3 1/2 years; 8 months old

This post is a little late, but for documentation purposes, better late than never.  Helaina turned 3 1/2 years old back in September, and Zachary is now 18 months old.  Life is busier for us than ever before. 

Helaina continues to be extremely social, outgoing, and energetic.  This girl never stops talking...and I mean never.  From the moment she wakes in the morning until she talks/sings herself to sleep at night, all she does is talk.  Her vocabulary and conversation is that of an adult, and she has always been articulate.  With that much talking though, we try to emphasize "good listening".  At home, at church, and in school, we're constantly stressing "being a good listener" and having good listening skills.  For someone that loves to talk so much, it's definitely a work in progress.  She loves preschool, swimming, gymnastics, and spending time with her neighborhood friends.  She is usually a good helper for me a home and most days, is a very good big sister.  Personally, I love her sense of humor and ability to joke at such a tender age.  Her imagination is in full swing, and she sure keeps us on our toes.

We continue to grant her more and more freedoms, but occasionally have to take some of them back.  Time-outs really aren't as effective as "taking away a privilege ".  We still struggle with random temper tantrums and occasionally some excessive crying, but a little alone time in her room seems to help.  As of now, Helaina still takes an afternoon nap for about an 1 1/2.  She's in bed around 8:30 pm and up around 7 am.  This winter we might see that afternoon nap disappear with the adjustment of an earlier bedtime.   

At Zachary's 18 month check-up, he weighed in at 26lbs 8oz (65%) and 33 inches (60%).  Our big baby is slowly steadying out his height and weight and falling right into the toddler averages.  Thankfully, his pediatrician was very happy with all areas of development and is hitting the milestone appropriately.  However, he continues to be quite the handful.  An activity doesn't hold his attention for more than 1 or 2 minutes and then he is off and running again.  He's very different from his sister in that his favorite things to do are run, climb, jump, hit, bang, shake, and push.  Toys are really not his thing, unless it's a bat and he can walk around the house bashing things.  Despite his destructive nature, he sure is full of sweetness.  He loves to hug and kiss and squeeze and be carried around.  I enjoy putting him down for naps and bedtime, as he grabs his blanket and says "nighty-night".  We rock and sing and read books and cuddle for as long as he'll let us.  

In the past couple weeks, his vocabulary has exploded again.  He now has a word for everything, and is starting to use 2 and 3 word phrases.  It's definitely a bit easier when they can communicate.  We struggle with discipline as every tactic we try seems to be ineffective.  I'm hoping with consistency and age that this will improve because it's definitely a daunting task.  

This past weekend, the kids and I traveled to Indiana to visit my family.  This was our first trip back since the beginning of July.  It's always nice to see extended family and for the kids to spend time with their great-grandparents.  Fall is harvest time around here, and the kids were excited to help Great-Grandpa Walter on the farm.

After his tractor ride, Zach kept saying, "Tractor. Like it!" Tractor. Like it!"

Don't mind the fallen barn in the background, it's in the process of being taken apart and cleaned up.

Reminds me of my time with Grandpa in the tractor over 25 years ago.

We visited a high school friend and their son, Cade.

Helaina's new favorite place to eat dinner, right next grandpa.

Halloween Party at the AANM

On Saturday, Randy's parents so kindly babysit the kids while we worked and then took them down to the Arab American National Museum for their annual Halloween Party. The AANM  is the first and only museum in the U.S. devoted to Arab American culture and history.  It is quite the treasure and is located in Dearborn, just miles from our house.  It is extremely important to Randy and me that both of our kids understand and fully appreciate their Arab and American cultures.  If you are ever in the area, the museum is a "must see", it just might dispell some of those misconceptions one might have about Arab Americans and other minorities!       

Abby Cadabby and Elmo

Our cousin Janice...she works at the museum and has been instrumental in their success and progress!

Halloween 2012 with Seedy and Teta

Pumpkin project

Karaoke...Helaina is quite the performer these days!

Nolan and Nora

This past weekend our entire family traveled to Indianapolis (Noblesville) to celebrate Nolan's 3rd birthday and meet his brand-new baby sister, Nora. Zach has the bad habit of getting sick before our road trips, but he stayed healthy long enough to join us on this one.  Randy usually is in season with the Wings and has to miss out on our fun, but with the current strike, he was able to join us too.  So Friday afternoon, we began our five hour trek south.  We stopped for a quick dinner at Subway, because Helaina insists that is the only place we can eat when we travel.  We arrived at the hotel just after 10 pm Friday evening.  Zach slept for awhile in the car, but woke when we arrived.  It took us awhile to unload, settle in, and get ready for bed, so it was just after midnight before we all were snoozing.

Saturday morning I think we were all a bit groggy from the late night, but Randy took the kids for a long morning swim at the hotel pool while I showered (uninterrupted) and got all our things together.  We finally arrived at the Cobb house around lunchtime.  Helaina couldn't have been more excited to see her friends, and I was ready to meet baby Nora. 

The kids napped in the afternoon, and the adults spent time visiting and preparing for the party.  Nolan's party was in the evening.  There was a bounce-house with a slide and the kids spent a lot of time outside jumping and being crazy.  The party was filled with fun, laughter, crazy kids, and some tired parents...but it was a wonderful night spent together!

The Cobb family

Birthday boy, Nolan

The three amigos...can't believe how fast time is going and how big they are getting! 

        

Count those kids, seven, yes seven kids in a matter of 3 1/2 years.  Whoa...guess we've all been a little busy making babies.  

And this guy...you just can't take your eyes off him for a second.  I was with a twin, Randy was in a big group of people, and I think we both lost track of him for a couple minutes.  He found the birthday cake and didn't skip a beat.  Thank goodness Nolan had already blown out his candles or we would have felt really bad!

Randy with the sweet baby girl.

A little adult fun in the bounce house!

Saturday evening the Cobb family welcomed us for a family sleepover.  Helaina slept in Nolan's bed, and Zach was in the pack-in-play in Nora's room. Randy and I had the air mattress downstairs.  The kids slept like champs!!! Randy and I watched the Tigers game into the wee hours of the morning, and woke up to a homemade breakfast.  Around lunchtime we started our trip back home.  The trip home was great!  The kids were wiped from the busy weekend and slept for most of the time.  After another stop at Subway for lunch, the kids entertained themselves for a couple hours before we eventually arrived home.
I am so thankful that we continue to have the opportunity to spend time with our "family" in Indy.  We love you all!

Sibling Love

Lately, Helaina and Zachary have been playing together throughout the day.  Helaina is usually trying to be his mom or thinks she can tell him exactly what to do and he should listen.  Zachary believes he can do whatever his sister is doing and eyes her every move.  Surprisingly, they play rather well together.  We kind of set up shop in our basement, and Helaina goes down there to paint 2 or 3 times a day.  She always invites her brother, and always ends up begging me to come get him because he is eating her paint or playing in the water.  There are definitely some things she can do alone, but Zachary needs eyes on him at all times.  

Helaina feeding her brother breakfast.  And yes, that is ketchup on his eggs.  Don't judge, it's delicious, just ask the kids!

Watching Aladdin together.  Sorry Zach, this Christmas we promise to buy you everything in blue and green and brown and black...no more pink and purple hand-me-downs.  For now, he asks to use the "Dora" blanket while watching the tube with his sister.

My First Field Trip

Hello friends, this is Helaina and I would like to tell you about my first field trip for school.  I didn't have to go to the classroom on Tuesday morning, instead, we went to Plymouth Orchards.  I was very excited that my friends from class and my teachers were going to meet me there.  It made me happy that my mom and brother were able to come too.  After just a couple weeks, my closest friend at school seems to be Delaney (she is the one in the pictures below with the ladybug boots).  She cried for the first few weeks of class, but is doing better now.  I didn't ever hug her when she was sad, but I used to tell her that "it would be ok and her mom would be there soon."

At the orchard, we listened to a short presentation about apples and bees.  Then we went on a hayride around the orchard and apple trees.  Unfortunately in Michigan, there are no apples on the trees this year because of the weather this spring.  My mom only let us buy one half gallon of cider this year because it's too expensive!  At the end, we all ate a cinnamon donut and had a small cup of cider.  My brother was begging my mom for more, but instead, we ate apples together.   

It was a very fun day, and I'm excited to go to school again tomorrow morning.

Bucket List

It's been a couple weeks since we've made our last entry.  It's the fall and we're definitely into our weekly routine.  Helaina absolutely loves going to school, two mornings each week.  That has allowed Zach and I to have some one-on-one time, and we both enjoy our couple of hours together.  Helaina also swims one night during the week and in the Fall II session, she'll be moving up to the next level...something she is very proud of.  We try to hit up the open gymnastics at least once a week.  It's the perfect place for Zach to run, climb, slide, crawl, and jump.  We've considered signing Helaina up for an actual instructor led class this winter.  On Friday mornings, Zach and I end the week with the 45 minute "Music with Joy" class, while Helaina attends the "Kids Quarters".  I love schedules and routine, so this has been a great month for our family! 

Zach's new toy from Daddy 

Helaina and her silly sunglasses that Grandma brought with her this weekend

Zach is quite the hunk in his hat, however, he can't stand wearing it!

My parents came to visit for the weekend, which allowed Randy and I to try another visit to Cedar Point.  We went with our friends, Jeff and Julie, and this year turned out to be 100 times better than our trip last fall. It was a beautiful fall weekend, we purchased the "Fast Lane" pass, and the four us rode about 10 coasters within 7 hours.  It was quite fabulous.  We finally rode Top Thrill Dragster, something that every thrill seeker should do in their lifetime.  It was awesome, it was on our bucket list (near the bottom, but none the less, still on the list) and yesterday, we checked it off.
This afternoon was filled with quality family time.  Seedy and Teta brought dinner for us, my parents, and Nate and MaKayla.  The kids were running wild, and it's always fun to have the extra hands and spend a Sunday afternoon together.

What we've been doing...

After a summer filled with events, celebrations, and activities, it was quite refreshing to enjoy an entire weekend at home, just doing everyday things around the house.  Normally, this would be the first weekend of the Red Wings' training camp, however, because the CBA expired, the NHL and its' players are currently on strike.  So as of right now, Randy will be home with us just a bit longer. Even though we're soaking up every minute of his time, we are looking forward to the start of season, whenever that might be. 

Today was the start of Sunday School at our church.  This is the first year that Helaina is able to go to an actual "class."  She was excited to attend, and lucky for her, her cousin and Godmother, Emann, is one of her teachers!

Our little man isn't so little anymore! Daddy dressed him this morning to cheer on his team, the Lions.  Will we have a future Stafford and QB? Who knows, but he sure does look handsome!

And I've been quite busy with an exciting and new ministry we are bringing to our church!  Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious education program that is gaining popularity throughout the country and has been adapted for various religious affiliations.  Myself and two other women from church have committed to 90+ hours of individual training to become a trained catechist.  I feel strongly that this program and approach to religious education will provide our children and the children of our parish a unique and personal relationship with God and Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  Please keep us in your prayers as we need a lot of support to make this program successful!