'Tis the Season

I decorated really early (along with every other family), and I must say, it was refreshing to have a "new" space to look at for the next few months. I feel like I've been overwhelmed with all of the frustration/sadness of high COVID cases, extended (but necessary) shutdowns, positive tests of people we know, virtual learning until who knows when, etc. But, the joy of our kids' faces when they see Christmas lights, wrapped presents they're eager to open, and advent calendar surprises has made the season feel a little more normal. 

I know I'm going to miss these memories that we're making when the boys are older. 

Isaac, now 18 months, is such a fun guy.  He's either glaring at you for not following his plans, or unable to sit still with belly-laughs that knock him over or sheer excitement to be a part of something.   Because of the whole excited wiggle worm who was eager to watch his brother build him yet-another train track (his butt accidentally knocks them all down), you get to see the glaring Isaac. 

His speech is slowly coming along.  He can say a rendition of Grant, cookie, thank you, candy, snack, (sense a theme?), Baa for sheep, uh oh, and bye bye.  He's currently perfecting his nods and shakes of the head... and you get the above look if you offer him something he has shook his head "no" to. He's all personality, and I can honesty say Mom, Dad, and Nolan adore this stage (Well, Nolan's hit or miss. He appreciates his comedy at the dinner table, but not while he's building things). 

Grant, on the other hand, is growing nicely. He's trying to babble as much as his older brothers do. He's easy to get to smile, and has pretty, big, dark blue eyes. He adores watching his big brothers, and is continuing to be easy-going (thank goodness). We do think he has a bit of reflux as feeding has been hard, but we're hopefully going to solve that issue soon with some meds. Luckily, Isaac was already down this road, so it seems par for the course. 

Until next time, take some moments to step back and enjoy the Christmas season. I saw a parent screaming at their kid because they saw a gift in their cart.  It made Scott and I stop and reflect on just how hard things are right now: financially, and emotionally. While I certainly miss the "quiet hours" of being able to accomplish things while Dad took them somewhere (or vice versa), their excitement seems to be just like every other year.... even if they accidentally peak at something in the cart.

A Distanced 2020 Halloween

Over the summer, we had our first run-in with a wasp.  While it was a traumatic experience for Nolan, it set the stage for lots of learning about stinging insects and inspired our Halloween costumes.
*Note: the cats were supposed to be butterflies, but shipping is tough in 2020.

Meet Nolan: the beekeeper, and his bees: Isaac & Grant. 

We enjoyed the beautiful weather as we strolled the neighborhood, while being able to say hi to our neighbors from the ends of driveways. I don't think we're quite ready to see bare trees and prepare for the first snow.

As always, here's our annual pumpkin carving video. We loved that the kids were so into carving this year!

https://youtu.be/ZzfvQMPCtRs

I apparently did the stack of three pumpkins three years ago.  I have no recollection of this, or am just really sleep deprived.  But, with three kids, it seemed more appropriate this year than three years ago. 

Party of Five!

For once, I feel as though we have way too much for a blog post.  I'll break it into two posts for the night.  It looks like I need to get the baby blog going for number 3, so he doesn't feel left out when he's older.

Most importantly, while a month late, welcome to the world, Baby Grant! Grant Joseph was born on September 26th.  He was our largest baby at 8lbs 11oz, and 21inches. He's been such a sweet addition to our family.  He's a sweetheart, loves to cuddle, and is very calm.  I'm sure that will change, but for now, I appreciate his easy-going demeanor. 

As for the big brothers, they are welcoming the new brother better than I had anticipated. Nolan has really taken to his big-brother status. He affectionally calls Grant and Isaac "his babies" and is the best at helping me get random things on the other side of the house, being an extra pair of hands and eyes, and singing/reading to them. I expected to have a big regression from Isaac, as he is pretty content laying claim to being the baby in the house. But, he's been a blast to watch take on being a big brother.  He did steal one of Grant's two pacis (that makes the score Grant: 1, Isaac: 6), but he's been okay letting him have one. He likes putting the paci back in Grant's mouth (or taking it out until we notice and then he will put it back in) and likes putting diapers in the trash.  He will do anything if it results in the cheering of "yay Isaac!" with lots of clapping. He gives him kisses and pets him nicely.  Yes, I said pet.  He also has sat on him and meowed at him... he gives equal treatment to Grant and Floyd.  He also recently enjoys running and beating me to the baby swing, where he sits and stares and smiles that he got it before the baby.  All in all, I'd say he's adapting perfectly. 

I think we're most often asked about his hair color.  While most of it is shedding, he's definitely our darkest haired kid.  It doesn't look red, or at least anywhere close to Isaac's coloring. His eyes are a dark blue.   As my family has pointed out, it seems like we have hit the Neapolitan trifecta: dirty blonde, bright red, and dark brown.  We'll see if it stays that way. 

Growing too quickly

Isaac is officially 15 months (closer to 16 months, but 15 is when the picture was due). 

He seems like such a different kid than when we took his one year photos.  Isaac has tons of personality.  He's got a bit of a temper but has the best facial expressions, and he loves to be involved in everything.  He loves to dance, cares for his kitties, loves making messes, and finds a way to escape everything. He adores his big brother's attention, can be found next to dad anytime dad is home, and requires no less than 4 pacifiers to sleep. While he keeps us on our toes, he's the best cuddler, "roarer", and can weasel his way on to any available lap. He and Nolan have their own bedtime routine, that, while crazy, makes me look forward to the bond that they're developing.

Isaac doesn't have many words yet, but he finds ways to communicate his wants very clearly.  Sometimes I worry that the pandemic has caused me to expose him to less than we did with Nolan, but I'm sure that every parent with young kids feels the same. I'm thankful we've had a healthy family and cherish all of our family moments. 

Speaking of the pandemic, we also moved across states in the past 3 months. It's been a crazy journey, not without its difficult (unexpected replacement of the HVAC system, new washer/dryer, delayed furniture, etc.), but we're thankful to be closer to family and friends, see Grandparents regularly, and establish some sort of "permanence" again. I have had a sign in my house for years that says "Grow where you're planted," and I think that captures the last few years well.  We're slowly making this new house our home, and we have enjoyed filling the walls with pictures and making new memories. 

As an update on our medical journey (the whole purpose of this blog originally), we are adjusting to life not "in training", though Scott would say he's still very much training at this job.  Starting a new job during a pandemic has had its challenges, but we are enjoying some consistency/predictability in schedules. Nolan has also started his new job as a kindergartner, and I've started my 10th year of teaching. 

Isaac is One!

It's certainly hard to believe that our sweet, red-headed little peanut is one! Where did this year go? It's certainly been an odd year to enter this world, but he definitely makes everything a bit brighter.

He adores his kitties, big brother, and snacks.  Also, anything can be made better with his 3 pacis.  He throws each one (one by one) out of his crib if he wants some more visits from mom and dad, and is quickly comforted by their presence when he adds another bruise to his collection.  While he's not yet walking (we're close... he just has no desire to take that independent step), he loves to show off his balance as he crawls and then stands to destroy participate in whatever Nolan is working on.

He's a bit of a stinker too - but the cute kind that you have to turn your head away as you hold back laughs while trying to discipline. He enjoys smiling back when you say "no", trying to make himself fake cry, and getting into just about everything.  If he's quiet at all, he has likely found a toilet or cat fountain. We also enjoy how he yells back at Nolan if Nolan is upset or frustrated with him, or when he has to babble just as loudly as Scott and I when we are trying to get through a conversation. He is a bit manipulative into finding ways not to sleep, but his smile and big grins are very persuasive.

I am happy we had the chance to celebrate Isaac when everything is calm.  More on this later, but in the upcoming month we have another big move, and Scott finishes his training. While we are excited about what the next month brings, we would be lying if we said we weren't nervous, anxious, and a little on edge about moving during a pandemic. I would also be lying if I said I wasn't eager to finish work for a couple months and truly enjoy my kids instead of constantly trying to juggle too many hats during the work day. Teachers, we're almost there. 

We're eager to, hopefully one day soon, re-introduce Isaac to all of our family and friends. Oh, and get him and daddy a haircut. Mom doesn't want the guilt of messing up dad's, and first cuts on little guys seem incredibly difficult. Until then, we cross our fingers that science can make visits with our family possible and safe soon. 

11 months and still quarantining.

Our little guy is 11 months.  It's been a crazy ride, but boy has he grown quickly.

He is busy.  He seems to have weaned himself (excuse me while I go cry), as he's too busy to be patient or sit still.  Those 8 giant teeth also don't help. He spends most of his time trying to be big and stand unsupported (today he was so close to getting from a seated to standing position without any support), or foraging for more food.  He loves climbing stairs, but still would prefer to yell at us to help him down despite his sneaky escapes to places we thought we closed off.  And, for what it's worth, a 5-year-old can and babies can almost find ways through cat doors on baby gates.

Isaac desperately needs a haircut. He's currently rocking the mullet look, with a touch of Alfalfa/Jack Jack on top.  We were brave enough to do Nolan's hair, but I can't imagine cutting a baby's hair. On that note, I also can't imagine Scott's... so there's that. 

As far as quarantine life goes, we are hanging in there.  I'd be lying if we said it was easy.  Though I'm grateful for what we have, we are certainly nervous for an upcoming move across states as we struggle to find housing. We're also still anxious about our own health and our family's.  And while Isaac is enjoying his constant time to play and explore the house, Nolan is struggling with the lack of social activities.  His behavior seems to feed off of social settings and routine... both of which are lacking here.  Isaac needs a lot of our attention, and so does work. So, Nolan, while incredibly independent, is struggling to figure out his place. And, of course, that also translates to a lot of guilt from mom and dad as we try to balance work, home-schooling, creating consistency, and giving him the time he definitely deserves.  All that being said, we are thankful and it's been rewarding to see the connections and 'light-bulb moments' in both of our kids.

After reading, re-reading, and contemplating the deletion of that paragraph, I'm going to leave it because it's how we are working through this time (and this whole silly blog is a memory book to look back on when our kids inevitably ask "how old was I when...").  We stay awake at night discussing the pains of the world around us, and how much sympathy and empathy we share for those going through a lot more than us. Amidst a global pandemic, the politicizing and lack of empathy is something that we hope we can avoid in the future when teaching our kids what mattered most.

10 Months - Quarantined

What a weird time. We're making do in quarantine life, but we're constantly nervously awaiting all news pertaining to healthcare and education and admittedly struggling with the unknown.

However, one person who doesn't seem affected is Mr. 10-month-old. He is loving his time at home, with big brother constantly available to harass.

10 months brings us full mobility. He doesn't sit still and is constantly moving to a place where he can pull himself up. He is eating everything in sight, and foraging for scraps in between meals.  Second and third breakfast are pretty important to him.  On that note, he had teeth #7 and #8 pop through. He definitely hasn't had a break in the teething department, but those teeth make him seem so big!  I cannot say that sleeping has improved much, but he can weasel himself into mom and dad's room pretty quickly.

Nolan, my extroverted, go-getter is not as easy-going about staying in. According to him, I am most definitely not doing school the right way, and life can get "so boring."  He's been a trooper though. He struggles with parents being home and working, but I imagine all kids are at this point. He's read a few books on his own, is sounding out words nicely, and is close to mastering his counting to 100.  He's building pretty cool Lego designs, and making many craft projects for our work spaces. 

Scott and I are still working.  His work seems to be changing daily, and we may have a beard shave coming up (which is pretty notable). I am eagerly waiting on news for how this will affect the remaining school year, but looking forward to spring break this coming week so that I can devote more of my attention to the kids. We have had to cancel our trip to visit with family, which upset us all, but we know we're all in this together.  We're surviving with virtual game nights, lots of snapchat with the family, and apparently attempting to buy a home virtually.  

From our family to yours, stay home and stay healthy.  

Love, 

9 months out

Our sweet Isaac is 9 months today! He's been spending this month battling our first sickness, but I feel like 'tis the season.  Our Wisconsin winter got a slow start but ultimately seems to be here to stay.  Our 5-ft snowman is still going strong, adding more and more snow each week. Isaac went from some stomach bug to some nasty sinus stuff. It seems to be never ending, with his voice a little hoarse today and his eyes a bit goopy... but he smiles through it all.  You can tell it hurts a bit to eat, and he doesn't feel all that great, but that won't stop him from clapping along to excitement, scooting his way to his brother, or giggling at Peekaboo.

I just adore that firey alfalfa-like hair and big grin. He's very vocal.  He has to contribute to every conversation with his "Bababa" or "Dadada."  He can definitely sign 'more', and sometimes we wonder if the "Dadas" are really for Dad. They're usually pretty timely. If he's not talking excitedly, he can be found singing/grunting/whining his way to sleep. 

He learned to be mobile this month, too.  I wouldn't call it crawling, but he's an effective inchworm.  He's pretty swift at moving around until he can steal someone's snack, Nolan's iPad, and/or help Nolan 'construct' whatever it is that Nolan is building. I suppose it should be mentioned that he's equally skilled at stealing ice cream and treats as they pass over his head. Spoon and all. 

Feel better soon, buddy! As much as we'd like you to get back to sleeping semi-decently, we know you'd appreciate the same. <3 

Winter Blues

I'm fairly late on this post.  If it makes a difference, sickness seems to have gone through the household.  I'm currently awaiting meds to be ready at the pharmacy for a sinus infection. I'm ready for some sunshine and warmth.

Our sweet little (well, not so little) Isaac is 8 (and a half) months! He's such a smiley, calm baby. We seem to have beat the worst of the reflux, though his preference is always cuddles to get through the night time.  I think back to his first few weeks and how he always needed my hand as we drove, and not much has changed.  He just loves physical touch.  He adores grabbing at Dad's beard, mom's face or necklace, and cuddling up in a little ball. He's all smiles during the day. We have quite the collection of sweet smiles from this little guy, so we picked a photo that showed off his little personality.

He can rock back and forth on his knees, but mostly he's still stationary. He can scoot backwards, but he's not aware that he's doing it, and it generally makes him frustrated that he's further away from what he was trying to get to.  That big ol' belly is just so heavy! He loves his kitties and his big brother. 

This month was also spent pushing 6 (!) teeth through.  2 came up through the bottom fairly quickly, and then 4 all at the same time on the top.  The canines pushed through on top first, which was a little odd, but all four are there now. He's been a drool-y little trooper through it all! 

In other news, Nolan's hockey pictures came back and I figured I'd share some cute ones. 

For all of you hockey fans/players, don't worry... we have since gotten him a longer stick. 😄

We also took a short mini-staycation before the sickness hit.  As always, Daddy did a good job documenting our adventures and summing them up in a short one-minute video. It's been fun to watch Nolan grow into a little water-loving fish, with Isaac following close behind. He loves the slides, and officially passed his recent swim level. He can now officially float on his back and front, swim underwater, and is starting to to take a few strokes above water.  He's getting too big!

Can you believe it's almost February!? Stay healthy!