Swimming lessons this summer (as I mentioned) didn't go great. For Addie anyway. She sees females in hats like her teachers every once in a while and still recalls lessons and says, "I don't want to swim with Stacy." I don't think we'd hire a private teacher again. I really like Stacy, and Garrett did too. But I think I want them in group lessons next summer so they have other kids to watch and learn with and all the pressure/attention isn't just on them. Who knows if that'll help, or if I'll still feel this way next spring, but we'll see. Here's a few swim lesson pictures.
Don't make me do this!
I think I can swim as long as I have a death grip on someone's neck.
I can't be brave anymore!
Oh, good. We're done. (for that day anyway.)
I really hate swimming mom.
Blowing bubbles (while teacher is counting to five) with my face in the water!
Please don't make me do this. (This was when I stopped making her do it. From here on out either myself or my MIL went in with her and that made it much better.)
Those seem like good ages to do a general kid update.
Garrett turned four a month ago. He's doing really well with life in general. Goes to bed easy. Still sleeps about 10-11 hours at night and takes a two hour nap every afternoon. He's been in preschool for 2 months now and he loved the first three weeks. Then, on his birthday he had a really hard day. He didn't show it in the morning but when I got to his school with cupcakes and ice cream he was crying. His teacher said he'd been crying off and on all day and he missed me. And now he has good days and emotional days. Wanting to make sure I won't forget to pick him up, telling me how much he'll miss me, asking me to sit outside his school for four hours and wait, etc. He has a couple good buddies now and that really helps. He still says he loves it and prays everyday that he can go back, but he also tells me that he's ready to be all done with school. (Haha, only about 15-20 more years bud.)
He's already learned a lot. Before preschool he had a couple numbers he didn't recognize and he only recognized about half the letters. Now he knows all the numbers and almost all the letters and he's quickly learning the sounds the letters make. He's memorized several songs, and he's also memorized the scriptures for each month. He's awesome with scissors, and before preschool he'd had zero practice. He's talking with more detail and asks much more specific questions. He's a sensitive kid and he can be hard on himself. He sometimes tries to give up too easily if he can't figure something out right away, but with a little encouragement he keeps trying and always figures things out. I know it'll get better and I really love the school.
He (and Addie) just finished six weeks of tumbling. He was the only boy in his class and he loved every second of it. He joins right in and tries (and usually nails) every new trick. The first week they had a quick drink break and he took one sip of water and then confidently announced, "I'mmmm back in the game!" as he ran toward the mats. We drove past the tumbling place tonight and they yelled, "There's tumbling!!" Then I told them we finished and Garrett started to cry. I thought he was faking it at first, but there were legitimate tears and a quivery lip. I found out from a friend that the same course starts again in two weeks, so I guess we'll do it again!
He took swimming lessons this summer and really pushed himself. I could tell he was nervous about a few things he learned but he was brave and determined and did really well.
He loves his sisters. And he's a tender-hearted, generous boy. On his worst day of preschool he earned a treasure box prize for being a good listener all week and of all the toys, treats and stickers in the box, he picked a pair of purple sunglasses for Addie.
I love his heart. And I love watching him learn and grow.
Addie will be three in November. She's always been my 'Live Wild Child'. She's funny, happy, sweet, sassy, and full of energy and love. She's everything that warms my heart and freaks me out all at the same time. She's the little leader of our family, and kind of sets the tone for how the day goes in a lot of ways. Most days it's awesome. She and Garrett are best friends and watching them play and talk and laugh is one of the greatest things I've ever experienced in my life.
We are in mom and me preschool and she loves it. She's obedient, helpful, patient and sweet at school. She's a bit timid at times and needs some encouragement to participate in the interactive activities but she always has a great time. She's also learning a lot too. She learns a lot from the homework and practicing I do with Garrett and I think she'll be more than ready to start going to Garrett's preschool next year.
She took swimming this summer and hated it. We hired a private teacher for one on one lessons and after week two she refused to do it without me or her grandma in the pool with her. If we were there, she was happy to try new things and was so proud of herself, even if she didn't quite do what the instructor was asking of her. But it's okay. She's two. And we'll try it again next year.
She also did tumbling. She (eventually) loved it. The first five minutes or so the teacher has them hop back and forth down the mats. Walk backwards, tip-toe with hands in the air, etc. and she WOULD NOT do it the first two classes. Garrett's out there killin' it with the ladies like a ballerina and Addie's fighting back the tears. And then the trampoline, balance beams, swinging bars, and platforms come out and she's like Gabby Douglas out there livin' the dream. Whatever kid. But after two classes she was fine and did everything with over the top excitement. More than half of us in the class are friends that signed up together and it's so much fun sitting at the side laughing at our friggin cute kids.
Addie is so good with Charlie. She's so helpful and attentive with her. She always wants to check on her. "I'm gonna tip toe and see if Charlie's awake, no yeah, k?!" And if I'm cooking and she's playing with her she comes and gives random updates. "Charlie's scooting by the chair." "Charlie's happy mom." "I put a blanket on Charlie cause Charlie's cold." "Charlie don't need a binky from she's not fussy." "We need to buy new batteries so Charlie can swing higher and higher." And Charlie loves Addie. She can be a bit in-your-face with her but Charlie doesn't seem to mind. She gets so excited when Addie's around.
And Addie's potty trained! I have a crappy potty training method. (Or, based on my track record, maybe it's the best method ever.) I randomly decide one morning that we're doing it. No timers, no naked days, no practice sitting on the potty, no rewards. Just put on some underwear. Then after one accident, I decide it's not the day and I throw on a diaper. I do that for 5-7 days and then I fully commit. We do a day of going through 5 or so pairs of underwear and then in the next day or two, and forever more, we're good. There's an accident once in a while but it hasn't ever been a long dreadful process for us (knock on wood). My only advise would be to wait until your kid is old enough to kind of reason with. Both Garrett and Addie were about two or three months from turning three. (Addie will be three in three weeks and we're going on about two months of being potty trained.) I'll never be one of those moms who wants to potty train as soon as they're two (or younger). Way too much work.
And lastly my little Charlie girl. She's the kind of baby that makes you want to pop out a few more. I described her a few days ago like an awesome blackjack hand. The one you should stay on because it's not likely to get any better. But you're on a roll so you want to say 'hit me!' just to see what happens. Maybe that's not the best analogy. I'll just say she's the perfect cherry on top of our gooey, nutty delicious sundae.
She's the perfect third child. What I mean is, when you only have one child and that child is napping. You tip toe and stay so quiet and never intentionally wake them up. You feed them at home on your fluffy comfy couch. You let them lay on a blanket with no fear of getting hit in the head with a toy, or a foot. When number three comes along, you pick them up from a deep sleep and strap them in the car seat to go from one place to the next to keep up with the older two. Naps often happen in a stroller or baby carrier with a whole lot going on in the background. Feedings often get interrupted and finished after a knee is bandaged or a bum is wiped. Or sometimes (if someone else is driving) I climb in the back and lean into her car seat for a quick on-the-go feeding as we're running late for some activity. And being on a blanket on the floor? It didn't even take till the six month mark for this girl to see how unsafe that is. She's not crawling yet, but she's trying. She scoots backwards like a boss and rolls to where she wants to go. And she spins in a circle like nobody's business. I often find her half way under a chair, all the way under her swing, or against the wall pulling on a cord that's plugged in. Toddler-proof is different than baby-proof, I'm being reminded. And it's already time! And she handles all of it with very little complaints. She's never been a crier, and still isn't. It's only when she's really hungry that I get a little reminder.
She still wakes once a night to feed but it's usually pretty quick. Unless she has a cold like all five of us had last month in which case she wakes six times a night.
It really is crazy how busy life is right now and how fast time goes. I feel like I'll never catch up. On anything, let alone blogging. Two nights ago as I ran into my chiropractors office one minute before he closed but desperate for an adjustment, I apologized to the receptionist for being late and said, "my kids had tumbling 'graduation' tonight and we all know what a big deal that is." And she said, "hey that is OK. You have no idea how much I wish I could be back to those days." It really is the best time and I'm trying to enjoy it all.
I went to a couple yard sales early last Saturday morning before anyone woke up. I got home in time for Paul to go to work and then when they kids were up I loaded them in the car and we went out for more. I could see this easily becoming my new addiction. I'm not afraid to talk the seller down. And the key is to not get too excited about the item before you get it down to the price you want, and don't be afraid to walk away from a stubborn seller. These tips could get you a pair of matching night stands, a restaurant style high chair, and a plastic play slide, for 5 dollars, TOTAL. However, to keep you from thinking I'm really THAT GOOD, I found the night stands near the close of the yard sale, and as soon as I walked up to them, the seller said, "Do you want those? If you take them now, you can have them for free." Yes please! Play kitchen for Addison, here I come!
After I came off of my yard sale high, the kids and I and my mother in law went to a birthday party for our massage therapist's son. We don't even know her son, but we won't turn down a pool party and a barbecue on a hot afternoon.
The kids had a great time. Addie is fearless in the water. And just like Garrett she doesn't mind getting splashed in the face, over and over. This was the first time in a pool since learning to crawl and she was loving it. I'm glad my kids love the water and I'm wishing I would have found somewhere for swimming lessons this summer.
This was the entertainment for the big kids. Garrett loved watching, but wasn't interested in trying it out himself.
Last Sunday morning we met some Utah friends, the Mchenry's, for breakfast before they headed out of town. They are both from CA, and were here visiting family. It was weird, (and kind of nice) to not be the ones with a 12 hour drive ahead of us. We usually meet up with friends for breakfast on our trips back to California from Utah, and this time we were on the other end of that tradition.
I think Addie has a new crush...
But by the looks of things, I'll probably need to teach her how to play hard to get.
I love when Paul dresses the kids. He always does a great job at finding a matching headband for Lulu, and he dresses Garrett and himself alike. It's pretty cute.
Tuesday afternoon Paul came home for lunch and he was WAY excited. He'd found some tickets to the pre-season Chargers game in San Diego for Thursday, and they just so happened to be playing the Packers! For those of you who don't know, the White family is full of hard core Packers fans. Yes, I still love the Seahawks, and I still also always root for whoever is playing against the Steelers, but I'm a Packers fan through marriage, and I don't think I stand a chance with the kids, so they are Packers fans, too.
So we went to the game with Phil and Annie. The kids were free, so they came, too. It was a lot of fun. Garrett loved it. I don't know that Addie ever looked at the football field, but she did great and got a ton of compliments, even from Charger fans, on being a cute tiny little Packer fan.
I can't get enough of this happy girl! But she finally started to run out of steam (bottom right picture).
Garrett found a way to stay awake!
Don't they look like true Packer fans?
It was a long day, and a lot of traffic and time in the car, but worth it to me just to look at Aaron Rodgers see the Packer's play. They lost, but that's ok, just saving it for regular season.
The next day, both kids slept in, but it was time for a White family vacation, so I finally had to wake Garrett up at 10:00am to leave with his Grandma and Dude-pa. They went a few hours before the rest of us. Who knows how long he woulda slept... More on the vacation later.
I love summers in the mid-70's. And I love that my in-laws have a pool. And I love that both of my kids love the water.
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We had a pool party with 3 of Paul's high school friends and their wives and families. There's only one friend that has a child and he's about 7 month's younger than Garrett and 6 months older than Addie. There's also a friend with a baby on the way, really soon! More play-dates!
Garrett gave the diving board a try... It took some coaching and gentle nudging, but he finally 'fell' into Paul's arms. But he was a little pro at jumping from the side of the pool into the water. He's part fish.
The men and the boys.
The sneaky picture with the 37 week pregnant mama sleeping in the hammock. (I would kill someone if they did this to me.)
The Wednesday before the wedding we headed to St. George. Most of my sister in laws family is from there and that's where she wanted to go through the temple for the first time. Garrett and I and one of Samira's nephews hung out at the hotel while everyone went to the temple, then I took Garrett to a pharmacy. He finished his steroid just in time for the next thing, a spider bite. It's one thing after another with this kid! The pharmacist assured me it wasn't a serious spider bite and that if Garrett was under 2, there was nothing he could give us over the counter. He didn't have a fever, and the bite didn't seem to bother him, so we just left it alone and sure enough, it faded and has been nothing to worry about. Wednesday was also Garrett's official 'Done with the Doc Band' day!Thursday we grabbed breakfast and drove back to Bountiful. (St. George wasn't bad, but poor G was so over long stretches in the car seat that maybe everyone would have been happier if he and I had not gone. Oh well.) Thursday afternoon/evening/night/and well into friday morning was busy busy busy! Baking, prepping for the wedding lunch, making center pieces for the wedding lunch and the reception, a shower that evening at Samira's friends house... It was a long day/night.I slept for a couple of hours, then my mom and I headed to her church to set up and decorate for the lunch. I did some more cooking after that. Then the festivities began. It was a cold day. Mormon weddings are pretty much an all day event, and can be exhausting. But Taylor and Samira were really happy and things went well.Uncle Scott warming up those poor little frozen fingers. The lunch centerpieces.The wanna-be MC.Garrett flirting with his future wife...she's kinda not into him.Some snuggle time for G and B in between events.My handsome little guy at the reception. (I know, there's about 10 times more pictures of him than the bride and groom...and anyone else for that matter.)My SIL, Laura and I, showing off the flower/peacock feather/hair...things...Love me some happy baby on a long, busy day.Garrett and his favorite person. I think I've mentioned that I don't exist when Grandma Greenhalgh is around. It's ok, I don't mind the trade off when I think of all the diapers I DON'T change when we're with her, and all the sleeping in I get to do.Another try with Baby B, still not going so well. After the wedding, G went home with Grandma and Grandpa, and Paul and I went for a late dinner with Katie and Jordon. They spent the day with us even though they don't know Taylor all that well because Jordon and Paul wanted to see each other and Paul was only in town for the day, so the wedding was the only option. It was great having them with us. And my mom is the Utah Grandma for baby B.
Early the next morning Paul was on a plane home. I took a 4 hour nap after dropping him off, and I think I stayed in my pajamas that day until 5 or 6 PM.
Sunday was also a pretty low key, nap kind of day. That evening I went to dinner with Mara, Kate, and Deb, as well as babies G, C, and B. 4 adults and 3 babies was a big change from the 8 adults and 2 babies our group is used too, so we headed to Kate's after dinner and let Jordon and Erik entertain the kids for a while.Monday Garrett and I hit all the Utah stores that I miss, and I got in the holiday spirit. A couple months ago I went through ALL my seasonal decor bins. Got rid of old stuff, organized stuff I'm keeping, and labeled all the bins really well. So I rewarded myself in Utah with a couple new decorations for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Tuesday Garrett and I got to have lunch with my dear friend Dana and her sweet baby J. (Dana and I met in our birth class, and we've remained friends. Our boys are 3 weeks apart.) Dana's one of those friends that makes living in California hard.Tuesday night was dinner with Scott and Laura. A little more shopping with Laura. Then packing up for an early start Wednesday morning.
My mom drove back with me and G. I love supportive parents. The drive up from CA was long and exhausting and I didn't have enough confidence in my 8 month pregnant self to make it alone with G. We stayed the night in Vegas. Took G to the (cold) pool. I only put my feet in and it took my breath away. I thought G would hate it, but the second his toes touched the water he plopped right in and loved every minute of it.I guess I never realized how observant my little boy is when I'm getting ready everyday. As soon as my mom opened her suitcase he pulled her curling iron and brush out and started "brushing" and "curling" his own hair.Thursday we were back on the road and made it home that afternoon. My mom watched G while Paul and I went on a date. (Paul cleaned the WHOLE house for when I got home, and brought flowers to me and my mom when he got off work. Love him.)
And friday morning the 2 week adventure came to an end, and my mom was on a plane home. It went by fast and was a great trip, but I really missed Paul. This will probably be the last trip in a while that I go solo. (I can't fly alone with 2 lap infants and I won't drive alone with 2.)
Last night I filled out my dry erase calendar on the fridge for the next month, and I'm so happy that aside from physical therapy, my dr appointments, massages, and the chiropractor, there's no trips and nothing big to do (besides have a baby) until Christmas. I'm looking forward to quality time with my boys, the arrival of 2.0, and having my family in town for Thanksgiving.
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