Grandma Pat here and other NOV stuff!

Grandma Pat came here to visit for a nice long weekend early in November and we couldn't have had more fun!  Lots of fun cooking projects and art projects kept us all entertained and accessing our creative spirit.  Nev got a little sick this weekend but she pulled through an 8 day stomach bug with lots of grace.  The rest of us managed to stay healthy.  

I had to tkae an obligatory bathtub picture of the kids - a funny story to add... Nev had Coda laughng SO hard in this bathtub adventure that he threw up right there in the tub.  We had to drain it and start all over, this time with less laughing.  It was a riot!!!! 

Finally had to add pictures of Coda by the front door.  He spends lots of time here looking out at the world and learning to pull himself up to the standing position.  He also loves banging stuff against the door. STIMULATION!  We had Coda's 9 month doc appt this week and found out that he weighs 19 pounds and is in the 80% for height and 25% for weight, whatever this means.  Bottom line is he's healthy and thriving.  He's eating lots of grown up food now and LOVES meat, cheese and bread/cheerios/waffles.  He also gets yummy soft veggies and fruits each day.  He's a really good eater and very active!  His top 2 teeth are in and bottom 2 teeth in as well. He's now getting 2 more teeth in on top and they will likely be in by Chrsitmas.  He's being a trooper with the discomfort.  Both kids for flu shots this year. 

Halloween

Robb worked Halloween night but Nev, Coda & I all enjoyed Trick or Treating in our neighborhood.  It was a beautiful night and Nev scored big in the candy department.  Lots of kids out in the hood.  We left a caldron of candy on our front step with a sign - you should read the sign on the below picture.  Nevi wrote the top part (Please eat candy).  Completely awesome.  And for the record, Coda didn't actually eat a lolli - it had the wrapper on it (Is that worse?  Who knows).

Gorgeous fall day

While maximizing this unbelievably beautiful fall day, we rode bikes and, in Coda's case, drove our convertibles.  Also decided to decorate our pumpkins - who knew that using markers, glitter and stickers on our pumpkins would be MORE fun than carving them (the messy factor remains the same however)! Glitter is Nev's favorite right now, along with stickers coming in at a close 2nd best.  But crafts in general are by far one of Nevi's favorite activities.  Her attention span and attention to detail are growing, making art projects way more fun and more elaborate.  Coda likes to touch everything right now and explore through his hands.  He is teething something fierce right now so his freezer toys being used everyday.  His gums looks so swollen that I can't even tell which teeth are coming in, definitely his top right and possibly even some more on his bottom. LOTS of hugs for Coda right now.  

Bike/Trailer Excursion

Just wanted to share a sweet story about this adventure.  We packed up the bike trailor for a 12 mile (round trip) bike trip to Rock Creek Pumpkin Farm.  The trip there was smooth sailing.  We had a nice picnic under a shaded tent and saw some fun farm animals, climbed on hay bails, etc.  Robb had to jet early to get back for a client so the kids and I adventured back alone.  We were pushing nap time slightly so Coda was tired and probably not too excited about getting back in the bumpy trailer ride for yet another 6 mile trek.  Anyway, he was fussy and crying.  I got them as comfy as possibly and started biking, hoping that the trip would soothe him, as car rides often do.  He fussed for about 3 minutes then suddently stopped.  I looked back and saw Nevi putting her arm around him and singing to him.  She sang 'This Old Man' to him over and over for the entire 6 miles home and before I knew it, Coda was fast asleep in her lap.  She kept holding him and singing to him no matter, one arm around his body and the another hand on his cheek.  It was the most precious thing I'd ever seen.  Ahma taught Nevi this song and it has been her fav ever since!  To top it off, as I was unloading the kiddos at home, I noticed that the picnic cooler that was in the back of the trailer had a corner that was pointing right into Nevi's back.  When I asked her about it she just said nonchalantly that it sticking her back the whole ride home but that she just wanted Coda to be quiet and comfy. The sacrifices a big sister makes!  I have never been prouder of my sweet girl!!!!

Coda's Quantum Leaps

Coda's done some pretty spectacular stuff in terms of development lately and it seems to have happened almost overnight.  He started crawling on 10/17/2012 and only days before that he was up on all 4's, rocking and swaying, trying to find his balance and weight distribution.  He weighs close to 18 pounds now and has 2 teeth in on the bottom.  I see his top teeth coming in VERY soon now, too.  Actually, I see lots and lots of swelling in his gums so I wouldn't be surprised if he started teeth in large clumps, as they usually do.  He has had one REALLY tough night in terms of teething pain but other than this, he has been a trooper.  He absolutely LOVES to play ball right now. Also I put him in his 'car' today as we walked (Nevi rode her bike) down to the park. He held himself up pretty, holding onto the steering wheel as I pushed (to clarify, it is our green plastic car with push handle.  Didn't use it a whole lot with Nevi since she wanted to walk everywhere but Coda seems pretty comfy in the driver seat.) Oh yeah, and Coda LOVES to read books.  We have all sorts of textural and animal books - he gets very engaged in them, seems to study them with great concentration.  He loves to turn the pages and touch the tabs and 'feely things'.  

Nev & Coda ~ gigglefest

Indiana

 Labor Day Weekend in Indiana and Kentucky.  Apparently, I only had the camera out to capture Jenn & Coda, plus some shots out on the dock.  

Nev's first day back to Kiddie Kopia

Although she slept on the 3 minute drive to her first day of school, August 21st, she had eased right back into the swing of school again and is doing REALLY well.  She's already gone on a field trip to Miller Farms with babysitter, Stephanie, and Coda accompanying and we went to our first family picnic, having ourselves an awesome time.  Miss Jeanne told me at the picnic that she decided to bring Nevi to her classroom for 'group' with the older kiddos as she thinks Nevi is ready for it.  She said that Nevi LOVES 'group' where they talk about various educational topics, sing songs, etc.  The kids sit in a circle and 'share'.  

Nevi eating a PEACH

Nevi asked that I video tape her eating her peach.  Video taping her doing 'things' is becoming a new favorite activity of hers.  She absolutely loves to be video taped and then watch herself 'perform'.  We did this for an hour yesterday. I am fascinated by this interest of hers and trying to nurture her desire to be 'on camera'.   Most people I know absolultely HATE seeing themselves in pictures or videos but not Nev.  Maybe she will be a theater major.  Lord knows she's got enough personality for it.  

HORSES!!!!

Nevi's beloved Friday Babysitter, Stephanie, is a mother of 2.  Elisebeth is her oldest.  Victoria is her youngest.  Both awesome girls.  Elisebeth is 20something years old and happens to have 3 horses, one being an 8 week old colt named Charlotte.  Stephanie and Elisabeth invited our family to the horse ranch last weekend and we were there will bells on!  Victoria was kind enough to ride the horses with Nevi while Elisabeth guided them from the ground. I had Coda in the carrier, as usual. Elisebeth 'shows' her horses and rides them on those obstacle courses (impressed by my horse knowledge?).  She is a horse-whisperer of sorts. I am thoroughly impressed that she supports her own expensive interest, owns 3 horses and is only in her 20's. She may be the most 'grounded' girl I know.  We had an awesome time - they invited us back any time we want!

Sittin up!

Just in the last few days, Coda has been sitting up for longer and longer periods of time.  Today, he sat up for close to 15 minutes unassisted before he toppled over to his side. His back and his core are both really getting strong, in other words, he is becoming less and less of a blob everyday!  He is eating twice a day now and his favorite foods so far are rice cereal, squash, sweet potatoes, apples, peas.  His strong dislikes are bananas and pears.  Eating is a real adventure - with every bite I put in his mouth, in goes his hand to follow.  I have never seen anything SO MESSY!  It's a riot!  At first, he was pretty unsure about the whole 'eating' thing but now he actually seems to enjoy it more than drinking his milk!  He has definitely displayed preferences with formula - he doesn't like either of the organic brands we have tried but rather prefers Enfamil, of all brands.  The organic formula brands really do seem more course and chalky and more diffifult to dissolve in water than the Enfamil. I love that he is becoming his own little person with likes and dislikes already.  I am having so much fun witnessing Coda and Nevi's similarities and differences.  For example, this wooden bead toy that he is playing with in the pictures NEVER captured Nevi's attention.  She had NO interest in this toy.  Coda, however, loves it.  It is a difinite favorite of his.  As mentioned previously, I am learning all about formula with him, too, which I never really had to do with Nevi. She was the 'Nursing Queen'.  Coda really likes his bottle.   They both experienced infant Eczema, too.     Coda's flareups are MUCH worse, though, so we are using herbal remedies, plus just started a prescription topical which makes me a little nervous but seems to be working.  Doc said he's got really sensitive skin.  We had his 6 month doc visit yesterday. He weighed in at 17 pounds, 13 ounces.  He is in the 50-75% for weight and the 75-90% for height.    No teething yet.  He naps 2 times a day, something even a third if his earlier naps weren't long enough.  He LOVES Nevi.... belly laughter galore when they interact.  

'Lympics

Obviously, Nevi has her alliances straight!

Pearl Street Mile (Half Mile, really)

Nevi ran in her annual Pearl Street Mile race - the kiddos run 1/2 mile.  Coda and I cheered her on at the start and finish but Robb ran with her this year.  She did great and had a lot of fun!  The pictures didn't turn out great of the race but considering I had a baby in my front carrier, a diaper bag around my back, one arm handy to take the pictures and the other to fight through crowds so I could even get to the track to watch, I figure they're good enough.  Good thing Nevi was wearing the brightest colored shirt she owns....it made spotting her in the crowds MUCH easier....
She finished as the second overall 3-year-old in a time of 5:54.  That's almost 3 & 1/2 minutes faster than her time from last year!  Results are here: Pearl Street Kids Half-Mile Results by Age