Saturday, July 5, 2014

2 1/2 Years


Well, this is a bit late but better late than never.  


Hannah was 2 1/2 years old on June 22.  And yet again, time is flying by!!!  I can't believe she is 30 months old already.  And there is no change in the full of life, independent, happy spirit that encompasses Hannah.  We love our HannahBean!

*Hannah's schedule is rather set since it's summertime.  She goes to bed between 8-9 depending on our activities and she'll get up also between 8-9.  Hannah's afternoon nap is anywhere from an hour to 3 hours.  I really like the 3 hour days although they are few and far between.  

*Stats: I haven't weighed her lately but the last time I did she was at least 33 pounds; I have no idea how tall she is although it's tall.  When people learn how old she is we always get a comment about how tall she is for her age.  Hannah is wearing 3T and some 4T clothes.  Hannah's hair is in ringlets especially when it's really humid.  We have to use a detangling spray on it in the bathtub otherwise we can't comb it out.

*Hannah knows when it's meal time and is not afraid to let us know it.  She loves to eat although it's definitely not as much as in the past.  She also has strong opinions about what she'll eat and what she won't touch.  Pork is by far her favorite meat although she doesn't eat meat too well.  Cheese, cheese, cheese!  No meal is complete without it.  Strawberries, corn on the cob, green beans, spaghetti, peanut butter and chips are all big favorites.  She also just recently started asking for Chic a lay (Chick-Fil-A)--not sure how I feel about that.

*The last few weeks she's been a big time mama's girl which is a switch.  It seems like she goes in phases with me/women and Troy/men.  This one seems to be a strong one in my favor.  I enjoy it but at the same time it's so hard when it's Troy's turn for helping her with bed, potty, etc.

*Speaking of potty--we started potty training on the 24th.  So far, Hannah is doing awesome!  Of course we've had a few accidents but she's really understanding the concept.  We're setting a timer and asking her constantly if she needs to go.  And she's started telling us more consistently when she needs to go.  We're still working on #2 and she's definitely still wearing a diaper overnight and at nap time but she is SO far ahead of LJ it amazes me.

*About a month ago, Hannah started talking about being pretty--she wanted to be pretty when she got dressed in the morning.  She would tell anyone she knew that she was pretty.

"I pretty; I pretty."

Last week, I hadn't taken a shower before getting her out of bed so I just had a t-shirt and yoga pants on.  When she saw me, she said, "Mommy not pretty today."  Ha!!!  Oh man, did I laugh.  So the last few days, I've been asking her if I'm pretty or not today.  The answers have varied but she is always pretty :)

*Hannah is really enjoying the pool.  She was hesitant at first but now she'll climb right in once she has her floatie on.  She doesn't like to go underwater yet but she been working on blowing bubbles lately.  We had some private swim lessons at the end of June and that helped a bunch.  She is an expert at shooting her water gun though!  She needs some defense against Luke and Troy.

*Riding her bike is also a favorite--just being outside in any form really is the best place to be.

*Hannah loves Legos.  She is very adept at sorting the pieces and using the flat pieces to make "pictures" and making towers.  Much to Luke's dismay, she is also very good at taking creations apart.

*Hannah also loves purses.  She has one purse that she carries with her everywhere.  It has no less than 4 phones and probably 10-15 bracelets along with some keys and various random items she picks up.

*We randomly hear Hannah break out in song.  Some of them are understandable, ABC song; Twinkle, Twinkle; Hammer, Hammer, Hammer; and some she makes up depending on her current activity.  She has a new one for sitting on the potty--pretty cute!

*Her counting is most often still 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 but 4, 5, and 6 make it in there occasionally.  

*Hannah loves to draw, color and paint.  Hooray!!!

*We are able to understand almost all of what Hannah says unless she's in a big hurry.  She is using full sentences and more often it seems that she talks in paragraphs.  We haven't hit a major why? phase yet which is surprising to me (I probably just jinxed it).  

*Hannah loves to play with Luke.  Most often they get along really well.  Hannah often asks Luke to help her fix dinner in the pretend kitchen.  One of the sweetest things they do together is lay on their tummy's while watching a show.

*Miss Independent also is insisting on buckling her carseat by herself.  She refuses any help on the stairs--makes me nervous.  And she's getting a little more freedom in playing upstairs without a parent around.

*Books have also become more desirable over the last few months.  She will often find some books and sit alone to "read" them.  Her favorites that we read include: Goodnight Moon; Big Red Barn; Brown Bear, Brown Bear; the Llama Llama books; Potty Train; and Curious George books.

*Current nicknames: HannahBean, Sugar Bean, Sweetie (most often from LJ)

*Bedtime routine: brush teeth, potty, put on diaper (with tape so she won't take it off) and pj's, read stories, rock and sing Frere Jacques.  I've really been enjoying the rocking and singing lately.  She snuggles into my shoulder and just lets me hug her tight.

500

I was going to write about something else but then I noticed that this would be my 500th post--not too bad for 4 1/2 years (although this year has been a bit lacking).  As I didn't know that I was really close to 500 I don't have anything overly special planned for this post but I thought I should at least acknowledge it.  I guess I'll link some of my favorite posts below.

Luke Arrives!
Amazing Gift
Asleep in the Chair
Watering His Toes
Another Perfect Gift
Fort Vs. Cave
200
Big Announcement
4D Ultrasound
Gender Reveal
Preggo Update
Hannah Elizabeth is here!
Coming into this World
Luke and Hannah Meet
Mama
10 Things About

I could add so many more but I want to get on with posting some other blogs I have floating in my head.  I will say that some of my most favorite, favorite posts are those that are random thoughts or collections of what's happening in the moment.  I really love to get those in depth glances of our lives past.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Pictures

Some of the moments of our lives the last few months.
 Feb 22--Giant chalk drawing
 Feb 25--A little b-ball at school
 Feb 27--At the library
 Feb 28--Tracing toes
 March 23--Snuggle time
 March 23--Popcorn and milkshakes for dinner (something I did as a kid)
 March 25--Some lovely bed head
 March 30--Playing Legos
 March 30--A round with Dad
 March 31--Park fun
 April 2--Nature art together
 April 7--Checking out the ants
 April 7--Thunder during dinner
April 8--Flying high at the park
 April 12--Beautiful day
 April 17--School swing
April 21--Spin art

The Lasts: As Good as the Firsts

I came across this blog post on Facebook a while back.  It really hit home for me at the time and just now going back and reading it again it struck again.  I think I do a pretty good job of taking in and capturing all the small, seemingly not-so-significant moments in our lives.  Those are the moments I wish I knew more about from my childhood so I try to capture them for Luke and Hannah.  The author of the post reminds us the very first firsts are sweet but so too are the very last lasts--the last time you hear 1, 2, 3, 7, 8; the last day of school before going to kindergarten at a new school; watching the first steps of your last child; understanding that your help isn't quite as necessary as it once was.  All of this is supposed to happen; children are supposed to grow up and flourish and learn; however, for this mama it's just a reminder to enjoy those small moments that really aren't so small after all.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Today...

…we are supposed to be in KC but we're here at home.
…LJ is sick with the flu for the second time this season (and hello it's MAY--there shouldn't be any more flu around).
…the kids are watching Frozen for the second time already and it's only 11 am.  (I really like the movie too--good, strong female characters that solve the problem on their own and then get the guy.)
…Troy will be home from work about noon (love 1/2 day Fridays).
…I am hoping to work outside and get some flowers planted.
…I am also hoping for a shower at some point.
…I have the second load of laundry in the washing machine with 3 more waiting to be done.
…some words that Hannah has said:
     --doovie (movie)
     --Hannah do it (a big fav right now)
     --No dress (code for not wanting to get dressed)
     --Mommy, I drawing.  (She wants some paper and pen.)
     --1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10 (We're working on the missing numbers.)
     --A, A, N, N, A (She wants to spell her name.)
…some words that Luke has said:
     --singing and/or belting out the words to "Let It Go"
     --I feel a little better.
     --I want a fruit by the foot.  (He didn't get it since his tummy a bit questionable.)
     --I don't want that medicine.  (The tamiflu does taste terrible.)
…the sun is shining and it's supposed to be a beautiful day.
…I need to remember that these moments at home with my kids are ones I will always cherish, sick or not.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Grateful

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.  This one is worth that and so much more that can't be seen.  It seems like an odd picture to choose but it's a moment I'll not forget anytime soon.  

It was last Thursday night around midnight.  We had arrived in Topeka just 5 hours earlier for the Easter weekend.  Hannah woke up crying and asking for daddy.  Daddy informed me that she had a temp so we got her some medicine and I was going to sit with her in a comfy chair for a bit until she calmed down and went back to sleep.  Well, she threw up on our way to the chair.  It was all over us--YUCK!  So we went to the bathroom to hang out, get clean and throw up some more.  It took Hannah about 30 minutes to calm down after she was done getting sick.  Troy grabbed the iPod to play some music to help her calm down which really helped.  During the 30 minutes, she went from sitting in my lap to sitting next to me to laying her head in my lap.  When she laid her head down in my lap I asked Troy to play something pretty calm and mellow hoping she would drift off to sleep.  Here's the moment I won't forget.  He played our song, "I Could Not Ask for More" by Sara Evans.  It made me tear up because even though I'd just been puked on and awakened in the middle of the night I couldn't ask for more.  I was taking care of my baby while my husband looked on in support all while knowing my son was sleeping peacefully in the next room.  It hit me as an odd time to be grateful but I was truly grateful for the moment and the song.  I sang to Hannah as tears fell from my eyes and looked to Troy with love.  Cheesy, maybe a bit but I'll remember the moment for a long time.

I Could Not Ask for More
Lying here with you
Listenin' to the rain
Smilin just to see
The smile upon your face

These are the moments
I thank god that I'm alive
These are the moments I remember all my life
I've found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

Looking in your eyes
Seein' all I need
Everything you are
Is everything at me

These are the moments
I know heaven must exist
These are the moments
I know all I need is this
I've found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together
Could not ask for more than this time with you

Every prayer has been answered, 
Every dream I've had come true.

Yeah right here in this moment, 
Is right where I'm meant to be, 
Oh here with you, 
Here with me. Yeah

These are the moments 
I thank god that I'm alive, 
These are the moments 
I remember all my life. 
I've found all I'm waiting for (yeah)
And I could not ask for more.

I could not ask for more than this time together
Could not ask for more than this time with you
Every prayer has been answered, 
Every dream I've had's come true

Yeah right here in this moment, is right where I'm meant to be, Oh here with you, here with me.

No I could not ask for more than this time you gave me,
Cause it's all I've waited for and 
I could not ask for more.
No Yeah 
No I could not ask for more.
 

We are...

I'm "borrowing" this title and blog post idea from Ali Edwards.  I figured I needed some inspiration to get back in the blogging mood.  So around our house we are…

…enjoying family dinner time together every night.  Something I don't want to change but know I'll have to be flexible with as the kids get older.

…loving that the weather is warming up and we can play outside.  The kids love the new flat driveway to ride bikes on and Luke is also enjoying playing basketball.

…anxiously waiting for the weather to be warm enough to swim in our pool!  Luke is asking constantly when it will be warm enough.

…looking forward to summer fun.  The kids have only 4 more weeks of school.

…playing lots and lots of Legos.  It is just about the only toy that Luke will play with for an extended amount of time.  Hannah loves to sort them and take things apart.

…ready to be well!  Luke had a stomach bug about 3 weeks ago that lasted over a week and Hannah had it this past weekend (while out of town no less).  Everyone seems to be suffering from allergies too.

…praying that our house will sell.  It's been 6 months.  I'm not going to say more.

…working hard.  Troy traveled last week to Kentucky to sample some core; he really enjoyed the trip.  I'm trying to get the front yard gardens taken care of and also have started our vegetable garden. 

…getting excited about our trip to the beach!  We're going to drive which will also be a new adventure for us.  It's 18 hours!!!

…playing lots of soccer.  Luke is really having a great time on his team this spring.  He has yet to score a goal but he's really made a lot of progress going after the ball.

…challenging mom and dad.  Hannah seems to be in stride with the terrible two's and Luke has starting learning the art of why do I have to listen.

…loving life and having fun and being a family!