Jonas-3 years

It's hard for me to believe that Jonas is already 3 years old. Some days I want him to still be my little baby, and others he acts like he's 3 going on 10. For the most part, Jonas truly is a joy to be around, although these days the "terrible 3s" are definitely making themselves known. He has a strong love for anything red, Rosie and Emily the train, and dinosaurs. He's willing to share most toys but you better not touch his favorites or there is a major meltdown. Troy and I working hard at being consistent with our discipline strategies. I must admit, though, that some times I just give in because it's easier...
Jonas is definitely a mommy's boy right now. He loves to play with Troy but wants mom there when it's time for bed or if there's an injury.
As far as eating goes, this is by far our pickiest child. And even when we serve something he likes, he sometimes lets his stubbornness show by refusing to eat. The only vegetable he eats is tomatoes and don't even think about trying to hide veggies in his food because he will find them. He does like most fruit and will usually eat chicken (or any other meat that we call chicken) as long as it's served with ketchup.
At the 3 year check up, he was in the 50th % for height and 75th % for weight. He handled the shots and blood pressure check like a champ. We did learn that his tubes have fallen out of the ear drum and sitting in the ear canal, so we're just waiting for them to work their way out. I'm excited to not have to battle the ear plugs in Australia. All in all, he's exactly where he should be for 3....
Except for the potty training. He's just not interested. He knows about the potty; he knows about the m&ms he will get....just can't be bothered. This is a totally different ballgame than with Reef. When we get back from Australia in January, it'll be potty training boot camp time because it needs to be done before June. Wish us luck!
Jonas got his first-ever birthday party with friends this year. We picked 3 friends from his class plus his teachers. There was nothing fancy planned, but they all had a great time. He's been obsessed with a "worm" cake he saw in a magazine, so I gave it shot. He loved it!

This is the first time I attempted a craft at a bday party. It went pretty well. That's Jonas' bff Rylan next to him.



Blowing out the candles.

We didn't do gifts at the party but Gigi did send Toy Story 3. He was very excited!

We love you Jonas! Can't wait to see what the next year brings!

Lachlan-15 months

I know when this gets published the date will say something much closer to the 5th than it's actually getting done. Blogging just hasn't been a priority around here these days...can't imagine why...
So, Lachlan is 15 months old. At his appointment, he weighed 22 1/2 lbs (25th %) and was 32 inches long (75th%). His head is still huge in the 90th %! I'm surprised he's only 22 lbs. He's our "skinniest" baby yet and is wearing clothes Reef was wearing at 9 months!
His schedule is still pretty much the same, although we are beginning to phase out the morning nap. I have mixed feelings about this since I do love the morning nap on preschool days. But it will make getting errands done much easier.
We've kind of entered a more picky phase in eating. Unfortunately, it looks like he's taking after Jonas more than Reef. Pretty much all vegetables are a "no" these days, and some times he's not a big meat eater either. The only thing he liked on Thanksgiving was the cranberry sauce! He still loves fruit and cheese.
This month has brought at least 3 more teeth (1 bottom front and 2 top molars). I think the bottom molars may be joining us soon too. I was beginning to wonder if more teeth would ever come!
Lachlan is also becoming a lot more verbal this month. Word include: mommy, dada, dog (with barking), cat, baa (sheep), roar (lion, bear, anything he thinks makes that noise), no, ball, bike, milk, book, raffe (giraffe), vroom...
We've been working (sporadically, I admit) on pointing to body parts. So far we've got nose, head/hair, and belly button down. Those are the important ones, right?
Picture taking has been pitiful this month, but this one pretty much sums it up. Lachlan has been to the dr 3 times in 3 weeks. He had upper respiratory junk, which led to wheezing. This earned up 15 minute nebulizer treatments twice a day-all month and January when we get back! This is not so fun with a 15 month old, but he handles it well and it gives him a chance to look at his favorite books (Brown bear, brown bear and My little work book). Last week, in addition to the coughing and green snot, I noticed green stuff coming from his ear too. He has his first ear infection since getting tubes done, and this better be the last!

Enjoying a cupcake at Jonas' party.

This month also brought out first hair cut. He looks calm here, but he was NOT a fan. It's much shorter and looks pretty cute, but probably could have been a little more precise. A good mom would have an after picture...but I don't...

Washington DC

Back on Halloween, Troy and I took a quick trip to Washington, DC. It wasn't really something we planned but ended up having to do. After the boys got their Australian citizenship, we got a letter saying they needed Australian passports to enter the country. The only place to get those was DC! So, we were off. Luckily, the boys didn't have to come with us, so we made a little get away of it. We were blessed to have the plane tickets and rental car donated from a family at church, and our friends the Chapmans stayed with the kiddos. Reef was so excited about them coming that he kept asking when we were leaving!
We flew into Baltimore and drove into Washington. We spent the first afternoon seeing the monuments.
Here's Troy at the Washington monument.

And in front of the Lincoln Monument.

A closer view of Lincoln. This place was packed!

Monday morning, we zipped off to the Australian Embassy to get the passports done. We were the first ones there and done in only 30 minutes! They were impressed that everything was correct on all 3 applications.

After that we wandered toward the museums. We did make a quick stop for a 2nd breakfast too. We visited the Air and Space Museum and the Museum of Natural History. After about half the Natural History museum, we had to leave because I needed food, ASAP. After quick lunch at McDonalds and look at the map, we decided to make the LONG trek to Georgetown Cupcakes (the shop on the show DC Cupcakes). When we got there, there was a line outside, on a Monday afternoon!

We got our cakes to go because we weren't really hungry and started back to the hotel. On the way, we stopped in at the National Geographic museum, which we really liked. I told Troy he should be impressed that I fought the urge to go back to the hotel for a nap all day! After we got back to the hotel, we thought about dinner. We hadn't seen anything we really wanted to try, so we ended up with pizza hut in our room. After the pizza, it was on to the cupcakes!

They were sooo good! Definitely the food highlight of our trip!

Tuesday morning, we were off to the airport again!

Pumpkin Patch, take 2

As promised, I did take the big boys to the pumpkin patch before Halloween. It actually took some arm-twisting because they'd already been to a pumpkin patch with Gigi. As anticipated, it was difficult to get any pictures of them, but here are the few good ones we got!
He looks so mischeivious!

Gotta love the "Cheese!" face that Jonas has!

I like this one but couldn't figure out how to get rid of the shadow on his face.

Closest thing to a good group shot.

Halloween Festivities

Halloween week was a fun-filled one, packed full of dress up fun. Our boys (and the Zimmer boys) were Brazilian soccer players this year since Dad brought back matching outfits from his trip this summer.
We kicked it off with our annual Life Group Halloween party. This is the best group shot I got; we're missing Shaun and Ethan but I think I got everyone else. This was probably our easiest group shot yet.

After group pictures and dinner, we headed outside for some fun games.


Reef was all about the donut eating contest. I love it when he joins in on games since it's kind of out of character for him.

Then the adults got in on the action.

Later in the week, we had our playgroup Halloween party. We've been doing this since Reef was a baby and there were only 5 of them. Now they can all move and it's wild! There were WAY more meltdowns during this picture, so this is the best I got...

The Friday before Halloween, our church hosted trunk or treat. We've tried it every year, and, I must admit, this isn't my favorite Halloween festivity. It gets dark early and it's hard to keep up with all the kiddos. They don't really love it either...I know there aren't any pictures, but Jacob and Aunt Taylor were here to celebrate with us.

As you can see, Reef and Jonas decided to change soccer outfits...

On the 30th, we took a break from costumes and candy to spend the morning at Morgan's Wonderland with our good friends, the Dyes. We were so excited for Taylor to finally get to check it out!

Reef and Jude with Mark on the see saw.

All 5 boys LOVED the roller slides! Might need one in the backyard...

Cousins in a jeep!

Reef and Lachlan driving the jeep....This is always a highlight, and we got 4 separate jeeps so everyone could be the driver!

Troy gives Jonas a hand scooping the sand. They spent the most time here!

Jacob and Reef playing the chimes.

Jacob and Aunt Taylor fishing. He got bored with it before he got the fish, though!

For actual Halloween, Troy and I were in DC (more on that later), so the our dear friends the Chapmans stayed with the boys and took them trick or treating.

Here are my big boys waiting to hit the road. There was a costume mix up, so Jonas is actually wearing Lachlan's outfit!

Lachlan and Liam rode in style.

After an outfit change, the brothers were ready to go!

Whew! I'm tired just re-living that week! It was fun but I'm glad we have a whole year before we do it again!

Marathon

On October 23, Troy and I did a half marathon to benefit our friends, the Lewis', adoption from Ethiopia. Kristin, Erin, and I had been training pretty regularly, but it was still tough! We heard everything after 9 miles could be done on adrenaline, but that was a lie. Those last 4 miles were so hard! The guys, who didn't train nearly as much as us, were able to run the whole thing! We were so glad to be able to help the Lewis' in this way and might consider doing it again next year...maybe....
Here's a pic of our walking trio.