I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you, God, for giving me these boys to live life with...
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
He's TWO!
This beautiful boy is TWO! What a completely amazing child he is. Though I'm his mama, I say this with complete objectivity because not a day goes by that he doesn't astound me in some way. Here's my unabashed, shameless plug for what my Ashenafi can do at two (and so I don't forget!):
-Is a fantatical tooth-brusher. Would brush 5 times a day if allowed (mean mama won't let him roam the house with his toothbrush all day).
-Really enjoys cooking with mom. Especially if there is licking chocolate involved
-Loves vehicles. Especially large vehicles including backhoes, cement trucks, garbage trucks...but most of all YELLOW Buses. This is why. Also loves matchbox cars--received a pack of 20 for his birthday from his aunt rachel and family and was in heaven.
-Loves to jump! especially from the couch onto our big floor pillows. Can entertain himself this way for a very long time
-Likes coloring, but is endlessly entertained by dictating to someone who can draw--for example, "Draw a backhoe. Draw a sailboat. Two sailboats. Two backhoes. Little backhoe. Big backhoe. Draw a dog. Big dog. Little dog. Two dogs. Ferry boat. Two ferry boats." and so forth and so on.
-Loves his "babe" (aka, TT or Tori). Can't wait for Tori to wake up when he's asleep. Wants Tori to "come on, babe," if he needs hom to be where he is.
-Is still a champion sleeper. Falls asleep on his own (but only after his ritual of asking for water, more hugs, his quilt, to brush his teeth (again), hugs from grandpa, grandma, dad (anybody who is at our house), more books, to play with his cars, etc). Sleeps for ~12 hours and again for a few hours at 1pm. Woohoo!
-Talks in 5-6 word sentences
-Talks. All. The. Time.
-Remembers things we talked about several days ago
-Likes to eat at least two bananas when he first gets up. Three would be preferable
-Demands "steamed milk" each morning--that's what I get for making lattes!
-Builds towers much taller than he is
-Knows his ABC's, counts to 12, sings many songs on his own throughout the day (twinkle twinkle, farmer in the dell, yellow bus, amazing grace, among others)
-Has a spiritual bent. Asks to pray several times at meals--likes to close his eyes and makes sure we know he's got them closed. Requests books about Jesus without any pushing from the parents.
Here are a few pictures from his big days--his birthday and his party day. He woke up to two of his favorite things: helium balloons and Elmo (why Elmo? Not sure since he's only seen Seseme street 2-3 times but he stuck...oh, maybe it was the elmo doll my sister gave him for his 1st birthday). Sorry, i can't seem to drag the pictures into the right order, so in random order, here is his birthday morning and his birthday party all mixed together.
-Is a fantatical tooth-brusher. Would brush 5 times a day if allowed (mean mama won't let him roam the house with his toothbrush all day).
-Really enjoys cooking with mom. Especially if there is licking chocolate involved
-Loves vehicles. Especially large vehicles including backhoes, cement trucks, garbage trucks...but most of all YELLOW Buses. This is why. Also loves matchbox cars--received a pack of 20 for his birthday from his aunt rachel and family and was in heaven.
-Loves to jump! especially from the couch onto our big floor pillows. Can entertain himself this way for a very long time
-Likes coloring, but is endlessly entertained by dictating to someone who can draw--for example, "Draw a backhoe. Draw a sailboat. Two sailboats. Two backhoes. Little backhoe. Big backhoe. Draw a dog. Big dog. Little dog. Two dogs. Ferry boat. Two ferry boats." and so forth and so on.
-Loves his "babe" (aka, TT or Tori). Can't wait for Tori to wake up when he's asleep. Wants Tori to "come on, babe," if he needs hom to be where he is.
-Is still a champion sleeper. Falls asleep on his own (but only after his ritual of asking for water, more hugs, his quilt, to brush his teeth (again), hugs from grandpa, grandma, dad (anybody who is at our house), more books, to play with his cars, etc). Sleeps for ~12 hours and again for a few hours at 1pm. Woohoo!
-Talks in 5-6 word sentences
-Talks. All. The. Time.
-Remembers things we talked about several days ago
-Likes to eat at least two bananas when he first gets up. Three would be preferable
-Demands "steamed milk" each morning--that's what I get for making lattes!
-Builds towers much taller than he is
-Knows his ABC's, counts to 12, sings many songs on his own throughout the day (twinkle twinkle, farmer in the dell, yellow bus, amazing grace, among others)
-Has a spiritual bent. Asks to pray several times at meals--likes to close his eyes and makes sure we know he's got them closed. Requests books about Jesus without any pushing from the parents.
Here are a few pictures from his big days--his birthday and his party day. He woke up to two of his favorite things: helium balloons and Elmo (why Elmo? Not sure since he's only seen Seseme street 2-3 times but he stuck...oh, maybe it was the elmo doll my sister gave him for his 1st birthday). Sorry, i can't seem to drag the pictures into the right order, so in random order, here is his birthday morning and his birthday party all mixed together.
Monday, November 24, 2008
MIA
Long story short: our computer broke (someone who shall remain nameless tipped a cup of water over onto the computer and it fizzled) the day after the election, and we got a new one last week. However, during the two week computer famine, I fell out of love with the computer and began filling my internet time with all sorts of more worthwhile activities. Well, actually it's just been a really busy couple of weeks, so not having a computer probably was just perfect timing so I didn't go over the edge.
So, I have a lot of catching up to do! Here are some highlights: Since my last update, Ashenafi turned 2, Mark turned 3-0 and all of our new rooms are now complete with real walls--and a couple even have paint on them already! Torin has been sick for 4 days with the croup (yes, the same thing as the baby in Ann of Green Gables has) and has been whimpering, clingy and oh, so sad. I've never had a sick baby--wow, nothing like a sick baby to hurt a mama's heart. I also got sick last week (not with the croup), but am fully recovered now. We hosted a big family birthday party at our house on Saturday to celebrate Mark and Ashen's birthday and to honor Mark's mom and my grandma who all had birthdays the same week!
For Mark's birthday I took him out to a nice restaurant overlooking the water (it was dark, so we just saw city lights and sail boat outlines in the marina below) and ate like royalty. Hot Crab and lobster dip, seafood stew, scallops, tiger prawns and halibut, topped off with a chocolate raspberry mousse cake...mmmm. Our second dinner out together this year, and it was fabulous. The good thing about never going out is that when we do, we feel so grateful and really go enjoy what the restaurant has to offer (within some reason) without feeling like we need to scrimp (we're frugal-ish by nature).
This week the goal is for Torin to recover and to get ready for Thanksgiving. We're celebrating with my mom and sister's family this year. I'm in charge of the green beans, sweet potatoes, rolls, apple pie and an appetizer. Sheesh, now that I write that out, that's a lot! Hopefully I'll have time to whip these things up. I love to cook, but time is so lacking lately (compounded by Torin never wanting to be more than 2 inches from me when he's awake).
I have more specific posts coming...Ashen's birthday deserves a post of its own, so I'll do that later. He had such a great day and week being the birthday boy.
Hope everyone is having a great 3 day work week (for most, that is)!
So, I have a lot of catching up to do! Here are some highlights: Since my last update, Ashenafi turned 2, Mark turned 3-0 and all of our new rooms are now complete with real walls--and a couple even have paint on them already! Torin has been sick for 4 days with the croup (yes, the same thing as the baby in Ann of Green Gables has) and has been whimpering, clingy and oh, so sad. I've never had a sick baby--wow, nothing like a sick baby to hurt a mama's heart. I also got sick last week (not with the croup), but am fully recovered now. We hosted a big family birthday party at our house on Saturday to celebrate Mark and Ashen's birthday and to honor Mark's mom and my grandma who all had birthdays the same week!
For Mark's birthday I took him out to a nice restaurant overlooking the water (it was dark, so we just saw city lights and sail boat outlines in the marina below) and ate like royalty. Hot Crab and lobster dip, seafood stew, scallops, tiger prawns and halibut, topped off with a chocolate raspberry mousse cake...mmmm. Our second dinner out together this year, and it was fabulous. The good thing about never going out is that when we do, we feel so grateful and really go enjoy what the restaurant has to offer (within some reason) without feeling like we need to scrimp (we're frugal-ish by nature).
This week the goal is for Torin to recover and to get ready for Thanksgiving. We're celebrating with my mom and sister's family this year. I'm in charge of the green beans, sweet potatoes, rolls, apple pie and an appetizer. Sheesh, now that I write that out, that's a lot! Hopefully I'll have time to whip these things up. I love to cook, but time is so lacking lately (compounded by Torin never wanting to be more than 2 inches from me when he's awake).
I have more specific posts coming...Ashen's birthday deserves a post of its own, so I'll do that later. He had such a great day and week being the birthday boy.
Hope everyone is having a great 3 day work week (for most, that is)!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Barack the VOTE!
I don't blog about political issues at all here, but today is too important, too historic. So much hangs on today. Our family is on pins and needles today waiting for the election results. I think the boys sense the tension too (or maybe it's tension from our house project and having a (great) houseguest).
We want to see this family in the White House in January.
Barack Obama is so inspiring to us. We can't wait to be challenged to do more, to be more, to reach out and care more about the world and our own country. We want to stop ragging on government and start being involved more in our government. The fact that he's African-American is meaningful to us because having a black man in the White House is so symbolic for where our country has come from. Not so long ago, Ashen would not have been able to use the same public bathroom as Torin. Ashen would not have been able to use the same water fountain as Torin. They would have had to go to different schools. Sit in different parts of the bus. Makes me weep to think about, really. Brothers, separated by race. Having Barack Obama take the presidency opens up the world to my son--there really are no limits. Makes a mama smile.
Anyway, enough of my soapbox...I have much much more to say, but I'll save it (but if he wins expect to hear more!!...and if he loses, I may be so broken hearted that you won't see any blog posts from me for awhile).
Most important, no matter who you're voting for...just make sure you do VOTE. Vote. Vote. Vote.
We want to see this family in the White House in January.
Barack Obama is so inspiring to us. We can't wait to be challenged to do more, to be more, to reach out and care more about the world and our own country. We want to stop ragging on government and start being involved more in our government. The fact that he's African-American is meaningful to us because having a black man in the White House is so symbolic for where our country has come from. Not so long ago, Ashen would not have been able to use the same public bathroom as Torin. Ashen would not have been able to use the same water fountain as Torin. They would have had to go to different schools. Sit in different parts of the bus. Makes me weep to think about, really. Brothers, separated by race. Having Barack Obama take the presidency opens up the world to my son--there really are no limits. Makes a mama smile.
Anyway, enough of my soapbox...I have much much more to say, but I'll save it (but if he wins expect to hear more!!...and if he loses, I may be so broken hearted that you won't see any blog posts from me for awhile).
Most important, no matter who you're voting for...just make sure you do VOTE. Vote. Vote. Vote.
Monday, November 03, 2008
9 Months?!?
Look: The little guy is standing now!!
He continues to be a bundle of joy. I keep wondering when things will change and he won't BEAM every time I smile at him. For now, I take the opportunity to smile at him as much as possible, just because I LOVE his smile back. It's one of those smiles that lights up the room. Humbly, I say that both my boys have smiles that light up the room.
Torin is starting to really enjoy playing independently. Seems I have another car-lover on my hands. I often here a shrieking "Nooooooooooooooooooo Baaaaaaaaaaaa-Beeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!" from his big brother as he picks up one of the 21 cars that Ashen is playing with. This morning Ashen is off on an early birthday field trip with Aunt Heidi to the Aquarium, so Torin gets all the cars to himself and is taking advantage of that. He's also quite the mama's boy right now. It's hard to leave the room without hearing the little whimper that says "I need my mama, please?`"
Ashen was excited to "go see fishies?? Ride in mama's car? Heidi driving mama's car?" I can't wait to hear all about their adventure. Maybe I'll have some pictures to post.
We have a great friend visiting us from Japan this week. She and I lived together in Kenya back in 2000-01. Whew, time flies. She is here just to see us and relax. We're trying to do just that! We did have the drywallers here this weekend to put up the walls (I'll post those pix soon--way to exciting for us!), but other than that we just spent time hanging out and doing a little shopping and eating Japanese and Ethiopian food.
He continues to be a bundle of joy. I keep wondering when things will change and he won't BEAM every time I smile at him. For now, I take the opportunity to smile at him as much as possible, just because I LOVE his smile back. It's one of those smiles that lights up the room. Humbly, I say that both my boys have smiles that light up the room.
Torin is starting to really enjoy playing independently. Seems I have another car-lover on my hands. I often here a shrieking "Nooooooooooooooooooo Baaaaaaaaaaaa-Beeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!" from his big brother as he picks up one of the 21 cars that Ashen is playing with. This morning Ashen is off on an early birthday field trip with Aunt Heidi to the Aquarium, so Torin gets all the cars to himself and is taking advantage of that. He's also quite the mama's boy right now. It's hard to leave the room without hearing the little whimper that says "I need my mama, please?`"
Ashen was excited to "go see fishies?? Ride in mama's car? Heidi driving mama's car?" I can't wait to hear all about their adventure. Maybe I'll have some pictures to post.
We have a great friend visiting us from Japan this week. She and I lived together in Kenya back in 2000-01. Whew, time flies. She is here just to see us and relax. We're trying to do just that! We did have the drywallers here this weekend to put up the walls (I'll post those pix soon--way to exciting for us!), but other than that we just spent time hanging out and doing a little shopping and eating Japanese and Ethiopian food.
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