We're Still Here!

Things have been out of control crazy around here.  We've been hanging on, and I think there's an end to it coming up!  I'll sum up the last few weeks.

After the disappointing trip to the zoo, we decided to make another go of a fun holiday outing once the sick germs were all cleared out.  I have pictures, which maybe someday I'll get around to posting.  Nat and Ben, and Aunt Beth and Jack, and myself all packed up and headed to the museum center for the holiday trains exhibit.  The boys especially were pretty enamored with the model train displays.  Natalie would have ridden the kid-size train around the 50 foot loop all day and been happy.  We did spy Santa and Natalie whispered her wish list to him from a safe distance.

Then it was Christmas Eve.  We had a wonderful celebration with family, got the kids to bed at a reasonable time despite being wound up on sugar, presents, and (for Natalie) the anticipation of Santa and Christmas morning.  All the build up did not disappoint when her little eyes spied the Christmas tree the next morning!

I guess I should back up just a hair and fill in the back story to Christmas morning.  Nat woke up at 5:45 to go to the bathroom.  She pretty willingly went back to bed, to my surprise, so I turned on the tree and all the lights on my way back to bed for the full effect.  She must have been awake laying in her room because about 10 minutes later she opened her door and was peering out when I heard her whisper, "Mommy, I think Santa came."  It was adorable.  We brought her to our room where she patiently watched Doc McStuffins until Ben decided to wake up....at 8:00!  Ben.  8:00.  Then we all went to the living room together, Natalie with wide eyes and hands over her mouth, Ben content to get his little hands on a single treasure.  It was a great morning.  And then after breakfast all 4 of us fell asleep!  2+ hour naps were in store all around.

I had picked up a few works shifts over the holidays, which has added to the chaos.  Oh, and our house getting hit by lightning hasn't helped.  We are slowly getting some repairs made there.  On Friday we shifted gears completely and took down all the Christmas decorations, gave the house a thorough cleaning, and made it ready to be turned into our best version of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for Nat's 3rd birthday.  In the midst of all the cleaning, while I was vacuuming the basement stairs, I heard Natalie playing and making some funny noises.  I went to the bottom of the stairs and found this scene:

I watched her for a long time before even getting it on video.  Saturday night was Nat's birthday party.  She had a great time, and again, hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures from that soon, too!  

With all the hectic days since Christmas and the few still to come, I have been trying to take every minute to soak up my babies and just be so thankful for our time together and them being happy and healthy.  Looking around at the mess of wrapping paper and new toys, it's overwhelming all that we have in all aspects of life.  We hope that you all have had a wonderful holiday, too.

It's Official.

You all know that we love the zoo.  And I love winter and Christmas, and that makes this time of year at the zoo even better.  It's Festival of Lights time!  Our original plan was to go this past Saturday to see the lights and visit Santa.  But then we got some weird weather that was snow, then rain, then refreezing, so we opted out.  Looking ahead at our week, it really only left today to go.  Eric's work schedule prevented him from joining us, and that probably ended up being a good thing...

My brilliant plan was to go in the afternoon, walk around and see the animals that were still out, then see all the lights in the early evening and catch a ride on the train and visit Santa before it got so crowded, and head home earlier to avoid a fight at bedtime.  That plan went south after we had been there about an hour and Natalie started complaining (loudly) that she was hungry.  "No kidding," I told her, "you didn't eat lunch."  In her defense, she ate SOME of her lunch and then announced she was full.  This is not unusual for her so I thought nothing of it.  So, anyway, we saw a few more animals then started looking for a snack.  I didn't pack our usual supply because I figured we grab an early dinner there.

As we were looking at the menu trying to decide if we wanted to share a piece of pizza or just a few breadsticks, Natalie said "my throat hurts!"  This was about 12 seconds after she told me she was hungry and wanted juice.  When I looked down at her, she leaned forward and puked.  Everywhere.  She's puked before, many times, but never from being sick like this.  I felt so bad for her.  She, of course, handled it like a champ.  I was horrified because I had no idea she was sick, and then that she threw up right in front of a pizza order line.  Oops.  The staff was very nice, albeit a little annoyed.  I can't blame them.

feeling a little under the weather

but Ben's spirits could not be dampened!

While we were cleaning ourselves up, Natalie kept saying she felt better.  She desperately wanted to ride the train, so we decided to try it and see how she felt.  Natalie LOVES the train.  As soon as we got on, she put her head down on my lap and said she didn't feel good.  The decision was made, our day was over.  We made it about half a mile from the zoo before Nat got sick again in the car (worry not, we are prepared for throwing up in the car!).  She immediately fell asleep and 3.5 hours later woke up looking, and apparently feeling, much better.  

Some ice chips, a warm bath, jammies were all in order for the evening.  And now we are watching Doc McStuffins episodes and she is munching pretzels and Gatorade.  So far, so good.  

And with today's two episodes, I can now confidently say that Natalie has thrown up more times her in three years than I have in my 32.  She is a pukey kid.  I don't know where she gets it from.  I've known Eric over  7 years, and have only known him to throw up during an episode of food poisoning.  Oh well....at least she's on the mend.

Since Thanksgiving...

It seems like I haven't had any time to give any real updates on our holiday celebrations, so here goes...

Our Thanksgiving was absolutely delightful.  As wonderful as hustling to family celebrations is, it was so great to have a quiet day with all four of us together to really just relax.  Chores went out the window, schedules were gone, and we had fun and ate lots of delicious food.

The day started off with us all participating in the 5k at the YMCA.  When we registered, the plan was for Natalie to be able to run/walk about half of it (that was my guess) and for the rest we could alternate between piggy back rides or buddying up on the stroller with Ben.  And then Thanksgiving morning rolled around and it was a balmy 19 degrees at the start of the race.  It was so cold.  Not bad weather really to be running in, but we were doing mostly walking, and snow pants really slowed down little legs.  So, Natalie did almost no walking and instead was kind of a stink about the whole deal.  Who can blame her?  It was cold.  The kids were really bundled, and 54 minutes later we all crossed the finish line together!

pre-race fueling

start of the race

somewhere around mile 1

Ben has been having a really hard time lately letting me out of his sight.  I had sort of forgotten that Natalie went through a phase like that, because she was really always sort of a mama's girl.  But there was a time when no one else would do for her, and now is the same for Ben.  It's great to be wanted, but it is exhausting, and my heart aches for him and how much it upsets him when I spend a little time away.  To be fair, all I see is his desperation when I leave.  Generally, he settles down after I'm gone with a little distraction.  But he's smart, and if he knows I'm still in the house, forget it.  No settling down.  Above is how I found him after he cried and cried sitting outside the shower door.  I saw him lay down, and then he didn't move, so when I got dried off...sure enough, he was sound asleep!

We've been doing lots of holiday baking!

rolling out fancy peanut butter roll out cookies

Ben.  Oh Ben.  I can't remember how much I talked about Ben's reluctance to ever take a bottle on here.  But there was a time when he was smaller, and I'd be gone at work for 16 hours, and it was a fight to get 2-3 bottles in him that entire time.  Now I'm ready to pull the plug on bottles and transition to cups, and my lord is he fighting it.  He can drink out of a cup, and will drink water out of a cup with no hesitation.  Put milk in the same cup and you'd think it was battery acid.  He takes a big swig, then opens his mouth and lets it all run out.  It's a good thing he's so handsome, or I'd be a lot more mad at him!

Last week, we got invited to Mimi's house for a lady's lunch and tree decorating.  Lunch was delicious, and putting ornaments on the tree held the kids' attention for about 3.7 seconds.  Then it was a free for all.  1 ornament on, 3 off.  

Also last week....we got snow!  They were predicting it.  Blah blah blah.  I half tuned in; usually they aren't spot on with snow predictions around these parts.  But darned if we didn't get 6 big inches!  Maybe not a lot in some places, but around here, it created lots of problems.

Except for us.  As kids, the rare big snow falls we got we had a tradition of taking night hikes in the stuff once it seemed likely that school would be canceled.  Once again, we bundled up and headed out the door.  And then we found some friends!  Mimi, Pa, Uncle Adam, Aunt Beth, and Jack were out too and ready for some fun.

Ben wasn't digging the snow.  It started out all wrong for him.  Eric was feeling a little under the weather, and elected not to join us.  I got the kids ready and loaded onto the sled for the walk across the pond levee and and through the field to Mimi and Pa's house.  I took 3 steps, and the sled turned over, dumping Ben face first into the snow.  After that he wouldn't sit still, and that made it hard for Natalie to hold him, and the sled turned over again.  So I was forced to carry him.  With my snow gear and his, it was really hard to hold on to him, trudge through the snow, and pull the sled with Nat still on it.  PLUS, I was wearing a headlamp instead of carrying a flashlight, and carrying Ben, he kept getting flashed right in the eyes with my light.  Needless to say, he much preferred this spot in the bed of the rhino with Pa.

Mimi and Jack throwing snow

hat twins!

Nat is a snow champ.  She loves it.  She was so cold and wet, but just wanted to stay out and play.

3 cousins

making snow angels

We have a few more big plans before Christmas is here...heading to the zoo probably this weekend to visit Santa and see the Festival of Lights, and then maybe a day next week I want to take my two "choo-choo" enthusiasts to see a model train exhibit at the museum.  Plus we've been trying to do holiday crafts, we've been wrapping, and baking.  Who's worn out?!

Almost 3, and Pacifier-Free!

(modeling her Christmas dress)

Our goal was for Natalie to be entirely pacifier-free by her 3rd birthday.  I am happy to report that we have me our objective!  Nat was a kid who always loved her pacifiers; probably safe to say that she loved them more than most kids.  In fact, just a few months ago, she was taking 4 of them to bed with her!  One in her mouth and three in her hands.  It was a little out of control.  Over the course of the past few months, we've been selecting ones to be "given away."  She gave one to Jack (even though he doesn't use one now either), one to Aunt Beth's new baby, and just Sunday she gave away her last one, completely on her own, and ahead of schedule.  

Ben was having a tough day, and in the middle of a diaper change was really crying.  Natalie announced that she knew what would help him feel better, and came back with her pacifier in her hand.  She then tried to shove it in his mouth (he doesn't like pacifiers nearly as much has she, and so it really only made him cry harder).  She said she was a big kid and didn't need it anymore and wanted to give it to Ben.  When he wouldn't take it in his mouth, she dropped it in his crib, and said he would probably wanted it when he took a nap.  Melt my heart a thousand ways.  

I showered her with praise, because I was bursting with pride at my big kid.  What a sweet gesture.  Of course, at bedtime, it was a totally different story.  Having foresight to predict how it might go, I actually hid the pacifier before bed and then claimed that Ben had lost it during his nap.  LIE!  Forgive me, please, it was all in everyone's best interest, I swear.  Natalie cried, and cried.  I explained that she had given it to Ben and couldn't take it back.  She ended up working herself into a near asthma attack, and needed her inhaler, but eventually calmed down and went to sleep. And then last night no mention of it at all!

Natalie & Ben: Monthly Comparison

I've been wanting to do this for awhile, but couldn't figure out the best way to do it....so, here it finally is.  Natalie and Ben's monthly pictures from one week old to one year old.  Some of them are very similar!  I found a picture of Natalie from her first Christmas that could be mistaken for Ben in a fluffy dress!  It's hard to remember our tall, skinny Natalie being a chubby small-fry.

(Warning: because of the way I had to get Natalie's pictures over, hers are a little blurry.)

Natalie is always pictured first, then Ben.  The age is written above the pictures.

ONE WEEK

ONE MONTH

TWO MONTHS

THREE MONTHS

FOUR MONTHS

FIVE MONTHS

SIX MONTHS

SEVEN MONTHS

EIGHT MONTHS

NINE MONTHS

TEN MONTHS

ELEVEN MONTHS

TWELVE MONTHS

My observations?  I've always thought they've looked a lot alike, even from that random 3D ultrasound picture we got of Ben, I couldn't believe how much he looked like Natalie as a newborn.  From age 5 months on, they especially look alike.  Ben took way better pictures overall!  And my photography skills have greatly improved.  

This was the picture I was referring to in the beginning...Ben in a dress!

What do you think?  Similarities?  Differences?

Just Dance!

Eric got a new playstation, and lots of games for himself...and one game for us!  Just Dance.  It's so fun, and hard, and hilarious, but Natalie appears to be an old pro.  And her favorite to dance to?  The Russian song you can hear in the background.  She is pretty well following along with what the dancers on the scream are doing (except she got a little camera shy, and backed off her usual flair a bit).  Ben gets into it too, from the sidelines where it's safe!

Saying Cheese & Holiday Prep

 This afternoon Nat, Ben, and myself worked on a little prep for our Thanksgiving feast tomorrow by making a pumpkin pie!  Our celebration is going to be low-key and fantastic this year: just the four of us!  We have plans to participate in a 5K as a family tomorrow morning, followed by some football watching, playing, and cooking.  And maybe even jammies all day....ok, so that's just my idea, but why not?  And then...hate me if you must....but I plan on doing some shopping with all the lunatics out there.  Even though my shopping is mostly done, I like the excitement and craziness of the whole thing.  It's almost like a sporting event.

Anyway, it's been awhile since I attempted pretty pictures of my two pretty babies, so while our pie was baking, I pulled out my camera...

And then Ben got bored, and pulled out a box of Fruit Loops from the pantry.  He got the box open, pulled out the bag, unrolled the bag, and had himself a little snack.

It was all going great until Natalie caught on and tried to take some for herself.

hey, there's a good one of them both!

pretty lady

with plenty of attitude