Visit with Grandma Dahlke

This is my Grandma Dahlke - my dad's mom, and besides my mom's step dad Eugene Indgjer, Rosalyn is my last living grandparent, and my childrens' great grandmother. I wish we didn't have to visit her in a senior living center, but nonetheless, it was time with my grandma. I have a lot of memories of her - all good memories. She isn't the kind of person that tries to make a lesson out of everything, she let us be kids... probably because my dad and his twin brother Russ wore her down to let her just have an attitude with kids that boils down to, "ah heck with it", and I mean that in the most lovingly way possible. She always had nice Christmas's at her house, and had a present for everyone. She graduated college when she was in her seventies, and I most love the memory of her coming over to see us after her yoga class - and no I'm not talking as though she is gone. Due to recent unfortunate health events, she now lives in a senior living center as an independent senior, diagnosed with beginning alzheimer's disease.
Why am I going into this - well, I'm using this as a reminder that she is still here and during this time of year when we are all hustling to perfect the art of gift giving, and possibly preparing for the inevitable family dilemmas, that there are people that just want the gift of time with you. No gifts, perfect meals, just being there - time.
I wish I could have spent more time with her today, but there was a virus floating around the senior center and we were shoo'd out by a not so nice nurse that seemed to forget that the residents there need family, and not just other residents to get by - but lest my babies get sick, we left and she cried. I'll still only have the good childhood memories - and I'll get back to see her and spend time.
Now FIN & Truman, let this be a lesson to you - you always make time for your mother!
I love you, and so does your grandparents, and for that matter, your great grandma.
-mama

Christmas photos 2010

I am really starting to love age 3

For nothing other than you feed the dog unsupervised and your dinner is branching out to the fiber-zone (shredded mini wheat cereal).
FIN, you used to talk to me in babbles. Now you talk to me. Sure it takes some prompting, but you are starting to recall things, details of your day that just are neat to your mommy. Today when I picked you up from school, I asked you what you did. You didn't answer right away, and when my questions started to get specific, like, what was your snack today, you replied, "oranges". You did this on Friday too, but your answer was, "Challa" bread. It really melts my heart!
Now as soon as you use the potty 100% of the time, me and FIN are going on a date!

Things said by FIN...

On Saturday, you went to a classmate's birthday party. Afterwards, we went out for dinner at the local Irish pub&restaurant. FIN sat down and when the server appeared, she asked, "What can I get for you?", FIN promptly responded, "How about some dinner!", server: "Ok, what would you like?", FIN: "I want some french fries!". Your conversation, while simple, was so cute!

5 Months & 3 Year 2 Months

Oh brothers! This past month has just been my favorite! FIN, you are coming along to well in pre-school. Your language is just amazing - everyday you say something new to me and it catches me off guard, and I wonder, "did he just say that?!". For example, tonight we had our neighbors over for dinner, and they asked where Truman was, and you so clearly responded, "He's asleep upstairs". Now I know, not a huge revelation, but it was clear, you understood, and you responded on behalf of your brother. You amaze me how much you love your brother. Getting pictures of you two isn't difficult, but one of you is always blurry. Here are a few I got recently - one of you and your brother in the tub, and another of you playing with Truman in his exersaucer:

Truman - you are 5 months old today. This past month we have started you on solid food. Its done an interesting number on your digestive track - interesting in that your digestive track has stopped and my obsession is with whether or not you have poo'd. So we talk about poop... more so than usual in our house. You as well have amazed me in the past month. You are much much more alert, and your personality is just so sweet. You love to laugh! I'm also hoping that you continue on this awesome sleeping pattern of yours.
I took this video of you the other day. I was imitating the noise you were making and you just started laughing.
Love my boys! -mama

Nov 2010 update

Truman took his first airplane ride to San Diego with mom & dad, while FIN stayed with G&G Garage (aka G&G Nissan; Dahlke). It was a great first plane ride. He slept for 3 of the 4 hour trip. We went out for dinners and to San Diego zoo with auntie Jess Wallace.

In the mean time, FIN was busy with G&G going to the farmers market, and petting zoo, and getting dressed up for Halloween. FIN went as a shark this year. Winston had a shark costume too, but we A. forgot to send the costume along, B. the dog was too fat for his costume.

The past month went so fast - Truman keeps getting bigger every day, and FIN becomes more of a big boy (except for telling us when he has to go on the potty - I know that's coming any day).

Coming up, Truman will be going on another trip to the West Coast with mommy to see auntie Saralyn/Alanna!

Truman - 4 months

Hey Mr. T,

I had to compare you to your brother, you are heavier than he was at 4 months... and shorter.

Weight: 17.4lbs - 90th percentile

Height: 25" - 50th percentile

Head: 75th percentile

You have hit all the important milestones as well! You have been such a happy baby! I cannot believe how fast time has flown by. You sleep like, well a baby, and you babble a ton. Last weekend you had your first real babysitter, Laura. She tried to give you formula... you weren't impressed. Good thing I have no plans to wean you anytime soon.

Love Mama

3 Years Old

Dear FIN,
You turned 3 years old yesterday. For your birthday, we packed up the family and went to Sheboygan to the Blue Harbor Resort water park. The Cripe cousin's made it, both sets of grand parents, and the Argueta's were there too! You had a Lightening McQueen cake that you loved!
I enjoyed the fact that when I picked up your cake it didn't say Happy 3rd Birthday FIN... it in fact said, Happy 3rd Birthday SIN. The woman who made your cake had about as keen of hearing as her voice (not so much at all), I wasn't upset, she just scraped off the S and replaced it with the requisite F. So I digress, you spent the weekend ripping open gifts, eating lots of sugar, getting lots of sugar from family, and playing in the water. It did take a bad parent move on my part of tossing you down a slide to get you into the idea of going on the slide about a hundred times, but I knew you would dig the water slide - just needed that push.
Today you took treats to preschool with you. You took rice crispy treats. I spent an hour with you at school while you ate treats, played, and had special books read in honor of your birthday. I never thought I would get teary at a birthday, especially such an early one, but you made me so proud. You are truly the best of me and your daddy. I love you baby!
-mama

First Day of School

FIN - today was your first day of pre-school for 2 yr olds at the JCYS! You were in class with your friend cooper. You were very excited to go to school to see Linda, but Linda was your summer school teacher, not your school year teacher. You seemed to enjoy class - but I think you are into more curriculum than fun artsy stuff that you got over the summer. Here is a picture of us that we gave to the school. They asked for a family picture - we look hippy dippy.
Love- mama

Truman 2 Months

So I just looked up FINs 2 month stats and whoa Truman, you blew your brother out of the water. If this was a contest, you just gave your brother a swirly.
Head 75%
Height 23" - 50%
Weight 14.3 lb - 90/95%
He had to get shots, and just to make Truman feel better, FIN cried with him.

Family of boys

This summer has gone by way too fast. Truman is now 6 weeks old, and FIN has gone through an entire summer camp, and starts his pre-school program in a couple weeks.
Truman had his 1 month checkup on his 6 week b-day. So the stats aren't totally fair, but here they are:
Weight 12.3 lb - 90th percentile
Height 23" - 50th percentile
Head: 50th percentile
FIN - you breezed through the JCYS summer camp like a champ. You met some new friends, your communication skills have come along so great! Its hard to recount everything that has gone on this summer, but most important is I look fabulous - oh I mean, we are all healthy and just happy enjoying each other!
Here is a picture of Truman at 6 weeks; a picture of Truman and FIN under the baby Einstein mobile (Truman 6 weeks; FIN 2 yr, 9 mos); and Truman and daddy.

The Newest Nunez: Truman Richard Nunez

Dear FIN & Truman,
This monthly note is going to get interesting... I now have 2 boys with birthdays on the 26th. I also need to get better about doing this every month (or more often than that). So without further ado, I introduce to you, Truman. The baby of the family, the younger brother, the newest love of all my loves, and lastly, the final drops of testosterone in this house (because 2 boys and fixed dog weren't enough).
On June 26th, Truman came to us at 1:45PM, weighing in at 7lb 15oz and 19.75 long. It was truly a beautiful entrance. At about 1:30AM, I woke up with some contractions. Nothing out of the ordinary. I didn't think anything of it, but then your daddy reminded me, that if it wakes you out of a sleep, its probably the real thing. I called Grandma/Grandpa Nunez & Dahlke to have someone triage me and reassure that this is the real thing, especially since the contractions were 5 - 6 minutes apart. Grandma/Grandpa Nunez made it to the house in no time flat to watch the big brother FIN while I went to the hospital. I was admitted by 5AM, managed to get to 5cm before getting an epidural, and by 1:30PM I started to push. They put Truman on my chest - where I managed the ugly cry face, just out of the pure joy of being a mommy to another gorgeous, beautiful boy.
FIN as the big brother you are doing really well! You may have moments of the terrible twos, but you are as gentle as we could expect you to be. You love to hug and kiss Truman, and pat his head. You seemed scared when you visited me at the hospital. But Truman didn't disappoint. He gave you a baby Curious George that plays music. And when he came home, he made sure to have a play kitchen with food and utensils waiting for you. The neighbors, friends, and family have been diligent to bring you gifts as you warm up to your baby brother.
All I can say is, I'm in sweet love with my boys!
love,
mama

Hi Son,

The chick is about to hatch... It will be only about three weeks (if our calculations are right) before we have a new member in our family. As I lay here in bed next to your mother, your brother is already giving her a hard time by kicking her repeatedly in the ribs. I am sure you will get him back later on your mother's behalf with the repeated beatings that big brothers tend to dish out.

Speaking of dishing out a beating, we need to discuss how you act towards your cousin William. For some reason, he has become your punching bag and there is nothing we are able to do at this point to stop it. We can only hope you are nicer to your brother. In the meantime, sorry Will.

Beatings aside, I do think you are going to be a wonderful big brother. I am sure there are going to be times when it's rough for you, since you are accustomed to being the center of our world. I promise each one of us will make time for just you, and that there is no possibility of us changing how we feel about you.

You are growing up so fast, and you will only seem more grown up when your baby brother is here with us. I still don't think you are quite ready for us to allow you to go and park the car in the street on your own, though...

Love,

Your Old Man

31 months - 2 yrs & 7 months

Dear FIN,
Happy 31 month birthday! I know I've neglected your story blog, but I do have a good reason. We had a very successful move to the new home. I've spent a lot of time making the house our home in as short of period of time as possible so you know and recognize this house as your home. I wanted this transition to be seemless, as you have a few other transitions coming up as well.
As you can see here, you are no longer in a crib. You are now officially in a big boy bed!!! Grammy Pammy made you a guitar blanket for your guitar themed room. You love it! I love it. You sit on the bed trying to strum the guitar strings of the embroidered guitars.

A week after we moved into the house, we went on a vacation with Grammy Pammy, Grampa's Garage, and Aunt Sara/Uncle Henry/Cousin Maddy to San Juan, Puerto Rico. We got to go to the rain forest and let you run around on the thin trail that if you slipped would send you into a deep ravine... luckily that didn't happen. We also played at the beach, and just spent a lot of time as a family. Here is a picture that I'll treasure forever. You and Maddy on Grammy's lap. She hated this ;-)

You will be started summer school in June, and 3 day a week pre-school in September. Just another transition... you also have a brother due in early summer. Potty training too. So many things up and coming, I have a hard time keeping my finger on all the new stuff you have learned as of late. Your language is forever progressing. I wish your eating habits were too, but you still like the basics of child food, mac n' cheese, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and guacamole. I call them your 4 food groups. I'd add pudding too, but then that would be 5 and it would just be too much.

As usual, your daddy and I love you crazy. You like to drive us crazy occasionally, but that comes with the territory of you being 2. I'm excited for all these transitions, but I will always stop to take in the moment of you now.
love,
mama

Moving Yet Again

Hey Boy,

This is your old man. I have to apologize for making this year so crazy for you. We started out by living in Whitefish Bay, WI. Next, we moved to Prairie Crossing (from here on referred to as Stinkytown). Then, it was a series of two temporary assignments, one in Massachusetts and the other in North Carolina. After 9 months on the road, we are back in Stinkytown, at the cusp of moving yet again to our new home in Highwood/Ft Sheridan, Illinois. The difference is that the house that we are moving to is hopefully going to be the last move for you until you are done with high school (lets hope so anyway).

Last weekend, you and I had a "man weekend." We spent the entire weekend with just you, me and the dog. We really had a blast. I can't talk about all of the fun that we had because your mother will eventually read this, but, let's just say it was one hell of a party. One of my favorite moments was when you snuck into the pantry, opened a container of powdered gatorade, and started drinking the powder with the scoop. I quickly took it from you, used the powder to make you a Gatorade with water, and put the Gatorade powder away. When I held the glass up to you and ask if you wanted some of "this" you quickly went into the pantry, pointed at the Gatorade powder and said, "That 'this'." You are definitely becoming more proficient at communicating.

Your mother and I are so excited for your brother to come. We hope that you and he can become great friends, although, we know that as a big brother, you will feel obligated to give him the occasional swirly and/or beat-down. That is what big brothers are for. We know you will be a good one.

I love you, son.

Month 28, and then some...

Dear FIN,

As usual, you keep us so busy that I don't even get in the time to write you about your 2 yr and 4 month mark. And again, I find myself trying to wrap my head around the detailed changes we see in you this past month. Clearly your language is becoming refined, your phrasing is right on as usual. This past month you looked and pointed at something, and in an exclamatory tone you said, "Holy balls!", (thanks a lot for that one daddy).

Since we are still in the Outer Banks, NC, there aren't a whole bunch of different places to go here. We drive on 2 roads, the beach road, or the parallel Croatan HWY. As you sit in the back seat when we are driving on one of these 2 roads, you distinctly remind me of (now this is a stretch, and a movie lesson) Debra Winger's father in the movie "Forget Paris". He would sit in the back seat too, and name off all the places they drove by in the movie. You point out to us where you play basketball, where daddy gets his coffee, where the chicken/french-fry place is, where you played that car driving game at the movie theatre, where the pizza place is... WE GET IT, you're observant.

Not only are you observant, you are picking up words to music. You don't just sing the last word in a song anymore, you sing entire phrases. Now normally I wouldn't mind this, but since I spend every waking moment with you, this slightly stings... You pick up things better when you are with your daddy. I have gone over counting, and the alphabet with you repeatedly. You sit down with your dad for 20 minutes, and you can identify letters and numbers. You can also sing the alphabet song clearly. This makes me equally as proud when you sing the song at the top of your lungs going through a store, as your proficiency with using my iPhone and all its subsequent applications. People don't just stop and stare, they marvel, and then ask, "How old is he?!". I'm all, "OH I KNOW! I hire him out for birthday parties and to program TVs too".

Here is a picture of you at a co-worker of your dad's, on Teddy the paint horse. You LOVED this!

Love, Mama

A new friend

This past weekend, we all traveled to Portland to visit the Ewald family, to for the first time, introduce FIN to Anders Vergenz Ewald - 10 months. FIN took to his new friend right away, though we as the parents will tell you, he took to Anders much yet unused toys. They were an interesting pair, Anders who just crawls, and FIN, the tazmanian devil, would be interested in each other, one watching the other, hugs, kisses, but the second I would come near Anders, FIN would go from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde. I fear what will happen when FIN's sibling arrives.
Due to a tragic event that cut our visit with our much loved Ewald family short, there was a moment when the adults were comforting and planning. While we were around the pair of new friends, but not actively interacting with them, I caught a glimpse of FIN feeding Anders Fish crackers and telling him "good boy!". After that, I just paused to watch them, and FIN was patting his new friends back, soothing him when the adults were not. I love to think that they will be friends for life.
We are so very sorry for the loss of Ander's uncle John Vergenz. He will be missed, and our love and thoughts go out to the Vergenz family.