Post #37 of personal project 52 weeks.
.jpg "Aldergrove Family Photographer")
* He sure loves his techno gear.
* Art’s hand-therapy contraptions: splints, tensor bandages, finger socks, laces, finger straightener-outer. I’m missing the fluorescent pink therapy play dough in the photo. Early this month, Art was released from the doctor’s care for his hand injury. His hand therapist suggested that he get a second opinion and we are glad that we did. Art will be going into surgery mid-March and the new hand specialist is confident that he will regain much of his mobility. Likely, there will be multiple surgeries. The first one to remove all the pins from his hand and rebreak his finger and possibly a second surgery to do some bone grafting. The therapy will be intense. The day after the surgery Art is to undergo a massive therapy session to ensure that the scar tissue doesn’t grow and ‘lock’ up the mobility.
* Noah taking a much hated shower.
* Because he had an ‘accident’ of the poopy variety.
* He looks so much older with glasses.
* I’m not sure what to say about the potty training. He is nearly 4 years old. We officially started in August, exactly half a year ago. When we went to Osoyoos in September, Noah hopped out of the car after a 5 hour drive, went straight to the toilet and proceeded to have NO accidents the entire week while we were on vacation. We were hopeful. We drove home, and first thing he did when he arrived home: a BM in his underwear. Then for 4 months, not a single poop in the toilet. I cleaned many soiled underwears. It was frustrating and gross. During all this time he was fairly good with pees on the toilet. Not accident free but tolerable. We tried the two categories of tactics: rewards (treats, toys), punishment (we took away the TV, we even took away Lego at one point, a shower after every accident — which is necessary but Noah considered a punishment). Ultimately, he was unwilling. No amount of talking, explaining or convincing would change his mind. Then about one month ago, we had a break through. Art caught him in the act and plopped him on the toilet and there it was: in the toilet. He was so proud of himself. Then every week / every other week. Then he would go on his own. We are now at a 50% success rate. I’ll take it. With thankfulness.
* Counting on the stairs for Hide ‘n Seek.
Post #36 of Personal Project 52 weeks.
.jpg "52 week photo project")
* Sunday morning. Post shower. I had taken a couple of photos of Mattias with his puppy towel and Noah felt left out. He jumped out of the shower, still wet, ran to the living room, sat on the table (my favorite photo spot in the house) and said “mom, take my picture”. He still looks like a toddler in this photo and if I just glance at it, I think it’s Mattias.
* Wherever Noah sits, Mattias is sure to follow.
* It was a gorgeous sunny day. An at home day. We played on the bed for a while. I look at us through the mirror and saw the kids climbing on me, hugging and kissing each other and quickly grabbed my camera. Mattias was game. Noah required some bribery to stay on the bed and participate.
* Tickling Noah.
* I believe he’s begging me to stop.
* Tickling Mattias.
* My toes. Mattias’ toes.
* Peak-a-boo.
* Yogurt with ball. (blueberries). He goes to the fridge every chance he gets to grab a yogurt.
Post #35 of Personal Project 52 weeks.
.jpg "Aldergrove Family Photographer")
* He refers to it as his “poop”. His belly button.
* Fresh wrinkled toes out of the tub.
* I must buy a case for that ipad. Mattias really likes it. Really really likes it. I’m afraid that he will like it to death.
* That bum and that belly just melt me. He’s really quite small. 25th percentile for weight. But he still has chub and a belly.
* We babysat the cousins one evening. Art was horrified at the mess 3 boys (Caleb doesn’t participate yet) can make in the matter of half an hour.
* The boys wake up early every morning. Noah is almost always the first to rise at 6ish. Sometimes 5:45. Sometimes 6:15. And, on a rare sleep-in day, at 6:30 (on these occasions, Noah jumps out of bed, stomps to the bathroom and accuses Art of waking him up because he’s too loud). Oh the irony. Generally Mattias wakes up from Noah within minutes. It’s quite a ruckus in our house when Noah wakes up. My wonderful, loving husband then attends to the kids until he goes to work. Letting me doze in bed for another half an hour. If I’m lucky, Noah will leave me alone for another 20 minutes after Art is gone. This photo is breakfast time with dad. Raisin Bran. We polish off a JUMBO box every week. The kids love it and they love their first breakfast with dad.
* Toddler toes.
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awe – you capture such great pics of your boys! I love how you say that they love their first breakfast with dad….does this mean they have a second breakfast with mom a little while later? 🙂
It’s so neat – I’m starting to understand Mattias more and more every week – new words are so fun!ReplyCancel
Post #34 of Personal Project 52 weeks.
I didn’t take too many photos this week. So it’ll be a short post.
.jpg "Aldergrove Family Photographer")
* Books. Books. Books. I ordered a bunch from the library and of course they all came at the same time. With only 2 weeks to read all of them and no option to renew (due to wait lists on all of these titles), I managed to make my way through the top one only. And barely. It was not an easy read: “Barney’s Version”. But I did enjoy it. I am also a reader that can read 2 or 3 or 5 books at the same time. So I’ve started East of Eden, Peace Like a River and Eat, Pray, Love.
* Speaking of books. Noah thought that reading to Mattias in the tub would be a good idea. His love and care for Mattias give me goosebumps.
Post #33 of Personal Project 52 weeks.
.jpg "Aldergrove Family Photographer")
* Hand on mirror after a bath.
* A new toy for the family. I’m terribly excited about it. It’s so light and easy to carry around. Excellent for streaming multi-media. Both Art and I catch up on the news now because the ipad makes it so easy for us. It’s also the perfect size for viewing recipes while cooking. It could never replace a computer because it really does have limited functionality but it is much more convenient for consuming information.
* “I want beep beep”. An earnest request about 3 or 4 times per day. I remember Noah asking, no demanding, the same thing. It didn’t last forever. The phase lasted 6 or 8 weeks with Noah. We tend to indulge Mattias when we can.
* My syrup-ed, whipping creamed, sticky-faced little monkey.
* When he hears the neighbors’ dogs bark, he always goes to investigate. He can *just* see them if he pulls up a chair and then goes on his tippy-toes
* Still sucks his fingers. Right hand, index & middle finger, upside down. So far no buck teeth but his fingers are warped and calloused.
* There are 2 things that Noah enjoys with all his heart: playing Lego and playing Lego with dad.
Angela - We had so much trouble with one of ours as well, and looking back I think maybe we stressed her out a little bit by all the talking and frustration we had. Our expectations maybe were too high and she couldn’t live up to them so she just didn’t even try. (she was almost 5 before our breakthrough happened so it lasted almost 2 years) I still don’t really know…..on a plus note, Ryan was a breeze comparatively so maybe Mattias will be easy! 😀
Dad - There must be a reason why a page was left open on my screen when I wanted to check a few things on my computer. Art’s surgery my birthday gift. Karin and Art you both are so thoughtful and considerate. It makes me think that this date was picked, so you could say on my birthday, remember it is …. years ago we had a fix to Art’s finger? Oh, it does not matter. What does, is this that the work of the physicians may be blessed so that you may enjoy all ten again. Nice, no splendid photography and a good read as well! Congratulations.
jennifer armstrong - Love the middle shower shot & the one below of him lying on the stairs. Sweet, sweet, sweet.
Nadine Bysterveld - Karin Im so sorry to hear about Art’s hand and the long road ahead of you guys! Hopefully potty training continues to improve… not looking forward to the day I have to start that, yikes. 🙂