Our Weekly Rhythm

So, I had mentioned I was starting to implement some new routines around here. I've attempted to weekly chore routines over the years with varied success, but have found now that Nora's older and I'm juggling two kids plus housework, my routines needed to be revamped. Not only do I need to make sure we have clean underwear and dinner on the table, but I'm wanting to include some regular learning activities to do with Nora. These are daily cues that help me plan for the week and work on age-appropriate skills.

Here it is:

("missional community" is our church small group and time at Oma's is with my mom, Nora's grandma)

Honestly, right now, we are doing maybe one or two days of activities a week and I've been okay with that. We are trying to squeeze every last drop out of the pleasant fall weather we've been having, enjoying playdates and Nora is taking a basketball class right now (how cute is that?!). But as the weather grows colder and life slows down a bit, I am planning on being home more and making more use of this routine. Generally we are doing these activities in the morning during Silas' naptime or during that awkward after-nap, before dinner time. We've also started to focus on a letter a week (or two).

Making applesauce during the letter "A" week.

I am not trying to be rigid about these activities but want it to be fun for Nora and something she can look forward to. I'm a firm believer that at this age, the most important thing I can be doing to encourage her to be a life-long learner is to incite her curiosity and creativity. There is so much to discover in this amazing world!

More than anything, I'm realizing my priority needs to be spending intentional time with my girl. She will only be this little for so long and I want to seize each day with her! This is such a time of wonder and giggles, excitement and a pure spirit of play. It's funny to think I need to make a plan to make sure I don't miss it, but it's true, I do.

And, I have a lot to learn from her too. Just the other day, I asked her to help me hang laundry on the line in the backyard - she is my clothespin "dispenser". My thinking was "good opportunity for her to learn about keeping a home and how to serve others". Once we got outside, Nora dutifully helped me for a few minutes before the 6 inch deep golden leaves from our maple tree were just too tempting. She exclaimed "Mommy! Mommy! Let's make a pile of leafs so I can jump in them! And when Silas wakes up, he can jump in them too!" No, it wasn't part of "the plan", but frolicking and laughing while throwing leaves in the air and in our hair ended up being the best part of my week.

Do you have any kind of a weekly routine? How do you make sure to spend intentional time with your kids?

Sibling Love

I hope and pray they enjoy one another like this always...

Hubba Bubba

Our boy is 8 months old! Yes, the last time I updated on him, he was a mere 3 months old. Where has the time gone?! Well, I can tell you he hasn't wasted it sleeping. ; )

"Little Man" is definitely not so little anymore and has taken on quite a few names to prove it. Silas' alias' include: Bubba, Bubs, Tank, Chubs, Snugglebuns, Little Stinker (Nora is, of course, Big Stinker) and I'm sure there are more I'm forgetting. I know I'm his mom and he's my little boy, but can I just say, in all fairness, this kid is ADORABLE. I'm realizing discipline with him is going to be tough. Not only because he is showing us he is strong-willed, but he also knows just how to cock his head and shoot me a grin that melts my heart.

He got his first two teeth within 2 days at 7 months, started doing "the worm" at 7 1/2 months and just this week (at 8 months) began full-fledged crawling! In comparison, Nora didn't get her first tooth or start crawling until she was almost 1. This kiddo is not going to let us sit back and relax.

He also loves to feed himself. While Nora would sit patiently in her high-chair and pleasantly let me feed her, if I don't strap his arms down, Silas will rip the spoon from my hands as in "Mommy, you are too slow!". And, boy that kid is strong! So, I've been introducing finger foods earlier than I ever did with Nora.

If there were one word to describe Silas, it would undoubtedly be Jolly. He loves to laugh, super smiley, seemingly making jokes with his eyes...although he is more of a giggler than a full belly-laugher. Silas is social like his sister and is always looking to make eye contact in order to turn on his charms. He is almost never grumpy and will play happily by himself for small stretches as long as he has plenty of space to move. Already quite the adventurer, I do have to be careful to keep my eyes on him as he will quickly worm his away around the house. His crawl is still pretty cautious, but I'm sure he will have that down before long.

When he does get upset about something, he certainly lets us know. There's no whimpering or whining from Silas...it's full out wails, some turning into those silent screams where you're willing your child to take a breath. Oh well, thankfully we don't get those that often, but wondering what we have in store for us!

Such a mama's boy. One of my favorite parts of the day is our snuggle time before bed. He quietly hums to himself as he nurses and I rock him to sleep. While he is a great napper during the day, he is still a bit of a mystery at night....falling asleep easily, but still waking up 2 or 3 times, complicated by the fact that he shares a room with his sister.

Juggling two kids has proven more challenging than we could have ever imagined, but love, love, love our little boy and how much he has brought to our family and our lives.

Update on Our Girl

Exuberant [ig-zoo-ber-uh nt] - adjective
1. effusively and almost uninhibitedly enthusiastic; lavishly abundant.
2. abounding in vitality; extremely joyful and vigorous.
3. See "Nora Tran"...

I can't think of a better word to describe our Nora. Our sweet, laid-back baby girl has grown into such an energetic, opinionated, brave, out-going, loving young lady. Everything she does, she does it with gusto, she gives it 110%, whether it's squealing with delight, jumping from great heights (much to Mommy's worry!) or giving a hug (or 3 or 4). We hear often these days, "Let me do it by my big girl self!" as she's growing more and more independent and testing her abilities (and boundaries).

She is still a bit of a tomboy (although I'm thinking I don't like that label), spending much of her time running, jumping, splashing in (very muddy) puddles, swinging, digging in the dirt, swimming in her pool, throwing balls, collecting rocks, wielding swords and battling invisible "bad guys". In fact, after seeing the movie Tangled, we've had to be careful about leaving frying pans anywhere Nora can get her hands on them.

Cinderella has also become a favorite around here and Nora has also started getting into princess play. Each morning she runs to her closet declaring she has to find "something suitable to wear" (a.k.a. a dress for the ball). Btw, I had NO idea the stress and drama over what clothes and shoes to wear would start this early! And, in preparation for the ball, she often asks "May I have this dance?"...tonight, I found her waltzing with her Baba in the living room, a precious memory.

Nora wearing "something suitable" ; )

With all her unbridled energy, we've had a few bumps and bruises around here lately....

...a bloody lip and yes, a broken finger. You can ask Nora about it, she likes to tell the story with every detail, but in short she "pinced it in da hide-a-bed!" : (

She is such a great big sister to Silas...

and what a helper. We recently caught her doing this...

We celebrated her birthday this year with a big kid, backyard birthday blowout. I can't tell you how fun it was to see all the neighborhood kids, cousins and friends from church swarm to our backyard to celebrate our little girl.

Nora and her pinata, pre-demolition.
Although you can't tell from these pics, Nora was having a ball!

With swimming and soccer, pinwheels and a pinata, coloring and cupcakes and most importantly being surrounded by those who love her dearly, Nora's love tank was totally filled.

As we cuddled and I rocked her to sleep that night, her face was covered in a contented grin. Thang and I have been discussing lately how important it is to teach our children how to celebrate - although I'm thinking it will be awhile before we have a celebration quite that large again!

Our little Nora is proving to be quite a handful but she makes us laugh every day and we couldn't be more thankful for her vibrant spirit. This year, I am praying John 10:10b for her...

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

...that she would know the abundant life God offers her.

P.S. If any of you have some good book recommendations on the "spirited child", let me know!

Happy Birthday to our Sunshine!

A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings
as it does out of finding a small green worm. ~Bill Vaughan

Yes, I am breaking my long blogging silence to wish our sweet and spunky Nora
a very happy 3rd birthday!

We couldn't love you more, little lady, and are in wonder at the person
you are becoming...

2 months, er, 3

Silas turned 3 months old last week! *Somebody* is a bit late on her posting as I wanted to give an update after his 2-month well baby visit. Our "Little Man" is not so little anymore.

At his 2-month appointment on Valentine's Day, he weighed in at 14 lbs. 1 oz. and 24 inches long. That means he's nearly double his birth weight (was 7 lbs. 2 oz.) and grown 4 inches. I looked back at Nora's baby book and she was 14 lbs. 1 oz. at 4 months!

Silas started smiling at around 6 weeks and has hardly stopped. He is SUCH a little flirt. He knows when to turn on his charms...cracking a smile just as I put him down for a nap with eyes that say "c'mon Mom, don't you want to snuggle just a little longer?" Mmmm, very effective.

And, just this past week, Little Man started laughing...

We've gotten lots of comments at how different Silas looks from Nora. It's true they do have very different looks, and, I daresay Silas might look more like me as a baby. But I came across these pics...

Speaking of his big sis, Nora continues to do really well with Silas, showering him with kisses, wanting to hold him and even offering to change his diaper (might wait awhile to take her up on that, but it's the thought).

I'm wondering though if she might be suppressing some hard feelings towards her brother, this was Nora's pick during our last trip to the library:

He is seriously such a sweet boy. I daresay even more laid back than his sister was. He'll still fall asleep in our arms and when we put him in his carseat we are almost guaranteed he'll nap. While by this time with Nora, she was taking three naps a day at pretty regular times, Silas' nap schedule is still sporadic and unpredictable. Today he took two 1.5-2 hour naps, some days he'll catnap all day, giving me no more than 15 minutes at-a-time.

I am really finding it a challenge to get back into any kind of a routine with both kids. It feels like all I'm doing each day is prepping for a meal, cleaning up from a meal, trying to get kids to sleep and changing diapers. In some ways, doing this the second time has been easier, since we knew what we were getting into. But it's also been harder having my attention constantly being split between two little ones. I feel like the theme of most of my days should be DISTRACTION.

Any tips you moms of 1+?!

Nonetheless, it's hard to remember life before our Little Si.

Big Sis: Long overdue update on our gal

It has been waaaay too long since any kind of update devoted specifically to our sweet, goofball girl {Mommy hangs head in shame}. Where, oh, where do I begin {and this is why it's been so long since an update, how do you "sum up" your kid?}? So, this will be a random smattering of life with our Nora.

First, many have asked how Nora is adjusting to life with Silas. I would have to say marvelously, although there have definitely been signs she misses being the sole center of our attention. We didn't have much anxiety about her transition to having a little brother as she is such a laid-back kiddo, loves people and especially babies. Her introduction to Silas in the hospital was just precious. She knew right away as she entered the hospital room that Mommy was holding her new baby brother. She sat on my lap for quite awhile studying him and marveling at his "little nose" and "little ears" and wanting to see his little hands and feet {which were hidden under his swaddle}.

In the early weeks, there was some jealousy as she often wanted to be held by whomever was holding Silas. And, she quickly learned that his tiny, cat-like cry would get him immediate attention...so she would join in with her own melodramatic rendition of a newborn cry. And, in case, we didn't notice, she would quickly point out "Mama, I'm cwyyyiiiing!" As soon as she was acknowledged, she would be back to building Lego towers or reading books. She loves giving him kisses {especially on the lips! Thankful there hasn't been too much germ transfer thus far} and hugs and I hear at least several times a day "He's such a niiiiice baby." {melts my mommy heart}. We are so proud of our little girl as she's welcomed her new baby brother into the family.

"Can we keep him, Daddy? Can we?! Can we?!"

Let's see what else. Oh yes, cute story:

Thang started teaching Nora the Small Children's Catechism a few months back at dinner time. She has amazed us with her ability to memorize! {I've been trying to catch her recitations on video, but she clams up once the camera comes out, hopefully soon} If you're not familiar with the catechism, here is a sampling:

1. Who made you? God

2. What else did God make? God made all things.

3. Why did God make all things? For His own glory.

4. Why do things work as they do? God has so decreed it.

and so on...

One evening, I was in the kitchen making dinner and Nora came in to keep me company. She started playing with her animal refrigerator magnets, pulling each one off the fridge and declaring "Mine!", "Mine!", "Mine!" and twirling in a circle with each declaration. I grinned knowing this was a perfect opportunity to teach a life lesson. While stalling, trying to think of something wise to say, I asked "Oh, is that so, Nora?" She matter-of-factly replied, "Yes, Mama, God dee-cweed it!". Oh boy.

We have been working on potty-training now for, oh, 4 months or so...and counting. That is a whole post in-and-of-itself. But, as usual, my laid-back kiddo is in no hurry.

She has recently become enthralled with the wooden rocking horse she received from Oma and Opa last Christmas. We recently moved the horse to her room as our living room was beginning to look like "Toys R Us" and we desperately needed some adult space. Since then, the first thing she wants to do in the morning and the last thing at night is to rock on her horsey, going "Faster and faster and faster!". We're also working on such cowgirl appropriate terms as "Yeehaw", "Whooooa Nelly" and "Howdy guys". Just yesterday she named her horse "Chawley". I have no idea where she got that name, but very appropriate {as in "Charley horse" : )}. If you have any horse-related kid's book titles you can recommend, send them my way!

She continues to defy genetics and can most certainly be called an extrovert. Just last night we were shopping at Target and she greeted everyone that passed her by: "Hiiii!", "Hi guys!". Mommy grabbed a latte at Starbucks and as we were rolling out, Nora told the cashier girl, "Bye! Wuv you!". We have to watch her, because if let loose, she wants to hand out hugs and kisses too!

Nora has always had somewhat unusual "loveys" but her newest fixation is on money. While her other little girlfriends love to carry around their dolls or Disney princess paraphermalia, Nora eats, sleeps and generally always has a quarter on hand. It started when Nora's Opa began giving her quarters every time we visited...now a common phrase coming from our 2 1/2 year old is "Where's my money?!" Maybe a future in banking?

And, finally, it's hard to believe it is time to be thinking about preschool for Nora, but she will be 3 in July(!). Right now we are leaning towards keeping her home and doing "school" with Mommy next year, or possibly joining up with a few other moms to do a preschool co-op together. We realize how important play is at this age in the learning and discovery process and don't think Nora needs rigorous academics, but I'm trying to think through rhythms and structures that would best enhance her curiosity about the world around her. For you homeschooling moms, any recommendations on good preschool materials, activities or methods?

And, some more pics of our Sweetpea:

Nora with her after-bath "cwazy hair!"

Nora's "earrings" (aka star stickers)

Nora helping Silas acclimate to his play-gym

Nora and Silas (at two weeks old)

Nora and Silas (two months old...and yes, he is a healthy eater, why do you ask?!)

1 month old

Silas turns 1 month old today! Cannot believe it. I suppose when you're not getting much uninterrupted sleep for several weeks on end, the concept of time is surreal anyway. But it really feels like Silas has been a part of our family for so much longer than 4 weeks. And, the aches and pains of pregnancy seem like a {somewhat} distant memory {although not SO distant that I'm ready to jump back in for awhile}.

He's been a busy boy...

Learning to hold his "paci" all by himself

Playdates with Bernard the bear

Finding his thumb

Eating LOTS and growing a nice, big belly

Taking lots of catnaps...and being ever so cute

Enduring Enjoying lots of lovin' from his big sis

I'll openly confess to having held this little boy for nearly the entire first month of his life. While the first weeks with Nora were a hugely joyful and exciting time for us, I didn't realize how quickly that snuggly newborn phase goes by. I don't think I soaked up enough of that sweet, newborn smell or those peculiar squeeks and grunts unique to newborns. I didn't gaze long enough at her teeny-tiny toes or nuzzle her peach-fuzz hair {which quickly fell out}. Maybe you can never really get enough of this "newbornness", but I have sure been trying!

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere!

We headed to Pooley's Pumpkin Patch a couple weeks back with our church small group and had a fantastic time. Is it just me or has this been the most amazing fall ever for those of us in the midwest?! It was sunny and 75 degrees that day. And, today it's sunny and 65! A year ago we'd already had our first blizzard!

So, here are a few pics of our fun, sunny Autumn day...

Working on petting gently...definitely a skill needed before Little Man arrives!

Ha! Looks like she's concentrating really hard on driving that tractor...we soon realized by the stinkiness coming from her diaper, she was concentrating on "other" things. Yeah, time to get on that potty training!

This one's just my size!

This, That and the Other

Some updates on us...

Pregnancy :: I had my 28-week checkup last week, and indeed I am still measuring big...33-34 weeks. *Sigh*. Carrying around this big ol' belly is getting tiring plus I've had several nights here and there of insomnia, which is rough. But, Little Man, is way active - kicking, punching and even tickling Mommy with funny flutters. I can even make out body parts like his feet. This is a pretty new experience for me as Nora loved to sleep in-utero and pretty much just wiggled her bum back and forth. I must admit, I am slightly intimidated by the idea of mothering a little boy. Having grown up with one sister and having Nora, not sure what I'm in for...but I'm sure it will be a sweet adventure no matter what!

Thang :: Is, in a word, AWESOME. I had a VERY short night of sleep last night and am feeling pretty miserable. So, as soon as he got home from work, he packed up Nora and headed to the library and park to give me a break and is picking up dinner on his way home. AND, because the couch is pretty much the only comfortable place for me to get some shut-eye these days, he drug out his sleeping bag and camped out on the floor next to me several nights this week. God bless that man.

Nora :: Growing up way too fast and continuing to make us smile everyday, thankful we get to be her parents (do I say that often enough?). Miss Nora will soon get an entire post of her own, but here's a sneak peak of some of her latest: practicing to be a "ballewina fow Halloweena!", the early stages of potty-training and theology for 2 year olds. Aren't you intrigued?! More to come on all this...

Scripture :: A couple of verses I am meditating on today...

"The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out." Proverbs 20: 5

"The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being." Proverbs 20: 27

House :: I am definitely entering into the "manic nesting stage" of pregnancy, which means lists of projects for myself and "honey-do" lists for my honey. The kiddos will share a room, so I am trying to come up with creative ways to make Nora and Little Man's room fun and gender-non-specific while trying not to change things too much for N. I have lots of ideas I'm excited to share on this transformation! We are also in the process of redecorating our bedroom (or should I say decorating it in the first place). Thang and I have been going through Mark Driscoll's study on the Song of Solomon and have been reminded that our room should be an oasis (which isn't quite happening when you still have t.v. trays for nightstands). Before and after pics to come!

Some random posts I've collected that I wanted to pass along ::

Best Picture Books ::: Holy Experience

Today's Parent: Promoting a new kind of nanny state? ::: McKmama

Homeschooling is not optional ::: Not Just Cute (it's not what you think)

Child's Play is a Job Well Done ::: Kitchen Stewardship

Being Intentional about Activity ::: Adventure in Progress

The Love with which we Perform ::: Incourage

Well, that was a random smattering of some of the latest around here!