Huston - July 2013

My cuddler

Huston, this is the last month you will be three years old.  We are gearing up for the big birthday party next month....but you are still torn between several themes.  It will be TMNT, Cars, Imagination Movers or Angry Birds.  I think I'm just going to have to take you to Party City and see what you grab and work from there.

 

You are still my little cuddler and I hope that never changes.  If you've had a long day or are stressed out, you will say "I need cuddles."  And if we happen to be so busy that you aren't getting enough time you will start saying "I need attention!  Attention over here!"

 

We made a visit to the marine center and you became fascinated with starfish.  After a few attempts you finally even held one.

 

You are officially a movie goer.  This month we have seen both Monsters University and Turbo.  You memorize the lines from the trailers and then when you hear them in the movie it gets you so excited!

 

This month we went to California for two weeks for a nice vacation and for Grandpa Dave's 80th birthday.  You loved every minute of it and did not want to come home.  We stayed at Nama and Grandpas and you loved playing in the pool, helping in the garden and watering flowers. 

Eating carrots straight from the garden
 

We were there over the 4th of July and you were so excited to play with the "big kids", Auntie Katie and her friends, and your cousins Abe and Zeke.  You introduced them to everyone and kept calling them cousin.  They are a little older and very very cool.

With cousins Abe and Zeke

 

Swimming with big kids

We went to a parade with Gramma and Poppop and you got to see a hot air balloon and meet Handy Manny.

 

Fireworks were a huge hit this year.  You loved the display and couldn't get enough sparklers.  You were up at 6am for the hot air balloons and played hard all day until you passed out about 11pm.

We also had a beach day at Santa Cruz Boardwalk and Capitola.  Uncle Paul and Nama went with us and you "were a big fan of the ocean".  That's one of your cute new phrases.

Boardwalk rides

Sand Castles

Ocean with Uncle Paul

Your ability to have real conversations now still amazes me.  You will tell us stories in detail about things that happened years ago.  You are starting to use big words like "temperature" and have tons of funny phrases.

"Ohhhh That's gotta hurt!"
"Bookstory" (Bedtime Story)
"Get Dead" (Died)
"I have earrings, I can't quit crying."  (Earrings = tears)
"I want to stay here for a couple little while"

I also heard something half cute/half worrisome.  Your first fib to get a laugh.  Remember those cool cousins Abe & Zeke?  Well, I guess you really wanted to be a part of their conversation and you told this  story "My babysitter took me to the pool and when she wouldn't get in I said, What's the matter are you a baby?  heheheh"  Ya....that never happened.  No babysitter.  No pool.  I realize this happens but it was so strange to watch.

You also are feeling the cliques at the playground.  At the park the other day you were running around with some boys that you didn't know and when I said it was time to go you got upset and said, "No I want to stay with my friends!".  One of the little boys said, "We aren't your friends....".  I think it hurt me way more than it hurt you, you didn't even acknowledge it.  But my heart just ached that you will have to go through that kind of stuff.  And probably soon.

You are also already experiencing losing friends....two of your good buddies are moving away this month. Marley is moving to Alaska and Ryver to Colorado. You and Marley hit it off day one and you think Ryver is so cool but we don't see him as much.

Fearless Five - Huston, Marley, David, Michael and Daisy

You do have a new best friend.  His name is Nolan.  You two are having so much fun together.  Now that he can crawl, he follows you everywhere and you guys just giggle and giggle. He's even learning how to play a version of hide and seek with you and you thinks it's hysterical.  If you are gone for too long I have to hunt you down because you are usually up to no good.  We are going to have our hands full for sure!

Room invasion

Result of disappearance, soap in hair for "crazy hair"

Your Dad and I think you are going to really be into music.  You can keep a beat and drum on everything.  You also already have music preferences and can remember the words to songs.  We regularly get music requests from you.  I've noticed you really like the 80's right now. 

We had a family day in Seattle last weekend and went to a pirate store, Pikes Place Market and the Crab Pot.  You love the ferry.

Ferris Wheel

Ferry ride

Pushing brother

Viking hat

A couple weird quirks....you are obsessed with veins and moles and ask about them often.  You turn your pillow over randomly "because it's itchy", you like to hide things and then ask "Have you seen my....." and my favorite, you will stop on a dime because you need cuddles or your back scratched and you do not want to do anything until you get those.

One little (because I don't want to embarrass you) but you are finally in big boy undies!  And you are super cute in them.

Love you buddy....more than you will ever know.




Home

After a trip to the park today the boys fell asleep in the backseat.  The park is only 5 minutes from our house and I'm a firm believer in not waking sleeping children, so I just kept driving.  I was facing the mountains and decided to just turn on my "favorites" playlist and head towards the beauty around me.  I got lost in the gorgeous scenery, some good music and my thoughts.

Pretty gorgeous right?  All of these were taken from my car in about a 15 mile stretch.  Pretty much the most beautiful place I have ever lived. Yet....I find myself wanting to move home.

Let me back up a little bit.  I have been interviewing for pretty much a dream job in Oklahoma with pretty much a dream company.  I was drooling as they went over their benefits.  This all started a month or two ago when I was missing home more than normal and I signed on to the career section of this company to see if they had anything.  Really expecting them not to.  And then they did.  And each line on the job description was a perfect match for my background.  So I just applied.  Fast forward a month and they called for a phone screen.  They literally had over 100 applicants and I made it through...even being out of state.  Then there is a video interview.  It goes well.  They go over benefits and relocation. Now I'm waiting for the next step.  But I have been warned that they historically have a very long interview process.  Because right when you are about to possibly uproot you like to wait..right?

So, why would I want to move back to Oklahoma you are wondering?  I don't understand it.  My husband definately does not understand it.  I haven't lived in OK for over seven years.  I moved to the Dallas area for a job. Met my husband and the Air Force took us to Dayton, OH.  Then the San Francisco Bay area in CA.  Then a job for my husband in the Seattle area in WA.  We have seen and been to some amazing, beautiful places, but there is a hole in me.  As much as we love a new community or make new friends or love our new jobs in new states....there is a hole in me.

With the job glimmering in the horizon, I reached out to a few friends.  Housing, schools, commutes...all these adult things you wonder about when you have kids were going through my mind.  Friends that I haven't talked to in years were eager to help.  No questions, no awkard conversations catching up....we just picked up right where we left off. 

See, there is something about the people from Oklahoma that others don't get.  I have these amazing friends and family.  They aren't amazing as in talented or famous or anything like that, but they are amazing in their hearts.  They are my people.  I keep in touch with about 50% of my high school classmates.  Who can say that?  I want my boys to grow up with their grandparents like I did.  I want my boys to grow up with my friends' kids.  I want my boys to go to the same places I did when growing up.  I get jealous when people post online that they are at my favorite spots.  I almost cry when I hear someone goes to lunch with my grandmother.

Say I get an offer.  Say I take it.  Do I expect my life to be some amazing, drastic change? No. It will be a simple life.  Do I expect to see the family and friends I so desperately miss every day?  No.  But they will be there when we have time. It probably won't be something that others from the outside would look in and think how amazing it must be to live there.  But I'll be complete.  I'll be home.

home

 After a trip to the park today the boys fell asleep in the backseat.  The park is only 5 minutes from our house and I'm a firm believer in not waking sleeping children, so I just kept driving.  I was facing the mountains and decided to just turn on my "favorites" playlist and head towards the beauty around me.  I got lost in the gorgeous scenery, some good music and my thoughts.

Pretty gorgeous right?  All of these were taken from my car in about a 15 mile stretch.  Pretty much the most beautiful place I have ever lived. Yet....I find myself wanting to move home.

Let me back up a little bit.  I have been interviewing for pretty much a dream job in Oklahoma with pretty much a dream company.  I was drooling as they went over their benefits.  This all started a month or two ago when I was missing home more than normal and I signed on to the career section of this company to see if they had anything.  Really expecting them not to.  And then they did.  And each line on the job description was a perfect match for my background.  So I just applied.  Fast forward a month and they called for a phone screen.  They literally had over 100 applicants and I made it through...even being out of state.  Then there is a video interview.  It goes well.  They go over benefits and relocation. Now I'm waiting for the next step.  But I have been warned that they historically have a very long interview process.  Because right when you are about to possibly uproot you like to wait..right?

So, why would I want to move back to Oklahoma you are wondering?  I don't understand it.  My husband definitely does not understand it.  I haven't lived in OK for over seven years.  I moved to the Dallas area for a job. Met my husband and the Air Force took us to Dayton, OH.  Then the San Francisco Bay area in CA.  Then a job for my husband in the Seattle area in WA.  We have seen and been to some amazing, beautiful places, but there is a hole in me.  As much as we love a new community or make new friends or love our new jobs in new states....there is a hole in me.

With the job glimmering in the horizon, I reached out to a few friends.  Housing, schools, commutes...all these adult things you wonder about when you have kids were going through my mind.  Friends that I haven't talked to in years were eager to help.  No questions, no awkard conversations catching up....we just picked up right where we left off. 

See, there is something about the people from Oklahoma that others don't get.  I have these amazing friends and family.  They aren't amazing as in talented or famous or anything like that, but they are amazing in their hearts.  They are my people.  I keep in touch with about 50% of my high school classmates.  Who can say that?  I want my boys to grow up with their grandparents like I did.  I want my boys to grow up with my friends' kids.  I want my boys to go to the same places I did when growing up.  I get jealous when people post online that they are at my favorite spots.  I almost cry when I hear someone goes to lunch with my grandmother.

Say I get an offer.  Say I take it.  Do I expect my life to be some amazing, drastic change? No. It will be a simple life.  Do I expect to see the family and friends I so desperately miss every day?  No.  But they will be there when we have time. It probably won't be something that others from the outside would look in and think how amazing it must be to live there.  But I'll be complete.  I'll be home.

Nolan - 8 Months

Nolan, eight months feels way to close to one year old.  It's unreal how fast time has flown by.  For some reason this month you feel so much older.  Probably because you are into everything.  And eating everything.  And playing with everything.  Needless to say it is very hard for momma and daddy to sit down these days.

You have perfected the crawl and follow us from room to room.  You pull up and coast along the furniture and will take steps when we hold your hand. The best way to get a laugh from you is to pretend to eat your hands or feet.  Instead of peek-a-boo behind the hands, you go crazy if I look away and then turn around and look at your really quickly with a funny face.  Of course you are quite the jokester yourself.  Every morning when Huston is drinking from his sippy cup, you reach over and knock it out of his hands.  Every morning. 

Now that you can crawl, you have found your brothers toys and I don't think you will ever go back to baby toys.  Clearly superheros taste better than teething rings.  You go nuts over balloons and balls and love to slap your hands up and down on anything that will move.

You are still nursing but you love real food too.  You will eat anything and everything.  The only thing  you ever turned away was a popsicle and I'm not sure if it was the cold or the sour but your face was priceless.  You have four little teeth now so you can bite into anything and if we don't watch closely, you steal food from your brother.  We may or may not have caught you eating a chicken nugget the other day.


popsicle

Sleeping is still a struggle with you.  You do not like sleeping for longer than a few hours and you prefer it be right on my lap.  You are doing better, but we still have a long way to go.  You are making it for a few hours in your crib at night but still not much of a napper during the day, you'd prefer 10 catnaps over a nice long one.  Since you end up in our bed by 3-4am each night you have started a new routine with dad in the mornings.  He gets up and gets ready in the bathroom off of our bedroom and once you hear him up, you pop your head up and coo at him til he looks at you.  Then you reward him with the cutest smile ever.  And you repeat those steps over and over til he comes and picks you up.

You love your big brother so much and want to follow him everywhere.  Half of the time he loves this, the other not so much.  You were so excited the first time you got to ride in the shopping cart with him.

The most exciting thing this month was our trip to California.  You logged your first airline miles and were so good on the plane.  You loved all of the attention from your family and made a fast friend in Nama's dog, Fred.  So close in fact that you even shared his food.  Several times.

Best buds

We took you to the beach (you went at one month but it was cold) and you wasted no time getting down and dirty in the sand.

We also spent a lot of time in Nama's pool and you are definitely a water baby.

We stayed through the Fourth of July and went to the parade and you absolutely loved the fireworks display and stayed up for the whole show.

It was a great month and I am so blessed to be able to stay home with you during these early months.  Watching you grow and learn and become so close to your big brother brings me so much happiness.  I love you and your sweet and laid back nature.  Even though I don't want you to grow up too quickly, I can't wait to see what the next month brings.