Christmas List

So last year Eli's list for Santa was apples and jelly beans this year he has at a minimum three things to tell Santa that he wants (Dark Blue Scooter, Finn McMissle submarine and Finn McMissle pillow). Cars 2 is making a killing.  I told him we want to make sure Santa has room in his sled for toys for other children so maybe we should just ask for a couple of things and maybe we can ask for other things for our birthday. He seemed very agreeable to that.  He is also going to be sure to tell Santa that his brother Sam would like a purple stuffed teddy bear (baby toy, soft, etc).  I could only find a purple monkey so we'll see if Eli picks up on that.  We have been adding to our collection of holiday music this year and Eli is really enjoying the Chipmunks Christmas song, Jingle bell rock and Frosty the snowman.  All which are too easily purchased on iTunes.  When he sings it he says, "Frosty the snowman was a great great man all the day." He also really enjoys the movie Polar Express and when we decorated the tree this year he yelled out and held his hand up high when he opened up the first ornament, "The first gift of Christmas!"

I think Samuel might start walking soon, he was walking while pushing the table toy around the playroom today and took several steps with it. I think I might just purchase a helmet for this kid...not kidding.

We are heading to see Santa today so there is lots of talk about how we get dressed up for Santa and how we want to look good for Santa.  So, last night he was brushing his teeth and his hair (probably the first time this kids hair is been brushed in weeks) at the same time. Hopefully he will remember to do this today, so far 1/1.  I've been having several ah ha moments these past few weeks one of which was when he was doing the brushing of teeth and hair and one when he said, "Mom, I'm going to wipe my butt by myself." I can not tell you what a great feeling this was.  It felt like angels were singing and a white light was being shone on me. This one is going down on the books I thought, what a moment, that alone has been a present in itself.  Merry Christmas!

A little bit of Sweetness to Start the Holiday

Seaside Aquarium touching hermit crabs and baby crabs.

On the bridge at Cannon Beach heading back to our cottage from a morning at the beach.  Eli checking for fish in the river.

 Trying to figure out where we can cross it was way too deep.

 Sam's first moments in the sand.

 It's so good to have a brother.

 Four deer on the side of the road at the state Park.

Cuddle time!

Sam's Crawling!

Sam is crawling and on the move. Eli was 10 months before he crawled.  Sam just turned 8 months. Eli was enjoying kicking the blow up ghost at pumpkinpalooza.  Eli loves that Sam is crawling around.  He gets right down there with him and let's Sam crawl all over him. 

Our days all together

Our walks through the hundred acre woods (So Sam will nap...damn teeth).  We talk about catching heffalumps, we throw up helicopters and try to catch them with our net and always check on our neighbors koi fish.  This bench is our halfway marker on our walk and we take a break on it and just talk.  Today Eli was running so fast he kicked up mushrooms in the air.  We looked down and they were everywhere and so big!

Brian came home with this $40 box of chocolates (free from work) and let's just say I had more than one and not only were they pretty to look at I had one of the best salted caramel chocolates I've ever had.  Kathryn Taylor runs a chocolate shop on Orcas Island, hit it up if you go there.

 Eli showing Sam how to drive.

I'm letting him make a mess now, let's see how long it takes him to learn how to feed himself.

 Eli and Dad working on the deck together wearing work goggles. Safety first.

Playing ball with his bro.

The Men in my life....

Seasonal Squash

Some of my most favorite people on the swings.  I love this picture Eli is totally watching his Tt and Nataly pump.  He was amazed at how high Nataly could go.  Sam and I think everyone enjoyed this lazy Sunday stroll.

Crispy Duckling and Duck Confit with Sweet Corn Polenta with Roasted Pears and Chantrelle Mushrooms and Basalmic Cider Reduction sauce.  This is just one of the dishes I had at a PCC cooking class I took last night.  I was very impressed with the chef and her ability to cook, educate and entertain all at the same time.  She of course had two sous chefs, everything was very yummy and inspirational for the season.  One fruit that was in one of her dishes was adriatic figs, if they are still in season I plan on using them next week.  I checked the store and what they had was a little too ripe to buy. 

Eli holding his huge pumpkin on the balance beam.

I'm really going to start making baby food for Sam so Eli picked out this Butternut squash.  I just couldn't help laugh at it.

Misosquitos

Eli goes to the store with Dad and says, "Dad, this pumpkin has misosquito bites."  I guess this is what happens after a summer at Lake Wenatchee with lots of mosquito's and one that got trapped in his room overnight and ate him alive.  If you haven't heard Eli say the word it sounds like misosquitos not mosquito's just so you know his version.  Thankfully Eli fared better this summer than this pumpkin here.

Climbing Trees

Eli has been wanting to start to climb trees.  Most of the time he tries to climb trees with no branches so I've been trying to tell him he needs one with branches and it has to be strong enough to hold him and safe to climb.  We were on our way to our car from the Mega Truck Feast and farmers market in West Seattle on Sunday and there was the perfect tree.  I pointed out this perfect tree to climb.  I think climbing this tree might just be our ritual when we go to the market now.  I think I might even have to climb it next time.

Fall Days

Samuel passed out after too much vitamin water ;) Eli crosses his leg like this too when he sleeps.

In a matter of a week.  Leaves were soft and and now they are crunchy.

Eli helping me make our crockpot chili and cornbread for dinner.

My three stooges at Porterhouse waiting for our highchair. 

Eli making friends with our fury neighborhood friends.

Lately....

 Eli loving on Sam.  I love their eyelashes, even though they don't curl. Sam sporting his West Seattle onesie and concentrating on finding his chew toy.  Still no teeth.  Here he is 7 months.

Eli making a sticker belt, Super Eli!

This is Sam taking a trip with me to Costco.  He was sleeping otherwise I would have put him in the bjorn or let him sit in the cart but I didn't want to wake him.  I ended up carrying the toilet paper around with me all over the store.  The next picture, Sam is enjoying the wonderful world of technology already.  He enjoys the bubble game on the ipad already.

Working on Sitting Up

Samuel enjoying Caspar Baby Pants.

Good to be home and Tired of the Pump!

Obviously my right boob makes more than my left.  I got really tired of the pump after about 24 hrs. on my trip to San Fran.

This is my sister and I at Muir Woods before we went on the Sonoma Wine Tour.  Guess what's in the gold bag? Yup the pump, we were gone all day so I had to bring it along and at the first wine stop I had to pump in the public bathroom.  The only other place I had to pump was at the spa, other than that I was able to do it at our hotel.  First trip out of state having to pump ever and it was by choice.  Not bad.

Not sure if you do this....but I do.

I'm generally not a negative thinks the worst kind of person for the most part.  I'm usually up beat, used to be kinda a bubbly person.  I'm leaving for San Francisco tomorrow with my sister to visit my brother who recently has taken up a job in California.  Last year we took this trip (brother had an internship) but I was in my first trimester of my second pregnancy and well let's just say this is a do over.  When I was there last food, smells, too much movement made me super sick and beyond the fact I was super exhausted and fatigued the whole time that tells you what kind of trip it was.  We made the best of it and still had a good time but this time we plan to have a RADICAL time (I've been wanting to use that word for a while again).  But before I leave on a trip and leave my two children behind with my hubby I must go through my overly paranoid checklist:

1) Review of Infant and Kid CPR and confirmation that he remembers.
2) Bed time for Eli is 8:30 (he always gets sucked into a zillion stories, I'm usually there to say wrap it up).
3) Always put a new blanket down with baby since all of our animals like to shed their fur on everything especially the baby blankets.
4) Reminder to get along. Sometimes Brian turns into a 5 yr old arguing with my 3 yr old. and antagonizes him.
5) Reminder that the first step on the staircase of our new deck is a steep one and remind him to remind Eli to hold onto the rail when he goes down even though it has a gate.

I'm sure I have at least ten more reminders, but I don't want you to think I'm that paranoid mom that always thinks the worst.  I like to call it just being prepared and maternal.

Well I better get to packing my bag and running to the store for baby food.  I haven't had a trip like this in a while, I'm not sure I know what to do with myself, I'm sure I'll figure it out.

Peace out, Seattle even though you'll be warmer while I'm in San Fran.

Sucessful Fishing Trip....Camping remind me to rent a house.

Cousin Charlie and Eli getting ready with their fishing poles and Mom and Eli in the boat.  Hot day for fishing on Fish Lake.

All smiles aftewards and Brian go them red slushies afterwards since it was 90 degrees plus.

Sam at Lucia and Silas's 1st birthday party.  The two fingers in the mouth look is pretty normal in our house.

Eli and Brooklyn running around in a sprinker water toy at Tallgrass (a party our friends do every year).  Eli loves Frog and Toad stoires and likes it when he's dripping water out of his bathing suit.  Fun day for these guys!

Creative Imagination

It's 1.5 hours before we are to leave for camping and everyone is still sleeping and I'm updating this blog, the house is a wreck we are half packed myself unshowered.  I have a feeling we may just be getting there when we get there. 

Anyways, I was thinking about Eli's comments he shares lately.  He is starting to share his imagination with me.  The other day he held up his sun glasses vertically and said, "Mom a rainbow!" He was holding it in the shape of a rainbow.  It was only days before I had said to him that a cloud looked like something ( I can't remember of course) but had told him, that sometimes you can see things in the clouds if you use your imagination.  He has done several things like this lately where he comes up with a whole new idea all on his own and it's unique.  Go Eli! 

I better go get in the shower.

We are going Camping?

So we are getting ready to go camping for two nights and it only took me two days to pack for it.  I can't wait till I can tell the kids go pack your bag.  Right now I currently pack three bags, gear and groceries and do laundry for my husbands bag.  Ridiculousness is what I say.  Eli really wants to go fishing.  Not sure if he just likes the idea or really wants to I guess we will see once we get out there.  We purchased two fishing polls one for him and and one for his cousin who is visiting from New York.  I hope he likes it I have a feeling we may be a year ahead of ourselves, we'll see.

Here Eli said, "Mom take a picture of us." This was new for him to ask so I obliged. I must say I'm glad he did.

This is Sam trying to feed himself.  He wants to grab the spoon and constantly put his two fingers in his mouth while being fed.  It can be a bit challenging sometimes.  So far we have had Rice Cereal, Oatmeal, Carrots, Peas, Peaches and just tastes of cold apple and watermelon.  I think Sweet Potatoes are next and then maybe Pears, Apples or Avocados.