Oh the drama.
If you're counting, you will realize that Megan turned 4 about 6 weeks ago. So, that means we are about 6 weeks late in taking her to her 4 year well child check. There is a good reason for this you see. I was dreading seeing my baby girl scared and crying in my arms as she anticipated her shots. I was dreading possibly having to wrestle Megan down to the table in order to get her shots. I was dreading possibly having to cover my ears as she screamed bloody murder. I was dreading possibly getting the shot in my own leg because she made a stealthy flinching move to avoid it herself.
Well, I was right.
Except, I didn't get it in my leg. The rest of the above, did in fact happen though.
Three bandaids later, I had a girl ready to go get her ice cream that I bribed her with. Although looking back at it, I'm not really sure if I won that bribe since she didn't willingly (at all) take the shots. Oh well, I got a scoop of chocolate peanut butter out of the deal.
During the appointment Dr. Kendall asked Megan some questions and had her draw some things on the paper. She wanted to know if she recognized her shapes, could draw them, recognize letters and numbers and knew her colors. Megan did better than she expected however there might be a question of Megan being a bit color blind. I've noticed for awhile now that Megan always says red for green and green for red. Well, she did the same thing that day. Dr. Kendall just said it's not really a problem except for the whole driving thing!
I won't share Megan's weight since I'm not sure when it becomes inappropriate to divulge a woman's weight, but do know, she is a healthy little girl. She is 41" tall so I guess that's 3 feet 5 inches? Don't judge me.
Joshua also had his 4 month check up this week. It's probably more dramatic for mommy than it is for him at this point. He was smiling and cooing all the way up till he got his THREE shots in his tiny little legs. Poor little mister. I'm pretty sure that if I was ever in need of a godmother, our doctor would take our kids in a heartbeat. She loves them and wanted to know if we were going to have any more since they come out so cute. (Yes, I do say so myself.)
Joshua is 18.5 lbs (96%), 26.5" tall (92%) and head circumference is 17.5" (94%). He's grown 2 inches in height, one inch around his head and gained about 3 pounds since his 2 month check up. He's doing just fine! Compared to Megan at his age they are very similar. Joshua is just a bit bigger than she was in all areas. I asked about giving him some cereal in his milk at night and she said it would be fine. He's waking up more at night again and it might be because he needs some more food to keep him asleep! It was a perfect bill of health and he'll go back at 6 months!
Oh, Joshua rolled over back to tummy for the first time on 11/30. Dr. Kendall says that's the hard one so he'll probably roll tummy to back no problem, we just have to give him more tummy time. He also grabbed his little toes for the first time at his check up. I've noticed he reaches for toys now when we hold them in front of him. His dexterity is still not great (give him a break) but he can hold on to things and pull them to his mouth. Everything goes in his mouth. He will be getting a tooth soon, we can see the little thing trying to poke through on his bottom gum. I love his gummy grin, I don't want teeth!!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Christmas Tree Time!
We found a new Christmas Tree farm this year. $15 for a Noble!! Oh the day I spent $90 on a Noble in Tualatin is a day I will never forget and a day I cringe thinking of. Anyway, back to happy thoughts. We usually get a Doug Fir but we thought we'd try something new this year and it was a good idea.
Megan was so excited to decorate the tree. She had a very hard time waiting until we got the lights on and then she got busy. And you can tell where she got busy. It was about a 2 foot high by 2 foot wide section of the tree! I thought I'd change it up a bit when she went to bed but then I thought, why? She did a great job and it is just fine!
State Champions!!
One day when I was 15 years old, I ran into one of my favorite teachers and coaches at Fred Meyer. He and his wife had recently had a baby and he asked if I would be interested in babysitting for them over the summer. I said YES!! So, everyday over the summer, he came to pick me up (and I didn't live all that close to them) and then took me home in the afternoon. Their little boy Jakob James was my little guy. I babysat him for years to come along with his little brother who came along a few years later. Since then I've watched him grow from a distance and now I have a little boy about the age he was when I first began watching him. Once I was old enough to drive, we took trips to the zoo, McDonalds and other fun places. I will always remember taking him to the zoo one time and he wanted some kind of toy from a vendor and I told him I was sorry but I didn't have any more money with me. He quickly pointed to an ATM and said, you can get money there! If only it was that simple! What a cutie.
This year he is a senior in high school and they won the 5A Football State Championship on Saturday! What is even more special is that favorite teacher, is also his coach and they won the Championship together. Love you Jake and Love you Greg!!
And here's my little guy all bundled up after the game. It was 30 degrees with the wind chill!!! But I'm so glad we were able to make it!!
Friday, December 03, 2010
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Thanksgiving
I decided that it was time to remind myself of all of my many blessings, and what a better time than Thanksgiving.
Like every year we spent Thanksgiving at my parent's house. This year we were lucky enough to have my Aunt Karen, or Kay Kay as I call her, join us. I'm not sure exactly, but I think the last time I saw her was in '06 when we got married. I loved having her there with me and it was wonderful seeing her again this last week. She drove all the way up here from Camarillo, CA by herself to be with us.
I can't remember a happier time in our family. This year has been quite eventful for us. First my baby sister graduated college after 5 years of hard work. Watching her go through school has inspired me, made me proud and envious and the same time. She chose an incredibly tough program and now has a degree in Architecture from U of O. All the while she maintained a part time job, spent countless hours in studio and managed a ridiculously high GPA. She is such a hard worker. Everything she does is in an effort to perfect it. Sometimes she gets frustrated when it can't be perfect or doesn't end up perfect but it makes her stronger and keeps her focused on her next task. She has been so brave to move to a new city to be with the guy she loves. She doesn't know many people, is uncomfortable and unsure. She is still looking for a job after all of her hard work in school. She's going through a tough time, her resolve is being tested. She is still chasing perfection. I hope she can see this challenge as she's seen all of the rest, something that she will get through in time and to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Because like everything else, her hard work will pay off. She is amazing.
Stacy continues to teach in a school where it seems no one cares more than she does. It is hard for her (and all of us as bystanders) to watch and hear about kids who continue to fail due to lack of trying and lack of interest on the part of their parents. It is a foreign idea to us. How lucky that we grew up with parents and family that pushed us to succeed and picked us up when we didn't. Stacy is such a passionate teacher, works such long hours each and every day in hopes that someone will care. One day, I believe one of her past students will find her and explain to her how her leadership and love inspired them to do something better with their life. How they did not end up a statistic, because of her. She is amazing.
My other baby sister got married not even a month ago. It was a day Tami has been thinking about and planning for awhile but in the end put together in a matter of a few short weeks. The day was nothing less than magnificent. She looked absolutely beautiful and her vision of her wedding day came to fruition. The ballroom glowed and the details were elegant. She thought of everything to make her day truly unique and special. She should send pictures to magazines, we're talking that Martha Stewart B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. At the end of the day, I gained a brother in law who is a wonderful man and will take great care of my sister. He is so kind hearted and deserves nothing but the best of everything as well. And.....he loves my kids. And they love him. Not only did Tami have a gorgeous wedding, she got a great guy. She is amazing.
We welcomed our little baby boy into the world in August. The time has gone so quickly and he is growing so fast. It seems to be going faster than it did with Megan. Maybe I just don't remember or maybe it's because I know he is our last little baby. He is such pure joy. His smile melts my heart and it's good he's not covered in chocolate because I would eat him up. Megan is in love with him. She is such a good big sister, always looking out for him, wanting to help and giving him her share of kisses. I know that she will be his protector as they grow up together.
Every once in awhile I talk about Josh and it probably always sounds the same. But that is about right, it is consistent, just as he is. I could not imagine a better husband. I can say in total honesty that I know he will love me for the rest of his life. Really, how many people can say that? I love him heart and soul and know he was the plan for me way before I ever knew it. He was the guy I dreamed of before he had a name, before he had a face. He is everything I never knew I always wanted. (I stole that line from a movie.) He is a country boy at heart, can be a city boy when needed but ever a consistent husband, friend and father. One thing I really admired of Josh when I first met him years and years ago was the depth of his character. He wasn't "just" anything. He was this and that and then some. He doesn't have two dimensional beliefs, he can get along with anyone because he doesn't judge people. He is our provider, works hard at a job that he doesn't necessarily love but knows it is the means to an end. The roof over our head, the stuff that we have is all due to him. But if we lost it all tomorrow, we would be okay. We would have eachother and our beautiful babies. He is amazing.
I have been blessed with not only two, but four parents who love us unconditionally. Two by genetics and two by choice. The song is definitely true about our step parents - "They didn't have to be." Calling them step parents does them a disservice though because there should be nothing that separates them from being our parents. They have all picked me up their full share of times and they probably aren't done yet. Watching them with my children gave me a new perspective on them. My relationships with them will be forever changed because I see them in a completely different light than I did as a child. My family is blessed by them. I will never be able to thank them enough for everything they do and everything they are. They are amazing.
To all of you, I love you more than can ever be expressed.
Like every year we spent Thanksgiving at my parent's house. This year we were lucky enough to have my Aunt Karen, or Kay Kay as I call her, join us. I'm not sure exactly, but I think the last time I saw her was in '06 when we got married. I loved having her there with me and it was wonderful seeing her again this last week. She drove all the way up here from Camarillo, CA by herself to be with us.
I can't remember a happier time in our family. This year has been quite eventful for us. First my baby sister graduated college after 5 years of hard work. Watching her go through school has inspired me, made me proud and envious and the same time. She chose an incredibly tough program and now has a degree in Architecture from U of O. All the while she maintained a part time job, spent countless hours in studio and managed a ridiculously high GPA. She is such a hard worker. Everything she does is in an effort to perfect it. Sometimes she gets frustrated when it can't be perfect or doesn't end up perfect but it makes her stronger and keeps her focused on her next task. She has been so brave to move to a new city to be with the guy she loves. She doesn't know many people, is uncomfortable and unsure. She is still looking for a job after all of her hard work in school. She's going through a tough time, her resolve is being tested. She is still chasing perfection. I hope she can see this challenge as she's seen all of the rest, something that she will get through in time and to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Because like everything else, her hard work will pay off. She is amazing.
Stacy continues to teach in a school where it seems no one cares more than she does. It is hard for her (and all of us as bystanders) to watch and hear about kids who continue to fail due to lack of trying and lack of interest on the part of their parents. It is a foreign idea to us. How lucky that we grew up with parents and family that pushed us to succeed and picked us up when we didn't. Stacy is such a passionate teacher, works such long hours each and every day in hopes that someone will care. One day, I believe one of her past students will find her and explain to her how her leadership and love inspired them to do something better with their life. How they did not end up a statistic, because of her. She is amazing.
My other baby sister got married not even a month ago. It was a day Tami has been thinking about and planning for awhile but in the end put together in a matter of a few short weeks. The day was nothing less than magnificent. She looked absolutely beautiful and her vision of her wedding day came to fruition. The ballroom glowed and the details were elegant. She thought of everything to make her day truly unique and special. She should send pictures to magazines, we're talking that Martha Stewart B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. At the end of the day, I gained a brother in law who is a wonderful man and will take great care of my sister. He is so kind hearted and deserves nothing but the best of everything as well. And.....he loves my kids. And they love him. Not only did Tami have a gorgeous wedding, she got a great guy. She is amazing.
We welcomed our little baby boy into the world in August. The time has gone so quickly and he is growing so fast. It seems to be going faster than it did with Megan. Maybe I just don't remember or maybe it's because I know he is our last little baby. He is such pure joy. His smile melts my heart and it's good he's not covered in chocolate because I would eat him up. Megan is in love with him. She is such a good big sister, always looking out for him, wanting to help and giving him her share of kisses. I know that she will be his protector as they grow up together.
Every once in awhile I talk about Josh and it probably always sounds the same. But that is about right, it is consistent, just as he is. I could not imagine a better husband. I can say in total honesty that I know he will love me for the rest of his life. Really, how many people can say that? I love him heart and soul and know he was the plan for me way before I ever knew it. He was the guy I dreamed of before he had a name, before he had a face. He is everything I never knew I always wanted. (I stole that line from a movie.) He is a country boy at heart, can be a city boy when needed but ever a consistent husband, friend and father. One thing I really admired of Josh when I first met him years and years ago was the depth of his character. He wasn't "just" anything. He was this and that and then some. He doesn't have two dimensional beliefs, he can get along with anyone because he doesn't judge people. He is our provider, works hard at a job that he doesn't necessarily love but knows it is the means to an end. The roof over our head, the stuff that we have is all due to him. But if we lost it all tomorrow, we would be okay. We would have eachother and our beautiful babies. He is amazing.
I have been blessed with not only two, but four parents who love us unconditionally. Two by genetics and two by choice. The song is definitely true about our step parents - "They didn't have to be." Calling them step parents does them a disservice though because there should be nothing that separates them from being our parents. They have all picked me up their full share of times and they probably aren't done yet. Watching them with my children gave me a new perspective on them. My relationships with them will be forever changed because I see them in a completely different light than I did as a child. My family is blessed by them. I will never be able to thank them enough for everything they do and everything they are. They are amazing.
To all of you, I love you more than can ever be expressed.
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