No More Training Wheels

Zach has been riding a bike with training wheels since Natalie was born. Today he took the "big boy leap" and we took off the training wheels. Our almost 5 year old neighbor has a bigger bike with no training wheels and his buddy Jobe also just started to ride without training wheels. My $150 oil change at WalMart yielded a Balance Buddy to help us out. He was so eager to take off the training wheels, but then was really nervous so didn't want to ride. So I went back to working in the yard and then after about an hour, he decided he was ready to try. After 15 minutes of instruction from Ryan, he really was doing it by himself. The starting and stopping is the harder part but it was so exciting.



Meanwhile, Natalie, who is on her second round of antibiotics after developing 2 ear infections while on the first antibiotic, was out there having a blast.


Runny nose and all, she was stomping through the puddles like a pure toddler.

We are so happy to see March arrive. We have not been a healthy house for the ENTIRE month of February. UGH! HAPPY MARCH EVERYONE!

My $150 Oil Change

As promised, here is Natalie's picture from this morning. Mind you this is MUCH better than it looked yesterday. My poor baby girl. She is gagging on the antibiotics to the point that I can't hide them any longer in the yogurt. She's not biting. So after a call to the doctor's office, we have a new antibiotic and eyedrops. Unfortunately, I also have to take Natalie back in tomorrow to have her eye checked again. Cautious is good, I appreciate that. Doctor's office 3 times in 5 days, not good.

So, I needed to run a few errands today. I was all prepped to take Natalie and leave Zach home with Ryan but when Ii told her to say goodbye to Dad, she got the saddest look either one of us have seen and started crying. We tried a second time and same response. So Ryan asked if she wanted to stay home, which she was super excited about. I left before she could change her mind. You know it's bad when going to Walmart by myself sounds good. So I needed an oil change and thought it would be perfect timing because I had no kids and could get in and out and get a few things. When I asked how long I expected to wait, I had no clue that each car takes 20 minutes and I was #3. UGH. So I marched in not wanting to spend much money, but pleased to have time to shop without anyone asking me anything or asking to buy something or throwing something on the ground.


I came away with many things I needed: new shaving cream for the kids when we are in the shower, new black socks to replace some of the ones I have with holes in them, a Valentine's Day card for Ryan, Mini-muffin paper liners, Wheat Germ and Flaxseed Germ to put in "yet-to-be-made" mini-muffins, frosting, an orange peeler, a new yoga mat that is hopefully a bit thicker than the one i have now, new sippy cups for Natalie because the sock monster is stealing them, a Seahawks hat for Zach, new toothbrush for Zach. But the best one of all was the Batman pajamas I got him. He thanked me probably like 10 times. They also have a cape, which was so exciting that he was thrilled to have his picture taken. Too bad my $30 oil change wound up costing me $120.

"Mommy, can you take a picture of my cape too!"

Don't you get to rest on the 7th day???

So i've been a tad behind on posting. First on Super Bowl Sunday, Ryan was battling some stomach virus and was quarantined to the bedroom during our Super Bowl Party. He's a pretty decent sick guy so it wasn't so hard on me. But then last Wednesday (8 days ago) I made it to Yoga, then came home and was getting ready for bed when Zach woke up throwing up around 10 p.m. It seemed like every time he lay down, he would gag and then hurl. I wound up trying to sleep on the couch with him, but after an hour or two, we gave up, got in the shower at 12:45 a.m. because we both were so stinky, then tried his room - which is the exact reason that boy has a queen size bed. That was the first time I've ever been up ALL night. We would sleep for like 20-30 minutes and then wake to his gagging and puking. YUCK. It probably equaled 12 loads of laundry. The next morning he sat on the couch from 7:30 until 2 without getting up. Poor guy. The fever came on, the poor kid didn't eat for like 3 days so now his clothes don't fit. I dragged him to Grandma & Grandpa's house on Saturday because I had a work meeting - much to his dismay "Mommy, I don't want to get in the car, I want to stay home!" Sunday - still low grade fever and coughing and now pink eye. Monday, Natalie joined in on the fun with a really runny nose and pink eye. Tuesday I trekked to the doctor with both kiddos. Zach had a double ear infection. Natalie's ears were fine, but we took a wait and see approach with the eyes.

Zach cleared up and went to school today. Natalie went back to the doctor with really red, swollen eyes - the look in the doctor's eyes was like "Oh, crap, that is bad." She woke up this morning and after nap and couldn't open her eyes because they were so crusted over with gunk. She's now on antibiotics as well, so i'm hoping she'll start rebounding tomorrow. However, giving her the antibiotics is like getting the puppy to use a kitty litter box - next to impossible. But I have Mommy resolve and I will win this battle because it is day 8 and I'm not getting any work done and I'm tired. Ryan of course is back to work today, but it doesn't really matter anyway, because Natalie only wants Mommy since she feels so cruddy. Yesterday she said "Eyes, hurt." Poor peanut. If her eye still is yucky in the morning, i'll post a picture.

On another note - those of you that know me have heard from me that I'm psychic and probably have blown it off. So with all the facebook goings on and reconnecting with old friends - last week I started looking for some friends from La Jolla Elementary School but came up empty. Then today, seriously out of the blue, i got an email from one of my best friends, Danny Robbins. He wasn't on Facebook, he just happened to track me down. Now that my friends, is more than just random. I haven't been in contact since - well - i can't even remember the last time. Weird, eh?

Honey!

Natalie (18 months) has started talking a ton! "Butterfly, No, No Bark, Go Away Dog, Mater (Tomato), Milk, Uh-huh, Da-da, Crocs, Lia (babysitter)" But today may take the cake. She stands at the bottom of the stairs of "Ryan's room" and is yelling "Honey, Honey." At first I wasn't sure what she was calling and thought it was Maggie. But after asking are you calling Honey, she said Uh-huh. So cute. Oh and How cute are the pony tails! I LOVE them!

Zach has taken to figure out ways to keep Natalie happy when she is upset. If she cries, he will make funny faces, offer her a piece of food, or a drink of milk. It really is sweet. And a far cry from that 3 year old Alien that lived in our house last year. Love the 4 year old!


Zach and his favorite TV character - Curious George!

Reflections and Looking forward to 2009

Life with 2 young children is not easy. In our house, Ryan and I both pull our weight but probably feel like we each do so much which may explain why we are both always tired. Probably doesn't help that he goes to work and is woken at night either. Finding balance in my life continues to be a tricky, balancing act. I love working, I do find it quite rewarding, but it's a fine balance of not working too much. The weeks I work 25-30 hours/week it's great. When i get more than that I feel overwhelmed and bad at everything. Too little and I find the kids to be challenging. Also, I strive to have balance with exercise, time alone with Ryan, time with friends, time to work in the yard, and house to keep it in order, etc, etc.

Last year at my Bookclub, one of the members suggested we go around and share a word to describe how we thought the next year would be. Mine for 2008 was "Journey" - I felt like I was in the throws of a 3 year old and 5 month old, amidst challenges that would affect my marriage, work and social life. A wise sister once said that the first year of life with that 2nd child was one of the hardest of her life. She was right... but now Zach is 4 and Natalie is 17 months so we are more "settled."

I learned a lot in this past year - it was definitely a year full of many journeys. I am really looking forward to 2009 as I feel like it will be a better year. So as I move forward and get ready for my next bookclub (which was rescheduled due to INSANELY inclement weather), my new word is "Change." I'm ready to welcome change. For 11 years I lived in my house with wallpaper in one bathroom that I absolutely hated. It never really occurred to me to change it until this past year. So on a whim, Samantha (babysitter to kids, friend, former vball player) and I tore out the old wallpaper. Ryan was a little shocked to say the least, but later said we did a pretty good job not destroying the drywall. The bathroom now is a vibrant orange and has great new bathroom fixtures (again, HATED the old ones). Kids are in a constant state of change and with it come challenges, but out of those challenges, they usually are better off, as am I.

Other changes I'm looking forward to:

1. The change in leadership of the country,
   
2. Planting a garden,
   
3. Lessen my carbon footprint by composting, not buying as much,
4. Change the amount of "stuff" in my house so that I can live more efficiently.
5. Having a 4 year old instead of a 3 year old. Someone also told me that the year young kids drop their naps was their hardest of parenting and I will attest. Zach always seemed tired but if he napped he wouldn't go to bed, so away went the naps most days.
6. My cleaned out garage (thanks honey . . . can't wait to get to my side).
7. Continued growth and change as a wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter, aunt and woman.
8. Change in the weather - or at least getting to Hawaii in April.

Christmas Recap

Daddy & Zach shoveling the walkway before Christmas.

December 24: Christmas was a success! Ryan worked Christmas Eve, so I celebrated with the kids for a birthday lunch at Aunt Dru's with Grandma & Grandpa driving over from Sequim. I braved the elements and took the kids to Christmas Eve Church Service at Grace. It was lovely for the first hour. The last half hour was spent in the nursery playing with the kids. Thank goodness we were sitting near friends.

Adrian (11), Jackson (13), Zach (4), Mom, Julia (9) & Sofia (7)

December 25: Santa was generous to Zach and Natalie but he was perplexed what to do since Ryan was getting off work on Christmas Day and wouldn't be home until 9:30. Should Santa come the Day after Christmas or should the kids wait until Daddy got home, or should they just get their presents upon waking? Santa decided on the latter. I have decided one of the best things Ryan's family did growing up was that Santa presents are NOT wrapped. This would have never worked in my family because my mom was a planner and we all were snoopers.

(Natalie in Zach's old jammies & Zach on Christmas Day)

Christmas Day - Ryan's mom (Nana) and Grandma (GG) came over. They watched the kids open WAY too many wonderful gifts. One of the best parts was Nana and Zach play football in the house and Zach laughing so hard, we were all laughing.


Natalie & GG (Her great-grandma)



December 26: On the 26th, we headed to Sequim to celebrate with my family. Again, WAY too many gifts but the kids had a good time. Then we also were able to gather as a family and spread Grampsie's ashes before heading out to dinner.

December 27: Rest, Relax (Put away Christmas Stuff, Bake for Zach's birthday party)
December 28: Zach's Party - Party was fun after the first hour. "Mommy, can you make everyone go home." Pinata was a huge success. But next year when he says he only wants one friend, i'll let him do that :).

White Birthday?

So we are hit again, the 2nd snow in 1 week - but this is a full on dumping.

(Motorcycling in the snow earlier this week)

Before the "big one" hit, I took Zach down to Aunt Dru's for his first sledding experience. After wanting to watch for the first 15 minutes and variations of "Mommy, I'll watch you go", "Mommy, I'll push you down," "Mommy, I'll push the slide down with nobody in it,"I finally told him, if he didn't go we were going home because I was cold. Reluctantly, he climbed aboard with mommy & aunt Dru and off we went. He was curled in a ball in my lap, but then we got to the bottom and he said "Ok, this time I go by myself."



The tree is on an incline . . . just FYI - it looks worse than it really was. After 30 times or so up and down the big hill, we went home. At dinner, his head was on his arm at the table - needless to say he was POOPED! So fun.

Today we have weathered 2 power outages lasting 45 minutes each. We had 7 inches and that was a couple hours ago and it hasn't let up.

It truly is beautiful but the cabin fever is a little much. Thank goodness we had football on today and I managed to sneak in to the city yesterday to drop off Christmas presents. Unless it really warms up, we may have a White Birthday for Zach and a White Christmas as well! 3 days until I have a 4-year-old!