Wonderful Gratitude

So last Friday I had an appointment with a dermatologist. I didn't have anyone lined up to watch the clan, so we took a field trip to KU Med. I was curious how this would pan out with all 4 of them at my 1:00pm appointment (perfectly in the time of Jacob's nap & usually Leah's). On the way there, we listened to their requests for music: Chatahootchie (spelling?) & Tall Tall Trees - Alan Jackson sings these - you can ask the boys & they know what he looks like. Anyway, amidst the music playing, Leyton & Nathaniel were talking a mile a minute & trying to fight for my attention & my answers...they needed a response with each comment to know I was listening, you know, like "Hey Mom?" or "OK, Mom?" or "What is... or Right Mom?". Anyway, I could barely keep up with trying to answer them or to even get through to them to talk one at a time as well as drive sanely. Anyway, I was thinking I was going to have to bow out, but then Leyton said, "Mom, don't I have a lot to say?" I stopped there & admired them & thought how much I love hearing them talk & knowing what they're thinking. I said, "Yes, Leyton, you have a lot of information and I really appreciate you sharing it with me." He said, "Mom, yeah, and curious is like figuring things out (we learn this from Curious George) - I'm curious." I couldn't agree more and am very happy they're curious.

Anyway, we made it to KU, parked in the garage & walked everyone in. I skipped the stroller because I figured the appt. room would be small anyway. So luckily they appt. was pretty much on time. In the room, the doctor pointed to Jacob & asked how old my youngest was. I pointed to Leah who he didn't see & said 2 months. Anyway, I figured they weren't looking forward to having us all in the small room. HOWEVER, the kids were perfect. There was no screaming, no touching everything, no hanging on me, etc. They just sat & watched and didn't make a peep. I just couldn't believe it. I was very grateful.

After that, we went down to the pharmacy to say hi to my coworkers. Everyone was glad to see us. The boys wouldn't say a word. But, we did get some chocolate, so that made them happy. We then went to the satellite pharmacy in the heart hospital where I sometimes staff as well, which is a decent walk for all of us. Anyway, they gladly walked there & then we headed back out to the car. I was just so pleased with how the day went considering in all, we were dealing with the appointment in some fashion & the visit for about 3 hours.

After we were driving home, they boys said (& have also said several times since Friday), "Mom, thank you for taking me to your appointment at Jayhawk Hospital with you. Thank you , Mommy." It was all so special since I had no idea they would feel so privileged to be on this routine type trip with me. It made me feel good that they thought it was so neat to go.

Since Friday, we did an angel craft project at home. Then that night of the project, they told me, "Thank you Mommy for doing the angel project and for taking me with you to Jayhawk Hospital with you. Thank you Mommy." Then yesterday was their "Happy Birthday, Jesus" party at school. They wanted me to come for the party. I hadn't planned on it as Jacob & Leah & I were going to run some errands. But, they asked me to come, so I figured I would. It seemed they were so happy we came. I got some more, "Thank you Mommy for coming to my party at my school" with a big hug multiple times yesterday. Seems it really meant a lot to them - and to me. All these times, it is said with such genuine sincerity I can't help but smile.

They've been very grateful lately and it just makes my heart melt when they make the sweet comments...I'll take them anytime, but sometimes they're really when you need to hear them most.

Happy Birthday, Jacob! (12/12)

Last Wednesday, our little guy turned 2. It's like a big time of reflection, I think. Not that you don't watch you child each and every day and realize what they do, how they talk, etc., and even though you know the birthday is coming, it's just different after it actually gets here. So he's 2. He's a sweetheart with a strong personality and a vocabulary that's growing each day. He seems like a little boy now, not a baby or much of a toddler. I'm amazed lately at how he picks up on more and more songs & repeats a lot of what others say. He's been singing Jingle Bells, and Put Down the Binkie (Jim Cosgrove) and he actually sings a good number of words in a little spurt. I really love that he does it and then once he realizes you're watching, he becomes more shy about it and just grins. He's so cute. He's also really developing his thought processes and knows that certain events have certain outcomes, etc., or can relate things without having them literally in front of him. I'm having trouble with an example of that right now, but I know that when he does it, I just think, wow, he's really thinking. Another big thing is that he's lately been asking to sit on the potty. No progress yet, but he'll ask to sit there, which is a good start. I guess one other thing about him is he's been kind of a clean clean guy! He has been taking at least one shower in the morning (just because he wants to) & then loves his bath at night. So cute. He likes bringing Leah her "fire" (pacifier), gives the big boys their blankies, & will tell everyone goodnight. We love him so much and have enjoyed the celebration of his birthday.

He loved the gifts he got. One of the current faves is the trash truck which has a wonderful beeping sound, you know like when a truck is in reverse?! Well, the catch is that he can push the lever down and it starts beeping...it doesn't stop! Yep, no automatic shutoff on that one. He'll leave the room for a while to do something else & you can try to be sneaky & shut it off. Sometimes, though, you get caught & he turns it back on just for the sake of having it on. Oh well, he's just having so much fun. He also got tools, books, some aquadoodle coloring mats, Thomas the train pieces, legos, & some other trucks. Lots of fun. We had Elmo cake & celebrated at home.

A few vocabulary terms...

Here are a couple things I've heard at home lately:

Stunk: a black and white animal that smells bad (maybe you know it as a skunk)

Lyrics to Rudolph..."and if you ever saw it, you would even say it GROWS."

Items hanging on the tree..."my dad calls them ornaments, but I call them decorations."

Fire: a small device used (often shoved by others) into baby Leah's mouth to calm her (Jacob's term for pacifier - no we don't really put flaming objects near her at all)

Recent Pictures

Bacon Soda?

Today we made chocolate chip cookies; fun was had by all. We were adding the ingredients - they all take turns adding ingredients and then they eat some chocolate chips while we wait. Cookies sure do taste best right out of the oven, don't they? Well, when we added the baking soda, they called it bakin soda, which made me thing of bacon soda. I asked Leyton why is it called bacon soda if it is not bacon and it's not soda. He said in a funny way, "I don't know; that's pretty silly." I think it is. Jacob LOVES bacon & well, we all love soda. So it became a funny little discussion. It reminded me of an old Seinfeld episode when George talked about words and if they sound like good words or not so good. I recall he really thought manure was inappropriately named. You see, since it's made of "ma" - like mom - obviously good, and "nure" - like newer - as opposed to older, so must be better too. So he basically thought the word was made of good parts, yet together not the most appealing. Anyway, enough laughs for the day.

Y-M-C-A!

So a little funny thought or two about the boys. Last weekend my brother got married as I have mentioned. One of his good friends, Jason, is a fireman in St. Louis. At the rehearsal dinner, I was telling them that he was a fireman. As he was dressed up, they seemed a bit confused since he obviously didn't LOOK like a fireman! Ha. In any event, Jason offered to bring the boys some firehats to the reception. So, at the formal reception, we had our boys in their plastic firehats (& also with their fireman badge stickers & firetruck tattoos). Thanks Jason! Then (to explain the YMCA title) on the way home, we were about a mile from the house when we came to a stoplight. We discuss stoplights often, mostly to the extent that we can't go when it's red, but have to wait until it's green. Well, Patrick was driving and decided to basically run the light - we were actually pretty late getting it. So, it did turn red when we went through. Well, the boys noticed! Leyton especially was very concerned. He kept saying, "Dad, it's red, we can't go, you have to stop; Dad, the light is red, WAIT!" Well, we didn't know what to say exactly, so we didn't really say anything. We'll watch that even closer in the future! Ha, so there you have it; wasn't there a fireman and policeman in the Y-M-C-A song/band thing? Maybe not, but it still seemed kind of fitting.

Well, I managed to get one of Leah's baptism pics up. Here she is. She looks kind of happy, too. Hopefully the gown is somewhat visible as well.

Just had to throw this one in, too. The holidays are coming, as you can see! Nathaniel decided he should WEAR the stockings! He's a boy with a style all his own!