Goin' to Miami

Nick and I followed Kris to his annual LFM/MIT alumni conference. He had two days to learn and network while Nick and I had two days (plus the weekend) to enjoy the warm weather and relax together. While I would have preferred to do this alone (Nick still won't take a bottle), Nick wasn't too bad during the days. The nights are another story completely. He has teeth coming in and I'm not sure if it's an upset stomach or not.

Anyway, we spent Thursday flying to Miami separate from Kris who flew in the night before. Nick did great on the plane, flirting with everyone around us and napping for a little bit of it. We spend the rest of the day napping and shopping in Coconut Grove (where we were staying). Friday, we rested most of the day from the horrible night before and went swimming. Both nights we met Kris at the happy hour after the conference. Nick was the hit of the conference! Everyone thought he was adorable - who could blame them!

On Saturday, we went downtown and shopped around before our boat tour. We had a great time and came back to Coconut Grove in time to see Michigan lose. Our night did get better, when we made it home from dinner in time to see Ohio State lose though! On the flight back, Nick slept for almost the entire plane, only being woken up by the pilot saying we were starting our approach. My mom stayed at home with Ryan and Emma. She was exhausted, but we were thankful that she would watch them and let me leave. Thanks Nana!

Summer Days... in October

Kris got a new flat screen tv a week or two ago because our one in the basement had some lighting problems and it was replaced under warranty. Now, when that happens they don't take the old one away with them. Since we can still watch the tv (bright shows like football games are fine), Kris is moving it to the garage. Yes, all the neighbor men are jealous, even if it is broken.

So while Kris was rearranging the garage to accomdate the old tv, we had the pool out on an 80 degree day in October. Here are some pictures from the kids playing, fishing and eating popsicles.

Ryan's tonsillectomy

We're having some sicky time around here. Ryan has Thursday and Friday off school for Fall Break (yes, time off already), so we scheduled Ryan's tonsillectomy for this past Monday so he wouldn't be out of school for too long. Luckily, Ryan isn't old enough to understand that he is supposed to enjoy time off from school! He went in bright and early Monday morning and was home pretty quickly (Daddy took him). Now he is in recovery time. He is still in pain and is on codeine which is making him antsy and loopy. We've been watching a lot of movies and eating a lot of pudding (Ryan, not the rest of us). Today, we had to run a few errands which he did well on.

I thought I would put some random pics on here. One day last week, we were having warm weather, it just hadn't warmed up enough at 8am, so we all had hoodies on. In fact, Ryan changed when he saw that everyone had one except him and the first picture is from that morning. The second one is from last Friday, when Ryan got a tattoo at school and asked me to put it on. I found out I had two identical ones here and gave them to Emma and Nick. I couldn't get Nick to sit still for the pic, so I just got the other two!

The other two pictures are from Monday. I tried to take a picture of Nick because he had stood up on his toy, but the other two kept wanting to be in the picture.

Kings Island

Two weekends ago, we were happy to be able to attend Toyota Day at Kings Island. Kris and I have both been there when we were much younger, but haven't gone since we moved here. The kids were very excited for the 'carnereral' as they called it. And they loved it - well, Ryan and Emma loved it - Nick wasn't such a fan!

Kings Island has a great children's area. I have never seen so many rides that the kids could go on. Luckily, Emma passed for the 36 inch mark and got a bracelet so we didn't have to have her measured every time. Ryan went on some really big and fun rides with us. My mom went with us, which was wonderful, and gave us two extra hands. Plus, she took the kids to the Snoopy sing along, and let us go on Diamondback - which was the only big ride we went on all day (I'd say adult, but I didn't get good responses when I said that before). The VanHooks also met us there. Ryan and Emma were very happy to have Gracie and Sam to ride along with!

It was a beautiful day and we had a wonderful time. Ryan was very upset to have to leave. But everyone was tired and they closed the kid rides early because of the Halloween events. I'm sure we will be going back again next year!

The End of Summer

We have come to that fateful end of summer. While I look forward to it in the dreary days of winter, I'm happy for jeans and long sleeves. Our gym waterpark will close tomorrow (not that we're going) and I put our pool away. How sad for us. But we can still play outside. The neighbors are having a natural stone patio put in, so Ryan and Emma have been enjoying piles of rocks again. And of course, driving on Ryan's truck.

I found a poolish toy in our garage last week that was for babies. It sprayed water up around them lightly. My baby - no way! He wanted to swim in the big pool! Literally, on his belly swimming around. Ryan and Emma - they loved the baby thing!

If you didn't know, my mom has moved in with us temporarily. No, no one is sick. She got a job down here driving the 'boob mobile'! She has a bed in our basement and the kids are loving having her here. I enjoy company when Kris is working and we both enjoy a 'free' babysitter!

With Ryan at school, Emma has become more busy. And she's doing a good job and keeping herself busy. She loves to color and play house and farm. The kids are into playing doctor and fireman right now and are contantly looking for patients.

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I, on the other hand, am struggling right now with trying to do things with the kids. Nick's naps and wake times are not consistent. So some days we can go to they gym and others we can't. Sometimes, we can make it to the store, others we wait for him until it's too late to go anywhere. While, I'm looking forward to him getting to one nap a day, he really needs two and struggles on the days when it doesn't work out too well. I'm trying to get some standard plans in though. Swim lessons or a play date. Right now, everything is by ear.

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We do have some things coming up in the next two months that will prevent that though. One is Ryan's toncillectomy. Plus, speech and other evaluations. Almost all things for Ryan. Plus two trips for the adults (and perhaps Nick).

Nick is doing great. He's getting bigger by the day. Today, he army crawled all the way around the couch and into the kitchen. He really wants to explore - now if he would just lift that butt up! He is eating so well now, way too much too! Nick is also starting to stand. He keeps trying in the bathtub, but not too many other places. He can stay upright for a little bit if you put him there thought. He sleeps most the way through the night, waking around 5 or 6 to nurse and go back to sleep. I'm hoping to extend that soon.

Our one problem is we can't get him to take a bottle or sippy cup. He will drink water from a sippy, sometimes. But come near him with milk in it (either breastmilk or formula) and you would think it was poison. We have 5 weeks until Kris and my Miami trip and at this moment it looks like Nick is coming along too! I'd love a true vacation, but then I know it will only be a little bit more that I'll be nursing him. Plus me taking Nick would be a lot easier on my mom!

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Ryan is doing great in school. I am seeing a tremendous improvement in his coloring and handwriting. He is working hard on learning to write his name. It is very heartwarming to hear him saying 'around, touch in middle then down; down then down; around up and down; down and up and around' - which is how he forms each of the letters. He had a few slip ups with the potty the first week, mainly (I think) from being too excited and being in another classroom and not knowing where the bathroom is or the teacher. He has art, computer, gym, music and library. He seems like gym and music the best. I was very impressed when I drove him a few days ago, to see him go through all the motions when we got there. He's a totally different kid there - because at home, we've been dealing with disrespect, not listening and tantrums. All my favorite things!

Pots and Pans

I let Emma and Ryan 'teach' Nick how to play pots and pans a few weeks ago. My mom said her favorite video of the kids is Ryan and Emma playing when Emma was a baby. So we recorded it again. Here is it.

Nick Crawling

We have been wondering how Nick has been getting around. He has only gotten his belly off the ground a few times and is not obviously army crawling like Emma did. He seemed to be rolling everywhere, but yet going forward, so until this morning I wasn't sure. Today, I put his paci on the floor and watched him try to get it. Evidently, it is a army crawl that involves his head! So he rolls from side to side to move. Too funny!