Happy half-Birthday, Ivan!

In most instances, I consider myself "too cool" for the overly sentimental motherhood poems, but maybe they are finally wearing me down because this poem really hit home. Not at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is such a fleeting precious age.

And it gives me patience for the moments that don't seem precious at all (like when Ivan cries for help to put his shoes on, and then throws a fit when I help put his shoes on; mixed messages, anyone?).

I found the poem here, and copied it and the photo collage idea.

Ivan Turns 2

Happy Birthday, Ivan! In January, he turned 2 and we celebrated by inviting my parents down for dinner and cake. I tell myself there are plenty of years for themed birthday parties with a guest list, party hats, and the works.

Oh, Ivan, you...

...can't pronounce an initial 's', so Senya is 'Denya'

...think your name is Denya too

...love swinging at the park and seeing the fish in the stream

...finally love books and blankets

...love playing "baby" with Senya (as in, being the baby)

...love jumping on the trampoline

...know how to say so many words including 'Taco Bell', 'shriptures' and 'Daddy's Home!' (in no particular order of importance)

...don't know that your obsession for putting on lotion and chapstick and wearing Senya's headbands will at some point be a distant and embarrassing memory

...helping Mom in the kitchen

...being outside

The kids get the "party" off to a great start with dancing to some Primary songs.

For anyone who is still on the Nature vs. Nurture fence, Trent and I can both testify that Ivan was born loving vehicles. He was making the "vroom" sound as soon as he could push a car around. A car mat from his grandparents made the perfect gift.

When we were brainstorming for cake ideas, Senya insisted that he wanted a Farm Cake. I couldn't argue; the boy does like animals and singing "Old McDonald Had a Farm", so it seemed as good an idea as anything I could come up with. As you can tell, I put more effort into the actual flavor of the cake (our beloved carrot cake recipe) than I did into the decorating.

Orr Family Farm

We recently visited my brother Noel and his family in Oklahoma City. It was a quick weekend trip, and most of the time was spent watching Senya and Ivan play with their 2-yr-old cousin, Grace. One activity we enjoyed was visiting a local farm that has seasonal activities, and I hate to admit it, but the Orr Family Farm beats the pants off our local pumpkin patch. The only thing we have on them is the price.

Some of our favorite things:

• jumping pillows (picture a gigantic jumphouse floor)
• pedal cars (even small enough for the littlest of kids)
• train ride around the property
• carousel
• huge slides made of plastic culverts
• an actual pumpkin patch (as in pumpkins growing on a vine)

Senya (almost 4), Grace (2), Ivan (21 months)

Ivan, 'Is her pumpkin bigger than mine?'

Ivan and Grace trying out the pedal cars

The jumping pillow (Ivan was a little wary, so Trent held him at first); it had about the same bounce factor as a jumphouse (as opposed to a trampoline), so the dads could do flips without the kids next to them flying off. These things were huge (about 3 times what you can see in the picture).

Precocious Senya--3 Stories You Will Love

#1. The other day, we're eating pancakes for breakfast, and Senya takes a bite out of hers and asks, "What do you think my pancake looks like?" Unimaginatively, I answer, "I don't know, a moon?" to the crescent-shaped pancake. "Yeah! You're right!" she says. After each bite, the pancake becomes something different. The next pancake has two bites taken out of it. "Look! It's an armadillo!" she says.

And lo, and behold, it looks exactly like a armadillo! Now, while armadillos are common animals in Texas (as roadkill usually), they are not a frequent topic of conversation around our household. We did have a library book once. Did I mention Senya has a very good and very particular memory?

#2. Ivan has a problem: he loves carrots, but doesn't have any teeth.

Since choking is a regular occurrence at mealtime for him anyway, carrots are totally off limits. Fortunately and unfortunately for him, he has been teething for weeks now, trying to cut his 4 molars at once. He's been in and out of grumpy, especially when I won't let him eat the carrots he so loves. Senya looked into his mouth this morning and exclaimed, "Mommy, Ivan's getting his carrot-chewers!"

Here they are eating something Ivan can eat very well, with or without molars: saltine crackers. (We call this The BathTub Snack. Bathtub Snacks happen after I have just mopped the kitchen and want to enjoy one full hour of crumb-free floors.)

#3. Senya's really into pretending to be different animals lately, so when she started morphing into a bat around bedtime when it was time to clean up, I got a little annoyed that it might take forever. But then I realized I could use it to my advantage. "Little bat," I called, "I need you to fly with your strong wings and take these stuffed animals back to your room." "Okay," she said happily and away she flew. So this went on a few more times, and then it was time for her to go to the bathroom one last time before bed. "Little bat," I said, "It's time to go to the bathroom." "Bats don't have to poop," Senya says factually. I explained that actually they did, so she needed to also. "Well, then," she said,

"I'm a rock."

Big Sister Senya

Funny story...Senya is such a great observer and watched very carefully as I measured some furniture with a measuring tape.  Then, taking a piece of ribbon, she just as carefully "measured" the rocking chair, and declared, "Small."  Moving on, she measured the coffee table, and decidedly announced, "Big."  Finally, wrapping the ribbon around herself, she said, "Long."  

 

Adorable!  Senya loves to hold and hug her new baby brother (6 weeks old).

Senya looks a bit mischievious, don't you think?  (This is Ivan at about 2 weeks.)