Saturday, March 12, 2011

Snapshot: Wesley

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Kyla and Piper have been down at Gramma and Papa’s since Wednesday. I’ve actually been trying to blog since Tuesday, but that day got away, Wednesday was full until about 9pm, Thursday was my work/clean/organize day (taking advantage of having only one kid—and one who takes 2 naps). Friday was going to be my fun day, except I started the day by vomiting.  By the time I felt better at the end of the day, Wesley was vomiting.  The pediatrician said there’s a bug going around.  I’m willing to believe it.
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I’ve been wanting to blog about each of the kids individually so I focus on the things I Will Always Remember, except that I don’t.

Like for instance, Wesley has completely mastered the stairs crawling up and down that he doesn’t even like to do them much anymore, unless he’s holding one hand in Mama’s (and only one, so he can suck the fingers on his other hand—can’t you just picture it) so that he can walk down like a big person. 

Except last Tuesday.  He actually fell down stairs three times that day.  Oddly, he only got two new head bumps.

2-28 Wesley tools 2It’s really rare to have Wesley without the girls around. After his morning nap on Wednesday, I put shoes on him intending to take him on a walk around the island in front of our house.  If you know the area, this is a very short walk.  We eventually made it one driveway over, but it was so fun just following his footsteps.  Mostly he chased Smokey, who is so neglected since she’s been downgraded to an Outside Cat, that she did figure-eights around our legs.  He stumbled up 2-28 Wesley tools 1and down our neighbor’s driveway and occasionally sitting in a mud puddle and splashing his hands in it.  Right before sucking his fingers again.

Like his sisters, he’s already trying to use the curbs as a balance beam.  He did it several times before he fell and bonked his head for a 3rd new bruise in two days.

I noticed after several minutes that our neighbor has a surveillance camera on that driveway.  I hope he got good pictures!

3-2 Wesley slide 2Wesley probably misses his sisters, generally his best source of entertainment, but he is reveling in extra Mama and Daddy time.  He loves playing downstairs and has mastered the slide--climbing up the steps and sliding down on his tummy and his bottom.  He also loves 3-2 Wesley slide 3the roller coaster and has figured out how to back it up to the starting point again so Mama can sit him on top of the car and push him down.  We can do that over and over and over and over again.  (When Piper is here, she sits in the car then helps Wesley get in front of her and pushes off.  3-2 Wesley slide 1It’s a tight fit, but they are both grinning from ear to ear during the short ride!)

Not a surprise, but Wesley is an active, adventurous child who always tries to take on height first.  He’s keeping up more and more with his sisters, and the more he can do, the more they slow down to let him join them.

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In his first 14 months of life, Wesley has only liked one book enough to allow me to read the whole thing and then ask for it again and again.  The cover of Peek-A-Who is held together with tape and the spine won’t be able to stand up to one more kid.  All other books, he reaches for the last page to close the book and then throws it on the ground.  I remember Kyla didn’t like books until she was 18 months old. 3-6 family swing 4

He will let me do anything to him (change a diaper, suck out the snot, etc.) as long as I play peek-a-boo with him or put something silly, like his pants, on my head.  Odd, I don’t have any pictures of me doing that…

This little guy is my happiness, even if I can’t take him to the library until he is passed his “ALL books must come off the shelf” phase.  Even if I can only cook by allowing him to dump out the bottom two shelves of the pantry, the baking goods, and all the pans and half the Tupperware.  Even though he learned to throw things (not garbage, but things, like Mama’s underwear) in garbage cans long before we picked up that he could do that.  Even though this blue-eyed wonder did vomit on my pillow early this morning.  Because this boy’s the male version of his sisters, which means he’s ridiculously lovable, thoroughly delightful, and full of potential and a lot of dreams.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Wine & Chocolate Soiree VIII

Last night was our eighth annual Wine & Chocolate Party!  We skipped last year due to Wesley’s birth, and we were a few weeks past Valentine’s this year, but we pulled it off.  I can’t speak for everyone, but Dwayne and I had an excellent time and Kyla is pretty sure the grown-ups were just killing time while the real party was happening downstairs.  The girl who says “crowds make me tired” when we go out among strangers is quickly blossoming into quite the hostess in her own home.  Hmm, maybe she is more like me than I thought….

Thanks to my friend (and, coincidently, my sister-in-law) Julie who brought The Good Camera and recorded some of the highlights of the evening.

 

I love this shot.  Julie, unfortunately, is taking it, which is why she is the only sibling not it.  This is me & Wes, my brother Keith with his boy, Parker, and my brother Brian with his fiancĂ©e, Sandi. Although she lives in the Portland area, she attended SPU and actually knew some of the people at our party beforehand!

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Rochelle was at her photogenic best, so she gets her own section.

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And Marcie is her usually stunning self.

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The food and fountain. 

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The Ericksons arrive.

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Deanna and Eric managed to leave 2/3s of their kids with grandparents.  See those smiles?!

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Brian and Sandi were all smiles, too.

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This may be the only picture I have of Julie, AKA Photographer.

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Keith, Joel, and Dwayne take time out from talking tech to smile.

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Joy reminds us why were are at this party…

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Oh, and to talk to new and old friends.  And their babies are probably chatting it up, too.  (Ann and Joy are both due mid-summer.)

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I get to hold a 3 month old little lump of Benjamin.  Finally, I got his name right!

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Margaret got both herself and two young kids to the party on her own.  And on time (that is not a typical Shultz trait anymore than it is a Need trait).  Jeremy came a little later straight from work.  Thanks for making this evening work, M&S!  I can’t imagine having this party without you there!

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There’s Jeremy! (And Eric.)

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Wyatt & Eric find a lot to talk about. 

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Elizabeth, Scott, and Sandi find a convenient location near the food.

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That’s right, Keith.  There’s lots to try. 

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Cheers to good friends and in-laws!

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Sarah shows off lovely Anna.

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Look at these lovely ladies—Ashlynn’s eyes are identical to her mommy’s.

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Melissa, this is even a better picture of those beautiful blues.

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Rachel and Karis tried to break into the kids’ party but were finally convinced that it was even more fun upstairs!  (Okay, I’m kidding a little, but it was so fun to have these friends here.)

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I kind of like this angled shot of this dress I have worn almost every year.  It was a bridesmaid dress for Kristen’s wedding 6 or 7 years ago.  This is one bridesmaid dress that has gotten a full life!

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As been alluded to, there was another party going on downstairs.  We had 2 babysitters and 18 kids (down from the original 25 RSVPs).  We only got a few shots of the kids—they’re quick (and absorbed in Kinnect).

 

This is my favorite shot, of course.  I’m running low on time, so I will just have to put in the pictures and hopefully caption them later.

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Thanks, everyone, for coming!  And Wilcoxes, I hope your kids are well soon and that you never have to miss another one of these parties.  We missed you!  (And all the other families too sick or on vacation who couldn’t make it this year.)

Friday, February 25, 2011

Kid-to-Kid (Moms, PLEASE don’t read!)

[Contributed by Kyla Paige]

Hey, Kids!  

Are you

  • tired of having your mom watch you all the time?
  • want to have Daddy home early on a work day?
  • miss Gramma and want her to come visit for a few days?
  • want to drive to Seattle and eat at the Madison Street McDonalds?
  • sit on your mom’s lap whenever you want because she’s not doing anything else?

Well, have I got a swell solution for you!  All you have to do is scratch your mother’s eyeball!  Yep, that’s it.  Simply look the other way and swipe your arm low and behind, catch her off-guard and lovingly give her something the specialists call a “corny abrasion”.  Or something like that.

For 36 hours, your mother will writhe in pain and be effectively blind and useless.  Sure, she can’t read you any stories, make you hot chocolate, start any videos for you or drive you someplace fun, but she also can’t catch you sneaking chocolate from her secret supply!  (Piper discovered this trick.  Probably before she was 2.)  Gramma and Daddy swoop in and take care of everything.  And just when you begin to tire of the new normal, suddenly your Mom will be able to see again. 

So kids, give it a try!  Just make sure you clear it on everyone’s schedule first. I, for one, made sure my mom would be recovered about 36 hours before her big party.  I done good!