Zazoo The Elf

Did you know elves are up to a lot of mischief?? Ours sure has been. Last night, he decided to have a snowball fight all over Natalie's room! (for some reason photos won't upload, grr)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5662492&l=b45fe3643d&id=501333621

So, sometime in the middle of the night she piled them all up and stacked them outside her door. Of course, Zazoo made sure they were scattered all over her room again this morning. I can't wait to hear what she says when she gets up!

Here are some links to crazy elf activities if you are so inclined...one of my favorites (for older kids probably) is to park the car crazy in the driveway and have the elf in there and when you start the car have Christmas music blaring.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Elf-on-a-Shelf---10-Sets-of-Mischievous-Ideas-For-Adding-Magic-to-Your-Holiday-Season&id=3266293

http://christmas.organizedhome.com/gifts-crafts-gift-tags/santas-magic-elf-visit-your-home

Walkin and Talking

Man how that little man of mine can get around! He zooms all around the house now. His favorite thing to do is shut doors. Mostly he shuts himself in a room and cries for us to open the door again! He's been climbing in the fridge (see Facebook), climbing in his rocking chair, climbing the stairs...sense a theme??

He pretty clearly has been intentionally saying mama and dada, as well as 'dak' for dog, 'dat' for cup, and 'nuh nuh' for his elephant lovey (which Ryan says is because we say night night when we give it to him). We've still be using some baby signs with him - eat, more, all done, milk are ones he can do when he wants something. Making it a little easier than just his pointing and grunting.

k mae designs is going well for me - I'm pretty busy this time of year with lots of people thinking of holiday gifts. I'm also going to do piano lessons with my friend April's little girl after Thanksgiving. We'll see how that goes!

Ryan's been on a kick getting some odd jobs done around the house which makes me very happy! That's about all that's new with us :)

Save It In A Bottle

Today is one of those days I wish I could bottle up and save for later. I'm having a great-feeling-like-Supermom kind of day. Got the kids up and ready for the day, Natalie was happily doing all her chores this morning. Got her off to school, then took Jacob and I to the gym. I did my hour of body pump and Jacob stayed in childcare sans screaming. Then it was off to Walgreen's to get this week's deals. I went in early to school to get a still-happy Natalie who was listening well and spelling words for her teacher. Then we stopped at Mc Donald's to pick up lunch for her classmate who was at home with a broken femur. After a mostly happy visit with April and Blane we headed home where I got not one, but TWO kids down for a nap. THIS NEVER HAPPENS. So, got the house cleaned up for Bunco, chicken had already been cooking in the crockpot. Took a shower, did some more cleaning. Washed the cloth diapers, started the dishwasher, used the carpet cleaner on a spot in the basement. Even got the Palmolive bottle of the counter and used it to fill up the built in dispenser on the kitchen sink (would you know I lived here over a year and just now thought to do that???). Looks like when both kids wake up we will still have time to go buy 3 prizes for Bunco tonight, take Natalie to dance from 5-545 and get home just in time for Ryan to get home from work to take over so Bunco can start at 630. OH - did I mention I even took a shower and got dressed???? Now I'm blogging in a clean, dark, quiet kitchen with a cup of coffee and smelling my delicious salsa chicken for our quesedillas tonight. Life is good!

Now, keep in mind Ryan is working 12 hour shift from today until next Thursday. So I will need to break open this bottle in a few days when things start to fall apart. But today, Monday, is a great great day.

By the way, maybe I'm happy because Halloween is FINALLY over. I mean, it's fun and all. But we had a class party, a friend's party, 2 Jacob birthday parties that were sort of Halloween related, a festival, and trick or treating. I am tired of candy, I am tired of dressing kids up. Thank goodness it's over!

29

And what more could I want? A loving husband and 2 great kids! I came home from the doctor with meds and a shot in the hip, but I feel better already which is great. While I was gone, Ryan and the kids baked me a cake!(Pink with pink frosting and pink sparkles...wonder who picked that out). Then they were much to excited to wait til tomorrow so I got my present today. It's a layered opal ring, which is really pretty. When they do the setting in layers it stays colored instead of the milky white. I love it!



2 birthdays ago Ryan got me Natalie's birthstone in a ring and now I have Jacob's. Our plan is to get a family ring with all our birthstones in it, then give Natalie and Jacob their ring when they grow up (though Jacob will have to give his to his wife!)

We spent the past weekend watching my brother in law get married and had a nice time with family. Here are a few pics of our family. We are pretty pretty if I do say so myself :-D




And here's the card Natalie got for me - too funny!

Lately

Oh, how anxious I was for preschool to start. We went to open house and I have to admit that a few tears came to my eyes. I don't know if it is the teacher in me, or what, but when I saw that little cubby with her name on it, my heart ached. I started thinking of all the times that I could have/should have played/read/held/talked with her instead of cleaning/cooking/Facebook/sewing. Now my baby will be in school!! Of course, it's only 2 hours, 2 days a week. So, I still have time to enjoy my little baby...but it sure gets you thinking of how fast the days go by!



We are starting an allowance program suggested by my friend April, who stole it from Dave Ramsey. Basically it's a "commission" program. You do the work, you get paid. If you don't do the work, it means mommy and daddy did the work so we get the money. She helped me decorate 3 jars with "God", "Spend", and "Save". How ever much we decided to pay her based on jobs/age, she puts a percentage in each jar. So we will probably start with something easy like $3 a week. She can put $1 in each jar. It sounds like a great program. Like for example, April's two boys were fighting over the same $4 Lightning McQueen. She told them they could each take $2 out of their spending jars and buy a new car so they would each have one. Took them awhile to decide if it was worth spending the money on, or sharing the toy. Here's our jars. I would prefer clear so she coudl see her money adding up, but I'm frugal (cheap) and reused my coffee cans.



SO excited about fall! I swapped out the kids 'wardrobes'. I have been DYING to put them in their matching Halloween pj's I got at the Gymboree Outlet last year. They glow in the dark! They are the only pj's Natalie has worn for more than 1 night in a row!!! (Not sure if that's good or bad, but I'm tired of washing new PJ's all the time). I love the cooler temps, the new clothes, and the HOT coffee, and all things pumpkin! I will not, however, love the leaves coming down again. Need to buy Gator Blades for the mower ASAP! I am so excited for Halloween...Jacob inspired our costumes this year - he makes the perfect Gus Gus from Cinderlla (the fat mouse in the small yellow shirt if you are not up on your Cinderella minor characters). Natalie is going to be the "working" Cinderella, AND we are going to make the golf cart into a pumpkin carriage!!!! Watch out!




And us "grownups"? Same old, same old. Ryan did a bunch of clean-up of dead limbs and other odd household tasks. I'm busy behind the "wheel" of a new sewing/embroidery combo, an early birthday gift from my parents. Life is good!

Natalie

Preschool starts the Monday after Labor Day and she is SO excited! It's only 2 mornings a week, and just 2 hours so she will probably be bummed when I pick her up! She has been really into drawing and spelling again. I came home from dinner out with friends last night and she had written "lion" and drew a picture of a lion! I am so proud of my little girl :)

2 Toothed Music Man!

Jacob is in love with music! Anytime Ryan gets out one of his guitars over he crawls! He also LOVES to sneak over to the piano and start playing away on his own! Both of his bottom teeth are coming up and I love how he makes so many cute faces!

Complaints (and gratitude)

I am feeling complain-y tonight. But I decided if I am going to complain, I need to write something I am thankful for as well. So here is my random gripes.

1. Everytime I wash dishes I get the bottom of my shirt/top of my pants wet. BUT, I have running water!

2. My husband wants to go to bed at 9pm every night. BUT, he gets up at 4:30 in the morning to work out before work so he can come home at 4 and spend time with us.

3. When everyone else is in bed I am up cleaning up the house and getting the day put back together and ready to be messed up in the morning. BUT, if I do it now I don't have 2 small people "wallering" all over me.

4. My 3 year old will not stay in her room on the first try for bed. She comes out with "thirsty", "scared", "you need to sew my bunny he has a hole" and every other excuse under the sun (or moon at this point). BUT, she is healthy, able, and intelligent!

5. Speaking of "wallering", my friend April taught me this world. It's the act of small children needing to touch/drool/climb and in any other manner inflict their body upon yours. Jacob should be a world class waller-er. BUT he is cute and sweet and I love that angel baby!

6. I made Ryan "love bread". Really, it's just banana bread and his favorite (and I always have old bananas). I can't eat bananas, they make my throat and mouth itch. So, I spent the evening making it and doing all the dishes and I can't even eat any. He could have washed the dishes. BUT, I know it loves it so it's nice to make him happy.

I guess that's it for now. I feel better that I can think of all the good things, I know I'm blessed!

My mom shared this video with me, and it fits! CLICK HERE

Natalie Spelled!

I was up in the kitchen earlier today while Natalie was coloring in the basement. She came upstairs with this picture. I was looking at the 'random' letters, when I realized they spelled something backwards that she had sounded out. Can you read it?





That's right! B L O N N is how she heard the word BALLOON!! I was surprised she did this by herself!

We Have Teeth...Well, We Have TOOTH!

Well, a baby is NOT the best for trying to get a picture of a first tooth coming through. We were trying to get him to open up for jello and quick get in a picture. So they are mostly blurry or you can't really tell. BUT if you are a mom you can maybe make it out! One bottom tooth is coming out and the other is close behind! Let me tell you, they are there! I have been bit!

Peek A Boo

I caught Jacob playing peek a boo today! Natalie never really got into it as a baby and it's SO cute. I thought he was doing it Sunday at church. He would duck down then stand up and laugh at the people in the pew behind us. But I couldn't really tell if he knew what he was doing. Today, it was obvious! He would put his lovey in front of his face until you said "Where's Jacob" and then he'd pull it down. Once, he only had it up with one hand and had to fix it and use two hands. He also is getting his 2 bottom teeth, you can feel them poking out!

Little House on the Prairie

Laura Ingalls Wilder, I am not. I decided yesterday to harvest the peaches from our tree. First off, I only kept about half and threw the rest that I deemed "gross" into the lake. Even the good ones looked kind of spotty, but not really sure what homegrown peaches should look like. So then after researching on the good ole internetz I decided I could freeze them for later. I washed them, made a syrup from water and sugar to pack them in, and started boiling water to peel the skins off. It took awhile, but I finally got them to start peeling, then dunked them in cold water to help with the process. It was at this point that I started cutting them open and slicing them up. By the time I cut out brown spots I probably only saved about 1/2 a peach. Then, on top of that, every other peach had a little white worm (gagging as I recall this) so those peaches went straight to the trash. I am living in constant fear that I didn't catch some of the bugs in the 'good' peach pile. So after about 4-5 hours of work, I have 8 SNACK size ziploc bags in the freezer, of which I may never eat as I think of the worms *shudders*. Now starting at that poor apple tree...ugh...

Bad Blogger, Bad!

My I've been a bad blogger!!!! Why would that be? Let's list the possiblities...

1. Ryan worked 19 days straight
2. I have 2 kids 3 and under
3. I helped at Vacation Bible School for 2 weeks
4. I've been busy with k. mae designs
5. I've been cleaning the house and going through things we don't need
6. All of the above + more!

Things are well here though. Jacob had his 9 month check up. He's 5th percentile for height at 27 inches and 20th percentile for weight at 18 lb 10 oz. He's crawling, cruising and babbling like crazy. I *think* his bottom 2 teeth are finally about to pop through, which would be his first teeth! Natalie is getting ready to start Pre-combo 1 for dance as well as 2 mornings of preschool! I am excited to watch her try these new activities. I am also on the board for her preschool so I'll be busy with that. I'm also on the board for our local Girlfriend's group. Add those to my monthly bunco and actual Girlfriend's meetings and I'll be a busy momma this fall! Ryan and Drake pretty much follow their status quo around here and are doing well! Hopefully I can get back into blogging!

9 Months

What a happy little 9 month old!

Jacob is starting to crawl on his hands and knees, and can easily pull up on the crib, a chair, or anything else he can get to! He can pretty much eat anything he wants, though he still has no teeth! Along with signing "more", he is starting to wave "bye" and "hi" too. At church he used one finger to point at a cat in the children's bulletin and laugh. He is getting better with his stranger anxiety and goes to others a little more easily. We love this little guy!

Last July 10th

Last July 10th, I closed on our first home. My mom and I packed a kid and a dog in the van, left Ryan for a month and headed to Missouri. I cried for a long part of the ride after saying goodbye to so many friends and memories that we created in our 5 years there. I can't believe a year has already passed. Just like life, sometimes it feels like we just got here, and other times it feels like this is the only place we've been.

Since last July, we added Jacob to our family. Which makes me realize that soon he will be a year old as well. Natalie has grown and changed. We replaced the siding and windows on the house, painted the inside, solved a water problem, and countless other tasks. My buisness has taken off and Ryan has fallen into place at his job. We've made several good friends, found activites around town, and adjusted to small town life.

To my "Virginia" friends, even though lots of you have moved to new homes as well. I was a teacher with you. I became a mom with you. Ryan and I learned how to make our own friends together there. I started to grow up with you. Some of you I talk to a lot, some of you I should talk to more often. I miss you guys. I miss the comfortable routines we had. I miss the Y, Water Country, Busch Gardens and breakfast-turned into lunch-into dinner playdates. I am sad to see everyones updates sometimes and see myself missing from them. Part of me feels replaced, but that's the way it should be. I hope for visits, vacations, and staying in touch! Maybe even making deeper friendships over time!

It was very hard to leave everyone behind there, even though we knew God was sending us on this new journey. It has been good for us to be closer to family, out of active duty stress, and slowing down our pace. Ryan got a job that wasn't really supposed to be advertised outside of people in the guard, his 'opponent' was dq'd from the application process, and many other reasons we knew God wanted us here.

To my "Missouri" friends. I am surprised how easily I have fit in, especially in a town where most everyone grew up together, or knows that so and so's sister is their best friends brother-in-law. Never once have I felt left out. I'm not in the 'comfortable' stage yet with everyone, where I can just drop by unannouced and lay around on your couch when I'm having a bad day. But, I'm getting there. And I really am enjoying my life here.

The days are slow, but the years are fast. This is the lesson I'm learning as I think about this past year.

4th of July

We had a great time with the Rupard's, the Parson's, and the Freeman's! BBQ was great, fireworks were fun, and the company was awesome! Natalie loved hanging out with all her friends. She was a little scared of the fireworks, but sa on Lynn's lap and shouted "Happy Birthday Camerika". Jacob was in bed by 5:30 so he missed most of the fun!

It was a little sentimental being our first 4th here in the house, almost a year here in MO, and missing the usual Talley party. But new traditions are fun too!

Long time no post

Guess I have been so busy with k.mae designs I've been neglecting the good old blog! I'm on vacation now for a week, so I guess I can catch up a little here!

Jacob is crawing around quite well, though it's still the army crawl! And no toofers yet either. He turned 8 months yesterday but I don't have the elephant with us :( He is in quite a mommy's boy stage, which is sweet but exhausting.

Natalie is gettin quite big. She's so ready for preschool this fall. She loves writing, drawing, coloring and books. She has been a good helper lately and puts herself to bed and stays there!

Natalie

Just a few quick shots of how big and beautiful my little girl is getting!

7 Months

Can't believe my little boy is 7 months old! He's getting good at spinning and scooting around on the floor. He LOVES to eat! I think he's had oatmeal, apples, pears, bananas, sweet potatos, refried beans, black beans, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, zuccini, cheerios and cottage cheese! He loves to say "blah blah blah" and has picked up a rather high pitched scream from his sister. Here he is with his elephant!

Mother's Day 2010

My first mother's day as a mother of two! How much these little ones have changed my life. I have become more confident because of them. I have learned the point of view of parents that I didn't understand as the child. Everyday I try hard to be a better mom than the day before. This is a hard job, and I'm always afraid I'm not doing a good enough job. But I know I love God, my husband, my children, and my family and that counts for a lot.

I am blessed with healthy children who are developing properly. I am blessed to have a nice home for them to live in, nice cars to drive them in, and the ability to stay home and try to raise them the best I can.

Natalie holds a special place in my heart as my first baby. She made me a mom. I love watching her grow in her role as a big sister. Her independene and flair for the dramatic sure make our life interesting!

Jacob is my little man and is so different from his sister in so many ways. His sweet chubby smile makes my day. I love watching him slowly(ish) turn into more of a baby than that floppy newborn I brought home 6 months ago.

I hope all the mom's in my blog world have a great mother's day!

Who rocks?

Oh yeah, that's me! www.lubdubrun.com and you can click on the 2010 results! I was 31st over all, and 3rd place in my age group for the 5K! 27:20 was my official time and I was only 30 seconds away from second place. Next year better watch out!

In other news, Jacob had his 6 month appointment. He's right on track developmentally and he's still in the 25th percentile for weight and height.

I went back to look at Natalie to compare. She was 95th at 6 months!

Natalie - 28'' and 17 lb 14 oz
Jacob - 26'' and 16 lb 9 oz

That's about it for now. We are coming off the long stretch of work since Ryan had drill this past weekend. k mae is keeping me super busy during the week too!


And what's a post without a picture? These little giggleboxes are my life!

Lub Dub 5K

I ran in the 5k this morning, first one in almost 4 years! I finished somewhere around 27:20, which I had been doing about 30 minutes for a 5k on the treadmill. I was happy with the time! I ran with my friend Jamie for awhile. After the race, Natalie participated in a small kiddie run! She's definately my girl: at the turning around point another girl running with a dog on a leash stopped and Natalie tripped over the leash. Only to us klutzes does that luck happen. A friend of mine came out of her house to wave and I took off my sunglasses, dropped them, and had to stop to pick them up. We are 2 peas in a pod. She ran with curlers in because we had to go immediately to the dance recital pictures. To top it off, Ryan is working this weekend! But we were lucky enough that Oma and Opa came to watch and help us out.

Daddy Date Night

Natalie and daddy had so much fun. Our parks department puts on such a great program. They had ham and potatoes for dinner. Ryan won 3rd place in the limbo and also was the Cowboy in the YMCA dance!! He won an adult and kids book of coupons for the pool this summer. He also painted her nails, danced, made a door hanger, decorated cups and much more. What a nice evening for them!

6 Month Old

It's hard to believe it, but my little boy is half a year old today! It's amazing how much he (and our lives) have changed in that amount of time. He weigh between 15 lb 4oz and 15 lb 14 oz. He's 24 1/2 inches tall! Some of the things he is now able to do are:

Sit up on his own
Play peek-a-boo pulling a blanket off his face and grinning
Rolling and scooting around on the floor
Purposefully grabbing objects
Eating pureed food as well as sweet potato sticks,cheerios, and bananas!




Jacob, you are such a blessing to my life. You are my calm baby, my easy sleeper. I love the way you smile when you see me. All the change we've had the last 6 months, I know you are always my son. Time is really passing quickly but I love seeing you grow up!

Update On Jacob

Well, he's got RSV, but it should pass pretty quickly! He was 15 pounds 14 oz, and 24 1/2 inches long, so he's growing like a weed! He usually falls asleep using the nebulizer, and alternating Tylenol/Mortrin is really keeping his fever down. He had 103.1 at the worst of it. I like to call him J Wheezy now, but Ryan doesn't like it :-)




He also is a mover and a shaker when he's not sick. He is trying his darndest to either chase Natalie or run away from her! He keeps pulling up a leg and trying to scoot!

Natalie and Jacob!

I don't get to post as many pics with them in the same clothes, so enjoy!

On The Lake

Every since we bought the house, I've been dying to get the kayaks out on the water! We almost sold them when we moved from VA to cut weight, because we figured where are we going to use boats in the middle of the country? Luckily we kept them both! Natalie fits perfectly right between my legs on the bottom. She wore her life vest and helped me paddle too! Everytime I tried to go ashore she said she wasn't ready!


Jacob is enjoying being outside in the nice weather too! He's a happy outdoor kind of guy!



The kids also got to opentheir easter baskets from Grandma and Popaw. They got some cute clothes, personalized painted eggs, and of course CANDY! Everything Jacob got went right in his mouth, of course!

5 Months Old

How time flies. As evidenced by the pictures, Jacob is a drooling little man. I hope some teeth are going to pop out from all this drool and crabbiness. For the most part he is still really happy and pretty much always sleeps through the night. He was sitting up in his little bathtub, and loves sitting in the Bumbo too. I love my little man!