Category: Uncategorized (Page 78 of 212)

Can I brag about Jack a little?  He’s totally teaching himself math.  While we were driving one day:

Mom!  Two twos make four!

That’s right dude!

And three threes make six.

Well, no.  Let’s count them out.  (We do so, he agrees that two threes make six).  So what do three threes make? (We start to count them out.  Before I can finish)

Nine!  Three threes are nine!  

Then on another day we passed a family walking by.  Jack said:

There are two girls and one boy . . .  two and one make three!  

That’s advanced, right?  I’m pretty sure pre-preschoolers aren’t doing math yet.  But then, I’m biased 🙂

Let’s see.  This week my oven broke when I was supposed to feed the missionaries dinner.  I was able to make a stove top meal instead.  Remember it broke last year?  Then magically fixed itself?  I went ahead and ordered a replacement circuit.  Today the part arrived and it’s working perfectly again now.  Maybe better.  The old electric panel was always wacky (clock ran fast, button menu skipped steps). 

I’ve been enjoying going to the gym.  I go 4-5 times a week, doing either Zumba or elliptical+stretching+calisthenics.  I really want to start lifting barbells.  I looked into the Lift Strong 5×5 program, then started reading Starting Strength.  Unfortunately my back pain has returned lately.  I went to the chiropractor Monday and today.  I’m hesitant to start lifting until the pain is gone.  On the other hand, getting stronger will make my core stronger and prevent it returning.  Grrr. 

We tried to go to the gym tonight, but Sam had an amazing blowout in the car ride there.  Down the pants, all over the car seat, and soiling Ben when he took him out of the car.  Of course I didn’t have any diapers or wipes or spare outfits with me, so we turned around and went home.  Just as well.  After a bath and laundry, we had family movie night in the basement with popcorn and the projector.  Sam was extra fussy.  I put him to bed at 7 despite him napping late this afternoon.  The poor guy was 99.6F.  A little while ago he woke up cry at 103.6!  The little dude has had so many fevers his first year!  It breaks my heart.  I hope he feels better in the morning. 

That reminds me – Jack has been having weird urinary symptoms.  He’s at the age where I probably shouldn’t detail his bathroom habits on a public forum, so I’ll just say that he’s doing better now.  But if anyone else has experience with bladder spasms in little boys I’d like to discuss him with you.  Preschool starts Tuesday.  Fingers crossed that things continue to improve so he’s back to normal by then. 

Oh, we went to Lakeside last weekend.  Dang, I haven’t put those photos up yet.  I hope I remember to do it later.  It’s getting a bit late to edit and upload now.

Amanda and I are planning to take tap classes!  We looked at different offerings across the western suburbs and metro area and found a couple to try that will fit our schedules.  I ordered some shoes but they don’t fit great.  I might have to take a trip down to Penny-Robin to try more shoes on and get them before class next week. 

Look at my little Samwise sprout!

He’s turned into a wild bean.  Always on the move, always ecstatic or tearful, curious, jealous, enthusiastic, rambunctious, and every changing.

Cruising is a breeze.  He’s working on standing balances.  He’s better at being hand-walked.  I can’t wait for the day I don’t have to carry him everywhere!

More teeth are in.  Four on top, four on bottom, and I saw both lower incisors creeping up this morning.

Toys and objects of every kind.  I have to keep a constant rotation of toys around the house to keep him interested.  He’s really good at finding Jack’s too small toys and trying to eat them.

His appetite is still strong, although he’s starting to show preferences.  Vegetables are already getting the boot.  Sweets and salty things are his favorite, like all of us.  He also likes cheese, fruits of all kinds, yogurt, and goldfish.

Gasp!

Where’s Sam?

AAAH! Peekaboo!

Almost one year, baby.

Gotta go– off to explore more corners unknown.

After he did four squat to stands, I finally got my camera out without him noticing.  Sorry for the portrait framing.  Best I could do in a hurry.

He’s too quick for video, but I finally caught a photo of him standing.

This past weekend we joined the whole family in visiting my Dad’s side, who all live in San Diego.  Jack was just about Sam’s age the last time we all went.  The weather didn’t cooperate, but we still had loads of fun.

Here’s a smattering of photos.  We even used our nice camera at Legoland for the morning, but I haven’t gotten those up yet.  More from the trip are on my flickr.  

(I think you can follow it to the flickr site and view it there)

https://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf

Lyrics for the Grandmere’s song.

I left Sam downstairs for a minute to change clothes and bring down laundry. He cried shortly, then quieted.  I assumed he was playing.  After a minute I heard a baby grunt, closer than I expected.  I ran to the hall.

It’s not even August, and yet every day Jack tells me he has decided what he wants to be for Halloween.  Sometimes several times a day.  So far from this week:

• Spiderman
• Batman
• a Knight
• a Dragon
• a Dinosaur
• Construction Worker
• a King

There are many more I can’t remember from earlier this year.  I tell him “Oh?  Sounds good! Good idea!” and remind him that in October he will make the final decision.  Each idea is always “Definitely” for him.

Sam has started to do Peekaboo himself by putting his arm over his eyes.  It’s totes adorable.  Too bad I couldn’t get him to do it on camera.  Here’s the outtakes.

We had a lovely time out together sans children.  First was dinner at the hot new Sushi Den location in Denver, Izakaya Den.  The food was great, the restaurant pretty (loved the live bamboo encircling the staircase, growing two stories tall).  But it was crazy noisy, rushed, and the table next to us was full of loud, drunk fifty year olds behaving rudely.  Ugh.  Still, Ben enjoyed his miso soup, tempura, and ramen bowl.  I had a delicious melon and Serrano ham salad with basil and watercress, and wagyu beef sashimi. Sorry, no pics.