Highlights from the end of 2012...

Since I dropped the ball on updating this blog on a regular basis, here is a synopsis of the last half of our 2012.  Hopefully Leah will force me to jump back on here often and keep things more updated from now on (this is where I grabbed all my information and photos for Elliot's 1 year album... so I need to do the same for the little girl!  I'm not recording it elsewhere.)

 

July- we had a wedding reception in Ohio for a family friend.  Tried for a quick family photo since we were all dressed up.  Elliot had a blast running around, dancing. 

 August- Took an almost 3-week trip to LA, Portland, Seattle. The above is how we *jokingly* dealt with our antsy toddler on the flights.

Fabulous time, but everything is in slow motion with kids.  Lots of hiking and visiting friends.  Some times were hard with no-nap-days, meltdowns, lack of routine, etc.  It was great to be able to stay with friends and family, though.

 My mom overlapped with us for part of the Portland leg, and visited Seattle with us. We did a fly-by of Mt. St. Helen and it was awesome.  So neat to read about the eruption and to see the crater.  Elliot still talks about this volcano 6 months later...

 We met up with Gina and Sophia (old Chicago friends who moved to Seattle 3 years ago, and were moving to Germany within a couple of weeks of our visit).  We spent about a day and a half together.

 Elliot became enthralled with the street performers, which are very abundant in the NE.  We would have to pull him away.  He was mesmerized.

 We took a ferry over to Bainbridge Island to walk around for the afternoon.

 Sophia is 4 and Elliot and her hit it off right away, sharing things from the backpack as we took breaks in parks.

 Another street performer captures Elliot's attention.  This is the first Starbucks.  Line was enormous to get a coffee.

 This was the moment the kids met- they took hands right away and bonded.  So cute.

 And more performers to watch...

 Back in Portland- more street musicians at the farmers market.

 We got tons of hiking in but Portland also has great plazas with fountains to run around in.

 At the science museum.  The lady was showing Elliot how Play Dough is a conductor.

 Just one of many hikes.  Mind you, I was 4+ months pregnant.  So between Elliot and me, we really slowed Pat down!  We did accomplish 3 hikes that were 5+ miles each.  Not bad.  Pat took one day to do a major hike on his own and got two big mountain biking treks in with Brad.  We had some major tantrums/meltdowns along the way, but the best days were when we were all out in nature.  He loves being outdoors.

 We had asked Brad to locate a car seat and a bike for us- Elliot loves riding his bike and we thought 2 weeks in Portland would require some bike riding.  Brad found one, but it was too big.  We found the same bike Elliot has in Chicago at a Walmart for $40 and jumped on it.  It was pink, but we were helping keep Portland weird, by some people's standards (but really not by Portland standards).  Anyway, this is Elliot riding his bike through the fountain pool in the middle of the city.

 Uncle Brad got out multiple remote control helicopters.  Elliot was in awe.

 One day we went to the coast-- it was an 80-degree heat wave in Portland.  The coast ended up being 50+ degrees and rainy- and we did not pack any jackets for any of us!  Not smart.  We attempted a hike since we had driven out there- Elliot was wrapped in his blanket and we just dealt in our shorts and t-shirts.  Made it 1.5 miles and called it quits.

 Uncle Brad treated Elliot to a massive play day at the top of Mt. Hood- in the summer, there's an entire adventure park up there!  We rode the ski lifts together and then took these sled-like carts down a 1 mile chute.  Elliot loved it- no chance for a photo, though.  Then, inside one of the structures was a giant play gym for kids- it was heaven for Elliot.  I couldn't get him to leave to eat- it became almost 3pm and we had to drag him out.

 Yes, go-carts for 3 year olds!  He did ok, running off the track quite a few times though.  It was hilarious to watch.  There were also mini canoes and swings for kids, then bungee jumping, mountain biking (which Brad and Pat did), tubing down chutes... fun stuff!

 Swim break during a hike.

 There were so many great waterfalls.  I can't track which hike was which at this point.

 Ah, the beloved magical bunny (strapped in here to Elliot's seatbelt) was lost along the way.  We still talk about what adventures he may be having...

 LA was the start of the trip.  This is Elliot joining in on the "TUUUNNNNNEEEEELLLLLLLL!!!!" that everyone yelled every time we went through a mountain.  We stayed with Alejandro, Anita, and their two boys, Tom and Sam (4 & 5, I think, at the time). 

 Elliot and Pat trying to look presidential.  This was the Reagan Library- we got to go inside the plane.  Pretty neat to see.

 And this is inside Alejandro's plane!! He has a small plane and let the kids sit in the cockpit.  Elliot's face captures his joy.  There were also rides on the golf cart.  (That's Tom behind Elliot.)

 Joining in the super hero cape wearing.

 We had one day at the beach.  It was rough- 3rd day with no nap, all outta whack, and a battle over no lunch.  I ended up sitting the car for most of the beach time with Elliot.  It was not pretty, but eventually we got to play in the sand.

 One afternoon was spent at a farm with activities for the kids.  They had a blast and that's exactly what an afternoon like that is about- pure fun for the kids.  We did manage one night out for the adults- Anita and Alejandro were so sweet to organize their sitter for all the kids while we went to dinner.

 The carts took rides all the way around the field- quite significant, felt kinda strange to let them go on their own like that, but we managed to wander away for a coffee.

 And the pony rides were a hit.

 September- Rally during CPS strike- both Pat and I were on strike.  Elliot went to the picket line every single day with us, in his red attire, riding his red bike with his red helmet- he fit right in.  He was always ready to scream with a fist in the air on demand and got lots of attention.  (Strike lasted 7 school days.)

 

October- the Miners visited from OH.  Elliot wanted so badly to do whatever the older boys (Nicholas, 10, Will, 6) were doing. 

  

 October- Pumpkin carving time!  A big one this year- and Elliot's attention span required 2 nights to get it carved.  

 

  

Elliot was convinced that his toy saw worked great on pumpkins.

 

Many afternoons out and about on the scooter.  Thought he looked especially older in this one.

 

This stool has become his pretend house.  I get yelled at for sitting on his roof.

  

Random fall sunset at the lake.

 

 Leah in her Halloween attire! ;)

 

Trick or Treating on Harper Street with Lucas.

 

 

December- Playing with stickers at the Advent Festival at church.

 

 Jam session with Lucas.  I love the intensity here.

 

Leah Rose Arrives!

*If you're interested in photos only, scroll on down and skip my blabbering!*

Pretty sad that I haven't touched this blog since Elliot's third birthday last summer.  Hm.  We found a new kind of rat-race with both adults working, full-time child care needed, the wear-and-tear of being pregnant, and the demands on a first-year teacher for Pat.  Very little extras got done this past fall.  In fact, things that weren't extras fell through the cracks!

We had a lovely vacation in LA and Portland, seeing family and friends, for almost 3 weeks before the above started in full swing. 

We managed a quick trip to Twinsburg mid-November and then to the farm for Thanksgiving, knowing that the holidays would be in Chicago because of the baby being due shortly thereafter.  November was a tough month- I had that nasty upper respiratory virus for too many days (cough lingered a month!), felt drained anyway, and with some switches to the babysitter schedules, Elliot seemed to be in a never-ending rut with all routines.  I found myself saying, "We are doing everything wrong!"  Luckily, it was a phase and has passed, overall. 

This was the first time we have not traveled for Christmas in 15 years, we estimated.  Not knowing anything different than packing up and trying to catch as many people in Ohio as possible, I felt spoiled with the downtime and relaxation we got at home while we were on break in Chicago.  My mom, dad, brother, and 3 nephews came up on Christmas night for 2 nights.  It was a really great time and made it feel more like the holidays.

On January 9th, Leah Rose arrived.  Her much anticipated birth started off with a few days of inconsistent contractions, then WHAM- she decided it was time.  I had tea with a friend at 2:30p, things came on heavy around 3p, water broke at 4p, we made it to the hospital downtown by 4:45p and she arrived at 5:06p.  No time for anything.  Made it in the door- was 10 cm dilated- the nurse and Pat sprinted me through the halls to the elevator (like a movie, I swear!), and I think I was only in the delivery room for 10 minutes or so.  Two pushes and she was out crying.

It was a crazy experience- just the opposite of Elliot's birth.  Leah weighed 7#4oz and was 19" long.  She learned to nurse almost immediately and has been doing so non-stop, it seems, ever since!  Again, quite different than Elliot!

And Elliot napped through the whole thing. 

Leah is a good sleeper, so far, doing 3-4+ hours often after she eats.  She rarely fusses a lot.  The issue is that when she is up, she'll nurse 2-3 times in a few hours, almost like she needs to catch up for those hours she slept away.  She's wearing me out and I'm having a little trouble getting a balance.  Actually, a lot of trouble.  I know it's temporary and we'll get in sync soon, as the first weeks are rough and an adjustment.  I think I let the situation get pretty bad before I started some intervening and now I'm hoping to heal quickly and get in our groove.  Sorry if this is too much information for any readers!  It's our hourly reality here. 

We had a rough night last night but we know these will come and go.  Pat's already beat with his teaching duties but I enlisted his help all night last night.  The little lady must be growing fast, as we had to resort to an extra bottle to satisfy her hunger, eating almost double what she normally does. 

Elliot has been doing ok overall with the new addition.  He acted out quite a bit in the beginning- but he also had 10/11p bedtimes, was shuffled a bit, and has had to learn to curb (or try to curb!) his aggressive nature.  We are trying hard to not bark at him every time he does something wrong or too close to Leah, as he is learning.  It's hard to hold back and switch into teaching mode, but I don't want him to resent her or think he's always doing something wrong.  I hope it works.  He certainly is interested and requests often to hold her.  After much coaching, today, he called me over to show me how he was ever-so-gently petting her head, a change from what he thought was gentle before. 

We've already gotten out a few times.  Elliot has a little art class and tumbling class through the park district that is just a block or two away.  That's been our outings- get bundled, strapped in, all covered, go to class for 45 min, hit the playground on the way home, then head home.  With the temperature dropping in the next day or two, we may be homebound for a bit. 

I've been comparing Elliot's photos from his baby book to Leah.  They look similar, but not the same like some siblings do at this stage.  Then I realized that I grabbed all that information and photos from this blog, where I chronicled everything.  Thus, the push to get going on this so we don't fall too much into that second-child rut of not documenting anything.  We already have fallen short on capturing photos and moments and it's a little disheartening that this doesn't bother me more! 

We have had some wonderful visitors so far who have been so helpful- Aunt Maryann came, bringing loads of food and activities for Elliot.  He had a ball with her.  Then, my friend, Stephanie, from college was passing through on her way to a cruise and helped out by keeping Elliot while we ran to the doctors and did a much needed Target run.  Other friends have come by with meals and treats and we feel very loved. 

If I get a moment, I'll try to go back and put in a few shots of the big moments of 2012.  At least I'm getting the tale of Leah started on here. 

3 Years Old...

At Elliot's 3-year check up:
- 27.5# (gaining well since last time!!)
- 36" tall
- When the doc asked if he knew the shape of the end of his stethoscope, Elliot said, "circle," then after Dad said, "And what is it?" he impressed him with the correct answer, all shy-like.

It was party-time.  Saturday, after Elliot's nap, we let him open all his presents because we were going to be gone all day on Sunday, the actual birthday.  He has been so obsessed with other kids' backpacks, that that was a must.  The water balloons and water guns from Grandpa and Grandma Papczun were a big hit too.

The backpack has barely left his back...

Loving those new swim goggles!

That night, Tye and Elliot, the two July 15th boys, have their own water gun fight.  They just kinda stood there and barely shot at one another...

Of course, Elliot ended up stripping down.

Then, Sunday, we spent the day at a water park about 45 minutes outside of Chicago.  We joined the Pauley's- our neighbors whose little one has the exact same birthday (Tye).  We brought one guest, they brought over 30!!  (They have done this before and have two older daughters who invited families.)  They grabbed an awesome shelter area, organized/brought the cake (including Elliot's name!) and it was so much fun.  It was Deep River, and it had something for every age.  Who knew a 3 year old would be thoroughly and contently entertained for an entire day at a place like this!  He really was beaming joy almost the whole day, no nap and all!!  He loved the lazy river and got more brave with the other fountains as the day went on.  Too bad our camera isn't waterproof, but I risked it at the end to get some shots.  He did a really major water slide with Dad (one that I thought was pretty darn fast and way too dark!) and loved it.  Came out saying, "Mommy, I didn't cry!" while all along I was thinking as I was going down, "Oh my, poor Elliot, he had to have been so scared!"

The two birthday boys!  The lifevest was awesome- the pools with the fountains were about waist high on him but this helped a lot when he'd lose his footing or the couple of times that *ehem* Dad was on the innertube with him on the lazy river and he went under!

+

Elliot put his finger in the icing the minute the lid came off.  And blew out his candles early.

He did not wait for a fork- by the time I got his attention, half the piece was eaten, icing all over.

(I see cousin Grant in his face here...)

The kids could turn the floor fountains (and other random water spouts) on and off by those wheels like the red one here.

Renee seemed to have a blast too!  Ended up giving Elliot some rides on her back.

Then Tye's dad had to do the same.

The hangover the next day... this was at the 4-hour mark of his nap when I checked on him.

We didn't extend the invite to many people for the water park as it has an admission cost, is a bit of a drive, etc.  So, Monday, we did an impromptu "come for a water fight and cupcakes!" in the yard with the neighbor kids.  We all got thoroughly drenched (especially ME!), the water guns were well-used, the sprinkler from Grandma ended up being hung from the fence for better drenching-abilities, and the cupcakes and brownies went fast!  Everyone went home with a helium balloon and seemed to have a blast.

Elliot got this toy sax from Renee- the other kids are shooting water guns, etc, and he just stood there in the center of the pool, trying to belt out a tune.

I thought we were refraining from the giant-super-organized party, but it seems we just made a bunch of little celebrations!  All were great and we commented often on how easy it was to enjoy ourselves this way.  Now does this mean 4 days of celebration next year?!

Glasses that you can drink with!  

Only sad part-  Elliot kept saying, "I hope Diane will come..." even after I explained explicitly, multiple times, that they are in France for good and can't fly back for this.  Awwww.