Car Seats

Margaret and I only have one car. I sometimes wish that we had a 2nd vehicle, but we don't really need one where we live. When it's nice out, I ride my bike to work, and when it's not the city bus system is quite reliable. Other than church, work is the only place I go on a consistent basis, so Margaret drives the car much more regularly than I do.

Tonight, however, I had a meeting with the Bishop. As I went to get in the car, my knees were shoved into my chest and I nearly lost my breath. Once again, the seat had not been pushed back to where a normal sized person could actually get into the car. This always makes me a little irritated, but no matter how many times I ask, Margaret never seems to think about it.

First, I don't understand how she can drive that close to the steering wheel. I know I'm taller than her, but it's not like she's that short. I think Timothy could reach the pedals with where she has the seat at.

Second, I don't know that she does (or ever will for that matter) have any idea how uncomfortable it is for me when I get in the car and this happens. She would probably tell you it's my fault for not checking before I get in the car, but I say that is nonsense. My friend Scott once told me that he broke his wife of this habit by leaving the toilet seat up everytime she didn't push the car seat back. I guarantee you that if Margaret fell in the toilet she would not say it was her fault, but would instead have it out with me.

As I was driving home, an hour later, my mind somehow wandered back to this incident, and I decided that I would have a talk with Margaret about this. That is until I walked in the house and there was pie. Not just any pie either, lemon meringue pie, which happens to be my favorite pie. Not only is it my favorite pie, but Margaret doesn't really like it, so when she makes it I know it is a special treat she made just for me.

So I ate the pie, and forgot about the seat. Moral of the story is I will just keep pushing the car seat back instead of leaving the toilet seat up (at least until we get a 2nd vehicle) because I love my wife that much. And if she keeps making pie, I may have to push it back just a little bit further.

Catching up: Christmas

Yep, it's been a while since I blogged. A lot had been going on, both good, and not so good. But I vowed that I was going to blog this week. Especially since we got a new camera at Christmas, and I came home with over 100 pictures. More than I've taken in probably the previous 4 months combined.

Anyway, Christmas was a lot of fun this year. The boys loved every aspect of it. The decorations, the music, the advent calendar with the chocolate... (That was Andrew's favorite.) We introduced Timothy to "Rudolph" and "Frosty the Snowman" via our lovely DVR. He was obsessed.

A few days before Christmas we loaded everyone up and headed north (well, further north) to my parents for the holidays. Since my parents are called Santa and Lady by the grandkids, it was all too easy for John to convince Timothy that we were going to the North Pole. There was even a convenient stone barn on the property where the reindeer lived. Not that we saw any, but we did see deer tracks...

We had a wonderful relaxing time with my family, in spite of the fact that at least one person in the gathering was sick almost the whole time we were there. We enjoyed great food, good fun, and of course, many game nights. John brought, and introduced my brother Pilgrim to "Star Wars Epic Duels" so they roped anyone willing into a game at every opportunity. There were lots of visitors, as always at my parents, so they always had fresh "victims." =)

The boys had a blast with the aunts and uncles, and of course, the cousins. Here's a cute video of the four of them. =)

Of course, Christmas morning was awesome. Timothy was very patient while his uncles dragged themselves out of bed at 8:30. Well, at patient as a 3 year-old can be. We let him wake them up, but he made Daddy come with him. Of course, he woke us up first. =)

Andrew was still slightly confused by the whole present process, but he figured it out soon enough. At least the part where he got to play with his presents. =)

Here is the rest of our Christmas, or at least a good representation. I won't subject you to all I took, but enjoy!

Halloween (or, the Saga of the Chicken Rider...)

I meant to do this over a week ago, but that was a bad week. I was exhausted all the time, and generally having an "Oh yeah, this is the FUN part about pregnancy" week. But, this week is much better. And, since several of my friends are also recently posting Halloween pictures, I don't feel as bad. Anyway, here they are:

Taking a cue from his current obsession, Timothy was a fireman this year, thanks to some wonderful friends who came through with an awesome suit. Thankfully, he will take it off now. The week before Halloween, I had to convince him to take it off to sleep. (His obsession is good and strong. We still get at least 2 books on firefighting at the library every week, and I personally have learned more about firetrucks and fire equipment than I ever thought possible.)

We decided to put Andrew in the chicken rider costume that Timothy wore at his age. Mainly because it's the coolest Halloween costume ever. Andrew didn't agree. I think he thought it was trying to eat him.

He did change his mind once people started oohing and aahing over him at the halloween party. Then, when we started trunk-or-treating, and he realized there was candy to be had, he agreed with Mommy that this was the coolest costume ever. Either that or this was the best party he'd ever been too. =)

The Saturday before Halloween, the university hosted "Trick or Treat with the Greeks." I took the boys while John was in meetings, and it turned out to be quite well done. I will definitely tell lots of people about it next year. In addition to a hall of trick or treating, there was coloring, various crafts for different ages (which we didn't sample), treats, games (like pin the tail on the cat) and of course, more treats. We had the chance to make "dirt"cups at one station. Timothy started to get a little shy, but Andrew was all over that. =)

(Cue evil laugh..)

Mommy actually ended up eating most Timothy's dirt cup, but Andrew was pretty adamant about not sharing. He's perfected the evil eye if he thinks you're eating his food. It's pretty cute on a 16 month-old. =)

As we left the student union, heading back to the car, Andrew was again admired by a group of passing college students, and obligingly posed to pictures. It got to the point that if he heard someone coming up behind us on the sidewalk, he's stop, and pose before they even got to us. Oh well, at least he stopped screaming about the costume. (Now if only I can get it clean for the next child...) =)

I think they had fun. Don't you?

When it rains....

They say when it rains, it pours. Well, it's been pouring here these last 10 days or so here in our humble home.

First, John called me on a Friday morning to tell me: "I'm in the ER. I think I broke my fingers." (Thank you for qualifying that dear...) He had been setting up seating in the black box theatre, when the side railing collapsed- on the first two fingers of his right hand. Thankfully it wasn't worse, and while frustrating to lose much of the use of his dominant hand, they seem to be healing nicely. John is learning to adapt.

Sunday, Andrew woke up from his in-church nap, but was listless and didn't move from my lap for the next 2 hours. He also started running a fever. I took him home and pushed the fluids, keeping an eye on the fever. I didn't think it would be anything more than a slight bug. Boy was I wrong! He had no appetite the next day, which is very unusual for him. That afternoon, I found out that hand-foot-and-mouth disease was apparently going around at church. The rash appeared a few hours later, but since there wasn't much I could do for him but make him comfortable, that's what we did.

Sadly, that wasn't enough. The poor guy was hungry, but it hurt to eat. His whole body was inflamed in a rash that- while it didn't seem to itch - mad him totally miserable. He couldn't eat, he couldn't sleep, and after three nights of no sleep for anyone but Timothy (who sleeps like the dead) John took him into the ER in desperation. They informed us that this was a particularly bad case (Great...) and to keep him away from everyone until the rash was completely gone. (Quarrantine... Yay...) They did prescribe some baby ibuprofen for the pain, which seemed to help, but seemed anticlimactic for the cost of an ER visit. Oh well, at least he started sleeping.

On the bright side, John was sent home after a day of work, with instructions to stay home until he saw an Ortho. So, while he was frustrated by the inactivity, he was able to help a lot with comforting Andrew so that we could trade off on sleep.

Andrew recovered (except for some rash, so we couldn't leave the house), but then the next Sunday, Timothy came down with a fever and a wheezing cough. I had a momentary panic that we were starting the cycle all over again, but thankfully, no. He has also recovered, and apparently sometimes kids get a bit of a wheeze during a bad cough. Here's hoping that remains the diagnosis. The doctor wants to check in a few days, but she was hopeful.

It hasn't been all bad rain though. Last Friday, John and I were able to witness a glimpse of the next little miracle in our lives. It should be showing up around the end of May. =)

Motivation...

Our camera is slowly dying. It was inevitable I guess. Almost 4 years, and countless times being stolen by a very small photographer, it's done it's time. It's sad though, for such a shutterbug as I. It wasn't anything special, but it's kept track of our lives in that time, and recorded many happy memories.

Anyway, enough without the eulogy. I've discovered that I don't like to blog without pictures. At least about my kids. The blogs seem somehow incomplete. Thankfully, I do have the camera on my phone. The quality isn't good, but at least it's something. I'd hate to miss out on the moments, little and big, in my son's lives. I still take considerably fewer pictures, but at least I'm getting something. (That being said, slideshow to follow) =)

The boys are doing well, and growing like weeds. Andrew especially seems to be in a constant growth spurt. He has about a cup and a half of oatmeal for Breakfast, sometimes with a banana, and sometimes with a handful of dry cereal, and then 2 hours later, he's hungry again. The eating pattern continues throughout the day, especially if he really likes what I serve. I remember T being a good eater at this age, but I don't remember this.... Kind of makes me scared for his teens... =)

Andrew is also very interested in vocabulary now. He's constantly pointing at things and wanting to know the name. He hasn't vocalized much yet, but every so often, he'll come out with a new attempt at words. Of course, his favorite word is "kitty." That one he's had down for a while. I don't think the cats share his enthusiasm though... =)

Timothy constantly amazes us with his imagination. His current fascination is all things fireman, as it has been for a while. Lately though, our house has become the fire station, our car a firetruck, and overtime we leave, we are apparently off to fight a fire. Picking a halloween costume this year is kind of a no-brainer. I also love to hear him play with his cars or little people. He has entire conversations that are just great! Now if only he was so excited about potty training... Oh well, we're getting there.

Anyway, That's the news in our life for now. We're making the most of the beautiful fall weather before hermit-time comes, and enjoying the normal ups and downs of small children. Best part of life, in my humble opinion. =)

Here's a few glimpse of our last couple of months: