This Happened (September 18-20)

So this happened....

Grass grew from the table

and then a meteoroid hit it.

Planets orbited the sun below the light switch (all in a day's work).

We made a surf board out of wet wash cloths.

Some friends joined our dance party

and others joined the slumber party

Aunt Lauren and Uncle Feisser visited from LA and we celebrated Juliet's birthday with:

jumping high at Rebounderz,

(pic needed!)

making tomato soup that Jonah deemed "not good," (it was good though!),

playing dress-up at Walgreen's,

going for epic frozen yogurt (while I put Jonah to bed),

and learning how to make a snowflake from Aunt Lauren.

I also joined the family tattooed dot club!

 

Enjoy Life!

We're *that* family

Today was hot!  Spring is coming on full-blast.  It was one of my Fridays off from work and we spent some inventive time being crazy outside.  Earlier in the day, Juliet had filled up the poorly-draining sink and Jonah had soaked the bathroom splashing in it.  While I enjoy the delight of splashing and playing, I do not take delight in a soaked bathroom, so after Jonah "napped" we took the water outside in the little tub I used when Jonah was a newborn.  The kids took turns standing in it and stomping while I cut out ladybugs from the glossy paper that our Trader Joe's flowers were wrapped in.  Periodically, Juliet would come over and get them, and some tape, and use them to decorate various places in the yard, bushes, trees, and retaining walls.  Then, the kids realized that wet ones stick to the car.  Now our orange car has adorable ladybugs on it.  Either Daddy will be quite surprised tomorrow, or they all will have blown away.  Then Juliet made up races regarding climbing the tree that, conveniently enough, ended with Juliet, Mommy, and Jonah diplomatically winning one race each.  We dipped our heads in the water, rolled around in the grass, and did airplanes.  I love those wild, creative times outside.

The other day we played outside by hiding the Piping Plover toy and then having everyone else seek it.  The rule was you had to make a lap to get a clue each time.  We did a lot of laps!

Sometimes Juliet's sense of humor amuses me.  In the winter (oh, it feels like so long ago!) we were coming back from a family snow walk.  We had all walked out to KC's Alley and were heading back.  I was holding Juliet's hand and she slipped.  Then she asked me why I pushed her over.  I was confused and thought that she might have thought that, since I was holding her hand, that I had made her lose her footing.  Not long after that, I realized that she knew exactly what she was doing.  While we weren't even holding hands, weren't even walking next to each other, she fell over in a snow bank.  With a twinkle in her eye and a sparkle in her voice, she called out, "Mommy!  Why do you keep pushing me over in to the snow?!"  I cracked up.  She followed me and did that periodically.  I couldn't stop laughing.  I imagine it probably sounded like a child was being mistreated.  But, no, it was just an inside joke, one that caused hysterical laughing and smiles, and one that Juliet devised all on her own.

Another thing she devised happened at my parents' house.  She got out tape and went outside and taped a leaf on to one of the toy cars.  I believe she called it the car's sail.  She started doing that to all the toys, and there were cars rolling around with leaves all over the place.  Then Jonah went out to play with her, while I was sitting in the kitchen.  He came back over to the door, to check in and say hi, and when he turned around, there were leaves taped to his shirt and pants.  I guess he flew away then?  Juliet, who was also fitted with sails, dubbed them "sail babies."

She also planted eucalyptus, babies breath, and anything else she could find, along the path in their back yard.  Gmom knew about it.  Grandpa was.... surprised.

I love the kids' tender affectionate moments the best.  One day when I was with the kids, but Matt was not, Juliet said, wistfully, "don't you just miss him!"  Another day we got home and Juliet had picked a dandelion for me and Jonah had picked one for Daddy.  Then Juliet got a piece of construction paper and a pen and promptly started drawing at the table.  She made me a card!  It was like her love was overflowing so much that it burst out in little acts of love.

This morning, I heard Jonah in his crib hooting like an owl.  I went to get him, and at regular intervals, he continued to hoot.  I brought him downstairs and we peaked in to Daddy's studio to say hi.  Daddy said, "Hi Jonah!"  To which Jonah replied, "I'm not Jonah, I'm an owl!" Owls are a hit around here.  Juliet got to sleep in a little later then usual since I was home.  After she got up, she effused, "Mommy, what should we do with our beautiful day?!"  What a nice way to start.  Then when just she and I were upstairs, she kept giving me quick and unprovoked little hugs, grabbing a leg or legs while I was getting ready and smiling contentedly.  The love seemed to be rushing out of her and it reminds me that time with my kids is really invaluable to them, filling up their little love tanks to last them all the time that I am away from them.

Two other things I want to remember.  Juliet's gasp when she first saw a hill covered in dandelions gone to seed.  And the name Juliet decided she was going to give her "little one" when she has one.  It's Candleface.  Yes, you heard that right.  I can't wait.

Parental Doubts

About a month or two ago, I was completely overwhelmed by parenting.  I was ready to turn in my parent card.  I doubted my abilities, I dreaded my tasks.  I was nearing something like terror when I found out I was to be alone with my little ones.  This may have had any number of causes, including a particularly bad bout of depression.  But I've emerged.  During the 10 days I had off for Christmas/New Years, my confidence grew as my time with my little ones increased.  Outings as a family were chaotic still, but I found I enjoyed them now.  Like thoroughly enjoyed them.  Like, wanted to sit back, kick up my feet, and watch my kids laugh and play and be delighted.  Of course, I was a little more interactive then that.  The more I did it, the more I knew I could do it.  And I had Matt and my Mom alongside me, offering me encouragement during times when I don't think they knew how parenting-debilitated (yes, I made that up) I really was.

I learned a valuable lesson over New Years.  I had typically spent most New Years in a personal funk, wishing I was out somewhere, that I had planned something, completely dissatisfied with my life and utterly melancholy.  But this New Years Eve, I suddenly realized I had control over it.  I could make it in to something special, something fun, with this family I had come to adore.  And so we went out shopping the afternoon of New Years Eve.  We came home and Juliet and I "decorated."  Then we made clocks out of paper plates and hats out of construction paper (lots of stickers and pictures).  Matt made clock quesadillas.  We wrote down some things about each of the kids and watched a ball drop around 8 from some year in the past.  It was a lot of chaos, a lot of busyness, lots of scissors.  And it was a delight.  Juliet said it was the best night ever, and I'm inclined to agree.  We had just started a family tradition.  For me, it was also a step toward healing, to contentment and acceptance, a eureka moment at the end of a rough year.

(For the record, I also mentioned popcorn that day, which never happened because we ran out of time, but which Juliet mentioned for the next few days.  I hope that didn't overshadow the "best night ever.")

And since then, there have been other delightful moments.  Juliet and I make up games, like the game where we go down in a submarine and explore.  Or the game called "Animals" where we (you guessed it) pretend to be animals.  And the most interesting thing came out of that game.  The endearing phase "mama peacock."  We had pretended to be peacocks and I guess it struck a chord with Juliet.  In the same way that playing "runaway train" used to bring out the crazed side of Juliet, playing at being peacocks seems to be her code for snuggles.  She calls me "mama peacock" in the sweetest, most endearing way, and then wants to be cuddled and held and nuzzled.  It seems like a way to ask for sweet, loving attention, and I'm happy at those times to play and hold my "baby peacock."

This seems to be the next generation in her names for me.  I was affectionately known as "my little mudder" for quite a while prior to that.  Maybe because I often refer to her as "my little one?"  It makes me laugh each time though.  Have you ever heard a kid say mudder?

I also love that she sleeps with a picture of Matt and newborn Juliet under her pillow.  (She gets sad if she finds out it isn't there and we have to look for it!)  And that she put a picture of me and a newborn Juliet under my pillow.  Maybe it is to give us good dreams?

And Matt has a wonderful bedtime routine with the kids.

Jonah is really hitting the twos.  We hear a lot of "I do it" these days.  He still is very intrigued with the details of things.

When I get home, Jonah is usually the one that opens the door.  He shrieks "mommy" excitedly and waits for me to bend down and hug him.  His delight at seeing me is so adorable.  His eyes light up and he gets this big, contented grin.  I wish I could capture that look always.

The other look of his that I love is when we pray.  He clasps his hands together (standard enough) but also clenches his eyes shut really hard and purses his lips.  He seems so dedicated.  Do we look like that when we pray?!

Juliet loves to draw.  Her favorite things to draw are planets, treasure maps, and her name and Jonah's name.  Jonah's artistic subjects have yet to be determined.

Jonah is such a good sleeper!  I can't even believe that two children's sleep patterns could be so different, but they are.  When it gets to night time for Jonah, you can just tell him it is time for bed and he goes with you.  You lay him down and his eyes get sleepy, he looks at you with a little cherub face while you tuck the blankets in.  When we leave, there is a soft contented look.  I didn't know it could be like that!  Parents of the world, you can have kids with wildly different sleep styles and maybe you didn't do something tragically wrong.  Just had to get that PSA out there.  Jonah has been like this from day one though; he was a great sleeper as a newborn too.  He shared a bed with me then, but he generally slept at night (except for late night nursings, which is normal).  He is and was a pretty easygoing baby.

The kids have been a joy to be with and to watch together.  I wish I could remember each period as vividly as if I were in it, but these records will have to suffice to jog the memory.  My parenting confidence is back.  My cup runneth over with with adoration and joy.  My kids are special to me and I want to be with them.  There are seasons where there is uncertainty, where there is discontentment, and then there are seasons of confidence and peace.  Maybe it is all a part of the nuance of life.  And maybe I am learning to accept that a little more every day, though the lovely lessons my kids and husband don't even realize they teach.

Your little mudder, your mama peacock,
Me

Christmas Kid Updates

Siblings
Juliet and Jonah are really starting to interact with each other.  This comes with its fair share of adorable moments and its fair share of torture.  Last night at dinner, we were playing a favorite game of Etsy's, that Matt introduced her to, "I Spy."  Jonah was playing along:
I spy... my little eye... OR
I spy... turquoise (turquoise, Jonah, really?)
He doesn't seem to have an actual item picked out, but he seems so pleased to be part of this family game.  He beams when it is his turn.  I can only imagine the feeling of inclusion, of being able to find his voice in our family.  So last night he spied something green and we guessed a few things and Juliet guessed "jungle" and Jonah said, "jungle!"  And then Juliet jumped down off her stool and started hopping around, imitating a monkey, and Jonah, without skipping a beat, started waving his arms frantically in the air and kicking his feet.  It was hysterical, our little monkeys, making a fun little game of chaos out of our dinnertime.

New traditions
We're playing another game introduced by Matt, called "Christmas lights" that the kids love.  It's basically looking for Christmas lights as we drive around and saying "Christmas lights!" when we see them.  Juliet will declare to the car, "we're playing Christmas lights now."
Matt and I are also working on getting our Advent Jesse Tree tradition started.  I have a book that has Bible stories for the 25 days leading up to Christmas with suggested ornaments.  We've made the first 8 ornaments out of clay and have been working through them, though not quite daily.  I was pleased to hear that Juliet said the second ornament, the apple with the snake wrapped around it that I made, was "beautiful."  (I wasn't home that night to hear it in person.)  I felt really good about that.
The other day, Juliet gave me a kiss on my forehead and seemed to say that when I thought of her or missed her I could think of the kiss.  It reminded me of when I used to kiss her little palms ages ago and say the same type of thing, that she should save them for when she needed them.

Jonah
Jonah likes having books read to him, often the same ones over and over.  He's very vocal about the things he wants.  He'll often try to steer us around by pushing our legs towards the next thing he wants us to do.  He likes the alphabet and surprised everyone by knowing the refrigerator letters at Gmom's.  The other day he was saying something I couldn't recognize, which he kept repeating earnestly, then he started steering me toward the kitchen.  And finally I got it - he wanted Vitamin D drops!
He's a great sleeper.  You can just lay him down awake when it's time and he'll lay there quietly, blinking his little eyes, and snuggle in to the blanket when you cover him up.  He's also really good at entertaining himself in bed too, so sometimes, especially during naps, we'll hear him talking to himself instead of sleeping for a while.
He likes walking himself to bed often instead of being taken there.  He will say, "down" or "walk" and then trot over to the pack-n-play himself.
He's got the cutest little voice.
He loves knowing and following the protocol these days.  He'll remind us to shut the doors, turn out the lights, wash our hands, and throw something in the trash when it's the next step.  I wonder if that is age-related or part of his temperament,
He knows what sounds all the trains make in the Trains Go book.

Juliet
Juliet is becoming a little girl, getting bigger and bigger all the time.  I am amazed, when we read her the advent stories, at her listening comprehension, how she can answer the questions about the story pretty accurately.
Matt has been teaching her Bible verses at bedtime and hearing her recite John 3:16 and others is adorable.  She is clearly very proud of her abilities and she beams with pride.
She's still "acrobatic" as she tells us and desperately wants to jump on the furniture.  She and Jonah made a game yesterday where they took turns standing on the Ottoman and falling on to a pillow on the sofa.  It was cute seeing them each take turns.  Jonah started it and Juliet said, "yes Jonah, let's do that!"
Juliet loves the song about rain being lemondrops and gumdrops.  She still likes the planets, but we talk about them a little less.  She loves owls and Ben.

Juliet just woke up and she is hungry!  So we're going to go eat.  Have a great day.

Washington D.C.
trip to the spy museum AND
the Freer Gallery




For Rachel's birthday we took a trip to
Washington. We stayed at the Helix hotel
which has a Pop-art type of theme. The highlight of the trip was the Freer gallery's
"Kiyochika, Master of the night" show.
It featured wood block prints of Tokoyo at the end of the 19th century. We also visited the museum of American art and the natural history
museum. The spy museum was interesting
if not overpriced (it cost us $47 for admission)
I don't think it was worth the money.

Pennypack Farm
at the Highlands

These pictures were taken on our most recent visit to the farm where we get our vegetables. It has been a really great family experience and the kids love it! The Highlands is an old mansion and formal garden. Apparently they host a 19th century fox hunt in the fall.

Welcome Photographer Daddy!

I'm inviting a new blogger to this page.  Matt has always been the photographer of our family so, to round our this record of our kids and family, he'll be hopefully posting some pictures around the way.  We have some great ones from a farm share we joined this year called Pennypack and some goofy ones from a recent trip to D.C.  Welcome Matt!