Christmas and Cali

It has been a busy month!  We survived the holidays and a trip to California...the first plane ride with the boys. By all accounts it was all good!  (Except for the final descent into MSP - Will had a fit (aka SCREAMED) for 20 minutes.  We were totally those people.  I'm breaking out into a sweat thinking about it.)

ANYWAY... 

Here are some pictures from our adventures (I posted these on FB too)

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AasWzZu2YsmL1A

Grant-O!

Major milestone tonight, people.  Grant passed "Pre School II" level swimming class.  Why is this such a milestone (he is, afterall, now in School)?  Because it was his 5th (FIFTH) time taking it.  No lie.  The kid would not float on his back to save his life.

But WHAM! three weeks ago it clicked and the past few lessons he has been a fish. Check it out:

The other big deal is he is reading.  Slow and steady!  He is sounding out words and recognizing them faster.  He read an entire level-1 book last night (it took about 30 min.)

He also asked me tonight if I shaved (thank GOD he didn't ask about specific areas).  I don't know where that came from and didn't ask.  EEK!

He is getting so big! :(

Pumpkin Patch

The Hannert clan headed out to the Pumpkin Patch today.  The boys LOVED it.  We went to Afton Apples , mainly because Grant had already been there on a school field trip and begged to go again so he could show us everything. 

It was cool because they had tractors pulling hay wagons all around the orchard and patches.  They'd drop you off, you'd pick out your goodies and they'd pick you up again. I thought Will was going to fall out in his excited screaming "TACTOR!" 

We found 3 great pumpkins, feed some of the petting zoo animals (again, Will was in heaven.  The kid has an animal loving gene that he did not get from yours truly), and played on an enormous jungle gym.  

(ignore my face please!)

Grant's pick...

We're following the leader, the leader, the leader ...

Look mom - no Wheels!

Grant's final before-school-starts-feat? Learning to ride his bike without training wheels! He did it on his first try and has mastered "stopping" (more like jumping off). He still needs some help getting started though.

Quote of the Day

Grant puts on my sunglasses and says "Mom, do these make my butt look big?"  I had to laugh out loud.

Will is still grunting but it is taking more of a semblance to words.  Like he'll grunt a letter's sound and then the right number of syllables.  He says Please, Puppy, Cookie, Cracker all pretty good.  He grunts with an "L" sound for milk and calls Libby "Bea" (which she hopes sticks!) 

And since I'm "making memories"... he is also starting to listen more (not listening is still the majority) and a couple times has caught me by surprise, doing what I ask.  He is also starting to play pretend - he'll pretend to go to sleep or whatever and then die laughing when we tickle him awake. 

Family Photos

My brother, Pat, got married on the 13th.  While at the wedding, Lib actually got a decent picture of us.  The 2 "versions" are posted since each little boy looks better in a different one. 

Will eating a Starburst

Link to YouTube: Will eating a Starburst

(Sorry - technology is not my friend tonight so I couldn't get it to embed.)

Quote of the Day

Grant:  "Dad, I just love you so much, I want to be STUCK on you!"

Will:  "GRUUNNT!"

Ain't it the Truth!

The shirt says it all:

the Boys

My new favorite vino:

And - mark your calendars! - I've actually managed to upload some new videos on YouTube. 

Grant and Will

We've gotten lots of comments about Will looking like Grant. You be the judge:

Grant - Week 1




Will - Week 1



Grant - Week 4



Will - Week 4

Ho Ho Ho

Last night we had our daycare's Christmas Party. Wow! Julie, the daycare "leader" (as Grant calls her), outdid herself and had Santa come in. (Plus she gave out great gifts - individualized calenders of each kid, ornaments made by the kids and personalized towels for each kid.)

Grant went right up to him to introduce himself:

We also got a peek at how honest Grant is. When Santa asked if he'd been good, he replied, "Yes. But sometimes I'm bad."

He then went on to ask for a big motorcycle for Christmas (see approximate sizing, below). One that "I can ride and keep outside so it won't break." I think we're in some trouble here as a motorcycle wasn't on my list for him.

The newest addition to the daycare crew:

(P.S. Will asked for world peace.)

The party was a total hit with Grant. He cried when it was time to go and cried, again, when we got home and realized he did not come home with his motorcycle.

Activities for Kids

I just got a book for Grant (and Will) called "The Siblings Busy Book" by Lisa Hanson and Heather Kempskie. It has all sorts of activities for kids of all ages. Its nice because it breaks down each activity with infant, toddler, pre-schooler, and school-age appropriate projects.

Happy playing!

The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting

Another interesting article in Time... or at least I thought so.

• It made me feel better that Grant is not (yet) in any extracurricular activities or pre-school.
• It reminded me that we all survived in a much un-safer world when we were growing up.
• It made me appreciate that he does get such a kick out of running, playing baseball with us, helping with chores, etc.
• It made me resolve to try to keep our lives sane and not to over-do it as the boys do get older.
• Overall, it made me sigh in relief that we're doing pretty darn good.

The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting

My favorite perspective from the article is on page 2. "... the odds of being kidnapped and killed by a stranger are about 1 in 1.5 million. When parents confront you with "how can you let him go to the store alone?," she suggests countering with "how can you let him visit your relatives?" (some 80% of kids who are molested are victims of friends or relatives.) Or ride in the car with you? (More than 420,000 kids were injured in motor vehiclaes last year.) ... "

2-week update

The good news? Will is a pig...

The bad news? My blood pressure is still high...




Frankie isn't the baby anymore


Just chillin'


STOP TAKING MY PICTURE!

We had our follow up appointments today. Overall, we're doing great. The only bummer is my blood pressure is still high... "prehypertension" numbers and that is with the meds. I have to continue taking the medication and if it is still high at my 6-week appt., I'll get referred to an internal medicine doctor. FGS.

BUT... Will is doing awesome. He weighed 6 pounds, even, when we left the hospital on 11/7. And 12 days later, he weights 7 pounds, 11 oz. OINK! Everything else on him looked great too. It is so nice to get through this first appt. and be in the clear. He is filling out his "NB" sized gear and definitely filling out.

Tame those Toddlers!

Trying to teach your toddler some manners ... or maybe have them start helping around the house? Check out this site - Handi Points. You can create chore and behavior charts (and more!) to help you out. You can either print them out or have your child track their progress online, where they can earn rewards.

The site also has art & craft ideas and learning worksheets. You do need to set up an account but it is free. Happy parenting!

Fall Fun

Sorry long time, no write. I have just been too tired and lazy ... and crabby, so G's normally cute escapades haven't been as cute. Poor kid...just a small dose of the reality coming his way. That said, I did manage to capture some pictures of him having frolicking in the fall foliage:

Oh my... these are the first pictures I've posted. I need to get better at that blogging skill for sure. Happy Autumn!

Parenting Highs

I was popped the "big" question tonight - "mama, how will the baby get out?" To which I promptly asked, "how do you think?" And Grant replied, I think the Dr. pulls it out, which is close enough in my mind so I said he was right... and breathed a sigh of relief. He has done that a couple of times - suprised me with a way too logical answer to a pretty adult question.

He also likes brocoli and carrots. Considering I"m not a huge veggie person and Troy only likes romaine lettuce and cukes, this is big. And I mean likes to the point of requesting it and eating it before his main dish (pizza, hot dogs). Talk about a twisted world when you have to tell your 3 year old to finish his pizza because he's so busy eating his veggies. Cripes.

Status check

You can't make this stuff up... I just had to tell G. to "focus on pooping... please" since he decided he needed to go mid-bath. Seriously!?!

The transition of T. going back to school is going OK. It's actually been pretty good here, in the evenings - we are both still alive. But G. watches more TV that he did before. It allows him to just quiet and give me a more time to get stuff done. I try to stick with Noggin or movies but still - its TV. Also G. is sad to get dropped off at daycare (he is fine once he gets there) and wants to be with T. 100% on the weekends... which is going to be tough with T. homework load.

Baby #2 update - all is good. Just had my 30-wk appt but this pregnancy is NOT going fast enough. Wow. Two months doesn't sound like long to go but I feel like I'm much further along than only 3/4. Sigh... the good news is I'm good weight/size wise and I passed my glucose test. Bad news - I had to buy total granny panties ("She's Having a Baby" anyone?!?!) and I can't paint my toenails. WHOA! Bet you're glad you checked in to find that all out. : )

Now I'm off to have some dessert - apple pie ala mode OR homemade turtle sundae. I need my calcium, right?

What next?

In the last 4 hours...
- I bought new perennials on Tuesday, which I've actually managed to water, and came home today to find one damn-near dead. WTF? I hate things like that. Plus every plant in my landscaping looks like it has some disease... and not the same one. So I've given myself a headache thinking about how to go about ID'g and then fixing 10 different plant ills.
- As I was going to the bathroom, G asked if I had a penis. I said no. He asked if he could see. I said OK, expecting a cursory glance would suffice. However, he literally held my undies out and craned his little neck down to get a better look. Perv. And then said, in his best adult-like voice, "You're right mom, you do have a bagina." Note: we're pretty open bathroom wise, especially with "#1" so it is not like he hasn't seen the pubic area. Open door policy was (is) easier and less annoying than the constant questions on if I'm done yet, etc. Anyhoo - I guess its time to teach about that next level of privacy... and body parts.
- I got a a couple of new baby bottles at Target and, only once I had them home, did I notice that they are USED. One doesn't have a nipple and one has a size 4 nipple (both were supposed to have size 2). And there is water stains on both - EWWW. So now I have to return them to Target and pray they don't think I'm the loser and hassle me.

If these 3 things are any indication, I'm afraid for the reaming 20 hours of this day.

Birthday Verdict

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes. The highlight of my day was the DQ chicken strip basket and Butterfinger blizzard that my sister bought me ... this is the truth.
The second biggest highlight was the kick-ass pair of jeans that I got at Gap Outlet for $4.97. Can't beat that, right? So why is this #2? They are pre-pregnancy size. So really, between now and oh, 2012, they will serve as a torture tool. But they really are rockin' and I've certainly spent $5 on dumber things.
The third biggest highlight was that T and I actually watched a movie - Slumdog Millionaire, which shows how behind we are. Unfortunately, I had my eyes covered 1/4 the time since I'm unable to watch anything that is even slightly uncomfortable, embarrassing, painful, etc. Nice... 33 and emotionally inept - except during meltdowns.
But tonight Grant is with Grammy (thanks mom!) so T and I actually had dinner, alone. We have about 100 things to talk about but, instead, sat the whole time to/from the restaurant in blissful silence. You don't realize how much a 3-year old talks until they aren't around (God love 'em!). Ahhh... it's lovely. The only thing that would make it better is a glass of wine but if I open a bottle for one glass, I may not stop.
Verdict: it was a "I'm-33-years-old-and-PG" b-day and that is A-OK.