Dirty Dishes....

This song was shared on Facebook yesterday by a friend of mine! As I listened to the song I was reminded of all the things I am truly thankful for! As a woman I am thankful for my education. I am thankful for a wonderful husband, blessed to have one beautiful and smart child, Ty and blessed to be able to have a second child in just a few short weeks.  

I am reminded that though there is pressure to keep the house clean, I am thankful for a home! I am thankful to have things inside the home and outside of the home. I am thankful for a job, income and insurance.  As we face a very uncertain future for our kids and ourselves I must pause and give thanks.  So I am each day going to focus on  one special thing that I can give thanks for or to for the next month.

This is a great idea that I also picked up from another friend of mine on Facebook.  My challenge to you is to self reflect for yourself on the things that you are truly thankful for and publicly share that for 30 days.   If you need a reminder of what I am truly thankful for listen to the you tube music I have shared within this blog!

It has been a while since my last post... In fact I have written a few posts that are still in draft form awaiting pictures but never completed that particular process.  I guess it is because priorities have changed. Life happens.   We are three and 1/2 weeks or so away from meeting our little addition to our family Caleb Edward Williams.  I am getting super excited and anxious to meet him, see what his personality is like and to see how Ty reacts.

Ty is still loving school and making great strides. He is working on his phonic sounds with a ZOO Phonics curriculum that I hear him repeat over and over while he is playing here at home. He continues to amaze us daily.  He has his routine at school down as a three year old so I guess we are good to go for the four year old preschool already one leg up.  He recognizes the letters of his name and writes a wonderful T... the Y portion of his name is slowly but surely coming.  So proud am I as a mother!  We do our phonics homework each week and have him read or be read to each evening (which reminds me we need to fill in his pumpkins on his sheet for each of the 5 minutes of reading we do).  What a great age.  In January he will turn 4 years old.   Wow how the time flies.

Recently we have been fairly busy with two baby showers a third on the way and visiting with family in Vancouver or Battle Ground.  As I said Life Happens.  This week I am packing a bag for the hospital and packing a bag for Caleb for the hospital. Next week is the last doc appointment that has been scheduled for every two weeks and then it will be weekly.  We are still awaiting confirmation from the doctor as to which day we will be scheduled for our C-Section in November.  We are hoping to know soon so that we can schedule the rest of life to happen that day and so that we can manage the introduction of Ty to Caleb (which we want to be a private moment for our immediate family).  Well as I said... Life Happens and we take things one day at a time.

Pictures and other things to follow on this blog at another time.

Life is about transitions.

Today Byron and I experienced yet another transition with Ty, his FIRST day of PRESCHOOL! I was terribly excited (and secretly have been for quite some time) for him and for this transitions. I tried to think of everything prior to today. We began several months ago with our first visit to the school to meet the teacher prior to our decision to send Ty. Our conversations with Ty have been constant as we drive by the school (only a few short blocks away). He knew the building. He asked questions and we answered them.  Then I decided to make it a special transition and he was able to pick out his back pack, matching lunch box and Kleen Kanteen, he chose the Batman edition from Pottery Barn.  We were trying to think of everything to make this transition a positive one.

We received the welcome packet from the school several weeks ago and again began planning.  Byron and I took ourselves to several stores to stock up on the school supplies from the list that was included in our packet. Boy what an eye opening experience that was for Byron.  Supplies are expensive! We ran into several teachers at a few of the stores that were clearly stocking up themselves with no doubt using their own money for the supplies that students could not afford and would most likely enter school without.   We chatted about that and decided that we were very fortunate to be able to pay for private tuition at this time as well as provide Ty with special things like new backpack etc. and be able to afford school supplies. We felt like parents. We were both somewhat nervous about this transition but knew that we would all make it through and Ty would surprise us for sure.

We took our newly purchased supplies home and hid them, (I remember being a kid and wanting to play with the new items immediately) and kept our discussion about our knew teacher Mrs. Shumacher alive on a daily basis.  Last Friday the 2nd of September we had our first appointment with our new  teacher. We arrived early, (as the Williams most always do) and waiting with anticipation outside of the room.  Finally we could not wait any longer Ty just had to see his classroom and teacher, (it helped there was a little girl named Emily in the classroom with her father too I am sure). We entered the classroom to search for his name located on the bullitin board, coat hanger in the coat closet  and found that there was a TYLER but no TY.  We immediately took care of that little error.  But all in all Ty found the kitchen area appealing, searched for toys, wouldn't let the teacher take his picture so he let out a scream.   The teacher was great saying, "just email a recent photo, we had to do that with another student too!" So we were at ease. 

Throughout the weekend the conversation about school continued, Ty spoke of Mrs. Shumacher a ton and we knew we would be okay! Monday night, the night before school Byron and I gave Ty a bath, let him choose  his PJ's and put him to bed.  The next morning bright and early Ty awoke and crawled into our bed asking questions like, "Do I go to school today?  Do I stay?" The answer was yes both times and he processed that for a little bit.  We woke up and made pancakes with powdered sugar (because I have no syrup in the house, I knew I had forgotten something at the store). He watched Little Einsteins on T.V. with Byron while I finished making lunches and making sure the backpack was filled with the things that Ty needed for preschool.  We all got dressed and ready to go. I wasn't going to push the camera this time around but was going to feel it out. Selfishly I wanted pictures (which I eventually got).  However, I also knew this transition was overwhelming already for Ty. I knew this because 15 minutes before we left he stated how much he wanted to stay at home and not go to school.  

We packed it up anyway and headed out of the front door and around the corner of our home.  We were headed a few blocks away by foot to the school. We noticed there were lots of kiddos going by foot, car etc and that made Ty feel better. "Hey mom look at that boy he going to school too!" You are right little one you are right.  We made our way near the school and Ty was scoping things out.  We were a few minutes early but not to worry so were others. We waited until the Principal Mr. Schindler opened the doors and welcomed families into the school. Ty remembered things from Friday's visit and we talked about them all the way down the hall to his classroom. We were met there by his teacher and of course were the first ones.  

Ty and I looked for his name and it was changed on the wall, the coat hanger and his folders.  We hung his backpack up in the closet and put his lunch box above it on the shelf. Byron showed Ty the play doh area, the water table, the water colors and the toys that were set out. Other students started to arrive. Pictures were taken (not by me yet) but by other parents of their students. I explained to Ty that mommies and daddies have to leave and kids stay with their teacher and they are safe.  I explained that we would come pick him up when school was over and that I was proud of him.  He wanted to go home and gave me a huge hug at which point I hugged him back and handed him over to his teacher.  Not a peep, not a cry, just a small pouty face which made Byron and I well up with tears but none the less bee lined it for the door.  Goodbye we stated and off we went.  

Down the long hall, to the office where we dropped off our forms for the years volunteers lists, the pick up and drop off lists and more.  I just can't wait for Sally Foster wrapping paper, the Green sale etc.  Showing a ton of enthusiasm laughing inside. I am a parent of a private school kiddo. Right before our very eyes Ty was growing up into a young little boy. Not so much a toddler any more but a young little boy that was beginning his journey in education. It was a positive day.

I will say that during the day Byron and I kept busy with errands, a doctors appointment with Caleb and getting the house tidied. I liked that. We nervously checked our emails and phones for any sign of trouble down at the school and avoided driving by the school for fear of disrupting something by chance.  We were excited and curious about what his day was like. If he was enjoying it.  We knew he would but were not sure.  No phone calls, no emails and no communication from the school all was well. A few minutes before 2:50pm we arrived at the school and waited outside for the Preschool and KG classes to come out of the door. The principal and I chatted (we have a few people we know in common through my work), we chatted with friends that Byron grew up with who also have kiddos attending this school, we felt like parents.

First the KG classroom came out and met up with their families. Then Ty's classroom came. I whipped out the camera to snap a photo of him with his backpack on as quickly and quietly as I could. He looked timid but he saw me and a smile crept over his face. He came to give Byron and I huge hugs and kisses.  The teacher said he had a great day, he was talkative with her and others and enjoyed himself. That was all we could ask for. Whew a relief.  On to the walk home. Ty explained his day in detail and when we arrived home and sat on the couch to continue our talk he stated with his hand folded behind his head and his feet crossed, "Mom it was a long day and I am tired!" "How was your day at work?" We stated that we were proud of him and that we missed him and were excited about tomorrow's school day.  He then told us about his homework which was reading a Clifford book that his teacher gave to everyone.  He even reminded me this morning that he did his homework.

All in all a great day and feeling to be a parent.  We have a wonderful son who is growing up quickly but we are cherishing all the little moments that he has to offer us.  We love him so much.  Love you Ty!

 

How quickly time fleets by!

I was driving home yesterday and was  consumed with thoughts regarding where my day had gone. Things I set out to do at work did not get done because it was our teachers first day back to work.  The pace of the day picked up and before I knew it I looked at a clock and realized it was 1 pm.  Whew where had the day gone? So I gave up trying to stick to my plan but began just working on one thing at a time (really which was whatever came through my door).

Before I knew it, it was time to go home and so I headed out. Looking into the distance I noticed plumes of smoke.  Ah, they (farmers) must be field burning today a typical activity during this time of year. Fall is certainly around the corner. Then it dawned on me wow where did the summer vacation and break go? It has flown by as well. We packed it in with lots of activity in fact maybe too much and Byron and I are trying to slow it down a bit and not cram things into our weekend times now in order to complete major projects such as the dog kennel, the baby room, and getting our plans in order for potential time off.

So right now as I sit blogging I am trying to slow time down.  Is it mind over matter? Nope the clock is still ticking.  Maybe I should take the batteries out of all the clocks around here! Though that certainly wouldn't help because no matter which way I look at it time is still quickly fleeting away.  It is amazing to me how certain days, weeks and months seem to fly by faster than others, and it is always when you don't want the time to fleet away.  When you want to relish in activity and don't want time to fly away is when the time seems to disappear before you know it.

Today marks the 29th week and first day of pregnancy.  As I am looking ahead I am realizing that there are really only around two months and a week or so remaining until our due date.  There is so much to get done at work and at home that I feel like the time is picking up tempo and pushing me to the limits.  I will function and get by and things will get done I will just have to reevaluate all that will be on my to do lists and plan.  If I could slow time just a little bit I might, but then maybe not.  I can't wait to meet little Caleb! And am super excited to share him with the world. Ty is excited as is Byron too. We are all getting mentally prepared for an addition.

28 Weeks & Counting!

Well today marks the 28th week and first day of my pregnancy. It also reminds me that I have the ever so wonderful task of having the glucose blood test exactly one hour after I have to drink a terrible glucose sweet orange drink (while at work I might add).  Oh the things we do as mothers.   Let's recap and catch everyone up to speed.

Last week we revealed the name of our second son to arrive in November.  Caleb Edward Williams is his name. We are proud of this name.  It is funny to talk with people throughout your pregnancy who are pregnant or who reminisce about their time being pregnant in the past.  The name is of great importance.  There are many who struggle to pick names and others who know right away. For our first son there was much discussion. A list of what not to name your child was made.  A list of do not name because of the terrible nick names that could surface years later was made and a list of a few potentials was made until we decided on Ty Anthony Williams.  Caleb was a  bit different. We had decided (when Ty was born) what the second child's name would be if it were a girl.  So we were thrown for a little bit of a loop when we found out our second child would be another boy.  But not for long.   Byron and I spent about a week throwing names out that we enjoyed, that were not really trendy (meaning top 10 for that year) but that sounded good.  Caleb was always at the top of our list.

We were in full agreement about the middle name and really Williams was a known quantity.  I spoke to someone recently about naming children and both of us felt like parents just know what fits, whether it sounds right, feels right or what have you, parents just know.  Kind of how we know Caleb is right for our little one.  A strong name! A proud name! A somewhat biblical name! This kid is going to do great things.

So we revealed Caleb's name via our baby website http://margoandbyronbaby.ourbabychannel.com/ where we posted a few family professional pictures we recently had to document our baby bump and time with Ty prior to Caleb's birth. I wanted to do something a little different with this kiddo during pregnancy than I did with Ty.  When pregnant with Ty, I would have Byron take pictures in our home of the growing bump at least once a month.  I was determined to document the growth.   But this time.. I felt like doing something a little different.  So I found through a few referrals a few up and coming photographers that wouldn't be too costly but saw their work and felt like they were really great photographers and someone that I could build a relationship with for the long haul.  So I connected with K. Ritchie Photography here in our lovely neck of the woods.  Kamren is a mutual friend of a friend of mine.  (That was a mouthful) In any case we booked her services to begin at our home and then to Pioneer Park for photos.  She had great ideas, use different items that we have for Caleb (blocks, ultrasound pictures, shoes, and or a toy and we picked his new blankie).  Ty was also part of the pictures we let him pick some toys as well. He also showed off a bit for the ladies.
Here are a few of the photos:

The baby bump.. The girls were so impressed that currently I do not have any stretch marks! So am I quite frankly. But happy about that none the less.

The three of us plus one! This was not posed. Ty decided to climb on daddy's back while we were shooting a  parent photo. Too cute though.

Caleb's blanket and blocks. Love this because we are hugging him while having pictures taken too!

Love this picture of Ty climbing on a stump to show us his CAT machine! In any case just a few of the shots that we had taken to document this wonderful time in our life! The bump, the name, Ty, Byron and I could not have asked for much more.

In a previous post I shared that we have said goodbye to our famous binkie.  It is gone for good. Another summer feat mastered.  Ty is now one full week without it. He no longer cries for it (though that was minimal at best) he talks about how it lasted for three years, broke and then the garbage man took it away.  Very factual.  He no longer asks for it either.  So we are super excited for that and are now prepping Ty to get ready for his preschool adventure this school year.

So there is much to do before the due date! And I am sure we will get it done!

Bye Bye Binkie?

Well three days ago Ty officially said goodbye to his binkie! What a crazy ride we have had with that suck 'em.  How did we do this you ask? Well it was planned.  We had come up with several different ways in the last 6 months to get rid of this security item that Ty has become attached to in so many ways.

First we thought we would send it to Santa Claus. We discussed this with Ty and he thought it would be great!. We would give it to Santa Claus and he would then receive lots of gifts.  But when it came time to write Santa a summer letter he was not having any part of it (despite many efforts).

Second we came up with the notion that we would give it away to another little person.  This stuck around for a while until Ty picked our second son to give it to and I realized that was more months away than what I wanted him to have the binkie for.  The goal for me was before he begins preschool Ty would give up his binkie.  Now he only used binkie for night time sleeping. We have pretty much not had binkie during the days since he's been to daycare.

I then realized that we really needed binkie on the trip to Hawaii because he was familiar with it, it could help pop his ears and truly I DON"T THINK WE (BYRON AND I ) were ready for what may lie ahead. The potential of screaming, a big fit or something was going to occur and I just quite frankly did not want to deal with it.  Was Ty giving up the binkie or were we?  It was so easy to just give him the binkie.  But I kept thinking it was time.  Sooooo..

When we came back from Hawaii, I decided to begin poking small little holes in the suck 'em portion of the pacifier.  No one knew, not even Byron.  A week went by and one morning Ty looked at me and showed me his binkie asking what had happend?  I simply said to him, "the binkie is three years old and it is starting to crack.  When it is cracked all the way then you will have to throw binkie away and say goodbye." He looked at me and said, "ok." Well I knew what that meant.  Okay for now but when the time comes good luck!  Over the past few weeks the discussion continued as Ty began to realize that the binkie continued to break down and the nipple was hanging by a last little piece of plastic.  Worried about this Byron and I continued to assure Ty that he would be fine without the binkie and that it would need to be thrown away once the piece was completely off because of the safety issues.

Monday morning, August 14th, 2011 the binkie completely broke.  Ty looked at me and said, "momma it broke" and of course asked why.  I explained again that the binkie only works for so long and three years is a long time.  I also explained it was time to throw binkie away.  He thought he might take a stab at keeping the bigger portion and put that piece back into his mouth but realized that that really wasn't worth it.  So he put both pieces on the counter and asked if I would throw it away.  So I made sure that he said goodbye to it and thank you for the special times and then we both watched as it was placed into the garbage!

Whew... He watched a little TV that morning and had a very special Sunday.  There was no mention of the binkie when I returned home that evening.  In fact, Ty decided to fall asleep on the couch at 4 pm and slept through the night.  We of course moved him into his bedroom for the evening but a surprising turn.  Maybe he was growing.  Monday morning he awoke in a great mood and there was still no mention of the binkie.  Wow, were we lucky?  This seemed easier than I thought.  Again Monday evening Ty fell asleep on the couch around 4:30 and was moved to his room around 6:30 while he was sound asleep. He slept until the following morning when he awoke.  No request for the binkie, no mention of it and no sign of it anywhere.  Byron and I were amazed. Truly it was too good to be true.

Tuesday evening, I returned home from work and Ty and I played, he helped to make dinner  and to water my flowers.  Byron came home from work, he played with Ty, we ate dinner and then the "REQUEST" came.  "I want my binkie." I looked and Byron and he looked at me and we smile we knew it was too good to be true.  I explained to Ty what we did a few days back and he began to cry.  We calmed him down and watched a little TV while we put PJ's on and then went to brush our teeth and go to the bathroom.  We typically read a  book or two or three before he falls asleep but tonight.... Ty just curled up in bed and cried himself to sleep repeating over and over, "I want my binkie." It didn't take long though for me maybe the longest 3-5 minutes. Whew it could have been worse.

This morning we continue to explain what occurred to the binkie and reassure Ty that he is just fine and old enough to go without.  That conversation didn't last long. So maybe by the end of the week we will have the thoughts of binkie, buying a new one as he would request, completely out of our minds and discussions.  It is time and we are ready.

This entire process has made me think twice about the binkie usage and what I might plan to do with our new addition.  It has been a long journey to break this habbit and not an easy one I might add.

Coconuts, Pineapple, & Sand and Surf!

What a wonderful time we had in Kauai, HI.  From preparation to the final late night arrival it was well worth the trip.  Our family absolutely loved Hawaii.  To share a few moments we begin with the departure routine.  It was a great thing that I decided to fly a short flight with Ty to Seattle for the Thanksgiving break because I learned a lot!  One, don't have your son wear a coat, hat or shoes while going through security because you will have a screaming kiddo when you are trying to remove all items mentioned above to put on the security conveyor belt to be screaned.  Two make sure you have thought of everything (don't forget items).  Finally, make sure you have the discussion well in advance and over and over again of what to expect throughout the travel day.  Knowing that from one thirty to forty minute flight truly prepared us for the not one but two flights and travel of about an entire 8 hours of a day. 

We arrived at PDX airport and were dropped off early in the morning, checked our one bag had two and half carry on items and truly made it through security in probably 5 minutes or less.  Ty was a trooper. He followed his daddy's lead taking off his shoes and putting them on the belt while I took care of the carry on items, electronics and the like.  Ty actually walked through the beeper machine. Forgive me I am having a prego moment and can't remember the name of it at this time.  WHEW.  So we made it and now to get breakfast and wait at our gate to get on the 5 and 1/2 hour flight to Honolulu International airport.  The first flight was truly uneventful (which was great). We had three seats together in the middle of the plane where Ty was able to lay down and nap almost the entire way.  Once we landed at Honolulu  airport we ran into a few familiar people Aunt Amy and Uncle Bob! What a surprise (not) it certainly was planned to spend a little time with our family together in Hawaii. 

Ty was super excited though. We spent a little time at that airport with a little more heat than we would normally feel at PDX, a few birds flying in and out of the gated area and then boarded our plane a smaller plan that would fly only 37 minutes to the island of Kauai.  Again this flight was uneventful except Ty was so excited to see Amy that Byron and Amy were asked to switch seats.

Once we landed we made our way towards the baggage areas where a lovely Hawaiian woman provided us with lei's. Each one of us! Though Ty was not having any strange woman place a lei around his neck.  Good stranger danger awareness, I guess.  In anycase we collected our baggage and headed out to the rental car agency where we spent a few minutes getting the suv we were prepared to have for 2 full weeks. Once there Amy and Byron directed themselves and the car with the rest of us and cargo to our Condo at Waipouli Resort and Spa! It really was a seemless trip over there.

I won't go into great detail about the two full weeks on the island but I will say that Byron, Ty and I spent a ton of time on the beaches there, exploring the ocean, playing in the sand and just relaxing to the breeze, ocean sounds and smells.  We swam in the lovely river pool at the condo which was equiped with waterfalls that you could swim under into caves, two slides and a toddler rock/sand bottom pool that was shallow enough for any toddler to swim, stand and jump into.  We took many drives to the southern part of the island and Northern part of the island spending time in shops, eatting puka dogs, snorkeling, swimming with turtles and sipping on coconut milk.  We spent time with Amy and Bob finding the Secret Beach (the most picturesque beach ever), Queens Bath, Spouting Horn, Lava Pools for snorkeling, and trying many different places to eat. What a great time!

I believe we all enjoyed the time on the island and were truely sad to leave.  We spent Friday the 29th traveling home. Ty again was great on the trip home considering that we arrived to our house at 12:30 at night.  Byron was smart to take the following Monday off, however I was the glutten for punishment and only had Saturday and Sunday to recouperate from the trip.  Work again on Monday morning. 

We take away from the trip wonderful memories, wants to enjoy the next time we go, and above all two weeks of much needed vacation.  It truly was nice for Byron and I to be unconnected for two full weeks. I believe we only used our phone a few times and the iPAD was to pay the bills we were missing.  We made it a point to not work and it worked we were relaxed!