Speech Therapy

No, we're not technically doing any speech therapy around here but so much of what comes out of this little two-year-old's mouth makes me think about language and how amazing the human brain is. When she is unsure of a word she does one of two things. She'll slow down what she's saying, furrow her eyebrows and then proceed with caution or look at Kevin or I in a questioning manner. A mental, hmm, what was that word again? Or her brain will fill in the blanks. Lately she's saying things like "Jejus," "Papapillar" for caterpiller, "apron cot tree" for apricot tree. My favorite is hearing her songs, which she is also good at improvising. She told me lately that "The piggy was fusin' for me, Mommy" when I didn't want her to play with Peter's porcelain(?) piggy bank. Oh, and today she "was checkin" my me-mail." Hmm, good thing I had already set the goal to only spend 30 minutes on the computer each day last week:)

Do a good turn

The nicest librarian helped me yesterday. J was feeling underappreciated, I think, because about every 10 steps she was throwing herself around and loudly refusing to follow me. Hmm. Should I just go home without any books? I decided to stay because it takes about 30 minutes just to get out the door with these two munchkins but we were all frustrated as we were leaving. I asked J to put her coat on, she refused and crossed her arms in defiance. Great. I had about 25 books to carry, P in one arm and a very ferociously cold day just outside the door. (Oh and the other thing was I was feeling judged by the librarian behind the desk who was checking us out because she kept raising her eyebrows when I would do anything, ie set Peter down on the floor to get out my card or say something to try and get J to behave her silly self.) Should I just walk out and let her freeze? I didn't end up having to choose. Another librarian who had come up and started talking to J stepped over and, without saying anything to me, took her jacket from my hand and helped her into it, explaining in a soothing southern accent "Let's help your mother out. She seems to have her hands full." Such a little thing but it instantly put me at ease. We've met him before but I don't think he necessarily knows us. Every time we see him there he talks to J and makes us feel welcome. I felt so much better leaving the library after having interacted with him. I had a companera on the mission like this man. She would just see a need and fill it. No hesitation that her offering would be met with scorn, embarrassment, resentment, nada. You just knew she cared so people didn't feel those feelings towards her and she didn't care what those watching thought. In my experience, when I have waited and missed an opportunity, it's always more awkward anyway. You sit there thinking "I should be helping that person. What am I doing just standing here? I'm so lame." Anyway, it's something I hope to one day master; the sensitivity to see the real, big and simple, needs of those around me, and jump to assist.

It makes sense

Bedtime gets a little silly around here. Tonight we were going through the nightly ritual, jammies, diapers, stories, songs. (Background: We have been having trouble getting Jill to stay in her bedroom all night long, so we bought a brighter night light today so she won't get frightened in the middle of the night.) This is the conversation that ensued.

Kevin: So, Jillian, are you going to stay in your bed tonight.

Jill: No. I'm going to say "Mom, Dad, I'm scared" (said in a falsetto voice) and get in your bed.

Kevin: No. Because you have a night light, you don't have to be scared. And you don't want to sleep in our bed anyway. It's stinky. We have B.O. and we're hairy so our bed is gross. *Thank you honey*

Jill: Your bed is gross?

Kevin: Yes, and one day you can sleep with your husband.

Jill: My husband?

Kevin: Yes, after you get married. And then your bed will stink too.

Jillian: Oh.

There's nothing quite like "reasoning" with a two-year-old.

Jesus is her favorite. How 'bout you?

She came up this entirely on her own. Pure genius.

Steve Martin with some good advice for all of us!

I think it was Kevin's mom who showed this to us. It's hilarious and we're trying to live by it:) Check out this wise advise here!

WE LOVE OUR FAMILIES AND THE HOLIDAYS!

We got to travel to visit both of our families for Christmas and Kevin and I both agreed it was one of our very favorite married Christmases so far. Okay, so we've only had three married Christmases so far but it was a great one. It is fun to get more comfortable with the families that we have married into (I realize that's not gramatically correct but when I wrote it the other way it sounded way too nerdy) and just relax, enjoy Kevin's time off and celebrate the holidays with our loved ones. It was awesome and we already can't wait until the Christmas season is back in 2009. Oh, and this is one of those posts where I just couldn't decide which one was cuter, so I included them all:) I still need a picture of the nativity angels and the family photo from Tessa's blessing to add.

Before we left, we went to see Santa at the YCMA and ate breakfast with him. He was, I'll be honest, a pretty weak Santa Claus. He looked about 15 but the kids seemed impressed.

Dad in his chair

Crazy sisters

Loving the princess ornaments

Admiring her work

She was having fun at first. I promise!

We have a family tradition of all getting on "the boat" Christmas morning. This is what Kevin, Peter and I found when we came up from the basement. We still had to wake Katie up but everyone else was there. Every year the bed creaks a little more and I think we've managed to break a board or two.

Let's go see the PRESENTS!

"Is everybody ready? Yeah, man!"

My dad always sings this jolly little phrase.

Big kids get excited about Christmas morning too

She stopped after opening a few presents to read her animal book to Baby

The beautiful quilt Mom and Katie made, and just a cute picture in general of these cute girls

Who was more excited about this gift? It's debateable.

Very excited about the princesses Santa brought her

Our sweet, contemplative boy

Jill and Grandma

Nice shot Hadley!

I love this action shot of Kevin.

Every December the 31st in Raleigh an acorn is dropped at 8 p.m., for the littlest partiers, and at midnight. We were thinking of going to the First Night Raleigh celebrations but then we found out it was $12 a person so Kevin created our own festive ball to drop. It was really a basketball with lights wrapped around it lowered into a hoop. It was very clever and much more accessible than going all the way downtown in the cold:)

The spectators

This is for Pops. Our resident weather specialist!

Gibson, Ryen and Jill

Marbleworks on a magnetic wall

Fashion designer in the making



Peter loved these drums!

Pete also thought these fish were pretty sweet!

January 15, 2009

"What's so special about that date?" you might ask. Well, that's the day that Kevin found out his hard work had paid off and he could, in actual fact, become an ophthalmologist!!! We'll be heading to UNC Chapel Hill in 2010 for him to begin his ophthalmology training. We feel so grateful he matched at such a great program and in such a great place, close to both of our families, near the beach, a place with college sports teams, affordable housing, friends and did we mention our families? We couldn't be more excited or feel more spoiled and blessed! Our whereabouts for this next year are still to be determined on yet another match day in March. The choices include SLU, two programs in Connecticut, Wake Forest, and possibly Emory and any other interviews he may get in the very near future:)

Another less exciting but very cute thing also happened on January 15th. It was VERY cold with the high at 1 degree Fahrenheit! We headed out, however, to take Kevin to work and go to Jillian's gymnastics class at the YMCA (where she successfully "skinned the cat" with a little assistance- she's been practicing this at home on Dad's Iron Gym:). Peter was all bundled up in a full body cast-esque suit and none too happy about it. I look back at the kids in the car at one point and Jillian has somehow managed to wiggle his little hands out of the suit and they are holding hands. Nothing will get in the way of holding Brother's hand! It's so neat to watch them become friends and confidants!