Battle of Hoth

Today's creation is inspired by Stars Wars (what else is there in a 4 year old's world??). According to the boy, "There's an enemy destroyer that has like a lot of rockets (stops to count them, "1-2-3-4-5-6"), and this here is a 'mightastrator' that gives stuff to people that they don't need." (What I was able to translate: the droid with Loki's staff is the one who gives people unneeded things.)

You may also see Ironman in this set-up...we're not discriminating when it comes to fun!

Jan. 6 Build: Loki's Staff

It's been awhile since we've posted anything, but we're still alive! Just busy keeping up with two preschoolers. Nathan is quite the builder these days and I thought it'd be fun to document his ideas, at least several times a week. Todays' build is Loki's staff. Nathan, the builder, says, "There are guns on top and there's a stick for holding the weapon and I guess that's it." Gotta love a 4 year old! His total knowledge of the Avengers and/or Loki is from Lego.com.

Bedtime Giggles

Both kids skipped naps today and were particularly squirrely by 6pm. I was fighting, with all the grace and good cheer I could muster, to herd them through putting on pajamas, reading stories, brushing teeth, and going potty. If you know how wacky over-tired kids get, you can just imagine how this multi-step routine just begs for chaos. At one point, both kids had their toothbrushes but had run, squealing, out of the bathroom and were in the living room, lounging on the couch and brushing. I scooped Nathan up, and laid him back on my lap saying, "It's dentist time! Let me check you teeth!" He thought that was pretty funny and was surprisingly compliant. I'd just about finished his teeth, and he said, with the million-dollar grin that he has, "Excuse me, dentist. Can I have a toy now?" And we both exploded in giggles.

Sweet prayers

Nathan and Abigail almost fight over who gets to pray at meals. "I'm fuhrst!" "No, it's my turn!" (I just realized how ironic it is that they're fighting over praying...) Grandma Ko has been with us this week and it's so sweet the way Abigail always thanks God for "Grandma visit us." She's also very methodical in thanking God for everyone's (fill in the blank)..."Thank you for Mommy's rice, Daddy's rice, Nathan's rice, Abby's rice..." So sweet.

Nathan has had a pattern to his prayers for quite awhile but every now and then he'll surprise me. There's a boy in his preschool class that always takes toys from other kids and is just generally annoying. This boy has been our "prayer pal" all year (a picture of the boy to remind us to pray for him and his family) but Nathan tends to forget, probably because he's not fond of this boy. Nathan's also been particularly "3" this week, and we've been talking ALL.THE.TIME about listening. So last night when I was tucking him in, he was praying, and said, "...and God, please, PLEASE help me to listen. And thank you for (boy's name from school) and that he's in my class." So sweet.

Argh!

I was sitting at the computer this morning for a few mindless minutes while Nathan finished his breakfast. Abigail was playing on the floor behind me with her large Hello Kitty plush doll (aka Big Kitty). I wasn't really listening to her chattering away until I hear her saying, "Ahoy, me hearties!" I turned around to see Big Kitty with Abby's flower headband as an eye patch (pink of course). The endless imagination of this girl!

A Nature Walk with a 2 year old...

...means you're stopping at least every 2 feet to pick up every leaf, stick, rock within arm's reach. Abigail and I hung out this afternoon while gMa worked in Nathan's preschool class. (Ordinarily, Abby naps while Nathan's at school but I figured she needed some extra TLC since Nathan got special gMa time.) After a rousing session of Dance, Dance Dora (and yes, I got up and did all the Dora dances with her), we decided to go out and enjoy the beautiful spring (in February??) day by taking a "nature walk" around the neighborhood. We came home with a bag full of dead leaves, various sticks, and some rocks. I was also able to persuade her that we should bring home some cherry blossoms from a nearby tree (I only picked a few of the branches that were hanging over the sidewalk!). A walk around the block took us nearly 45 minutes because stopping to look at all those "treasures" was a very important job. And the sweet little girl who actually wanted to hold my hand today was definitely my favorite part!

Daddy's Traveling

We had a nice, lazy weekend. John and the kids stayed in their pajamas most of Saturday. Yesterday was another low-key day, napping and hanging out after church. This morning John left early for D.C. where he'll be until late Thursday. The kids and I have a busy week planned with plenty of fun with friends, but it's still not the same without Daddy.

And yes, we're still alive!

Oh dear...it's been forever since I posted anything. I'll probably not get back to catch up, but here's a quick taste of what's going on. Hope to post more regularly...but that's a habit I need to work on forming!

Nathan's into big numbers lately. When he wants a lot of something, he'll usually say, “Yeah, 159 of them!” But in his 3-year-old understanding of numbers and counting, he's begun to realize that he'd like even more...and so now it's become, “Even more...like One hundred fifty twelve!” or “Twenty-ten (for 30)” I love that!

Meanwhile, Abigail is chatty as ever. A few weeks back, she and I were looking around at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and everything was “beautiful” or “lovely.” This morning she saw Karly, the cat, jump up onto the bathroom sink, and Abigail said, “Karly jumped up and put her head in the sink and that's 'bisgusting'!” Big words from little mouths, said slightly wrong are adorable!

Morning Conversations

John has a very busy day at work today. His to-do list is insane and on top of that, he has to go into the city and visit a customer. He decided to take BART to avoid traffic hassles. He was up early and Nathan came in while he was getting ready. I told Nathan about BART and of course, he was very excited.

As John was getting his coffee and preparing to leave, Nathan was asking questions about Daddy's day. Then he said, "When I a man, I want to go to work with you, Daddy. I want to wear glasses and ride the FART (BART, no that's not his idea of a potty-mouth joke...it's just his pronunciation on that one, LOL!!) train, too."

Later we were discussing what to have for breakfast. "Cereal, oatmeal, and french toast!" he said. Eventually we got that whittled down to just french toast. I added in some bacon, egg, cheese, and spinach frittatas I'd made and frozen and we were set. (Side note: I was totally floored that they gobbled up the frittatas without batting an eye at the spinach...yay me!) Nathan came back into the kitchen after he'd been gone playing and said, "Thank you for breakfast Mommy. It was very good and yummy!"

Future Doctor?

Poor Abigail has another cold. It started over the weekend with a cough and a very, very runny nose. Sunday she said, "Ear doctor" a few times while holding or pointing to her ear. She wasn't overly fussy, didn't have a temperature and aside from the cough and nose-like-a-faucet, she seemed fine. I didn't think much of it. Yesterday she was the same, but her runny nose was more yellow and she said the "Ear doctor" comment another couple of times. I called the advice nurse, honestly thinking her ear comments had to be random. Well, we went in this morning and as you've probably guessed, the kid indeed had an ear infection! It's just in the beginning stages but wow-wee...a 19-month-old who self-diagnoses is something else!

Hurry, Hurry, Monsters!

This is the funniest sentence I've heard lately from my 19-month-old as she plays with her big brother. "Hur-wy, Hur-wy, Mon-ter" followed by infectious baby giggles and then running baby feet...so cute! Even cuter is after they've "chased" the monster, Nathan will then say, "Hurry" and it's as if Abigail totally forgot the game they were playing and gets a look of actual surprise/fear on her face before she remembers the game.

...oh and this game is also usually played in one of two wardrobe options: just diapers or totally naked (of course they prefer option 2). "Naked" is another of Abby's latest words that causes her to laugh and giggle.

Abigail

Abigail is 19 months old and since the kids are just 15 months apart, it's sometimes hard to remember what Nathan was doing at a certain age. We really try not to compare them since they are so different, but it's interesting sometimes to see how one's development compares to the other's.

Abby is quite the chatterbox, probably partly because she's a girl and partly because her older brother talks non-stop all.day.long. It's so funny how she's picked up words or phrases even though I'm 100% certain she has no idea what she's saying. She's already full-on in the "Why??" phase. She always uses it at the correct time and whatever little explanation you might give her always seems to satisfy (even the lamest "because I said so"). If you ask her a question, chances are she'll answer with a very pensive, "Ummm..." and then she proceeds to look like she's thinking before she answers. So cute!

She's quite the little mommy, always helping with chores or helping others. She'll often try to wipe Nathan's mouth after he's eaten. She regularly brings his favorite animal, Petu (Peter), when they're snuggling up for bedtime. She knows where his clothes are kept in his dresser and often will bring him socks or pajamas.

She's outgoing most of the time. At our weekly multi-age music class, she jumps right in with the older kids to help collect or pass out instruments. She warms up to new people quickly and loves going to the childcare at church. At music class or in a large group setting, she becomes pretty clingy. When it's time to dance and sing at music, she insists on being held. I guess she just feels a bit overwhelmed with all the people moving around...she doesn't want to lose sight of me. Just today at music I tried to get her to dance with us and when I walked two steps away from her, she completely fell into a heap of sobs on the floor. Poor baby!

She's also known to be quite the fashion bug. From early on, she's preferred some clothes to others. When friends have sent clothes to her in the mail, she insisted on wearing them right away. She often chooses her fancy dress shoes to wear to the playground, usually with sweat pants or some other less-than-fancy outfit. Costco had the most adorable zebra-print coat for little girls around Thanksgiving. We saw it and I searched for her size, without luck. She was devastated when we left empty-handed. When we went back a few weeks later, they had her size and she clutched it throughout our shopping, only handing it over to the cashier to be scanned before she gripped it again. She is absolutely adorable in it, even if I am a bit biased. I wish they made the coat in my size, but somehow I don't think zebra-print on someone 5'10" would have the same effect.

She's a happy, happy girl and adores her brother, "Nay-nay", and her daddy. She is a total joy!

"It's not time to play, Daddy...

...we're flying on a helicopter!"

Said with such a tone of disbelief and almost disgust that Daddy would dare suggest we "play" at a time when clearly the helicopter was about to take off!

(Please disregard the passenger on Nathan's helicopter...she wasn't prepared for a photo shoot today!)

And cat makes 5

Our semi-neurotic cat, Karly, has been on "vacation" at my mom's house since a few months before Abigail was born. We loved Karly but just thought that having two babies and a cat might be a bit much for awhile. A few months turned into more and then we moved...and our current house didn't allow pets. When it came time to renew our lease last month, I made a pitch to the management company in the off-chance the owners might change their minds. Much to our surprise, the owners agreed to a cat!

The day to bring Karly home has been much-anticipated by one Nathan Ko. "Karly's coming to my house?" "We need to buy her food to eat at the store." "She needs a bowl for her food." "I want to show Karly my toys." And on and on it's gone! Sunday we woke up and decided that bringing Karly home would be a good thing to do...and that unleashed Nathan's excitement! We set about making a list of things we'd need to buy at the pet store. He, of course, was thrilled to sit down with his own pen and paper and "write" his list. So cute...

We drove to Sacramento, stopped at Target (the cool, independent pet shop down here is closed on Sundays, darnit), and then spent the afternoon at my mom's before putting Karly in her carrier and loading her into the car.

Now normally, Karly H.A.T.E.S. to travel, so you can imagine the return trip both John and I were anticipating. But instead, picture two little people bundled up in their jammies, snuggled with their animals and blankies for the trip home. Nestled ever-so-securely between their car seats sat one elderly cat in her purple carrier. Atop that carrier lay two pudgy toddler hands, one each from Nathan and Abigail, both gently patting the carrier and saying in the sweetest voices, "Hi Karly" and "It's okay, Karly." The usual panicky meowing was so much calmer and eventually all three went to sleep...Abigail with her hand still outstretched to comfort the kitty she so desperately wants to squeeze.

Conversations of the Day

(Discussing what to have for lunch while driving in the car)

Me: How about ABC soup and peanut butter and jelly?

N: Yeah, that sounds good. (Thinking...) How about Cars soup (noodles shaped like Cars characters...total gimmick)? I don't like ABC soup...it has 'eewww' stuffs in it.

Me: What is 'eeww' stuff?

N: Vegetables...Cars soup doesn't have vegetables in it.

Me: (Trying sooo hard not to crack up and wondering what happened to my "all foods are delicious, even the healthy ones" boy...guess he's really growing up!)

Later in the afternoon, while pretending to be a fireman...

(Carrying bicycle pump around) Look Mommy, this is my hose!

I know, I need my jacket! (Runs off to get fireman raincoat).

Can you help me put it on, Mommy? (I help so he can put his arms into the sleeves and I pull the hood on...I purposefully leave the clasping to him because he always wants to do that himself)

Looks at me "Mommy, help me with the seat belts!" (love it!!)

Uses his bike pump/fire hose a few times and then exclaims, "I need a mask!"

(Me thinking on my feet)I grab a paper cup, some yarn, and voila! A real fireman! He worked on figuring out some sort of air tank next, but we never did come up with anything...he was happy enough with his get-up though...so fun!

Life in Snippets

Yes, it's been ages. Yes, there is sooo much to share. No, I don't have time for that right now. But it did occur to me one day this week that posting my news on Facebook is fun and all...but will I have access to all of it later? Since my life right now is one of constant doing/cleaning/cooking/running/folding/playing.... I'm not all that consistent with chronicling my children's baby- and toddlerhoods. Yeah, I know everyone says they have that problem when the second kid comes along, but literally...Nathan hardly has any photos in an album, Abigail has almost no photos of herself printed (there are photos, don't worry), and I fear that I'll turn around and they'll be off to college and I'll have nothing documented (or worse, that my mommy-brain will be permanent and irreversible so I won't even remember that I raised them!)! So, snippets it is for now...

Sweet Boy

It was bedtime and I was talking with Nathan about the upcoming events of Reno Grandpa's memorial service, in the best 2-year-old language I could. Since the kids will stay home while we go to the memorial service itself, I focused on the luncheon afterward. I told him we were having a big party to celebrate that Grandpa is in heaven now with God. His little face lit up and he said with such excitement, "Is God coming to my house??" May he always love parties this much, may he always remember his Grandpa, and may he always always always want God to come to his house.

We're Back!

Well, here I am trying to get back into the blogging groove! It's been a LONG time...

For a quick recap, here's what the kids have been up to:

NATHAN...
...talks constantly
...is SO stinking tall, wearing 3T clothes
...is starting to be afraid of things and "little bit scary" is a commonly heard phrase in our house these days...the dark, shadows, the doorbell, dogs, swimming pools (especially the shadows the rippling water makes on the pool bottom)...and more I'm sure!
...is very "independent" and wants to do most things "by self"
...is teaching me patience!!
...can climb the tallest, scariest play structures (which is really scary for me when I'm not hovering right there to catch him!)
...desperately wants to ride a bike and can almost reach the pedals on his trike with his shoes on (so we hear, "Shoes on please" a lot!)
...is obsessed with fire engines and construction equipment and can name SO many different kinds of trucks!
...is so sweet with his sister, taking her by the hand and saying, "Come on Abby let's go pway". He gets her water cup or her beloved blanket or just about anything...such a sweet guy!
...loves trains and prefers real ones over Thomas
...can count to 20 or so more or less correctly, depending on his mood
...is so mechanically minded...he is all about anything he can take apart or put together
...has such a sensitive side...and all the good/bad that entails
...has graduated to "big boy cups" from b-o-t-t-l-e-s (yes, we spell that word now since they've been forever banished from our house)
...unfortunately, since getting rid of the b-o-t-t-l-e-s, napping has ceased entirely! A very very sad day for me! We still have "rest time" but it's not totally working for me just yet...
...is so totally fun right now!

Meanwhile, Miss Abigail...
...is curious and very much the go-getter that her brother isn't
...climbs like a monkey! Luckily she's still in her crib (please pray that she'll still be there for another year or so!) but somehow escaped the play pen this morning while I was in the shower...
...LOVES her brother
...is very strong and rough, not quite what I expected for a girl. "Gentle" is still something she hasn't mastered
...wants to do whatever Nathan is doing and gets very frustrated when her little body/mind can't
...is so smiley
...is a bit of a picky eater, or at least is very particular about how things are given to her
...Has 11 teeth and the 12th one is on the way and is wreaking all kinds of havoc on my sleep right now!
...is still nursing, though I'm trying to encourage her otherwise
...is the size of the average 19-month-old
...puts everything in her mouth
...likes to color and is good at it
...says Mommy, Daddy, wa-wa, baby, berry (strawberry addict), doggy
...understands a lot and can follow directions (go give this to Daddy, etc.)
...loves loves loves to brush her teeth with her Elmo toothbrush
...takes 1 nap on most days, about 2 hours long
...sleeps great at night usually, from about 7-6am
...is our little Abby-cakes, Absy-Doodle, Absigail, Abi-dactyl (a la pteradactyl, especially if she's in a shrieking mood), Lady Abigail, "Abidail" a la Nathan...our sweet little 1-year-old girl!

The Little Miss is 8 months

I was nursing Abigail the other day while Nathan was napping, and I was taking advantage of some one-on-one time with her (which is rare somehow). We sang songs and I told her a bunch of nursery rhymes. She thought one was particulary funny and would grin (as best as she could while still nursing) and look up at me with a big smile in her eyes. Eventually when she was done, she sat up, looked and me and gave me the biggest, slobbery raspberry ever, with a huge smile. I cracked up and gave her one back and the giggle fest began. We had a raspberry "conversation" for a minute or so, laughing and enjoying a special time together.

Chatterbox

So Nathan's been talking up a storm lately and I have serious Mommy guilt for not recording his "firsts" better. I'm trying to give myself some slack for having 2 babies right now, but the guilt persists. A quick blog entry to chronicle some of his vocabulary.

Cruising through Target to get Abigail a sun hat, we passed by the lingerie section and several displays of bras, whereby he declared, "Booboo!" (Yes, the boy could probably operate my breast pump on his own...)

Yight, yadder--light, ladder

Da-do--Caillou (one of his favorite cartoons)

Deedee--cookie

Deet--cake

Night night--anyone (real or in a book) who has their eyes closed

Dide--outside

Part--park

Tut--truck

Tar--car

Dadoom--vacuum (which he grabs several times a day, unprompted!)

He's still very "French" in that words that start with "h" he leaves off the initial sound...so "hose" is "ose", "house" is "ouse", etc. Cute!

It is boggling my mind that he will be 2 in a few weeks. How is that possible????