Weekly Update

ELEANOR UPDATE: Eleanor went for her 9 month check-up this past Thursday. She hasn't grown very much in the past 3 months, but the doctor assured us that growth spurts hit kids at different time. Her weight was in the 23rd percentile, weighing in at 18 lbs 10 oz and her height was in the 50th percentile, measuring about 27inches long. She had to get a heal stick and her second flu shot. The prick was a breeze, but the flu shot stung. Tough little girl hardly cried. Eleanor is an extremely active baby. She will hardly sit in your lap and is off chasing Richard in the blink of an eye. Supposedly it's hard at 9 mo to keep their calorie count high enough to account for her activity. She eats everything we eat, so hopefully her weight gain will start to pick up!

RICHARD UPDATE: Richard went in for his 2 year check-up this past Thursday as well. He continues to remain on par with his previous check-ups, about 70th percentile for weight, and 52nd percentile for height. He's right on track to be a 5ft 11in man, just like his daddy, just like his Poppy, and just like his Grandpa Mike. Richard was asking for the shot so he could have the bandaid. He would lay back on the table, crunch up and around to the side so he could watch our nurse give him his shot. All he could say afterwards was, "Mommy, I got a bandaid. Look Mommy, bandaid". Maybe he's a doctor in the making...

PINTEREST UPDATE: As most people who know me already know, I am a Pinterest enthusiast. With each pin, I become more motivated to make creative snacks and lunches for my kids, wholesome dinners for my family, and to have my families style present in every room in our house. This weekend I made sausage, mushroom, spinach, egg, and cheese muffins, white chocolate Valentine's popcorn, and frozen chocolate/nutella banana bites. We ate the muffins yesterday and today, and they were ever better the second day. We cut Eleanor's up small for her, and Richard ate his like a big boy. They were so yummy and inspired me to continue trying new recipes.





KIDDOS UPDATE: Each week, Richard and Eleanor become better playmates. It amazes me how they already would prefer to play with each other than with anyone else. This morning we had two very sweet moments. The first happened at about 6:30 when the four of us were in bed for our weekly Sunday family snuggle. Jonas and I both looked at the kids at the same moment and realized they were holding hands. It melted our hearts and we thanked God right then and there for the amazing relationship they are already forming. The other was at breakfast time. Eleanor was eating in her booster, and Richard was playing at their kitchen in the living room. I heard him pouring from the tea pot that his Great Mimi gave Eleanor for Christmas. Next thing I knew, he's bringing Eleanor a cup of "coffee" and he had one for himself. He stood there and drank his coffee with her. On how I love our sweet kiddos!





POTTY TRAINING UPDATE: Now that Richard is two and his verbal/reasoning abilities are reaching a new level of awesome, it's time to start talking about the potty. Richard is the kind of kid/boy that could absolutely care less if he has a dirty diaper. He would never take the time to let us change his diaper if it was up to him. So he may be 3 years old before he's potty trained, but it's time to start talking. Our first goal is to get him to recognize that he has used the bathroom. Until he realizes that he has used the bathroom, he's not going to be able to tell us that he's about to go. So we started and M&M system. We have a small container of M&M's that he ONLY has access to when he tells us he has gone to the bathroom. We've had the behavior system in place for 3 days now and today he said, "I went peepee, M&M!" Um, can we say HUGE success. Our baseline date was a very flat line at ZERO, and the M&M's are increasing his "tell mommy and daddy I went peepee/poopoo" behavior.



Every night when Jonas gets home from work, Richard insists to play "tackle". Here is what it looks like...

Birthday Playdate

Eleanor was feeling better this morning, but ended the day/night looking pretty puny. I wish I could stay up all night holding my precious baby girl. When she lies her head on my chest and breathes those sweet little breaths with her eyes open, just resting, sick and resting, it goes on my list as one of the most amazing moments there has been or ever could be.

Richard's birthday week/weekend has officially come to a close. We had a fabulously intimate family party last Wednesday and a low key play date today. He continues to be the kindest little boy I know. It was amazing to watch how much he has changed in one year as he opened his birthday presents last Wednesday. There was an intentional "oooo" and "ahhh" with a chin dropped to the ground after each gift. He tore the wrapping paper off and let out a loud "THANK YOU" in his deepest voice. After everything was unwrapped he went to each gift and instructed us to "open this". He would not rest until everything was opened and put together. We all found so much joy in watching Richard discover what it means to have a birthday. Here are a few pics of our play date today.























It was a great day!

Sick day

No matter the stress it causes leaving school early to pick up a sick child, every second is worth it. Eleanor has a little fever, which I'm betting is from teething. Sweet girl is usually fiercely independent, but it's the weak moments she has where she snuggles so close and will fall asleep on my chest. She is peacefully resting in her crib while rich and I spend some qt together. I don't think I get enough time for either of my kiddos, so I am thankful for these unanticipated moments!

I swear, I will clean the house when they go to sleep tonight...

Every few months...

Well, every few months I get an itch to get back to my blog, each time feeling excited and eager to chronical my life and reconnect with my friends who I hardly ever get to see or talk to. I first started this blog when I was finishing my student teaching and we were preparing for Richard to enter this world. Now, it's two years later, Richard is a minime of his father and our lives have been blessed with the most beautiful, daring, quick to smile little girl you've ever seen.

Lots is going on right now in the lives of the Rod's, but it never slows down. Jonas is in the middle of basketball season, Richard is turning two this week, Eleanor is growing and changing weekly, and I'm in the middle of another great school year at Sylvan Park. We feel blessed beyond words and are savoring each day with our precious children and our loving family.

Our big milestone this week is Richard's 2nd birthday! I cannot believe our sweet, little, spikey haired, kind hearted son is already two years old. He is still the nicest little boy I know. He hugs and kisses his sister every night, he runs to her room and climbs in her crib in the mornings, he says thank you when you wipe his nose, he doesn't take toys from his friends, just finds a new one to play with...I love my little man! I cannot wait to celebrate him and relive all of the amazing memories from that night/day...

My water broke while eating the most fabulous desert made by my mother in-law, well actually one bite into it. Jonas told me to sit down and finish eating, yum honey, I can't eat like this. It was the most hysterical moment, we were crying laughing. We moved quickly home, but while we were in a hurry, we smiled and talked the entire way. We packed our bags, took a quick shower, and headed to the hospital. They took us to a room I triage, confirmed that my water had broken, and started to hook me up to the monitors. This nice man walked in to give me my epidural. He gave me this entire speech, which did make me feel very comfortable, but then revealed he was an intern. GET AWAY FROM MY BACK! Well, that's what I told myself I would say...but I didn't, and he missed the spot, and they had to re do it, and it was terrible. But then, I was resting without any pain in sight. I rested through the night, but I couldn't sleep. I talked to my best friend all night...I was way to excited to sleep. Finally, at about 6:45, everyone started getting ready for Richard's arrival. It was a grueling hour, and it was the hardest I have ever worked. Pushing felt like I was running that last sprint at the end of an incredibly difficult practice, the one where you think you might die, but you know you really won't. I had the most amazing support system around me and together, with Jonas by my side, brought Richard into this world. I will never forget the tears rolling down Jonas' face as he looked into my eyes and told me he loved him and was so proud of me. Watching him hold our newborn baby was the most amazing sight I've ever

(I wrote this before his birthday)

Richard Update

Richard is growing up way too fast. He cracks us up on a daily basis with his mischievous ways and precious laugh. Some of his favorite things are standing up in his high chair, climbing on the table, playing in the trash can, sneaking reese's and hershey kisses. He brings so much joy to our lives! Here are a few pictures of him recently...

Richard is obsessed with anything that is a ball. He loves basketballs, footballs, tennis balls...you name it. Whatever kind of ball it is, there's only one place for it, in his bball hoop.



This is the most recent video of him playing hoops.



Here is Richard on his dump truck. Aunt Jen and Uncle Max spoiled him!



Here he is again on his new 4-wheeler from his cousins and auntie!



Richard was such a good boy when he went to see Dr. Beveridge. He played all around the room!



Good morning world! I am 1 year old today!

A Rainy Day

What a nasty, rainy day it is. Usually I crave going outside, but today I'm thankful I'm stuck inside the building. If only I didn't have to blow the whistle at hook-up...these are the days where hook-up takes a super long time. All of the kids stay inside the building, and there are about 4 of us outside trying to make it all run smoothly. Hopefully I won't have to deal with this one disgruntled father who never fails to make a scene. You think he would be happy that his child is warm inside...even if it does take us 30 extra seconds to get her to his car. Well, at the end of it all, at least the kids are safe.

The days at school are becoming very long. Even though I'm asleep by 8:30 pm, I can't help but feel extremely tired on a daily basis. Luckily, at 8:30 every morning, I've got 10 energetic, sometimes moody, but always loving kiddos running into my classroom. They sure do make the days at work worth while. Even though there are times they make me want to pull my hair out, right now, two of them are in here sharing a salad for lunch. Both of them ride the "blue bus" to school, which means they come from an extremely low ses setting. As bad as it can be at their homes, you can tell how much they love each other and how they care for one another.



Well, Baby Eleanor is growing like crazy, which means I am growing like crazy! All she wants is avocado and tomato sandwiches from Star Bagel. I think I've had it 5 out of 6 days the past week. I look forward to it, but I'm going to have to start making them myself because it adds up! There's just something about have it made for me...I guess jojo will have to step in and be the chef :).

Off to class!

Richard Update

Richard is now about the size of a butternut squash! He grew about 1/4 a pound this past week and will start gaining about a 1/2 pound each week. He will probably triple his weight by the time he is here. All of his organs are fully formed and functioning well. He is starting to mimic breathing movements. The total amniotic fluid is reaching its peak now. This is due to the fact that he is urinating up to two cups a day! Richard bone marrow is now producing his red blood cells from his liver. If he was born today, he would have a survival rate of 90%. He is rolling around all the time, which is reassuring. It's getting harder to breathe and harder to sleep, but luckily I've got a great man to take care of me :).