That's Texan for 'skills'.
It's interesting to see your child's gifts and talents that develop, even from a very young age. Although Bekah didn't actually speak words early, she was constantly singing or babbling. Still holds true. I listen to her sing as she goes to sleep at night. Kyle always had a drive to keep up with Bekah, and he is still pretty competitive. And of course, both of them were climbers. Bekah could barely walk and she would boulder up my parent's little rock wall. Kyle couldn't walk on his own, but he could move the chair over to climb up that to climb on to the counter. Whenever I mention climbing, my next door neighbor laughs and says, "Yes, they are climbers more than even most 'climbers' are climbers." Probably because many of their peaceful outdoor dinners were interrupted by Franklin kids climbing 10-15 feet up a tree to talk to them. I have often thought that we should start taking those two rock climbing, but Rob says we should wait a while before pouring fuel on the fire.
So, Number Three... Bubba, as I sometimes call him (although I don't like the name Bubba, having known a Bubba in elementary school, but Stephen's round cheeks and stocky build just lends itself cutely to the name)... anyway... He has definitely got himself some 'skee-ulls'.
I know that babies notoriously "get into everything"... and my others were little explorers, too. But this kid has taken it up a notch. I might have mentioned that one night, we realized that we could no longer wait even one more day before baby proofing EVERYTHING... it was probably the day where we caught him cleaning the toilet with Rob's toothbrush after emptying most of the kitchen cabinets and sucking on knives from the dishwasher. Well, we did. Did it stop him? Nope.
Let me explain how most child-proof latches work. You pull out the drawer about 1 inch and then push down a lever to open the door or drawer farther. While my son doesn't have the dexterity to open and push at the same time, it is amazing what he can do with 1 inch of room. First of all, I believe that he makes regular rounds all day long to make sure a drawer or door wasn't shut somewhere in the house. Oh, he will notice if that pantry door is open even a tiny bit, and waddle out carrying his cheerios container or orange peels he found in the garbage. If everything is shut tight, he takes it to the next level. Everyday I find him with the toothpaste or a toothbrush that was put away into a child-proof drawer. He sticks his little hand in that 1 inch gap and slides it as far as possible to grab anything he can. It really is amazing to watch.
Today, I was in the kitchen with him when I turned my head to take a bite of food. Silly me. Crash. In that split second, he had slid his little hand in one of the cupboards, grabbed several glass bowls, and dropped about 4 trying to get them out. I turned my head to find him holding 2 in his hand with the rest smashed to smitherines around him. Luckily I was close, so grabbed him before he could cut himself. I couldn't help but notice, the cabinet door was still locked with the "child-proof" lock. Child-proof-nothin'.
Yeah, I know I can shell out $30 per lock to use special magnet locks that will drive me insane to use. Or buy huge gates and cordon off most of my house. Or move everything in my kitchen to high shelves so the older kids can never empty the dishwasher. And I do keep a couple drawers in the kitchen open to encourage Stephen to get into those drawers, instead of the off-limits ones. But most of the time, the baby is completely angelically adorable, reading books, playing with his toys, following me around laughing. He is really the funnest baby. Heaven help us when he can reach and turn the door knobs. Oh, but he's trying!
Anyway, it will be interesting to see how these skills develops as he gets older. For now, we find his exploits pretty entertaining. We put on a stern "No!" to his face, but at the end of the day, what can you do but laugh? ... and buy more toothbrushes, phones, and bowls.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
It was only a matter of time
I've heard this can happen. I just didn't think it would already.
Rob just came upstairs and informed me that my 14 month old probably knows how to use the new TV better than me.
And he's right.
Although, in my defense, the 14 month old has a lot more incentive. Every time he turns the tv or sound off or on, he gets a lot of attention. And he has to know how to do it really quickly before he gets caught. And he is REALLY good at it.
oops, gotta go... here he come...
Rob just came upstairs and informed me that my 14 month old probably knows how to use the new TV better than me.
And he's right.
Although, in my defense, the 14 month old has a lot more incentive. Every time he turns the tv or sound off or on, he gets a lot of attention. And he has to know how to do it really quickly before he gets caught. And he is REALLY good at it.
oops, gotta go... here he come...
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Another one bites the dust
We have been very lucky lately.
No, blessed. Very blessed. First, we have been healthy for over a month (other than my normal nausea stuff). Second, Rob got a promotion-ish... more like a change in his job. It is great because when accepting it, he did it on a contingency of re-evaluating in a year. So he gets the chance to try something new and see if he likes it - working with the sales team and the neurosurgeons as an engineer consultant as well as coming up with a strategy for future research development for the company. Third - we are having another girl (and Bekah is thrilled) who so far looks very healthy. Fourth, the baby has developed new adorable skills, like giving kisses, sitting in a small child chair (he is so proud to sit down all by himself on something 2 inches off the ground), and running around everywhere. Every Sunday Rob asks if he can take Stephen to nursery. He is ready at 14 months. I mean we are ready.
But in one area, I am cursed. Yes, cursed. I am on number 5. Oh my poor cell phones. 1 - fell off a chair with such perfect timing to be crushed in a closing door. 2 - stolen. 3 - volume broke; it was a used phone. 4 - I found my baby had grabbed the phone off my nightstand and was washing the toilet with it. I seriously had just turned around...
Ah well, at least we can laugh about it.
No, blessed. Very blessed. First, we have been healthy for over a month (other than my normal nausea stuff). Second, Rob got a promotion-ish... more like a change in his job. It is great because when accepting it, he did it on a contingency of re-evaluating in a year. So he gets the chance to try something new and see if he likes it - working with the sales team and the neurosurgeons as an engineer consultant as well as coming up with a strategy for future research development for the company. Third - we are having another girl (and Bekah is thrilled) who so far looks very healthy. Fourth, the baby has developed new adorable skills, like giving kisses, sitting in a small child chair (he is so proud to sit down all by himself on something 2 inches off the ground), and running around everywhere. Every Sunday Rob asks if he can take Stephen to nursery. He is ready at 14 months. I mean we are ready.
But in one area, I am cursed. Yes, cursed. I am on number 5. Oh my poor cell phones. 1 - fell off a chair with such perfect timing to be crushed in a closing door. 2 - stolen. 3 - volume broke; it was a used phone. 4 - I found my baby had grabbed the phone off my nightstand and was washing the toilet with it. I seriously had just turned around...
Ah well, at least we can laugh about it.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Change
I've got the changin' itch. We bought a King size mattress a couple months ago, and finally bought a big, beautiful bed that matches our other furniture. So now I want to put new pictures up, get bedding, change the drapes... you know. And I've been bugging Rob for over a year for new windows, and I have finally called and am getting bids (our windows in the back have been tinted and don't let in a lot of light :( My mom and I also keep discussing getting new drapes in the family room, too. Oh, and my daughter is also getting the itch as she discusses how she wants to paint her new room when she moves downstairs ... next year.
Well, I took down the drapes in the kitchen to see if it helped add light, and apparently, that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Rob's back specifically. Now my husband doesn't really throw fits (he is so easy-going), but he was definitely close to losing it. At first he complained how much it was going to cost him. It almost made me laugh, because I had just taken down the drapes. I hadn't even spent a dime yet. In reality, it was all about change... and of course, change entailed some work on his part. Which was especially hard when he likes things just the way they are now.
To give you an idea of the differences between us: We just visited my grandmother, and she had paint swatches out, trying to decide what color to paint one of her walls, not to mention the rooms that she had moved all around since our last visit. That's what I've inherited. And, I've never lived in a house more than 5 years my entire life. Rob's family is quite different. When they decided to repaint their house after probably 15 years... and they had the painters paint everything exactly the same as it was. They don't change things unless it's a holiday or they have to.
What I thought was so interesting, was his comment that he wouldn't really mind it if I just worked on one room every few months... just not everything at once. So funny, because it will be several months before I would get around to really changing even one room. I am still in the deciding phase.
So I bring this up only to comment how interesting are perceptions and expectations. How we can totally handle reality... it's just our perception or expectations of the future that sometimes overwhelm us. Am I making sense? We fear our expectations or perceptions of the future... the future itself comes and goes usually unjustified of all of our panic.
Speaking of expectations. We are pregnant with number 4. Yes, FOUR. If you ask Rob and I how many kids we would like to have, we would both answer "2" without a moments hesitation. We were very happy to stop at two. Really, I saw myself as a 2-kid then career mom. But when God says there are more, I'm not one to tell Him no. So with much trepidation and a lot of tears, we got pregnant with number 3 and now number 4.
I will again be honest. I was not happy to be pregnant. I hate being pregnant and this pregnancy has been very difficult on our whole family. I have had to get IVs, which only happens when you throw up a whole LOT, Rob and the kids have definitely had a lot more responsibilities, and even though I'm over half-way done, I still have a pink bucket next to my bed that still gets action. And then there is after-pregnancy: I know some people love babies... but I love working with them as a nurse and then sending them home with their parents. So the thought of pregnancy and then a new baby and then another toddler... has brought me to tears. Many times. But then it hit me, my perception of my future was what was making me anxious and depressed. Not my future reality.
For example: I have loved having my third child. He is hilarious. He continues to make me laugh every day and I have enjoyed every stage so far, even the baby stage. So while my expectation was that it was going to be hard and miserable, it hasn't been. I love it. In fact, I have been amazed at how fun it has been.
So Rob's miniature fit (okay, it wasn't even that. Sorry, dear) was a small reminder to me not to worry or fret about the future. It will come and go, usually with a lot less trouble and pain than I anticipated. And while Rob will love the house I will one day create, I will also love life that God is creating for me. Even if I am perfectly content with how it is just now.
Well, I took down the drapes in the kitchen to see if it helped add light, and apparently, that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Rob's back specifically. Now my husband doesn't really throw fits (he is so easy-going), but he was definitely close to losing it. At first he complained how much it was going to cost him. It almost made me laugh, because I had just taken down the drapes. I hadn't even spent a dime yet. In reality, it was all about change... and of course, change entailed some work on his part. Which was especially hard when he likes things just the way they are now.
To give you an idea of the differences between us: We just visited my grandmother, and she had paint swatches out, trying to decide what color to paint one of her walls, not to mention the rooms that she had moved all around since our last visit. That's what I've inherited. And, I've never lived in a house more than 5 years my entire life. Rob's family is quite different. When they decided to repaint their house after probably 15 years... and they had the painters paint everything exactly the same as it was. They don't change things unless it's a holiday or they have to.
What I thought was so interesting, was his comment that he wouldn't really mind it if I just worked on one room every few months... just not everything at once. So funny, because it will be several months before I would get around to really changing even one room. I am still in the deciding phase.
So I bring this up only to comment how interesting are perceptions and expectations. How we can totally handle reality... it's just our perception or expectations of the future that sometimes overwhelm us. Am I making sense? We fear our expectations or perceptions of the future... the future itself comes and goes usually unjustified of all of our panic.
Speaking of expectations. We are pregnant with number 4. Yes, FOUR. If you ask Rob and I how many kids we would like to have, we would both answer "2" without a moments hesitation. We were very happy to stop at two. Really, I saw myself as a 2-kid then career mom. But when God says there are more, I'm not one to tell Him no. So with much trepidation and a lot of tears, we got pregnant with number 3 and now number 4.
I will again be honest. I was not happy to be pregnant. I hate being pregnant and this pregnancy has been very difficult on our whole family. I have had to get IVs, which only happens when you throw up a whole LOT, Rob and the kids have definitely had a lot more responsibilities, and even though I'm over half-way done, I still have a pink bucket next to my bed that still gets action. And then there is after-pregnancy: I know some people love babies... but I love working with them as a nurse and then sending them home with their parents. So the thought of pregnancy and then a new baby and then another toddler... has brought me to tears. Many times. But then it hit me, my perception of my future was what was making me anxious and depressed. Not my future reality.
For example: I have loved having my third child. He is hilarious. He continues to make me laugh every day and I have enjoyed every stage so far, even the baby stage. So while my expectation was that it was going to be hard and miserable, it hasn't been. I love it. In fact, I have been amazed at how fun it has been.
So Rob's miniature fit (okay, it wasn't even that. Sorry, dear) was a small reminder to me not to worry or fret about the future. It will come and go, usually with a lot less trouble and pain than I anticipated. And while Rob will love the house I will one day create, I will also love life that God is creating for me. Even if I am perfectly content with how it is just now.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Up and running
It is amazing how fast they go from barely walking to running (to climbing). My youngest loves walking all over the place and especially loves opening and carefully emptying kitchen cupboards. Today we watched him "set the table" ... taking out a plate and putting it on the table (which he could barely even reach) and then returning to get another plate, and another. His biggest challenge in life is dealing with older siblings who still want to carry him places... but he definitely lets them know that he is done with that.
We went to the park Friday and Stephen LOVED it! He is used to kids running and screaming around him, so while another toddler at the park would back up and just watch, he was in the thick of things, climbing, digging, sliding, and grinning his head off. Definitely NOT a kid who wants to stay by mom.
As he has become much more mobile, I have had another epiphany. I have another goer. I know kids are all busy, but anyone who knows my kids, knows that mine are BUSY. I kept thinking this one would be different... he would want to sit and cuddle on my lap. And he still does. Briefly. Then I remembered, this was the boy that at about 6 months, would get bored just drinking his bottle and want to check everything out every few minutes... he seriously would never just sit and drink a bottle, even when he was hungry. Sigh.
Actually, I would probably get unnecessarily paranoid if I had a tranquil child. There is one tranquil thing he does, which I absolutely love. He reads books. He has 2 older siblings who are in the thick of learning to read, so I guess it's only natural. He gets one of his favorite boardbooks, sits down, opens them, and sings or babbles to himself while turning the pages. It is absolutely adorable.
We went to the park Friday and Stephen LOVED it! He is used to kids running and screaming around him, so while another toddler at the park would back up and just watch, he was in the thick of things, climbing, digging, sliding, and grinning his head off. Definitely NOT a kid who wants to stay by mom.
As he has become much more mobile, I have had another epiphany. I have another goer. I know kids are all busy, but anyone who knows my kids, knows that mine are BUSY. I kept thinking this one would be different... he would want to sit and cuddle on my lap. And he still does. Briefly. Then I remembered, this was the boy that at about 6 months, would get bored just drinking his bottle and want to check everything out every few minutes... he seriously would never just sit and drink a bottle, even when he was hungry. Sigh.
Actually, I would probably get unnecessarily paranoid if I had a tranquil child. There is one tranquil thing he does, which I absolutely love. He reads books. He has 2 older siblings who are in the thick of learning to read, so I guess it's only natural. He gets one of his favorite boardbooks, sits down, opens them, and sings or babbles to himself while turning the pages. It is absolutely adorable.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Tradition!
Tradition! Tradition! da-da-Tradition!
The Papas! The Papas!...da-da-Tradition!
I know many people hate Valentine's Day, but I love it. Not because my husband buys me flowers or chocolates. I don't decorate much, don't like chocolate and I buy my own flowers. But every year, my husband makes our candle-light gourmet dinner. What a great tradition! He comes up with the menu ahead of time, (he used to even grocery shop back when he had time), and does most of the cooking himself. I'm just helper in the kitchen. So if the baby is screaming because he's starving, I just drop what I'm doing and feed the baby without leaving other children starving. Relief. Plus, it's delightful to be side by side working with him. This year, my son even designed the lovely menu and my daughter decorated the chandelier with hearts.
Dinner included:
Plus, I don't think the man gets much sexier than in the kitchen. :)
The Papas! The Papas!...da-da-Tradition!
I know many people hate Valentine's Day, but I love it. Not because my husband buys me flowers or chocolates. I don't decorate much, don't like chocolate and I buy my own flowers. But every year, my husband makes our candle-light gourmet dinner. What a great tradition! He comes up with the menu ahead of time, (he used to even grocery shop back when he had time), and does most of the cooking himself. I'm just helper in the kitchen. So if the baby is screaming because he's starving, I just drop what I'm doing and feed the baby without leaving other children starving. Relief. Plus, it's delightful to be side by side working with him. This year, my son even designed the lovely menu and my daughter decorated the chandelier with hearts.
Dinner included:
- asparagus cheese puffs
- cornish game hens with lime over roasted potatoes and onions
- an EXCELLENT tomato cheese tart
- garlic bread
- Dessert: creme brulee with fresh blueberries (Rob LOVES pulling out his blow torch).
Plus, I don't think the man gets much sexier than in the kitchen. :)
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Pure poetry
Inspired by Shel Silverstein, I've written my own poem to celebrate this fine day. Enjoy:
Hope everyone out there is well and happy :)
Let us all give thanks for Sudafed. and tissue. and humidifiers. and really sweet husbands.
I feel like I'm covered in snot.
but it doesn't seem to be all I've got
cuz my nose keeps on dripping,
my head is a-splitting
I feel like I'm covered in snot.
Hope everyone out there is well and happy :)
Let us all give thanks for Sudafed. and tissue. and humidifiers. and really sweet husbands.
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