Bethany 2.5 years - spring 2012

Bethany you are growing up so much!  I've been transitioning 2T clothes to 3T and the bigger clothes make you look so much older.  I can barely remember when you didn't talk anymore, we carry on so many full conversations and I wish I could capture all of the funny things you say.  We measured you on the post in your room and you are 36.5 inches tall!  Lots of people think that you are already 3 because of how tall you are and old you look and how well you talk to others - interacting with adults is completely comfortable for you.

Right now your routine at night is to take a bath with April, get into pj's (after your bath you say you are "so shibery"), brush your hair and teeth and crawl into mommy and daddy's bed for snuggle time while April eats.  We talk about what we are going to "go up to bed as" which we started a few months ago.  It is always a challenge to get you to go up the stairs willingly, so we made a big deal out of walking up the stairs like Kevin Love one night.  Recently you've told us you are going up to bed like a porcupine, April is a polar bear, daddy is an ant and mommy is a spider.  Who knows where you got all of these random animals together, but it was over 4 nights in a row you had this line up!  We all sit on your bed while you grab your Bible (if we try to set it out for you, you start over in the process).  You stop at the easel to draw a little (practice your B's) and then jump on the box spring on the floor so you can get on the bed and choose a Bible story.  You have been wanting to read Noah's ark so many times that I pretty much have it memorized now.  You pray (Dear Jesus, thank you for the food, amen (only prayer you do!)), Daddy prays about the day and the next day and you give us all kisses and crawl under the covers.  We are so proud of you that you fall right asleep and wake up after 7 (more mornings) - we hope the trend continues!

You have such a joyful spirit and get excited for whatever we have going on.  You look forward to seeing cousin Charlie, friends at church and Koala Bear, family, whenever we talk about what we're going to be doing.  You say "oh, thank you!" for everything... very cute and nice that it comes so naturally for you to thank people (please, please continue!)

You love to talk to April, and sometimes if I'm busy doing something around the house I hear you sit down next to her and tell her a story "April, I had a good nap today.  Now we are going to Carson's birthday party."  or "April, I hurt my finger.  Yeah, it is owie, can you kiss it and make it feel better?"  I just love how cute they are together and how April adores Bethany.  We play peek-a-boo with April and Bethany puts a blanket over her head and April slowly pulls it down and we all say peek-a-boo while April belly laughs.  She thinks it is funny when Bethany puts the blanket over her head too.

When we are driving you really enjoy looking out the window for buses, cranes and "dark bridges".  It took me awhile to understand what you were talking about, and you would tell me "oh, it is a baby bridge, what is next mommy?"  Then we'd come to a slightly bigger bridge, "oh, it is a mommy bridge, is the daddy bridge next?"  Then in her low voice, "It is a BIG one mommy, its a daddy bridge!".  I think it is so cute that you do this almost every time we are in the care - you love repetition.

You can count to almost 20 now and are working on drawing a few letters.  You can name all the letters and numbers too when you see them.  We have been teaching you our address and today you told daddy where we lived perfectly!

I'm not sure why, but you say "my mommy daddy" when you don't know what else to say.  People will talk to you, or around you and you'll just enter in by saying that.  I think it just makes you comfortable to talk about us.  We know you pay a lot of attention to what we say, because I'll hear you tell others about not wanting a "time out" or that you had a good day and you were nice to your friends (share, not bite etc).

You care so much about others though, and still get concerned if someone is hurt, sad etc.  I love your empathy Bethany!

We love you so much and can't wait for summer to long days together with you.

April 7 months

Hi, pretty girl, I can't believe you are already 7 months old (and as I write this 7.5 months!).  You had a big week this week while I was on my work trip.... you slept in your crib and daddy didn't come and get you when you cried!  Crying it out is never fun, but you did well and after a few long spells the first night, each night after that you've been doing better and better.  I'm so proud of you and it is nice to get more sleep through the night!  It is also nice that you are out of our closet so we can stop whispering now in the evening!

You are doing so many funny things.  You shake your head "no" all the time and think you are silly.  You nod too, but prefer to shake your head no.  You also wave - mostly with both hands, but repeat with one hand if someone waves to you.  You have been enjoying eating cheerios in addition to your baby food and look at each piece curiously before chewing.  Right now you have 6 teeth coming in and so your poor gums are in a lot of pain.  Anything you can chew on relieves the pressure so we are careful to be sure you have lots of chew toys around.  You like to repeat things we say like da da, ma ma, ba ba etc.  Sometimes when you say da da, I tell you "no, say mama" and you shake your head no and smile!

Even though you aren't officially crawling, you creep around and can get pretty much anything you want in a few foot area.  You roll to get places too.  We stand you up at a play table and you stand and play on it for long stretches of time.  Pulling yourself up to stand is preferred to crawling so far I think.

 Need to chew on things with 6 teeth coming in at the same time!

 Anything can be used as a drum

Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon

Well, we did it!  We finished the half marathon today and while I feel extremely sore and very, very tired, I am so proud of us for accomplishing this goal!  Despite my knee issue in January, 2 sinus infections, my ankle issue I was able to find time to train and finish the race in under 2:30.  All four of us ran together the first half of the race and after we saw the kids near our house my side-ache made me slow down a bit and Dan, Amber and Brent ran on ahead.  He finished ahead of his pacer group and Amber and Brent were close behind.  It was an amazing experience with all the runners and the people who came out to cheer everyone on along the way.  It really helped, and next year I'll bring out my lawn chair and cheer on the runners too :)

Dan's parents and my parents watched the kids and it was fun they came to watch us at the halfway point and at the end.  Bethany went straight for my snacks that we got as we crossed the finish line and proclaimed me "stinky."  After a wonderful shower, we all napped while the kids napped and I'm just so happy we're done.  Yes it was a lot of work, but I'm glad we did it!

Before the race at 7 a.m.  Bethany and Charlie had signs to hold for us

Waving at the kids at the half way point near our house - it was so fun to have cheerleaders!

April's funny faces and noises

At 7 months April is starting to figure out new funny faces and noises all the time.  Her current favorite is to tip her chin up in the air, wrinkle her face and nose and breathe through her nose really fast.  Too cute!

Jumping girls!

Dan used to love jumping on his bouncey ball growing up so his parents got one for Bethany for Easter! Tonight both girls enjoying jumping together :)

Grandpa

Last weekend we got the call from my dad that Grandpa wasn't doing very well and that if we wanted to say our goodbye's that we might want to go to Kerkhoven that Sunday (April 1st). During the night he passed away. April is up at night a lot still and I had woken up to feed her and started praying. I remember thinking that if Grandpa was ready to go home, that it was ok and that while we would miss him it might be his time.

Amber and I still went on Sunday to be there for Grandma, dad and to see family. We looked at old pictures, spent some time in their house and attic and remembered all the good times with Grandpa. Growing up in Kerkhoven we had so many memories going to grandma and grandpa's house. I remember going on our bikes over there, we planted veggies in their garden, picked raspberries, I mowed their lawn, Amber and I had countless games of hide-and-seek, we played games, spent lots of time at the cabin, and always had a good time no matter what we did. Grandpa was the President of the bank before my dad was and when I went into banking it was fun to talk "business" with him.

The reviewal and funeral were hard.... but so many people came to pay their respects and shared their memories that it was a wonderful way to remember what an amazing man of God he was. He and grandma would do their devotions together every day and pray for all of us by name (sometimes I thought it got so long when we were there growing up, but I knew they did it every day). He had a great sense of humor and I can still remember the twinkle in his eye and his jokes he would play on us.

On Sunday when I was talking to Bethany about how great-grandpa hadn't been feeling good and explained that he was in heaven now with Jesus. A little while later she said "I'm so happy that great-grandpa is feeling better and is with Jesus now, aren't you mommy?" Yes, Bethany, mommy is so happy that Grandpa is with Jesus now. It was so amazing to see from her eyes and realize that everything she knew about Jesus was wonderful and that if great-grandpa was feeling better and got to be with Him, wasn't that great?

As the week came to a close and all the services were over, I started thinking about the song:
‎"I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering ...
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy".

Grandpa's celebration of life was FILLED with stories of his legacy. I was so blessed to call him grandpa and watch him live his life consistently for the Lord. Thank you, Grandpa, and may those of us following in your example continue to carry the torch

Easter 2012

Jumping girls

Coloring our eggs

Love the new shades - thanks mormor and morfar!

April met Mormormor and Mormorfar for the first time

April found her egg!

Easter 2012 was at our house. Because my grandpa passed away, my mom and dad were home from the funeral so they came for lunch before bringing my mom back to the airport. My mormomor and mormorfar were also in town so they joined us along with Aunt Lynette. Dan's parents, Amber, Brent, Charlie and Bella also came so we had a fun filled day.

It was a little breezy, but the kids had fun running around outside looking for the Easter eggs that Brent tossed onto the lawn. I think in future years we may actually have to hide them but this year the 2 year olds just ran around!

Bethany had heard about the Easter bunny so all week we had been talking about the real reason for Easter. She now tells a really long story starting with Jesus being born, walking on the water, the fact that sometimes people do naughty things and need time-outs (we sin which is why Jesus had to die), then 3 days later He was ALIVE!

It was so fun to see everyone at Easter, thank you fo coming!