Ramsdaletopia

Warming Up!

2009-05-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we went to the Seattle Center (home of the Space Needle) on a lovely warm day. We were there to see Sidi Goma at Giant Magnet (formerly the Seattle International Children's Festival) and to visit the International Fountain. Had a great time and Lucas loved it so much we went back for more the next day.

I love having free entertainment options like this nearby! (Well, except for parking...)

At the Tulip Festival

2009-05-18T05:58:00.000-07:00

Ho visitors! Welcome back...

If you go north of Seattle an hour or so on I-5 you'll run into the Skagit Valley, home to more tulips than anywhere else in America. Every year there's a Tulip Festival to celebrate. This year Cris's parents were in town and we took an excursion.

Sister + kids

2009-01-09T23:28:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I've made it home to Alabama, so sister and family pictures were in order. Of course, once you start gettting beyond two people in a photo the chances of getting a good one go way down. So I think we made out pretty well with this one. There were 3 or 4 other cameras firing so hopefully I'll get some other group shots to remember this visit by as well. It was a good time all hanging out together and doing little more than socializing and eating.

Sisters

2009-01-09T23:22:00.000-08:00

Cousins

2009-01-09T23:17:00.000-08:00

Tea party

2009-01-09T22:20:00.000-08:00

Love you Nana!

2009-01-09T22:16:00.000-08:00

The kids, up close and personal

2009-01-06T23:24:00.000-08:00

I just have to show off our beautiful children... You really should click on the pictures and see them full size. So what's up with the family these days?

Wren's very chatty and has a new tea set and a Cabbage Patch doll from Nana she's quite into.

Lucas is busy with trains and rockets. I'm reading The Chronicles of Narnia to him--we're in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader currently.

I'll try to come up with transcripts of something clever or hilarious the kids say--they're a hoot--but like most parents we usually forget to write them down when they happen.

words words words

2008-11-02T16:05:00.000-08:00

I remember last year hearing Lucas, then 2, running around the house and chatting up a storm. At that time Wren was crawling, cooing baby. I remember thinking, "Wow. Next year this place is going to be really loud with 2 chatty running little people living with us." Well, now it is this year and, yes, we do have 2 chatty running little people living with us. They like to chase each other around, to copy what each other says, and yell "no!" and "mine!" at each other.

To help me remember some of the funnier things they say as my children steal my youth from me, I thought I'd share them here:

After a discussion at lunch btw Jeff and Lucas on how Thomas the Tank Engine likes to eat the same things Lucas does, Jeff said, "So you and Thomas have a lot in common." To which Lucas replied, "Yeah! And I have a lot in common with me too!"

Jeff then informed me that earlier that morning when Lucas was looking at himself in our vanity (which displays 3 reflections when angled right), he exclaimed, "Look! It's all my friends!" Jeff said he tried not to take it personally.

Wren has this funny habit right now of using a noun and her self-referent pronoun to let us know she wants certain clothing items on:
"Shoe me!"
"Hat me!"
"Bathing suit me!"

Which led to her asking me the other day to "Off boot me!" She got her point across.
Her favorite phrase of the month is "pumpkin patch." Every pumpkin is a "pumpkin patch." When she's been out of a room and then comes back to join us she proclaims, "I came home!"
Last night we went to a performance and after the 3rd song we had to take the kids out of the auditorium because in the pause between each song Wren insisted on shouting out, "All done! All done!"

She really has an amazing amount of sentences for being to little and I enjoy everyday of listening to her expand her vocabulary. It is as amazing as if I could see her grow in front of me.

My life is still super busy but my kids and I have hit a good groove and are relaxing into our fall days together. If you'd like to see more photos of us than you probably really want to go here.

18 months

2008-09-01T22:35:00.000-07:00

18 months is like magic to me. I remember it with Lucas and I am watching it with Wren. Lucas turned 18 months at Christmas time. He had this sudden out pouring of language and social skills. However, with him all of this was somewhat muted because he had a fever, then an ear infection, then a cold, then another cold...all of this made him less eager to full engage the world around him.

However, Wren hit 18 months at full stride in the rich warmth of the summer sun. Or, at least in a summer month. Summer this year in Seattle has been a real disappointment with a surprising lack of "rich warmth" or "summer sun." We've been in long pants and long sleeves much too often for this southern girl's tastes. Anyway, Wren now names every bus, car, and bike we pass. She loves to point to Lucas's things and say, "Lucas's bed! Lucas's shoes!" She makes me pick her up and then says, "Walk!!!" as she points the way like a princess. She loves saying, "Hair!" and then working her way around the room attempting to touch everyone's hair. She is saying more phrases and clearly lets us know what she wants (Go! Car!...More! Book!). Last week she decided she didn't want help on the stairs outside anymore and very deliberately proceeded to learn how to walk up and down them without holding onto anything. She and Lucas have a great time laughing at each other, imitating each other, and chasing each other. Watching them together, I am grateful Wren showed up to make us a family of four earlier than I had planned. It has been a good summer together. I look forward to more times this fall.

Hopefully we'll actually manage to archive some more of our summer photos here soon. We're still navigating having 2 cameras and photos on 2 different computers. That's the problem with digital. You can take a ton of pictures!!! Then you have to figure out how the heck to organize them all...

One person's point of view

2008-08-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

Lucas: "Look! It's a Lucas!"
Mommy: "Why is it a Lucas?"
Lucas: "Because he's sitting on a potty!"

flying to the beach on our airplane

2008-08-09T21:11:00.001-07:00

sweet sweet summer

2008-07-14T23:25:00.000-07:00

I wish I could remember the dozen amazing things my children say each day. Every day Lucas makes me laugh with the humor and unintentional wisdom of his words. Wren is just utterly delighting in having oh so many words. My chatty girl. I could hold her in my lap and smell her white blond hair all day. On this long, over brilliant blue-green days of summer I can think of nothing better than passing slow hours with my children at the wading pool, on the beach, in the sand. I have only one more paper to write for summer classes and I am so glad because I've already had such a taste of joy this week in slowing down a bit more just to be...to be with my family, with myself.

Here are the people I love spending my days with...

That's Lucas's granddaddy there making a guest appearance. And that little boy with the squished up face would be you-know-who. Anyone know a good trick to actually getting a 3 yr old to smile nicely?

2008 fremont solstice parade

2008-06-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

Saturday we went to the Fremont Solstice Parade at the Center of the Universe. Fun times!

The bikers:

The parade:

wren's turn

2008-06-22T22:23:00.000-07:00

With all the attention lavished on Lucas lately it's time for a Wren update.

Scene: the Ramsdale family bed, this morning...

Cris: Achoo!
Wren and Jeff, simultaneously: Bless you!

Well, Wren's was more like "bess oo". She's also pretty good at saying "thank you" without being prompted.

Here's the little tyke:

Contemplating crushing her brother and his new bike:

On the trail to Twin Falls:

From A Hike to Twi...

On the trail back from Twin Falls:

lucas gets a bike

2008-06-22T22:06:00.000-07:00

For his 3rd birthday we gave Lucas a bike.

From Lucas Gets a ...

His sister went into a fit of jealous rage.

So he ran her over.

All better.

The bike is a Boot Scoot Cruiser. You might notice it doesn't have any pedals as it's a balance bicycle. That's so little guys can learn to balance without messing with pedals or training wheels (which teach bad habits). Evidently they are all the rage in Europe...

lucas turns 3

2008-06-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

Little Lucas turned 3 last week! Strapping young lad. He's curious, mischievous, a joke teller and a fine conversationalist. One failing is his inability to pucker his lips effectively for proper candle-blowing, so mom had to help. Here he is prior to the attempt:

From Lucas's 3rd B...

Like his mother, he enjoys being celebrated.

Meanwhile, Wren entertained herself...

Thanks all who made it!

an introduction

2008-06-20T23:29:00.000-07:00

Long-time readers may recall several break-ins here at the old homestead over a year ago that resulted in the loss of numerous cameras and laptops. Recently we finally replaced the digital SLR, resulting in an up-tick in photographs captured (better weather hasn't hurt either, though that is certainly in short supply this year). This camera is more typically used by Jeff, so he has been granted publish rights to this little blog so that he might post some of said photos. In fact, Jeff is writing this post, which also indicates the degree to which Cris tends to overload her schedule. Here's wishing myself much success in keeping you, dear reader, engaged!

2008-05-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

2008-05-20T14:08:00.000-07:00

2008-05-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

2008-05-10T21:19:00.001-07:00

Lucas, as we are skipping and hopping down the sidewalk: "We're like fireworks!"
Mommy: "Why are we like fireworks?"
Lucas: "Because we are jumping up and making loud noises."

my big boy

2008-04-18T23:22:00.000-07:00

munchkins

2008-04-10T19:07:00.001-07:00

i love me some blanket

2008-04-10T18:58:00.000-07:00

mondays

2008-04-07T22:59:00.001-07:00

Mondays are our house are "Erica day," a very exciting event. Erica comes in the morning and watches the kids until mid-afternoon, ans she sometimes bringing along her lovely dog to grace our home. She (meaning Erica...and I suppose meaning the dog as well) lived with us for a month when she first moved to Seattle when Lucas was the age Wren is now. I like to think they've been tight ever since (Erica and Lucas...and I suppose meaning the dog and Lucas as well). However, Wren is pretty hooked on her now too. She hurries to her to gives her hugs when she arrives. This morning the little bird was sitting on my bed and I said to her, "Guess who is coming today? Erica!" And she quickly hopped off the bed and hurried to the door. Sadly, I'd said this about half an hour before our company had actually arrived so Wren had to hold onto her anticipation a bit longer. But look at that genuine smile in this pic. That's one happy kid.

bunny

2008-04-02T21:48:00.001-07:00

life with a 1 and a 2 yr old

2008-03-17T12:19:00.001-07:00

Lucas and Wren keep getting bigger.

And sometimes they actually have story time together, though typically Wren is such a ball of energy she's all over the place.

2008-03-06T11:23:00.001-08:00

Wren's new fav activity--rocking with no hands. Funny that I got the rocking chair when she was a new born for Lucas to feel like he had a seat of his own when Wren was in her bouncy or swing or whatever. Now she's taken over.
And Lucas now has a tatoo that I believe will never come off his arm. It was a reward for staying dry all day but now the reward just goes on and on and on and on...

first ice cream cones of the new year

2008-03-06T11:20:00.001-08:00

We've had some nice springy days lately and we have a new Italian cafe down the hill. All of that adds up to weekend gelato!

My favorite people

2008-02-27T23:02:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday Little Bird!

2008-02-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

I can't believe she is one! I'm so proud. I was worried that whatever child followed Lucas just wouldn't be able to match up to the bushels of personality he has, but Wren has no problem whatsoever with this. She's a totally imp, playful and mischievous, and very funny. I love my girl.

from my perspective

2008-02-07T19:39:00.001-08:00

people in, time out

2008-01-29T23:45:00.001-08:00

seems we've had a ton of people in our home lately, including the amiable and enjoyable Amanda and Daniel.

it is a sad day for the kids when no one drops by our place for a cuppa.

we've also had a ton of time outs and other creative discipline techniques round these parts. i suppose he is two. we still like each other.

hummmmmmus

2008-01-29T23:44:00.001-08:00

life in our homestead

2008-01-17T18:27:00.000-08:00

Wren is now climbing everything she can (resulting in more than a couple hard knocks to the head. We are keeping a close eye on her these days).

Lucas is thankfully a hard sleeper overnight. This leads to some great bedhead.

And Chloe just wants you all to know that she definately doesn't get her fair share of meat. She still loves us though.

quotable (or not so much but I'll do it anyway)

2008-01-07T22:42:00.000-08:00

So, this is a place that I'm keeping a record for myself as well as updating family and any of the rest of you voyeurs. I know, I know, it isn't really voyeurism if I'm asking for it. Blogs are just a whole new thing. And while I'm on the topic, I'm just AMAZED at the blogging communities out there. Mom blogs. Dad blogs. Foodie blogs. News blogs. Knitting blogs (I haven't looked at this, just guessing). I can waste HOURS of my precious evenings jumping from blog to blog to blog.

Anyway, this post isn't suppose to be about how I waste my days but rather about Lucas's growing communication skills. Here's the lovely boy in the flesh. Well, actually it is a virtual photo which let me tell you really doesn't communicate the extent of his charisma.

So, for my own sake, I'd like to record some of what Lucas has wanted to talk about lately.
Today he told me, "My name Asher. Me became Asher." We've been trying to teach him his full name. Today he decided for 2 minutes to go by his middle name. If he wants to down the road, I'm fine with that. I wanted his first name to be Asher anyway. However, after 2 minute of calling him Asher I realized that it is much easier to say Lucas over and over again.

Related to potty training:
"Poo poo come out this hole. Pee pee come out this one." I'm so glad we've got a smart kid who can figure these things out.

Coming into our bedroom in the morning:
"Mommy! Get up! Cuz me awake!"

"Me have some daddy milk?" a request made one night when we told him he was too big for mommy milk. "Me get milk out of your belly?" a request made to Jeff on another night when I reprimanded Wren for attempting to suck milk out of my belly.

"No. Don't do that. That not nice. That not fair." When I take something away from him that he shouldn't be playing with or, as in the case of this morning, when I threw his shirt to him instead of handing it to him. "No throw it. Hand it to me."

And the constant refrain since he learned I can't eat wheat: "you not like wheat mama?" "Dada like wheat?" which then moves onto other food topics "You like chocolate chips mama?" "yeah" "Me like chocolate chips?" "yeah" (the yeahs are Lucas answering his own question). "Towey (Chloe) like chocolate chips?" "yeah" No I don't think Chloe likes chocolate. "Towey like meat!" Yeah, Chloe likes meat. "You like chocolate chips mama?" "Wren like chocolate chips?" And so it goes for hours, and hours...

The other night he was having a great time in the bathtub. I walked into the bathroom (Jeff bathes the kids) and he looked at me and said, "Mommy. Get in bathtub. Take your clothes off!" Which wasn't nearly as bad as the morning when he walked into the bedroom as I was putting my bra on and told me, "No! Take that off. Me wanna see those!" Oh my.

It only gets more elaborate from here, I am sure. Since already we are hearing stories about some orange cow that wanders into his bedroom, spent a month closing his bedroom doors so "no dinosaurs come in," and always have animals outside when we leave the house in the dark (which doesn't seem to bother him but disturbs me everytime he says it).

potty training

2007-12-30T00:10:00.001-08:00

I swear we've been stepping toward potty training with Lucas for a year now. One day it will all click. For now I'll have to console myself with cute photos.

On a totally different note, here's another great Christmas photo. We had friends over on Christmas Eve, including Sylas's dad Phil and brother Judah who's just about Wren's size.

december activities

2007-12-29T23:50:00.001-08:00

Wren's new favorite nursing pose.

Popcorn lover.

Christmas Eve, new plane.

First baby doll.

Watching the Grinch with friends (who kept reaching over and patting him on the cheek).

Christmas snow! (Ok, it's not a lot but it's something!)

bed roll

2007-12-10T23:20:00.001-08:00

Wren's favorite thing these days besides playing with my cell phone is rolling around on the pillows on our bed. Of course, she's so stinkin' cute while doing it I must take 5o bazillion pictures of her.

bad hair day

2007-12-10T23:16:00.001-08:00

Family

2007-12-07T23:43:00.000-08:00

Snow

2007-12-07T23:33:00.001-08:00

Come back

2007-11-18T23:34:00.000-08:00

Lucas has been getting short shrift in the photos lately, so i think i'll throw some in of him.

(The title there is also a reference to one of his new favorite phrases, "Come back! No, don't go! Wait!" This is said when he's not cooperating with nap time so we say, "well, alright, i guess you don't need to be tucked in. have a good nap." It is important when imagining him saying these things to picture them said in an overly dramatized fashion. He's completely sincere but sounds worse than a beginnning actor overstating his lines.)

Bedtime reading

Lucas, um, "helping" me clean.

In his apron from Ruthie. Thanks Ruthie!

Happy 9 months, little bird

2007-11-09T23:50:00.000-08:00

3 seasons with Wren already.

I am so totally in love with this happy, smiley, giggly baby. She's so snuggly, playful, and expressive. Last week she officially stood on her own two feet and every day since has gotten better and better at it.

Today she was having a great time walking around the great room pushing Lucas's ride on airplay back and forth. We fully expect her to be taking her first steps sometime this month.

Ninjas vs. Pirates

2007-11-01T20:09:00.002-07:00

8 months and counting

2007-10-18T14:51:00.001-07:00

Wren deserves an update. She is so big and active now.

Wren, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
The way you chase me around the house and insist I pick you up (you should see the speed she crawls at!). The way you giggle when I tickle your feet or when Lucas makes funny noises. The way you head for the bathroom when you hear the bath water start. (I don't like the attraction you have to playing with Lucas's potty. We really need to talk about that). How happy you look every time the cat jumps up to be near me. The "yeah-yeah-yeah" and "ga-ga-ga" sounds you make as you converse with us and your toys. The way you grin and tilt your head to the side (yeah, you know how cute you are). The way you quickly crawl and cling to me as if life depended on it when Lucas barrels down the hall into your bedroom. I suppose I love the whole of your sweet snuggly self. I'm glad you are enjoying the world. It is nicer with you in it.

Go on train. Go Portland.

2007-10-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to take the train up or down the coast forever. It didn't work out for the spring so we finally found a fall weekend to hop a train and head down to Portland. Every day for a month Lucas would ask, "Go Portland today?" He happily wore his train shirt and played with his Thomas trains on the train. It doesn't get any better than that in his world.
For the weekend we stayed with Nate and Deb who were awesome hosts (thanks Nate and Deb!). Despite having canker sores all weekend and having to live on smoothies and baked potatoes, I came back feeling very rested.

I'm looking forward to our next chance to take the train and to go back to Portland. I'm hooked on both.

good times at bed time

2007-09-23T23:03:00.001-07:00

And have I mentioned the Wren is crawling like a fiend? The girl chases me around the house these days. 7 and a half months! We're in trouble.

how did you get so big?

2007-09-23T23:02:00.001-07:00

goodbye summer.

2007-09-05T18:10:00.001-07:00

we'll miss you.

i think they are winning

2007-09-05T17:50:00.001-07:00

I have no chance now that they are both mobile.

look out world

2007-08-31T22:46:00.000-07:00

we almost didn't make it

2007-08-28T16:05:00.001-07:00

So we went to the North Cascades on Friday. We arrive a bit later than planned and dark was creeping in while we scrambled to pitch our tent and feed the kids. Jeff gets the tent almost up, it is almost completely dark out, and Lucas suddenly realizes that sleeping in the woods in a tent might not be quite what he imagined. He bolts for the car begging to be let into his carseat and crying, "Go home! Go home!" Jeff pleads with him a bit and then finally heads over to take the tent down. As Jeff works on the tent, Lucas begins to explore the campsite. (Meanwhile I am eating the pureed peas and brown rice that Wren didn't finish because I am starving and in the midst of all of this there really is no time to fix big people food. I am also having to hold Wren because every time we set her down she crawls off and begins to stuff her face with pine needles). The tent is totally down and Lucas, thanks to his exploration and the encouragement of a neighboring camper, decides that maybe he'd be okay sleeping here and that hiking in the morning sounds cool. Jeff puts tent up again.

At this point we were all totally wiped out and went to sleep. Thankfully the kids slept great and the next day we got out and did a beautiful hike. Wren was happy to let us cart her along wherever we went and Lucas did a great job of hiking 3 miles in his Crocs (I promise, Lucas, I'll get you some decent shoes to hike in next summer).

simplifying

2007-08-22T22:35:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for the times I get out on my own and for the books I read besides picture books, but I am also very thankful for the daily conversations I have with Lucas that keep me solidly earthed in the simple things. So, he's doing pretty darn well with the potty training. Yesterday as he peed in the toilet I said to him, "That's all that milk you drank earlier coming out." He looked up at me and eagerly proclaimed, "Lemonade!" Clever boy.

A clever boy who is about to get a wake up call. Wren is officially crawling as of the past 2 days. It is slow, but she gets what she wants. Even before she was mobile Lucas spent half his day taking toys from her saying, "No Wren! Don't have that Wren." (We've been trying to teach him to trade if he insists on taking what she has but then yesterday I caught him somehow attempting to trade her a toy for something with an xacto blade in it. I've got to work on that child proofing again...).

Oh, and one more story. Lucas really is a good big brother. This week he's attempted to spoon feed Wren, push her in the swing, and comfort her in the car as she wailed on the way home to bed. ("It's okay Wren. Mama take care you, Wren.") And, melt my heart, he told me "Love you!" for the first time out of the blue at the play ground on Sunday. Sweetie.

somethin' fishy

2007-08-18T21:53:00.000-07:00

Watching the fish. It's a great time of year to watch the salmon migrate or check out the aquarium.

summer's eve

2007-08-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

six months

2007-08-05T22:28:00.000-07:00

Wren will be six months old this coming week. She's sitting up all by herself, getting up on her hands and knees and rocking, and managing to maneuver herself after toys. What happened? Last I looked she was sleeping in my arms while I was chasing after Lucas. Now there are two little people with abundant personality occupying my living room floor. Our days are filled with Lucas saying, "Here ya go Wren!" as he hands her toy after toy--soon followed by Wren's howls as Lucas decides to take back whatever toy she's picked up to suck on.

I was really hoping not to start her on solids til, oh, another week or two but Wren decided she was going to find a way to eat whether I wanted her too or not. So, she's now feasting on rice cereal and bananas and is eagerly anticipating her first taste of phad thai.

not so lazy summer days

2007-08-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

But we try to fit in the fun. It helps to have a playground, a wading pool, and a beach all in walking distance.

2007-07-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took Lucas and Wren to see Ratatouille (which I recommend. It is a lovely film). Wren did a great job of being totally mesmerized then falling asleep. Lucas was excited and thrilled and loved the popcorn...and then the previews started. I never realized how loud and large they are. Poor Lucas's eyes became saucers and he began saying, "Outside! Outside!" We moved to the back of the theater, endured about 20 previews, and then finally the movie began. Lucas did a good job of sitting through the whole thing, and enjoyed a lot of it, but he seemed relieved when he could tell
us "Go potty!" so that someone would take him out of the theater to some place more familiar. I'm glad I saw the film but I don't think I'll put Lucas through that again til he's a bit older. Once again, I have a whole new perspective on the experience of movies (the big screen really is different from watching things on TV at home).

i like it

2007-07-07T10:18:00.001-07:00

especially when it comes in chocolate

sweet cheeks

2007-07-06T17:37:00.000-07:00

What We Did In June

2007-06-25T11:00:00.001-07:00

We went to the beach and Nana and Pop Pop's and visited cousins and celebrated Lucas's second birthday multiple times.

Wren and I followed this up by traveling to the Via Affirmativa conference in St. Paul, MN with our friend Jen. Wren at 4 months has been to five states, the beach, an art museum, and traveled on a dozen airplanes...which probably explains why we both have colds right now.

Wren chillin' at the conference.

My Peeps

2007-06-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

I spend so much time with these guys. Good thing they are funny.

double jogger!

2007-06-04T19:43:00.001-07:00

I've been waiting for a few months to be able to put Wren in the double jogger and finally get back to jogging/walking faster than a kid in a sling can tolerate. The other day I decided to take both kids out for a spin I think it went pretty well. Lucas picked his side and was excited to have Wren riding next to him. Wren fell asleep soon after I started walking, had a nice nap, and then enjoyed watching Lucas playground from her nice, shaded front-row seat. Get ready for a faster fitter Cris.

chillin' saturday morning

2007-05-27T22:22:00.000-07:00

saturday morning cris and jeff will have to wait til another time...

Mmmm Zebra

2007-05-27T22:19:00.000-07:00

wren's friends

2007-05-11T21:50:00.000-07:00

Younger and (slightly) older.
(Judah, Mary, and Deb).
Oh, and Lucas would say they are his friends too.

can't we just go outside?

2007-05-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

Whoo-hoo

2007-04-28T22:26:00.000-07:00

Dude. Another awesome potty training day. The things you get excited about as a parent--it seems a little bit messed up. I've spent way too much time the past two days saying, "Do you want to let your pee pee out and put it in the potty?" And who knew that dog stickers and getting to flush the toilet were such great rewards? We were out much of the day and Lucas came to the end of the day having only really soiled one diaper. ONE. Can we really be this close to the time that we'll only have one kid in diapers?

The weirdest part of it all was i've been dreading potty training. And now that we are actually doing it I'm kinda having fun. Of course I can't help but laugh when Lucas goes running down the hall from time to time singing "potty time, potty time" in his funny little toddler voice and pronunciation. And yesterday i coaxed him into the bathroom when he was playing with his Thomas trains by asking, "Does Thomas have to go pee pee?" The next minute we are in the bathroom holding Thomas over Lucas's little potty going "sssssssssssssssssssssssss" and congratulating Thomas on using the potty. Oh my.

potty time! potty time!

2007-04-27T21:16:00.000-07:00

Today was suppose to be a great day to get out and walk. Or go to the playground. Or something. But instead the weather was crappy and I decided it would be a good day to work on potty training. Lucas has been doing great so far but with all the busyness of new baby, school, work, gardening, etc we haven't been able to hit it as hard as we like. Today he only got 2 diapers dirty. Hoorah! Lots of potty trips, new briefs with Thomas the Tank Engine, and rewards of dog stickers. I'm so excited about the idea of only washing and folding Wren's diapers and not 2 sets.

Little guy, little girl

2007-04-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

You mess with my sister, I mess with your face.

Catch up

2007-04-24T21:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry i've been bad about posting photos! I blame school.

Here are the kids:
(Lucas in his new boxer briefs and again in Dada's shoes. Wren just looking as cute as she can.)

Family

2007-04-04T23:46:00.000-07:00

Wren has been with us for almost 2 months now. She's definitely in and no longer a stranger.

Yesterday I was sitting with Lucas as he watched a claymation video. It had a series of short stories on it, the secong of which was a kind of prince and the pauper story. Twin princes are born, one is stolen and then raised in poverty unaware of his true identity. I was reading email on my laptop when sudden Lucas began wailing. The scene was on where a bad man steals one of the twin infants. Lucas began howling, "Baby! Baby!" and crying in fear. I held him til he calmed down and reassured him that the baby was alright.

He typically refers to Wren as "Baby" and gives her more kisses at bedtime than I get (tonight she got 3 and a snuggle then he finally got around to me). I about cried yesterday when I realized his response to the movie showed how deeply he already cared about his little sister. Whatever he thinks this tiny person is, he seems pretty protective of her.

I also love the fact he thought I was sooooooo hilarious today when I'd say "bump, bump, bubuduh bubduh bump" every time we went over a bumpy area on the road. He was cracking up. Bless him. I'm not really that funny but it sure is nice to have a fan.

I'm Bigger or Happy Six Weeks

2007-03-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

Old Friends and New Friends

2007-03-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Phil, Ruth, and big brother Sylas on the arrival of baby Judah. Wren's now met a person smaller than her!

Kelsey Rocks

2007-03-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

THANK you Kelsey for hangin' with Wren at school this weekend.

Wren in class

2007-03-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

I'm in my long weekend class again. Wren is getting to learn all about Object Relations and existential psychology. She's got a huge fan club here. (Note the thumb sucking. Too cute!!!)

Pho boy

2007-03-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

Next time you come to Seattle and visit, Lucas will take you out for some great Vietnamese noodle soup. Just don't expect to get any yourself...

Bathroom Reading

2007-03-11T17:24:00.001-07:00

My Buddy 'n Me

2007-03-03T23:08:00.000-08:00

Big Bro Lil Sis

2007-03-03T23:05:00.000-08:00

Express yourself

2007-03-03T23:02:00.000-08:00

Wren lecturing at breakfast.

Thank goodness for family

2007-02-19T21:20:00.000-08:00

Lucas (and all of us) have really enjoyed having Nana (Jeff's mom) and Aunt Elle (or, as Lucas say "Uum L") around. THANKS so much to both of you for taking good care of us in these early days. Pop pop (Jeff's dad) is soon to arrive followed by my (Cris's) mom.

What We've Been Up to This Week

2007-02-18T17:43:00.000-08:00

Wren has made it through her first week and a half with flying colors and the rest of us haven't done too poorly. The week's events:

1. Lucas's homemade drive in.
2. Wren competing with the cat for changing table space.

3. Lucas would love to read all day long.

4. Big brother, little sister.

5. Recovering from tummy time.

6. First bath.

Doin' Okay

2007-02-12T18:08:00.000-08:00

So far Lucas is hanging in there with this big change. He seems to like his sister ok. He's good at gently kissing her head, though he'd love the chance to all out snuggle and smush her.

Wren and Daddy

2007-02-12T18:02:00.000-08:00

All dressed up...girls are definately more fun that way.

Day Two

2007-02-09T21:48:00.000-08:00

Wren is here!

2007-02-09T11:42:00.000-08:00

Early Thursday morning (3:06am), Elanor Wren Ramsdale was born and we got to meet. She's lovely and little, healthy and whole. She was 6lb 5 oz, 18 inches. Pictures say more than words can. There will be more soon.

39 weeks

2007-02-07T16:41:00.000-08:00

I've been having contractions since Monday and have been to the hospital twice now...and sent back home. We should be meeting our little girl within the next few days! I look forward to sharing photos.

Home stretch

2007-01-16T15:46:00.000-08:00

It won't be long before pictures of our girl begin appearing here! 36 weeks today--28 days to go.

Welcome

2006-11-29T22:17:00.000-08:00

Welcome to a little bit of paradise, where the mundane meets our dreams and mostly we'll just be celebrating the fact that we will soon have two small people running through our home. One is already present and one is due to arrive in February (as of this writing she has made it all the way to being around 2 1/2 lbs and about 14" and very busily kicking mom). There also may be periodic notations on the beloved cat and various others who come in and out of our lives.

Check back soon. I'll start updating this one once we get closer to the small girl's arrival date. In the meanwhile, the present party is going on over at: Tiny Tiger