Silly songs with Pabo

Driving to a Moscow Christmas

Christmas came early at our house

Happy birthday Ryle! We love you!

Buddies

Costco ice cream!!

Bringing home the tree

After dinner ball roll

Meet Finn

At the airport!

Girls date to Molbaks

Wendy, John and Michael

Penguins

Impromptu trip to the zoo!

Ryle Smile

Around here this guy gets called all kind of things, but most often "smilin' Ryle" and "Ryle smile" (not ever Smiley Ryley though). So far, Ryle Henry is a real happy go lucky kind of guy, adaptable to meal and schedule changes, a good napper, and a good crawler. His siblings adore him, and he receives their rough and tumble love with good natured smiles (most of the time).

However, along with that sunny disposition Ryle definitely has a sneaky streak which my other two never had. At the ripe age of 10 and a half months, he has already become more cunning than kids twice his age. Perhaps he learned it from the older siblings; I'm more inclined to think he's actively adapting to his environment. Sort of a survival of the fittest applied to a third child, if you know what I mean. And I am not just talking about the times I have forgotten to sweep under the high chair and he quietly sneaks around hunting left overs until I catch him. What I am talking about here is how he watches, waits, and acts. 

For example, first he sees that the gate to the stairs has been left open. Does he dash over and climb up first chance he gets? Oh no. He sits from a distance. He picks up a toy. He tosses the toy slightly closer.  He watches. He waits. He smiles at me. He talks to Lily. He even crawls away and plays in the kitchen for a while. Then, he gets his cue: Jonathan declares he needs to go to the bathroom and I go with him to help. And somehow, during that sixty seconds, he crawls with superhuman speed across two large rooms and zips up to the top of the stairs. He sits quietly and waits. Fortunately he does not (usually) attempt a descent. And always, it takes me at least several minutes after handing out the potty treats to realize he is gone. 

But now I know where to look first. I leap up to the landing, and there he is at the top of the next flight, waiting. And he laughs. And I laugh. Because he is just a little baby, and he is so pleased with himself for being so cute and so cunning. And then Lily comes running and puts her little hands on his little cheeks and calls him The Most Wild Thing of All. And we all laugh.

Good times

Hmm, let me back up. We went to Moscow a couple weekends ago for Kristen's wedding, which was lovely. We had a busy week of school and work, and then Luke turned the big 3-0. To celebrate, Isaac came over and they golfed all day. The next night, I threw a party for him at our house, and when I asked him how he felt turning 30, he replied, "not much different...after all, I've been living like I'm in my thirties for the past six years!" It's really true, and that's why I love him. A wife, three kids, a mortgage, medical school, and residency...all by the age of 30. What a man!

So, with all of the above, and Lily's school/ballet schedule, Luke's work, and me having a pretty long lasting sinus infection (note, I have more sympathy now-sinus infections are nothing like just a bad cold), October has whizzed by. Also, we have been enjoying Jess and Natali and baby Eve's company while they spend a short time in Seattle. Today we took a trip to zoo in the sunny fall weather. Tomorrow we plan to pick pumpkins in Snohomish. Hooray!

Hmm, zoo followed by Red Mill

Making daddy's cake

YAY!

Partied out

Whole lot of cousins at the market

All I want for Christmas is...

To explain in Lily's words, "I would like another baby doll, because I only have seven, and it would be nice to have eight, and I have a brown teddy bear, but I would really like to have a pink one, and flowers, because that's what mommy and I love, and also a ball (that took several attempts to write), a new dress, a playhouse, and a dog. A real dog."

Buddies

I can't believe we haven't yet posted about our new friends, Karly and Ty. They live across the street, and are 4 and 2, only a few months younger than Lily and Jonathan. The four of them are great buddies and spend hours playing together. It so nice to have built in buds! Lily summed it up when she gave Karly a big hug and said, "You are my best friend, except for Jonathan!"

































We get to see even more of them as I am going to nanny them a few days a week, with a few full time weeks coming up. Yes, I know...six months ago if you had asked me to take on a few extra kids I would have rolled over and played dead. But that's the beauty of time...and more children of your own...you adapt. Today when they showed up at 8am I accepted them without batting an eye, and we had a great day! And do I sleep well at night? Definitely.

School is making me smart

Our bedtime conversation.

Me: So, Lily-
Lily: I know what you're going to ask me, mom. You're going to ask me about school and what I did today.
Me: I'm going to be asking you those questions the rest of your life because I'm your mom and I love you.
Lily: Even when I'm grown up?
Me: Yep.
Lily: Well, when I go to college I'll be sure to call you and leave you messages.

Earlier today.

Lily: Hey mom, did you know that I've seen old men wearing earrings? Really.
Me: What do you think about that?
Lily: I think it's not consistent.
Me: You're right.

Lily begins the age of reason

Lily started preschool today. I was so excited for her...so happy for her to have this experience. Her little class (six girls and one boy) were all so wondering and shy. Of course this will wear off quickly, but today was very sweet. Especially when compared to the boisterous, chaotic kindergartners. I mean, the teacher tells the little four year olds to get in line and they look back at her with blank faces. I could go on and on, but will stop before I get too sentimental. More on school to come.

Ready to go.



















At school.

J Man

Jonathan is two and a half, but if you ask him, he is five. He has kicked it into high gear, energized by complete verbal skills and the ability to throw, run, and hit. We spend a great deal of time channeling this energy.

His imagination is also reaching great heights. In keeping with the time honored tradition of the "fish story," Jonathan related this to Lily when we picked her up from school today (and I quote).

Jonathan: See my scrape on my knee? See Wily? Wily, look at my scrape!!
Lily: I see it buddy. What happened?
J: Well, I was walkin', and this big crab came up, and bited my lil' knee, and he came up out of the water, and bit me. And I was in the sand, and there was this crab, and he got my knee. See Wily? And then he went back to the water and didn't bite me again. Well, anyway.
Lily: Good story buddy.

When, in reality, he had fallen in the school parking lot and cut it open on a rock. I mean, how boring! But a crab, with sand and water, now that's a real story! For my two year old to have grasped this concept was fascinating. We like a good story.

Thinning out (maybe).



















Saying goodbye to Lily.

Ryle Henry

Ryle turned 9 months old yesterday, and his latest developments include crawling up stairs (with someone behind ready to catch), pulling up to a stand (but not being able to dismount), and cutting some pretty impressively sized teeth. He popped out a cute little bottom tooth about a month ago, followed by a huge fang on the top, looked like a Jack o' lantern for a week, then cut a second tooth on the bottom. The other top tooth is on the verge of breaking through.

Most importantly, however, he has learned to clap and is our family cheer leader. Whenever anyone feels he or she needs a little boost, Ryle obliges by grinning hugely and clapping. Instead of "mom, watch me!" Lily and Jonathan now call for Ryle to watch as they go down the slide, jump off the box, turn a somersault (or whatever). In fact, Ryle makes a perfect one man audience, always watching, ready to clap and cheer for his siblings. I have trained him well.

The fang on top.















Pulling up. The only way to get down is to accidentally fall back on his bottom.



















Demonstrating new skills.

Family dinner

Ballet begins

I'll be home soon mom. Look how much fun I had.

Cousin love

Hmmm, Maltby Cafe

Neighborhood playground

Good burgers Pa

Happy Fourth wink

Look what I found

YES!