Daddy Weekend

The kids will be home with just Greg this weekend, while I head to the beach for a Ladies Get-Away with women from church. The last couple weeks I've started wondering what I was thinking going on a "retreat" while 8 months pregnant...but everythings all set, so no turning back now.

I'm looking forward to it but with some apprehension about leaving the kids for two days. (A month ago we left them overnight with Grandpa and Grandma for the first time since Joel was born.) They'll be in good hands, of course. Daddy is very capable of handling everything alone, especially with Joel's ears on the mend, but there's still just a little anxiety. I think I'm going to miss them--probably more than they'll miss me!

Snowy Drive to the ER

Greg took a drive through the falling snow after midnight to the emergency room with Joel last night. Turns out Joel has an ear infection--his first one since tubes were put in a year ago. We couldn't get him to stop crying last night, and he was obviously in pain (kept saying "ouch" and "I hurt"), just couldn't tell us where. He pointed to various body parts when we asked what hurt. Poor little guy was miserable, and we were miserable because nothing was helping him. I was relieved when Greg called from the pharmacy and said it was his ears.

Joel's drugged up and doing ok this morning. I let him go outside to play in the snow with Kari. I didn't have the heart to keep him inside when we only get snow like this once or twice a year! They had a great time. Now it's nap time. Only Kari got more than four hours of sleep last night--slept through it all, crazy girl.

Child-like Faith

Kari asked me to measure her on the growth chart behind the door in her room, so we went in and she stood nice and tall to be measured. She'd grown barely a quarter of an inch since the last time we checked a couple months ago. Apparently, that was not satisfactory in her mind because she said, "Just a minute, Mom. I need to go pray." She ran across the hall to the other room, sat on the ottoman, bowed her head, folded her hands, and prayed, "Dear Jesus, help me grown strong and healthy. Amen." She got up and ran back across the hall and said, "Ok, measure me now!"

Fully expecting to have grown a whole bunch, she was a little disappointed when I measured her. I tried to use this teachable moment to explain how God doesn't always answer our prayers the way we want and while, yes, he can do anything, it usually takes a long time for kids to grow. Unphased, she said, "Oh," and ran off to play. It was pretty funny.

It got me thinking, though, about how I need to have a more faith in God to do the "impossible."

Made it

8:10pm--The long day is almost done. The kids both took long naps (unusual for Kari) and are in bed but not yet asleep. Greg and I are ready for sleep, though!

Tired

Joel was up today at 4:30am and woke his sister up too early. And both kids have colds. This has all the markings of a very long day!

The Party

Here are some pics from Joel's 2nd birthday party. Lots of family crammed in our living room to celebrate and have pizza, ice cream, and cake. Joel thoroughly enjoyed his "fire truck" birthday. This whole last week he kept saying in an excited little voice, "My party is coming!" It came, and he loved it.

He was an old pro at the present opening--didn't need any help from sis this year.

Looking in the ViewMaster at "Thomas" (the train).

Such a big boy--blowing out his own candles.

The cousin crew. Next year there will be two more in the bunch.

Funny moments at the party:

• Kari trying (unsuccessfully) to teach Maggie how to do a somersault. She just wouldn't bend!
• Ashlynn asking my mom (Vicki) in all seriousness whether or not she knew how to "go" on the big potty
• All attendees at the party folding the 40 cardboard some-assembly-required "bricks" Joel received.

Thanks again, everyone, for coming to Joel's party and celebrating with us!

2 Years

Joel, this was you two years ago today--all 9 lbs 4 oz of you, and you were so cute! (And yes, Grandpa, he was cute, even as a newborn.)
Here we all are together. Kari wasn't too sure what to think about you at first, but she loved her new baby brother.

I think back to that first week we had you home, and I can't help but remember that horrible day when we had to take you in the ambulance to the hospital when you were just 7 days old. I'm so thankful that you were ok and that the doctors eventually pronounced you normal, healthy, and strong. It sure was scary when we were going through it!

You've always been such a smily little tike. (I had lots of smiles to choose from for my collage.) And since you didn't move around much until you were over a year old, I got lots of good Joel-boy smiles for the camera. Funny to think that you were so immobile when you're so mobile now! Your family will always remember the Joel "scoot" and how you never did crawl, until right after you learned to walk, and I took you down the slide and hurt your leg, that is. Then you couldn't walk and had to crawl to get around for a while. Again, sorry about that.

I'm so glad God sent you to be a part of our family. You bring us so much joy, and Kari wouldn't know what to do with herself if you weren't around. No one can make you laugh like she can. I know you're going to be a wonderful big brother to Aubrey. You're getting to be such a big boy now--no more binky, sleeping in the "big" bed, potty-training. It's hard to believe our little Joel-boy is two years old and speaking in full sentences. We love you so very much!

Happy birthday, Joel!

(double-click to see these smiles up close)

Cousin Snow Walk

The cousins (and Aunts) came over this morning, and we all went for a walk in the snow flurries. We were supposed to go to the park, but it was just too cold for the littlest ones. We had a few falls on the ice when we started out (the frozen puddles just looked too enticing), but we got wiser, stuck to the sidewalks, and were more careful.

PT Update

We've been potty training for a week and a half now, and Joel's doing great. We've had multiple days without accidents, and he's actually telling us now when he has to go. The two Skittle incentive, as opposed to one, did the trick. I know "they" say you shouldn't use food as the reward, blah, blah, but in this house, stickers just don't quite cut it when it comes to the potty. We are very excited that he's doing so well in such a relatively short time (didn't feel short, but it really was). I know we've still got a ways to go. I'm just happy we won't have to be buying diapers for two children at the same time. Trial-run is over. We're on our way to mastery now!

Friday-Pizza-Movie-Night and Monday Mud

Most Fridays are pizza and movie night at our house, and this Friday Greg decided to let the kids help make the pizza. Of course, they loved helping. Our toppings were a little unevenly dispersed, but it was tasty.

Kari and Joel had too much energy this morning, so I let them go out in the backyard for a while. They headed straight for the muddy garden area. I hadn't really thought through the ramifications of this decision...

Our deck is now covered in mud (fun game--stomp in the garden, cake the boots with mud, and tromp all over the deck), and so is my kitchen/dining room floor --nothing a little rain and mopping can't fix. It's laundry day anyhow.

Potty Training and Play

We are six days into our attempt to potty train Joel. It started as a trial run, just to see if he was ready and if it might be possible for him to work on it before the baby comes. While it's been exhausting, I have to say I think he's ready and might be able to do it if I can stick with it. We'll see what happens in the coming weeks.

He has amazing control when he wants to. There have been way more successes than accidents, and he'll go every time we take him. He loves his big boy underwear, and he loves the rewards and all the praise. He also loves being like his big sister, Kari, and hearing her loud, boisterous cheers every time he goes. :)

Sporting the "Thomas" undies

Clothes have been optional this last week.

I've been pretty tired and out of it lately, but Greg has risen to the occasion. Yesterday when he got home from work, he helped the kids put on a fashion show (at Kari's request). They LOVED it.

The kids have really been enjoying all the new things from Christmas. Kari's been doing "crafts" like crazy, and Joel has finally discovered the fun of the "boy" toys. He's been playing with his new cars, trucks, and race track constantly.

2-year-old and 4-year-old Kid Portraits

I am determined to have kid pictures taken a couple times a year, especially around their birthdays, but it is not easy. Last time I went with the kids, we left the studio without even one shot taken. This time I had Greg with me, and it still was a challenge. Kari did very well, but Joel was just all over the place (he is almost 2, you know). We got a couple good ones, though, and I know that years from now I'll be glad we did it.

This shows a few of the silly ones and uncooperative Joel-boy. Can you tell Kari had fun?

I wish I could have witnessed it

Early this morning, I went to change Joel's nite-time diaper, only to discover that it had already been changed. Greg didn't do it. Kari did! Our 4-year-old changed our almost-2-year-old's diaper, and did a fine job, I must say--even properly disposed of the dirty one. I'm mulling over the idea of starting to potty-train Joel before the baby arrives. Maybe Kari will do it for us.

While Mother was out...

... and Father was home.