Growing Up Fast in 2016, Part 3

Here's the final set of photos featuring Astrid's growth, from July and August.

Part 1
Part 2

Here's another from Olbrich, in the flowers.



Spaceman Spiff (with a dress)!



Nana with the kids at the bears at Olbrich.



Again with the skirt and one of her favorite things: a book.



We went to the Renaissance Fair in Bristol. I should write about that, too.



Astrid was a fairy, of course, and Luca was a goblin or orc. Kyra was beautiful, and I was weird. As usual.

Here's Astrid reading. Poor baby doll, getting left on the window sill like that.



And here she is outside enjoying the warm, late summer weather.



I haven't had a chance to review photos from September to now. I feel like she's come to a milestone, and is really growing taller for the most part. Her face hasn't changed quite as much since the last photo her, other than her hair getting a lot longer.

I know 2016 was tough for a lot of people, but these last few posts show that there were good things going on, you just have to look in the right place. I'll (try to) remember 2016 as a good year of growth for our kids, Astrid especially.

Growing Up Fast in 2016, Part 2

Continuing on from the last post, here are some photos from May and June in 2016.

Growing up in Olbrich, with those beautiful white flowers in the trees.



with Luca and Mama.



Some good reading time with "Cuca"... with a classic Astrid "smile".



Dirt baby.



We were moving dirt, and just couldn't keep her out of it.

And here are Luca and Astrid taking care of the baby (doll).



A pic from Father-Daughter Day. We're in the back of the car, of all places. I think I was getting something, and she wanted to get in.



And another with Luca while at Nana's.



She's definitely getting taller, and her face is changing.

Stay tuned for one more set of photos!

Growing Up Fast in 2016, Part 1

Astrid grew up quite a bit in 2016. Over the next couple of days, I'm going to write a few posts about her growth.

Eating some yogurt.



Crafting with ribbon paper.



Playing in the old tires.



Walking outside with the blue elephant.



In pajamas on the couch.



With Grandma Teresa on Astrid's birthday!



First birthday cake!



Having fun at the party!



These photos are from March to April, and she grew so much just in 1 month! Getting to 1 year old really was a big difference.

More to come!

Father-Daughter Day

A couple of weeks ago, Nana and Ave decided to rent a camper and go on a camping trip with Liliana and Dalila. On the first day, they arrived at Devil's Lake, and we went up to meet them, play at the beach, and have dinner.

Kyra decided to stay with them that evening, along with Luca. Since Astrid is still so young, we decided that I would bring her home so she could sleep in her crib. The following day would just be me and Astrid. But father-daughter day really started on the drive home.

Usually Astrid falls asleep in moderate-to-long car rides, but on the way home I decided I was still a bit hungry, so I stopped at a restaurant and ordered a chicken sandwich. While we were waiting, Astrid and I played in the car, with me reaching back to grab her hand and make funny noises at each other.

When we got back home, it was late and past Astrid's bedtime. I had showered her at the park so I could just put her to bed, but since she was still rather awake, we snuggled for a bit before bedtime.

Astrid has been teething lately, and I might have forgotten to give her medicine before bed. She woke up at midnight, probably with tooth pain. I ended up pulling her into bed with me since I was too tired to lean over the crib and get her back to sleep. She fell asleep as we snuggled, but I couldn't get to sleep. I was too worried I would roll over her in the middle of the night, so I put her back in her crib.

Of course, when we woke up that morning, I was still too tired, so I brought her back to bed again and we snuggled and chatted about the ceiling fan. (Kyra says Astrid thinks the fan is waving at her.) She's making all these funny noises now - not quite words, but she's trying.

After a morning of playing and reading, we went to visit the principal at Luca's school (Huegel Elementary). She's leaving for a new job in the southwest, and she was a really great principal. I wanted to say goodbye, and let her see Astrid one more time. During the school year, I would watch the kids in the mornings, and she was often out there too. During the warm spring weather, I would bring Astrid on occasion. Grandpa Bill was at school that day, too, cleaning up the school after Luca (and his classmates, I suppose). We had a good talk and headed home.

When we got back home, we decided to play ball in the front yard. Astrid took this little blue basketball and dropped it at the top of the driveway. It would roll down and I would catch it and bounce it back at her. A simple game, but she got a kick out of it.

During lunch, Astrid was being goofy and had food all over her hands. She started clapping for some reason, so I started clapping with her, and I tried to get her to do a clapping game. She thought it was hilarious. Once we cleaned up, it was time for more reading before naptime.

After nap, everyone else was scheduled to come back to our place. So ended a father-daughter day. I'll remember the laughter, playing in the car, snuggling, and clapping with food all over our hands.

Super Astrid

Astrid got a toy picnic kit for Christmas. A week or two ago, she kept flipping the picnic blanket over her head. I thought she was trying to wear it, like a cape, so I stuck it down the back of her shirt.

And then, SUPER ASTRID was born!


What a back story. So deep and full of angst and darkness. *sarcasm*

Ready for takeoff!


And she's off!


Faster than a speeding milk bottle. Able to crawl over the most difficult obstacles in search of the "path of most resistance".

Now whenever she gets a hold of a kitchen towel, she tries to do the same with it as the picnic cloth. Kyra got so annoyed with her stealing the kitchen towels that she got her a new one just for her. It's now sitting with the rest of the toys in the living room.

In other news, Astrid likes her hat, too.


What a goon. She does have a refined side.


At least for a moment.


It doesn't last long.

Kyra and Astrid are home now full time. It seems to be going well. Kyra is happier and better rested. Astrid is napping better and longer (she has dropped her morning nap, though). I enjoy seeing both of them when I take a break from work. The days seem to go by faster with them home.

Occasionally, Astrid appears to get bored, but Kyra has a lot of plans to keep busy, especially this summer with the garden. I'm looking forward to seeing a "dirt baby" run around in our backyard. In the meantime, there's swimming, walks, and reading time at the library.

Explaining Pluto's Status to a Three-Year-Old

I received a solar system kit from Nana for Christmas.



Now Pluto did come with the kit, but I didn't add him. Why? Because he's not a planet anymore, based on the new definition by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

Luca asked the same question, and I had to think for a minute how I could explain this to him. There are a few main components of what makes up a planet (simplified):

1. Orbit: All planets orbit a star.
2. Shape: Each planet is nearly round.
3. Neighborhood: Each planet has cleared its orbital neighborhood of other stuff.

The last criteria excludes Pluto from planethood, since there's still a lot of junk in its orbital path.

So I told Luca, "Pluto isn't a planet because he didn't clean up his room."

By the way, here are some new, spectacular images of Earth:

The New Blue Marble West
The New Blue Marble East

Morning Advice

Almost every morning, I take a moment to give Luca a hug and say, "Have fun, be gentle, and listen." It seems, on those days I miss this moment, like Luca has a rough day. On those days, I realize the impact that small things like a repeated bit of advice to a child can have on an entire day. And the hug makes a difference too. But this advice is really good for anyone, and I strive to live up to it too. So today, make some time to slow down, have a bit of fun, listen to someone carefully, and be gentle in all you do.

New Videos: Luca and Easton, Easter, Wedding Videos Updated

Last week, Kyra's boss was in a dilemma: she had a required, all-staff meeting after work and her husband had a last-minute meeting after work and could not pick up their son. My wife volunteered me to pick up her son and watch him until the meeting was over. So I picked up her son, Easton, and took him home with Luca.

The evening went very well. The two boys played very well with each other, and Luca was excited to have someone over to visit. They played with trucks, instruments, blocks, and rode around on the toy horse and giraffe. Other than goofing up the dinner selection because of Easton's allergies, it went very well.

While making dinner, I shot some video of the two boys playing with the instruments:

Luca and Easton 1

After dinner, we took a bath. It was not very eventful, with both boys playing with the floating roads and trucks. Then we got ready for bed, but we had to wait for Kyra and Easton's mom, Chris, to come home and pick up Easton. In the meantime, the boys rode around on the horse and giraffe:

Luca and Easton 2

It was fun having Easton over, so hopefully he can visit again sometime!

---

Easter was last weekend, and of course we hid Easter eggs around the house. I shot some video of Luca looking for the eggs. I admit it's a bit boring and the video is a bit shaky. I was barely awake, so give me a break. I was also trying to remember where all the eggs were so we wouldn't forget them.

Easter Egg Hunt


Easter Thank You

We also went to my mom's side for Easter dinner. They hid eggs out in the yard:

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A while ago, Google Video shut down the ability to upload videos, and now they are purging all of the hosted videos. I re-uploaded our videos to YouTube, including our wedding videos. As a result, the quality is much better. Here is our wedding ceremony:

Our Wedding Ceremony

For the other videos of our wedding, see the page for additional wedding videos and the page for reception videos.

A Night Out

Last night, Kyra and I had the pleasure of having a night out. First, we went out for hot chocolate. Kyra and I played a silly game where one person says a famous person's name and the other has to say another famous person's name, and the first name has to start with the first letter of the last name the other person said. We used to play this game when Kyra had trouble falling asleep. For example:

"George Clooney"
"Charles Dickens"

Then we went to a ballroom dance, hosted in part by our friend Carla. She performed an amusing dance in which Carla and Deborah, the dance company owner, kicked around and tied up Deborah's husband, Eric, to the tune "These Boots are Made for Walking." Later in the evening, Eric played the "Packer Polka," and introduced it by saying something like, "If you find the next tune offensive... SUCK IT."

Grandpa Bill watched Luca for us. Luca was very excited to see Grandpa Bill, and he wanted him to read to him and play games. This morning, the following conversation occurred:

Luca: "Where Granpa Bill?"
Me: "He went home."
Luca: "I get him."

He continued to whine about "getting" Grandpa Bill. I think it's because Grandpa Bill doesn't visits often enough, and Luca misses him.

A Day at the Park and Some Birthday Presents

A while ago, I took some pictures while Luca and I were playing at the park:









That was a nice warm day. I can't remember what we were doing that day... It's quite apparent in these photos that he's no longer a little baby. He's moving around A TON. Climbing, jumping, dancing, running, screaming, yelling, singing, laughing.

We had a birthday party for him a few weeks ago. It was so busy, we didn't get a chance to take many pictures. We did have time to go on a carousel ride. Luca was terrified.

Grandpa Bill and Ibu (Grandpa Bill's fiancé, Steph) gave Luca a tool bench for his birthday. He loves it, and it's quite a visual and tactile treat:





I made him a Luca "train", as Luca called it.





Grandpa Bruce (Carla's dad) gave him three vehicles that were his toys growing up. He repainted them:



We keep those in a special place when they're not in use: Just above Luca's chair at the dining room table.

With all the new stuff, and the fact that our little boy is a big boy, we moved some furniture around. Most of Luca's toys, aside from the tool bench, are in his bedroom now.





I thought we would catch him playing with them in the middle of the night, but that hasn't happened so far. He usually wakes up and goes right to the door and whines until we come in.



The big clock was from Grandma Bea for his first birthday, I think. Of course, the silhouette was from me to Kyra on Mother's Day. Wait, did I not post that on the site? I don't think I did! Well, here it is for you to see now...!



The silhouette was difficult to obtain. I had to get a side photo of Luca (hard to do when he's squirming) and then I had to find someone I could trust to make it (hard to do when NO ONE does it anymore!) using the internet (hard to trust!) and then I had to wait and hope it would arrive on time for Mother's Day. (The artist is Karl Johnson of Cut Arts.)

Thank you to everyone who attended Luca' birthday and gave him gifts! He is enjoying all of them!

Mr. Big Turns Two by Carla

Carla posted an entry for Luca's birthday on her blog:

The Bean, Luca-Bean, Luca-Bug, Buddy, Bug, Mr. Big, LLBean (Little Luca Bean), Mama's Teddy Bear.

Luca. So many nicknames for such a sweet little boy.

Today you are two, Luca-Bug. I never knew that two could feel like such a big number - so old. It's cliche to say, but I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. It was a cool, cloudy fall day - and I thought it couldn't be more beautiful because I was thrilled you were finally going to be born. There had been lots of waiting - lots of walking around with Mama to try and get you to come into the world, and none of it worked. Not even seeing David Sedaris and laughing that hard could cause Mama to go into full labor. He signed a book for you - and when you're older, I hope you read it and enjoy it as much as I have. It's a funny book.

But back to the story of you. Mama was in labor at the hospital on the 13th of October - which happens to be the birthday of my best friend since kindergarten, Sarah Lynn. I didn't know how I felt about you sharing her birthday - but I know she's been such an angel in my life, it must be a good sign if the 13th was to be your birthday. You were born after midnight that night, so you are a 14th of October baby. And Luca-Bean, the 14th is a great day too. You have become an angel in my life. I can't tell you the number of ways my life has improved since you were born. Mainly, there are more giggles, hugs, kisses, and silliness. And I love being silly.

I can't imagine what the last two years would have been like without you. You



make me laugh harder and with such pure joy. I have taken hundreds of photos of you - I'm afraid I'll forget what you were like at each age. You have grown and changed so fast!

I wanted to do something really special for your birthday, but there is nothing I could do that would come anywhere near being as precious as what your mama did. You can see it at http://kyrachris.com - search for montage, I think. Luca, I cried watching this montage. Many of the photos are ones I took - like the first photo of you where Baba is holding you. And at the park with Mama. And the second to last photo was taken at my One Year IV Free Party. Hopefully you'll never have to know how sick Auntie Carla was or why that party was so important. Hopefully, there will be many more IV Free years!

The song Mama used in the montage was a song I put on the Lullaby CD I made for you - one of 10 CDs I made for your 1st Christmas. I want you to love music. I want you to be passionate about dance. Most of all u want you to be happy. So don't worry about what I want you to be - be whoever you want to be.

Always know that I am here for you, Bean. You can tell me anything. I'll help you through anything.

"I'll love you forever and always because you are my Dear One." - Barbara M. Joosse

Happy 2nd Birthday!!!

Love,
Auntie Carla

Dreams of a Toddler

I walked into Luca's room this morning, starting his morning routine with all the usual "Good Morning", "Did you sleep well", etc. As I sat down on his bed he says:

"Tiger bite you in bed. No Tiger!"

I guess for a two year old boy tigers are the stuff dreams are made of?

One of Those Days

There are days when parenting is a wonderful, heart warming experience. Like those family trips to the water park: watching your son experiment with a rube Goldbergian water machine, learning through trial and error how to route the water through the desired holes. Or watching with humor as he vainly attempts to line all the empty tubes up against the wall, before a big wave comes and washes them all out into the wave pool again. ("Stop Wave!") Or hearing him shout "Oh NO! No. Thank. You. Boat." as you collide with empty tubes on the lazy river. Those are the days when parenting is a joy, and you can't imagine your life any other way.

Then there are days like today.

These are the days when you just want to pull your hair out. When, after you ask your son to pick up a toy, he shouts "NO!" and then lays down on top of the toy you just asked him to pick up. Or when you tell him to go potty and he refuses, defiantly plopping himself down on the bathroom floor with his pants around his ankles. Or when he headbutts a kid during group time, then won't even sit down for the time out you consequently impose. These are the days that make you doubt the efficacy of you parenting style, and wonder what kind of Jekyll and Hyde monster you've spawned.

I try to tell myself every kid goes through these rough patches. Every parent has those days where they have to half-carry, half-drag their child in to school. And as a preschool teacher I know its true. But it doesn't make it any easier to deal with. I keep thinking, "Why can't my child be more like I was?" Because I was never stubborn. I always listened. I was never disobedient, and just generally the most perfect child ever. (OK mom, you can stop laughing now. And yes I do remember the huge tantrum over the mashed potatoes. Will I ever live that one down?)

So every kid, and every parent, occasionally has one of those days. I'll just take a deep breath, think some happy thoughts, and remember all those wonderful, heartwarming moments that make parenting worth it.

That, and hope tomorrow will not be another one of those days.

Pumpkins and Apples

Last weekend, we went apple- and pumpkin-picking with Carla and her parents, Bruce and Alice. Carla wrote a post about it on her site:

Last Saturday was an amazing day! Chris, Kyra, and Luca met my parents and me at an apple farm near my house. My goal for this year was to be with Luca when he got his first pumpkin - and he picked one out! And after we were all exhausted from picking apples and pumpkins, we went [out] for dinner.

One of my favorite things was watching Luca interact with my parents. He calls my dad "Gampa Buce" because 'r's are hard. And of course, my favorite was saying goodbye and hearing him say, "I Love You."

I had so much fun watching him pick apples and eat apples and pick out a pumpkin - it's hard for me to put into words. So here are some photos!

Luca's first bite of an apple he picked. :-)


My Cutie in the wagon.


Kyra and Luca headed towards the pumpkin patch.


Luca pets a goat.


BIG PUMPKIN :-)


Luca finds the perfect pumpkin!!! His FIRST pumpkin. :-)


Luca inquires about a troll in the store. [Editor's note: Kyra said about this photo, "You can just hear him saying, 'What's that?'"]

I Love You, Bean!!! Let's do this every year!!!

We had a lot of fun, too, and we hope to have many more years of apple- and pumpkin-picking with Carla!