First Licks

Last night we took a family trip to Dairy Queen.

Being from Minnesota (the International Dairy Queen headquarters!), 

we know DQ delights very well.

Baby Bear was eyeing my cone and smacking his lips.  

He was the only one without a treat.

Until I finally caved.

Like mommy, like little buddy.

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Eleven Months of Baby Bear

He crawls,

he babbles,

he furniture-walks,

he rides contented in the carrier, both front and back,

he giggles at his sister and laughs with his brother,

he snuggles his green blankie,

he sits and knocks at the door where his siblings are playing,

he wrestles with G-Bear,

he races with E-Bear,

he's up once a night but goes back to sleep,

he wants what you have,

he won't be distracted,

he feeds himself,

he eats and eats and eats and eats,

and he terrorizes my shelves and cabinets.

He's a "silly moose,"

a "monster man,"

and our "'lil buddy:"

he's our Baby Bear, and he is eleven months old!

Next month is the big ONE.  I can't believe how quickly time flies.

March Milestones

Around our house,

you might find a big girl typing her name

or writing her words by herself;

Found this on my refrigerator, a special delivery from our hard-working G-Bear.

during mealtime, 

where once a baby sat, we now find a little buddy,

eating meals by himself like a big kid

(it's a first with pears, pancake and potatoes!);

and should you like to venture out from the safe confines of home, 

you may want to take E-Bear along,

he'll show you how to bravely conquer our epic flight of stairs 

without a hand or handle.

Each of these milestones represents a task that used to draw requests for my assistance.  There are so many more like these!  Whether setting the table, cleaning up, helping with dishes, inventing new games, getting into new mischief, advancements abound around here.  These three are stretching their wings daily.  They will be flying on their own before I know it.   Fortunately for me, I recently came across this inspiring poem here.  I quickly wrote it out and taped it to my entryway closet door:

Oh Lord,

Give me patience when wee hands

tug at me with their small demands,

and give me gentle, smiling eyes,

keep my lips from hasty replies.

And let not weariness, confusion or noise

obscure my vision of life's fleeting joys.

So when, in years to come my house is still -

no bitter memories its rooms may fill.

~Author Unknown

In the spirit of this poem and the season, I am trying to thank God each time someone tugs at my leg or calls for my help during the day.  I am far from perfect in this, but my attempts have done wonders for my presence of mind in our daily interactions.  Goodness, I love these Bears.

Leap Year Inspiration

Today is a treat we only enjoy once every four years.  Today is Leap Year Day!   In honor of February 29th, here is some inspiration from our day to help you leap into tomorrow and the year beyond.

"Hey Moooooooooom!  Could you please help me find my Buzzzz Wightyear sleep shirt?  

Thank you.  Hey, Mom?  I am going to be Buzz.  Here I go, "Whooooosh!"

~From E-Bear, who knows the importance of asking nicely

and that the best way to travel is to 'whoosh.'

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

"Sniff, sniff."

*smile*

~From Baby Bear, who knows that when you fall on your head,

you need moment to cry, 

a moment to refocus,

and the persistence to strike out again. 

"If I had a piece of hair on my pizza,

I'll tell you what I would do.

I would cover it up with mushrooms,

and eat my pizza with you."

~An original poem (in the style of Shel Silverstein) by G-Bear, 
who knows that sometimes life is messy,

and good food should be shared, not wasted :)

And finally, a quote that I needed to read today, thanks to my friend Kat and Father Najim:

"So you have failed?  You - be convinced of it - can never fail.  You haven't failed; you've 

acquired experience.  Forward!"  ~Saint Josemaria Escriva

Daybook for February 2012

Ah, a Daybook entry, what better way is there to reflect and ramble about our latest musings and happenings?  Today's edition is a mix of big and small choices, difficult and delightful moments.  Like a small town newspaper, the news borders on gossip, but you can't help read it anyway.  As always, thanks to the Simple Woman's Daybook for providing the inspiration.

Outside my window...there is brown grass where yesterday there was SNOW!  We enjoyed our one and only snow day of the year yesterday.  Conveniently, school had already been dismissed for Presidents' Day.  We wasted no time getting outside and quickly made a snowman.  He wasn't Minnesota-sized, but he was pretty cute.  We built him in the shade so that he would last longer, and thank goodness we did!  By the time we finished playing in the snow, most of it had melted.  Even our snowman was gone by the evening, before I could snap a picture.  Ah, well, that's life in North Carolina.

Our back yard playground, covered in snow!

I am thinking...about our Baby Bear, who turned ten months yesterday! 

A Bear and his daddy.

Our little man impresses us everyday with his new skills.  He loves to make people smile by waving hello and good-bye.  He likes to clap along, whether to a song or to show his delight.  He is standing, furniture walking, and crawling like lightning.  I can no longer let him out of my sight because he is getting into everything!   Big sibs, mom and dad have to be careful where we leave our toys and treasures if we don't want to share them with Baby Bear.  And oh, my, what a voracious appetite he has!  This boy is a growing boy.  

Baby Bear celebrates in style :)

I am thankful...to Neen for nominating us for the Versatile Blogger Award.  How kind!  I am most thankful that our blog has brought enjoyment and escape for her as she anticipates the birth of her twins!  Thank you.  I'll fulfill the obligation of passing along this award in a future post.

In the kitchen...I am cooking our Mardi Gras meal complete with roasted vegetable pasta and the last minute addition of a crock pot chicken.  What a treat!  Thanks, Whole Foods, for providing organic, free range chickens on sale.  Yum.  

I am wearing...fuzzy socks.  I found them at the back of my sock drawer yesterday, and they were perfect for our snow day.  They are oh, so comfortable.  

I am creating...my annual plan to help us make the most of Lent.  With Ash Wednesday tomorrow, it is time to add the finishing touches.  Lent is a season that offers us the tremendous opportunity to regroup, reflect and recharge in our walk with God.  I say, bring it on.


I am going...actually, I went to the grocery store with the Bears today.  You might think I have a death wish or just get a kick out of tempting fate.  Actually, I was desperate for ice cream.  With three in tow, I chose the grocery store with the mini "shopper in training" shopping carts.   My kids love the mini shopping carts.  Thankfully, both mini carts (they only have two) were available at the entrance, so both G-Bear and E-Bear got to push one.  We have two rules when I allow the little shopping carts:  #1: Everyone must stay behind mommy and follow me at all times.  #2:  We walk, we don't run, with the carts.  Often, someone has a lapse of behavior and looses their cart privileges part-way through our shopping trip.  Not today.  Today my Bears were cherubs, and they were rightly showered with compliments from the other shoppers.  "Oh, my, aren't YOU TWO big helpers?"  "What excellent helpers you have there, Mom!"  And my personal favorite:  "Hey, Sam!  Look, it's a train!"  My kiddos beamed with pride as they pushed their carts.  I would like to thank the legion of angels over my shoulder.  And yes, we bought a lot more than ice cream.

I am wondering...why, with so many wonderful toys surrounding him, Baby Bear is most interested in chewing on the power strip hidden behind the couch.  Like I said, I can't let that boy out of my sight! :)

I am reading...phonics books from Progressive Phonics with G-Bear.  Actually, I should say that SHE is reading them with me!  I am so impressed and amazed as she develops this new skill.  The look on her face is priceless as she sounds out a word and realizes she has read it.  So far we have done the first book in the series, the short "a." Now we are onto the second book, and we are all excited to start it.  Even E-Bear asked if we could read it for story time today.

Photo from Progressive Phonics

I am learning...so much from the women in my Bible Study.  Right now we are reading James, and I love our discussions about how to practically live out our faith. 

Around the house...we are missing our three cousins, who joined us yesterday for playtime and dinner!  We had so much fun.  G-Bear said today at lunch:  "I miss them.  It was so LOUD when they were here.  I felt like our house was shaking we were so loud."  I can assure you that this was a most sincere compliment on her part.    

I am look forward to... Thursday.  Why?  Rank lists for all residency applicants are due tomorrow by 9pm.  I can't wait to wake up on Thursday and have the deadline behind me.  


I am pondering...residency.  With rank lists due tomorrow, this is the eight hundred pound gorilla in my room.  Actually, to say that I am "pondering" residency does not do justice to the amount of mental energy and capacity that this decision has consumed for the past two years.  I somewhat ashamed to admit that I am so nervous about tomorrow that my hands are shaking right now, even as I type this.  For me, the question is not only what rank list I will submit, but whether I will submit one at all.  Eight hundred pound gorilla, indeed.  

A favorite quote for today...

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it shall be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord."  ~James 1:5-7

One of my favorite things...is snuggling with my Bears.  Whether we are reading a book, tucking in for the night or watching a movie, their sweet snuggles make my day.  

A few plans for the rest of the week...Ash Wednesday and a decision tomorrow, basketball with T this weekend, and a visit from Uncle C round out our plans for the next week.  

A peek into my day...

Our porch yesterday, more proof that it really did snow.

Just out of reach

Do you ever have days when

no matter what new heights you scale, 

what you want in life still feels just out of reach?

Baby Bear understands.

So do I.

Baby Bear at Nine Months

He crawls, he eats puffs, he wakes up happy, he can get out of his bassinet, 

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand,

he's nine months old today!

Way to go, Baby Bear!

The nine month milestone is always extra special for me, because it marks the point at which my kids have lived longer outside of me than they did inside.  Ah, nostalgic moments.  But enough with the mushy stuff, because we have a real dilemma on our hands with our growing guy!  Now that Baby Bear can get out of his bassinet during certain *ahem* unhappy 11pm rants, I have to figure out where to put him in his crib to sleep!  Our room is quite and secluded, but there is zero space for his crib.  G-Bear and E-Bear's room has space for his crib, but I worry that his nighttime and early morning wake-up calls will wake them up too.  The playroom is an option, but then there is no place for T and I to hang out after the kids go to sleep.  EEK!  Our happy routine is all topsy-turvy now that our guy is getting so big.

Don't worry, we'll figure it out.  Let there be no doubt that we love our Baby Bear no matter how complicated the sleeping arrangements become!

On the fifth day of Christmas

For the fifth day of Christmas, a photo memory:

Five first time puffs!

Not sure what to make of them at first.

Pincher grasp at work.

Closer...

Tasty....

Who authorized this?  I thought those were my puffs!

four at St. Nick's feet,

three playmates,

two crawling buds,

and a joyful, thankful family.

Baby Bear tried his first puffs for the first time on Tuesday and they were a huge success. 

What a great Christmas time treat for our little guy!

On the second day of Christmas

For the second day of Christmas, a photo memory:

Two crawling buds,

and a joyful, thankful family.

Baby Bear has been inspired in many ways by his cousin this Christmas.  Only eight weeks older than our Baby Bear, T is setting the pace!  Thanks in part to his encouraging example, Baby Bear has been full out crawling since Christmas Eve.  G-Bear and E-Bear have to be careful where they build their block towers and favorite toys these days.  Baby Bear and Cousin T are now an unstoppable duo.  Just wait until T teaches Baby Bear to walk!

Eight Excellent Baby Bear Months

Baby Bear is eight months old today.

He makes eight months look good.

But don't let him fool you, he's not laying around much these days.  

He's really quite busy making the most of every moment.

Whether noshing at the table at dawn,

playing at the playground mid-morning,

wrestling in the afternoon,

swinging at sunset,

 or scooting toward bedtime,

this little man is taking the season and our hearts by storm.

Every time we go to get our mail at our community office, the staff say,

"He is always smiling, never grumpy!"

It is true, Baby Bear, your smile brightens our day,

and you flash it even more now that you've carved out two more top teeth!

Thanks for being my buddy in the backpack, for always waking up with a smile,

for sharing your voice with us (bah, bahs, and mah, mahs), 

and for giving us the raspberries (thwerpppppp!) every once in a while.  

We're so thankful for these eight months with you.

We love you.

Seven months, two more teeth, and Mr. Scoots

I'll tell you the story of Baby Bear sweet,

joyful by day,

alas, night howls replete.

Who me?

For weeks this went on for our poor little bear,

his mother, quite sleepless, was pulling her hair.

No, surely not!

But ha!  That was then!  We are now quite in heaven.

No longer six months,

Baby Bear is now seven!

Ok, maybe me

He celebrates in style: from his gums underneath,

on his seven month birthday, came two enormous top teeth!

Hooray!  Two new chompers!  We'll now all get sleep!

But alas, Baby Bear had one last secret to keep:

When we babes learn new skills, oh haven't you heard,

we have such trouble sleeping, though it seems quite absurd,

So sorry dear mommy, though the point might be moot,

I still don't plan to sleep

'cause I'm learning to scoot.

Ready,

set,

go!

Gotcha!

Mr. Scoots, I love you, and I love all the new things you are learning everyday.  This is true even if you keep me up at night, which you do.  

Happy seven months, Baby Bear!