Continued...
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
July Trip to Tennessee
On the 15th of July Richard boarded another flight to southern California. I decided to pack up the kids and head home...to Tennessee. This would be my first journey home on my own with the kids. I packed the car in advance, cleaned my house and sent texts to the family letting them know I was on the road.
The trip down went much better than I had feared. The kids were happy and slept quite a bit. On one roadside potty stop for Kaley, Connor slept in the car. We stopped near a fenced-in wooded area. Kaley was relieving herself when all of a sudden a loud pitiful "MAHHHH" sounded very near us. I surmised it must be a goat but we couldn't see it. Kaley was shaken a bit and ask me "MOMMY! IS THAT GOAT GOING TO BITE MY BOTTOM? WHERE IS IT? WHERE IS IT?"
(Continued...)
We stopped in Staunton VA to eat a late breakfast with Aunt Ruthe at Cracker Barrel. She gave us a huge tin of fresh baked ginger snaps for the long ride. These were to help Kaley with her nausea. She seems to get car sick very easily, even when there are few curves in the road and she is not watching a video. They did seem to help her, although I ate as many as she did.
We finally arrived at my Dad's place near Dayton TN. He and my step mom, Pamela, live on a quiet cove of the TN river. It is absolutely beautiful there. Kaley and Connor always enjoy their tropical aquarium fish, two cats and the garden. The highlight of this trip however was going out on the ski boat. On Sabbath my friend Corina and her baby Anabelle came over and we went for a long ride up the river. When we got back I decided to let Kaley and Connor take turns having their first tube rides behind the boat, riding with me. Dad drove the boat slowly and no other boats shared our cove. They had a blast.
Dad took us to the Dayton Airport to see his airplane, a Cessna 150, which he has been flying for the past 4 years. He really enjoys it and the kids found the radio and controls interesting. Kaley ran and hid in our car when someone down the tarmac yelled "clear the prop" and started his small plane. "It's too loud" she cried.
Next we drove to Knoxville to see my mom. She took us to the Little Ponderosa Zoo where Kaley fed goats, sheep, camels, and zonkeys (cross between donkey and zebra). She also enjoyed her very first pony ride. Unfortunately, one of the animal there peed on my diaper bag. I couldn't escape the stench. When one of the straps also broke I knew it was time for a new one. Thankfully, Mom bought me a beautiful new bag as an early Bday gift. While there we also explored Knoxville some. Kaley and Connor loved the splash fountains at World's Fair Park and Market Square. It was fun to go up in the Sun Sphere and look down and the city and park. We also visited with friends Mike, Katie and Jenna Hancock while in Knoxville. Such a good time seeing old friends.
Mom had just purchased a house but had not moved in yet. She planned a little birthday party for the kids at her new place. Kaley helped her make the cupcakes and while the kids napped Mom set up a balloon treasure hunt with a present for each kid at each station. Kaley had to locate a certain colored balloon then she could go find the gift hidden there. There were water balloons to burst and a couple large basins of water with water toys. Connor had a cupcake with one candle, Kaley had 3 cupcakes each with a candle and I had 10 cupcakes with three candles on each. I did manage to blow out all the candles with 2 attempts but I didn't eat all 10 cupcakes.
Finally we turned back toward Collegedale to stay with Connie and Gary. Kaley picked tomatoes and cucumbers from Grandpa's garden, and helped Gramma make pinwheels, a desert made of pie crust dough rolled up with sugar, butter and cinnamon. We had a fancy Sabbath dinner at the Gramma and Grandpa Regal's house, and Kaley enjoyed exploring Great Gramma Regals large home. She even got to see the secret fish room. Connor was especially taken with Gramma and Grandpa's new kitten Spice. He toddled over to the glass doors laughing, pointing, and pounding on the glass. Both kids had fun with Ginger, the dog, and Spice. We spent time with my sister Emily and Josh at their place. Kaley watched Veggie Tales and made art with Aunt Emily using sidewalk chalk.
We met up with a friend from SAU, Heather Moore Carvill and her two girls Mikayla and Emma. She was staying with her Cousin Alisa who set up a kiddie pool and slip and slide in her back yard for the little ones. Kaley had never been down a slip and slide. She really enjoyed it. Heather has been living in Australia where she met her husband and had her two girls. They just moved back to the USA last December and it was so good to catch up with her. She gave me some great pointers for my camera. Alisa made a delicious pot of curried veggies for lunch and was so sweet to share her recipe with me.
When we turned toward home I was so glad that I had made the trip. I don't usually get to spend that much time with my family. It rained the whole way home and the kids were cranky. All I can say is thank heaven for Chick- Fil-A. We didn't eat much there but the indoor playground was a life saver for getting wiggles out and they have baby changing tables in the bathrooms. As we drove into Dale City that evening, I sat at a stop light and noticed a full rainbow stretching across the sky. A perfect end to another fabulous trip.
The trip down went much better than I had feared. The kids were happy and slept quite a bit. On one roadside potty stop for Kaley, Connor slept in the car. We stopped near a fenced-in wooded area. Kaley was relieving herself when all of a sudden a loud pitiful "MAHHHH" sounded very near us. I surmised it must be a goat but we couldn't see it. Kaley was shaken a bit and ask me "MOMMY! IS THAT GOAT GOING TO BITE MY BOTTOM? WHERE IS IT? WHERE IS IT?"
(Continued...)
We stopped in Staunton VA to eat a late breakfast with Aunt Ruthe at Cracker Barrel. She gave us a huge tin of fresh baked ginger snaps for the long ride. These were to help Kaley with her nausea. She seems to get car sick very easily, even when there are few curves in the road and she is not watching a video. They did seem to help her, although I ate as many as she did.
We finally arrived at my Dad's place near Dayton TN. He and my step mom, Pamela, live on a quiet cove of the TN river. It is absolutely beautiful there. Kaley and Connor always enjoy their tropical aquarium fish, two cats and the garden. The highlight of this trip however was going out on the ski boat. On Sabbath my friend Corina and her baby Anabelle came over and we went for a long ride up the river. When we got back I decided to let Kaley and Connor take turns having their first tube rides behind the boat, riding with me. Dad drove the boat slowly and no other boats shared our cove. They had a blast.
Dad took us to the Dayton Airport to see his airplane, a Cessna 150, which he has been flying for the past 4 years. He really enjoys it and the kids found the radio and controls interesting. Kaley ran and hid in our car when someone down the tarmac yelled "clear the prop" and started his small plane. "It's too loud" she cried.
Next we drove to Knoxville to see my mom. She took us to the Little Ponderosa Zoo where Kaley fed goats, sheep, camels, and zonkeys (cross between donkey and zebra). She also enjoyed her very first pony ride. Unfortunately, one of the animal there peed on my diaper bag. I couldn't escape the stench. When one of the straps also broke I knew it was time for a new one. Thankfully, Mom bought me a beautiful new bag as an early Bday gift. While there we also explored Knoxville some. Kaley and Connor loved the splash fountains at World's Fair Park and Market Square. It was fun to go up in the Sun Sphere and look down and the city and park. We also visited with friends Mike, Katie and Jenna Hancock while in Knoxville. Such a good time seeing old friends.
Mom had just purchased a house but had not moved in yet. She planned a little birthday party for the kids at her new place. Kaley helped her make the cupcakes and while the kids napped Mom set up a balloon treasure hunt with a present for each kid at each station. Kaley had to locate a certain colored balloon then she could go find the gift hidden there. There were water balloons to burst and a couple large basins of water with water toys. Connor had a cupcake with one candle, Kaley had 3 cupcakes each with a candle and I had 10 cupcakes with three candles on each. I did manage to blow out all the candles with 2 attempts but I didn't eat all 10 cupcakes.
Finally we turned back toward Collegedale to stay with Connie and Gary. Kaley picked tomatoes and cucumbers from Grandpa's garden, and helped Gramma make pinwheels, a desert made of pie crust dough rolled up with sugar, butter and cinnamon. We had a fancy Sabbath dinner at the Gramma and Grandpa Regal's house, and Kaley enjoyed exploring Great Gramma Regals large home. She even got to see the secret fish room. Connor was especially taken with Gramma and Grandpa's new kitten Spice. He toddled over to the glass doors laughing, pointing, and pounding on the glass. Both kids had fun with Ginger, the dog, and Spice. We spent time with my sister Emily and Josh at their place. Kaley watched Veggie Tales and made art with Aunt Emily using sidewalk chalk.
We met up with a friend from SAU, Heather Moore Carvill and her two girls Mikayla and Emma. She was staying with her Cousin Alisa who set up a kiddie pool and slip and slide in her back yard for the little ones. Kaley had never been down a slip and slide. She really enjoyed it. Heather has been living in Australia where she met her husband and had her two girls. They just moved back to the USA last December and it was so good to catch up with her. She gave me some great pointers for my camera. Alisa made a delicious pot of curried veggies for lunch and was so sweet to share her recipe with me.
When we turned toward home I was so glad that I had made the trip. I don't usually get to spend that much time with my family. It rained the whole way home and the kids were cranky. All I can say is thank heaven for Chick- Fil-A. We didn't eat much there but the indoor playground was a life saver for getting wiggles out and they have baby changing tables in the bathrooms. As we drove into Dale City that evening, I sat at a stop light and noticed a full rainbow stretching across the sky. A perfect end to another fabulous trip.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Watching Them Grow
From time to time I find myself wanting to hit the pause button on life. Some days the desire to freeze frame my world is so strong that it actually motivates me to pick up the camera or write a blog entry, things I don't seem to have time for much anymore.
Connor is 11 months old now, and took his first unassisted steps on July 11, 2009 at Ryan and Cara-Lea's house. I knew he was getting close to this but somehow it still surprised me and made me feel sad that he is heading out of babyhood. Watching him teeter and fall, getting up, falling, trying again, and finally making it across the room I saw once again the quality of persistence that has jumped out at me from day one. Connor does not give up. You can remove him from his goal, barricade or hide it but he does not forget about it. He is much more difficult to distract than his sister was at this age.
(Continued...)
Connor loves to cuddle. When I pick him up after a nap he wraps his chubby arms around my neck and pulls me close burying his face in my shoulder and neck. He won't drink his bottle at bedtime unless I rock him in the glider and sing. Connor also loves to cuddle with Daddy and get's very excited when he sees his Dad coming home from work. He immediately crawls to meet Richard, pulls up on his legs or raises his hands to be picked up. When Richard has Connor on his shoulders Connor will sometimes lean way over til he can see Richard's face and then pat his cheek as if to say "Ok, good. It's still Daddy who has me".
In addition to walking Connor has recently learned to clap, point, attempt to use a hair brush, fill a bucket with water in the bath and say "all done" or "more" in baby sign. When I point to pictures in a book, he points also with both chubby index fingers simultaneously. Connor sometimes spontaneously points at things while we're carrying him. He claps and laughs when other people are laughing and claps or bounces when music is playing. He jabbers a lot but non of it sounds like English other than dadda and momma.
Kaley talks and talks. She loves to reminisce about recent trips or family visits. Some of her mispronunciations include "rainbrella", mango is "flamingo" and veggies are "beggies". She still can't say the L sound so substitutes ya or wa. She is extremely self motivated and sometimes becomes enraged when I make a motion to try and help her. If I start a task she will undo the started portion so that she may complete the entire thing herself. Example...we were in a public restroom recently and she wanted to wash her own hands, however, the sink was not within reach. When I lifted her up she flew into a tantrum. After managing to get her hands clean I thought to appease the wrath by ejecting the paper towel for her to pull off herself. She then tore off the towel, threw it away and pulled the lever down herself to get more. She seems to learn best by watching and verbal instruction only.
Kaley is becoming very helpful around the house. She picks up her toys with moderate assistance to start the task only. She is capable of going #1 in the bathroom independently and does a good job, but prefers to have me help. She can stand on a chair at the kitchen sink and scrub dishes with a brush stacking them on the counter. And, she can wipe up spills thoroughly with a cloth or napkin.
Kaley plays increasingly well with her brother and loves to make him laugh. I often here her saying "you can do it Buddy!" She wants to help feed him and teach him to walk by dancing with him. His rambunctious and persistent nature continues to cause her grief though, and she never seems to rest easy when playing at his level.
I feel a bit better now, having written some of this down. And yet, it still seems so inadequate. I don't ever want to forget them...how they are right now. But, I will. It makes me want to cry. Dear Lord, help me to embrace each day for what it holds and the changes as well as the memories.
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