Sorry

I've been slacking on the blog posts lately, and I feel awful about it. I also haven't taken many pictures.

My bronchitis is lingering badly right now. The treatments backfired when I developed a sudden allergy to penicillin. My chest aches all day, and I feel completely exhausted by the time I sit down. 

I need to prioritize rest but have failed to record some precious moments in the meantime.

I've missed big moments like Jamin's Build-a-Bear birthday and Valentine's Day.

I've also missed those little moments like finding Travis on the kitchen counter, surrounded by candy wrappers and eating a slice of leftover pizza. He had the most innocent look on his chocolate-and-marinara-covered face.

Thankfully, I go in for some extensive respiratory tests on Friday. There's an end in sight.

Brock & Jamin

I had hoped to post about Jamin's birthday festivities today. Since Scott and I both came down with bronchitis, his party has been postponed.

Instead, check out this adorable post that Charlotte put together. It warms my heart.

Jamin turns 5

Our big boy is five years old today.

 Jamin continues to amaze us with his intelligence and imagination. Each day, he creates a sizable stack of pictures, stories, and projects. 

He loves drawing, building, playing hard, bowling & sword fighting on the Wii, rocking out, cooking, exploring, shooting hoops, racing cars, tackling, making forts, going to school, and spending time with family & friends.

When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Jamin answers, "Everything!" This breaks down to chef, fire fighter, dentist, rock star, and architect. 

Favorite color: red

Favorite foods: pizza, broccoli, strawberries, macadamia nuts

Least favorite foods: lettuce, onions, peppers

 Favorite t.v. shows: Max & Ruby, Hot Wheels

Favorite movie: How to Train Your Dragon

Favorite book: Toy Story 3 (Little Golden Book)


Happy birthday, buddy! We love you so much!

Build-a-Bear/Bury-a-Binky

We had a little problem.

 

The time had come to wean Travis from his binkies. The problem? He was very attached. As in, we couldn't leave the house without one. Travis wouldn't sleep without one. He usually carried at least one with him at all times, often wedging binky #2 under his nose (as seen above). 

Yeah, it was a bit of a problem.

 We drove to Build-a-Bear on Friday in hopes of a solution. 

 After selecting a furry friend, Travis filled his new buddy with stuffing:

 Then, the binkies went inside...

  ...and were stitched in securely.

Now, Travis is attached to something new:

Travis loves his teddy bear. 

Friday night was rough. Last night was better. We're crossing our fingers that bed time will keep getting easier.

13 months

Libby turned 13 months old yesterday. We figured it was time for her one-year checkup.

She now weighs 18 lbs (4th percentile) and is 30 inches tall (66th percentile).

The doctor was impressed with her mad walking and talking skills. Libby walks most of the time, unless she wants to get somewhere really fast. She can now say, "Uh-oh," "Mama," "Dadda," and "Nana" (for Nanay).

I don't care if she's officially a toddler; she'll always be our baby. She's welcome to stay tiny as long as she wants.

Cabin fever

Each day, Jamin voices the question on all of our minds:

When will spring be here?

I take my hat off to people who relish-- or even tolerate-- the winter. I am not one of those people. I don't enjoy snow sports. I don't enjoy crafting, sewing, or baking (except when I really want a brownie). I love hiking, biking, body surfing, and being active. My idea of a lazy evening is an al fresco dinner followed by a long walk. That brings me joy. Winter just brings me cabin fever. While others feel cozy or creative, I feel cooped up. 

Blame my California birth certificate.

Thankfully, the rest of my little family agrees. Someday, we'll live somewhere with temperate winters... preferably close to the beach. For now, we're working our frozen tooshies off to get there.

Just 69 more days until spring...

Lull

The post-Christmas lull seems to have also caused a blogging lull. Here's what we've been up to:

  

• Taking down Christmas.

• Planning and setting goals for the new year. 

• Crossing pesky items off our to-do lists. 

• Spending time with friends and family. New Year's Eve was a lot of fun!

• Soaking up the final stretch of Scott's school break before the insanity resumes.

• Entertaining the kids until Jamin returns to school on Tuesday.

 

That about sums it up!