mother's Day 2012

I awoke to breakfast in bed no earlier than 9am and had my favorite-biscuits and gravy with eggs, a caramel macchiato (starbucks) while breathing in the scent of two dozen red roses! My boys cuddled with me and gave me lots of kisses. After breakfast, we went on a bike ride, Adrian rode his strider the whole way, to the park. We played frisbee, swung on the swings, and took the long way home. Kaili rode in his carseat in the trailer and slept with the motion. I got to take a nap when we got home, partly because I felt sick, but also because I was taking advantage of being spoiled. After I woke, we got ready and went to a BBQ at Aunt Laurie and Uncle Wally's! What a lovely Mother's Day with all my boys!!

Happy Birthday My 4 Year Old!

Adrian hit the jackpot with shoes this birthday!!! Chacos and Reef's from mom, Cowboy Boots from Grandma D and Papa Mark, Toe shoe Crocs from Grandma Linda and Grandpa Tim, and Froggy Rain Boots from Cousin Cavyn and Nyco and Aunt Julie and Uncle Chris!! Lots of other friends came to the party: Liza and Wesley with William and Andrew, Audra and Harlan with Zaq and Fabien, Jordan, Logan and Caleb with Molly, Lexi, Julian and Keaton with Amara all came to swim.  Aunt Laurie, Uncle Wally, Uncle Stevo, Uncle Bobby, Uncle Adam all stopped in!
Adrian had a blast at his swimming dragon party! Rented the upstairs party area at the Mulberry Pool and enjoyed an ice cream sundae party with all the fixins and little cupcakes on the side after swimming for an hour and a half!!

Kaili kicked and splashed and wore himself right out, then napped on Grandma for a little while!

FOUR!!!!

On Adrian's 'real birthday' we went out to Uncle's Pizzaria downtown since Pizza is his favorite! We took a walk downtown and then went home for dessert-cupcakes!!

7 Months Old

Kaili is 7 months old! He rolls, he practices his sitting, he's starting to pick up his own food! He's a screamer, a growler, and a talker. He says 'mama' but it's probably not intentionally other than making noises!

Happy Easter 4/8/12