A Little Stuffy

Last night Matthew opened up the back door because it was a little warm in the house. Mallory wanted to know why he opened it up, so he told her "I opened it up because it was getting a little stuffy in the house." Mallory thought for a moment and then said, "But daddy, houses don't have noses."
Get it? Stuffy....Noses...? This girl cracks me up. She's so literal.

Catch Up



 

How can so much happen in so little time? Oooy!
Here’s a little breakdown on our life…

1) Turns out that through the course of that really nasty flu, Wesley ended up with Asthma. Fingers crossed that it’s just viral induced and our “Little Wheezier” will grow out of it. But for now he has a few different types of inhalers to us if/when needed.  
 
2) I finally trimmed the Wesley’s hair wings that were growing up and out over his ears… ahhh babies first haircut.

 

3) Easter was great. Loads of fun, family, Christ and candy.

 

 

 

 

4) Found out that Jeff, Lindsay and Connor are moving back to Sonoma County!!!!!!! Supper excited to have the cousins get to play together (twice a week at daycare)!

5) We thought about moving (to a larger house somewhere in Sonoma county) for a second… then realized it made more sense to stay here for a little longer and continue paying off my ‘brain’ loan and the car… THEN move. Sad not to have a larger home (I have to admit I cried a little over it), but excited to do more projects on our current one (Thanks Pintrist). Here’s our mini bathroom re-do. Sorry I forgot to get a before shot.

 

6) For 2 weeks straight I was having horrible, mind-crushing pain in my left frontal sinus… Nothing made it better. I finally had a C.T. scan. Good news, no tumor, just a massive sinusitis, with such severe swelling and stenosis that there was literally NO drainage possible.  So I’m on oral and nasal prednisone, antibiotics and decongestant… and only have a little pain if I push on my sinus (so trying not to do that).

7) Worked a TON this past month… and finally have a week where I am only working 30 hours! Here’s my exhausted sigh of relief.

8) Today was my first day off in a while, and I woke up to Mallory screaming for me and rushed into her room just in time to direct her bile-vomit onto the blanket not the carpet (much easier to clean)!

 Ok, that’s it. That’s what the Klein clan is up to.

Duh!

I'd like to start out by stating that neither Matthew nor myself have ever made this comment to Mallory (or around her....as far as I know).
The other day I was searching the house in frantic desperation to find something that I misplaced (I don't remember what it was that I lost anymore). In passing I asked Mallory if she knew where it was... and stopped in my tracts when she said 'yes'. I asked her where it was and very seriously she responded back to me, 'Probably the last place you left it Momma.' Got to love her and her logic.

Little Talker

this little boy has become quite the Chatterbox all of a sudden which a hand full of new words in his arsenal. He is no longer just babbeling but saying words, and telling us what and who he wants. He calls Mallory 'maamaa', (which at times is hard to differentiate from Momma) he can say banana... 'bananannnaanana' and today he said 'onnor' as we were looking at a picture of cousin Connor! When the phone rings he says Dada and will also walk around with his toy phone, hold it up to me and say Dada. 2 more lower insisors are coming in...So getting quite the toothy grin! He and Mallory love each other so much! Almost daily she tells me 'Momma, I love having a little baby brother.'

Yosemite 2013

A couple weeks ago we made our annual March trip to Yosemite for my continuing education class. This was the first year that we went as a family of four… we had a blast. I was dreading the drive… it’s a 4 1/2 hour drive without stops… now with kids I was thinking it was going to take us an extra hour or two. Wrong. These kids are great traveler. Happy, napping, snacking kids. It was great. There was no snow on the valley floor, but there was a ton-o-snow just 45 minutes back up the mountain. The C.E topics were great and the speakers were brilliant but I have to say, the best part was where we stayed and how we got there.

The C.E talks are held in the Yosemite Lodge, so each year we get a room there… they are fairly cheap (for Yosemite), and the rooms are literally feet away from the talks. The rooms are nothing fancy, but do-able. This year they gave up a room in a part of the lodge that we had never been in. We walked up the stairs with our bundled-up babies in tow to our room. What we were given was more like an army bunker. No light switch (I still don’t know if there was any form of light), two thin bunk-beds made of metal WITHOUT any railings and no TV (which isn’t normally a big deal, but since Matthew was supposed to entertain them while I was in class, it would have been a nice option if he needed it). This would not due. There is no way we would have been able to keep either kid from climbing and jumping off these bunk-beds. Plus this is a little vacation for us; it would be nice if Matthew and I could at least have the option of sleeping next to each other.

 

We took the kids back to the lobby and I very nicely asked if we could simply change rooms, to a more child-safe room. Apparently they had over-booked the Lodge (due to construction that was supposed to be finished. But wasn’t)… so we were told that we could be upgraded to the Ahwahnee hotel for an additional cost. (For those of you who don’t know the Ahwahnee is a very swanky, very expensive hotel in Yosemite… the rooms go from $500-2000 a night).  I said to the gal behind the desk, ‘Really, so I have to pay more because you guys don’t have a room that’s safe enough for my children?’ Turns out ‘safety’ and ‘children’ are trigger words because she waved the upgrade fee and told us to head over to the Ahwahnee (about a mile and a half drive). We were told they only had a king size bedroom available. I said that’s fine. So off we went.

When we pulled up to the Ahwahnee there were valet guys, bellhops and doormen. I was feeling special! I went to check us in and was promptly given free bottled water for the entire family and the wonderful lady behind the desk saw that we were put in a king room and asked if we would prefer a private cottage. I looked at her kind of skeptically and asked if there was heat (all I was envisioning was those little white tents in curry village). She (politely) laughed at me and told me that the cottages were larger than most rooms and was equipped with a flat screen TV, fridge, safe, bay-window-seat, multiple rooms and our own forest. We’ll take it!!!!!!

So that’s where we ended up. Our own private cottage at the Ahwahnee Hotel!!!!! And even though I had to wake up a little early and take a bus to the class it was WELL worth it. We got to experience their tea-time, the history of the hotel, live pianists, yummy food PLUS have all of Yosemite literally out our front door! What a once in a lifetime experience!

 

Old Lady

Mallory said to me yesterday, 'Mama, you're not growing anymore?' I said back to her, 'no Mama's not growing anymore.' (I didn't feel like explaining to her that though I may not be growing up I very well still can grow out.) She looked at me and asked 'Mama, is it cuz you an old lady?' Got to love the honesty of children!

1 Year Stats... and then some

Why Hello. Sorry I know its been a while... the time sure does fly when you are averaging 50 hours a week at work (plus 15 hours of continuing education on top of that). So I have had very little 'extra' blogging time. And sorry to say, this one is going to be short and sweet. I just thought I would write down Wesley's 1 year stats (so that in the years to come I can look them up easily... because goodness knows putting all this information in a ACTUAL baby book would just be crazy!)
Any way... at Wesley's one year check he was weighting in at 22 pounds 12.9 oz, was 2 feet 5.25 inches and had a 45.7cm head (68%, 23%, 37% respectively). You should see this boy walk now. There is no crawling. He's over it. His walking is looking less and less Frankenstein-ish, he's bending his knees and is even 'running' more. And he is FINALLY over all the sick-crud! I'm pretty sure I haven't wiped a nose in over 24 hours! (It's the simple joys in life).

 Ok... now that I'm actually blogging, I might as well keep going and talk a little about our little miss. Mallory is wonderful. Though, out of the blue had a little power struggle over her not wanting to poo in the potty. But I (think) I won. The power of stickers in amazing!!!!!! She has been joyful and caring lately. Showering me with kisses and 'I love you sweet mommy' comments. I'll find her reading to Wesley in their rooms or I'll listen to her yell down the hallway 'come-on Buddy, follow me!' She calls Wesley Buddy. I don't know who she picked it up from, but its contagious... that's all Matthew and I seem to call him anymore. She is spunky, and imaginative and remembers EVERYTHING/every name/every number/word/letter.... Seriously, I'm sure she is going to be ruler of the world within the next few years. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to make her sound like a saint... after all she IS 2. And there are moments when her attitude reflects it perfectly...as it should.

But for the most past I'm pretty darn sure I couldn't have picked better kiddos. They are a joy.

Paaaaaarty!

We had a VERY little, but very nice party to celebrate Wesley’s first birthday. Really it ended up just being the Grands, their significant others, Wesley’s god-mom Carrie and our good family friend Aaron (who is crucial at all family functions). There was no real theme to this party… just “Stuff Wesley Likes”… so there was food (meatball, homemade mac-n-cheese, and homemade banana ice cream… oh and a banana shaped cake), balls, whistles/kazoos’ and lots of people to snuggle him. He had a blast. Obviously, who wouldn’t! ;)

 

Ballet Class

There's this supper cute (and way inexpensive) drop-in 2-3 year old dance class that I just found out about. So this past Wednesday Mallory took her first Ballet lesson! She had fun... I had a blast! Pretty sure that watching a gang of toddlers prance around in tutus is VERY close on the cuteness scale to watching a pack of puppies wrestling... maybe even cuter (if I factor in maternal bias). She did enjoy herself...but really like when they got to skip and hop. When they were supposed to be doing boring stuff like stretching she got up and went over to the bars and started climbing...I think she may be more of a gymnastics sort of gal (before the gets WAY to tall and is kicked of that sport).

Wesley's ONE

 

 I can hardly believe that my little man turned ONE yesterday! It seems impossible that an entire year has gone by since I kissed that sweet, fresh smelling, perfectly round little head. That I looked into those indigo blue eyes, and that I feel madly, deeply and totally in love… again! And yet how is it that it has ONLY been one year… when I feel like he has been part of me for my entire life? Time, love, parenting… it is all so strange… it as if the true physics of time somehow leaves you exempt; and you get it all of time and none of it all at once. It’s crazy.

 

Anyway, Wesley Robert Klein is ONE! He is such a good boy! SUCH a momma’s boy (I’m not totally happy about it… though I LOVE the constant snuggles… it’s really hard for me personally to deals with the needy factor whenever he sees me). Mallory was sooooo independent I would have to practically have to hold her down to get a hug! Wesley on the other hand would spend his day monkey-hugging me and giggling into me neck. He has just started to say a few 2 syllable words…. Banana is Na-nA and Balloon is Baa-ooon. It’s cute. Oh and he now he points outside and in the air and will say ‘bird’… even if nothings there.

He’s motoring along with his walking. He splits his time walking and crawling about 40/60 respectively. He has recently become a little bit of a picky eater… and will spit out anything that anyone tries to give him (he has to do it on his own), and he likes to eat when no one is watching him (over wise, if you’re watching he wants to play and make faces/sounds at you).  He’s still a champ at sleeping. Down at 7:30 pm and up at 7 or 8 am, plus 2 naps during the day. He really, really, really wants to wrestle with Mallory and do all that she does (climb, swing, slide…) it won’t be long before those two are playing chase. He’s just starting to get into books… but he likes turning the pages more than listening to the story. Oh and he still LOVE music and will rock-it-out when it’s on.

He is such a joy. Love that little man more than words can say!

 

Disney

We all know I am not a huge princess person... not by any stretch of the imagination, though I do enjoy Disney, their movies and the occasional visit to their "Land". Yet Mallory loves it all. The animals, the princesses, the villians, the books/toys/stories/crowns...but her all time favorite is The Beast. You got to love her for that! She was actually in tears when her princess panties didn't come with a Beast pair. She is so my child! Any way, I was at Kohl's the other day, and I found this dress for $2.80 (before they took off my 30% coupon)! How could I resist?!?!

New Do

It's fun how a new hair style or bangs can make you feel like a totally new person!

Bay Area Discovery Museum

Before The Plague knocked our family out, we had a wonderful day visiting the Bay Area Discovery Museum. I hadn’t ever been there before (apparently I’ve been living under a rock)… this place is amazing. Both kids had a blast. We didn’t even make it in all the different sections. There’s music, streams, building stuff, arts/crafts, fairytale/dress up,  forts, planes, boats…. It’s like heaven for kids. I can’t wait to go back!



Hack, Hack

For the past 2 1/2 weeks my family has been quarantined in our house as we battled the dreaded flu (or as I like to call it The Plague). It did quite a number on us. The kids started out with just a little cold bug, which after a few days turned into the fever/upper respiratory/cough nastiness. I quickly followed suite but thought it would be fun to add vomiting, diarrhea and a sinus infection into the mix. Poor Matthew was the only healthy one… and he took all of last week off work to run the infirmary. I could hardly leave the bed/bathroom, Mallory bounced back pretty quickly, and poor Wesley kept getting more and more sick and eventually ended up on the correct antibiotic (because he got an ear infection on top of it all) and a nebulizer with Albuteral. We are finally on the mend though… I can eat, I’m slowly getting my sense of smell and taste back and I can walk around without feeling like I’m going to fall over from weakness and best of all nobody is coughing continuously through the night (making it impossible for anyone else to sleep)! Matthew truly was a saint through all of this. I had my doubts at first (I may or may not have said something to the extent of ‘You need to work on your mother skills’… I am going to blame that on the fever). But he really was amazing. Kept us all medicated, hydrated, bathed, breathing, rested, picked up medications/food/tissue… you name it, he did it. Meals, diapers, cleaning. I don’t know how I would have got through it without him. Thank you my love.

So Practical

I was doing my workout this morning and as always Mallory wanted to do some of it with me. We were about 10 seconds into a set of wall squats, when she looked at me said 'mama I'm going to go find a better chair!'

11 Months Old

I have to pinch myself… Wesley, sweet, tiny, baby Wesley is WEEKS away from turning ONE!!!!! How can that be? How is it that my little boy is growing up so quickly? He is 11 months now, and there is no stopping him. Today he took two steps, paused and took four more before plopping over. He thinks it’s wonderful and will clap for himself whenever he is happy or proud of what he has done. He grins like a cheese ball and laughs at his sister all day. He has 5 teeth (the sixth is coming). He is SUCH a momma’s boy it’s not even funny (almost frustrating at times… if he weren’t so cute about it). He has added a few more words… momma, dada, ba (for ball… which he is OBCESSED with), mo (for more), do (for dog) and anything else is still referred to with grunts and reaching. He loves to reach up and grab his ears when things are funny/excited, to bury his face in anything soft (especially our fluffy couch blanket or Mallory’s stuffed animals and cuddle into my chest and suck his thumb when he gets sleepy. Peek-a-boo and ‘find the ball’ are his favorite games, followed very closely by ‘catch’. He (and Mallory) are soooooooo perfect, they are making us doubt if we want more (why mess with perfection)?????

Oh and if you are wondering what happened to his forehead and left eye… he got in a fight with the garage step… it won.

Bries Visit

The wonderful and amazing Scott family blessed Sonoma County with a much anticipated visit! Poor Brie was practically torn to pieces from all of us Brie-starved friends vying for her time. She looks as beautiful as always, and her kids are growing into such sweet, funny, creative little people!!!! Her visits always go way too quickly, then it’s back to counting down the days until we can see them all again… but MAYBE this year I’ll have to go visit her!?!?!?
 

No Pressure

Since Christmas life has been fun, exciting and very full!!!! So I’m sorry about the lack of posts. For the past 5 or 6 months Mallory has had a favorite game that she made up…. It’s called ‘Lets Fix Tigger.’ In this game she is a doctor (along with Dr. Pig and Dr. Lion… which are little finger puppets) and we/they all fix Tigger. Sometimes Tigger is just sick, other times (like today) she says that he was bit by a fox on his leg. The back-stories that she comes up with of why Tigger is in the hospital are always really funny . So, for Christmas mom made her a Doctor coat and gave her a ton of doctor toys (stethoscope, thermometer, bandages, cap, masks, suction device, medicine bottles, reflex hammer, gloves….). Since then you can find her all scrubbed up and going into surgery to ‘Fix Tigger’ every day!!!!! She also LOVES to hear about my work. Every night when I get home, while sitting at the dinner table she’ll put her elbow on the table, rest her chin in her hand and lean towards me and say “Momma, lets talk about your day at work.” she wants to know about every case that I saw, how they got hurt, what test I ran, and how/if I could fix them. Not that I am pressuring her to be a doctor…. But she does have a innate love and interest in it. :)

Humpty Dumpty

Mallory and I were saying poems this morning... I would say a few words and then pause and she would fill in the gaps. She was getting all of them right, but apparently thought Humpty Dumpty needed a rewrite. This is now how it goes;
Me: Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall. Humpty Dumpty had a...
Mallory: great opportunity.

10 Months

10 Months old already! Time is zooming by. Wesley is growing like a weed, I think he around 22 pounds but I’m not sure how tall he is (sorry). He is now anything but stagnant! This boy is into any and everything! Don’t even dare think about leaving something within grasping-reach that you don’t want him to play with, because he’ll find it… and try to eat it. He takes a step or two without holding onto things, but he prefers to cruse/walk. If he’s in a hurry though, he’ll drop and crawl like there’s no tomorrow! This boy is FAST! Too fast. Thankfully he is (almost) always close at Mallory’s heels.  He says Daadaa, Momma and Baba-baba (bottle, I think). He has two cute little bottom teeth that he likes to rub on everything. We’ve been working on the sign language thing, but he is not having it! He is a grunter… and boy does he get his point across! He has different grunts/pitches for ‘more’, ‘water’, ‘done’ and ‘Hey, I want whatever it is that my sister is playing with/eating’… its sooooooo funny! He has had two really nice little bruises on his head all within the past 3 days (since when he’s going into ‘supper-speed’ crawl mode, he tucks his head and doesn’t look where he’s going)… BAM! Right into the wall/door/toy box/table /dog … you get the picture. He loves nothing more than having someone get on the floor with him. He’ll laugh hysterically, inches closer to you, than high-tails it in the opposite direction (giggling the entire time). If you don’t crawl-chase him, he’ll turn around and give you the cheekiest grin and then crawl back and rub his face all over you. This boy just kills me! (oh and is you are wondering what happened to the cute foam letters/numbers… a little busy-handed little girl found where I had hid them and has lost most of them… not to mention it would have been virtually impassable to get Wesley to leave them alone.)