May 2017

We are still trucking along at the new house. It is becoming clear why Joe said end-isa summer! We have hit a few snags (permitting issues concerning asbestos being the biggest) which means some weeks we see a ton of progress and then others absolutely nothing happens. I am trying to get things knocked off my list - picking sinks was easy, granite however has been a headache. So far we have made a "final decision" on 3 different slab only to be told later "I'm sure someone has talked to you about this... but this isn't a good choice for your situation" AHHHHH!

I had a meeting with our realtor, Gina, recently, and she said she wants us to get our current house on the market as soon as possible. So that means we are going to be doing nothing but getting this house ready for a while. Mostly I think that means boxing up anything extra laying about and then tying up a few small maintenance projects.

Aurora had her violin recital, and she did so great! We had a bit of a struggle with practice because she didn't think she needed to and that she was "good enough" but in the end she got down to it and played a beautiful Popcorn Twinkle Variation, which she chose because it's her Dad's favorite rhythm that she plays.

Mothers Day was really nice this year. We didn't get to go to brunch at Jax (the usual Mother's Day plan) and instead went to the nursery and got all our plants for the vegetable garden and window boxes. I am so thankful for my family and how much love they showered on me by helping to plant our garden that day.

We took the kids to see The Secret Garden. It was one of their Christmas presents and they have been looking forward to going. Unfortunately, when we got the email reminder, it also stated that children under 4 would not be allowed. I knew Connor could handle it even though he was only 3.5 so we decided to see if we could get away with it. I had two different ushers question me but no one told me he couldn't come in. Both kids behaved spectacularly and didn't cause a single issue. I then had multiple people comment on how impressed they were that Connor had behaved so well during the show. Win!

Connor had his last day of his first year or preschool! His class went to a park to celebrate and it was hysterical to watch him interact with the other kids. He has a new buddy at school, Torin, and when Torin showed up Connor's whole body language changed. He started talking lower and moving around in a different way. But really cute, he said to his friends "Hey guys, this is Cooper, he's my brother. He's a good guy!"

-- Cooper at 19 months --

We potty trained Cooper over Memorial Day weekend! I am so happy to be essentially done with diapers. These first few days have been a bit rocky, but things seem to be falling into place.

Cooper's favorite book right now is Pete the Cat and the Brand New White Shoes. It is absolutely hysterical to read it to him because he chimes in at certain points and gets super excited about it. He loves to point to all the shoes at the beginning and tell us what color they are. He also likes the "Oh No!" and "Goodness No!" parts :)

Cooper knows most of his colors pretty solidly. I especially like when he points to something and says the wrong color, pauses, shakes his head and says no, then tells the right color.

He is obsessed with putting on boots. I think he just likes that he is able to do it all by himself.

July 2015

22 pounds (5%)

31 1/2 inches (25%)

For the 4th of July our neighborhood had a festival in Cranmer Park which was a lot of fun. They had food trucks and some carnival games. Unfortunately it poured on us the entire walk home. Connor was the only one that wasn't entirely soaked by the time we got home because he was in the stroller. 

 I am now 33 weeks and still feeling pretty well! My glucose screen came back negative thankfully and at my last visit they "cleared" the baby -- at our last visit the baby's heartbeat was irregular but at our last visit all sounded well. The midwives said that happens a lot and if it is an isolated incident doesn't usually mean anything.

We are seeing a lot of whining and behavioral outbursts from Aurora lately. I'm sure it is part age appropriate and part the coming baby. We have had to start doing time outs which we have never really done before but they seem to be working. We are also cutting down on "second chances" because I think she is starting to rely on them thinking that she can act however she wants and always get another change. So if we have specifically discussed a behavior and its consequences then she doesn't get a second chance... or we are doing better at not giving second changes for it I should say ;)

Aurora is back to doing puzzles. She was all about them for a few weeks and then didn't touch them again until recently. She doesn't always have the patience but she does sometimes sit through a whole 150 piece puzzle. 

Camps are still going great. In July Aurora had weather camp and space camp at the Museum of Nature and Science, Brave dance camp and Avid4Adventure outside at Wash Park. I was a little nervous how Avid would go since it is 9-3 and lots of physical activities that I figured would be outside her comfort zone. I am so pleased that she has enjoyed everything about it -- rock climbing, canoeing, biking... She even has gotten excited about riding her bike at home which she previously didn't show much interest in.

The kids have both been wanting to help in the kitchen some lately. I enjoy the company and I enjoy that they are participating in meal prep. Connor also seems to eat some things he wouldn't usually try if he has helped make it (like kale and swiss chard).

-- Connor at 19 months --

 

Connor is officially potty trained! "pee pee pobby - yay!" Obviously it was a lot of work spending 3 entire days not taking my eyes off him to teach him the ropes but he got it amazingly quickly and after day 1 we have had very few accidents. If he is pants-less he will pretty much go find his potty on his own when he needs to go and will tell us he has to "pee pee" if he needs help with his shorts.

He is still climbing everything. He has even started climbing the jungle gym down in the basement...which is simultaneously awesome and terrifying! The boy has no fear, so he pretty much always has a bruise or goose egg on his forehead. Poor dude.

The screeching is really becoming a problem. Not only does it give Matt and I a headache but e has started doing it in the grocery store and out at dinner. I was in Whole Foods the other day and at least 5 people commented on it. Everyone was very nice and understanding, but I would still rather not draw that type of attention. 

He is walking up the stairs while holding onto a hand or the railing. 

Even though he can totally walk everywhere he is much happier being carried. I am trying to remember to put him down and ask him to walk more because I don't want it to be a shock when the new baby comes and he has to do more himself.

Connor is becoming a really good helper. He goes and gets napkins to clean up if there is a spill, he helps pick up toys, and his favorite is feeding the dogs. He wants to "feed doggies" about 10 times a day.