Light At The End Of The Tunnel

There's lots of growing up happening in the Kerper house. First off, the boys are starting to play together. If it were up to Cole, he'd be on Ry all the time like white on rice. He loooooooves his big bro and copies everything he does. Ry on the other hand, has been taking some time to warm up to the fact that his little brother isn't just there to steal his toys...he's actually there to be his friend too.

The second piece of news, and one that brings a tear to my eye, is that Cole is actually starting to watch TV!!!! We can usually get him to sit down for at least 10 minutes straight, which is quite an accomplishment in the book of Cole.

I don't think he's sat still for a 10 minute stretch since he's been born, so we're quite pleased with the progress we've been making :-)

Balls And Shirts And Gorillas, Oh My!

We hit the road early and headed to the zoo on this warm Saturday morning.

Cole seemed most fascinated by the fact that the gorillas had balls to play with in their cage. All he wanted to do was look at them - every time we tried to leave the exhibit he kept running back to the gorillas saying "Ball! Ball!"

Ry was most excited by the fact that he walked past another boy wearing the same shirt that he had on.

Whatever floats your boat!

Boys

Sent to me by the wise parents of boys...my in-laws!!
For those of you with boys you'll agree this is too true...

Boys in my House
There are boys in my house - and Spiderman shoes
And 200 papers in various blues.
There's Bob (he's a builder) and Thomas the Train,
There's a fireman coat to wear in the rain.
They have cars on their shirts and frogs on their hats
There's a glove and a ball and a red plastic bat.
There's dirt on a face and a smudge on a nose;
Grass stains on knees and sand between toes.
There's bathtime at night with bodies to scrub,
And when we're all done there is dirt in the tub!
There's bandaids and bruises and curious bumps,
There's smiles and laughter and sometimes there's grumps.
There's odors most icky; there's boogers so green
There's more yucky things than I'll ever get clean.
There's piles of laundry; there's stories at night;
There's bedtime and bathtime and dinnertime fights.
There's cars and there's trains and there's books about trucks
There's Scoop, Lofty, Dizzy, and Travis, and Muck.
Sometimes there are bugs, and sometimes there are frogs;
Sometimes they are lions, or dinos, or dogs.
There are cute little vests and darling neckties
Dragged right through the mud - oh what a surprise!
There's running and climbing and jumping and falling
And laughing and crying and hugging and brawling
And rolling and losing and finding and creeping
And whining and stealing and sometimes there's sleeping.
There's tantrums and time outs and extra loud noise -
There's love in my house shaped like two little boys with puppy dogs eyes

It's A...

Drumroll please...

We had the ultrasound on Friday and we're having a...

BOY!!!

Not only are we syked to add another brother to the mix, we're also thrilled and relieved to hear that he's healthy and right on track.

Most people that we tell are sad for us that we're not having a girl. Even though I'm only 5 months pregnant I've been asked about 25 times when we're going to work on the next one so we can have a girl!!

I appreciate everyone's concern, but assure you that we didn't try for #3 to have a girl...we tried for #3 to add another member to the family. We look into the future and picture the boys cheering each other on at football games, having each other's backs in school, most likely trying to kill each other at times, playing hockey in the alley, and best of all...hand-me-downs!!!

The first picture below is a view of him looking straight on. The second is a 4D shot which is almost too vivid to believe. This was the first ultrasound I had where I could feel the baby move at the same time as seeing it on the screen...he's really in there!!

Rico Suave

The boys had their school pictures...again...seems like the school is hitting us up for cash every other month for these things. But they totally suck you in when you get a winner like this one...Cole's slicked down hair and ding on the nose was too much to resist.

I'm A Pretty Princess

We're invited to a few weddings over the next couple of months, so I was trying on some dresses tonight to see what still fits me.

Ry came upstairs and saw me in a sparkly number. He said "Mommy! You look so pretty...you look like a princess."

Hot Tub Time

Twizzlers In The Morning

We promised Ry and the neighbor boys a sleepover on Friday night. So when Ry woke up that morning and had a little puking incident, I got slightly nervous that our plans would be crushed.

I kept him out of school and by the afternoon he was begging to eat more and more (and more)...he said that his belly felt better after he threw up so I chalked it up to a little bit of sympathetic morning sickness.

The boys came over and rocked the slumber party house. After tearing through a pizza and a movie, I set up our tent in Ry's room.

Keep in mind this is a 6 person set so it took up the entire room - I even had to move the bed. Phil was still at work so I had to pitch the tent myself - after 12 years of camping with the Kerpers I've picked up a thing or two.



Flashlights in hand, they camped out for the night and woke up to a feast of Valentine's Twizzlers and waffles. We love having friends over to the house and look forward to many more years of late nights and sugary mornings.

It's Hard To Argue With Sound Logic

Ry had some funny lines today that I wanted to write down for posterity...

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We're working on weaning him off the thumb. We set a new rule that he should only suck his thumb when he's in his bed to go to sleep. On the way home from school we had this chat:

Ry: I sucked my thumb today in my cot during my nap
Me: That's cool. You can suck your thumb in your cot or in your bed
Ry: I think I'd like to suck it in the car too
Me: Just in your bed or your cot
Ry: When we get home I think I need to take a little rest in my bed before dinner

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When I was putting Cole to bed, Ry kept calling upstairs "Mommy, you okay up there?" When I came down...

Ry: My belly was growling so I had some crackers
Me: Where did you get crackers?
Ry: I went into the pantry and got some
Me: You need to ask me before you get something to eat
Ry: But I asked myself, and I said it was okay

Random Warm Up

After being caged up in the house for the last 3 months it was great to let the boys stretch their legs in the sunshine this weekend.

Saturday we met Sue, Dave, and Hazel at the Norristown Zoo. The plan was to be outside for the morning to enjoy the beautiful weather. Unfortunately I didn't get the memo that it wasn't supposed to warm up until the afternoon, so we trudged through in the 35 degree chill. But we made the most of if and checked out the monkeys, bats, and buffalo (oh my).

Today the children were released into the alley and I caught my first glimpse of Spring. I know it sounds weird to tell my kids to go play in the alley...but living in town it's really the best place to hang. Our neighborhood has about 156 kids in a 2 block radius, so when it's warm everyone is outside on bikes and basically just running around in circles.

I know this warm weather was just a tease, but I'll consider it a little taste to hold me over until the real thing. See you in the alley!

Hugs

Today when I dropped the boys off Cole's teacher gave me a status report:

"Cole loves spending time with this teachers and friends in Step Up. Cole has an abundance of energy, which he uses to solve problems and participate in physical activities (such as catching and throwing which is amazing at his age). Cole is very social and enjoys giving hugs to his friends. He also shows a growing memory as he figures something out or is shown something once or twice and he remembers how to do it. Cole is an exciting addition to Step Up and we enjoy having him."

My favorite part is "…enjoys giving hugs to his friends." So sweet.

Phil'd With Appreciation

I have to say that it's very convenient having a husband who has worked in a pediatric ER for over 10 years...it comes in really handy when my poor kiddos come down with something.

Saturday night I noticed Cole was warm. Warm turned to hot when I took his temperature and saw it was 104. I paged Phil in a panic and when he called back he calmly said "It's fine - just give him Tylenol. Don't worry about the number of the temp - if he's acting normal he's okay."

I suppose that acting normal included running around like a madman, jumping off the coffee table, and cracking up at everything he saw. Because that's what he was doing. Of course Cole can't be the kind of sick that includes snuggling up with Mommy and getting some quiet lovin - he needs to be his same old crazy self (which I guess is a good thing).

Next night same thing - only it jumped to 105.5. I paged Phil again and got the same reaction. "Just give him Tylenol."

Of course I just had to call the doctor this morning and what does he say - "don't worry about the number of the temp, as long as he's acting normal he's okay."

As hard as it is to admit when Phil is right, I feel extremely lucky to have him around to remove things from the neighbor's noses, help check out bumps and bruises, and use his special techniques for getting kids to take medicine (don't try it at home people).

Cole is on the mend...although I'm keeping fingers crossed that it doesn't pass on to Ry.

Stay tuned!

Sliding In The Sun (Remember Sun??)

Sue just sent me some pictures from the Fall when we were playing at the park with the boys. It makes me long for the cold to break...I'm itching to get back outside!!

The Newest Campaign Signs

Thanks to Mel for the hot tip!

Blast Off

Fans of Little Einsteins will appreciate this...

Shaye Amanda Is 9

Wha-wha-what?!?!?!?

How did this happen? Our niece (Phil's god daughter) had her 9th birthday party on Saturday night. I seriously remember being at the hospital the night she was born, such a peanut. Now she's a sassy little 9 year old lady. Sigh!

We got her 2 fish - Christina and Aguilera.

Happy Birthday Shaye!!!

Next Stop...Great Wolf Lodge

Okay if you haven't been there already you must immediately pack the car and go to Great Wolf Lodge. And if you've already taken a trip up there you're pickin' up what I'm layin' down. It's the bomb!

GWL is this huge resort in the Poconos. The biggest attraction is their waterpark - it's absolutely gigantic and even I got into the water (it's 85 degrees, ahhh). There are huge slides for bigger kids (after Phil went down the first time he was giddy) and smaller slides for Cole's age. They have a wave pool, a lazy river, and even a super soaker bucket that fills up with 1,0o0 gallons of water and dumps onto the people underneath it.

The room was a big hit with the boys. We got the Wolf Den suite - they had their own little area that was cave-themed with bunk beds and their own TV. Ry just couldn't get over the fact that he could watch Spongebob from the top bunk.

At 8 pm they have storytime for this kids in the lobby. Before they headed over Phil took Ry to the arcade. The little guy may not be accurate, but at least he's persistent...

Ry showed no fear and went down the biggest slides with Phil...maybe next year he'll be able to tackle them by himself. Our next trip will be with 3 little ones, oy!

As Cole says...peace out. Word to your mother.

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

We had a fabulous 5 days off. After traveling back and forth from here to there and back again, it's nice to be home. As Phil said, it's also nice to be eating vegetables again. Almost 5 days of over-indulging on pizza and fries has taken a toll!!

The adventures began Wednesday in Allentown - Phil took Ry snow tubing at Blue Mountain. Despite the layering, after the first trip down the hill Ry proclaimed through chattering teeth that he was freezing and wanted to go inside. Having already paid (and having too much fun himself), Phil dragged the kid back up the mountain and they had 3 or 4 more rides back down.

I think it was an overall success - maybe next time we need to be better prepared. We really had no snowsuit for Ry and squeezed him into Cole's 18 month size. Oops!

Caught

Pack The Car...They're Off To College

Sigh. How do I freeze time? In the past week the boys have both had these teeny tiny milestones that make me feel like they're completely grown up.

Cole...

Started in the 2-year classroom on Monday. They drink out of real cups (not the kind with lids - it's quite a mess) and use the bathroom instead of having diaper changes

Ry...

Now officially takes a shower instead of a bath. He doesn't even play with his water toys...unless you count his fake razor but he takes the shaving portion of his shower very seriously.

Cole...

Is talking up a storm and can sort of hold a conversation with you. His newfound joy is talking on the phone...which doesn't EVER end so if you see our number on Caller ID you may want to think twice before picking up.

Ry...

Taught himself how to read and will sit quietly with his books. It's really the only time he's ever quiet for an extended period of time (unless you count sleeping...although according to Phil he was talking in his sleep last night...a story for another post). Thank goodness he still lets me read to him...when that's over I'll truly be depressed!!!

I know all of this development is good...I just can't believe these kids aren't babies anymore. When I saw Cole sitting at the table with all of those 2 year olds drinking out of regular cups, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. If I squinted my eyes just right I could see a little graduation cap on his head as he waved goodbye to me on his way to college...

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!

Pizza on game day...

Hamming it up with their jerseys...


Testing me...oh he has that look in his eyes...

Unfortunate Series Of Events

Like I've always said, it wouldn't be an evening in the Kerper household without someone crying or peeing on the floor. How ironic - that's just what happened tonight!!!

I brought the boys upstairs for Cole's bath and here is the path of destrucion we ended up on. Unfortunately I can't disagree with Phil's assesment of the situation - I brought this all on myself!

1. Cole runs into the bathroom and points to his little potty. He says "pee on the potty." I believe him. He pulls his pants down so I willingly oblige and remove the diaper.

2. Somewhere between getting into the bathroom and pulling down the pants, Ry freaks out (when he fell asleep on the 2 mile car ride home from school I should have known I was in for it). For some reason he decides to throw his toothbrush at me, and for this he gets a time out.

3. I take Ry to the step for said time out, leaving Cole in the bathroom with his pants around his ankles.

4. I get back from putting Ry on the step to find Cole standing next to his potty in a puddle of his own pee (you had to have seen that one coming)

5. I take Cole into his room to get off his wet clothes. While I'm bringing him back to the bathroom to put him in the tub I hear Ry saying I'm "stupid." This is breaking a cardinal Kerper law so I have to go give him more time on the step

6. As I leave Cole alone in the bathroom again (yes I did it again and this time he was naked) I turn just in time to watch him slip and fall in the puddle of his own urine. Nice.

7. I'm torn between helping pee-boy and giving Ry more punishment. My cold heart wins and Ry gets an extra 3 minutes.

8. I finally get Cole in the bath. Ry gets out of time out and tells me he's sorry. I clean up the pee. All is right in the world again.

My life is so glam!