Updates galore!

Well, it has been a while, hasn't it. No one has died or anything. I've just been spending a lot of time being political lately, which has been very time consuming. And I have not been taking pictures like I should! My brother Mark took these super cute ones at a fall outing...several months ago now.

Kate turned 5 in December and has grown up a lot in these past few months, which has been fun and hard. She has been much more challenging!

She has a loose tooth, and by loose I mean it is hanging on for dear life. But she will NOT let us pull it, and honestly I don't think I could do it anyway! So we're just going to wait for it to fall out on its own. I've tried giving her carrots and apples, but she's smart enough to just take a bite from the side of her mouth.

Andrew has been giving Kate chess lessons every Sunday afternoon, and she knows all the names and movements of the pieces. Andrew gives her little puzzles to solve, to get his king to check mate with just a couple of pieces in a certain number of moves, and she can do it! I am so impressed.

She has also taught herself to READ. I had given her just a few reading lessons, but I was not terribly consistent giving the lessons every day like I should. She would always be asking questions when we were out about what this word or that word was. And she had "sight" words in preschool that she memorized. The one day she picked up Green Eggs and Ham and read pretty much the entire thing to me. I was in shock! Of course she knew the book very well, but I could tell she was reading -- stopping at each word to figure out what it was. Now she can read a LOT. After I tuck her in, she will stay in her bed and read and read until I shut off the light.

Yesterday we were at Walmart, and she started reading the signs that said, "Every day low price." She was playing a little game, and while I was shopping I heard her say, "Oh no! We're surrounded by every day low prices!" The low prices were out to get her apparently.

She is really the epitome of sweet with Christian -- most of the time. He does still love to get on her nerves, but usually they are just so cute together. He hugs and kisses her more than anyone else, he sits on her lap (sometimes unexpectedly and knocks her over), he tackles her, and they cuddle in her bed every night and read stories.

She is much more defiant than she used to be, saying things like, "I'll never do anything you tell me to do!" It's truly like having a 13 yr old in the house already. I feel panicked just thinking about it.

She's growing taller and skinnier every day -- she weighs less now than she did last year! It's crazy, but she does seem to be eating better than she used to. She is just so tall.

She says hilarious things all the time, but I have not been good about writing them down lately. She is very dramatic. One of her favorite things to do is scare me. She likes to hide and jump out. Generally, I know right where she is, but there have been a few times where she really has gotten me.

She LOVES preschool, and she LOVES church. She has a very inquisitive mind and is always asking, asking, asking. When I don't know the answer, she tells me to look it up on the computer. Smart girl. :) We've recently started being more consistent having FHE, and she LOVES that as well. She always asks if it's Monday yet. We don't even do anything fun, we just have a lesson and sing a hymn -- no treats or activities. We're just trying to get the basics done, but she can't get enough. She loves to read scriptures and learn about the gospel.

So much to say about her, but it's kind of hard to jump back into this after so many months! Just wanted to get a few things written down, and maybe I can start writing on here again.


Christian! Christian is 20 months old now, and that means he is in nursery! It has been so wonderful to be able to go to class and actually hear everything being said. And he loves it, too. Just like Kate -- he went right in, started playing with toys, and didn't so much as look up when I tried to say goodbye. I'm not sure what it means when all the other kids are crying to see their parents leave them, but last week Christian just pointed at the door. I can take a hint! The nursery leaders all say that he is the greatest kid -- so "quiet" and "good." I was shocked the first time they told me that, but there it is. He gets excited every Sunday just when I put on his little white shirt -- he knows nursery is close.

At home, on the other hand, Christian loves to climb, jump, move chairs around so that he can reach things like knives, potted flowers, and oven tops. The other day I was chatting with my mom on the phone, and I was scolding Christian about something. My mom asked if he was playing with knives again. I said, "No. He has his hand in a blender." I had just unloaded the dishwasher and the blender was sitting on the table. He does get a lot of bumps and bruises, but luckily nothing serious yet.

He still usually wakes up once in the night and is inconsolable -- not sure if he is having nightmares or what. But it makes for a tired mommy most days.

He is pretty tall, above average, but nothing like Kate was/is. His head size, though, is setting all kinds of records. It's above the 100th percentile. The doctor is always amazed at how big it is.

He is still not saying much, but he understands most things. So far he can say "uh oh, ow, dada, boddo (bottle), what's this, all done" and he just started saying "poo poo" this week when he taps his bum. And, of course, he can make realistic car noises already. :) Loves cars, blocks, and balls. Very stereotypical! :)

He shakes his head for both yes and no, which can be very confusing. He's very good at dragging us around the house and showing us what he wants without verbalizing it.

He can be very cuddly and loves to read books. And he LOVES to color. He's very serious about his coloring, as you can see from pics below. He spreads himself out in front of the coloring book and gets very intent. One of the kids' favorite things to do it sit on the heater when it turns on. It's one of my favorite things, too, actually.

Watch out -- he's got a marker...

It's my dad's birthday today, so I wanted to get some cute pictures of the kids for him. Nothing really worked out, but here they are anyway! Happy birthday!

He's saying "poo poo" in the picture cause I told him to...thought it would get them to smile...

Christian's grumpy face...

You can see the size of his head here.

Kids reading on the heater.

Christian update -- 15 months!

playing

Christian's first birthday! As expected, LOVED cake.

Family reunion hike -- too much for him.

Liked to sit there and spin the lamp shade -- also unplug vital cords.

Kate's tormenting him here. Look at those LONG lashes!

Cute! (He always has kind of crazy hair because I'm the one cutting it, and I have no idea how to cut hair! Especially on a kid that is constantly moving. I think my second try was better than the first, though. Hopefully I will keep improving.)

Hahahahaha!

One of Christian's favorite pastimes -- destroying Mommy's desk.

Eating a tire...?

Emptying the cupboards and sitting in a 9x13 pan.

Wow -- what a crazy, crazy summer. Things are finally settling down, and maybe I'll get to posting about this summer at some point, but I wanted to get a Christian update going-- because this little guy deserves one.

So much to say about this little man -- he is such a sweetheart.

First off, this guy will eat anything you put in front of him...or behind him....or under him...he loves food! And non-food items alike (rocks, dirt, pine cones, dried up chewed gum, etc.). In sacrament meeting we often sit by the same family because we are usually late and sit way in the back so that others can still enjoy sacrament meeting. We end up sharing snacks and books. Last week, she had brought Wasabi peas. Christian has never had them (I only had them for the first time a few years ago), and so she gave him one to see if he would like it -- as they are HOT/spicy. He put it to his lips and instantly looked confused as he pulled it away from his mouth -- like, "What? I don't like this? That can't be right." He tried again to put in his mouth, and quickly spit it out, again looking bewildered. He tried a third time with no success. I finally took it from him and was going to put the slobbery mess away. But he got angry and wanted to keep trying it. Finally, he got it in and ate it up! He gave me a big grin -- and was clearly pleased that he had mastered Wasabi peas. I mean, come on, this kid eats thorns for breakfast -- he won't let actual food go to waste! :)

As you can see from the picture above, he LOVES to get into things -- everything. Like food, he is not particular. He likes to open and disassemble, empty, or otherwise destroy any semblance of organization.

The Fourth of July was interesting -- deserves its own post -- but we were shocked to find that Christian loves fireworks! I've never heard of a 1 year old who enjoys being right below bombs, but whatever. It made the 4th much more enjoyable than I was expecting! He actually started laughing when they went off -- a little disturbing for my Mommy senses...

He can climb like nobody's business! Climbs on everything he can. Andrew has told me how he, as a young child, could scale door frames -- to the top! I see that in the future.

Christian started walking like crazy around 14 months, I think. After he saw Lindsay's daughter (near his age and size) walking -- he just watched her intently while she was over . Then that night he started walking tons! It's like he thought, "Well, if she can do it, I can do it, too!" He was VERY pleased with himself.

Christian has a 99th percentile head! Runs in the family...he is not as tall as Kate was at his age, but still in the 70th percentile or something. At the doctor's visit, he was running circles around the room. The doctor was like, "Wow, he's a busy guy!" That he is.

He's generally a good-natured guy, though sometimes likes to scream at the top of his lungs -- out of frustration. If he is always moving, then he is usually happy. Try to keep him confined in a grocery cart or stroller -- look out! He much prefers to be out pushing those things than resting in them.

He is crazy if he is let out of carts at stores -- and will RUN everywhere as fast as he can go, with Kate screaming at me the whole time, "He's getting LOST!!" When he sees me coming, he giggles and turns the other way and runs. Small comparison -- when I took Kate to stores as a kid his age, she would sit happily in the cart and dance to the music playing and wave at all the strangers. Now I have a little Houdini getting out of his strap and trying to jump to his death. Oh the stress.

I've let Christian develop a bad sleeping habit -- he sleeps with me! It's bad now, and I haven't yet found the will to break it cause I'm usually dead tired by the time I get to go to sleep. But it is time. As much as I dislike having him sleep in my bed, there are things I do enjoy about it, too. He is so cuddly and curls up on me -- I love it. He's usually too busy during the day to spend too much time cuddling, so I do love that time with him. But I know I need to put him in his crib! Argh. One thing that really drives me crazy is that he likes to lay across my neck! I have woken up in the night struggling to breathe because he's laying on my neck. That's scary. There have been times when he goes to sleep like that, and I have to tell myself not to fall asleep until I move him -- for fear of not waking up...This probably sounds crazy to most people who would never let things like this happen -- but I get so desperate for him to fall asleep sometimes that I will put up with almost anything. He just goes and goes and goes until he finally passes out!

The only thing he really says at this point is "Uh oh" and "Oh wow!" Both are very cute. He is starting to make animal sounds, but can mostly just do "Mooo." Lately, he really likes monkeys (I think he can relate).

He is very opposite of Kate in so many ways, but he sure does adore her. She is generally very sweet and helpful with him. They are best little buddies sometimes, and seeing them play and laugh together warms my heart every time and sometimes chokes me up.

He cracks all of us up with his antics and the cute noises he makes (especially when reading), and he really enjoys driving Kate crazy sometimes -- doing things she tells him not to just to get under her skin. For example, she got a pillow out for him and one for her and told him NOT to lay on hers. Well, as soon as she sat up from her pillow -- he jumped on her pillow, laid flat, and rubbed himself all over it, giggling wildly. It was great.

Tonight at 5 Guys Burgers and Fries he learned how to dip his fries in fry sauce. He was good at just dipping a little and then eating, so I was surprised when I glanced over at him and he had the fry sauce cup tipped back and was chugging it! That gave us all a good laugh. He's definitely a character!!

PS Did I mention how I can't wait til he can go to nursery??

Like it and You're Entered to Win! :)

Hey, if you haven't "liked" Andrew's Photography page on Facebook yet -- go now! Here's the link http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andrew-Morrill-Photography/154174881322253. If you already have -- thank you!! We're going for 1000 likes and then Andrew will have a random drawing from the people liking it for a 11 x 14 color picture of his of your choice! It'll be printed on aluminum (it practically glows -- it's awesome) and ready to hang on your wall.

Thanks for your support, everyone!! Tell your friends! :)

Blog posts about kids and 4th of July coming soon!

Moab Arts Festival

Andrew's awesome booth at the show

We had a nice time in a peaceful meadow yesterday, after all the art show hubbub. Kate took a long nap on a blanket -- in the sunshine with the birds chirping. Christian crawled all over her, I stepped on her more than once (on accident of course!) and she still didn't wake up. I think it was the best nap of her life.

We had an exhausting time in Moab this past weekend. I am too tired for much commentary, but wanted to post a few pics since I haven't in a LONG time. This is basically why -- Andrew's art show stuff. It has been consuming our lives for the past while. Christian is cute, by the way! I will post some other pictures of him soon -- once I can catch my breath. I need to post his year update soon! (at the end of this month). Crazy!

Andrew has 5 or 6 shows this summer, so it's going to be busy! I will post more, though, now. I just got some software put back on my computer so I can upload my pics again. It's been too long!

Update

Not sure how this works in Google Reader, but I just changed the last post to include Chapter 2 as well. Not sure if there will be confusion or not. Oh no -- it was a last second decision! Ahh!

Memoir installment #2

I haven't put in pictures to my memoir -- not sure that I will. Maybe in the back or something. So here is a picture that goes along with the story. And I'm sure my brother Paul will mention that my brothers did most of the digging -- and I mostly did the playing. :)

Okay, so here is the second installment of my memoir (a link to the pdf so you don't have to click on the pages individually -- that was annoying). This installment includes the first installment (retitled Preface), a new prologue, and the first and second chapter. I have like a title page thing for the chapters with very crude drawings (I don't mean gross) that I'm not sure works, but this is obviously all a rough draft. I liked the idea of having drawings that looked like I drew them as a kid or something.

I would have waited to put the second chapter on, but Chapter 1 really flows into Chapter 2, so I decided to add it. Chapter 2 is a little depressing, and I was unsure if I wanted to have it in there at all, but there it is. I hope it works.

Christian at 8 Months

His sweet face! Can't believe it's been 8 months (today)! He's getting SO big!!

(Really. He is SO big -- it's killing me to carry this kid!)

Here he is practicing his new skill...standing/cruising.

This next section is meant to be like a flip book. I was too lazy to make a slide show or anything else. So -- here is Christian getting into the laundry -- literally.

"Look at me, Ma -- I'm standing -- AGAIN!"

"Mmm, smells great! I love fresh laundry!"

"I think you know what I'm thinking, Ma. I can't help myself!"

"Wahooooo -- wait a minute. This isn't so comfy. Hey -- you with the camera. Get me out of here."

"Ahh heck. one more smile for the camera."

"Now seriously. Get me out of here."

Wow, Christian has been developing by leaps and bounds lately! Last week, as I was rinsing dishes and loading them into the dishwasher, Christian was crawling around the kitchen (on the search for anything life-threatening no doubt), when he took interest in the open dishwasher. He started grabbing at the door, and the next thing I knew he had pulled himself into a kneeling position. Surprised, I congratulated him. He had never done that before. I continued rinsing dishes, only to look over next and find him standing by the washer clutching a knife (from the washer) and wearing a very large grin.

This kid doesn't stop. He is not interested in sitting. He still doesn't even sit very well, actually (meaning, he still flops over sometimes). He just has no interest in remaining stationary. I'll sit him down (which is really hard to do in the first place because he always sticks his legs straight out and won't allow himself to be seated), and then about half second later he's gotten himself down to the ground to go exploring again (and, of course, stuffing dangerous objects into his mouth as fast as he can). Getting him to hold still long enough to change his diaper is a true feat! (And just forget about trying to change his diaper at church.)

It is clear that walking is his goal. Now that he can stand, he will race over to the couch, pull himself up with ease, and start "cruising". He is very happy and proud of himself when he is standing tall. He looks SO little to me still, though. It seems very unnatural for my little infant (in my mind) to be standing and trying to walk around. I guess he takes after Andrew -- from what I hear Andrew was walking (and very shortly thereafter -- running) at 9 months. I would not be surprised to see Christian walking by next month. I thought Kate was an early walker at 11 months. Man. (Hmm...just checked earlier blog posts and realized that Kate was cruising at 8 months, too. I guess he's not that far ahead of her!)

Christian is generally very happy. He gives big sweet smiles, and will often (when he's getting sleepy) lay his cheek against mine, and we'll just sit there "cuddling." Despite his love for exploring, he still loves to be held, and he will almost jump out of my arms in excitement when I pick him up (if he's been crying for that). He loves to yell (happily) and bang his arms on the ground while kicking his legs up and down. It's really funny.

He sleeps all night long now, which is so wonderful I can hardly stand it.

He has two bottom teeth with no sign of others.

He lets me feed him for a few minutes before wrestling the spoon away from me so he can play with it. It's really not a fair fight -- the kid is strong!

He loves his big sister, and he will even tolerate her cleaning between his toes (a compulsion of hers -- she has to clean out her toes after taking her socks off before she can do anything else. Now she has to clean Christian's toes, too. Not sure how long I will let this go on...) I will come into the living room sometimes, and Kate will be smacking his chest and stomach way harder than I think she should be. I start to scold her, but she'll respond, "He likes it!" And sure enough he'll start laughing hysterically. Who can argue with that. She is always watching out for him and making sure he doesn't put (too many) little things into his mouth.

Christian makes a great travel/errand companion. He just loves to get out of the house and rarely complains. We were in the light section at Lowe's the other day, and I think he thought he had died and gone to heaven.

I would be posting more pictures, but since my computer crashed a few weeks ago I don't have Photoshop set up on my computer (and am having problems getting it to install). But he's a beautiful, beefy boy -- and oh do we love him!!