Bathtime and Bedtime

Bathtime and bedtime are always eventful in our house.  It often really takes all three adults in the house (Thom, Katie Ann, and I) to get everyone clean, in pj's, and bottles for James and Patrick.  This picture (above) is one of my favorites as they (Patrick - R and James - L) are waiting for the tub to fill.  Next, Andrew and James helped Aunt KAW give Patrick his bath.  Finally, we all end up on our bed to feed James and Patrick.  Andrew calls this "Babytown Fun." 

I am flying to Chicago tomorrow moring for a Mortar Board winter meeting.  I will really miss my boys when I am away.  The big news here is that we are under a winter storm watch.  Sumner County Schools are already cancelled for Friday.  Andrew's preschool follows that schedule so he'll be home too.  Enjoy your weekend and stay warm!

Saturday morning fun - soccer and swimming

This morning was Andrew's debut in pee-wee soccer at the YMCA.  This co-ed fun league is for ages 3-5.  He really enjoyed practicing with his team, the Bears.  He was not as fond of the actual game -- he wanted to bring his own ball out to share and couldn't understand why there was only one ball for everyone.  Andrew likes his space and to do his own thing.  I think a bunch of preschoolers running in a pack wasn't necessarily his cup of tea (or juice).  We'll see how next week goes!

After soccer, Andrew had swimming.  He says swimming is "his favorite" and he likes it "more than school."  I said that was great, but he still is going to school too.  Rick and Mary Shirk came to watch Andrew swim.  Patrick enjoyed sitting on Rick's lap and catching up!

James and Patrick - happy little guys!

Just a few cute pics of James (wearing red) and Patrick (wearing navy).  Happy Friday!

Countdown to 1st birthdays!

It's hard to believe that two weeks from now James and Patrick will be one!  What a fun and eventful year we have had!  Their personalities are emerging and growing each day.  James tends to be a little more dramatic like Andrew.  Patrick is more laidback and goes with the flow.  They are both really happy babies.  They crawl everywhere!  Last week at the pediatrician's office, James weighed 19 pounds, 6 ounces and Patrick weighed 20 pounds, 4 ounces.  They love to follow Andrew, laugh, roll on each other, and steal each other's pacifiers.  They can say Mama, Dada, and Andoo.  Katie Ann is trying to teach them "An-TAW," Andrew's early adaptation of Aunt KAW.  They say "Andoo" most frequently. 

My name is ANDREW.

One of my reasons for creating this blog was to try to do a better job recording funny things the boys do.  (Their baby books aren't exactly the best.)  Andrew is a precocious, intelligent, strong-willed, and kind child.  Those are all great qualities to have in a leader, but as a combination can be a challenge with an almost four-year old.  :-)

When Thom and I chose the name "Andrew," we selected it because we loved the name.  It hadn't been ruined for us by students with whom we worked as many names had.  We didn't pick it for a family member, but simply because we loved it.  We didn't share his name with others before he was born, partially because we had seen friends share names only to hear family and friends say, "How could you name your kid Zeke?  That's awful, _____" (fill in your blank here).  We figured no one would criticize the name if we presented a beautiful baby and said, "This is Andrew."  Heck, you could probably say, "This is our little Ichabod" and no one would care.  Babies are that great.  Andrew's middle name is Thomas, in honor of Thom.

Another decision for me and Thom was if he would be Andrew, Andy, or Drew.  I liked Drew.  Thom liked Andy.  So we decided he would be Andrew unless Andrew decided to go by something else.  Um, I don't think he'll be changing.  Thom's grandfather, Grandpa Al, likes to call Andrew "Andy."  When Andrew was 2 1/2, he said (quite strongly), "My name is Andrew, not Andy." 

Recently at dinner, Katie Ann and I were recounting to Thom how helpful Andrew had been that day. 

Katie Ann said, "Andrew helped with the laundry."

I said, "And he helped set the table." 

Andrew dropped his fork and loudly said, "My name is ANDREW, not Andy."  At first, I couldn't figure out what he was talking about and then I realized he thought I had called him Andy when I said "And he..."

I'm glad he can stick up for himself.

Andrew swimming

At swim lessons this morning, we learned that Andrew and his friends Jackson, Patrick, and Katie Shea are featured in a video on the Sea Star website.  Here's the clip.  Andrew is wearing his red swimsuit (red like McQueen of course) and orange goggles.  Enjoy! 

Baking, "Camping," Snow, and More

We have had an eventful new year thus far, if one considers a long-lasting stomach bug eventful.  (It was eventful for the washing machine at the very least.)  James started with it on December 30 and I think we may have finally gotten rid of it. Everyone seems to be on the mend.  We all got it, except Andrew.  (Crossing toes and knocking on wood!) 

Thom and Andrew loved to make breakfast together on weekends.  Their speciality is cinnamon muffins.  Nana Hannah gave Andrew some kids' cooking utensils and a doughnut pan.  Thom and Chef Andrew enjoyed trying out the new equipment on December 30. 

Later that day, Andrew asked if he and Daddy could go camping.  He told me and Aunt KAW we could "stay with the babies."  Aunt KAW explained that she really isn't the camping-type.  Because it was quite cold, Andrew and Thom improvised and "camped" in the family room with the fireplace as their campfire.  I half-expected Andrew to trudge upstairs around midnight but they slept all night downstairs.

On Tuesday, January 5, we started hearing about snow advisories, winter storm warnings, and other big news for middle Tennessee.  Having most recently lived in Detroit and Chicago, Katie Ann found the hype quite interesting.  I made the mistake of going to the grocery on Tuesday night.  Huge runs on milk and bread!  Andrew's preschool follows the local school calendar and was promptly cancelled for Thursday in anticipation of the big snow.  Andrew and I had fun playing in the half-inch of snow on Thursday.  His school was also cancelled on Friday.  Fortunately, he still had swim lessons this morning! 

Today, it snowed a little bit more.  Thom and Andrew played outside in the snow.  Andrew really wanted to build a snowman.  They shoveled all the snow in our driveway, walkway, and sidewalk.  They ended up building a snow turtle.

Happy New Year! 2010 is here!

Is this a new decade? Can a new decade (or millenium) begin with zero? I had this semantics debate (as my husband reminded me last night) 10 years ago and no one really cared, so I guess I'll just join the masses and go with a new decade.

Thom and I were recounting our past New Year's Eves last night -- our first New Year's Eve together in the Florida Keys (1999), Bowl games, late nights at Harry's, etc. Last night, we ate macaroni and cheese and hung out at home. James and Patrick had a stomach bug so it was a low-key night for all of us. We actually decided it was probably our best New Year's Eve yet as we were surrounded with our three precious little boys.

2009 was an eventful and very blessed year for us. We started out the year with me on strict bedrest, following surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and wondering if our babies would be okay. My sister Katie Ann had lost her job and moved in with us in mid-January. My dad had just been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and was beginning chemotherapy. Thom was struggling with data collection for his dissertation. We knew God had a plan for us.  Then our two beautiful miracles were born on February 2, 2009. They continue to amaze us and make us smile. God has blessed us so richly. Katie Ann is taking pre-reqs at Volunteer State Community College for a bachelor's degree in nursing. Thom finished his dissertation, defended, and graduated with his doctorate in educational psychology in August. My dad is officially in remission. He is still having some serious complications from the chemotherapy though -- it has affected his eyes -- he has had surgery for a dettached retina, two (unsuccessful) cataracts surgeries, several eye injections, and has diabetic macula edema. Please keep him in your prayers. As my dad reminded me over the holidays though, eye problems are much better than the alternative! We truly believe in the power of prayer and faith.

As we reflect over the past year, I thought I would share some of my favorite photos of 2009. Enjoy! I am having a little trouble with the layout -- sorry!