Instead of trying to play catch up, I'm going to jump to the highlights of the past two months and then try to keep up from here on out. We'll see how well I do. Cross your fingers.
Biggest and best and most life-altering things first-- Jack is walking. He is a tumbling, toddling little Frankenstein, moving with arms held out in front for balance. He often doesn't seem to know which direction he'll end up going. Sometimes his feet move to fast ahead of him until he finds himself in an inadvertent run, which he resolves by the simple expediency of plopping down on his butt, grinning and starting over.
Next, though equally life-altering, the heat here in Texas has finally broken. Around the 2nd week in September, 80 and 90 degree days became the norm. Now at the tail end of October, the mornings are a brisk 45 or so and most days have settled nicely into the mid-70's. It makes a world of difference. The comfort is marred a bit by the onset of fall allergy season. It seems a strange thing to be sneezing and runny-eyed at Halloween, something more appropriate for Memorial Day. But that's Texas.
Speaking of, Halloween! It's the beginning of the end-of-year craziness. Anna has decided to be a bat. I have tried to talk her into many other things: witch, butterfly, spider, cat, anything. But she is adamant; it must be a bat. Since, strangely, bat costumes are not all the easy to come upon, Terry has once again stepped in to save Halloween and give Anna some spooky wings. Silvia is much easier. She will be, as usual, a pink princess. This year she has a fancy store bought dress which she has already worn into the ground, but she couldn't care less. It's pink, it's pretty and she's thrilled. Jack, as the baby, will be a pumpkin, simply because there are pumpkin PJ's to be had everywhere you turn. I suppose I could have asked Monica for the frog costume Anna, Silvia and Ryan all wore, but pumpkin is easier. So a pumpkin he shall be.
Then the big day comes. November 3rd, 2011. Anna will be 7 years old. It's a big thing. Something about 7 has always made it seem like that turning-point age where she is no longer a little kid. Of course, that's been true and evolving for some time now, but just the official day of it, 7th birthday, feels so strange.
After much thought, we had to accept that this house is simply NOT set up for entertaining. There's no real way we could easily have a party here, so Anna lucked out big time. On her actual birthday we'll do a small family thing, but the following weekend the REAL event will take place. She is having a Fancy Nancy party at a fancy little party place called Sugar and Spice, made exclusively to throw the girliest, pinkest and silliest parties ever with everything from hair, nails and glittery make-up to fashion show dress up and karaoke. She is thrilled. This is also the first year where she's inviting friends from school, people we don't know. See? All grown up now. Told ya.
Walking, cooling off, growing up. Time just keeps slipping by with or without my permission. Funny, that.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Anna, 81 months and counting
“How much time does it take the Earth to go all the way around the sun? I better look that up in my planets book after dinner."
***
“Mom, come look at this cloud! I think it’s a funnel cloud, it has ominous striations all over it!”
***
“I can’t find a book! I’m supposed to bring my favorite book and I can’t find one!”
“Anna, you have a dozen books all over, just pick one.”
“But I can’t find ONE, Mommy! I’m only supposed to bring ONE!”
In lieu of any other description, that is Anna in her own words. She checks out encyclopedias from the library, just for fun. She has a lightening quick memory and picks up little facts everywhere, dropping them casually throughout her conversation, as innocently as a toddler reciting the alphabet. She would sit, oblivious to the world, all day if we didn't tell her to just, "put down the book and step away", words I never thought I would utter.
Of course she’s still a little kid and just as gullible as your average 1st grader. “Harushi in my class says her parents are out of town and she gets to drive herself everywhere and go to McDonald’s all by herself and see movies at the theatre (pronounced thee-A-ter) every night! True, she does! REALLY!”
Since she was born, Anna has been more sensitive than the other kids. She has a thinner skin. She feels insults more deeply, empathizes with others to the point of her OWN tears and can (more rarely now as she gets older) have violent fits of temper over strange things that leave her hysterically inconsolable for hours. When this happens, Kurt and I just give each other the look and, depending on the circumstance, either let her settle herself alone in her room or just hold her until the storm passes. We've learned it's basically unkind to try to punish her or tell her to "just stop it and calm down". She is an emotional sponge and sometimes things, often just little things, start to wring her out. She gets that from me, actually.
In the same vein, her love is extreme. She hugs, she kisses, she holds on tightly for longer than is almost comfortable. At any given opportunity she will snuggle in against us as comfortable as a kitten. Throw in a story and she’s in heaven on high. Her gap-tooth smile (she's lost 4 teeth and plays constantly with the loose ones, to my disgust. Ew.) is just about my favorite thing ever.
If you ask her, Anna will tell you she wants to be a scientist or an artist when she grows up. I keep telling her she can be both. For the moment, she remains undecided.
Most of all, Anna is a big sister, a caretaker. She teaches Silvia what she has learned, though sometimes the lessons come with a certain air of condescension and impatience. I find them sometimes curled up together as she reads her sister a story. The love to play “Tea Cafe” with made-up menus where they set up the house as a restaurant and, together, make fabulous dinners for us (I wonder if it’s bad that they always put beer on the beverage menu?). She loves all things Jack, wanting to hold him and carrying him around when I’m not looking. If he’s in his crib or high chair while I try to get something else done, she will happily entertain him with dancing, singing, random screeching and anything else that wins a smile.
At a play area yesterday I saw a little baby girl, not yet two, wearing a dress exactly like one Anna had at the same age. So tiny. It made me smile, a little sadly, but mostly just with pleasure. I still remember the clothes she wore back as a baby, yes, but that is just the cover of the book. What she’s come to be inside those pages is so much more a wonder to me. She is beautiful, precocious, tempestuous, caring and bright as a star.
And, for now, those are my kids at six, four and one… and counting.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Silvia, 54 months and counting
Princesses. Pink. Dresses. Parties. Pink. Adventure. Singing. Drawing. Pink.
Pink princess doll parties in dresses and skirts having adventures all over the world, captured in pink-centric art scattered to the winds in every direction.
Silvia is a girl’s girl. She spends her every moment (between sibling tiffs, artistic retreats and pouting fits) taking her dolls all over the house on fantastical journeys, singing them little nonsense songs with wardrobe changes at every destination. If I dare to interject a question about what they’re doing, she stares at me with a vaguely affronted look and says, “Mooooommy, I’m just plaaaaying”.
As in, leave me alone, woman, you’re interrupting my princess tower rebellion.
(On a side note, she just realized that Ken’s clothes come off. Princesses and a naked prince all a mix at the party. Ah, the innocence of youth.)
None of this is to imply that she is faint of heart or in anyway dainty. Dainty does not apply to Silvia. Cute, pretty, devilish and temperamental, yes. But not dainty. These adventures often have her princesses dangling off cliffs, jumping canyons and going off to college (all dangerous activities). She herself spends much of the day running laps around the house, up the stairs, down the stairs, across the couch, ad nauseum. Literally, her circling leaves me queasy.
Silvia cannot sit still. For the most part, unless enthralled by the magic of TV, she is constantly twitching, bouncing and twirling. This, hopefully, explains my somewhat guilty over-use of kid’s shows in the afternoon. If I don’t turn on Backyardigans, then she doesn’t turn OFF until she passes out in a lump somewhere in the house.
Pink princess doll parties in dresses and skirts having adventures all over the world, captured in pink-centric art scattered to the winds in every direction.
Silvia is a girl’s girl. She spends her every moment (between sibling tiffs, artistic retreats and pouting fits) taking her dolls all over the house on fantastical journeys, singing them little nonsense songs with wardrobe changes at every destination. If I dare to interject a question about what they’re doing, she stares at me with a vaguely affronted look and says, “Mooooommy, I’m just plaaaaying”.
As in, leave me alone, woman, you’re interrupting my princess tower rebellion.
(On a side note, she just realized that Ken’s clothes come off. Princesses and a naked prince all a mix at the party. Ah, the innocence of youth.)
None of this is to imply that she is faint of heart or in anyway dainty. Dainty does not apply to Silvia. Cute, pretty, devilish and temperamental, yes. But not dainty. These adventures often have her princesses dangling off cliffs, jumping canyons and going off to college (all dangerous activities). She herself spends much of the day running laps around the house, up the stairs, down the stairs, across the couch, ad nauseum. Literally, her circling leaves me queasy.
Silvia cannot sit still. For the most part, unless enthralled by the magic of TV, she is constantly twitching, bouncing and twirling. This, hopefully, explains my somewhat guilty over-use of kid’s shows in the afternoon. If I don’t turn on Backyardigans, then she doesn’t turn OFF until she passes out in a lump somewhere in the house.
These impromptu naps are another one of Silvia’s trademarks. At four and a half years old, most kids have outgrown the afternoon nap, but not my blonde whirlwind. While she will vehemently refuse me if I ever dare to suggest it, Silvia puts herself down for a little rest more days than not every week. She will make a bed of pillows with a neatly straightened blanket, tuck herself underneath and sleep, oblivious to the world. Sometimes it comes on her stealthily and I will find her curled up on the hard tile of the front hall with her hands still outstretch towards a doll or asleep in the rocking chair of Jack’s nursery from one moment to the next when I turn away from her to change him.
In her last year of preschool now, Silvia is very excited for kindergarten next year, mostly so she can ride the bus with Anna. She’s more physically focused than Anna ever was and hasn’t started reading at all. That’s not to say she doesn’t know her letters and numbers, but it’s not in anyway the focus of her day. Still, she has her favorite stories half-memorized and will take the rare break during the day to sit and read two or three books cuddled up against me on the couch. She will be the athlete to Anna’s scholar.
An artist, a singer, a fighter, a lover, a darling and terror all at once, Silvia is my wonderland of childhood rolled up into one perfect little body.
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| On the move and feelin' fancy. |
Friday, August 26, 2011
Jack, 13 months and counting
Jack's favorite foods are:
bananas
carrots
peaches
bagels
raisin bread with jam or peanut butter (MESSY)
pancakes
chicken
applesauce
hot dogs (nitrate-free and cut up, just in case you were worried)
raisins
spaghetti
pizza
cheddar cheese pieces, but not slices
cake, ice cream, cookies, etc. (in moderation)
Jack's most-hated foods are:
carrots
peaches
bagels
raisin bread with jam or with peanut butter (MESSY)
pancakes
chicken
applesauce
hot dogs (nitrate-free and cut up, just in case you were worried)
raisins
pizza
cheddar cheese pieces, but not slices
cake, ice cream, cookies, etc. (in moderation)
In case it's not immediately clear, the only things Jack will eat consistently are bananas and spaghetti. And yes, sometimes with one in each hand. To say he's picky, well-- that just about covers it. We rotate what he's offered throughout the week to try and keep everything in some level of favor, but there are times when he just won't eat anything except a banana and bottles of milk for days.
Little kids just DO that, though. They survive on air in between gorging on everything in sight including that ages old cheerio dug out from behind the couch. For all this appetite confusion, he is a happily growing boy. Even though he's still small for his age, falling around the 7th percentile for height and weight, he's perfectly healthy. I actually kind of like his smallness, just because it makes me feel like I can still enjoy the baby-ness of him a little longer while still having the fun of a near-toddler talking and grabbing and exploring.
And boy does he ever! Nothing in the house is safe. We had to buy a safety gate on practically a moment's notice when he went from being oblivious to the stairs to climbing up three steps and trying to stand up (he can't). Once the stairs were off limits, he turned to conquering the bathroom. We now have to keep the door closed at all times or he will, literally, climb into the toilet bowl. Charming.
Jack says hi, he waves, he smiles and giggles and thinks his sisters are the most wonderful thing in the world. When Kurt comes in the door at the end of the day, Jack crawls over lightening fast and gets up on his knees in front of his daddy, arms reaching high up and firmly crying to be held. He plays on his own, loves books and maracas and spends more time than I'd like blowing on the harmonica and toy recorder.
While he's not walking yet, Jack does push things around standing, lawnmower-style, and has progressed to walking unsteadily while holding only one of my hands. We travel in little gulps around the house through out the day as he tries to find and hold his center. He's almost there, I can just feel it. Because of the heat, he spends most of his time in just a diaper or, if he's feeling fancy, in a onesie. his knees have become rough from the hard floors and I imagine moving on to feet-based travel will be a relief.
He's still our little puppy, too, travelling around all the time with things tightly held between his 6 little teeth: paint brushes, his frog lovey, bagels, bottles, cups, socks, etc. Mostly it's cute and we leave him to it, but today I did draw the line when he came up to me with one of Anna's Crocs tightly between his lips.
My boy is a lover and I'm not bragging (ok, maybe just a little) when I say that I get the lion's share of that affection. He crawls all over me, climbs on me, hugs me, tickles me, dances with me... he loves me. He loves everyone else, too, but for the moment I'm still the special-est. I treasure every wet, slobbery kiss. Well, mostly. Sometimes the slobber is a BIT much.
bananas
carrots
peaches
bagels
raisin bread with jam or peanut butter (MESSY)
pancakes
chicken
applesauce
hot dogs (nitrate-free and cut up, just in case you were worried)
raisins
spaghetti
pizza
cheddar cheese pieces, but not slices
cake, ice cream, cookies, etc. (in moderation)
Jack's most-hated foods are:
carrots
peaches
bagels
raisin bread with jam or with peanut butter (MESSY)
pancakes
chicken
applesauce
hot dogs (nitrate-free and cut up, just in case you were worried)
raisins
pizza
cheddar cheese pieces, but not slices
cake, ice cream, cookies, etc. (in moderation)
In case it's not immediately clear, the only things Jack will eat consistently are bananas and spaghetti. And yes, sometimes with one in each hand. To say he's picky, well-- that just about covers it. We rotate what he's offered throughout the week to try and keep everything in some level of favor, but there are times when he just won't eat anything except a banana and bottles of milk for days.
Little kids just DO that, though. They survive on air in between gorging on everything in sight including that ages old cheerio dug out from behind the couch. For all this appetite confusion, he is a happily growing boy. Even though he's still small for his age, falling around the 7th percentile for height and weight, he's perfectly healthy. I actually kind of like his smallness, just because it makes me feel like I can still enjoy the baby-ness of him a little longer while still having the fun of a near-toddler talking and grabbing and exploring.
And boy does he ever! Nothing in the house is safe. We had to buy a safety gate on practically a moment's notice when he went from being oblivious to the stairs to climbing up three steps and trying to stand up (he can't). Once the stairs were off limits, he turned to conquering the bathroom. We now have to keep the door closed at all times or he will, literally, climb into the toilet bowl. Charming.
Jack says hi, he waves, he smiles and giggles and thinks his sisters are the most wonderful thing in the world. When Kurt comes in the door at the end of the day, Jack crawls over lightening fast and gets up on his knees in front of his daddy, arms reaching high up and firmly crying to be held. He plays on his own, loves books and maracas and spends more time than I'd like blowing on the harmonica and toy recorder.
While he's not walking yet, Jack does push things around standing, lawnmower-style, and has progressed to walking unsteadily while holding only one of my hands. We travel in little gulps around the house through out the day as he tries to find and hold his center. He's almost there, I can just feel it. Because of the heat, he spends most of his time in just a diaper or, if he's feeling fancy, in a onesie. his knees have become rough from the hard floors and I imagine moving on to feet-based travel will be a relief.
He's still our little puppy, too, travelling around all the time with things tightly held between his 6 little teeth: paint brushes, his frog lovey, bagels, bottles, cups, socks, etc. Mostly it's cute and we leave him to it, but today I did draw the line when he came up to me with one of Anna's Crocs tightly between his lips.
My boy is a lover and I'm not bragging (ok, maybe just a little) when I say that I get the lion's share of that affection. He crawls all over me, climbs on me, hugs me, tickles me, dances with me... he loves me. He loves everyone else, too, but for the moment I'm still the special-est. I treasure every wet, slobbery kiss. Well, mostly. Sometimes the slobber is a BIT much.
 |
| "Would you like this paint brush? It's only a little drooly." |
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Picture time and soon to come, a catch up
Here's a fairly random collection of recent pictures. I'm just getting my photos, internet and phone camera all sorted out here in Texas, so there will be more to come in explanations, especially concerning Silvia cleaning my house like a happy little not-so-downtrodden Cinderella.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
And then there really were three
Our dear friend Charlotte at Trystan Photography snapped these pictures about 2 weeks before we left Colorado. Aren't my kids beautiful?
Monday, July 18, 2011
Jack's 1st birthday and...
Oh, yeah. Did I forget to mention? We moved to Texas.
We've been here in Dallas for about two weeks now and I can solidly say, without a shadow of doubt... it's hot. Like, STUPID hot. The air conditioning in Kurt's car went out this weekend (having never actually been put to the test before it died of shock) and our response was not, "Oh, well, better get that looked at," but instead, "OH NO! NOOOOO!!!!".
It's hot, yes indeedy. But Kurt's new job, the one we dropped everything for, is great and he's really enjoying it. The kids and I are settling in slowly, a little bit forward, a little bit backward, depending on the day (and the temperature). We joined the YMCA and that's been a great help. They have a splash park as part of the child watch. So while I work out, the girls run around and get soaked. Jack is, big surprise, the darling of the daycare and spends the time being cuddled, passed around to many loving arms and generally deliciously spoiled.
Speaking of whom-- Jack. One. A year gone by.
Crazy.
This time last summer I had no idea, NO IDEA, we'd be celebrating this inaugural birthday in a little rental house in the Lone Star State. I probably would have laughed nervously and looked for a quick exit if anyone had tried to convince me of that possibility. Yet here we are, a year later, and my baby boy is one in Texas.
He's so great. He's such a fun baby. He talks all the time now and has taken to pointing at things and making important sounding pronouncements. We only wish we could hook up to a universal translator and be privy to his wisdom. He started crawling in late May, the day we left for our first Texas house-hunting trip, actually. Now he's a pro with callused knees and a top speed we like to call "Jack, no, stop!".
He's recently started pulling up on things, but his center of gravity is still very wobbly and he mostly gets himself up, locks his knees and gets stuck holding on and leaning forward. Usually Anna comes to his rescue, hugging him around the waist tightly until he plops down solidly on the floor.
Even at one, though, I feel like Jack is a little more baby-like still than the girls were at this age. I'm sure that has a lot to do with him being my last but there's just something more infant-like, innocence or trust or something, than toddler-like. As soon as he's up and at 'em, ripping around the house, base jumping off furniture and terrorizing the neighbors, I'm sure that feeling will change.
For now, though, Jack is still my little one. He likes to be held, he smiles with his toothy grin (4 on top, 2 on the bottom), his sisters are his favorite source of amusement and he points and crows out happily whenever he sees Kurt after a day at work. Jack Stephen is a darling.
And now he's gonna grow up to be a Cowboy... wait. Isn't there a song about NOT letting your babies do that? Too late now. We're all in a Lone Star state of mind now. (Hahaa. Ok, I'll stop.)
We've been here in Dallas for about two weeks now and I can solidly say, without a shadow of doubt... it's hot. Like, STUPID hot. The air conditioning in Kurt's car went out this weekend (having never actually been put to the test before it died of shock) and our response was not, "Oh, well, better get that looked at," but instead, "OH NO! NOOOOO!!!!".
It's hot, yes indeedy. But Kurt's new job, the one we dropped everything for, is great and he's really enjoying it. The kids and I are settling in slowly, a little bit forward, a little bit backward, depending on the day (and the temperature). We joined the YMCA and that's been a great help. They have a splash park as part of the child watch. So while I work out, the girls run around and get soaked. Jack is, big surprise, the darling of the daycare and spends the time being cuddled, passed around to many loving arms and generally deliciously spoiled.
Speaking of whom-- Jack. One. A year gone by.
Crazy.
This time last summer I had no idea, NO IDEA, we'd be celebrating this inaugural birthday in a little rental house in the Lone Star State. I probably would have laughed nervously and looked for a quick exit if anyone had tried to convince me of that possibility. Yet here we are, a year later, and my baby boy is one in Texas.
He's so great. He's such a fun baby. He talks all the time now and has taken to pointing at things and making important sounding pronouncements. We only wish we could hook up to a universal translator and be privy to his wisdom. He started crawling in late May, the day we left for our first Texas house-hunting trip, actually. Now he's a pro with callused knees and a top speed we like to call "Jack, no, stop!".
He's recently started pulling up on things, but his center of gravity is still very wobbly and he mostly gets himself up, locks his knees and gets stuck holding on and leaning forward. Usually Anna comes to his rescue, hugging him around the waist tightly until he plops down solidly on the floor.
Even at one, though, I feel like Jack is a little more baby-like still than the girls were at this age. I'm sure that has a lot to do with him being my last but there's just something more infant-like, innocence or trust or something, than toddler-like. As soon as he's up and at 'em, ripping around the house, base jumping off furniture and terrorizing the neighbors, I'm sure that feeling will change.
For now, though, Jack is still my little one. He likes to be held, he smiles with his toothy grin (4 on top, 2 on the bottom), his sisters are his favorite source of amusement and he points and crows out happily whenever he sees Kurt after a day at work. Jack Stephen is a darling.
And now he's gonna grow up to be a Cowboy... wait. Isn't there a song about NOT letting your babies do that? Too late now. We're all in a Lone Star state of mind now. (Hahaa. Ok, I'll stop.)
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| Trying out his new wheels. And check out the jammies, courtesy of Auntie Mo!! |
Monday, May 09, 2011
Cuteness
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| Easter sugar high. |
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| Sleeping baby, never gets less cute. |
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| Jack, getting in touch with his Italian roots. "This-a spaghetti is-a molto buono!" |
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| First spaghetti dinner is a success... and a mess. |
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| Picnic on the porch. |
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Jack: 9 months
Updates being far behind, I figure I'll just start with where we are and work my way backwards as needed. Jack is 9 months old. Not sure how that happened, but I'm still befuddled by the blossoming of spring all around me. I think my sense of time passing has been compromised.
Jack is loud. He talks a LOT, mostly just your standard, "dadada" but he's also recently added "annna" and (oh, I am so happy!) "mama". He's working on "uh-oh" and I swear I've heard a version of "what's that?" come from his drooly little lips. But I may have a case of maternal pride hallucinations.
Mostly, though, he's just loud. It can be happy loud, screaming for the fun of it and giggling at his sisters ("Look! They have toys on their heads! And then they jump and the toys fall off! AMAZING! Do it again!"). There is also angry, abandoned, tormented, sad, pained loud. We get that about equally as much.
He's not exactly what you'd call a peaceful baby. When he's cute, though... oh, is he EVER cute! See the picture above. Our friend Kim (of Kim Harms Photography) came over a couple weeks ago and managed to capture some of his best faces and smiles. I know, I know, I'm biased but wow, isn't he just the most beautiful boy? Am I right? I'm totally right.
Jack has been sleeping pretty consistently through the night since January, after a brief and painful bout of sleep "training" (also known as, he cries, mommy cries, and then we sleep). It makes a HUGE difference in our lives as a family. Kurt and I get some peace in the evening after all the little ones are in bed and we can wake up in the morning without feeling like total zombies. Most days, anyway. It also did a lot to improve Jack's general mood. As I said, he hasn't been a peaceful baby and not particularly an easy one. The first half of his life he basically just cried, screamed, slept, nursed, cried and then screamed a bit. In between we'd get these flashes of the absolutely charming boy he had buried inside, but it took some time for that little guy to make his way to the surface. Colic, how we hate thee.
He's been generally healthy, though, despite the tears, which is a true blessing. There have been a few ear infections but not so many as Silvia suffered through. Considering he's smothered daily with love by a kindegartener and a preschooler (both dripping germs of all shapes and sizes) it's pretty awesome he hasn't been more sick, in general.
There are a few points of concern right now, but nothing that really bothers me, despite the necessity of putting it down in his official medical records. Jack's normal height and head size for his age but his weight falls off the charts at below 2%. He's gained not quite one pound in the last three months. The verdict? FEED THAT BOY, which is convenient because he loooooooves to eat. Cheerios, baby food, oatmeal, little bites of banana and various adult foods-- all of these and more. If only I had such problems.
The other thing is he's sitting (literally) at a borderline developmental delay. He's not crawling, pulling up or pushing up with his belly off the floor. Again, I am just NOT worried. If I've learned anything at all in the past 6 years of parenthood it's that kids do everything in their own time. To hell with the charts and milestones. My pediatrician (whom I adore, by the way) was equally sanguine. He pointed out that with the family history of Anna's developmental delay, it's especially not a big deal. We know nothing was ultimately wrong with her and I'm positive there's nothing wrong with him. He'll get there when he gets there.
For the moment, I take great pleasure in the fact that when I set him down somewhere, that's where he stays. Another thing I've learned... enjoy the little things and NEVER try and rush to the next stage. You'll miss that time when it's passed!
More on the girls and our family as whole later, but it's all about Jack Stephen for now.
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Diana Barbour, 1939-2011
Aunt Diana was the stubborn, funny and sometimes (ok, often, but we loved her for it) cantankerous matriarch of our family. A true force of nature and smart as a whip, she was fiercely devoted to her family, friends and political views. We all loved her, I loved her, and she will be greatly missed.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Love Letter
Just found this letter Anna wrote to Silvia this week:
Silvia,
I love you so much. And I am full of surprises. You are the best sister I've ever had.
Love, Anna
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Photo barrage! Take cover!
Okay, maybe it's not that many pictures, but it feels like it. Some are from Christmas, too, late but not forgotten!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
2010
A few updates on all the things I've neglected to mention here. What a crazy year it's been!
***
Kind of obviously, the biggest going-on this year was my pregnancy and Jack's birth. We started the year kind of in shock and gradually worked our way up to AWESOME excitement. Unplanned, sure, but so worth the surprise! Jack's filled up places in our lives we hadn't even realized were empty, most notably by changing Anna and Silvia into Big Sisters. The smothering, adoring and majorly-giggly love they bear for him knows no bounds-- except when he won't stop fussing and then it's, "Mom!!! Jack's crying! He wants YOU!". But hey, all in all, they've been amazing helpers, supporters and baby-charmers, callings they never would have realized had he not come along.
***
Team Spirit. This year the girls have gone from affectionate (mostly) co-existence to serious Dynamic Duo antics. When they're together, they're TOGETHER: dancing, singing, plotting, reading, creating amazing imaginative realities into which their parents are not invited. Of course, the flip side is that the sibling rivalry has gone through the roof, too. Silvia breaks down when Anna decides not to play, Anna randomly decides at odd moments that she needs to "have alone time!!!" and flips out when her sister follows along, begging for attention. They push, they whine, they tattle (oh, my how they tattle). And then, suddenly, they're holding hands and dancing around the living room to the melodic strains of Celtic Woman. When Anna started kindegarten in the fall, Silvia had a really hard time adjusting to being alone most of the day. Making faces at the baby doesn't really compare. But she's getting there and has become more independent (and more willful) as the months have gone by.
***
Speaking of kindegarten... it's been a major transition for all of us. First off, we've had to get on a morning schedule that's far more rigorous. Up, dressed, fed and out the door by 7:25 A.M. precisely. It's been an adjustment. Then there's the whole after-school reality. Anna often comes home fired up with her big kindegarten superiority and we spend at least half an hour taking her back down to family-friendly size. Juggling pick-ups, naps, homework, dinner and, obviously, Jack has taken a lot of getting used to. I can semi-confidently say that we've sort of gotten it down now... just as Anna's school work is about to increase with a leap. She's also on the accelerated reading plan and has two books a week she needs to get through and be tested on. We're trying to gracefully work that focused time into the evening mayhem.
***
Family. Not only was Jack born this year, but Monica also had a baby boy, Dylan, in March. It's been hard that we haven't been able to get the kids together, especially since they are all so close in age. We plan to visit next spring, but experiencing the first year of the boys' lives through pictures doesn't really cut it.
We've been lucky, though to have so much family close by, too. Kurt's dad comes over every week and is wonderful babysitting the girls from time to time.They adore him. Mom, Kent and Terry have been amazing in giving Kurt and me support and childcare, letting us get out alone. Together. These days, that feels like a special kind of miracle.
***
Milestones. Anna lost her first tooth (EW!) back in September (I think, didn't write it down out of gross-out-ness). Barbies have finally entered our world as of November, and oh, how they have made their mark. Silvia has lost her baby face. It happened subtly, but looking back at pictures from January it's clear-- she's really started to grow up! Kurt and I had our 7th anniversary in July, just after Jack was born. Showing off our more laissez faire parenting, we took him out with us for dinner to a fancy restaurant. Hey, if he fusses, he fusses, right? Life goes on.
Jack has gone from floppy infant to holding his head up, pushing up on his arms, smiling, laughing, babbling and more recently, starting to roll over. The colic he (we) suffered for the first four months is finally subsiding. He's starting to sleep for longer stretches at night (don't jinx me!). This time last year we couldn't imagine our lives with ANOTHER child. Now we can't imagine our lives without him. Funny how it works out that way.
***
Little things have stood out, too, silly memories we'll try to hold on to when the kids start to drive us wacko again. Like Anna teaching Silvia knock-knock jokes.
Anna: "Knock-knock. Now you say who's there."
Silvia: "Who's there."
Anna: "Orange. Now you say orange who."
Silvia: "Orange who."
Anna: "Orange Door! Now you laugh!"
Silvia: *gales of laughter pour forth*
Or all the quiet moments as they sit heads together, brown and blonde, while Anna reads stories to her sister's rapt attention.
There's the lightening speed shedding of clothes as soon as we walk in the door as they rush to change into dress-up clothes. Most of their costumes are worn thin, with holes, stains and ripped seams, but it doesn't matter. I find more laundry up in the playroom than I ever do in the basket in their room.
Jack's baptism and the gift of an ever-closer friendship with his godparents, the Bundgaards, as well as being honored as the godparents for their son Trystan. The kids get together from time to time and it seems like they've never spent any time apart. Turns out, we feel the same way about their parents. Now that's what I call a blessing.
All the mornings in scrubby sweats with bed head and swollen gross eyes because I forgot to take out my contacts, hunched over a luke warm coffee cup. Anna: "Mommy, you look beautiful today!" Silvia: "I like your shirt, it's so pretty!". I love my kids.
The a-ha moment when Anna figured out Connect Four.
Silvia's constant nonsense singing in the background at all times.
Jack, falling asleep in my arms as I nurse him, leaving me afraid to move for fear of waking him and also grateful that I get to hold his sleeping form for a little while longer.
Kurt. Period.
***
I'm sure there are hundred of other moments and stories I've forgotten and missed. But regardless...
It's been a good year.
***
Kind of obviously, the biggest going-on this year was my pregnancy and Jack's birth. We started the year kind of in shock and gradually worked our way up to AWESOME excitement. Unplanned, sure, but so worth the surprise! Jack's filled up places in our lives we hadn't even realized were empty, most notably by changing Anna and Silvia into Big Sisters. The smothering, adoring and majorly-giggly love they bear for him knows no bounds-- except when he won't stop fussing and then it's, "Mom!!! Jack's crying! He wants YOU!". But hey, all in all, they've been amazing helpers, supporters and baby-charmers, callings they never would have realized had he not come along.
***
Team Spirit. This year the girls have gone from affectionate (mostly) co-existence to serious Dynamic Duo antics. When they're together, they're TOGETHER: dancing, singing, plotting, reading, creating amazing imaginative realities into which their parents are not invited. Of course, the flip side is that the sibling rivalry has gone through the roof, too. Silvia breaks down when Anna decides not to play, Anna randomly decides at odd moments that she needs to "have alone time!!!" and flips out when her sister follows along, begging for attention. They push, they whine, they tattle (oh, my how they tattle). And then, suddenly, they're holding hands and dancing around the living room to the melodic strains of Celtic Woman. When Anna started kindegarten in the fall, Silvia had a really hard time adjusting to being alone most of the day. Making faces at the baby doesn't really compare. But she's getting there and has become more independent (and more willful) as the months have gone by.
***
Speaking of kindegarten... it's been a major transition for all of us. First off, we've had to get on a morning schedule that's far more rigorous. Up, dressed, fed and out the door by 7:25 A.M. precisely. It's been an adjustment. Then there's the whole after-school reality. Anna often comes home fired up with her big kindegarten superiority and we spend at least half an hour taking her back down to family-friendly size. Juggling pick-ups, naps, homework, dinner and, obviously, Jack has taken a lot of getting used to. I can semi-confidently say that we've sort of gotten it down now... just as Anna's school work is about to increase with a leap. She's also on the accelerated reading plan and has two books a week she needs to get through and be tested on. We're trying to gracefully work that focused time into the evening mayhem.
***
Family. Not only was Jack born this year, but Monica also had a baby boy, Dylan, in March. It's been hard that we haven't been able to get the kids together, especially since they are all so close in age. We plan to visit next spring, but experiencing the first year of the boys' lives through pictures doesn't really cut it.
We've been lucky, though to have so much family close by, too. Kurt's dad comes over every week and is wonderful babysitting the girls from time to time.They adore him. Mom, Kent and Terry have been amazing in giving Kurt and me support and childcare, letting us get out alone. Together. These days, that feels like a special kind of miracle.
***
Milestones. Anna lost her first tooth (EW!) back in September (I think, didn't write it down out of gross-out-ness). Barbies have finally entered our world as of November, and oh, how they have made their mark. Silvia has lost her baby face. It happened subtly, but looking back at pictures from January it's clear-- she's really started to grow up! Kurt and I had our 7th anniversary in July, just after Jack was born. Showing off our more laissez faire parenting, we took him out with us for dinner to a fancy restaurant. Hey, if he fusses, he fusses, right? Life goes on.
Jack has gone from floppy infant to holding his head up, pushing up on his arms, smiling, laughing, babbling and more recently, starting to roll over. The colic he (we) suffered for the first four months is finally subsiding. He's starting to sleep for longer stretches at night (don't jinx me!). This time last year we couldn't imagine our lives with ANOTHER child. Now we can't imagine our lives without him. Funny how it works out that way.
***
Little things have stood out, too, silly memories we'll try to hold on to when the kids start to drive us wacko again. Like Anna teaching Silvia knock-knock jokes.
Anna: "Knock-knock. Now you say who's there."
Silvia: "Who's there."
Anna: "Orange. Now you say orange who."
Silvia: "Orange who."
Anna: "Orange Door! Now you laugh!"
Silvia: *gales of laughter pour forth*
Or all the quiet moments as they sit heads together, brown and blonde, while Anna reads stories to her sister's rapt attention.
There's the lightening speed shedding of clothes as soon as we walk in the door as they rush to change into dress-up clothes. Most of their costumes are worn thin, with holes, stains and ripped seams, but it doesn't matter. I find more laundry up in the playroom than I ever do in the basket in their room.
Jack's baptism and the gift of an ever-closer friendship with his godparents, the Bundgaards, as well as being honored as the godparents for their son Trystan. The kids get together from time to time and it seems like they've never spent any time apart. Turns out, we feel the same way about their parents. Now that's what I call a blessing.
All the mornings in scrubby sweats with bed head and swollen gross eyes because I forgot to take out my contacts, hunched over a luke warm coffee cup. Anna: "Mommy, you look beautiful today!" Silvia: "I like your shirt, it's so pretty!". I love my kids.
The a-ha moment when Anna figured out Connect Four.
Silvia's constant nonsense singing in the background at all times.
Jack, falling asleep in my arms as I nurse him, leaving me afraid to move for fear of waking him and also grateful that I get to hold his sleeping form for a little while longer.
Kurt. Period.
***
I'm sure there are hundred of other moments and stories I've forgotten and missed. But regardless...
It's been a good year.
Saturday, December 04, 2010
Monday, November 08, 2010
new toys
Jack has hands. He's just discovered them and he thinks they're AWESOME. Unfortunately one side effect of the constant hand-munching is the now constant need for bibs. Fortunately we have dozens! (Thanks Bubby Sharyn!) With his new and exciting hands, he can also pull said bibs right up into his mouth, thereby killing two birds with one stone: fun chewing adventures and drool collection, all in one!The other benefit of hands is grasping, as in grasping toys. Much to my delight, and his as well, I found a little bag I'd tucked aside in a storage box. It was FULL of fun baby toys-- the brightly colored plastic keys, easily-grasped colored links, shaky balls with bells and best of all, the stacking tower that lights up and makes cool sounds. (While I am generally against Noise Toys, this little tower plays bell tones and little classical tunes so it's not very irritating. It does, however, tend to go off at random points all on its own, which can be a little terrifying at 2 A.M.)
Jack is growing up. His world is expanding. Of course, at this point it hasn't expanded much past his fingers and toes, but still. The bubble grows so quickly. Eventually it'll pop and he'll have the whole world in his view. Probably I've got a little more time before then.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Anna turns 6
And just for the sake of nostalgia... here's Anna again, but a little bit smaller. Look at that beautiful smile, though. Some things don't change at all.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
She's got the look... and the books
Not only is Anna totally adorable, turns out she can read! Ok, I know, you're all totally in shock. But recently her love of the written word has been confirmed at her school. They tested her at a 3rd-4th grade reading level. Even though we knew she was a strong reader it was still kind of shock to see it set out like that. So now Anna gets to follow a seperate program from her classmates. Her teacher will send home a few books a week from the 4th grade curriculum. Anna's supposed to read them to us a few times and then return them, where her teacher will then test her on comprehension of the stories. From there we can see if she needs things to be more challenging or less. It's wonderful that the schools now have a system for individualizing skill learning instead of just trying to fit all the kids into the same mold. Her teacher has been great to keep Anna progressing while working with us to make sure she's appropriately challenged without being overwhelmed.
From Anna's point of view, all this complicated curriculum and individual tutoring just means... new books! Every week! Hurray! I'm so glad she's happy and as long as it seems to keep her that way, we'll keep offering her new things. All in all, a really exciting program for my little kindegartener.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Friday, September 03, 2010
The Case of the Light-Up Shoes
Katie has light up shoes. You're thinking right now, who's Katie and who cares about her shoes?
Silvia cares, that's who. Katie goes to her preschool and for MONTHS I have heard every day about the shoes. Not in a whiny, begging or complaining way, either. Silvia has been filled with wistful sighs and admiration.
"Mommy, Katie has light up shoes. They are soooo pretty. I love light up shoes. Maybe someday I can have light up shoes like Katie? They have lights on them when she walks. Katie loves them and I love them, too."
Since her feet are growing exponentially and her shoes from April no longer have a chance of fitting, I decided why not? I have to get her new shoes anyway, why not indulge her ultimate fantasy and go with fancy lights? I mean, come on. When else in her life will her dreams be so easily reached? It's not like she is bombarded with new clothes and shoes and toys and fabulous treats. Most of her things used to be Anna's (including shoes) and we're not really give-the-kids-tons-of-crap kind of people. It would be a real treat for her and she deserves it.
So, I went to Kohls (I had a coupon, yay!). Or to what I now call, Shoe Hell and Home of the Sales Dragon Lady.
The had the perfect shoes-- a pair of mary jane sneakers in bright pink with lights enough to satisfy without being obnoxious. Silvia wore them out of the store, happiness coming off her like rays of sunlight.
But then, after we were home, and Jack was fed and calmed (he hates the car), we both noticed that one of the shoes didn't light up. Oh, no! Oh, horrors! I still had my wits about me, though, and felt generally calm and up to the challenge of a shoe exchange. So we waited to pick up Anna from her bus stop and headed back over to Kohls.
Can you guess what happened? Is the rule of Murphy's Law clear in your gaze? That's right. They didn't have her size. Sighing, I headed to customer service with two increasingly rowdy and grumpy children and a (thankfully) sleeping baby. The lady called the other stores (no dice), stared me down silently with no other helpful suggestions and gave me my money back. Cue mayhem from the 3-year-old whose dreams had just been dashed.
I gathered up the troops, headed home, had a piece of chocolate (medicinal, you understand) and checked online for the right size. Jackpot! Turns out, though, I'd have to pay shipping. So I call the store and ask if I can have it shipped there and skip the shipping cost.
Guess what? Turns out that, IN THE STORE, there is a kiosk set up for just this circumstance with free shipping. The catch is that you have to order IN THE STORE.
Did I mention the IN THE STORE part? The part that would have been incredibly helpful to know before I dragged my three children OUT of the store? I explained this fact to the customer service lady (the same lady I spoke to when we were IN THE STORE) and she said, "Well, I'm sorry, I can't do anything for you. If you want the shoes without paying shipping, you'll have to come back."
I told her I hoped she'd be more useful with this helpful information with other customers and hung up. Only then did I use language inappropriate for a child's blog.
In case you're unclear on why I'm so frustrated, let me expound (because this post isn't long enough yet!). Getting in and out and in and out and about and corralled with all the kids is hard. It's annoying. It's frustrating. I mostly avoid going out these days if I have to take even two kids. Jack, as I've mentioned, hates driving and tends to scream for the majority of our trips. The girls are sweet and I love them, but their ability to tackle all my nerves at once is beyond impressive. It's an art. So going to the store, leaving, going back and being the opposite of helped so that I'll have to go back AGAIN... I'm pissed.
The question now stands. Return to Kohls (hopefully to see the same lady and make rude gestures at her while letting my kids scream in her ear and getting the baby to throw up on her) and order the shoes, sans shipping costs. Or order them online, pay the fee and be free from road trips and obnoxious sales staff. Or give up on Silvia's dream and get her some plain ol' shoes the next time I happen to be out in a place that sells them.
Thoughts?
(I have to say that I'm leaning towards ordering online and considering the $6 shipping a worthy fee for my sanity. I don't really want to disappoint Silvia when she has come so close to her dream. What would I say to Katie?)
Silvia cares, that's who. Katie goes to her preschool and for MONTHS I have heard every day about the shoes. Not in a whiny, begging or complaining way, either. Silvia has been filled with wistful sighs and admiration.
"Mommy, Katie has light up shoes. They are soooo pretty. I love light up shoes. Maybe someday I can have light up shoes like Katie? They have lights on them when she walks. Katie loves them and I love them, too."
Since her feet are growing exponentially and her shoes from April no longer have a chance of fitting, I decided why not? I have to get her new shoes anyway, why not indulge her ultimate fantasy and go with fancy lights? I mean, come on. When else in her life will her dreams be so easily reached? It's not like she is bombarded with new clothes and shoes and toys and fabulous treats. Most of her things used to be Anna's (including shoes) and we're not really give-the-kids-tons-of-crap kind of people. It would be a real treat for her and she deserves it.
So, I went to Kohls (I had a coupon, yay!). Or to what I now call, Shoe Hell and Home of the Sales Dragon Lady.
The had the perfect shoes-- a pair of mary jane sneakers in bright pink with lights enough to satisfy without being obnoxious. Silvia wore them out of the store, happiness coming off her like rays of sunlight.
But then, after we were home, and Jack was fed and calmed (he hates the car), we both noticed that one of the shoes didn't light up. Oh, no! Oh, horrors! I still had my wits about me, though, and felt generally calm and up to the challenge of a shoe exchange. So we waited to pick up Anna from her bus stop and headed back over to Kohls.
Can you guess what happened? Is the rule of Murphy's Law clear in your gaze? That's right. They didn't have her size. Sighing, I headed to customer service with two increasingly rowdy and grumpy children and a (thankfully) sleeping baby. The lady called the other stores (no dice), stared me down silently with no other helpful suggestions and gave me my money back. Cue mayhem from the 3-year-old whose dreams had just been dashed.
I gathered up the troops, headed home, had a piece of chocolate (medicinal, you understand) and checked online for the right size. Jackpot! Turns out, though, I'd have to pay shipping. So I call the store and ask if I can have it shipped there and skip the shipping cost.
Guess what? Turns out that, IN THE STORE, there is a kiosk set up for just this circumstance with free shipping. The catch is that you have to order IN THE STORE.
Did I mention the IN THE STORE part? The part that would have been incredibly helpful to know before I dragged my three children OUT of the store? I explained this fact to the customer service lady (the same lady I spoke to when we were IN THE STORE) and she said, "Well, I'm sorry, I can't do anything for you. If you want the shoes without paying shipping, you'll have to come back."
I told her I hoped she'd be more useful with this helpful information with other customers and hung up. Only then did I use language inappropriate for a child's blog.
In case you're unclear on why I'm so frustrated, let me expound (because this post isn't long enough yet!). Getting in and out and in and out and about and corralled with all the kids is hard. It's annoying. It's frustrating. I mostly avoid going out these days if I have to take even two kids. Jack, as I've mentioned, hates driving and tends to scream for the majority of our trips. The girls are sweet and I love them, but their ability to tackle all my nerves at once is beyond impressive. It's an art. So going to the store, leaving, going back and being the opposite of helped so that I'll have to go back AGAIN... I'm pissed.
The question now stands. Return to Kohls (hopefully to see the same lady and make rude gestures at her while letting my kids scream in her ear and getting the baby to throw up on her) and order the shoes, sans shipping costs. Or order them online, pay the fee and be free from road trips and obnoxious sales staff. Or give up on Silvia's dream and get her some plain ol' shoes the next time I happen to be out in a place that sells them.
Thoughts?
(I have to say that I'm leaning towards ordering online and considering the $6 shipping a worthy fee for my sanity. I don't really want to disappoint Silvia when she has come so close to her dream. What would I say to Katie?)
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Anna's first day of kindergarten
Big day! We all took Anna into school this morning for the drop-off, but they hustled her into class so quickly we didn't really have a chance for a tearful good-bye (or much of a good-bye at all, really)-- which is probably for the best. She was all smiles this morning and even extra sweet to Silvia. The picture of the two of them hugging was after Silvia came up to her big sister and said, "Anna, I'm really going to miss you." Oh, man! That's pretty much the only time I did get a little misty-eyed.
So there goes my big girl, off into the world of public education. Let the adventure begin!
Sunday, August 08, 2010
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