"Country Girl"
"Rolling in the Deep"
"For the First Time"
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Three and a half
Sometimes I really like the age three and sometimes I really loathe the age three.
Jack: Mom, mom, mom, mom, mom. Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy. Molly. Mom. Molly. mommy. mom. MOM!!!
Me: WHAT?!?!
Jack: Never mind
Seriously all day yesterday I kept thinking about this scene from Family Guy:
Like everything else, things get harder and easier at the same time as kids grow. I love how independent Jack is, but he also tests my patience more so than a screaming crying newborn did. We are working on Jack's fine motor skills and I just have no patience for him when it comes to coloring, writing, and crafts. It's not that I don't like doing them - it's because Jack drive me crazy while he's doing them. He demolishes the paper. He scribbles super hard, most of the time on the table. He won't listen to me when I try to tell him how to hold a pen the right way. It's just two stubborn individuals trying to work together. I don't know how people home school. I just am not patient enough. I sound like a horrible mom right now! ha. Sad.
And in other news, Finn got stung by a bee yesterday. It was just awful. I felt so bad for him. The good news is he is not allergic. Thank the Lord! The bee was up Finn's shirt too. Ugh, so horrible. Finn is talking a teeny tiny bit more. This morning he was saying nnnuhhhh nuuhhhh, it took me like 5 min to figure out he was saying nuk. ha ha. I should definitely take that away during the day soon, but I'm not really in any rush. No need for my baby to grow up (and turn the nasty age of 3 1/2, ha).
Jack: Mom, mom, mom, mom, mom. Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy. Molly. Mom. Molly. mommy. mom. MOM!!!
Me: WHAT?!?!
Jack: Never mind
Seriously all day yesterday I kept thinking about this scene from Family Guy:
Like everything else, things get harder and easier at the same time as kids grow. I love how independent Jack is, but he also tests my patience more so than a screaming crying newborn did. We are working on Jack's fine motor skills and I just have no patience for him when it comes to coloring, writing, and crafts. It's not that I don't like doing them - it's because Jack drive me crazy while he's doing them. He demolishes the paper. He scribbles super hard, most of the time on the table. He won't listen to me when I try to tell him how to hold a pen the right way. It's just two stubborn individuals trying to work together. I don't know how people home school. I just am not patient enough. I sound like a horrible mom right now! ha. Sad.
And in other news, Finn got stung by a bee yesterday. It was just awful. I felt so bad for him. The good news is he is not allergic. Thank the Lord! The bee was up Finn's shirt too. Ugh, so horrible. Finn is talking a teeny tiny bit more. This morning he was saying nnnuhhhh nuuhhhh, it took me like 5 min to figure out he was saying nuk. ha ha. I should definitely take that away during the day soon, but I'm not really in any rush. No need for my baby to grow up (and turn the nasty age of 3 1/2, ha).
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Finn's 18 month Check-Up
Here are Finn's stats from his 18 month appointment:
18 Months
Height: 32 1/2 " - 50-75%
Weight: 20 lbs 6 oz - less than 3%
Head Size: 46.7 cm - 25-50%
15 Month Stats
Height - 30.5 inches, 25-50%
Weight - 20 lbs, 3-5%
Head - 46 cm, 10-25%
SO my little peanut grew TWO inches!! But only gained 6 ounces. Ha. Although if I remember correctly, at his 15 month apt his full diaper was on when they weighed him and this time we removed it. Not that it makes a huge difference, but still..I'm so happy that he is getting a little taller. The doctor and I discussed ways to fatten him up and I got a few handouts with some good snack ideas and other ways to sneak in some extra calories. The hardest thing is just getting Finn to actually eat. But in the past week or so, he has been eating so that's good. The doctor wants me to call him in 3 months with a weight update and if he hasn't gained any, we will move forward with seeing a dietician or something. Hoping we don't have to go that route. I went to Byerly's and spent a whopping $170 on fatty foods (butter, sour cream, cream cheese, breads, yogurt, fruits, veggies, fatty snacks, etc). The good thing is that Jack can afford to put on some extra pounds too, so I don't have to make the kids separate things to eat. What I'm most concerned about is me and Tom gaining weight. HA. The other night I made mashed red potatoes with sour cream, butter, whole milk, shredded cheese, and bacon. HA! Finn ate all of his! (So did I).
We also need to work on Finn's talking. As I've said before Jack talks a lot for Finn. The doctor suggested we play the "Can you say..." game with him and get Jack involved in it too. So we are working on that. Finn understands everything we are saying and you can tell the wheels are spinning and he wants to talk, but he just doesn't. Tom and I joke that when Finn starts talking, he will just speak sentences not single words. ha. My friend Jackie told me that Albert Einstein didn't start talking until he was 4 and his first words were "The soup is too hot" He said until then there was no reason to speak up. HAHA. That made me laugh and not feel so bad about my mute 18 month old. I'm just kidding, Finn isn't mute.
Sidenote: Jack just went out onto the deck on his motorcycle and said "Mom, I'm going to go to the liquor store. We need some more wine. Country girl is on the radio" OMG - I am so nervous for what my child is going to tell all of his preschool teachers! HAHAHA.
Tomorrow Tom and I are golfing in a fundraiser tournament for SIDS research with our good friends Alissa and Nick. We are friends with some people who's good friends lost their 11 month old son to SIDS last year. We are looking forward to raising money for this cause.
18 Months
Height: 32 1/2 " - 50-75%
Weight: 20 lbs 6 oz - less than 3%
Head Size: 46.7 cm - 25-50%
15 Month Stats
Height - 30.5 inches, 25-50%
Weight - 20 lbs, 3-5%
Head - 46 cm, 10-25%
SO my little peanut grew TWO inches!! But only gained 6 ounces. Ha. Although if I remember correctly, at his 15 month apt his full diaper was on when they weighed him and this time we removed it. Not that it makes a huge difference, but still..I'm so happy that he is getting a little taller. The doctor and I discussed ways to fatten him up and I got a few handouts with some good snack ideas and other ways to sneak in some extra calories. The hardest thing is just getting Finn to actually eat. But in the past week or so, he has been eating so that's good. The doctor wants me to call him in 3 months with a weight update and if he hasn't gained any, we will move forward with seeing a dietician or something. Hoping we don't have to go that route. I went to Byerly's and spent a whopping $170 on fatty foods (butter, sour cream, cream cheese, breads, yogurt, fruits, veggies, fatty snacks, etc). The good thing is that Jack can afford to put on some extra pounds too, so I don't have to make the kids separate things to eat. What I'm most concerned about is me and Tom gaining weight. HA. The other night I made mashed red potatoes with sour cream, butter, whole milk, shredded cheese, and bacon. HA! Finn ate all of his! (So did I).
We also need to work on Finn's talking. As I've said before Jack talks a lot for Finn. The doctor suggested we play the "Can you say..." game with him and get Jack involved in it too. So we are working on that. Finn understands everything we are saying and you can tell the wheels are spinning and he wants to talk, but he just doesn't. Tom and I joke that when Finn starts talking, he will just speak sentences not single words. ha. My friend Jackie told me that Albert Einstein didn't start talking until he was 4 and his first words were "The soup is too hot" He said until then there was no reason to speak up. HAHA. That made me laugh and not feel so bad about my mute 18 month old. I'm just kidding, Finn isn't mute.
Sidenote: Jack just went out onto the deck on his motorcycle and said "Mom, I'm going to go to the liquor store. We need some more wine. Country girl is on the radio" OMG - I am so nervous for what my child is going to tell all of his preschool teachers! HAHAHA.
Tomorrow Tom and I are golfing in a fundraiser tournament for SIDS research with our good friends Alissa and Nick. We are friends with some people who's good friends lost their 11 month old son to SIDS last year. We are looking forward to raising money for this cause.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Cabin Pics!
We have been BUSY around this house. We've also been melting from all of this heat. I won't complain because before we know it, it will be -4578090 degrees outside.
I wanted to get my pics from our cabin trip up here before it got awkwardly late.
Today we are off to Finn's 18 month check up. During the boys' nap time. This should be interesting. Doctor's offices are ridiculously busy in the summer. I also need to get Jack's medical forms filled out for preschool - EEEEK!!! Oh, and I also got a letter from the dr's office asking if Finn could participate in a research study about weight gain and obesity in children. Ummmm....are they sure they want Finn? HAHA. I love my lil peanut. More on him later this week. For now, enjoy the pics.
I wanted to get my pics from our cabin trip up here before it got awkwardly late.
Today we are off to Finn's 18 month check up. During the boys' nap time. This should be interesting. Doctor's offices are ridiculously busy in the summer. I also need to get Jack's medical forms filled out for preschool - EEEEK!!! Oh, and I also got a letter from the dr's office asking if Finn could participate in a research study about weight gain and obesity in children. Ummmm....are they sure they want Finn? HAHA. I love my lil peanut. More on him later this week. For now, enjoy the pics.
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| Celebrating 28 years of marriage! woop woop. |
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| HA! |
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| I love how you can totally tell he is moping in this picture. "mom, do I REALLY have to go and get my shorts" |
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| Who's on your undies Jack? MATER! |
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| Best cabin ever. |
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| Grandma let Jack drink WAY too much orange pop |
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| Captain Ice |
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| Lake Wabana |
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| Perfect night for fishing. |
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Interview with Jack
What's your name?
Um Ice
Where did we go last weekend?
To the cabin
What was your favorite part about the cabin?
Eating fruit snacks
What is your favorite color?
Green and yellow
Who is your best friend?
Ruby
What's your favorite tv show?
Backyardigans
What's your favorite thing to eat?
Oatmeal
What's your favorite snack?
Fruit snacks
What's your favorite store?
Cub
Why?
Because they have cookies
Do you like your brother, Finn?
No mom - his name is Puck.
Ok Ice, do you like Puck?
Yes
Um Ice
Where did we go last weekend?
To the cabin
What was your favorite part about the cabin?
Eating fruit snacks
What is your favorite color?
Green and yellow
Who is your best friend?
Ruby
What's your favorite tv show?
Backyardigans
What's your favorite thing to eat?
Oatmeal
What's your favorite snack?
Fruit snacks
What's your favorite store?
Cub
Why?
Because they have cookies
Do you like your brother, Finn?
No mom - his name is Puck.
Ok Ice, do you like Puck?
Yes
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| Ice giving Puck a hug |
Monday, July 11, 2011
It's been two years
It's been two years to the day since my brother's accident.
Last night when thinking about how life was two years ago, I got a little choked up. Sometimes I still ask the question "why" but it usually doesn't last very long. I decided to venture over to the Caringbridge website we created when Brendan first had his accident. I'm not exactly sure why I decided to do this, but I did. It was hard reading those first entries. Really, really hard to be honest. I don't wish this type of tragedy on my worst enemy (not that I really have enemies, but you know what I mean). As I was reading the entries I wrote, Tom wrote, my mom and dad wrote - I thought to myself - how in the world did we get through this? Seriously. But the truth is, we didn't have a choice. We had to push through and fight for Brendan. And that caringbridge website was a godsend. And actually facebook too. Brendan's face lit up every time he saw how many people were writing on his wall. We were being carried through this tragedy by all of our friends and family and also by people we had never met. The prayers, the letters, the hugs, the emails - that is what got us through the dark times. Caringbridge turned out to be our therapy. I remember every morning bringing Jack down to the kitchen table for breakfast. Turning on my computer and seeing how many more hits Brendan's site had. That would make me start crying - just seeing how many people cared. Then reading those guestbook entries. That had me crying too. Then I would shut my computer, look at my son and how happy he was at the moment and I chose to carry on with my day the best that I knew how. Because really, that's all I could do. I surrounded myself with people who lifted me up and made me happier than I ever thought I could be. Life goes on, whether you want it to or not, it does. And sometimes the realization of that sucks. But it's the truth.
I've changed a lot as a person since Brendan's accident. Maybe not in the most obvious way, but I have. I've realized that life is too short and you never ever know what the future holds, so just make the most of what you've got. I still stress about stupid things, that is just my nature - but when it really comes down to it, my brother's accident puts a lot into perspective.
I have sympathy for other families who deal with tragic accidents like this that I never had before. I hate that I can relate to practically living in an ICU, but I can and hopefully someday my words can comfort other people the way that others have comforted me.
The cabin this past weekend was incredible. It's such an amazing place and we had so much fun. I have a ton of pictures to share with you, but for now here are some pictures of my brother this past weekend.
"Gotta take the good with bad, smile with the sad, love what you got and remember what you had"
Last night when thinking about how life was two years ago, I got a little choked up. Sometimes I still ask the question "why" but it usually doesn't last very long. I decided to venture over to the Caringbridge website we created when Brendan first had his accident. I'm not exactly sure why I decided to do this, but I did. It was hard reading those first entries. Really, really hard to be honest. I don't wish this type of tragedy on my worst enemy (not that I really have enemies, but you know what I mean). As I was reading the entries I wrote, Tom wrote, my mom and dad wrote - I thought to myself - how in the world did we get through this? Seriously. But the truth is, we didn't have a choice. We had to push through and fight for Brendan. And that caringbridge website was a godsend. And actually facebook too. Brendan's face lit up every time he saw how many people were writing on his wall. We were being carried through this tragedy by all of our friends and family and also by people we had never met. The prayers, the letters, the hugs, the emails - that is what got us through the dark times. Caringbridge turned out to be our therapy. I remember every morning bringing Jack down to the kitchen table for breakfast. Turning on my computer and seeing how many more hits Brendan's site had. That would make me start crying - just seeing how many people cared. Then reading those guestbook entries. That had me crying too. Then I would shut my computer, look at my son and how happy he was at the moment and I chose to carry on with my day the best that I knew how. Because really, that's all I could do. I surrounded myself with people who lifted me up and made me happier than I ever thought I could be. Life goes on, whether you want it to or not, it does. And sometimes the realization of that sucks. But it's the truth.
I've changed a lot as a person since Brendan's accident. Maybe not in the most obvious way, but I have. I've realized that life is too short and you never ever know what the future holds, so just make the most of what you've got. I still stress about stupid things, that is just my nature - but when it really comes down to it, my brother's accident puts a lot into perspective.
I have sympathy for other families who deal with tragic accidents like this that I never had before. I hate that I can relate to practically living in an ICU, but I can and hopefully someday my words can comfort other people the way that others have comforted me.
The cabin this past weekend was incredible. It's such an amazing place and we had so much fun. I have a ton of pictures to share with you, but for now here are some pictures of my brother this past weekend.
"Gotta take the good with bad, smile with the sad, love what you got and remember what you had"
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| Typical Finn, crying |
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| Wanna be gangsta |
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| Bren and Rio |
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| Beautiful Lake Wabana |
Click here for Brendan's first year anniversary post.
And click here to sign up for the golf event or donate to the silent auction!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Cabin Time
In Minnesota, cabin season typically starts around Memorial Day weekend and ends around Labor Day. I loved having a cabin to go to in the summertime when I was growing up. Although it wasn't a short jaunt, it was always worth the four hour drive North. There is just something about the smell of the lake that gives off such a nostalgic feeling for me. I just love it.
My feelings about the cabin changed about two years ago. I was at my cabin when my mom got the 5 AM phone call from dad in regards to my brother's accident. Words can't really explain the gut wrenching feeling that came through my entire body that morning. My mom was hysterical, so I drove the four hour car ride straight to the hospital. I think my mom and I spoke maybe 10 words to each other. It was longest four hours of my life. I stayed in the denial stage until I got into the hospital elevator, pressed the button that said Neuro/ICU button and saw my husband and father in the waiting room and I completely lost it. It's like when you are holding in your feelings and then you see someone who you love and you just break down. That's what happened. And ever since that day, I haven't gone back to my cabin. I wasn't ready last year. I hadn't had enough time to heal. Because even though I'm not the one who is paralyzed, I still went through hell. But I'm ready now. I'm not sad anymore. Well sometimes I get sad about what my family has been through, what my brother has to go through, but for the most part - I really, truly am happy. And I am excited to go to my cabin this summer. I am excited to see all of the remodeling that has been done so my brother can enjoy it there too. But what I'm most excited about is for my boys to start creating memories just like my brother, cousins and I did there. We are going back up there as a family this weekend, ahhh, I can almost smell the lake.
My feelings about the cabin changed about two years ago. I was at my cabin when my mom got the 5 AM phone call from dad in regards to my brother's accident. Words can't really explain the gut wrenching feeling that came through my entire body that morning. My mom was hysterical, so I drove the four hour car ride straight to the hospital. I think my mom and I spoke maybe 10 words to each other. It was longest four hours of my life. I stayed in the denial stage until I got into the hospital elevator, pressed the button that said Neuro/ICU button and saw my husband and father in the waiting room and I completely lost it. It's like when you are holding in your feelings and then you see someone who you love and you just break down. That's what happened. And ever since that day, I haven't gone back to my cabin. I wasn't ready last year. I hadn't had enough time to heal. Because even though I'm not the one who is paralyzed, I still went through hell. But I'm ready now. I'm not sad anymore. Well sometimes I get sad about what my family has been through, what my brother has to go through, but for the most part - I really, truly am happy. And I am excited to go to my cabin this summer. I am excited to see all of the remodeling that has been done so my brother can enjoy it there too. But what I'm most excited about is for my boys to start creating memories just like my brother, cousins and I did there. We are going back up there as a family this weekend, ahhh, I can almost smell the lake.
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| This is the new dock my Grandpa put in so Brendan can have Rio by his side (also our other wood dock probably wouldn't have been able to hold his chair). |
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
4th of July weekend
We had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. We did so much and were outside practically the whole weekend, thank goodness! I took a ridiculous amount of pictures, enjoy!
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| I know, my mom and I look nothing alike |
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| My little peanut, and I mean LITTLE peanut |
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| Love this pic of Tom |
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| Rio loves Finn. And when I say love, I mean humps him constantly |
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| Rio soaking up the sun |
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| Finn is going off the diving board...oh wait, he hates the water |
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| Jack loved picking strawberries |
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| Finners watching some of the picking |
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| Jack picked out his socks |
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| Grandma Starkey helping Finn pick some berries |
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| Finn did actually pick some |
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| My beautiful niece, Ari!! |
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| Toddlers sharing, it's a glorious thing |
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| The three Starkey cousins |
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| YUMMY! |
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| Bauer Berry Farm |
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| Cooper |
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| This is not a joke |
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| Seriously Cooper climbs the ladder |
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| Brilliant |
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| Love it |
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| Finn hated the life jacket |
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| Cutie |
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| He looks so old |
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