Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Announcing…

The Children’s Museum at the Perot Museum of Nature & Science!

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Abi & some of her friends from school were asked to jump out of a box (literally) to announce a large donation that was enabling the Children’s Museum to be moved/built in the lowest floor of the new (opening in early 2013) and AMAZING Perot Museum of Nature & Science.  We can’t wait.

Full story here.

This obviously happened a while ago.  But, we had such a good time being a part of a neat experience – that I thought it was worth documenting here in this childhood blog o’ ours.

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Friday, December 9, 2011

If you have the winter blues…

This is for all of our dear friends who don’t live in Texas.  Even though it has been delightfully chilly in Dallas the past week or so.

Just put on your swimsuit. Then you feel like it’s 73 degrees (or whatever you have your thermostat set to!) outside – and you can’t wait to go swimming.

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Now, I understand that 73 degrees doesn’t make most people want to go swimming.  It doesn’t even make me want to go swimming anymore.  But, if you grow up where it’s relatively “chilly” in the summer…well, sometimes you have to rally and get pumped to swim when the temps are in the 70s.  Aka growing up in Michigan.

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*Can you tell that Abi is excited to go to her cousin’s house for his “polar swim” party.  She couldn’t wait to try on her ‘end of season and mega cheap’ swimsuit!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Oh wait! One more thing – Nate the Great 9 months

Perhaps the best thing of all this month…

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Nate says “mama”

Granted, it’s mostly when he’s really sad or really hungry…but it’s there!!  The words that make every momma’s heart melt!

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Joy!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Nate the Great at 9 months

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Weight: According to the Wii, he’s rockin’ it at 21 lbs.

Length: I’m estimating a solid 30 inches

Head Circumference: I’m taking this out until 10 months, when I’ll have an official stat :)

Eating: 6-8 ounces 4 times a day (wake up / around 11:30 / after nap / before bed).  Nate is such a content fella (except for when I walk out of the room, we’re having some separation issues!) – however, when this boy is hungry – he is not happy.  When his tummy is full, ahh pure joy.  Nate loves avocado, cheese, and really doesn’t know what to think about chicken.  He has a hard time with that one.

Bedtime: 7:00-7:30pm

Awake: We’re back to the sweet spot of not waking up until 7/7:30 am.  Oh, hallelujah!  I am thankful for the peace in the morning until 7, and he is a happier camper for sure.   A lot of this is still contingent on how good of a sleeper Abi is.  If she wakes up early and is not quiet, well then she wakes up brother.  We really do take it one day at a time.  Sharing a room has been a process, one we’re glad that we’re on…but a process nonetheless. 

Naps: Morning Nap (1-2 hours) – and another 1-2 hours in the afternoon.  I have been given really good sleepers for kiddos.  The goodness of this is not lost on me.  I am thankful.

Diapers: size 3, and the cloth are about to go up to their largest size.  Buddy is getting BIG!

Clothes: 9 months or  12 months (depending on brand)/ 12 month  and 18-24 month (haha, if they’re hand-me-downs and have been washed many times!) sleepers *same as 8 months

Favorites: Standing up!  Nate is pulling up on everything and is always quite proud of himself.  He is working on being able to stand on his own without support…but that usually ends with a quick landing on the bottom.  FOOD & Abi  - his ball!!  Oh my gosh, nothing makes him laugh or gets him to “exercise” like this one green ball that we have.  It is love.   Tickles on bellies, and things that are “off limits” – for example, eating leaves / playing by the fire place / cords!  Oh, these boys!!

Latest "tricks": Pulling up for sure.  It is crazy to see how this little handsome man is growing up so quickly.  He enriches our days to be sure.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Better late than never: Halloween 2011

For the sake of memories captured…Halloween 2001 was a blast – I think that Abi managed to wear her costume at least 7 times.  It seems as though there is a plethora of things for kiddos to do in Dallas that involve costumes.  Gotta love office work parties / neighborhood gatherings  / fall fun fest / birthday parties / and preschool celebrations…all before the actual craze of Halloween begins!

Fall Fun Fest

Our church puts on a rockin’ evening every year.  We love it!

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Abi with her Sunday School teacher, Miss Linda (who moved up with them!  She is so wonderful, and I so appreciate her commitment to teach Jesus’ word and love to these precious 3 year olds!)

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Nate changed costumes many times…it was whatever was free and weather-appropriate.    We tried to keep it “mermaid themed” (we tried to find a fish or crab costume, but we had no luck with one that was age-appropriate and budget-appropriate!)  Meet surfer Nate.

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AHH!  I couldn’t get a good one of the girls…because look at Nate’s face in the back.  He needed Momma bad.  Abi and some of her bestest (and stinkin’ cute!) buddies.

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Preschool Festival

Complete lack of pictures.  But, interesting commentary.  Exhibit A: A child is grumpy because of sugar and adrenaline overload.  Does not want to pose with friend.  Exhibit B: Sweet child has returned, post nap, and is strangely attached to her candy bag from the day.

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Halloween

Grocery Shopping

Now, normally I wouldn’t include grocery shopping into blog-worthy things to do on Halloween.  BUT, when you lock your keys in your car at naptime with two children in tow…it becomes blog-able.  True story.  Weird hour or so.  Never been so thankful for some one to break into my car.

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When life hands you lemons…take pictures.  While we waited…

Pre Trick-or-Treating

We have some great friends who live on a cul-de-sac.  Enough said.  Cul-de-sacs are blessings from the Lord during child-rearing years!  Pizza, motorized toys, big wheels, and costumes…the kiddos were in dreamland!

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While everyone else was eating pizza, abi snagged the lone jeep.  LOVED it.

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Abi and her buddy, Owen aka Blaze.  I love the 2nd picture when he is so done with taking pictures and ready to be running around again!  Oh, boys.  Abi’s face is priceless.

The Real Deal

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Meet Nate the cowboy.  The mermaid’s above-sea cousin??  A bit of a stretch…

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A few days before at the Arboretum…Hope everyone’s Halloween was happy!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Painting a la fingers

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I love it when Abi creates.  Granted, I don’t always love the mess that inevitably ensues, but I love the creation.  Watching her mind create and her hands obey – such a treat.  I am always reminded that we serve and love a creative God.  He made our minds to love making beautiful from that which wasn’t.

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SO, everyone be on the lookout…coming to the Kimball in fall 2020…the child art prodigy Abigail Wallace

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But, if you desire something before that…we can arrange something.  We’ll just collect our royalties later.  PS – can you tell the above dress is loved?  Good ol’ rip down the side…that’s many a day being worn.

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Sunday, October 30, 2011

Oh, my happy heart

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A brother, a beautiful evening, and the evidence of a much-enjoyed chocolate chip cookie!

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These are good days.  Praying for moments enjoyed to abundance!  As we begin to enter a season of more intentional thankfulness – my heart is full.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Nate the Great at 8 months

Weight: Still don’t know exactly, I’m guessing right around 20 lbs.

Length: anyone’s guess again…I’ll go with 29-30 inches!

Head Circumference: 46ish cm (why am I estimating head circumference???

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Eating: 8-10 ounces 4 times a day (wake up / around 11:30 / after nap / before bed).  Eating is Nate’s favorite.  He has a great palate (like his sister, thankfully!) We started introducing some more “chunky” foods…they produce the best faces.  He can’t decide what to think about the new texture!  Cottage cheese has definitely gotten the best face this month!  Favorites…still really digs anything orange.  Yay for fall and that means yay for squash.  He’s loved pumpkin lately.

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Bedtime: 7:00-7:30pm

Awake: ALL over the place…he’s been waking up at 6ish (but according to me his days don’t start until 7, so unless he’s really upset, he hangs out in his crib until 7…same rule with abi when she was a baby and she turned out OK!).  Many days he finds his way back to sleep, and stays in sleepy land until around 8.  However, his 6 o’clock alarm clock has led to abi waking up at 6.  Not so hot.  She usually sleepily wanders out of her room, and we escort her to our bed.  Half the days she goes back to sleep and the other half she reads books until 7.  The growing pains of figuring out sharing a room.  We still think it’s worth it.  It’s led to us really praying through (again) our motivations for them sharing a room.  That’s probably the reason for the early wake-ups…more prayer is always a good thing! 

Naps: Morning Nap (1-2 hours) – he is SUCH a good buddy in this area…as I type he’s getting to take his nice long morning nap in his crib while sister is at school / sometimes the reality is that his morning nap comes for 30 minutes in the car and 30 minutes again after errand/church/playdate/whatever…thankful for his flexibility.  And then afternoon nap with Abi.  This is non-negotiable.  I need that bit of time when the house is quiet again.  Even for a 30 minute overlap.  Those 30 minutes are life-giving!

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Diapers: size 3, and cloth when we’re at home.  If we’ll be out all morning or afternoon– it’s just easier to throw him in a disposable.  Life being simple, this is a good rule.

Clothes: 9 months or  12 months (depending on brand)/ 12 month  and 18 month (haha, if they’re hand-me-downs and have been washed many times!)sleepers…this boy is LONG, and that makes sleepers a bit tricky, because of their cute “closed toe” feet. *same as 7 months

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Favorites: FOOD & Abi (I imagine this will be permanent for a bit!), “CRAWLING!!” – see below, SWINGING, having dance parties, and practicing his singing and speaking!  Tickles on bellies, and anything that his sister is playing with…oh, enter in the crazy reality of sharing.  Life’s about to change again, my Abi-girl. 

Latest "tricks": CRAWLING!!  Yay, our Nate is mobile!  This is a sweet time.  He is not so mobile where he is discontent being held or sitting in the stroller (hallelujah on those things!) – but the boy can move around!  He rocks a lot on all fours and then will start to put one hand – then one knee – then one hand – etc.  SO FUN to watch and participate in.  Abi is a great cheerleader and leader by example!  Abi’s been crawling a lot around the house these days too, in an effort to motivate Nate!  He doesn’t really do the army crawl – it’s something in between – I need to work on labeling it.  Or maybe there’s no need…it’s just the way he moves!

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