Happy Birthday Matthew!

Ok, so I'm a month late posting this, but give me a break! I am very pregnant people. It's exhausting! We had a Zoo themed party for Matt with all his friends. He loved all the attention and having people at his house. he was not so fond of sharing his toys.

He opened all of his presents by himself and took time to thank and hug everyone after each opening.

His favorite gift was a dump truck set from Grandma and Grandpa. He hopped right on and scooted around the house wearing his "fireman" hat.

Some of Matthew's favorites at two are digging and scooping with dump trucks, coloring straight lines and circles, drinking no caff (milk with cinnamon), going to the zoo, playing trains, and still all things pink.

546

That's the number of times I will have to draw my own blood in the next 11 1/2 weeks. Sigh ... I was really hoping diabetes would pass me by this time around. Just to make myself feel better, let's look at the bright side:

I've already been through this once before.

I own my own glucometer.

Insulin is a wonderful drug that can safely control my blood sugars.

I won't gain any more weight.

I do not need to be on bed rest or any risky medication.

Baby won't be any later than August 10. (A little earlier is ok with me!)

My new OB handles all of this herself - no other doctors (except the nurse specialist on her staff)

I know I can do this and do my part to keep my baby healthy. Anyone want to diet with me?

Almost 2

I had the infant carrier out for the baby girls I watch. Matthew climbed on in "baby sisser's chair" and asked me to pick him up. Umm, no thanks!
We were getting ready to go somewhere (probably the zoo because Matt was excited to hit the road) and I told him he needed a diaper change first. He ran down the hall, opened his bedroom door, grabbed a diaper, and called me over when he was situated as pictured. Ok kiddo, if you know that much you are ready for potty training!
This was taken at 6 am. Enough said.

Mother's Day

We spent a lovely sunshiny day in Tacoma. First, a picnic lunch overlooking the Narrows Bridge. Then on to the Camp 6 Logging Museum in Point Defiance Park. Matthew enjoyed the train ride through the wilderness. Next, we strolled around the park in the wagon watching the ducks in the pond with their ducklings and the turtles sunbathing. Then we found a nice spot to blow some bubbles.
Here are my fellas - the man who gave me a child and the boy who made me a mommy. Ahhhhhh. True love.

24 Weeks

Matthew wanted to show off his "big belly" too. Here he is with baby sister at 24 weeks.

He loves his new "gulasses" and wears them at every opportunity (like when we were at a friends house last week playing indoors). Here he is posing with his new "octopus" (?) who also has "gulasses". Oh yeah, he will tell you that Auntie Jackie made his new jacket and Daddy made his haircut.

Riding the "Stricoco"

Sweet Sleep at Last

Matthew was supposed to be napping the other day but he was whining instead. I went back to check on him and he said, "Mommy, kids motocycos. Bery loud!" Poor baby! He couldn't sleep because our neighbors were out back riding their quad! So I let him sit next to me on the couch until this happened:

Subataschla

Tulip Festival 2010

Matthew is napping right now so I should be cleaning or showering or napping, but, since my fan (mom) is giving me a hard time, I will blog instead.

We took Magm and Auntie Jackie to the Tulip Festival this year. It was freezing cold, but sunny and beautiful. (Note to CA readers, sun does not equal warm here as I had to remind both Mom and Jackie.)

Matthew loved seeing "many tulips - pink!" and especially loved splashing in the puddles in his froggie boots.

We made quite the day of our trip leaving bright and early for flower sightings, stopping at a yummy Mexican restaurant for lunch, then getting Jackie to work, re-caffeinating, stalling at Ikea, and finally dropping Mom at the airport. Phew!

Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?

Matthew is a cookie monster! He BEGGED me to bake some the other day, and hey, who doesn't like a freshly baked cookie? I put the first batch out to cool while I refilled the tray. Matthew decided that waiting was for wimps and helped himself. Yummy!

Yogurt makes me happy

My little actor

I don't think Matt will be a football star or baseball legend, but he just may be an actor ...

PS - Joshua can make the faces too! Check out his mad face.

Cereal (or something like it)

Matthew has been enjoying big boy foods like cereal and sandwiches ("samish"). More syllables always make a word more interesting, don't you think?

Pumpkin Pie

Christmas Picture Fail

We failed big time at Christmas pictures this year. Sadly, this is the best we have. Matthew enjoyed ripping wrapping paper off the gifts. Santa brought him a kitchen with all the matching accessories - even a shopping cart.

Here he is trying out his new cookware.

We spent Christmas Eve at the Graffe's where Matty got a play food set. Christmas Day we spent at Mom and Dad's where Joshua made an awesome breakfast for all.

We did manage to take a family photo at a portrait studio this year, so at least we have that. Here's to next year with more pictures!

Christmas Fun with Aunt Jackie

This first picture has nothing to do with Jackie, but it's pretty cute. Matthew has been asking for specific snacks lately either by name or by pointing. The other day he asked me to "ope" the fridge and chose this lovely cucumber as his early morning snack. Fine by me!
Daddy taught Matthew how to say "boots". He of course had to try them on as well.
This one is for Mag-m. Here you are chatting with the Matt man.
Nothing says Christmas like a boy in a stocking!
Reading with his aunt. Two of his most favorite things!

Aunt Jackie gave Matty a keyboard for Christmas. Theses videos are way too long to enjoy so just check out the first 3 seconds and you're good to go.

Matthew says "applezoz"

Thanksgiving

This year Joshua began what I think will be a tradition for years to come: Wear your craziest holiday sweater to Thanksgiving dinner. Oh what fun to be silly together and thankful for family!

As we shared our most thankful lists before bed I couldn't help but break down in tears missing my family. Life is full of choices and we are forced to make decisions constantly. While I do not regret the decision to live here in WA, my heart longs to be in California with those that I love.
Here is my sweet (and not yet growing - sorry people!) family. I am so thankful for my two boys.
Aunt Jackie managed to escape the photo opportunities, but she did come down to spend the holiday with us. She brought Christmas a bit early with this awesome reusable cup and other fun Starbucks treats.

Today we are going to brave the crowds and see what this Black Friday is all about. Jackie talked a lot about the 4:00 opening times, but here it is 9:00 and she is still in dreamland. :) Do you think there will be anything left at 4:00PM?

Nap update

So Matthew did in fact go down for a nap this afternoon. Hooray! About an hour and a half in he called, "Mommy?" like he usually does when he's ready to get up. When I went yo pick him up, instead of raising his arms and saying, "Up?" as usual, he swatted at me. So I left thinking I would very soon hear screaming. Nope. I just checked on him and he is back out again. Hmm, maybe I should be making dinner instead of blogging ...

"Like Homies and Gansters" and "Stuck"

I once had a student we'll call M. He asked me if boys crossed their legs. I told him yes, many men find it comfortable to cross their legs and demonstrated the usual "guy" style. He nodded in agreement and asked, "Like homies and gangsters?" From then on anything deemed "ghetto" is referred to as like homies and gangsters.

For example, Matthew's jeans. We have been doing a lot of switching between cloth and disposable diapers (darn the rashes!) and therefore need two sizes of pants. Get them wrong and you have a half naked boy on your hands.
These actually do fit quite nicely, but Matthew has discovered that he can take them off himself. Uh oh.
Matthew has also been learning words that begin with an s-blend: snake, snack, sticks, and stuck. Yes, he is playing with a girly pink stroller. He loves to push that thing around the house. Sometimes empty, sometimes with blocks, books, or shoes. He was attempting to put himself in and ask his friend to push him. Oops.
Speaking of pushing, he has tried to push all of our furniture around and in many cases succeeded. He told me he was stuck on the kitchen cart, but I think he meant the kitchen cart was stuck as he could no longer make it move.

My sweet little man is in his crib talking to himself and avoiding his afternoon nap (an unhappy habit that has been going on for about a week.) He has decided that he doesn't need a nap, however, come 6:00 and he is out like a light. Great! Wrong. He takes a nap and is wide eyed and bushy tailed by 7:30 when little boys should be getting ready for bed. Perhaps the eight new teeth coming in have something to do with this crazy schedule. Time will tell.

Just like Daddy

Matthew's vocabulary is expanding rapidly - like 2-3 words every day. Some of my favorites are "Dackie" (Aunt Jackie), "rackoo" (cracker), "baby" (at every child under 15), and "backoo" (vacuum).

He usually is more adept with his vacuuming skills. I think he was rushing to keep up with Daddy. I love it when my fellas help out!

Ahhh... Mornings with Matthew

Apparently Duckie needed his morning caffeine fix too. Thanks Matthew.

Joshua's 33rd Birthday

So for my 33rd birthday Erin wanted to bake me a special cake. A carrot cake shaped like a pumpkin. We also had bible study that night and it was our turn to provide the snack. Before we headed out the door, Erin was quick to snap this shot. The cake was delicious and everyone enjoyed it.

The group gave me a singing card, which Matthew has been enjoying all week. He has even created some new dance moves. Watch him teach some of those moves to you in the video.

Tom's Farm

Today we ventured out to Tom's Farm at the suggestion of Fiona.  It was awesome!  We all enjoyed the music, shopping, and sights.  Matthew liked it even better than Disneyland.  

We started off at the petting zoo where there were baby goats, piglets, and chickens.  Adorable!
Next we went into the furniture store (where I found my next couch - leather with dual recliners) and Matt threw a tantrum.  
Then we rode the train into the wilderness, through an Amish style bridge, and back.  Matthew refused to sit still until we started moving which reminded me once again how nervous I am for Wednesday's flight.
Finally, we rode the carousel where Matthew made his parade debut.  He waved at everyone all the way around and thought he was the star of the show.  "Weeeeeee!"

What a fun day.  Thanks Fiona for suggesting and Aunt Beth for treating!

Park Fun

We took the two cutie boys to the park on Saturday.  Caleb enjoyed running, climbing, and sliding.  Matthew preferred sitting in the Club House.  Caleb tried it out for a minute or two.

Caleb giving his cousin kisses.
Matthew giving his cousin kisses.

Anniversary Message

Big Boy Haircut

Matt and I went out shopping this morning and went for an impulse buy.  There was a children's haircut store next door with fun car chairs and bubbles. So we went in.  Matt had fun for about 10 seconds and then she started to touch his head.  He then proceeded to scream his little head off and attempt to cling to me while she worked her magic.  I don't know about the style for his hair - it kinda just sticks up since he has so much body.  And it probably wasn't worth the $15 I paid, but hey, he looks handsome anyway.  Oh yeah, the Harry Potter-like scar on his nose is from a face plant into the table at IHOP a few days ago.  Nice.

Disneyland!

We decided to splurge this year and take the fam to Disneyland.  It's a pretty special place for us since Joshua and I spent many fun times there while we were dating and our first apartment was all of about four miles from there.  We have been back once since moving to WA but thought this time Matty might enjoy the park with us.  He was actually not such a happy camper all day.  After the plane ride and drive to the hotel he decided midnight was a great time to play.  And then cry.  And cry some more.  He ended up sleeping from about 2-5 (that means half the hotel only slept from 2-5 ...).  He was tired and mostly ambivalent toward all things Disney.  Oh well, we got three for the price of one tickets so I suppose it was ok. 
Jackie got her favorite Disney beverage - the mint julep.
Daddy and Matty rode the carousel and Dumbo together.  Matt still thinks horses say "moo". Whatever.
Once he was out, he was out.  He snoozed through the very loud fireworks show and the long walk back through the crowds to the hotel.  

My mom came and picked up Matt and Jackie so Joshua and I could enjoy an early anniversary night together.  We headed straight for the hot tub to soak our tired tootsies.  Then, we went for a late night bite and another old favorite, Mimi's Cafe.  It wasn't the same as we remembered.  Boo.  After sleeping in and having breakfast in the Circle of Orange (another popular date spot) we came to rescue my mom from the littlest Hardwick.  

It was a lovely birthday with the most birthday wishes I have ever had (thanks to the Disneyland pin).  Although I still say I am 29 and holding.

CA Fun

(This picture is supposed to be at the bottom, so read the captions there.)
Joshua left us this morning to head back home.  Here are a few (and only a few because lately I stink at remembering to use the camera) pictures of our weekend.  We went to visit our old church, Rock Harbor.  Service was awesome ... I always leave there feeling convicted and encouraged.  Here is Ua with his long time pals Tracy and Kaitlyn.
Hanging out with the Graham Fam at Mom's house.  
Matthew took a short break from screaming and slapping his Grandma to "help" her with her studies.  He had to put his glasses on to look studious while scribbling in her book.  

Tonight we met up with the Hedley's for their weekly pizza night.  Matthew had a tremendous amount of fun driving the video game car and picking the olives off of everyone's pizza.  He must have been seriously worn out because he was fast asleep before we pulled out of the parking lot at about a quarter to seven.  I better hit the hay too since he will likely be up half the night ...