Miles @ 21 months

I am excited I was able to grab this photo the other day on our quest to visit a different park every week this summer. We headed to beautiful Lanesboro, MN last week. Sadly when we got there the park was closed for upgrading:(. We fed some very hungry ducks and entire bag of Gold Fish though.  I ended up taking the boys down to the waterfall and with Harrison's help of banging a branch on my head I was able to snap one of Miles actually looking at a camera. At 21 months...That's practically a miracle! Now I only wish I would have dressed him cuter that day and we shot this during the golden hour, rather than high noon. Oh well...that curly blonde hair and blue eyes totally make up it all!

I just love this kid. He is a total fish. He loves the pool. I lost track of how many pairs of  shoes he got wet this week by just playing by the pool and by playing I mean pretending to play on the outside of the pool and then just climbing in. My two favorite things to watch include running and falling on his butt in the pool and trying to lay on the beach ball. Both are equally and hilarious. I snapped a few shots tonight...so you can expect to see those shots in the next 6 to 12 months. I've been so busy on the side of photography... which is awesome since I call it my job these days, but not so awesome at the same time since I started this whole business because of the kids. It's a balance I'm still fighting to figure out.

Time outs have been introduced this past month. We have a few designated areas. Downstairs it's on the bottom step, outside it's on the front step and upstairs it's on the chair in his room. To our surprise he does really well with time outs. He listens when say, "time out, sit down on the stair." Sometimes he cries, sometimes he doesn't. After a minute or two of time out, he gives hugs and moves on.

Treats are pretty much the best thing, ever. We are back on the fruit snack kick we had with Harrison a couple of years ago. I don't dare think about going anywhere without a couple packs stashed in my purse. Those fruit snack companies make millions on just toddler's that is for sure.

Meal time is a hit/miss these days... Mostly miss. Casseroles and noodles are about the only thing that passes our kids lips. Welcome to picky eating central. This doesn't stop me from making "new" things... but most "new" things are just picked at best and left for Doug and I or the dog to finish.

Walks are pretty much the best thing ever (a side from swimming). "Walk" is a new word for Miles this month. He's good for a 30-60 minutes of just cruising in the stroller or wagon and if he's got a good case of the crabbies, a good long walk usually helps.

A first for him this month is blowing bubbles. He blew his first bubble tonight. I don't know who was more excited... Me or him? This is big stuff, especially when you have spent most of the summer just putting the soapy stick in your mouth. :)

Imitation is everything. He's a natural copy cat at anything Harrison does. And if he can't do it, he will do anything and everything to he can do to try. He doesn't easily give up. He is very strong willed. He is our complete opposition of  Harrison. Nope our first did not prepare us for our second. :)

As he is strong willed, he has a strong temper. He started these loud screams when he is afraid Harrison or Violet are going to take something from him or he is about to not get his way. Needless to say I am not a fan of this. I am hoping this phase is short lived. He also still tends to be a little brother bully---but do I dare say it's getting a tad better?

He loves to snuggle. Tonight I was about to lay him down for bed and when I picked him up he gave me the sweetest, longest hug, completely unprompted.

Chasing a tickling are the funnest (yes I can say funnest because I am not be graded on my own blog post).  Ps... I never proof read either before I hit publish on these entries (so that explains the typos and numerous grammar errors).

Oh Wow. We are now just 3 months shy of his 2nd birthday. I'm thinking something construction themed. He just loves big trucks, even trains are "big trucks."  However there won't be a "real" party this year other than us celebrating at home with cake, ice cream and presents. Since both of the boys birthdays are so close together and so close to the holidays...it's so tough planning individual/combined birthday party, especially since Harrison is more at the age of having "friend" parties. This fall we plan to take a long weekend and spend it in Wisconsin Dells at a water park. It's a choice we gave Harrison (Miles doesn't know the difference) party or water park and he chose water park.  Whew---I was secretly hoping he would choose that (party planning is a lot of work)! But if he (they) would have wanted the party, he (they) would have gotten a party.

Next up 22 months.




 

Story Time.

I feel like sometimes all they do is fight. Well, more Miles than Harrison...but not saying Harrison doesn't provoke it more often.

Well, when it's all said and done;  I am a referee... except the game never ends.

I look forwards to moments like this. I call it MAGIC. It makes all the struggles of parenting and sibling rivalry disappear.

Story time has become my favorite part of the evenings. Miles is old enough to be able to regularly join Harrison for a few stories at night. It's no longer Miles objective close the book or rip all of pages out :).

My favorite everyday.

 

 

Sherwood Forest

It's the first time we went camping as a family and the second time Doug and I have ever been camping together. Our friends Kyle & Kristi family owns a permanent site in Garrison, MN. The campground was Sherwood Forest.

We left late on a Friday evening in hopes the kids would sleep the almost 5 hour drive there. Miles was out within an hour in... Harrison FINALLY fell asleep about half hour before we reached the campground. Doug was pretty tired too...so I drove and he slept. I to was exhausted from long night before with the burglary at my studio, but with Harrison's continuous questions as always, "How many more blocks until we get there?" There was absolutely no way I would lose focus by sleep depravation while driving. In fact I made it through listening to "Finding Nemo" & "Horton Hears A Who" on the way up there in between the continuous question asking of that 4.5 year old I mentioned earlier. :)

After we arrived at the campground.... We all settle into bed about 2:30 AM.

Day One of Camping:

We started to stir about 8:00 AM.

Powdered sugar donuts and Bloedow's were a hit with a 4 year old, 3 year old and two 1 year olds.

After scoping out the campground and playing on the play set and mini golf we headed to the beach.

The winds at the beach picked up so we headed back to the pool for a couple of hours until the rain moved in.

After letting the rain pass... We did what was perhaps the most important thing of camping; we made smores :) If you haven't tried it already... substitute a Reeses peanut butter cup instead of the traditional chocolate. Oh it's delicious. I had 3 of them just to confirm this.

 

 

 

After the camp fire came bed for the little people in our lives and we raised a glass of cheer and sat around the camp fire in good conversation.

Day Two of Camping:

The older boys headed out to go fishing about 8 am. This left us girls with the two 1 year olds.

Not long into fishing the men ran into rain and had to head back. The rain had passed by the time the guys headed back to our campsite. We headed on a long walk around the campground. After nap, Krisiti and I took the 1 year olds to a small town in Nisswa.  Salt water taffy was a much needed purchase from the little town. The kids then played at a community park before we headed back to the campground.


Harrison had fun playing in the Raadt family boat and catching caterpillars. There must have been at least 100 just of those fuzzy little guys running around our campsite. I predict an awesome year for butterflies.

Like I mentioned... It's a good year for caterpillars and not to forget to mention a fabulous year for bug bites. Miles himself sported 23 mosquito bites (even with bug spray with deet).

Hammock fun!

Sunday evening Krisit spotted some smoke coming from the neighbor's next door shed (they were there this weekend). The men grabbed a hose, fire extinguisher, and headed next door to attempt to put out the fire. Meanwhile Krisiti was on the phone with 9-1-1 dispatcher. Kyle and the boys went to meet the fire trucks at the camp gate. Doug continued to fight the fire and put out the last flames and the fire fighters jumped out of their truck. The fire ended up being electrical and could have been a lot worse if it wouldn't have been for our men who sprung into action. Apparently we also learned that is you call 9-1-1 from a campground, they dispatch a police vehicle, fire vehicle and 3 fire trucks. Our campsite became a very popular spectator spot for golf carts that evening.

Day 3 of Camping (last day):

Monday morning was full of packing... but we still manage to fit a few snuggles in.

And I just had to grab a shot of the unique tree stump that lines the wood of our campsite. Can you see an image of a praying Mary? Very cool.

Both of families had such a great time this weekend and it's our hopes to get together for another long weekend this fall... but that's an entirely another bucket list in itself. There is so much of summer yet to accomplish!

 

Mud pie.

As much rain as we have been getting and the fact my husband will never get to planting sod in the back yard... We might as well make use and whip us some fresh mud pie.

 

Hello 20 Months!

Only a week late with this post... I'll pat myself on the back for this one, since my last monthly update was late and combined since I entirely missed 18 months (yep the 1.5 year milestone...poor kid has second born syndrome).

Oh goodness... I can not photograph my own kids, but thank goodness I can everyone else's! It's pretty evident my kids like to make me "work" for shots. The day I attempted Miles 20 month shots I attempted sibling shots... An epic fail. :/ I am pretty sure they are just continually conditioning me for clients.

I haven't made it through most of files from this session... Heck I haven't made it through most of the files for the year. But anyways... after about a bazillion clicks; I got this one :)

I had to reschedule his 18 month doctors appointment and the next available appointment with his doctor was at 20 months, so I took what we could get. His doctor is that good and totally worth waiting to get in with. Thank goodness he is still young and not planning to leave the facility---so I hope both boys keep him until they 18. Good doctors are hard to find!

So this guy's stats: Almost 31.5 inches tall!!! Super jump from his 15 month appointment. He went from the -3% for height to the 21%. I guess we have an overachiever on our hands! His weight was 25 pounds, 8 ounces (60 %). I can't remember his head circumference measurements, but I want to say it was in the near 40 %---which is huge because Miles has never been above 10%. Up until his appointment I was pretty sure we were just raising short kids with small heads :)

The doctor was impressed with Miles milestones given his prematurity. He scored high in all the developmental and physical areas without even correcting his age. Again, just an overachiever. :)

So what's new with this guy?

Well... he continues to be our social one. He isn't scared of much-- which is both good and bad. He also continues to "bully" his older brother. I asked his doctor about his aggressive behavior to his older brother and he said, "It's very common for the second born to be more aggressive because they have always had to "wait" for everything." He also said, "Actually most parents will come in and tell me the same thing."

His appetite is slowing down... but he does really well with anything with noodles. Sadly this slow down will put an end to those chubby baby like cheeks and thighs. Another part of being robbed from babyhood and transitioning to toddlerhood. Miles, your momma is going to miss this squishy baby. And your also going to get tired of me always calling you my baby since you are our last baby. Man up and get used to it :)

This was lunch last week.

Treat. He will do just about anything for a treat... See the photo above?  Two words, fruit snacks. The fruit snack obsession and the bribery for everything is in full swing. I am pretty sure if we let him he would live on fruit snacks and bananas. Last week we ran out of both. The morning was brutal. By 11 am we found ourselves picking up an economy size box of fruit snack and a whole bundle of bananas. The rest of the day went much better. TGFFS (Thank God for Fruit Snacks).

"Nap time is no longer cool mom." I know Miles, nap time is not cool... but when your momma is trying to keep up with work---she desperately needs you to nap and not just those 20 minute cat naps you have been taking! Sleep is kind of mixed up right now. Partly with summer we keep the kids up later (hello we live a  snow cave for more than 6 months a year---we take every bit of summer we can get). On a typical night he is bed by around 8/8:30. He is turning a little more restless when I lay him down at night. Most recently he has been whining for about 10 minutes after he is put to bed. He is also waking up during the night with "nightmares" I am thinking? He has woken up 3 times last week. He also kissed his morning nap goodbye about 3 weeks ago. At daycare they transitioned him to one nap at just before 16 months (which honestly I feel is too early)... But being he is home 3 days a week he had still been regular two napping until then. Harrison has always been a super napper. Looking back on his 20 month post he was giving up his second nap about the same time as Miles.

His first two word-word... BIG TRUCK and he says it all the time. The kid loves trucks and airplanes almost as much as stealing his big brother's toys. :) Regular words are "Banana, More, Please." He is attempting saying Violet. We are still moving at a snail rate for speech...He will likely be a late talker like Harrison was. Most importantly he understands a lot; even a lot more than I think we give him credit for.

We have to start thinking of the next big tasks... like potty training. We won't be attempting with Miles until he is two, unless he shows some kind of intense excitement before then. Boys are known to train later and honestly I don't think any kids is really ready until there at least two. I am pretty optimistic he will train fairly easy. Not because Harrison did, but he is so in tune with following everyone to the bathroom. In fact if you have to tell you have you have to go the bathroom, he will lead you there, lift the seat, wait for you to go and then flush for you.

Temper. He has a temper. Probably from me. His temper is little feistier however... He does a lot of throwing things when he can't get something to work or if he and Harrison have been rallying over a toy----it usually goes flying. Having to wait for anything is the biggest trigger.

As much as he is naughty... we think is equally as cute :) One of his favorite things to is "pretend to take a nap".  I caught him here.

I am pretty much in love with the new lens Doug bought me for my birthday. With house being so narrow and dark... It's been a constant challenge to take these everyday photos with my 50. What a huge change having a 28 makes... I can even shoot through a doorway without being cropped off.

Summer is going by WAY too fast. In just a few more weeks I'll be posting his next 21 months. It's like a ticking time bomb until age two.
 

Just listen to the rain...

As much as rain is very much needed, it usually puts on damper on the fun... but not today :)

After he was soaked up some fresh mud puddles and danced around in the falling rain he exclaimed, "Momma, I'm cold." Earlier in the day I cleaned out photo props out of the back of my car and piled them on the porch. In the heap of chairs, baskets and blankets lay this gem of quilt I picked up at antique store last week. And then this happened.

After a few moments of quiet (which rarely happens) he broke the silence and said, "Momma, I like watching the rain, it's nice." Instantly after that was said, I was flooded with my own childhood memories.  My dad and I were the closest when I was about Harrison's age. In fact many of my early childhood memories are with my dad. It's amazing how after 29 + 1 years I remember things so vividly from when I was just 4 or 5 years old. I began to tell Harrison about what "Papa" and I used to do when I was his age. And it turns out one memory, triggered another memory which ended up triggering a train of memories.

Doug doesn't remember a lot of his childhood... I think his first memory he can recall is around age 8 and after that is a lot of gaps.  I guess they always say "guys" don't have the same memory as women. Whether that is true or not is totally debatable. I feel like so much of our memories also help build & shape our future.

Thank goodness for electronic baby books (aka-the blog) and huge technology advancement super good photo quality, cell phones and basically anything is more advanced than the 1980s these two boys can have memory with just a click of a mouse of a tap of their finger or who knows what else will be invented in the next years. For now boys, I have your back... Don't let memories like this fade away, ever.





 

The little red coupe.

I've been stalking the Pinterest... daily, well even hourly for ideas to keep us busy (but not too busy) this summer. I have vetoed out any "planned" activities (ex. tee ball, soccer, camps) for this summer. Our life has been so chaotic this year... that I want this summer to be as carefree and simple as possible. I want the ability to just pick up and go when we want too without having to worry about getting back at such and such time or spending every weekend committing ourselves to something. And you know what....call me old fashioned, but there is plenty of things to do at your own home.

Do you remember washing your bike as a kid? When I was sorting through baby stuff the other day, I found this classic red little Fisher Price coupe in the very back of the garage. A little (or a lot) dusty, but with a little car wash it was looking brand new again.

Miles had so much fun spraying the hose, splashing and scrubbing his coupe. I can still almost here his giggles, they were pretty contagious :)

Happy Summer!

 

My baby.

I love everything about babies, but especially their little feet and toes. Most people would agree that baby toes are pretty much irresistible.

This week has been hard for me. I've been doing a lot of thinking about life in general, our future and the inevitable 30 milestone I crash into on Thursday.

I always said I was going to be done having kids by the time I am 30. Well, that gives me two days to get pregnant and have baby. So yah folks, likely not a #3 for the Kelley Family...but I won't say never...yet anyways.

I went to our storage unit on Sunday to take all of our baby items we still have on hand and brought them to the house to sort and clean them. I don't know what came over me late last week, but something has urged me to just sell everything. I have to admit, that selling your baby stuff has to be one of the hardest things that a mom ever has to do. It's like saying, I'm ok never being pregnant again, it's ok if I never feel those tiny kicks again, it's ok that I'll never have another baby again. Man, this real life adult decisions are not easy to make. In all, we are just living our lives day by day and don't know what the future will bring. I feel like by holding on to all the baby stuff makes me (and only me---Doug's said he was done before we left the hospital with Miles) more pressed to decide or not to have third child.  Honestly I don't think you should ever be so pressed to make a HUGE life decision like this. I react better under less stress. So yeah maybe one day there will be baby #3, but just not anytime soon if we ever do decide to grow our family.

For now it's Doug, Amanda, Harrison, Miles, Violet Puppy, Sammy & Sully kitty, and fish named Dinosaur. I think this pretty much makes us a family of 8 already.


 

Planes

It's been a couple of years since we had been to an air show...I think Harrison was about 2.5 at the last show we attended in Mankato, MN. I also believe that show was one of the last times the Blue Angels flew together for quite sometime. But again this year the Blue Angels are once again flying together. I honestly think seeing their performance together a second time was even better than the first.

The weather started out muggy and hot, but from the photos you can see we got caught in a couple of rounds of rain and it cooled down more than 10 degrees, but in the end it drove a lot of people away giving us the better view and no waiting in lines. With it raining on/off I didn't pull out the camera much, but just enough to snap a few quick shots the boys can look back at. Harrison loves it when I bring up the blog and show him all the fun stuff we have done. In fact his favorite book is the first year blog that Doug had printed for my 2011 Mother's Day gift.

Oh and before I forget to mention, some lucky 4 year old got to fly in a helicopter with his dad this day and jump in a the biggest bouncy houses we've ever seen. I am beginning to think age 4 is quite possibly the best age ever.

 

 

 Yes, this was an exciting show for most of us...other of us, just slept as planes roared above.

 

 

4.5 Years Old

This kid is awesome, freaking awesome. :) I can not believe he will turn 5 in less than 6 months. That is CRAZY talk.

And oh the glasses? He got them nearly 6 months ago (about time I post a picture of him wearing them, right)? He mostly wears them indoors and never playing outside and he still on his 3rd pair. But good thing we have two of these frames and one under warranty for the next year. I don't want to get into the cost of these, but man never wearing glasses myself I never have known the expense! His first two frames/lens were covered by MA and honestly the selection and quality of these frames are so cheap. I shouldn't complain because they were FREE, but honestly insurance could save money if they would just issue/offer frames of quality. Flimsy doesn't do at age 4. We have a follow up eye exam later this month. The eye doctor was hopeful that his nearsighted crossing (result of prematurity) would likely correct with the glasses within a year. So his specs are not permanent (we hope), but for now, he looks pretty darn cute in them.



I thought since Harrison is just over the 4.5 year marker, it would be fun to ask him this series of questions. Turns out he had a blast answering these and when we were finished he asked to answer more.

1. Who is your favorite person in the entire world? Logan
2. What is your favorite color? Rainbow
3. What is your favorite TV show? Fireman Sam & Paw Patrol
4. What is your favorite outfit? Sweat pants and yellow clothes
5. What sport is your favorite? Soccer
6. What song do you love? Abcs, Itsy Bitsy & Twinkle, Twinkle & Tippin'
7. What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms
8. Who is your best friend? Logan
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? Police Officer
10. What is your favorite book? Hungry Caterpillar
11. What are you really good at? Sharing with Miles (OMG: I about died laughing when he answered this one)
12. Where do you wish you could go on vacation? To the beach
13. What is your favorite memory? Going to Penquin ice cream.
14. What would you buy if you had a lot of money? Motorcycle
15. What is the vegetable you least like to eat? Lettuce. Tomatoes.
16. If you could have one wish, what would that be? Grow big like you.
17. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Cookie Dough!
18. Who is your biggest hero? Batman
19. What do you like to do best with your friends? Play at their houses.
20. What do you want to do for your 5th birthday? Have a piñata.


Time sure does fly and I know if kind of a clique since we hear it so much.... but not for one moment of my life have I ever wished him older. He promises me, "Momma, I won't get any bigger, I'll stay little forever." With his next breathe he says, "Momma when I get older and big like you and go to college. Whoa Harrison!  Hold on, kindergarten is still a year a way.


Here is a little comparison from last fall and here is look from this morning (yes I am updating the same day the picture was taken, that's even crazier talk).

Well you can look forward to a few more blog entries over the next few days... Turns out I am our first summer fun accident and ended up in urgent care for 2.5 hours. After 3 doctors and x-ray they were able to fish out a piece of glass that had embedded itself in the heel of my foot (for at least 3 days and I have no idea how it even got in there and had no idea it was glass). This injury has been one of the most painful accidents I have had in 29 years. I guess I am going out of my 20s with a bang.


 

Our boat, named Whitney.

At 4, Harrison is starting to understand things have two names for example, a bird is a bird, but a red bird in Minnesota is typically called a Cardinal and Violet is a dog, but she is a springer spaniel. Oh my goodness does this kid ever ask questions and the same questions over and over and OVER. It can be exhausting! So in conversation Harrison pretty much gives a second name to everything. At the park he names those horses on springs--- typically, "Iron Man," "Superman," "Captain America," & "Spiderman." At home he pretends he's a dog named Whitney about 50% of the time.

He talks about Whitney a lot. We read the books "Dog Heaven" and "God Gave Us Heaven" a few times a month at his request. I know at 4 he doesn't quite understand death beyond you go to Heaven and you never get to come back. It's hard to explain this concept to this age as much I have explained what happened to Whitney 100s of times. Besides having Whitney's collar hanging from my review mirror in the car, I don't talk a lot about her. I often wonder if it's God's way of keeping Harrison talking about her so much, so she isn't just a distant memory, that she was and will always be a part of lives. I've actually done some research on my own first memories from childhood. A lot of what I read makes sense. A first real memory is often a loss of something, or something traumatic/life changing. My first real memory is at my Great Grandma's funeral. I don't remember her, but I remember the day of the funeral. I remember what dress she wore, what the her hair looked like, even the details of what the casket looked like (crazy I know). I was about Harrison's age. So putting this all together, Whitney maybe his first real memory, not maybe Whitney herself, but the impact her leaving us made on Doug & I and our family.

Whitney loved swimming and loved the river. One of the best decision's Doug and I ever made was to buy our boat late last summer. Whitney got to spend a few really great days digging in the sand and swimming. This was Heaven to her. And as much as I have cursed God for taking her from us, she gets to do what she loves everyday and knowing that helps keeps us moving forward.

So back to naming things, because I was going somewhere with this, I promise! :) Since everything has two names, Harrison suggested we name our boat, "Whitney."

On Saturday, we all went out on the river for the first time this year on our boat named Whitney.