The Birth Announcement

Mailed out a few of these to Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents but I was not ambitious enough to make one for all my cousins and friends. So in case you don't receive one in the mail, please know I was thinking of you and hope you enjoy a blog announcement almost as much as the real thing.

Adjusting

One week with Lucius and life is full of a multitude of adjustments. Lucius is sleeping a lot, which has been helpful.

Having two kids is a huge juggling act. I made my first trip to the store the other day with both little misters. It was an experience from the start: who do I get out of the car first? hmm.

We're trying very hard to continue to give Oliver one and one time. Jerimy and Oliver made dinner together the other night. They were making Chicken Fingers, which is funny because Oliver doesn't like to have messy hands.

Side by Side Comparison

Wow, the similarities and the differences. Can you tell which handsome little man is which?

Oliver was always a morning guy, Lucius appears to be more of our night owl.

Oliver had auburn hair and Lucius has black hair.
Both are very good eaters, and pretty impressive sleepers.
To calm Oliver down as a baby you needed to hold his arms straight down by his sides. Lucius prefers to have his arms and hands crossed over his chest.
Oliver has a cleft/ dimpled chin, Lucius does not.

(Lucius is 1 week old and Oliver is 2 weeks old in these photos)

Bedtime Brother Story

Not knowing what to expect from Oliver with a new baby around the house I feel he has been adjusting fairly well. Lucius is sleeping most of the time. We ask Oliver if he wants to hold him, but he's more willing to give Lucius a kiss or a hug and be done with him.

Last night I put Oliver to bed, a little while later I heard him crying. Lucius and I went upstairs to check things out. Oliver wanted to cuddle, which I was more than willing to do. Afterwards I told him it was time for bed and asked him to crawl into the crib. He did and said "Baby Lucius lay in crib?" I asked if he was sure and he cleared a spot on the bed next to him and tapped it with his hand to show me where baby Lucius was supposed to lay down.

I walked Lucius over and laid him down. Oliver laid right next to him, touching foreheads. Oliver even offered Lucius his 'Bunny' for the briefest of moments. I would consider that a great start to Brotherly love.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

If I had the energy

I'd write a long informative Christmas letter.

Instead I think I'll join my boys... taking a Nap.

Official Baby Announcement forth coming... in the mean time: Lucius Finn joined our family just in time for the Holiday celebrations. We had ourselves a handsome little Boy on Wednesday the 23rd.

A couple nights away

As I continue to wait for Baby number two to arrive (waiting has been super tough), Oliver took a couple night holiday to Oma's house. It was Thursday morning when Jerimy called me and asked if I was okay with Auntie Dana coming down to take Oliver on a drive up to Oma's house for an overnight. I thought- sure I can sleep in Friday morning!

When I got home from work Thursday afternoon, Dana was there waiting for the car seat. Oliver was super excited. I guess he woke up from his nap talking about how he was headed to Oma's house with Auntie Dana. They left about 2pm. Oliver was having so much fun up there playing with Dana, Uncle Jason, Opa and Oma that he decided to stay over a second night. I missed him a little bit, it was the first time he'd been away two nights in a row. But I knew he was in really good hands so I tried very hard to relax and was able to get a couple hundred pages read.

I hear that Uncle Jason took Oliver over to Grandpa Gales house to play. I heard that Oma slept in the guest bed with Oliver to make sure he was warm and didn't fall off the bed. I heard that when they left this morning Dana and Oma had to bribe Oliver with a cookie to get him into the car to drive him home. He was having so much fun he didn't want to leave, even to go see Marmee and Daddy. Awe.

Coloring

Oliver has been helping decorate and make one Christmas present super special for one lucky relative.

"color Ashley's present, please??"


But we're not going to tell you whats inside!
Have to wait till Christmas, Ashley.

A saturday of Baking

Last year we baked the day away, this year Oliver and I were only able to stay for the morning. But we were still able to help make quite a few cookies. Oliver played with his Uncle Hung most of the time we spent baking. Auntie Mick, Auntie Em, Mormor, and myself enjoyed a fun time creating a bunch of yummy cookies.

Here's a shot of most of the ingredients... so many there was barely any table space. And Ta da... the baked goods.

Counting

I heard Oliver counting today:

"One, Six, Seven, Eight, Five, TEN!"

He surprizes me all the time with the things he learns without us really "teaching" him. With the Christmas tree up he's learning his colors "Blue Fish, Green Fish, Yellow light, Blue". He likes being the light parole around these parts. As soon as it gets dark "turn christmas lights ON?!". Sure why not buddy. Next time can you say please? : )

Welcome to Tumble time

Wonder what it's like to take a 23 month old to a Community Education class involving lots of fun activities? Wonder no longer. This is basically what the 25 minute class is like with Oliver. I think the teacher would really get the kids interested in more of the actual tumbling things if she played follow the leader. Oliver's a great micmic- look as he passes the man in the white shirt and you can see what I mean.

36 weeks belly photos

I only have two photos of my pregnant belly with Oliver, one about 20 weeks along and one the day before he was born. This time I thought I'd document my growing stomach for Baby #2.

My best friend, Jill, was more than happy to help me out. She has a great photographic eye, plus she's also a hair stylist. Jill explained to me that I needed a early "just had a baby" makeover. So she offered a hair consultation (which is basically me saying "do whatever you think is best- I trust you"), then her scissor go a flying. After the cut, trim and style of my hair we played around with the camera. Thank you Jill for a fun time and being an awesome friend. I loved these four photos the best of all the photos from our photo shoot.

contest winner

I figure the easiest way to choose is to give the prize to the first person who commented. Though I also really liked "open mouth means insert cookie now"!

Congrats to Rachel! I'll get those cards to you soon. Thanks for reading the blog.

Christmas set up

Oliver and I woke up Saturday morning and decided we'd better start getting Christmas set up. Marmee has two big boxes full of Christmas joy and excitement. Oliver REALLY enjoyed digging through the boxes to see all that I had stored away in them. We found the Christmas tree, Nativity sets, all kinds of Ornaments and bunches of other surprises.

Daddy woke up a little later and was able to help decorate the tree. It was quite a wonderful family fun time.

Thanksgiving & a Name the photo contest

I should really take a few photos with Oma and Opa when visiting them. But I get so relaxed and spoiled being up at their house that I tend to forget. We went to Oma's house for Thanksgiving this year. Oliver LOVES talking about Oma and thoroughly enjoys having her wrapped around his little finger. She read a TON of books to Oliver, lays down on her stomach to color on the floor, and feeds him super yummy food whenever he's hungry. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable day. Oliver and I were even able to take a nap on Oma's comfy, cozy bed after lunch.

Then Uncle Jason came home and played with Oliver for a little while. What a treat, Uncle Jason borrowed Oliver his sunglasses to wear. Oliver made sure to share with his bunny.

name this photo and win big.
If you leave a comment you'll be entered to win a set of 10 handmade Christmas cards!
I'll pick a winner sometime this week.

Gifts Ideas $10 or under

Oliver doesn't need a whole lot and we're not expecting gifts this year. For those who feel like getting Oliver a little something without breaking the bank I've put together a few suggestions. But PLEASE do not in anyway feel that you MUST get him something. He's still young and a little goes a long way.

Books off the Amazon Wishlist on the bottom of the right sidebar(or click here)... like fifteen animals by Sandra Boynton ($6.25 at target) or Where's Waldo.

Small Puzzles, memory games, or Flashcards

Hot wheel cars, plastic food toys, building blocks

*Art supplies: Crayons, Markers, clay, goo, watercolor paints, chalk, Placemats

Clothes 4T or larger

Marmee and Daddy are thinking of getting Oliver a small table top art Easel and a doctors kit (he can play with at the hospital visiting Baby). If you'd like to get things that add to those like Art supplies* or Fun Band aids... feel free.

Ps. Not that Daddy or Oliver would agree with me, but Oliver currently has plenty of stuffed animals

Also, for those who love handmade (which we adore!) a few family gift suggestions:
1. Loaf of homemade bread (pumpkin, banana, cinnamon raisin, etc)
2. Desserts: apple crisp, or Bread pudding (hint, hint Morfar)
3. One big old family meal- at your house or ours
4. Frozen meals for a couple of tired parents once baby #2 arrives

Three pregnant sisters

My younger sister Eme had a baby shower yesterday. Being pregnant with two of my three sisters is a bit crazy but at least there will be a big cluster of cousins around the same age. That should be fun. Eme's due date is two days after mine and my twin sister Michelle's due date is about 3+ months after that. That adds up to a lot of baby bellies in the same room.

A little history

I took the day off from work today and we went on a family adventure to the History Museum. It's not actually the most awesome play place for a 23 month old, but Oliver loves seeing new things. He explored a grain elevator play tower with Daddy, checked to see if the old candy machine would give us 15 cent chocolate, and tested TV tubes to get the Television working again.

Oh, that's not all we did- there was a lot of see at the Museum. Oliver found the old soda fountain shop where he could scoop up ice cream for everyone.

More... that's right. We found a couple games that Oliver enjoyed playing. Pin the tail on the donkey and the clothespin drop.

Lastly, he drove an old greyhound bus! How fun is that. It was a great day and the Museum was totally not busy- which is a nice change when big kids tend to run over our little man in crowded places.

Marmee and Oliver's little walk

Oliver and I enjoyed a half hour walk in the chilly fall weather. He found lots of rocks. He was so nice, he would find one for himself and then find one I could hold. Its what I always wanted a handful of rocks.

The city has been doing a lot of road construction around our neighborhood. I think they're finally wrapping things up, but the last month Oliver's had plenty of chances to watch the big trucks. He can tell you that a big truck says "Beep, beep, beep". The street sign was down and he wanted to touch the 'blue' sign. I tried to tell him that it was in fact green. (Usually his first color guess is orange for everything.)

baby kisses

We're trying to talk to Oliver about the baby. Not sure that he quite understands the whole baby will soon be coming home thing. I think we'll go to the library and get a few picture books on the subject. For now, this is what he knows:

oh yes- Oliver has named the baby "bunny". I suppose I should be flattered that he loves baby as much as his favorite stuff animal- the one he sleeps & cuddles with.

At least he's considerate enough to pull my shirt down to cover my belly when he's done with the subject of baby. I think he'll be a good big brother.

Face time with Oliver