Mystery Solved

Okay, I know I said that I would post the word that Paul has been saying lately, but I figured it out before I could ask for my bloggers help. Paul has been pointing to the top of the frig lately and saying, "buy-ease." I would ask him to show me and then he'd follow up with, "Go buy it." He has been asking for strawberries. Ha! Those three syllable words are tricky. I love a good puzzle, and I feel like Sherlock Holmes when I figure it out. In the past I have kept frozen strawberries in the freezer to make smoothies with, and that's why he's pointing to the frig. I just happened to buy strawberries a few days ago and when I asked him to show me this time he opened the frig and pointed to them. So really I didn't do anything intelligent to figure it out, but...oh well. I love my little Paul, and the only reason he likes strawberries is because I give him a dish of sugar to dip them in.

I'm So Glad When Grandpa Comes!

Pat's dad came to visit a couple weeks ago and we had a good time. We went to the zoo, which Paul loves. We are still trying to figure out what Paul is talking about occasionally. He'll be ranting and raving about something and I'll catch most of the words, but the subject is sometimes sketchy. It took me a long time to figure out the zoo one. He'd often say something like, "Let's go amals." It wasn't until we were out and about with a friend that they thought he was saying "animals." Another one is, "In In the box." He'll also say "game" with the box comment. So I'd go to the closet with the board games and tell him to show me what he's talking about. Then the tantrum starts. Well, in Lacrosse the crowd shouts "GET IN THE BOX" when an apposing team member goes into the penalty box. He's been asking to go to a Lacrosse game. OOOhhhhh, got it. I enjoy figuring out what he is trying to say. However, Paul doesn't seem to care for it. He gets frustrated when I don't respond appropriately. One I haven't figured out yet is Paul will point to the top of the frig and say something, but I can't remember what it is at the moment. Next time he says it I'll write it down and see if my blog friends can help me out.

While Pat's dad was here we also went to the Train Museum. Paul was in Hog Heaven.

Paul was pretending to drive this train. It had a bell you could ring by pulling an overhead rope. That was his favorite part.

It was a pretty cold day, and since trains do nothing for me, and Caleb is too young to care, we just kept each other warm. I just want to eat those chubby cheeks!

Unimaginative Title

I realize the blog has been neglected for quite some time. Our computer has been on the fritz and it is difficult to maneuver websites without inappropiate pop-ups and the computer was running very slowly. It has been getting worse and worse. Hotmail wouldn't let me open emails, Internet Explorer would frequently wig out, and then last week the computer would start, and then restart, and then restart, over and over. We have not since been able to get the computer to start and stay on. So I am pleased to announce that I am posting from our new computer! Pat built our old computer and consequently we don't have any reboot/wipe your computer and start over CD's, nor does Pat have the time to fix it. So a new one is what we ended up with. It will take me some time to get used to Vista, but I am sure once I get the hang of it I won't want to go back.

Caleb is 5 months! It is going by much faster the second time around. I am sure that would be a consistent comment for all second children. Luckily for me, Caleb is an easy going, happy little guy. Paul has always been a little more tough. I am trying to enjoy it day by day, but we all know that kids are a lot of work. Paul and I have been butting heads a lot lately, and I think I finally came to the conclusion that the remedy will take an attitude adjustment on my end. I've always known that taking him outside will redirect his focus and his whining and crying will cease. However, lately I have found that outside is a very short fix. I think the other half of the problem is me. I would love to blame it all on someone else, but there it is. I am trying to focus on the good aspects of Paul's age; it's a work in progress. Patience is a virtue I wish I had more of. I know the day I send him off to school will be a difficult day so here are some things that I do love about my two year old:

I love his hugs and kisses
He misses me when I'm away
He's glad when I come back
Watching popcorn pop is exciting
His animal noises make me laugh
He forgives easily
He never tires of rocks and sticks
He loves helping me put on makeup
The look on his face when I sit and play with him
How tall he sits when he knows he's done something well

I sure do love him despite any quarrels we have. The majority of this post is about Paul, but I don't have any pictures of him on the new computer, so here are a couple of 5 month pics of Caleb.

You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth

I love My Family

I have watched several friends and family struggle through sickness and death of loved ones these past months and it causes me to reflect on the significance of life and living life in the way the Savior would. After hearing of another friend's baby's illness today I stopped and pondered, my heart ached and tears came. I can't help but feel a greater love and appreciation for my family. It makes me want to be a little more patient, a little more carefree, and little more kind, and little more forgiving.

New Years

Caleb looks good in red.

Paul loves birthdays. He thought the hats meant there was a birthday party so he insisted on singing and blowing a candle out.

Cousin Josh

Happy New Year!

Pat is showing Paul how to make a Coke rocket. Paul loved it.

Christmas Catch Up

My mom sent pictures of our Christmas vacation to Boise. Here are a bunch of pictures of the kids.

Paul and Chris jumping on one of the few non snowy days. Most days we were there the snow was piled on the tramp.

Paul found a dish of Hershey Kisses at Great Grandma Clement's house. Paul had several before anyone noticed.

We have a climber.

Why do we even buy toys?

Daddies are always good at showing their sons a good time. Caleb appreciates any sample you'll give him.

Cousin Chris

Cousin Sarah

Paul loves to paint. He's showing Sarah the ropes.

Great Grandma Madsen doing what she loves when she comes to visit, hold the grandbabies.

Paul and Josh were excellent shovelers. I think Paul is telling Josh to get back to work.

Potty Training Flunky

So potty training had a good start, but somewhere it went dreadfully wrong. The first week Paul was a superstar. All but the pooping thing, but I figured it would just take a few days to get the hang of it. I am discouraged. He will go in his underwear like a diaper and not tell me he needs to go. We will be out and about and I will take him to the bathroom not realizing he's already gone. The few pairs of pants we keep using with stretchy waists are hard to tell if he's wet unless you touch them. He doesn't seem to mind being wet, and I'm talking soaked (even the socks and shoes get it). He'll just keep playing. The novelty of the whole thing has definitely worn off. He cries and whines when I take him into the bathroom now. Today I put him in a diaper and I think I'll try again this Spring. It may seem like I am giving up too soon, but the more I try the more Paul resists. I don't think he's ready.

Johnny Jump-Up

This video shows what a good helper Paul can be with Caleb. He insists on either swinging or bouncing the Johnny Jump-Up for Caleb. It is too tempting; he can't leave it alone when Caleb is in it. We never got a swing for this very reason. Poor Caleb hasn't gotten the chance to experiment with the jumping yet. He doesn't seem to mind Paul too much though. It's like that Bill Cosby routine where he sends out a barrage of commands to his children that they never respond to like, "Come here, come here, come here, COME HERE, COME HERE! COME HERE!!!" But if you were to say, "Money for the Children," you would only have to say it once, quietly and all the kids come running. Likewise, Paul ears are tuned into the sound of that Johnny Jump-Up and he comes running. He is always asking Caleb if he can have a turn. He knows he's too big, but maybe he thinks that if Caleb says yes...

My Phone Broke

I keep missing a lot of your phone calls so I am posting about my phone. My phone broke and it's not repairable. I can take incoming calls, but I can't make outgoing calls. The buttons stopped working and since I can answer my phone without pushing a button I can take calls. However, the volume is turned down and I'm missing a lot of your calls. So, if I don't hear it ring or if I don't get to the phone in time and you leave a message - I can't check the message and I can't call you back (nor can I adjust the volume). Until I get a new phone, just keep calling. Sorry

I am feeling very disconnected from everyone because I can't use my phone. I probably wouldn't think about it as much, but because I can't use it I keep wanting to use it. Does that make sense? It's the concept of wanting what you don't have I guess. Or it's like those ridiculous diets that deprive you of carbs or sugar, and then that's all you think about.

Last week I participated in a "No Technology Day." You turn the phone, computer, TV, etc. off for the entire day. I really loved the outcome of having the TV off for the day. Paul actually played with his toys (that is after several TV tantrums, but he eventually gave up asking). Having the computer and phone off was very difficult for me. Now that I haven't had a working phone for several days now, I think I am going crazy. Am I really that dependent on technology? I wish I could just think, oh well going without a phone for a month might be healthy for me. I am just as addicted to technology as my child. I was looking forward to having the TV off more frequently after that Off Day, but that's because it wasn't hard for ME to have it off. Am I making any sense? I think I need to get back to the basics and enjoy life a little more with my family one on one. I sure do miss my phone though.

Candy Fiend

This morning we broke out the big boy undies, set the timer for every 30 minutes, put some Skittles in a dish for reward treats, put some toy rewards out for the poop accomplishments, and I felt ready to tackle our first all day potty training episode. I was prepared to have several soiled undies and a few tantrums, but it has evolved differently than I anticipated. Paul went through almost the entire package of Skittles in the first hour! I have a candy fiend. Not that I was unaware of his obsession for sweets, but this is a little ridiculous. As soon as he swallowed the Skittle in his mouth he got back up on the toilet and squeezed out a few more drops. There were a couple occasions where he didn't even leave the bathroom before he climbed back up on the toilet and then asked for more candy. So now the worry of soiled undies are no longer the concern; getting Paul to eat anything but Skittles today has become my new concern. I hope the novelty of the situation wears off before the end of the day.

What a Ham

I finally got some pictures of Caleb. My friend Tracy got a nice camera for Christmas and I let her practice on Caleb. Just kidding. She was so nice to do it for me. Didn't they turn out good? Thanks Tracy!

Caleb's Blessing

Caleb had his blessing while we were in Boise. The bottom picture is of him on his blessing day. We are so thankful for his sweet, calm demeanor and we love that his spirirt was entrusted to us to raise.

More posts that include our holidays are to come when I get some pictures. I didn't take any. I have become that mom that has no pictures of the second kid. I think I am still getting used to the added responsibility. That or I am just lazy. My goal by the end of this month is to take tons of pictures, and to get Caleb to sleep through the night. We are still struggling through 2-3 feedings a night. I started to read Baby Wise. It worked with Paul and I expect it to do the same for Caleb. It's just hard to let Caleb cry himself to sleep in an apartment with a toddler that needs sleep too. I can't imagine how those one room hut people do it, (IT, being sleep and life in general) but we all seem to work with what we have and we all get through. Wish us luck.

Potty Training

We are starting the potty training. I have a feeling it will take a while for Paul to be fully potty trained, but we're starting. Paul was more excited about the train underwear than the potty seat and stool. He wanted the underwear on while he played with his trains. What can I say; my kid loves trains and hats.

Caleb Smiles

Caleb is smiling now and I love it! However, to get him to smile with his eyes open for the camera is difficult.

He'll scowl with his eyes open though.

The ultrasound for Caleb's hips went well - as in Paul was well behaved. We are pleased to inform everyone that Caleb's hips are normal and healthy.