Picky and Pink

For some reason, Max has become extremely interested--bordering obsessed--with picking in Ruby's ears and toes. Whenever he's present for a clothes change or diaper change which exposes her toes, it's like he's magnetically attracted to them, peeling them apart searching for anything to pick. Same thing goes for her ears. He is always looking in them. So much so, that we've suggested he become an ENT doc. I had to make sure to let him know that the doctor commented on her clean ears at her last checkup. (We of course stress that Max never put his fingers in her ears, I just wanted him to know that the doctor confirmed that I was doing an adequate job in keeping them clean) He is constantly telling me that she has stuff in her ears.


In other news, we've decided that we want to have color themed meals. Of course, Cooper wants yellow. Max and I were talking about brown and orange, but when I asked him which color he wanted to start with, he said "Pink!"
So far, this is our list: Ham, Strawberry Smoothie, Watermelon
Can anyone think of anything else?

Updated: I forgot, Max had mentioned Beets. He'll never forget that when we had them last summer fresh from the farmer's market, I told him if he ate them his pee would turn pink. He reminds me of that anytime beets come up in a conversation.

What makes you. . . .

Happy

Max
Any time you can pick out your own clothes. Particularly a unique combination of shorts and a tanktop. You've come up with some memorable ensembles!

Watching your "big kid" heros. This weekend you had a double serving: Jackson's awesome basketball game where he just kept on making shots. Not only did you like to watch him, but you were running the length of the gym with the players back and forth, back and forth, mimicking the play of the game. You were even throwing up "air" shots. You soaked everything in. You also got to watch Noah play soccer. We saw him score a goal!! You also love it when the ball goes out of bounds and you can chase after it. You feel very proud to bring the ball back to the players.

You LOVE to play outside. Soccer is your favorite thing to do in the back yard.

Cardboard.

Crafting. This weekend we painted flowers for our newest "chain."

Cooper
Anything that is the color Yellow. You. Love. Yellow.

You are facsinated with puppies and horses, but to be really close causes anxiety.

Music.

Helping.

Playing outside. You like a lot of things, scooter, mowing the yard, soccer, t-ball.

Cherry chapstick.

You like jokes. Whenever you hear people laughing, you will say to either Mommy or me, "What he said?" wanting us to repeat it back to you so you can laugh too.

Ruby
Being held.

Being tickled.

Grabbing anything in sight.

Nursing.

Sad

Max
When you don't get your way. Which is to say, when you can't wear shorts even though it's only 45 degrees outside among other times when things don't work out the way you would like.

Cooper
When you don't get your way. Which is to say, when you go into the kitchen open the refrigerator, and think you are going to help yourself to some yogurt. When I come in and stop that from happening--because let's face it--you would eat about 17 yogurts a day if it was up to you, you get upset. This is usually when you start up with the "poopyhead" commentary.

Ruby
When you don't get your way. Which is to say, when we get home from school/work, and all you want is to be held, but MaMa's trying to get dinner ready, so I have to set you down. Yeah, that's not your favorite time.

Happy Anniversary!

To Grandma and Grandpa!!

Today marks 49 years.

Packin' it on

Ruby had her 6 month well check yesterday. The doctor proclaimed that she was perfect.

Still not on the charts for weight, but getting really close, 25-50 for height, and 50-75 for head--this baby's got big brains!! The doctor was impressed with her ability to sit on her own and her pincher grip. She can pick up just about anything she wants.

I think I could actually talk about something other than her weight gain, but now I must talk about it because the little girl gained nearly 1 pound in two weeks! This is unprecedented!



She also had another CST appointment. We go back in another 4 weeks, and after that appointment, he's leaving the decision up to us as to whether or not we return. Here's a couple of photos of the procedure.


I know, I know the barrette was not necessary, but isn't cute?

Best Days of our Lives. . .

So Mommy was rockin' with the boys this morning to Bryan Adams "Summer of 69." This prompted a conversation about the best days of our lives.

Mommy told the boys that some of the best days of her life were the days that each of her kids were born.

Cooper said, "See Noah soccer!" (what beloved friends and neighbors we have!)

Max said, "Seeing Ruby for the first time on the day she was born."

What does MaMa say? The best days of my life:

The day I met Mommy. If that day never happened, neither would all the other best days of my life that have happened since.

Days when I have played my instrument and my parents were there to listen. The exchanges of love that happen on days like that are irreplaceable.

Days spent with my sister and her family. My sister is one of the most amazing woman I know.

Absolutely--the days in which I gave birth to our children.

For me though, it's not just about the BIG days. It's the little things too. It's Cooper giving me his European kisses. It's Max asking me to do "nighttime things." It's Ruby's gummy smile, or the way she snuggles into my chest to fall asleep. It's the exchanges that Peg and I have, whether they're verbal or visual. Forgive me for sounding corny, but really, these days are the best days of my life.

Tax Day 2009

As of 2:18 am, Cooper is two months away from being 3 years old!! And, as of 3:14am today, Ruby is six months old!!

Cooper, you have such a sweet and sassy approach to life. Mostly sweet. And thoughtful, considerate, and polite. Your manners amaze us. You use peez, thank you, you weltome, tooze me(excuse me). You will reflect and say things like, "Mom! (that's what you call me a lot of the time) thank you so much for getting that for me!" You are very considerate. You will sit at the table and insist we wait for Max before you begin eating. You of course, expect the same treatment from your brother, "wait for me! wait for me!" you will call out. [now is when the sas comes out] If Max doesn't listen, out come the "poopyhead" or "ha ha boo boo you tan't det me" comments. It breaks your heart when Max is not kind to you. At this point in your life you want everyone to be happy--unless things aren't going your way, then WATCH OUT, take cover, you might throw things, hit, and in most extreme cases attempt to bite. We love to listen to you talk. Yes, sometimes we still need to work out deciphering what it is you are saying, but damn you're cute.

Ruby, you are just all sweet at this point! We're anxious to see how you measure in all ways at your next appointment a week from today. So far, it seems like the CST has been a good choice as you have gained over one whole pound in the four weeks after your first session. This includes you having a bout of some kind of stomach bug. You can sit on your own for short periods of time. You seem to have been teething for the past two months, people keep asking if your teething because you drool and chew, chew, chew! However, no teeth yet. You grab everything, your brother's noses, our hair, bowls of food, and your new favorite toy, Sophie the Giraffe. No crawling progress yet. Both of your brothers did not crawl until 9 months, so we're not expecting anything to happen for a few months. You like to sleep-in in the morning, if we let you, you would probably sleep until 10 am! You would prefer to be held. Often times, you will protest until I am holding you. (i just can't resist)

Next up. . .

Today we found out that we will be swiftly moving ahead with our adoption process. Due to the economy, we were dragging our feet, but now we want to move forward because our local friendly judge might be appointed to a different post by President Obama. So this means the next 1.5 months will be even busier/crazier than normal! We have a homestudy scheduled for the beginning of May, and the court date is near the end of May. Yeah for Mommy and Ruby!

Easter 2009

Easter has come and gone. We really had a fabulous day full of fun and friends.

The morning began with the boys finding all the baskets. They quickly devoured every sweet thing in their baskets. Mommy and I did a quick check in with each other as to whether or not we were going to let them just eat a little bit, or just let them eat as much as they wanted. It was fun for once to just let them eat it. It feels like we're always having to hover over and make sure they don't eat too much of this or that. Having said all that, we knew we might have just sealed our own fate! After the jelly bean and chocolate bunny gorge-fest, I attempt to neutralize the effects with half of a banana. Now it's crunch time, we need to quickly get ready and leave for church. How do you think two sugared-up boys cooperated? Yeah, not so much.

When we pulled up to church I kind of felt like I was in a movie, organ pipes pumping out the music, me running in with baby in carseat, I hand off the baby to much trusted church friends, I sprint(ok, I don't really think I can sprint anymore), I run up the stairs, get my instruments together, get to my spot and try to catch my breath. I look below and see Mommy making her way down the aisle to the pew--all before church starts. Amazing. Let me say this for the record, no matter how early we get up, we are usually struggling to beat the opening hymn. Much to our surprise, the boys did well during church. After church was an Easter Egg Hunt. Fun!! Our next mission: get the boys to nap.

The highlight of the day was spending the afternoon with our in-town family. We had fun, feast, an egg hunt, and some music.

Here are the following summaries for each child:

Ruby: I'm just here to look cute! I like it when Mark makes funny sounds for me--"beep beep!"

Cooper: Cherry Chapstick.
"Wanna see somfing? I dot my cherrwy dapstick in my pocket. My yips feel better."
(he was applying chapstick approximately every 30 seconds. All. Day. Long.)

Maxwell: I have the most eggs. I have the most candy. I have the most. I have the most. I have the most.

Vomit, Sweet, Vomit

don't read while eating lunch. . .

We've had a lot of laundry to do in the past 4 days. Friday night Cooper's coughing got the best of him and he lost it. "I sick." Poor guy. With every coughing attack, my neck would strain to listen to make sure it was just a cough and no more. His fever rising. He spent quite a few hours awake. Coming in to our room, going back to his room, back and forth until he finally fell asleep.

Saturday morning. French toast made especially for Mommy and her upcoming birthday. It's one of her favorites. Get the menu: French toast, bacon and orange slices.

Pictures. Yes, we attempted pictures even though Cooper had little sleep. It's really a recipe for disaster. It was a chaotic photo shoot, "look here, smile, get your finger out of your nose, look here, smile--no not like that--just relax (I mean how relaxed can you get with 3 adults barking orders!)" you get the point. While pictures are being reviewed/ordered, Mommy and I confer and agree we will have a driving nap. Within a short time they are asleep. Cooper coughing the entire time. His coughs pierce through me as I wince to think of what might happen if he coughs too hard. We stop at the big box home improvement store so Mommy can get a few things. I can hear it coming, I get out and open his door, trying to wake him. I go to the diaper bag and spot a blanket. Place it in front of him just in time and catch it. Feeling pretty smug about my accomplishments, I walk the blanket over to the trash and call Mommy to let her know we need to leave, NOW. And then, it really hit. My hands quickly transformed into a recepticle and I am literally throwing vomit into the parking lot. I did a pretty good job of keeping it off Cooper and the carseat, but there was still some reminders left behind.

Luckily, the other two slept through it all and we headed home.

We all layed low the rest of the afternoon.

I slightly medicated Cooper before bed, hoping he would just rest. He vomitted again, and didn't sleep until nearly 11pm.

3am I awoke to Ruby who proceeded to wretch her entire stomach contents all over me and the bed. Yuck.

Sunday. Another lay low day. I left breifly to play for church. Both sick kids with fevers.

Sunday night Cooper again lost it, but we're getting better at having towels handy for the puke-catching extravaganza.

Monday. Keep all kids home because 2 are still ill. Wow, what a happy birthday for Mommy! (actually, it was a really nice celebration)

Monday night Cooper yet again lost it. Woke up on Tuesday and said, "I not sick anymore."

Considering all that, I thought the pictures turned out ok:

Happy

Pictures. . .

Cousin Gina reading to Ruby. . . .

Cooper showing off his new "smile."Cooper with Sunday morning bedhead and fun glasses. . . .

Ruby's big blue eyes. . .

Max and Ruby, (and no, we didn't plan this or name them after Rosemary Wells' famous series. how many times in their lives do you think we'll be asked that question???)

Ruby at 5 months.
Max and Cooper "under the table." Lot's of things can happen under here. When it's quiet? Look under the table or in the refridgerator, you'll be sure to find them!