Update on life...

Well, we have just been busy, what can I say?

I feel bad, not updating, or sharing, mostly for Isobel's sake. She has been doing so much lately. In the last few weeks, she has started "talking", she grabs at things and "laughs". She has also started to try to pull herself up when sitting in the bouncy or swing, so she really likes when we help her sit upright. She is also on the verge of rolling over - I anticipate it to happy any day now.

She is such a laid back baby most of the time, so much, that I feel like a bad parent! Isaac required so much rocking, cuddles, etc - and she is happy to be laid down without a fuss. We wake up to coos and "chatting" instead of shrieks! She has been sleeping all night, as in 8pm-almost 8am until I wake her the next morning because I am so full of milk!

On Isaac's front: He is very much enjoying school. He can write his name now and loves to tell me stories about what they did in school. We've been saving all his projects, which I know I can't keep forever, but I am just so tickled by all of them. He is taking a sports sampler, which he is really getting into - and he has gone a great job of listening and picking up all the concepts. You know Isaac, 'have feet, will run'.

At the end of October, I had their photos taken, and although we didn't get many great shots of Isobel, some of the photos of Isaac show such a grown up side of him.

I never thought I would be in awe of these little creatures of ours. Even in the most challenging moments, I look at how they seem to grow and change each day - and I am so amazed. I try to soak it all up, knowing that holding on to those little moments, when our heads are full of schedules, lists and tasks is hard....but at night, when Isaac is crashed out in bed with "Bear" or when Isobel is smiling up at me from the changing table, it's the most amazing feeling in the world.

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A serious observation

As we drove past downtown Chicago:

"Isaac, look - there is the Sears Tower!"

"Mom, that's not just one serious tower, there are two serious towers"

"Sears Tower, Isaac"

"No Mom, Serious Tower. It's Serious."

Well then...I guess it is!

New dining room table!

We bought a new dining room table last May - and we finally have the new chairs to go with it!

We found the table in an antique shop (Back Room Antiques) in Tawas and loved it instantly. It wasn't until we heard that it was going to be shipped to a store in Kzoo that we became serious about buying it.

The nifty thing about it is that it is handmade by a retired gentleman out of reclaimed barn wood. It just so happens the wood for this table is from an 1890's milking barn located in Frankenmuth (we even have a picture of the barn!). We had to order the chairs for the guy to finish, and we just got them last week.

We LOVE this table!! Not only is is unique and beautiful, but it's nice to be able to seat more than 4 people comfortably!

Implant Day

So - today I went to have the first step of my dental implant done. I was terrified, more than I was to go into labor. Seriously!!! However, it was not so horrific (certainly was not pleasant tho)...and, now I sit here thinking..."huh, shouldn't I have a little pain?". I mean, I can feel that something has happened to my mouth - but pain isn't a word I would use to define it.

[crunches on cheez-its]

For those of you who do not know, last spring, while pregnant, my front tooth fell out. I had already had a crown and a root canal done on this tooth - so when I wrestled with Isaac one day, and he hit me in the jaw, I should have known trouble was brewing. However, I did not - and a few weeks later, while eating cereal at my Mom's house....just like that - it fell out. Obviously, because I was pregnant, they didn't want to do the implant until after Isobel was born. Therefore, I have been walking around for months with a "flipper" (which is a polite way of saying denture).

[pauses for more cheez-its]

So, back to the pain thing - I pretty much think I am some bizarro who doesn't experience pain like other people. Back when I had my first foot surgery, I took the Vicodin like they said to, to keep the "pain manageable". All that did was make me sick to my stomach for 3 days. For the second foot surgery, I didn't take anything. I waited for the pain. Um....yeah...didn't happen. Not saying I was ready to dance a jig, but I certainly didn't need to take anything. Fast forward past 2 drug free labor & deliveries....(I'll admit, I popped a motrin the night after having Isobel because the cramping was a distracting feeling)...and now this. It's not that I am opposed to taking anything....I just don't feel enough discomfort to justify it. I don't get it...am I just some pain-tolerant freak, or is it just not there?

So...back to the implant, I go back in a few weeks, then after 3 months to assure all is going as planned...then I get to go to my dentist for the "tooth" portion....and I can be done with this ridiculous and embarrassing saga in my life.

Isaac - Quote of the Day

"Here Dad, I will put my helium on you."

(said in reference to putting his hand on Brian's injured calf muscle, apparently he meant "healing")

Isobel - 2 month stats

October 8, 2010

Weight: 11lbs 12 oz (75%)
Height: 22" (50%)
Head: 15" (50%)

Happy 4th Birthday Isaac!

Since our family birthday party was scheduled for the 19th, we decided to invite a couple local friends over to celebrate Isaac's 4th birthday. As it turns out - lots of friends were free that day - so it turned into a big party!!! Thankfully, the rain passed and we were able to have a spidey-riffic time!

A big thanks to our friend Katie for doing the face paints, they were the hit of the party!!!

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Long overdue posts

Do we see a theme here? So far, having 2 kids has been pretty good...however, my screen time has definitely been impacted. I can barely get a chance to reply to emails (and when I do, it's one handed typing because I am nursing!) much less updating our blog!

Anyways, here are some posts I updated recently...

Visit to Dutch Village
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/08/dutch-village.html

End of the Summer at the Cabin
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/09/end-of-summer-at-cabin.html

Dawn and Sam meet Isobel
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/08/dawn-and-sam-meet-isobel.html

Crim Weekend and Thomas the Train
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/09/crim-weekend-and-thomas-train.html

Isaac starts preschool
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/09/isaacs-first-day-of-preschool.html

Isaac's first day of preschool

Isaac started preschool at Meadowbrook Elementary. He was very excited to go to school! He gets excited to put things in his locker every morning and comes running to me at the end of the day with a huge smile on his face. It exhausts him!!! Now..if only it could be 5 mornings a week, instead of 3....

Isaac tells Bear after his first day "it was pretty good, I will go again and again".

Videos from Crim and Thomas

The Crim Festival started a kids area a few years ago - we checked it out for the first time, and to Isaac's delight, all the inflatables were free!!!

Then, at Crossroads, he had fun on the ferris wheel with Gillian.

Note the difference from the last time we went on it: Ferris Wheel At Crossroads 2008

On another vintage ride

Crim Weekend and Thomas the Train

A weekend that we always enjoy is the Crim Festival of Races. This year, because Michael and Perry were busy with Witherbee's - there was no party, but we were able to mill about near the store, then walk downtown. We even tried out the kid's area, which we had not seen since they started it. Brian didn't run this year, but we cheered on a friend from Grand Rapids, even though we couldn't find her in the crowd! (yay Christine!)

Then, of course, Thomas the Train at Crossroads Village. We went with "Aunt" Candy, her granddaughter Gillian and Mom. Despite the heat, Isaac and Gillian loved it!!!

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Isobel - 2 week stats

August 26, 2010

Weight: 7lbs 11 oz (35%)
Height: 20.5 inches (50%)
Head: 14" (50%)

Dawn and Sam meet Isobel

Dawn and Sam came to visit Isobel. While they were here, we tried to make a treat that I saw online. Unfortunately, it didn't look like it did in the picture....but it was still fun to make and mighty yummy!!!

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End of the summer at the cabin

We were able to get a quick weekend in at the cabin shortly after Isobel was born. The weather wasn't fabulous, but it was nice enough to reconnect with some neighbors and get some R&R in!Who doesn't love cabin breakfasts?

While we were there, a the light fixture in the cathedral broke. We discovered that you CAN rent ladders THAT tall in Tawas!! Thank goodness!


More pictures:

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Dutch Village

We went to the Dutch Village in Holland with Mindi (Kayla and Leah) and Heather (Ethan and Emily) when Isobel was 11 days old. Isaac had a ton of fun on the rides. He was particularly fond of the little cars that you had to "pump" to move...at one point, he was pushing several of the other kids!!!

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Isobel's Newborn Pictures...

I finally uploaded Isobel's newborn pictures. They were done by Clever Creations Photography in Grand Rapids.

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5 hours before...

The day Isobel was born was jam-packed. Brian took Isaac to his company picnic, while I cleaned and grocery shopped. Then, we met up at Parker Diemer's 1st birthday party. We left there shortly after this photo was taken...andd Isobel was born about 5 hours later!!!

Introducing Isobel Joan

Isobel Joan
August 7, 2010 7:49pm
6lbs 2oz, 19"

This is a little behind, but I discovered that I can upload photos directly from our shutterfly page. Hopefully I can post things a little faster now!!!

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37 weeks, 2 days.

At this point in my pregnancy with Isaac...well, I was packing a bag to head to the hospital. My water had broken and we were heading in - still skeptical that it was really time to have a baby. I didn't FEEL like I was on the verge of giving birth...but, doc said head in - so packin' up and going in we did.

Little did we know, less than 3.5 hours later, we'd be parents.

So...that bring us today. I had my last (hopefully) ultrasound with Dr. B, our specialist....he said that she is just a smidge under 6lbs. Her growth has slowed slightly in the last few weeks, but she is still in the 32% percentile (apparently to date, she has been trending in the 33%). We are dilated 1-2 cm (Dr. K couldn't be more specific as she was racing to head out to deliver another baby)...so....we wait.

In the meantime, the baby room is ready....we are getting a lot of "to do's" done around the house...Mom came to help me out for a few days (like tonight, when I spent 3 hours sitting at the doctor's office!!!)....and trying to keep busy so time passes faster and we don't analyze every twinge and ache I have! After all, in the last few weeks, I have felt things which are totally normal and average for a pregnancy - however, I never had with Isaac!!! I now understand what people mean when they say they can't shave their legs or grab something off the floor!!!

But, I am not complaining! Lil "I" is growing, healthy and will be here sooner than we expect!

Catching Up Posts

I went back and added some posts which were long overdue (they are all pretty short!):

Blue Sky Girl's Weekend
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/05/blue-sky-girls-weekend.html

New Dining Room Table
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/05/catching-up-new-dining-room-table.html

Mom's Retirement
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/05/moms-retirement-party.html

Joe and Leslie's Wedding
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/05/congrats-joe-and-leslie.html

Memorial Day Weekend
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/05/memorial-day-2010.html

Bathroom Redo
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/06/bathroom-redo.html

Attempt at Potted Veggies
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/06/attempt-at-potted-veggies.html

Nursery Flashback
http://spratke.blogspot.com/2010/06/nursery-flashback.html