Our mild winter

The winter here in Michigan sure hasn't lived up the hype this year.  We were all bracing for the worst when we were told last fall that it was going to be a bad one.  We really haven't had a big storm that dumped a considerable amount at one time (knock on wood) and have just had a few instances of and inch or two accumulating. 

Now I'm not complaining, but Marie and Joey were getting a bit anxious about how much sledding they were not doing.  Nonetheless, we have been able to make it out to the sledding hill a few times.  Even when there is grass peeking through the snow, the hill is steep enough that you still go down.  Marie and Joey still really enjoy it.  In fact, with the smaller amounts of snow, it has been easier for them to climb back up under their own power instead of making Jon pull them up in the sled.  (Nope, still no tow rope.)  They still enjoy "bailing" out when they come anywhere close to the strategically placed straw bales.  No injuries to speak of...yet.  (Knock on wood again.)  We are not sure why, but Stevie does NOT like sledding.  He doesn't mind the cold or even sitting in the snow, but as soon as we sit in the sled, he starts protesting.  We're really hoping he grows out of that!

Marie is now well into the second half of her kindergarten year.  I attended the (optional) parent teacher conference after the second quarter and her teacher had almost only good things to say.  She continues to breeze through most of the traditional reading and math lessons but it is fun to see her learn new things during her Spanish and religion classes.  She is also learning and growing socially.  It has really been valuable for her to make new friends and be exposed to some other "strong" personalities.  It has also been a good experience for us to learn how to best teach her how to deal with those strong personalities. 

Dare I say that Joey is completely potty trained?  We are still cautious about nap time and bed time, but I can't remember the last time he had an accident.  He has lately been recognizing more letters and numbers and has just recently taken up writing his name by himself.  Though he just turned three 2 1/2 months ago, he regularly talks about when he will get to go to school.  He wants to be just like his sister...he is growing up so fast.

Speaking of growing up fast, there is Stevie.  He will be turning ONE is less than two weeks.  This is such a fun age.  We are really able to see his personality start to come through.  He is learning all the time.  He is so proud of himself and grins from ear to ear when he "helps" us to put something away, shut a door, or turns off a light.  He is now a very accomplished walker and most often chooses that as his primary method of getting around.  He is more of a climber than the other two were.  You know all those stools we have around the house for Joey to be able to reach sinks and counters?  Yeah - going to have to re-think that.  You would also think that with two older siblings, we would have all the necessary cabinets baby-proofed...nope.  We've had to get out that hardware and do some spur of the moment installations.  He definitely keeps us on our toes.  :)

Jon has been busy with work and with his course.  It seems like this semester has been a bit less stressful than last term for him and I'm thankful for that.  This week he is getting ready for a trip to Germany for work.  I think he is excited to go; he has always wanted to go there.  But, perhaps not excited about being away for that long. 

Peg's work has been going well also, though we have been pretty busy (read: on the verge of swamped).  The situation just continues to fit our family and I can't say enough about my employer's flexibility and understanding.  They truly get that my priority is my family and don't make me feel guilty at all about leaving at 2:30 every day to pick Marie up from school. 

We had a short visit a couple of weeks ago from Grandma and Grandpa Meinhart.  Uncle Mark and Aunt Sarah hosted a baby shower / house warming party, so they came up for the event.  They stayed for a few days and as always helped out with the kids, cooking, cleaning, etc.  They really don't get paid enough for what they do.  :) 


Here are a couple of tidbits from the kids before I forget.

I have come to realize that one of the things that I am ALWAYS saying is, "Just a minute."  This was brought to light one day when Joey asked me to do something, though I can't remember what it was.  After my typical response, he replied, "Is that a short minute or a long minute?"

While the whole family was out sledding one afternoon, I was taking my turn while Jon stayed near the top of the hill with Stevie.  Joey and I were trekking back up the hill.
Joey: I want to go with Dad.
Jon: But I'm holding Stevie.
Joey: Well, you could put Stevie in Mom's arms and she could take him in because he might be getting frozen.

Joey (thoughtfully speaking to Peg):  You know, you're kind of like a grown-up.

Marie and Joey frequently talk about when they get older how they will be a mom and a dad.  During baths one night we were all in the bathroom and this was the exchange.
Joey: When I get big, then there will be THREE dads.
Marie: No there will only be two.
Joey: No, three.  Me, Stevie, and Dad.
Marie (very matter of fact-ly): Well, Dad might be dead by then.

I think that's it for now.  Stay tuned...I expect March to be a busy and eventful month with all the birthdays, a visit from Uncle Matt, and also with the birth of our new niece/nephew!  Can't wait!

On to 2012...

 It wasn't 10 days after we got back to Michigan that Grandma and Grandpa Meinhart came up for a visit.  No, it wasn't that they couldn't stand to be away from us that long.  I had known for a couple of months that I would need to go to Atlanta for 2-3 days for work.  So, we called up the reserves!  The great thing about that was that we got to celebrate Grandma Meinhart's birthday with her.  Marie was CERTAIN that Grandma would love to have apple crisp for her birthday dessert.  It turned out pretty well, but we'll know next time to let it cool a little bit more before putting in the candles…it doesn't take long for those to melt!

So I think we've pretty much gotten back into a routine around here.  I guess we should by now since it is almost February.  Marie is thriving at school.  I just went to a parent teacher conference last week and the teacher said Marie is doing very well with all of her studies and is particularly impressed with her reading.  Her only real complaint is that Marie can be a bit of a slow poke when it comes to transitioning from one thing to the next.  This was not at all surprising to us since she is very much the same way at home. 

Somewhere in all that December traveling, Joey was potty trained.  He had been doing excellent with #2, but was always to distracted or busy to worry about #1.  To be honest, we were not stressing out about it too much and would venture to say that we really hadn't committed to getting him trained.  But, all of a sudden during the early December drive down to Illinois, he was dry…the whole time!  Sure we've had some accidents here and there, but for the must part, he is doing great.  He is started to recognize numbers and letters.  A few of the letters he is able to associate with sounds and can do some basic addition and subtraction.  He still skips "15" when he counts to 20, but we'll keep working on that.

Stevie is quite the card and still gets into everything.  He frequently makes a series of faces at us as if he is giving some sort of treatise.  He is really very animated.  The stairs seem to be a a magnet for him with the sole reason to just climb up and down.  Yep, he really likes climbing down them but is not quite good enough yet not to worry his mother.  And his latest trick just the last day or so has been WALKING.  He has been able to take quite a few steps in a row and has covered 6'-8' on his own.  He thinks he is pretty hot stuff.  He is almost 11 months old, which means he is 3 months ahead of when Marie and Joey walked.

Even with the mild winter, we have been able to get out to the sledding hill a few times.  Marie and Joey still really enjoy it and since the snow has not been that deep, they have both been able to climb back up on their own.  Well, Joey likes to hold our hand, but at least we're not towing him up.  We've also taken Stevie a couple of times, but he doesn't like it.  We can't quite figure that out since he is a bit of a daredevil everywhere else.  We're guessing he'll grow into it.

So, I think that brings us up to date.  I have the best intentions of not letting things go this long before I post again, but quite frankly I'm not making any promises.  Thanks for hanging on with us this long and hope to see you again soon in the blog-o-sphere.

Time is flying...

Yep, we're all but through all of January already! To be honest, I kind of expected the 8-9 weeks after the new year to go quickly, so I shouldn't be too surprised.

We've gotten back into our "normal" routine. Atrium (Montessori-based preschool at Christ the King) on Wednesday mornings for Marie, story hour and craft time at the Library on Thursday mornings for both the kids, heading into the office a couple days a week for me, hitting a prenatal aquatics class on Thursday nights, and trying to keep up with the rest of the day-to-day.

We've also been getting some things ready for Baby Brother to arrive. First of all, Joey got to move out of the crib into his Big Boy Bed. It was really a pretty smooth transition, pretty similar to Marie. We haven't had any trouble keeping him in bed when he's supposed to be. In fact, he generally waits until we come upstairs in the morning to get him up. It is obvious that he has been awake because as soon as we open his door, he pokes his head up, pops to his feet and starts jumping up and down. Wish I was as chipper as that in the mornings!


We've also been finding the boxes and tubs with baby items. They are not quite unpacked, washed, and appropriately put away, but Marie is really looking forward to going through everything so I'm sure we'll get to it soon. On the baby front, we've started our weekly OB visits where we monitor the baby's movement and heart rate. So far, there has been nothing to cause any concern whatsoever. He is really active...more so than I remember Marie and Joey being. As long as things continue as such, we'll probably talk about inducing around 39 weeks, just a little over 4 weeks away. Talk about time flying...

Another thing we've done to get ready for the baby was to stock our freezer with lots of yummy, quick meals. For that task, Grandma and Grandpa Meinhart came up for a few days. Grandpa and Jon spent a lot of time occupying the kids while Mom and I spent our time in the kitchen. Overall, I think there are 6 freezer casseroles, a big batch of vegetable soup, cooked chicken, ground beef, turkey, and Chorizo, muffins, and lots of broth for making noodles and the like. I feel like we at least have the eating situation under control. Thanks, Mom!


We also got to celebrate Grandma's birthday during their visit. Again, the kids really got a kick out of getting to celebrate an adult's birthday. Marie made and wrapped Grandma's presents especially for her and they both helped to blow out the candles. Hopefully it was as special for Grandma as it was for them!




Grandpa Meinhart and Uncle Mark were able to head out to the sledding hill with Jon and the kids a couple of times during the visit. Marie and Joey just never tire of it. I'm not complaining whatsoever. I think it is great that they're getting fresh air and exercise. (I've not been as good at getting them outside during the days as I have been in years past.) Grandpa taught Marie how to bail from her sled if she was heading for a tree or straw bale. This was a bigger hit than I would have expected, even to the point where she rolls out of her sled before she gets all the way down the hill, much less close to an obstacle. She always ends up laughing though! Grandpa even went down the hill a couple of times...though I'm not sure he ever bailed. Uncle Mark took quite a few trips down the hill as well. His finishes were also generally spectacular...at least from the kids' perspective.

Marie, having just bailed from her sled...no trees in sight!

Mark, going head first down the hill.

Joey, trying to be just like Uncle Mark with Dad and Grandpa looking on.

Mark, after diving to stop Joey from going (head first) into the brush at the bottom.

A couple of weeks ago, Marie and I headed to the Marquis Theater in Northville to see a show with god-daughters Rosie and Lilly. This time it was a little different though because it was just the four of us. We had decided to take Rosie and Lilly for a little outings so that their parents could have some down time before their baby boy was born (he was just born on Wednesday and everyone is doing great). We saw Little Red Riding Hood and I think it was a success...with two four-year olds and a three-year old, you're bound to have a couple of rough patches (like having to go potty RIGHT before the show starts even though they were asked multiple times before that, like the community box of popcorn being spilled all over the floor, etc.). After the show, we headed to a bookstore / cafe for some juice and a couple of stories. Then we met Jon and Joey for pizza. Needless to say, I think EVERYONE was tired by the end of the day.

That's all the notable news I can think of right now. The kids have really been getting along relatively well lately. They do a good job of playing together for the most part. They only occasionally end up screaming at each other, mostly because one of them is not doing what the other one wants him/her to do. Marie has been a big help around the house recently. She has always tried to be a help, but I'm starting to give her more to do, both in amount and level of difficulty. She is taking it all in stride and loving it!

Joey continues to talk a lot. He tells us stories and jokes, sometimes about things I can't believe he remembers. He has such a personality and definitely has an ornery streak. The other night, when we were praying / reading books, he wanted to sit where Marie was sitting. After asking a couple of times to sit there, he nonchalantly asked her where her bear was...thinking that she would get up to get it and he would have the chance to steal her seat. Sneaky, sneaky...but it didn't work. Marie didn't fall for it.

We're also getting into the potty training routine...or at least trying. Joey definitely doesn't look forward to having to stop what he's doing to go to the bathroom. And, he doesn't bring it up unless Marie has to go, it is a terribly inconvenient time, or he's trying to get out of doing something else. But, we have to start somewhere.

Finally, both of the kids are excited about getting to watch one more Steelers football game. You can guess who is being their influence!

(No, those aren't real glasses. They are part of Marie's dress up clothes. Though, I'm sure it is only a matter of time...)

Joey is Two and Winter is Here

Despite all the fun things that have been going on (or perhaps because of them!), I've been extremely delinquent at posting updates of the recent 'happenings.' I'll try to bring you up to speed before Christmas and before things really get out of hand!

To begin, Joey turned two on Dec 3rd...just in time for him to stop asking about opening more presents. Grandpa and Grandma Meinhart and Uncle Matt came into town to help celebrate. Grandma and Grandpa arrived the day before, early enough to celebrate Grandpa's birthday. The kids got a kick out of having a "birthday party" for a grown-up and enjoyed helping Grandpa open his presents.


For Joey's birthday, the Thomas the Train theme was continued, much to Joey's excitement. He had a Thomas cake and got a table on which he can play with his trains and tracks with less assistance (much to my excitement). It takes up a good bit of space in our living room, but it has become the focal point for the kids as they use it quite often.







The other activity that was undertaken during our visitors' stay was to get our Christmas tree. It was a bit cold, but we successfully got to the tree farm, rode the wagon out to the pines, picked one out, cut it down, got to ride the wagon again, secured it to the car, and made it home in one piece. A little hot chocolate when we arrived home helped to warm everyone up. Marie and Joey enjoyed decorating the tree as well and apart from needing to redistribute the ornaments to higher elevations, we thought it turned out well.









Joey also had his two-year check-up. He is definitely not usually a fan of visiting the doctor, even though our pediatrician is absolutely great. This time though, I think he was under the impression that it was Marie that needed to see the doctor. Plus, he didn't have to get any shots, so it was a much more manageable visit. The doctor affectionately calls him "Big Joe" since he always measures on the bigger side. He was 30.5 lbs and 37 1/2 inches which is roughly 98-99th percentile and 2-3 lbs and 1 1/2" bigger than Marie was at his age.

Marie has definitely been enjoying this season more this time around. All kids look forward to Christmas, but she has been really been getting into the Christmas spirit working on her Jesse tree, helping to decorate the house, making presents for friends and family, and lighting the advent candles. Joey enjoys it too, but more often asks his usual question, "Can we open presents?" Somewhere in there, I got to have a wonderful outing to do some outlet shopping (without kids!) with a good friend, Jon and I attended an adults only Christmas party where we always have too much fun and stay way too late, and we had a kid-friendly Christmas party hosted by my boss at a bowling alley. Marie and Joey had never been bowling, but we could hardly tear them away from the lanes. They basically bowled the entire time, only stopping long enough to gulp down a piece of pizza.

In weather-related news, we got our first real snow of the winter on Dec 12. You know what that means…sledding! We went out the same day and the conditions weren't great. It was windy, cold, and the snow was powdery which meant a lot of snow in the face during the descent down the hill. Plus, it was pretty hard for Marie to get all the way up the hill on her own. Since my self-imposed limit is to pull only my pregnant self up the hill, that meant that Jon got quite the workout pulling both Marie and Joey up. Thankfully, we've been out multiple other times and things have been much smoother. The kids could actually go down in their own sleds and Marie has gotten fantastic (to use her own words) at getting up the hill on her own. They have had a total blast. One of their favorite things to do is sled down and run right into the strategically placed straw bales at the bottom. As Joey would say, they go "Bonk!"




Things with baby #3 are going well. He is growing at the appropriate rate and I'm starting to receive quite a few substantial kicks. We are just shy of 30 weeks, so it's hard to believe that we'll have a precious newborn in just 8-9 weeks (based on my history of being induced a bit early). Marie and Joey are anxiously awaiting the baby's arrival. Marie has loved getting to feel the baby move and before bedtime while we are saying what makes us thankful, Joey has been known to say "Baby brother" while giving me a pat on the belly. Not sure Joey really knows what's coming. :)

So that basically bring us up to speed on what's been going on. I know that there are some funny stories that I'm missing about things the kids have done or said. I hope to do a better job at memorializing those things…I can always hope. I did just have to share one more picture that was taken over Thanksgiving and sent to us by Aunt Jess. We hope that everyone has a blessed Christmas!

Mid-February Update...

We don't have much new to report. Thankfully, we haven't had to deal with the flu lately, unlike many of our dear friends. We just can't say enough about being healthy!


We continue to head out to the sledding hill about every other day. Saturday, our god-daughters, Rosie and Lilly, came over to do some sledding. The sun was shining and the temps were in the 40's! There were patches of grass poking through, but still enough snow to have a great time. Also, since I've mentioned "night-sledding" before, I thought I would include a few pictures from this week.




Over the last week, Joey has started walking a little more. He finds it extremely funny when he loses his balance and bites it...on the carpet of course. He has also picked up even more words since our last post. His latest favorites are "Go!" (usually used at the top of the hill and at the top of the stairs when he wants to slide down either) and "cookie" (thanks to the Valentine's Day cookies that Marie made). He does a lot of mimicking, trying things like "shoes, socks, fish, truck, and car." He also has a favorite book that he reads, "Go, Dog. Go."


We still have not broken his habit of abruptly throwing things. Today at church, he hit the woman in the pew ahead of us with the small book he was holding. There were no serious injuries, but it did startle her. Anyone who sees us in church should probably consider this for their own safety. :)


I'll leave you with a quick kid story from this week...

Joey chucked a magnet beneath the stove. (He likes to put them there and also beneath the fridge.) I got on my hands and knees, trying to locate it. Joey crawled over, put his head on the floor to take a peak himself and said “uh-oh.”

I proceeded to get a spoon out of the drawer to try to fish it out. At this point, I must admit that I haven't cleaned under the stove since we moved into our house about a year an a half ago.

Marie, walking over: What are you doing?
Peg: Trying to get the magnet out from under the stove.
Jon: Marie, don’t go over there.
Marie: Why not?
Peg: Because it’s really dirty under here. Did you know that the people that lived here before us had a dog. Look at all this dog hair that was under the stove.
Marie: Why was the dog under the stove?