peter imagines

 

Yesterday, Peter started jogging in place.  "Is not workeen!"  he says.  "What's not working?"  I ask.  "I run!  I need-- batteries!"  I laughed to myself for a minute before removing an imaginary template in his back and placing two new 'batteries' in him.  He shot off down the hall, but came back quickly to say "Is not workeen!" with a big grin on his face.  

I love to see his imagination expanding.

big brother

Peter,

Right now you're just over 2 1/2.  You're a good big brother.  We're working on loving a little too hard right now, but you're getting it.  It's been an adjustment to have a new member in our family, but I'm impressed with your enthusiasm and goodness.  You ask to hold your sister every day, multiple times a day.

Your train obsession continues and it's one of my favorite things to watch.  You're coming up with new ways to set up your tracks, creating bridges and tunnels, all the time.  You're also talking more and more which we love.  You call the old town hall a castle.  You've started to point out the "choc-o-wutt horse" downtown-- which is my favorite among all the Lexington horses.  I love how you say "fow-oh me" and "comb on mommy," when you need my help.  You also say "a course" and a very articulate "yess" when you respond.  I love it so much.  Your dad and I exchange our favorite things you've said/done almost every night.  You make us smile so big.

I love your singing and how you play the piano.  You're still singing Jingle Bells pretty strong.  I love the little chuckle you make when we've said yes to something you want, or when we put you down for a nap.  You love your naps.  

I love you so much.  Your dad loves you so much.  I'm so grateful to be your mom and I can't wait to see what comes next.

loveyou loveyou,

Mom

third trimester

It's November!  How is it November?  Though it's come quickly, it has been the loveliest fall, so you won't hear me complaining.  You might hear me groan a little bit in discomfort, but that's different.  I feel like this little thing is taking advantage of the room previously made before her--stretching out as much as she can.  That's where my groaning comes in.  And yes... I did say "her" and "she."

Our little one is a girl.

I failed to document that bit of news on this blog until now.  Silly, really.  Because I have felt from the beginning that this was our girl.  I wish I could explain the feeling.  I just... sensed a girl.  Every time I thought about the baby, I'd see a girl-- and could only think of a boy if I really forced it.  Somehow, I just knew.  Which didn't change the excitement and wonder of finding out when we saw her on the ultrasound.  We're excited to officially meet her.  I've already made note of some differences between she and Peter, however.  First of all she just... moves differently.  She's sporadic and quick.  Peter was calculated and curious.  Because of his curiosity, he would always move toward things pushing against him and run his hand against it.  The mattress, the laptop, the heart monitor... everything seemed interesting to him in the womb.  This girl seems very different on that score.  She moves away from things generally.  Especially the heart monitor.  It's always a game to try to get a read on her heart rate.  I wonder if she'll be more introverted like me?

Either way... we are thrilled.  I know Peter will be in for a shock when he realizes that mommy's tummy baby is an actual living breathing sibling of his.  But I also know that he will be the greatest big brother. 

Life is beautiful.  And messy.  And hard.  And fun.  And so good.

Just so I don't forget the beautiful season we've enjoyed this year, I'm going to document a list of autumn-y things we've done so I can endeavor to do it again in the future.

-Visited Boyd Orchards and picked apples and pumpkins

-Bought "ah-man joy" hot chocolate (coconut, almond and chocolate... so yummy) and scones from Third Street Stuff and went to Woodland Park to enjoy our treats in the chilly weather (pictured)

-Went on a late hike to the Palisades trail to enjoy the changing leaves and temperature

-Brought lunch to Raven Run and walked the beautiful trail

-Put mulling spices on the stove while cooking and baking

-Baked way too many good treats! (Boston cream pie bars, chocolate ganache sour cream cake, cookies, banana bread, chocolate pudding, brownies... it's been a little intense in the sugar department around here!)

-Focused our dinners on cozy comfort.  Things like beef stew, shepherd's pie, roasted chicken & vegetables and creamy chicken noodle soup with biscuits.  Breakfast with the same criteria: hearty oatmeal with cinnamon and walnuts, pumpkin pancakes with maple syrup and sausage,  egg ham & cheese muffins, scrambled eggs on toast with fruit.   

-Listened to a lot of folksy, worn-in music

-Watched cozy movies/series (we've been into the Great British Baking Show lately!) while enjoying a warm treat.. like fruit pie and ice cream, or Belgian hot chocolate with almond biscotti or even just cookies and milk.  Other cozy movies to note: Penelope, Julie & Julia, the A&E Pride and Prejudice, Serendipity, Dan in Real Life, Runaway Bride etc. etc. (Any suggestions for cozy movies?  I'd love to hear them)

Still on the list:

-Breakfast at Windy Corner Cafe (the cheesy grits are the best)

-Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (since we haven't had enough baked goods!  .... i am so pregnant.)

-Chili and cornbread, chicken pot pie

-Farmer's market for cheeses, jellies and late vegetables

-Louisville Zoo

-Red River Gorge

halloween 2015

This year was fun!  And how epic of me to post the night of Halloween.  I will try to ignore the fact that there are many things that probably should have been posted before this.  I'll get to them, maybe.

Something happens to me at Halloween.  As soon as the right idea is hatched, my brain seems to take off on its own, making sense of the most mundane things at Salvation Army.  Peter has been super into pirates since we went to a Pirate Show in North Myrtle Beach at the beginning of September.  And thus has been watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates more than I would care to say.  So Peter was Captain Hook, I was Mr. Smee with my pregnant belly poking out in Smee fashion, and Ian was Peter Pan.  This was not his first time being Peter Pan (as you can see in the picture below!)

Ian as a youngster (and no pants)

 Ian today! Pants intact!

I fashioned Peter's Captain Hook coat from a 90s girl holiday dress. I took it down to Peter's size, and added gold ribbon.  I also sewed/glued his hook into his sleeve so he couldn't remove it HA!  He didn't complain, just held up his hook and exclaimed "Pirate!" the entire evening.  His hat was assembled from a bright pink straw hat that I covered in maroon napkins and sewed/glued into the shape of a pirate hat and added a feather to, as well as a wig on the interior.  I made his little cravat with an elastic neck so I could put it around his normal Sunday button-up shirt.  I'm no seamstress.  And my details are messy.  But I think it turned out pretty great!

The best part of our Halloween this year was when we hatched the idea of a Peter Pan themed dinner, and I remembered the imagination dinner scene from Hook.  Now, we didn't break out into a verbal battle turned epic food fight... (Prison barber!) but we had a really nice time.  On the menu:  Roast chicken, an array of fruits, a cheese plate, dinner rolls, veggies with dip and lemon-lime punch.  For dessert we had pie with hot chocolate.  The perfect companion to the chill in the air.

I'm so grateful for my family and the Hatton's for joining in on our fun!  Everyone came in the right spirit of Peter Pan and adventure.  We had pirates, lost boys, mermaids, little Michael and Tinkerbell. It was good.

To end our evening we roasted Starburst and marshmallows.  We may have skipped out on trick-or-treat this year, but I think our Halloween ended up being something we'll remember for a while.

two

taken by your dad after you had brought all your trains into our bed one morning

You're two.  Really, absolutely, completely two.  It's hard for me to swallow how quickly you grew out of being a baby.  I focused so hard on how amazing it would be to have a baby-- and here you are.  On the way to being grown up.  But do you want to know the fun part?  I am loving every second of it.

No, really.  I thought so much about having a baby, I didn't focus a whole lot on all that would come after.  And you're so fun.  Your personal stamp on life is coming out more and more all the time.  You are obsessed with trains.  You say "trinn-ah" more than anything else.  You recognize any sort of train track, railroad sign, train-like thing everywhere we go.  I feel grateful that we live in Lexington where we have the RJ Corman line so close, you can hear the distant whistle and see moving trains regularly.  I don't think there has been a day that you haven't built your tracks and connected your magnetic trains.

Your other obsession is drawing.  It is your most frequently asked question.  "Draw?" You'll ask.  You prefer mommy's notebooks, and journals with pens and markers to the coloring books with crayons we bought you.  I suppose it makes sense.  Crayons don't color on your skin the way that pens and markers do. I love seeing all your marks and drawings in my current journal.  It is the best reminder of us right now.  I know your scribbles wouldn't mean much to some, but I'm noticing how precise you're becoming.  I see the circles you're practicing.  I'm excited to see where your drawings will take you.  And hey-- you've really pushed me to be good at drawing trains.  There are so many in my journal.  I think you like the process of watching the ink turn into a train more than you like the finished product.  I get that.

You're *officially* in your own bed now.  That is probably the main reason I wanted to write this post.  I'm feeling nostalgic for the baby you're moving further and further away from.  It's a good thing we have that new baby on the way, eh?  Perfect timing I'd say.  I cannot wait to see you become a big brother.  You're already so good and kind to the kids around you.  Like that little girl at the doctors office who you handed all your crayons and coloring book to without expecting anything in return.  I sense that you're getting tired of playing with me.  What better time than now to train a baby to become your play mate?

And just for my own memory, here's a list of things I'm crazy about right now:

-Even though we're working on audibly saying "sorry"... I love that your response when I ask you to say sorry is a hug and a kiss

-A few times you've said "please" (which sounds more like "cheese" right now when you say it) and put your toys away without me having to ask

-You've calmed way down with the kitties, and you and Scout seemed to have bonded.  You're very snugly with her and I'm so glad that she allows you to get up right in her face to smile and give her kisses.  I think most cats would scratch you.  The throwing things at them to get a reaction is getting a little tiring, but you know.  We're working on it.

-I love it when you knock on doors and call out "Heh-doh?" (hello) really loud 

-Instead of saying "yah" when you want something, you've started to nod.  But you don't just tip your chin up and down.  Your whole head is involved, which ends up requiring a lot of your body too.  It's the cutest thing.

-You call Pappy "Hap-py."  It's everyone's favorite.

-Kipper the Dog is the only show you'll sit all the way through for.  I like it too.

-One of the reasons we've upgraded your bed is because you don't feel the need to be confined to your crib/bed anymore.  Most of the time you do well sleeping through the night but then occasionally you'll decide 3am is a good a time as any to be awake indefinitely.  I laid down with you last night in your new bed to try to help you settle down, and you scooted up close to me until our faces were inches apart and you put your hand under your cheek just like mine and began to whisper and giggle for all the world like we were having a special slumber party.

I know there's more.  There is always more.  My list of reasons for loving you is endless.  But I wanted to remember this little picture of you at two.  I'm so glad you're mine.  I'm so grateful for the bond we share that continues to deepen.  You're pretty great, kid.

love you forever,

Mom

a letter to peter

You and Your Pappy

What an amazing boy you are.  Just when I think I couldn't possibly love you more than I already do, a wave of new happy, gushy, perfect love washes over me for you.  I imagine this will only continue.  You're a great kid.  You're happy and funny.  You're kind and caring.  Whenever we are playing with other kids, you are quick to give your toys away or easily move on to something else when the toys you have are taken from you.  You love to play with your train set-- and you are extremely confused and frustrated at the repelling magnets on your trains.  We are working on asking for help, and being calm.  You never miss the sound of an airplane and rush to the window to try and see it.  This happens several times a day with the airport so close.  You're obsessed with water in all forms.  You would take a bath every hour if I let you.  But instead, you find ways to play in water in whatever way you can.  You seem very thrilled that I've let you help me with the dishes, for example.  Which for you is an excuse to play in the sink and spill water on the floor.  You pour out any drinks I give you to splash in.  This is why you aren't left alone with your cups. You love to be outside, especially in the front yard which we don't explore as much as the backyard.  You have a way with animals that I myself have never had.  You've already made great friends with our neighbors puppy Charlie-- and I am sure the dog appreciates all of the things you throw over the fence for him.  You're my snuggly boy.  When you're feeling like a snuggle, you will pull your blanket out of your crib and roll up on the floor with it.  You hold my hand when we read together, watch movies or when we're in the car.  I love it when you hold my hand. Your favorite books are "Brown Bear, Brown Bear," and "Green Eggs and Ham."  I think we've read them over a hundred times.  As much as you chatter, you aren't saying a lot we can understand.  I know you're asking questions, and I know you understand what you're saying.  I'm excited for the day we can talk back and forth.

However, in some ways, I wish I could capture you just as you are now and keep it forever.  You are a boy with an agenda.  You are constantly moving, doing and learning.  I know that your plans will continue to increase in importance as you move onward.  So for now... I bask in the fact that your current goals are: to move the kitchen chair to the counter so you can see what I'm doing.  To switch on mom and dad's lamps on and off again, back and forth.  To rearrange the labels in mommy's garden.  To be in the driver's seat to make "vroom-vroom!" car noises and move the steering wheel.  To dance, "jump" (lift up your legs one at time.  It is so cute), go in circles, and play.

You remind me of whats important and I love you.

Forever and ever,

your mom

half birthday

We recently celebrated your half birthday, little one.  How can that be?  How are you through half a year already?  Well, I can tell you one thing.  It's been some of the best six months of our lives with you here.  You're so great.  Right now you are rolling all over the place.  I'm sure crawling all over the place is not far behind.  You are so sweet and you love the morning.  Most mornings you wake up cooing to yourself in your bed to let us know you're awake.  And when we finally do get you out of bed, you smile so big at us that we laugh and provide commentary for you.  It's as if you're saying "This is my best day!"  You've officially started eating.  Mostly just rice, but you'll try anything and everything we hand you.  You've gotten pretty good at letting us help you drink from a glass.  I joke that it may be because you're not aware of your baby state--and assume you're just like us with a few drawbacks (not walking for instance..)  You finally met most of mom's side of the family for New Years and you were so sweet and excited.  Especially to meet your cousin Mary who's just over a month older than you.  The most frequent comment we received about you was concerning your distinctive eyebrows and your obvious strength.  You're tall like you're Daddy.  You love to scream and make monster noises.  You are interested in just about everything.  And we love you.

forever and ever,

mom and dad

o, christmas tree

I love our tradition of buying a tree in town for Christmas!  These little places are so friendly and always let me take their trimmings for extra decoration at home.  I think I'll make a wreath with them one of these years.  We were super excited to take Peter along this time around, recognizing that last time we got a tree he was just a special secret no one but us was aware of yet.  Too bad he slept through it.

But no matter.  It still counts.

growing baby

Oh, how we love this boy.

boogus

Right now you are almost four months.  You are a happy baby, especially after a good sleep.  You've slept for eight hours for three nights in a row!  This makes me happy too  :)  You are really working on controlling your movement, especially your ability to grab things to stick in your mouth.  Sometimes I can sense your frustration that you aren't able to grab things exactly as you'd hoped the first time.  I appreciate that you keep at it, especially with all that concentration.  You become better at your control all the time.  You laugh at the sound of a zipper.  You're starting to move a lot.  A couple times when I've come to pull you out of bed you've completely turned upside down from where I had you the night before.  You've rolled over a couple times but you don't seem all that interested in it yet.  You love dad's hair.  You pull on it and try to eat it.  Sometimes you laugh when dad yelps in pain over it.  I love your bashful smiles up at me when you're eating.  I love how excited you are when we help you stand. I love to watch you discover things and check things out.  You've always been so alert.  I love that you sleep with your arms over your head.  And that if I put a blanket up to the side of your face you will cuddle up to it and close your eyes.  You are the sweetest boy.  And we are so glad you're here.

love forever,

mom and dad

*the word 'boogus' is a word granD (my mom) used/made up with her babies and i guess it stuck with me because this is what i call you.  of course, your dad and i have embellished it like we do.  you are also "the boog,"  or "boogus supreme," or my favorite, that doesn't make sense, that your dad coined "boogus the train."  

blessed

"...We bless you that you may have a strong spirit as you grow, and as your family grows you will be a great example and a great leader to your siblings, to your friends and to those around you. "    

phone spill

I love my sleeping babes.

 Shot while driving.  This horse farm thing never gets old.

 i love to catch sun beams

thank goodness for Lisa

 beach baby

louisville science center for kids

 
 another from the science center

 aunt patty

 sleeping, not choking.  i promise.

 testing out his ewok bottoms

3 months old

trying to remember this cuddly boy

 oldest bookstore in KY


uncle john is home!

 bundled baby
cute james and holli


I cannot get over the colors this year.  It's been different and beautiful every day

more sunbeams

Stole a picture of this man: my grandpa's doppleganger.

'round the neighborhood