Mr. 2-9

I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that most often the plans I make don't usually play out the way I planned... I find that I am constantly having to cancel with friends because Ezra is sick, Tieba isn't going to be home from work on time, or the fire sprinkler in our condo has started to leak.  

So, naturally, my plans for a little surprise birthday for Tieba didn't quite go as I hoped it would. 

The plan: Tieba would take the bus home with my dad because Ezra and I were in Mukilteo, and he could ride home with us.  I'd pick up Chinese food at 5:30- everyone would arrive at my parents about that time, Tieba and my dad would be home at 5:45. Tieba would be totally surprised to see everyone in the family and so excited we were having Chinese, because we never do. After dinner we'd have brownies (that I made earlier in the day) and ice cream.

The reality: Tieba forgot he was taking the bus home with my dad and came home early. There was a back up at Lotus and I had to sit there for 20 minutes waiting for the food.  Tieba got a ride to Mukilteo with Ben and the boys, and then got to my parents the exact same time I did.  He wasn't surprised.  I forgot to make brownies. 

Fortunately, the food was delicious, my mom made better brownies than I would have, and we all had fun!  Happy birthday to the best husband, dad, and friend!  We love you!

M

Family Pictures

It is possible that I have a picture of Ezra from every single day of his life.  Unfortunately these pictures are almost exclusively taken on an iPhone. This September we had pictures taken of our family and I love them- our photographer captured all of Ezra's cutest faces.

Can't wait to get these up on the wall! 

M

11 Months

Dear Ezra, 
All this time we thought that you only wanted to drink milk, when really you just wanted to eat what we were eating!  You are happy to eat whatever we cook and insist on eating whenever you see someone with food. You love cheese, meat, zucchini, carrots, pizza, and bread. You enjoy sucking the juice out of apples and grapes, but always spit out the bulk of the fruit.  This change in diet has  helped your bowels get more regular; you are finally pooping at least once a day, and usually wake up ready for a diaper change after your naps. You love playing with buttons and zippers, but your favorite accessory of all is a tiny mole on my neck.  You are especially fixated with it when I carry you in the Ergo or when I'm nursing you.  You can't keep your little claws off of it! You even go for it in the middle of the night when it is completely dark and your eyes are shut. For whatever reason, you love to play with the garbage can and can't get enough of the toilet. While most babies your age might carry around a stuffed animal or toy, you always crawl around with an odd object: a shoe tree, bottle of aloe vera, credit card, hanger, or water bottle cap (that isn't a choking hazard) to name a few. You love to dance/head bang, clap, and wave good bye. Every time we get to the last page of Go, Dog. Go! and it is time for the "dog party" you start to celebrate with a clap.  I think it is the cutest thing ever, so we read that book at least 5 times a day (with out exaggeration). You think it is pretty funny to bite me... So hilarious that you took such a chomp into me while nursing that I was bleeding and uncomfortable for a few days. It's a good thing you have such a cute laugh or you'd be cut off from your milk supply! Love you forever, 
Mom

Hanger

Two things to know about Ezra-
1. He likes to hold on to dangerous objects (finger nail clippers, pens, toothbrushes... hangers). 
2. He hates wearing socks, and unless he is involved with a dangerous object he is usually taking them off or not letting you put them on. 

A few days ago Ez and Troy woke up from their afternoon naps and Kel and I wanted to take advantage of the sunshine and go on a walk before dinner time.  After I changed Ezra's diaper and cleaned his helmet, I needed to get changed really quick and head over to the Buehler's.  While I was getting dressed Ez scavenged around in my closet and found a wire hanger.  When we left my bedroom he brought the hanger with him.  When I attempted to take it from him while I put his socks on, he went into a full blown fake cry fit.  With hopes to get out the door faster, I gave him the hanger back while I put his socks on (can't make a habit of this!).  
After I put one sock on I heard a genuine cry of pain.  I looked up and noticed that Ez had the hook of the hanger in his mouth.  His eyes were squeezed shut and he was shreeking so loud.  I tried to get the hanger out and it wouldn't budge.  I tried again and could feel the tension in his cheek.  With my third and final tug I got the hanger out and hugged my Panda as closely as I could.  He cried hard for a good minute and then popped his head up as if nothing ever happened. Such a close call, he seriously made my heart stop.
We made it in time for our scenic walk and I learned my lesson about wire hangers (and all of his other dangerous buddies). 

M

Thomas Family Farm

Not only have we had a gorgeous summer, our fall has been sunny day after sunny day!  For the first time ever, I think I have enjoyed the fall even more than summer.  Not being soaked in sweat, or battling a stinky helmet, and being able to actually be outside may have something to do with it :).

On one of the first days of October, Kel and I decided to put the boys in the car and find a pumpkin patch to explore.  We drove down to Snohomish and ended up at the Thomas Family Farm, which happens to be owned by my mom's cousins.  Thankfully we had this connection because we got there on opening day about 3 hours before opening. 
They let us roam around the corn maze.  We were directed to the kids maze, but on one of our later trips realized that we were actually in the 3 mile long adult side!  We had a few scares when the never silent Levi ran ahead of us and decided to be quiet. Thankfully, we caught him every time and were able to loop back with out traveling through the entire maze.

Levi was in heaven!  Free range to run, Mac Trucks, pumpkins, and huge puddles.  What more could a three year old boy ask for? 

That weekend Emily joined in on the fun. We were going to go to a farm across the street, but it was ridiculously priced so we returned to Thomas Family Farm.  This time we bypassed the corn maze and spent our time searching for pumpkins. 

I got a few white pumpkins for our entry way and Kel managed to bring home one of the largest pumpkins in the patch (plus a few for carving).  

The following weekend we brought T and Ben along with us to join in on the Fall fun!  This time we entered Kidland.  The highlight of Kidland was the kettle corn and over priced hot dogs.  We also had fun with the rubber ducky races, miniature golf, and hay ride. We ventured through the corn maze again, this time making sure to stay on the kid side!

These skeletons sure are cute!   They make everything more fun.
I love being able to drive down Seattle Hill, into Snohomish, and be so close to such a beautiful and different landscape.

M

Poop II

Ezra tricked us into thinking that he preferred an exclusively liquid diet.  For his first 3 months of eating solid food we threw away the majority of his meals.  Most often he would refuse to even open his mouth. Every once in a while he would eat yogurt or Gerber Bananas.  We could always count on him eating puffs, but that was frustrating because he can't survive on a diet of cereal...

This all changed when we finally decided to start feeding him what we were eating.  With practically 10 teeth in his mouth, I decided to conquer my fear of choking and just share my food with him.  Suddenly, I couldn't get the food on his plate fast enough!  
My little chunk goes crazy for meat and cheese.  He surprisingly loves cooked zucchini, carrots, and mushrooms.  The other day he ate an entire piece of buttered toast.  He pretty much insists on eating whenever someone else is.  
This change in diet created an almost overnight transition for his bowels.  Our once a week pooper now wakes up from most naps with a fresh cow pie and has even had some of his night time sleep disturbed by dung. 

.........

Oh yeah... This change in regularity slipped T's mind the other night when he was letting Ez slink around in the nude before bath time the other night! EEEK!

M

Photo Dump // September

M

Big Man on Campus

Silver Furs Elementary has a new man in town!  Lele Bird is a big preschooler now!! It seems like just yesterday he was spending his days playing trains with Pink Paci in his mouth, and S the S on in the background.  This big man on campus is now an official bus rider and backpack wearer.  Since starting preschool he has ditched the pacifiers, started going to the bathroom in the toilet, and his vocabulary has exploded!  It is amazing how much he has grown in the last few weeks. 
....
With Levi in school, Kel and I have also enjoyed some fun morning adventures.  When it is dry out and our work schedules permit, we take the babes on walks. We've done a mall walk, and have frequent shopper miles at Target.  On more than one occasion we have strapped Ez and T in our Ergo Babies and travelled down every aisle of the store.  Other days, we just have breakfast together and let the boys play in peace.  

One thing is for sure, we are always happy when big brother gets home!

M

Baby Bailor!

Ezzy and I are on pins and needles waiting for a new little friend to join the world!  Emily's baby boy is due at the end of October.  We had a shower for her a couple weekends ago to celebrate the little lover! 
To compliment Em's pregnancy cravings we had breakfast- waffles, fresh fruit (grapefruit), and an egg dish.  Everyone gave Em and Rem some suggestions for a name, the winner being Dylan.  It was fun to be with friends and shower Emily with love! I am so happy for her and know that she is going to be an incredible mom. I'm looking forward to having our boys be friends and for us to share this phase of life together. 

I coerced her into letting me take some pictures of her and think that they turned out so pretty. 

M

Hand... Foot... and OUCH!

I remember being so excited to bring Ezra home from the hospital.  To match that excitement, I also remember feeling anxiety about being all alone with out a nurse or doctor an arms length away.  I found comfort in having our temperature taken every hour or so and the thought of using a rectal thermometer on my little man made my skin crawl.  They repeatedly told us that Ezra would have to be hospitalized if he had a fever over 100.4.  This turned me into a bit of a wreck.  I was so afraid that something was going to happen to my perfect baby.  I can remember sitting there holding him just balling for fear of "something happening to him."  We pretty much didn't leave the house for the first month and had limited involvement with the outside world for the first 3 months of his life.  I kept Ez in a total bubble... Looking back I realize I was a bit of a maniac, but my diligence paid off (luck) and we were able to avoid a fever for his first 9 months of life. 
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The first signs of fever included a really weird diaper change where he had his eyes closed and was rocking his head from side to side making very strange noises.  This was followed by an unexpected nap in my arms. From there he was super clingy and cuddly.  Ez has always been a warm body, but as we were getting him ready for bed we noticed that he was sunburn hot.  We gave him some medicine and catered to his every whimper all night long. 
This marked the beginning of a two week fever fight.  Overall he was in pretty good spirits.  Other than extra time hanging out in his diaper, or having a wash cloth on his head, oh and a return to being up all night, we went about our usual routine. 

Until... Tieba noticed "warts" on Ezra's feet.  Upon further examination I realized that they were blisters and they also happened to be on his hands.  At this same time we realized that he had been drooling more than usual, and probably had sores in his mouth... Thank you Google diagnosis, Ez had hand foot and mouth disease! 

Unfortunately, we discovered this too late and he already contaminated the Buehler family and myself.  I now have a greater appreciation for the discomfort he was in and would like to rename the virus, hand foot and OUCH! 

We survived our first fever with much help from our on call Doctor Kelly.  Having her a phone call and mile away makes the little medical emergencies so much more bearable.  Don't know what we'd do with out her! 

M

10 Months

Dear Ezra, 
You are a man on the move!  You have perfected your crawling form and now switch back and forth between the typical bear crawl and the dragging a broken leg crawl.  The biggest magnets to get you moving are paper (paper towels, mail, magazines), electrical outlets, credit cards, and electronics; pretty much anything you shouldn't be getting into! One day when I was cleaning your helmet your really wowed me when you unplugged my iPhone charger from the wall by the stools, and crawled the cord into your bedroom where I found you attempting to plug it into another outlet!  You are a smarty! Thankfully we are transitioning into pants season because your bare knees were feeling the pain.  You have also discovered the drawers around our home... You love to empty the drawers and then use them as anchors for standing.  It has been nice for me because now I can get ready for the day or cook and you are happily occupied with your new discoveries. You are a professional fit thrower and have a pretty lethal fake cry that you use in attempts to get your way.  Both of these art forms come out when I am trying to debooger your nose or clip your nails.  Unfortunately, this means that you frequently go around with a crusty nose and sharp claws/scratches on your face. Grandma is convinced that you know how to say dog, and we all can see how much you love Gus!  Well, really you love all dogs.  The minute you see one you start screaming and pumping your legs.  You are starting to wave to people and often times pat me on the back when I first pick you up.  Your love pats melt my heart, they erase the scratches, pinches, and screams from my memory. 
I love you, 
Mom

Parisian Picnic

While we were in Suncadia, Em went to Paris to discover the city and visit her friend Liz.  

When she got home the little French woman treated us to a Parisian Picnic. 

We all had way too much to eat and decided that this is a repeat meal!

M

Finally Sleeping!

Mid way through Ez's 9th month, I can finally predict his sleep patterns! He consistently goes to bed between 7 and 7:30 PM. Sleeps until 4:00 AMish, and then is up for the day between 6 and 7 AM. 
He usually goes down for his morning nap between 9 and 10 AM and his afternoon nap usually starts around 2 or 3 PM.  

I'm hoping when baby number two comes around I won't be so obsessed!!!

M

Photo Dump // August

M