Springtime? Yes, Please.

Is spring really here? Is wintertime over? Can we go swimming yet? Are you (or your kids) as anxious for springtime as we are? (My only reservation is I know summer HEAT follows spring...)

We're ready to stop being sick and get outside and have some fun! - says Maggie (doing her breathing treatment)

 Valentine's Day snuck up on us (It's mid February already?!) But thankfully Melissa and I had an unusual amount of foresight last summer when we made these crayon's (for Owen and Bailey's 4th birthday party) - and we made enough for the kids to take to their preschool classes as Valentine's. Who does that?

 Thanks to Bee and Nana our Valentine's Day was filled with treats - and we finished the evening with heart-shaped ravioli and little heart brownies.

 But back to springtime. Seriously - we've had some beautiful days recently. So, of course we've been frequenting our favorite little park as much as possible. 

Maggie swinging for the first (?) time. Stiff as a board - but loving it.

 Rebecca loved pushing her. And Maggie loved it too.

 Weeeeeeeeeee!!!

 What could be better than swinging while playing peekaboo? Nothing!

 And a little (almost) naked baby play time in the backyard. (Have I mentioned how great it is that she is sitting up now? She's so much happier and more easily entertained.)

 Her two favorite accessories - her bib and her tongue. Rock it, girl!

 Before we can go outside to play...we have to put some clothes on. Come on Rebecca - we have to get dressed now. (What you're looking at is her preferred wardrobe - undies, and an assortment of play jewelry. She likes to put several necklaces around her head like a true Austin hipster.)

 Now that we're dressed, we can swing!

 If you have flowers in your yard - watch out - Rebecca WILL pick them. All of them. For you mommy!

 And like all good 2.5 year olds - if you have a sandbox - even if its only filled with rainwater and dirt - she will play in it.

 Who needs a playhouse when you can climb a real house?

 Owen likes spring but I don't think he'll be satisfied until we 1) go camping (next weekend!), and 2) can go swimming...

 Playing a little catch.

 Doing a little work.

 Remember our handprint Christmas tree? I realized I neglected to take it down with the rest of our Christmas stuff and it was still hanging in the playroom. Decided it needed a springtime replacement. So we made this cherry blossom tree with fingerprints. Isn't it fun and springy?

 I'm no artist but I had a lot of fun painting the tree. So free form. So unplanned. So not me! Plus there's something really fun about painting on a giant canvas. Makes me feel way more artistic than I am. And the kids enjoyed doing the fingerprint buds/leaves. Owen did the pink (because there were more of them - but he made sure to tell me several times that pink is NOT his favorite color), Rebecca did the yellow and Maggie's big toe did the green. Teamwork at its best.

Happy springtime to you!

Mud, Glorious Mud

What kid wouldn't like being given reign over a dirt garden bed with a hose and a dump truck. Thank you Nana for letting Owen get messy at your house.

Reality Check? Check.

So, by this time last year I think I had done 6-7 posts not related to the previous year. I know its not a competition - I'm not going to win a prize if I have more blog posts than the previous year. But it's a little bit of a reality check for me. Like finding Maggie's "First Year Calendar" in a pile of stuff on my desk and realizing that I haven't written anything in it in...well, months. (Maggie - I had the info, it just wasn't in your calendar - and I fixed that tonight, sweet baby girl!) Anyways...I can't believe its the middle of February. I honestly don't know where the last month and a half have gone. Except I do. Three small kiddos, a house (almost) under construction, lots of other projects (things we help coordinate for church, camping trips we're helping plan, and lots of work - for Kyle - getting ready for his first trip with TIME to Honduras). Anyways, it shouldn't surprise us. I guess it doesn't. But we are busy. Like, very busy. Like holy moly where is the end in sight busy? But (preaching to myself and to Kyle) - there is an end in sight...the Honduras trip is in April, Maggie will be weened within the next few months, and once we're out of design phase, our house will become primarily our builder's problem instead of ours (right Luke)? Plus, we're surfacing from a week where both Rebecca and Maggie have ear infections and Maggie has bronchitis (but at least not RSV) - both are on antibiotics and Maggie has to do a nebulizer treatment 3-4 times a day. I think we've all got colds too. Such a joy. (But we're thankful for medicine and the improvement we're seeing!) Needless to say, it's been a rough week+.

Anyways, here are some photos and updates in what is sure to be a very long post (since its covering so much time)...

Along with not blogging (and not doing ALL sorts of other things), I have not been taking any pictures. Can I use the winter-time its not pretty outside excuse too? Anyways, here are a few shots of the kids together one afternoon when it was nice outside.

Owen and Maggie

 Rebecca and Maggie (the ball was suppose to prop Rebecca up because Maggie kept pushing back and making her fall over.)

 The three musketeers stooges munchkins.

MAGGIE

One day this week (remember - we're sick) no one napped at the same time (usually a goal I pride myself on achieving at least a little)...Maggie and I were up playing so I busted out the ol' camera. Got a few cute ones of her SITTING! She's gotten so much more comfortable sitting up! I still usually put something behind her, but its totally not necessary. Her fall is quite graceful actually.

 How you like that hair? That part in the back (the faux-hawk) is always standing up like that. It's only recently that the front part sort of lays down. And its looking a little strawberry blondish to us...only time will tell.

 Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrr! (I'm very growly.)

 Oooooooooooooh! I LOVE MY FINGERS!!!!! THERE THEY ARE AGAIN!

 And did I mention I roll now? Yeah, I'm cool like that. I actually did it for the first time in the pediatrician's office for my 6 month check-up in January (tummy to back on the exam table). Now I'm ambi-rollous. I'm all about rolling to get to my toys. Or mostly to get off my tummy when mommy puts me on my tummy which I'm pretty sure she knows I hate. (Yes, I do. But you have to learn to crawl sometime or the pediatrician - and your grandmothers - are going to be mad at me.)

 Other Maggie news? She is working on learning how to eat Puffs. Unfortunatley, O & R are more interested than she is. Seriously - how am I going to ween this girl??? (She has bitten me a few times recently so I'm getting such mixed messages from her! - When she bit me the first time, Owen heard me squeal. When I told him why (he asked), he said - that is such a bummer!)

OWEN

I'm certain I've mentioned this, but this kid is SO good with his sisters. He truly loves to try to get her to laugh using his silly voices, faces, and moves. And he is very successful at it.

BETTIE? FA LA LA LOOH! OOOGHIE - DI DOCKIE DOOOOH!

 Do this Maggie!

 Momma! She's got my hair!

Other recent developments in Owen's life: 

• He no longer takes a nap. We've been debating whether to go down this road for a while. And its been a good thing. He would still fall asleep if we had "nap time" but it meant he was no where near tired at bedtime. And with he and Rebecca sharing a room, that meant some nights they were up until 9:30-10:30. Yikes. Kyle goes to bed at 9 or 9:30 so you can see that this is not ideal... Now he has "quiet play time" in his room - he gets to pick a toy (we had to specify - not the iPad) to take into his room and he can play with it or "read" any of his book. It's been great. He's in there for 1-1.5 hours and does so well. Plus, its good practice for him to entertain himself! And now even if Rebecca isn't tired at night, since he conks out pretty quickly she doesn't have anyone to antagonize (for the most part) so they both fall asleep better/faster. 
• No more training wheels. They were on then off then on and now they're off for good. He loves it. And sweet Nana is a great sport about us always coming to use her (great) driveway to ride. The bikes pretty much live over there. I have high hopes for our new driveway/street...
• He's growing up too fast in a lot of ways...sometimes I feel like I'm talking to a teenager, or an old man...not sure which one. The other day he told Kyle that "eating veggies is ridiculous". And he and Kyle continue to delve into the ever expanding realm of astronomy. To hear the two of them talk about stuff...Beetlejuice, Galilean moons, helium, quadrillion, expanding, Orion Nebula, new stars every day!...It's just funny to hear a four and a half year old talk this way...

REBECCA

 

In the words of my dear friend Katie, this girl is cray-cray (crazy). Seems like every week she is saying/doing new things - mostly saying. And the more she can say (and say she does!) the more we see her cray-cray little personality...

• You know that walk that cartoon characters do when they're sneaking up on someone...knees high, tip-toes, arms bent out in front? The other night we caught a glimpse of her sneaking out of her room at night and walking down the hall like that. Where do they learn this stuff? When we caught her she giggled and said "My neaky!!!"
• Everything is "my". Not in the mine-itis sort of toddler way, but instead of saying I or I'm she says my. So, it's "my hungry," "my (s)neaky," "my need go potty."
• Rebecca is potty-training! I can almost write potty-trained...it's gone surprisingly smooth! We (of course) had a rough first couple of days, but she's really gotten the hang of it. She still doesn't do #2 in the potty very well, but the peepee part has gone really well. Of course, now half her diet is gummy bears (her reward) - and Owen's too. He is on our team when it comes to encouraging her to go because when Rebecca goes to the potty not only does she get a gummy bear, but so does he! (Thank you Katie F!) I should also give her some credit because training was essentially her idea. We were content to wait until warmer weather (less clothes) and Maggie getting a little older, but one evening a few weeks ago Rebecca came into the kitchen naked with poop on her hands from having gone in the potty all by herself. We started to scold her for not asking for help and she started crying and said "I go potty myself!" - she was so proud of herself. It was clear she wanted to potty train and we just couldn't put it off any longer. Plus, a 2.5 year old training herself is worse than just sucking it up and doing it ourselves!
• She has rediscovered her toy kitchen and all of the "kitchen bood" that goes with it - she loves to incorporate Maggie's (real) stage 1 and 2 food containers into her play. Or just get them out of the pantry and make towers all over the house with them. Seriously, I find gerber containers in the strangest places. There have been more than a few times when I've gone to feed Maggie and there is nothing in the pantry and I have to scour the house looking for where Rebecca hid the food.
• Another big girl update - seems like I have probably mentioned this (?) - but she's in a big girl bed. Surely I've mentioned this. Her toddler bed has been a pretty nice transition going hand in hand with potty training. Still struggle with getting out of bed early in the evening, but we're working on it... She knows our limits for reading/singing at night so now she has worked Owen into her rotation of asking for things - Owen, sing me Twinkle Star, Owen, sing me Vision.  And of course the sweet boy sings to her.
• Has been rough to her books lately - we've had several favorites (including Dorz aka "George" - Curious George) get seriously injured in a ripping accident. Not sure what this is about.

*House update: We are still in the "design/permit phase". We have worked with our architect and finished our floor plans (layout) and the four exterior elevations (what the house looks like from outside from all 4 sides). We've run in to a couple little snaffoos re: power line clearances and may have to rework a few things, but that's the only thing standing in our way from getting building permits. So, hopefully soon...

Kyle went to the house last week to check on something and there was a big ol' dumpster in our lot. And he immediately noticed that there were men working on a new fence at our next door neighbors - so of course he thought - Well...isn't that a little rude? This guy next door who we haven't even met yet (although we had via email, we just didn't realize where he lived) put a dumpster in our yard? But then he asked the men if they knew anything about the dumpster (were they using it for their fence work?) and they said something about the house next door being torn down soon. That's our house! Yep, it was our dumpster. We just didn't know we had a dumpster yet! So...we have a dumpster. That has to mean stuff will start happening, right??? :) 

Bring it On 2012!

If we can make a New Year's Even Party with 4 families totalling 8 adults and 10 kids a success, then we can handle just about anything. Bring it on 2012! 

So thankful for the Foshea's 4-bedroom house where we were able to hang out and then put all the kids to bed! They got to have a lot of fun first - the F's have a new giant trampoline - but then it was our turn! Baby Blair slept downstairs with the adults while the big kids (mostly) slept upstairs.

 

We played Whits and Wagers, tried to find Dick Clarke on the tv with no luck (?), had a dance party and our own trampoline party. And we played with my my camera, some props and a butcher-paper backdrop to do our own little New Year's Eve resolution photobooth. 

Here's Mel being my "stand right there so I can try to get this right" girl...

Get fit! (But that doesn't start tonight.)

Sad faces w/ Baby Bear.

Blow those horns boys! Geez, don't wake the kids up!

The Murrays - Show me your silly side!

The Fosheas - Show me your sweet side!

Us - Show me your mischievous side!

The Other Mezgers - Show me your...oh wait, Mel is feeding Blair. 

Katie is going to Love with no Limits. Watch out 2012.

Christal is going to build a house. Real. Measurable. Attainable.

Seriously Kyle? That's your resolution. That's a little self-serving, don't you think? :)

Phil - read more, talk less. Shhhhh.

Joel's gut is truly out of control. Are you mocking us girls?

Luke's mug shot resolution photo was hilarious and not quite G-rated. 

A kiss at midnight. Happy New Year!!!

Sometimes its fun to think about where we'll be a year from now...here are a few obvious and likely "predictions" for 2012.

• The year will not end (per the Mayan calendar).
• Maggie will start eating table food, start walking, probably start talking.
• Rebecca will get potty trained!
• Owen will turn 5 - oh my goodness!
• We will finish designing and building our house (fingers crossed)!
• We'll have all 3 kids in preschool for at least 1 overlapping day a week (starting in the fall).
• We'll take some fun trips.
• We'll spend lots of time with family and friends.
• We'll hopefully be thankful for every day we have and every blessing God's given us. 

(Four new posts below to finish 2011.)

Last Baby Book Post of 2011

Wrapping things up for the year. Here's what the kiddos have been up to. 

Maggie

Can you believe this sweet thing is over 7 months old? Wow. Okay, so at her 6 month check-up she weighted in at 19lbs 11 oz, or 97th%. That's no joke people. She's deliciously huge (yes, I said it again Mom).  She's also long - 90th %. 

That doctor's visit was eventful for another reason. Just as her pediatrician and I were discussing her mobility, she rolled over (tummy to back) for the first time - right there on the exam table. I joke that she wanted to make sure she had an audience - something she can't always get at home!

She's got her first two teeth - on the bottom. And you can't tell from this picture (where I so artistically cut the top of her head off) - but she has the greatest spikey hair. It's just on top. She still spends enough time on her back that the hair on the back of her head is still pretty fine/short. But the top. Wow. Striaght. Spikey. And reddish???

One day Rebecca was rubbing on Maggie's head and saying "Momma, Ahnnie i(s) bikey. Ahnnie i(s) bikey." I finally figured out she was saying that Maggie has spikey hair. So true.

My mom says she's never met a smiley-er baby and even though she's biased I think she may be right. 

Rebecca

Rebecca continues to make us laugh with her evolving language skills. This is such a fun age - probably one of my favorites. Favorites right now include:

• My instead of I'm: My cold, My hundry, My ready, My go pee pee in potty
• All the new potty-related language. We're not officially training her yet. Actually it sort of feels like she's training us. Content to be in a wet diaper ("botter") most of the time if she's playing, but she knows its a great stall tactic (Ont go pee pee in potty) if we're trying to get ready for bed or need to go somewhere.
• Talking to and about Ahnnie (No cry, Ahnnie!), and Baby Bear (cousin Blair)
• These sibling relationships are so special. The other night Owen successfully convinced Rebecca to eat the meat we were having for dinner when we had given up. (We have meal time issues - we know.) He said it, she did it. That simple. 
• We saw a really big squirrel in our yard not too long ago - she pointed and yelled - A cow-woty! We continue to talk about said cow-woty.
• Favorite toys and things to do: a basket of empty plastic Easter eggs that was suposed to be hidden (so it could be reused at Easter), painting w/ real paint, her "basket of babies," whatever Owen is playing with...
• About a week ago we were tired (so tired) of being called into her room at night because she wanted a new diaper or she wanted us to "cuddle me" - which means to cover her up with her (too small) baby blankets. So we took the plunge and moved her into her toddler bed. She got a great new blanket and pillow from Bee for Christmas - so that was part of the deal too. No more baby blankies (you're a big girl now). She gets a sticker if she stays in bed all night (unless its to get up because she needs to go potty or wants a fresh diaper - at least she's coming to us now and not yelling). We're probably batting about 50% on her staying in bed. Poor Owen handles the distraction soooooo well. Anybody else's 2 and 4 year olds stay up until 9:30 or 10??? (We put them down at 8:30.) We'll keep you posted on this is 2012...

Owen

I don't have a photo of Owen that you didn't see in one of the December/Christmas posts, so this will have to do - Owen is totally into the solar system. He got a remote control solar system that is attached to the ceiling over his bed (thanks Dahdo and Pam) for Christmas and love it. Kyle has been on a teaching kick with him - he can name all of Jupiter's moons (the Galilean moons), tell you the story of Copernicus (and about how people used to think the Earth was at the center of the universe), etc. It's good times. Kyle definitely encourages it. But Owen is genuinely interested. He can work the "StarWalk" iPad app better than I can.

The other day he asked me where in the Bible God talks about creating the dinosaurs. We went to Genesis and had a really interesting discussion about what the Creation story does and does not tell us. He curious little brain is so much fun.

His favorite new word is skeptical - it's our favorite because for the first few days or so it came out "skeptible". Kyle (teaching him the definition by using examples): Owen - we're going to eat some alligator for dinner. Owen: Daddy - I'm a little skeptible about that. :)

No preschool the past few weeks means we've had to get creative with ways to fill up our days (the four days of Christmas celebrations were a big help)! Owen and Rebecca have done a great job of coming up with all sorts of (weird?!) imaginative little adventures. One afternoon while Maggie was napping and I had some time with just the bigguns, we pretended (at Owen's direction) that we all lived in a cave in the woods (my bed) and we'd occasionally get up (when it stopped raining) to go gather berries and hunt for squirrels (to which Rebecca would yell - cow-woty!). There was a rooster that woke us up when the rain stopped. And after we were done hunting, Owen would make us smootheis with his blender. I guess we had electricity in the cave.

Oh, did I mention we have entered the Lego age? Yes, Owen got his first Lego's for Christmas. They're awesome and he loves them but I feel like our house has entered a dangerously tiny-toy era and our floor will never again be the same...

Guess that's it for the kids in 2011! Looking forward to 2012!

Ode to Kyle

So, as you can tell, I'm trying to wrap up posts for 2011 so I can get my blog book printed for the year. I have had it on my list to have Kyle post about his trip to Canyonlands National Park in Utah - a trip he took with 2 buddies back in the spring. I really wanted him to write a little post - just so we'd have his "voice" recorded. But alas, I kept forgetting to ask and he's out of town today and tomorrow hunting (more on that in a bit) and I'm impatient, so I'm doing it...

Side note:

Hunting. I had no idea when we got married I married a hunter. I knew I married a boy who grew up in the country and went hunting as a kid/teen, but that's different than marrying a hunter. Well...Kyle is a hunter. One of his predominant mental screensavers is white tale this, winchester 70 that, sausage this, roast that, when can I get to the ranch???

I'm poking fun a little bit, but I'm glad he does it - mostly because he LOVES it - and its time he gets to spend with some of his best buddies, but also because we get yummy roast and sausage (jalapeno cheese kilbasa anyone?) to have on hand for the quickest, easiest dinners ever.

 

So, here's to wishing the end of his 2011 hunting season is a good one. Our freezer has a little too much room for ice cream in it right now...

Okay, back to Canyonlands. This is Kyle's other mental screensaver - and not just dreaming about the trip - the views, the weather, the feel of being out in God's country...but dreaming about the meticulous planning it takes to pull this kind of stuff off. He's pretty good at it too. 

Here he is with Gunnar and Ryan - his partners for this adventure. Gunnar is a friend from residency who lives in New York, Ryan is a friend from college who lives in Dallas.

I hope I get this right - they were on the trail for 3 nights.

Packed in all their food and gear. The only luxury was our giant DSLR camera.

One of his favorite parts of the trip was the varied landscape they went through.

I know that was a lame summary of what was an awesome trip. But that's what happen when I postpone something for 8 months. I'll make sure Kyle tells you himself about his next adventure.