Milestones

Conrad counted 5 cheerios today! Normally he just points and counts to a random number, often getting it wrong. But today I gave him a handful of cheerios at lunchtime (he wanted what Amelia was having) and when he had 5 left he put them all close together and counted them. I was so excited! Obviously excited enough to blog about a simple counting thing.

Amelia is starting to interact a little more and more each day. She loves to look at me with a certain look in her eye and nod her head up and down like she's saying, "yup yup yup." I've started practicing pat-a-cake with her, she doesn't do much, but she kind of waves her arms around. I'm trying to sign with her, too. So far, nothing, but I think she recognizes the signs now. (milk, more, eat, & all done are the ones I do). She also likes to make a smacking sound with her lips just so we'll do it back to her. Then she'll do it again, then we do it again. It's a game for her! She is also LOVING food. What a relief. She eats with us 3 times a day at the table and nurses 4 times in her 24 hour period. She has gotten a routine down very nicely, and I've been able to consistently have both my kids take naps at the same time in the afternoon. Finally! Amelia usually sleeps from 7:30 pm until 8:30 am. It is WONDERFUL! Introducing solid baby food was the best thing since sliced bread for her.

I love having my kids around. Today we had a wonderful dinner together (everybody was in a good mood, + we had mashed potatoes and gravy = Josh verrry happy). He even helped me clean up the dishes! Then we had the most lovely evening spent laying on the ground letting our kids crawl all over and wrestle. They were in the best mood! I kept telling myself to savor this moment because in 15 years or so we will be in the middle of the awful teenage years and probably wishing for life to be as simple as it was when they were little. I really really enjoy this stage. I wish everyone else could enjoy it, too!!!

Today Josh got to go watch an 8-hour spine surgery on a 47 year-old woman with scoliosis. He was amazed! He said to me, "Do you know what tools the surgeon used during the operation? He used a drill and screws." (there was one more but I can't remember what it was. Anyhow it related to his genetic disposition for framing houses). I know what Josh wants to be when he grows up, but he is still debating. I think his calling in life is really to do orthopedic surgery, but he's afraid to do it because of the schedule. I think it's Heavenly Father's way of preparing me for the lifestyle ahead so I can support him happily while he's gone most of the time. Josh only has 10 weeks left of this semester and he is absolutely THRILLED to be done with the didactics of med school. Didactics means book work. I just like to say the word and sound smart.

My milestone is that I exploded some potatoes that were being cooked in the microwave. Yes, I poked them with a fork in like 6 places each, but they still managed to explode. Here you see Conrad examining the evidence. Pretty exciting life!!! :D (the picture was taken a few days ago. I did not use these exploded potatoes for mashed potatoes).

Tom, keep sending me pictures! Particularly if you aren't going to make a blog. I am dying to see more!!!

I tag Tom and Lisa, Erin, Grandpa Woody, and Cindy!

This is my 4th photo from my 4th album on my computer. If I tagged you, those are the rules. Simply go to your 4th album and select the 4th photo. Tom and Lisa, consider this a threat to make a blog, or else. ;)

This is a picture of Conrad and his bud Luke M when they were just over a year old. (Luke is 2 months older than Conrad). Conrad had just barely started to walk. I can't remember why they're not wearing their pants. But it is a pretty cute picture!

...and baby makes 3!

Holy smokes, can you believe what a beauty this girl is!? This is my new niece, Caroline Marie. She was born yesterday morning 8 days early. And we are so excited that she couldn't wait to come see us!

Congratulations to Tom and Lisa!!! We've been waiting for this moment for a long time!!!

Conrad's crazy crop

What the heck?!

Silly 2 year old. You don't have to watch the video, it's not entertaining unless you love Conrad as much as we do!

Amelia's crop is getting longer and longer, enough to put into a mo-hawk. I'm dreading the time when it may get very long, though... she's got my same texture of hair (and so does Conrad), so it knots easily. I remember when I was 5 my mom combing my hair to get me ready for school and telling me I had rat nests in my hair. I honestly don't want to have to worry about rats nesting in Amelia's hair!

Time to start a blog Tom and Lisa!

My brother Tom and my sis-in-love Lisa began the next chapter in their lives.

Lisa had baby Caroline!!!! She was born at 5:15 this morning weighing in at 6 lbs. 13 oz. And everyone is healthy! Hurray!

So, I'm hoping to push them over the edge into Blog Wonderland by making a big statement on my blog.
To Lisa: We love you! I hope everything went terrifically! Oh I'm so excited for you!
To Tom: We love you and hope having a baby is everything and more you hoped it would be!
Sweet baby Caroline, I can't wait to meet you!!! You have a wonderful set of parents, and I'm excited to watch you grow!

Doting

Oh, my boy. My boy Conrad. How I love him so much. These are some of the things he says lately that make me just "tickled pink."

pointing to a man and a woman dancing on our anniversary card
"that's a ballawiga!" aka. ballerina.

Of course, the classic, "it's a burger!!" Next he says, "I need some paperlet." aka. toilet paper.

Even more classic: "I'm feeding peddy tear." peddy tear=teddy bear.
The teddy bear was under a blanket against his belly. Wonder how he picked up on that one.

On sesame street they have a segment with the character Murray and his little lamb. They like to use some spanish on this segment, so they call the little lamb "ovejita" (pronounced ova-heat-ah) which translates as little sheep. The other day Conrad was watching that segment and the lamb disappeared and Conrad asked, "where pizza go?"

If he says anymore I have to write them down so I don't forget. Then I can post them to my blog much to all y'all's delight.

ETA: another saying (or 2!)

Josh left for school with his lunch packed, including his carrots. Conrad was eating some grapes and said, "Where daddy carrots go?" I told him they went to school with him. Conrad then said, "Conrad grapes are all.... all..... all..... all.... (stuttering).... all at home right now."

Conrad calls Cabela's "Belladis." Don't know how he got that one!

Round here, we all look the same

First Conrad wanted his hood on. Then he said, "mommy put hat on please?" Then I noticed Amelia was hood-able, too. So we put hers on, too. It was a Kodak moment on this day of all days. Today is the dreaded single parent day where Josh is gone from early until late. So Tuesdays I gear myself up and try to be extra fun. So I said, let's lay down next to Amelia and take our picture!

I'm only posting the next picture for Conrad's expression. :)
Here we are giving Amelia a kiss on each cheek.

Look at her smiling when we kiss her! She loves to be mugged on, I tell you. It is soo fun to have a cuddly, kissable, huggable, squeezable, unbelievable baby.

Conrad no longer sleeps in since he's made the change to a big boy bed. So, on Sunday morning I gave Conrad permission to go wake daddy up. He took some of Amelia's bows and put them on Dad's head.

Of course I had to capture Josh wearing bows on camera. It's been a week since I last posted, I hope this post and the post below make up for it.

Conrad's proclamation

Conrad is not too shy about telling me when he's found a burger. He proudly proclaims it.

ETA: Hello, pardon my messy house. It was the end of the day and I promise I picked it up as soon as the kids were to bed!

Blog-a-thon. Read when you have plenty of time to look at pictures!

So, I am finally posting about our holiday trip. There are plenty of pictures, so the captions are going to be kept to a minimum. Ready, set- go.







cousin Katie loved Amelia.








Conrad kept his distance from Santa.








Amelia loved Santa's beard.









A common site to be seen. (we all gotta blog, right?)









Brielle the brunette baby, and Erin the brunette babe. + Mil











Excited boys Josh, Conrad and cousin Jonas.










Obviously very excited to have their pic taken. (watching Carson's b ball)









Da girls. L-R Mac, Ash, Lin and Pops











Conrad anxious.










Decorated gingerbread house

Amelia mastered how to stop herself in a swing. It's a Christmas miracle!

Conrad getting coaxed to have his hand painted

Amelia happy to have her hands coated

Conrad getting dressed to be a little Shepherd boy for the nativity

Though he is nowhere to be found in the nativity

Mac and Conrad awake. (they were playing "asleep... AWAKE!")

Getting Thomas the Train DVD's

Amelia made pals with Sadie

Grandma Jane made pals with these 2 cuties.

Oh dear. Just a normal scene with Karate Man Parker.

What are they doing? Cleaning up what.. ...?

"it wasn't me!"

(She used paper...)

But involving
Katie...

...

And Conrad.

Involving crayons and walls.

Oh, and a timeout.

A few days later, New Year's Eve. Yes, everybody, we hung out with our parents and had a blast!

Amelia disobeying and eating in an armchair. (but isn't she cute?)

Brielle, Amelia and Conrad. LOVE the matching outfits. :) (purchased back in Sept, we both saw the outfits and we both wanted them. So we both bought them.) The girl's were hoping they wouldn't wear them on the same day, but... oops, they did! Brielle is embarassed, and Amelia doesn't know what to do.

Grandma W is the only one looking in the right place.

Amelia thought Grandpa W's nose was pritty.

Conrad rocking Brielle in the mini rocking chair.

Conrad rockin

Already playing dress-ups. (And working on the 4th tooth she got on this trip- all on the top row)

A few days later (back in MO-town), Conrad and Amelia got these sweaters from out generous neighbor Beatrice. Isn't she thoughtful!? They are coming all the way from Kenya, handmade, no tags, absolutely wonderful!

FINISHED. (it only took me 2 hours, so enjoy it and please leave me a comment just so I get some sort of payment for my time and efforts.)