Turning Three

Thing 2 has turned three. My intense, funny, cuddly, sound effects guy is growing quickly! What do you say? "Stop it!" ? I'd like to stop the hands of time, as most parents on good days. These days lately are good. Lots of energy, plenty of refereeing and lots of love.

For the birthday boy we had a party at mom's, an overnight adventure to St. Simons Islands and then a playdate with cupcakes! What fun!

A New Neighbor

He just came strolling up the road, made a left hand turn under our van, pulled a U-ey passing under the truck and a sharp Right up the hill.. you know, the usual route. He got personally placed back into nature by our friendly 9 year old neighborhood biologist, after a thorough inspection. 

Pesach 2012

Happy Birthday!

Here you have a photo journal of L's 4th birthday Party!

Parties are always fun...

Zoo-pa-loo

Our little Friend

We have been helping out an acquaintance with keeping her son while she's in class just a few days. We have already had a lot of fun! Add that on top of this being Sukkot week, it's been crazy around here. We tried to keep busy by going to the museum, the zoo and a walk/park visit, as well as a short day just hanging out at the house. The days we were out were great, and today was tiresome. The wether has been beautiful and we're taking advantage of it by spending lots of time outside. Yes, to those out there wondering, N. was with us during all these activities... it was like having twins plus one. I'm fairly proud of myself. Next week will be the last week we keep our friend but he and L. will probably see more of each other!

Friday equals...

Friday=
day to prepare for sabbath
day without daddy
day with our little, best friend
day with no naps
day with two loads of laundry
day with a bowl of i-c-e-c-r-e-a-m (have to spell the good stuff around here...)
day with diapers to fold
day to goof off
day to eat mac'n'cheese and apples
day to love!

Play Play Play!

My goal lately has to incorporate more friends and more play-dates for L. I'm thrilled that we have been able to uncover friendships for L. within families of mama's friends! It makes mama very happy to have L. preoccupied with another little kiddo. In these fresh and amazing moments I get to breathe, talk, laugh, make jam... all the things that illude my day normally. (Strawberry freezer jam concocted this afternoon during our spontaneous afternoon play-date.)

I've enjoyed seeing L.'s face light up with excitement as he says, "our new friend!!!" This was my main inspiration for deciding to start a playgroup in our community that features boys who are 2T or there 'bouts. And as a bonus, we will meet at our house and WALK (yes, that is exercise) to the park and back. I've had one excited mama respond and am looking forward to many more soon!

The weather here is perfect spring weather. A few days of heat and humidity have crept in, but mostly it's been perfection. Thus the newly acquired tricycles, outdoor balls and swing have seen lots of action. I do dread the point at which our weather perfection falls prey to the southern summer heatwave. I grieve the loss that lurks in the near future. Thank the Lord for sunscreen and pools! Hopefully this spring and summer will afford lots of picture taking opportunities, that is if mama can remember batteries for the camera when she goes to the store!

Berry Picking

We joined the throngs of pickers yesterday morning in the first day of Strawberry Picking at the local 'pick your own' farm. We met 6 other moms and all their kiddos out there for some juicy, delicious fun. L. LOVES strawberries. We recently ran out and I had been telling him about the strawberry patch, and that he can eat as many RED ones as he likes! He did.

Oh, and N. slept the whole time.

In other news...

L has been an absolute puzzle maniac lately. He's learning more how to put them together, understanding what the corners and flat sides are. It's the only thing he wants to do! (Thank goodness we have a moderate variety!) He's breezing through the set labeled for 3+ and I'm going to be on the lookout for more challenging ones.

While mama's been in the kitchen he's been napping mostly, but helping as well. He is always up for playing in the sink, or measuring out spoonfuls of flour. I multitasked as well, completeing the gigantic task of transferring my childhood family home videos to DVDs. It only required a few brain cells to pause recording and stick in another tape. But we're talking nigh unto 20 tapes. Next to record is the remainder of our personal family videos and then the moster tv and recording paraphernalia can be removed from our house! Something I've been longing for!

L's been VERY fixated on one particular friend the past few days. Unfortunately for us, this family is on vacation! L's sweet little brain is foggy with wanting to see, play with, show and tell and simply be in the general proximity of his little buddy. We called our friend already once this week and they jabbered to each other for like 15 seconds (I think that only served to fuel L's fire.) And I've resorted to declaring that we can do (insert things/toy/activity) next week when our friend comes to visit. They don't know this yet, but they MUST come over for a playdate!

We're both still a little under the weather but pulling out of the funk I believe. Today he's extra drippy and hasn't eaten much, I'm going to try and head a flareup off by the trusted standby's: Vit C and herbal cough syrup. Say a prayer for us!

Baby K2 is doing well. We had a prenatal visit yesterday and all is on track. Our last visit revealed I had gained 4 lbs in 2 weeks... a bit, er... excessive. Much to my delight, (unintentionally) this week the scales showed only 1 lb gained. See, it all evens out! Baby must have had a growth spurt or something! But he/she is in there squirming around and basically behaving itself. Thankfully, staying head down as well! We're cruising right along!

Playdates:

We had a jam packed Thursday! The morning and lunch hours with friends then nap time, then another couple hours of play with Pearl. Levi and friend River had so much fun pushing and pulling each other in our new Ikea Wagon. And although the majority of time visiting with Pearl was spent watching her cry, the coloring was fun!

What we've been up to...

I have great guilt for not keeping up with posting.  I want to share with family and friends the things that are going on in our lives.. it just seems in the meantime life happens! You know, like 3 births in one week. (That's my life.) Steve is a champ in moments like those, and L. is a trooper even though he'd rather have his mommy! 

Here's some cute pictures from the camera we were late on uploading...

April 9th: enjoying the outdoors: 

"outside... ride... bike... tree... bug... whoa..." 

are just some of the things L. says at 18 months..

April 21st 09: Happily playing on the front porch in the nice weather

May 3rd: Ride with J. on the bikyle (bike/motercycle)

May 6th A glimps of a birth:

Jami (who just licensed!!), myself, the baby, and our  midwife/teacher Susan.

Do we look as tired as we were?

May12th 09 Mellissa and Doug Fun:

(L. can also say "train... puzzle... truck... bus...")

Road trip:

We had high expectations as we headed North last friday, just for the day. 

2.5 hours in a car with two toddlers? ....Piece of pie! 

With no major breakdowns, lots of girl chatting and stuffing our little men with 'pasti' and 'nanas' this was the photo finish. I think we're all winners! Very tired, but winners. 

                                        

Berry Pickin with friends....

We enjoyed our first of the season strawberry picking at Cottel Farms in Columbia this past Friday. We joined G. and her two munchkins. L. was still in recovery phase from the tummy bug that struck our church bodies under 5 population. He did however enjoy wevery berry passed his way. And eventually joined the crowd in between rows of beautiful green plants.    We did experience a rather unpleasant blowout diaper that resulted in a total strip from the waist down, but over all it was a great afternoon. We made out like bandits with our overflowing bucket of berries!