Elliot - 2.5!

Our baby boy is now two-and-a-half years old!  Amazing how quickly the time passes when you're counting each month of a new baby's life....you almost forget that your 2-year-old is changing too.  I can't even begin to describe all of the amazing ways he's grown in the past 6 months (but I'll try!).  He's imaginative, creative, compassionate, funny, smart, sensitive, curious, independent and soooo handsome!  Eli is such an amazing child.  I love seeing the wonder in his eyes when he sees something new or the expression on his face when he's really concentrating.  His main passion continues to be all things letters and numbers, but is closely followed by the solar system and the US states.  His favorite "toy" is the entire set of foam bath letters.  He insists on sleeping with ALL of them, taking them in the car, in the bath and loves dumping them in Newton's bed (but is also great about sharing them with his sister).  The iPad and the many apps we've downloaded for him are also a favorite of Eli's.  Honestly, he's learned so much from it, we can't complain about how much he uses it.  His favorite TV show is now Team Umizoomi. The show tag line is "mighty math powers" so we don't mind him watching it at all :)  He's very observant and notices even the smallest details in things - which makes hiding something difficult.  Even if something is out of place, he's quick to notice and change it back.  We talk to him about using the "big boy potty" but hope to be done with diapers this summer (3.5 is the average age for boys to potty train, so we're on a good track).  We plan to move him to his toddler bed at that time too, until then, he still seems to be loving his crib.  School days are still a favorite of his.  He loves to tell me what he did in class on the car ride home (recently they've been studying the ocean).  The weather has been so beautiful the past several weeks that Eli is loving playing in the backyard with the dogs.  I love hearing him tell stories to himself and play with the rocks and sticks.  A little dirt under his fingernails and scrapes on his knees just make him cuter.  I could go on and on about what an amazing little boy we have, but those of you who know him already know how incredible he is....so here are a few recent pics of our handsome little man....

The Children's Museum is still a favorite!

Umizoomi zone....

Loving the backyard!

Getting a head start...

Loving the swing out back too.

Valentine's Day

It was a mellow, low-key Valentine's Day at the Moen house this year.  I awoke to a very special handmade card from my three wonderful valentine's before Dr. M headed out to work.  The babies and I stayed home and made a new, fun dessert for Dad.   We made rice crispy treats, but added a packet of black cherry kool-aid to the melted marshmallows and then drizzled dark chocolate on top of them in the pan (a Pinterest idea!).  It was an interesting combination of sweet and tart and who doesn't love cherry and chocolate!?  That evening Dr. M came home early and made us an incredible "restaurant quality" dinner (homemade marinara, portobello mushrooms and cinnamon sweet potatoes and pear).  After the babies went to bed we relaxed with a glass of wine and snuggled on the couch watching our favorite TV show.  Simplicity.  Pure joy and true love.  Perfect.

  

8 Months!

Our sweet, happy, beautiful baby girl is 8 months old and she's been very busy recently.  Exploring her new world by army CRAWLING everywhere!  She pulls herself along the floor by her forearms, wiggling her knees and pushing with her tip-toes.  It may not sound efficient, but I'll tell ya, this little thing gets around!  She's into everything!  Between army crawling and rolling she can reach just about anything she puts her mind to (which is fun for her, but tough for mom).  She wiggles her way into the kitchen while I'm cooking or even down the hall to inspect the edge of the rug.  She's loving her new found freedom so much so that she's not been  napping very well.  She's too busy to sleep.  She'd rather scoot around playing with the little toys in her crib and talk to her mobile instead of sleeping (even at night!).  A couple days after she turned 8 months her very first TOOTH popped through her gums (bottom right), which hasn't been helping with her sleeping either.  Though she doesn't seem to be in pain, she just acts unsettled and restless.  I don't blame her, so much has happened in her little world in just a matter of a few weeks.  She's still chatty and has learned how to blow raspberries (with her tongue), so cute, but messy.  She's also learned to clap her hands (or two toys) together, which she thinks is really exciting.  Still tiny, she was just 15 lbs at the doctors earlier last week for her follow-up flu shot.  Her hair is getting longer and falls into a cute little point on her forehead.  It's still blonde with a hint of red and her eyes are still an amazing blue.  She's such an incredible little girl!  She makes us smile and laugh and love her more and more every day!  We tell her everyday that she's earned the "best baby in the world" award - which is true, she's truly amazing!

She still loves those fingers.

She's very busy and into everything!

Cardboard boxes are always the best toys.  E insists that H sit in it with him, while he teaches her the letters.  She just squeals and laughs at him, clapping her hands.  Such sweet moments!

Haircut (by mom!)

Well, I did it again.  I cut E's hair and it looks really cute!  It was SO long.  Dr. M and I were loving his little curls when the weather was humid or after a bath and just couldn't bare to cut them.  So, we let it get a little out of hand. I realize this...in hindsight.  The fact that a woman at the park asked me if he was a boy or a girl should have been a hint.  So, early Sunday morning we bribed him with TV and candy canes and got the job done as fast as possible (it was quite the task).  The good news is it turned out really cute and he looks like such a handsome little BOY!

BEFORE

 AFTER

Lately....

The post-holiday season is always rough.  An emotional roller-coaster, missing family, sugar withdrawal and boredom, with a sense of motivation for the new year.  The second week of January Dr. M was gone for a conference so the babies and I spent 6 long days and nights together.  We made it through the week, but by the time he got home my rope was starting to fray.  It was like the culmination of what we've been through the past 6 months and the reality of our situation all hit me at once and manifested itself in anxiety (for days!).  I'm not sure what triggered it, him being gone, the nearby threat of deadly tornados or simply missing family over the holidays.  Whatever it was, it hit hard.  I was in a really low place.  Recognizing my desperation, my mom drove out to spend a few days with us.  I SO needed her visit.  She helped me work through my head, talk things out and motivated me to reach out to new friends and ask for help.  I'm doing better now, emotionally, but still not feeling completely positive about our move down here and raising a family in a city I'm not crazy about.  I can't put my finger on it exactly, but for some reason I'm just not sold on Tuscaloosa.  Despite my recent attempts to make new friends, join new social groups and explore the city, I'm still not impressed.  I've convinced myself to give it a good, wholehearted effort and really try to make the best of our situation (finding the motivation some days is the hard part).  So far, so good, but we'll see.  Here's what we've been up to lately.....

Still LOVING the iPad!

Grandma W's visit

Spending time with Dad - pushing them around the kitchen like this!  They loved it, of course! (please excuse our hideous kitchen flooring).

Spending time a the park, enjoying the unseasonably warm and beautiful weather!

Even the plants can't believe it's January!

 

The UA Arboretum has become a very special place for us.  It's a beautiful park that's minutes from our house, nestled just off the beaten path of the city.  It's a place where our whole family (dogs too) can spend time together and enjoy the beautiful southern weather.  Our almost weekly trip has become something we all look forward to.  This is a place that's truly unique here in T-town.  I'm looking forward to it's smells and colors this spring when it's in full bloom!

  

 

Cardio Update

Harper saw the pediatric cardiologist (at UAB Children's Hospital) again last week for a routine follow-up. Overall, the appointment went well.  He said that her stenosis is stable, meaning that there's little to no change from our last visit.  That's good in the grand scheme of things because at this point he doesn't think she'll need surgical intervention.  We will, however, continue seeing him for routine check-ups (ekg and echo) every 2-3 months for the first year of her life.  After that point, it will depend on what the prognosis is for how often we go back in the future.  Generally, he thinks it will be just once a year until she gets older.  Overall, he thinks that this is relatively mild and that many kids with this level of PVS have very normal, active lives.  Woo hoo!

Getting the ekg.  She was such a trooper!  Poor little thing.

7 Months!

Baby Harper is SEVEN months old!  Crazy.  I mean it really seems crazy that it's been that long since I had her, since we lived in St. Louis, since E's second birthday.  Crazy.  Time sure flies!  That being said, we have thoroughly enjoyed every minute we spend with this little lady.  She's such an amazing, sweet and happy baby girl.  Strangers even exclaim about how sweet she is and what a great personality she has.  She's one mellow girl, that's for sure.  As she gets older she's becoming more independent, playing on her own and content being by herself.  She's not crawling (yet!) but rolls and scoots every where now!  She can maneuver herself all over the family room (which is scary) and gets sooo frustrated when something is just out of reach.  She'll be crawling soon.  She loves to babble to her toys and in her crib (even to strangers) and smiles at everyone.  Her hair is getting a little longer, but still a reddish, blonde and those eyes are still a bright blue.  She's beautiful.  Overall, she's a healthy, happy girl and still a little on the small side, but growing and eating perfectly!  We saw the eye doctor today, who said her eyes look fine (perhaps a little far-sightedness, but nothing of concern) and go back to the cardiologist next week for a follow-up echo.  Then back for a weight check and flu shot at the pediatricians office a couple weeks after that.  Poor little thing has been from doctor to doctor, but they all seem to think she looks great, which is good news! Of course we think she's perfect!  How could you not?

ROLL TIDE!

The University of Alabama won it's 14th National Championship on Monday, January 9th, 2012 against LSU - 21-0 for the 2011 college football season....and E, H and I were here in Tuscaloosa to watch it!  Dr. M was on the west coast for work, so the kids and I put on our crimson and houndstooth for the first half of the game (before bedtime).  Though I have to admit that I didn't catch much of the first half, I did see the whole second half after the little ones were asleep.  I know Dr. M would have loved to be in Tuscaloosa with us to see the game and feel the excitement in the city and even hear the fireworks in our neighborhood after the game.  This Saturday is the community celebration at the stadium, but I'm not sure we'll make it as it falls right during nap time, but we'll be cheering the on from home.  Roll tide roll! 

Wherever we move next be sure to bet on the local team to win a national title because that's been the case for us in the last three cities we've lived in (Jayhawks, Cardinals and now the Tide)!

Happy Birthday and New Year!

I had a wonderful 34th birthday.  Really, it was perfect!  I had no expectations (which is good with two young children).  I actually slept in a little and when I got up Dr. M had both kids up, made my coffee and had gifts and cards waiting, which E was very eager for me to open (he's been obsessed with gifts since Christmas).  Dr. M and E also made a yummy breakfast  for everyone and we all got ready to go to the park.  It was an unseasonably, beautiful and warm day (73 degrees) so all 4 of us went for a stroll by the river and then to lunch downtown.  During afternoon nap I decided to take some of my birthday money and go shopping for a few hours alone.  I love getting the good after Christmas deals on things and spending two hours shopping alone is priceless!  When I got home Dr. M had made a cake and even had more gifts waiting.  That night we put the little ones to bed early and Dr. M made a spacial dinner for me, candle and champagne included!  We had more cake and snuggled down to watch a movie and even made it until midnight!  

New years day we took advantage of the nice weather and got the whole family (dogs too) out for a stroll at the arboretum.  Though a little windy, the weather was beautiful.  That afternoon I made the traditional black eyed peas and cornbread and that evening we watched another movie.

The perfect way to end 2011 and a great way to start 2012!!  It's amazing to think back over the past year and think about all the places we've been and things we've done and can't help but wonder what 2012 has in store for us....bring it on!

Birthday morning with my babies!

Happy girl enjoying a stroll in the beautiful weather.

E enjoying the river with "Dada"....

...and "Mama."

 So much going on in this picture.  E with frosting on his lips, trying to blow out the candle on my cake that's not lit, the cranky baby in the bouncer, the beer, the stockings, the presents, the cake.....welcome to our life.

Collecting sticks (as usual) at the arboretum on New Year's Day. 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Christmas Day 2011

It was a magical holiday season at the Moen house, filled with lots of "firsts."  It was our first Christmas in T-town and as a family of 4, baby Harper's very first Christmas and the first time E experienced Santa.  Grandma K and Sadie drove down to spend Christmas with us.  We made sugar cookies and chex-mix, had chili and hot dogs for dinner Christmas Eve (a Wedman tradition), monkey bread for breakfast (a Diggs tradition) on Christmas day and a big turkey dinner the day after Christmas (we were too stuffed to eat it the day before).  We listened to Christmas music, watched movies, played with new toys and didn't leave the house for two days!

The family tradition of decorating cookies on Christmas Eve continues with E in his apron and very first time helping (the cookies were even dairy-free so all of us could enjoy them!).

We listened to The Night Before Christmas (recorded by GG and Grandma Wanda) on Christmas Eve.

Santa came with LOTS of presents for our good little boy and girl.

Stocking Christmas morning!

H opening her very first present, all by herself.

E opened all the presents by himself (even some of Harper's) and when he was finished asked for more!

Newton among the inevitable mess of Christmas morning (my favorite part!). 

Our Happy Harper loving her very first Christmas! 

 

E showing Grandma K his awesome iPad skills (of course).

It was beautiful Christmas Eve, so all of us (dogs too) decided to get a little exercise at the Arboretum.  It rained non-stop the next two days, to glad we got out while we could!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

The Christmas season in T-town

This was our first Christmas in T-town so we were anxious to seek out all the fun, holiday events in the area (weather-permitting).  There was so much to do, the days seemed to fly by.  Just as soon as Thanksgiving ended, holiday events were starting.  Christmas party with the math department, Christmas parade in downtown Tuscaloosa, Dickens Festival in downtown Northport, a friends neighborhood party, E's Christmas production at school, Christmas party at the Bryant museum and of course Christmas with family.  Yes, it was a busy month for the Moen's!  

Decorating the Christmas tree.  A two-year-old and Christmas trees are a tricky combination, so we had to take precautionary measures like....duct taping the base of the tree to the floor and only using non-breakable ornaments.  E thought the tree was magical - "we have a christmas treat with lots of toys."   

The parade in downtown Tuscaloosa.  It was your typical small town parade.  Lots of local businesses with girl/boy scout troops in the bed of trucks wearing santa hats and local churches/choirs singing Christmas carols.  The fun part was that it was at 6:00 in the evening so all the cars and floats were covered in twinkle lights.  I was disappointed, however, that they didn't throw candy - what's a parade without candy!?

Baby Harper bundled at the Dicken's Festival.  It was a cold, very rainy night, but we all had fun!  The streets were filled with people dressed up from a Dicken's novel, singing Christmas carols and the shops had warm cider and treats  for everyone AND they even had a snow machine!

Bundled up and headed to a Christmas party!

So handsome (even has his hair done) and ready for a Christmas party!

E's holiday production at school was, well....you know how there's always one child who's petrified of being on stage, cries for his mom and can't remember anything they had practiced - well, that was E!  He was a mess from the minute he stepped on that stage and saw me.  I loved his handmade t-shirt and the little jingle bells on his wrists, but he just wouldn't shake 'em.  Poor little guy.  He wouldn't even eat any birthday cake or pizza at the classroom "happy birthday Jesus" party.  Maybe next year!?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!  

Harper is 6 months!

Happy half birthday, baby girl!  Can't believe she's 6 months old already.  I know I say that every month, but for some reason 6 months seems more shocking.  It feels more like a milestone that we've ALL reached.  I never thought I would say this, but she's truly a dream baby!  She's perfect and soooo mellow.  If every baby were like this one, we would have 10.  In the beginning she was difficult, but now that we've figured her out (and she us) she's a different baby.  She goes to bed around 7 and sleeps until 7, but I feed her before I go to bed, around 10:30 and again around 4am (I'm not complaining!) and she takes two naps, which I've strategically correlated with E's afternoon nap.  We've been trying "solid" foods (homemade, pureed foods) and so far she's had rice cereal, avocado and sweet potatoes (her fave so far).  She's been sitting independently now for several weeks and is rolling over from front to back and back to front effortlessly now.  Her hair is still very blonde, but is still downy and light and her eyes are still a radiant blue.  She's been "speaking" in more consonants now, like "M" and "B" and loves to babble and stick out her tongue (adorable).  She thinks her brother is the funniest thing in the house (the dogs are a close second) and loves watching all of them.  Unfortunately, she's caught several of her brother's colds and seems to have a runny nose and some chest congestion constantly, but is always in good spirits.  She's still taking her reflux medication, but we hope to wean her off of it soon.  I'm still avoiding dairy, nuts, chocolate, eggs and some soy in hopes to help her reflux.  She's also showed symptoms of food allergies to these foods (via green, dirty diapers) so we hope to have her tested for allergies in the near future, which I have a feeling may be the answer to her reflux and weigh-gain issues.  I feel like, however, she's put on some weight recently, but haven't been to the doc for her 6 month appointment yet (long story), but I'll add the stats when we get them.  Overall, she's a happy, healthy baby girl!  Her FIRST Christmas is in just 4 days!!!!

Avocado!

Such a good little sitter (and cute too)!!

Sweet Potato!

ETA:  

6 Month Stats:

Weight - 14 lbs 1 oz (5%)

Height - 26 1/2 in (65%)

Head Circ. - 16 1/4 in

We had an appointment with H's doc yesterday (it was delayed because we had to reschedule due to E's Christmas program at school).  Overall, she seems to be doing well.  Developing, physically and mentally right on schedule.  The doc was a little worried about her weight, which continues to drop, so we plan to go back in a month to have her re-checked (and to get her flu shot booster).  At this point, she wasn't concerned about the possibility of food allergies and wants to wait to have her tested.  She did, however, say that little H's eyes were a little out of line, which she said could mean that there's a vision difference in them and suggested we see an eye doctor (sheesh!  What's next for this little girl!?).  We also go back to the cardiologist a the end of this month for a follow-up echo.  She got 4 immunizations (3 shots and one oral), plus her first flu shot yesterday.  Poor little thing.  She's had an ongoing slew of doctor visits and shots since the day she was born.  To me she seems healthy and very happy!  She's our little "Happy Harper."

The E-man Lately...

E is 27 months now, but who's counting?  I've been told that you don't count in months after they turn two, but I really miss doing my monthly updates on the little guy.  Having a baby around the house who seems to change daily, I sometimes forget that E is still growing and changing too.  It's amazing to see how much he's changed since he started school in October.  He's learned so much from the kids at school (both good and bad) and has been working hard with Dr. M to learn many new (and impressive) subjects on the iPad.  Lately....

- He refers to himself in the first person (this is a big step, socially).

- He's, however, learned the stereotypical poor manners of possessive preschooler like "No! That's mine!", "Let go!", "Gimme that", "I want it now!" and the lovely "NOOO!".  Fun times.  

- He loves to paint with water colors and is surprisingly good.  Really.  He is also drawing in circles and "shapes" rather than just scribbles (I don't know if this matters, developmentally, but makes his art more interesting). 

- He now knows all of the planets (in proper order, of course), his 3D shapes (cone, cylinder, prism, etc.) and almost all of the 50 states!  He's crazy good at memorization and is very visual.  This kid is going to be sooo bored in kindergarten.  

- He can sing the whole alphabet by himself and also the Caillou theme song.

- He still loves letters and numbers of all shapes and sizes and impresses us when he finds them in a creative way in unassuming places....like the lines in the middle of the road he said were "11" and the parking lines at the store were "H" and also a "4".

- He loooves the Christmas tree but affectionately calls it the "krispy treat".

- He recently went through a faze of being scared of the bath and refusing to take one, but quickly moved on (thank goodness) after a week when we lured him with lots of bubbles and crayons to play with while in there. 

-He's had a regression of his food allergies.  Which means he's still allergic to dairy, peanuts and tree nuts and we recently discovered that he's allergic to lentils (they're in the peanut family, who knew?).

I feel like he's gotten taller in the past couple months.  His hair is long again, but I kinda like it, so we'll wait a little longer on another haircut.  I also think he's slooowly getting his 2-year molars.  So far it's been a long, slow, painful process.  He'll be great one moment and then crabby and have a low fever the next.  Poor guy.  One thing is for sure, though, he's a GREAT big brother!  He loves "Baby Harper" and is so gentle with her.  He even says "hi pretty girl" when he sees her.

This isn't the best shot, but it's hard to get this guy to slow down for a photo these days.  He's a busy guy!

His first (of many I assume) peanut butter and birdseed bird feeder.

ETA:  It's official, E now knows ALL 50 US states!  Seriously!  He and Dr. M have been working on the iPad recently, which E loves and in just a few days, he knew all of the states!  He's amazed even his preschool teachers.  What's next?  Not sure....presidents, countries, flags.....ideas, suggestions???