My Wee Boys: An Update

Samuel: my Sam-moo, Sam-bambam, little pea.

- Samuel has been eating cereal for just over a month now. At lunch and supper he eats one or more combinations of Rice Cereal, Carrots, Pear and Avocado. He eats A. LOT. at each meal. He can definitely 'pack it away' as well as his brother.
- He still is not sleeping well. I followed a Baby Wise schedule with Henry and he thrived on it, and I got sleep. I assumed that because he slept so well I must have been doing something really great. Well, I'm doing the exact same things with Samuel and he just will not sleep. Good thing he is so ridiculously adorable at 12:00am, and at 2:3oam, and at 5:30am, etc.
- Sam loves watching his brother and Daddy wrestle. He wriggles and squeals and laughs. And when Henry gets close Sam will start to growl and grab on with both hands. Henry loves this (except for when he grabs Henry's hair and this elicits "OWE! SAM! Be gentle ye Henry. Dis Hurts Henry")
-Sam also adores attention, particularly that of the ladies. At our Church Family Camp, labour day weekend, he was passed from one adoring fan to another and was happy all the while. It was there that I learned breastfeeding is worth while if only to ensure that your baby will be returned to you 6-12 times a day :)
Henry: My little bean, Sunshine Boy

- I attempted potty training a couple of weeks ago. FAIL. Henry would sit on the potty for 20ish minutes (and pee within that time), stand up and within five minutes he had had an accident. He was happy to sit on the potty. Happy to pee on the potty. But could care less if he had an accident. He would continue with whatever he was doing, soaking wet. Sometime in the near future we'll try again. My mom assures me to 'wait until they are ready' and it will only take a day or two for him to be trained. I'm holding out for that day. Until then - diapers it is. blech.
- He is talking a mile a minute. Trying desperately to refer to himself in the first person, and to use his verbs correctly (ie. Me: "Henry did you poo?" Henry: "No, I am did"). He is also singing ABC's. I recently put up his alphabet chart and we are working on identifying the letters. He pretty much has numbers 1-9 down.
- During family worship we've been studying the Catechism for Young Children (An Introduction to the Shorter Catechism). We are starting at the beginning (Question 1: Who Made You?) and skipping over some of the more difficult questions and moving ahead to the 'easier' questions.
- Henry also started Sunday School. He adores Mrs. Zink, but was a little nervous to go to class last week. So far I think he enjoys it, and I love seeing him and his tiny tot buddies learning about God and playing together.
- Lately he is sure that there is a Tiger around the corner coming to get him. This fear only exists during the day and not at night or nap time. I have to be in the same room with him and all day he is assuring me that "Tiger live in the Jungle" "Tigers are far far far far away, right Mommy?". He is also big on negotiations. If he gets a piece of gum his next question is "umm, how 'bout two mommy? how 'bout 5?" Also, everything is "How 'bout?"


PS -- today is my Katie's Birthday!!! I wish I lived above you and could bring you some Birthday treaties (a la Hot Chocolate with whip cream and a chocolate cookie!). I look forward to celebrating with you and I love you dearly my bestest bud and sister-in-love.

The Beginning of All Wisdom

Q1: Who made you?

A. God.

Q2: What else did God make?

A. God made all things.

Q3: Why did God make you and all things?

A: For his own glory.

First Food

Organic Brown Rice Cereal. Mmm. Mmmmmm. Gooooood. :)

Socialite

My husband just called me a socialite. Lately, I kind of have been. We had a very wonderful and full week and weekend, including visiting with Cory's sister and family from southern Ontario. We had a peaceful and relaxing lunch. Then later wandered down to the park and splash pad. Melissa and I had such a good visit. Their daughters are sweethearts. We miss them.


Yesterday evening was one of my very favourite yearly traditions. Johannah throws herself such a beautiful 'Lantern Party' every year. We are always asked to bring one savory and one sweet appetizer. I made my Mom's Brie and Red Pepper Mini Quiche and I attempted Macaroons (they needed a lot of resucing. I had to add 4 extra egg whites and a whole lot more coconut. I need a better recipe).

The past week has been so much fun. But I am looking forward to getting back to the regular routine of my home. 2 little boys. cleaning. feeding. napping. cooking. All good things.

Good Things

A thoughtful gift.

Babies in slings. I'm loving mine lately and using it often.

Anniversary Flowers

Anniversary Chinese take-out, under the stars, by lantern light (with a 4 month old boy who REFUSED to sleep)

My Dearest Cory

Dear Cory,

I recently stood at our bedroom window, looking out over the yard, and watched you. You did not know I was watching you, but I was. I was watching you patiently deal with two year old antics. I watched you wrestle on the ground with him shortly after. Then a 4 month old boy got distressed and you so gently caressed a head after putting a souse back in his mouth. You were covered in dirt. So were both boys. Henry got distracted with his digger and you with your raspberry bushes.

I thought about how wonderful it is to have you. I thought about how blessed Henry and Samuel are to have you as their Daddy.

I did laundry and washed your work clothes. I cleaned the kitchen and found your coffee press filled with grinds and old coffee. Coffee used to keep you awake so you could work after we are all asleep. So that you can maximize your time with us while we're awake. So that we can live in this beautiful home.

I thought about how, even though you leave every morning for work, there is still so much of you here. There is the stack of stories you read to Henry each night. There are the soccer cleats on the front porch. There is the tidied kitchen that you cleaned for me because I just had no energy left. There is your name on Henry's tongue all. day. long. You are in our smiles, eyes, thoughts and hearts.

We are only four years into this marriage of ours. I can honestly say it is more wonderful then I even imagined as I walked down that aisle towards you. I love you and can't even imagine life without you.

Happy Anniversary my love. May God grant us many many many more.
xoxo

Our days have been full lately. We've been canning. We've been visiting. We've been just enjoying our days together. One highlight includes a sister (and Sam) date to a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream by A Company of Fools. Sam kinda stole the show. They dubbed him 'Cobweb' and would speak to him throughout the play. He would talk right back. It was adorable.

We spread out on some cozy blankets and sheep skins. Jen and I had iced coffees. Sam was pretty content the entire time. It was great.

We've also had some cousin visiting. Here are the two youngest cousins on the van der Meer side. They are also both little brothers. Kinda cute, eh? Kate's Levi and my Samuel.

A sweet story. The other day Henry was exceptionally quiet and not playing with his trains. As all toddler Mama's know, quiet = trouble. However, I found my sanctified little boy sitting at the table. When I walked into the kitchen he said "wee-din' da Bwwible Mommy". That's cute enough, right? Then I checked to see where he was reading. He is two years old and already knows where the exciting parts are :)

Spur of the Moment. . .

. . .that's what you can be when your husband takes a summer off from school and gets a new job with normal hours.

Last night when Cory got home we decided to pack up the boys and our supper and head to the beach. We walked down the road and we were there. AH-mazing.

self portrait - evidence that Samuel and I were also there

Remember me?

A wee bit has changed since I last posted. There is no evidence of my pregnancy with my second bubba on this blog, and now he is here and three months old! That tells you how long it's been.

Life has changed and we are in a new and exciting season.

Introducing. . .

. . . Samuel. Born April 1st, 2010.

He is just the perfect addition to our family. I was really hoping and thinking my second child would be a girl, but when he was born, and the Doctor announced we had a boy, I burst into tears of joy because HE was exactly what we needed. Another precious son.

Less then two weeks after he was born I was hobbling around house shopping and we 'stumbled' (or were divinely lead) upon our new home. It is more then Cory or I had even hoped for and definitely worth the sacrifices over the last 4 years. We moved in June 19th.

It's a lovely home in the small town near to my parents home. It had everything on my "must- have" and many from my "nice-to-have" lists. Master Bedroom on same floor as kids. 4th Bedroom/Office on main floor. A separate main floor family room. Bursting with character. A functional and lovely kitchen. A big front porch. A large yard, great for kids and my gardener husband. A WASHER, DRYER, and CLOTHESLINE (we have never had our own laundry facilities!!). We live a stonesthrow from the local river complete with beach and a large park that hosts many different festivals all summer long.

Our one concern when purchasing this house was the location - 60 kilometres from my husbands work. His job required long hours and adding the commute meant less time with the family. He'd leave at 6:15am and be home by 6:45/7:00pm. By God's grace, on the day we took possession of our home Cory had an interview for a fantastic company that is quite a bit closer and has 'normal' working hours. He begins this Monday and I couldn't be more excited for him and for our family.

Henry is our big boy. He turned two years old on the same day that Samuel was born (yes, both were born on the same day, April 1st, two years apart. This is no April Fools Prank). He is bright and so very talkative. Other then when I mess with him (wash his face, hands, hair, change him, etc) he remains a pretty cheerful little guy. He LOVES helping Daddy weed the garden and is even 'helping' me vaccuum. We are so thankful for how he adores his brother Sam. He has an obsession with pressing Sam's hands or toes into his own face. Sam doesn't appreciate this much.

Perhaps I'll be around a little more often as I settle into our new nest :)

Blessings to you!

New Found Nests

Henry has been discovering new found 'nests' or little spots around the house

in which to be cozy. His wagon is his most recent favourite.

Here Henry has fallen asleep while reading a Thomas the Train pop up book

(sorry the pic is fuzzy, but it was too cute not to post).

And finally, below is a photo of Cory sweeping pine needles up from off the floor as we clean up and put away all of the Christmas decorations for the year.

Doesn't it feel so good to get all away??