Kairos Moment at 2AM

My kids have been sleeping through the night forever, well Leighton forever, MW since he was about 10 months. Anyway, without fail anytime I am scheduled to work one of them if not both decides to get up in the middle of the night, thus requiring love and snuggling to ease their fears. Resulting in mommy getting no sleep. Most of the time this annoys me, momma likes her sleep. Last night I was struggling with sleep anyway, just as I felt like I had hit a REM cycle I hear this shrill scream/cry. I immediately jump out of bed, Chad is still very much snoozing away, men; and rush to Lo's room thinking it was her. She is dead asleep. Weird. Then I hear it again, so obviously it was Micah. I go into him, help him find his paci and stroke his face and head hoping to lull him back to sleep. No dice.

Now normally I would just make him cry it out because that is just how my kids roll, they hate being rocked. However, for some reason I decided he just needed me to rock him. I settle in and start rocking and stroking his head. A few minutes in I hear Lo stirring and crying out. Great. Now both of them are up. Umm...Chad hello are you coherent?! No. Great.

Lo calls out momma? I am in here baby. That sweet girl just walked in and climbed up into the rocking chair with me and Micah. Micah was so happy to see her and they both just hugged and snuggled each other while I rocked and cuddled them. For the first time in eons, they both just laid still and let me hold and rock them. Together. I could have stayed there all night. One of the best 2AM moments I have had in awhile. Karios moment for sure, I didn't even mind after I finally got everyone back to bed that Lo sneaked back into our room to sleep with us, albeit sideways. I sort of can't wait until Micah does that someday. Late night snuggles are the best.

Word{less} Wednesday

So grown up, and so sassy.

Look out Jagger, she's got moves. :)

Bedtime conversations.

Love.

Miscellany Monday

Wow. I feel like so much has been going on. Most days my head is spinning with all the things I want to get done on my summer improvement list. It is great having Chad home to help me get these things done; either by using a hammer or just watching the kids so I can create my projects.

Some of my summer projects complete/in-progress:
1. I finally got my kids' growth chart hung and completed. I absolutely love it, and currently one of my favorite wall spaces.

I made the growth chart from a 2x4, white spray paint and a brown sharpie.

 

  

I order the vinyl wall decal or wall tatoo as Lo says from here.

 

 {Enjoy the Little Things for one day you will look back and realize they were Big Things}

2. I am re-doing MW's room. I never really got the chance to decorate a nursery for him. Mostly because until a year ago he had no room, thus no nursery to plan. But I made due and made it a nice space, but just decided it wasn't what I really wanted. So now onto a big boy room. I am excited. This is my inspiration as I am still in the working phase. :)

Source: potterybarnkids.com via Michele on Pinterest

3. Clean the carpets! Oh my this has been high on my to-do list and I finally got it done. Professionally clean and sparkly carpets. It lasted maybe 20 minutes before MW came home and puked up red goldfish. :( I have learned when he teethes he pukes. Don't get it, but it is just what happens.

kids wrestling around on the nice clean carpets.

 

4. Rid our upstairs toilet of the ghosts. :) Check. This bathroom has been a thorn in my side since we moved in. It is so embarrassing every time you flushed it screeches and lets the entire house know someone was in there. I don't know why this took me so long,  but I finally just looked in there and figured if we changed the filler thingy inside maybe the ghosts would leave?! Well, Chad did, and the ghosts are gone. Yay, quiet potty!! (as Lo says) It's the little things that float my boat. :)

On another yet related note we have lived here ONE YEAR! In some ways I feel like we have lived here forever and I am so grateful for it. We seriously feel blessed to be here and surrounded by such a great neighbors. Love it!

Leighton is just really coming into her own more and more. Her ideas, thoughts and memories just slay me. She has now decided that Toby, our poodle, must now nap and sleep with her. She loves it, he loves it. Toby is now in the routine and when he sees her heading to bed he quickly follows, if not beats her in there. It's sweet.

My tomato plants are finally getting tomatoes!!! Woot! Woot!!

This weekend my sister and her family were in town for their son's FIRST Birthday. It was a fantastically, adorable party. While she was here she asked if I would take some family photos of them. I said yes. I am not a great photographer by any stretch, but it was fun and I think we got some good shots in spite of my lack of skill. It is motivating me to learn how to shoot in manual mode better. I don't want to have a photog business or anything, just want to be able to take great photos of my favorite subjects. :)

Anyway sneek peak of their session.

And to tie up this random post a few of my favorite pics from father's day. We had a lovely bbq to celebrate the wonderful men and dads in our lives. Chad is one great dad, he always gets the kids and loves to just play on their level with them.

These two are two peas in a pod.

Happy Monday!

The Things Lo Says...

Every so often I take a moment to write down the hilariousness that comes out of the Lo Lo sissy's mouth. Here are just a few of her latest quips, coupled with pics taken from father's day. Meg has been working on Leighton's faces, for when she hits it big as a model/actress.

Setting: The other day I was giving Chad a hair cut and he was "whining" about it.
Lo: daddy, do you need a paci so you can cry like a baby then?!

Pouty

 

Setting: The night before we had a decent storm complete with pebble hail banging on our windows keeping me up.

Me: Lo, did you hear the rain last night?

Lo: no.

Me: well I did, it woke me up.

Lo: Me too.

Me: Oh, well then why didn't you come in to see me?

Lo: Because I didn't want to see your hair like that. ::makes crinkled up, disgusted face:: 

(down, she hates my hair down, it must.always.be.up.)

Rude Bear

Setting: Chad and I were discussing how MW just lunges at you and expects you to catch him. Which is how he fell off the ottoman and broke his arm, I just wasn't ready for him.

Me: Well, how else was I suppose to catch him...suggestions?!

Chad: Well that is because you have turtle like reflexes and the speed of a sloth. I on the other hand have cat like reflexes and the speed of a mongoose. 

Me: Ha ha very funny. {I proceed  to throw pillows at him, he catches them and tosses them back}

Chad: see cat like reflexes and speed of a mongoose.

Me: continues "beating" Chad with pillows.

Leighton: ::standing on couch laughing:: My parents are funny. ::insert fake laugh:: then she bounds off to do her thing.

more pouty

And perhaps my favorite anecdote.
Setting: The playroom. Which was a HUGE disgrace.

Lo: I have to pick up this mess! I am sick of it. I just can't take it any.more. Well, I kind of can, but not really. This is such a mess, who is going to clean this all up? I guess me.

Insert proud mommy. I think I shall call her---mini me.

Gangster

Lo: Milk makes you big and strong, like Jesus!

Sass

Setting: doing a math worksheet.
Lo: 1 yo-yo, 2 yo-yos, 3-yo; mommy I want a yo-yo!

Shock Face

17 Months {Watch Me Grow}

Micah Bear you are 17 months. Nearly a year and a half. How is this possible. I just love you. You are really becoming quite the character and make me laugh all the time. Here is all the cute stuff you are up to this month. {Albeit with nearly zero pictures to show for it.}

from one of our playdates with Ginger. Aren't Ezra and MW so cute?!

 

Language Skills:
New words, although the shorter list would be the list you don't say. :) "'ello," "gi" {grammy}, "papa," eet {eat, also signs this}, "ellow" {for yellow}, "bite," "car." You also say short phrases which I think is fabulous. You love to yell "I alk" {I walk} every time we get into a store, you protest the cart. It would be fine if you were like your sissy and held our hand and stayed with us, when she was your age, but NO! You are off running like the wind.
You also say "I du dum" {I want some}; "oh duce" {oh, juice}, "in da otty" {in the potty}; "I urn" {I turn}. I am sure there are more I am forgetting...
You also know many animal sounds. One day I will have to get those on video. So cute. You know cow, dog, duck, bear, kitty cat, and dinosaur.

Yes this is happening.

 For those of you who know me/follow me know I potty train early. I strongly believe it works and more importantly can.be.done. To me it is no different than pushing your kid to learn their ABCs and 123s by age 2, it's all about priorities and this is mine. We haven't officially started yet, but we play around with it a lot. Just keeping it fun, before the real fun begins {I have a process and so far it has worked both times with both genders, maybe I could write a book}. HA!
Every day I ask him "Micah, where do we put our poo-poo?" His response: "in da otty." {Which for the record is far more than Lo could say at this age, so we are +1 in my book.} :) And then he runs to the potty, puts the potty seat on and sits there "trying." {Again, way more than Lo was interested in at this point...of course she is helping the process because he wants to be just.like.her. So another win.} :)

Loves water and sprinklers.

 

Eating: Not much has changed here. You love to "ippy ippy" {dippy dip} your foods in sauce or soup.
Fun fact: You don't like green grapes, only the purple ones. 

Sleep: Still pretty great in this department too. Still taking that morning nap from about 845a/9a-10/1030a. You are up for the day by 630/7a, nap #2 is around 1245/1p-245/3p, and beddy bye is 7p.
But here's the problem...you have addicted yourself to the paci at 16 months. Way.to.go.momma. At first I thought it was a fun toy. You and your sissy like to "play" with them, or so I thought...I knew your used your Nuk cup as a paci to a degree and that I was fine with, but then it got all gross and had to be pitched and I couldn't find a replacement...so you did, the paci. Win-win right mom? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! What on earth am I going to do...don't answer that.

Favorite toy/book(s): You love books and are starting to let me read at least 1 page before you hop up and run away. Favorite toy is hands down the slide. We will find you in the playroom by yourself just going up and down the slide all.day.long. Oh and of course the ottoman is another favorite toy to climb. Up, down all.day. It will be a miracle if you don't break your other arm on it.

 

Anecdotes/Quirky things you do:
*One of my favorite things you do right now is push, pull and drag me to where you want me.
*I love how you hug my legs and bury your face in them, even though you are being all clingy momma's boy.
*You can be such a love bear and you are pretty empathetic towards people. One morning sissy was in trouble for only God knows what this time. She sat on the floor sobbing and sobbing, you came over to her, sat down and patted her legs and hugged her. As if to say "I know we got these crappy parents who like to enforce these so-called "rules," but it's ok, I am here for you. I can get up extra early tomorrow to pay mommy back if you want?!"
Or something like that, either way it was terribly sweet.
*One word you don't say yet is "yes." So in order to get you to shake your head yes, I put my hands on either side of your face and did the motion for you. Now, just like your sister did when we did that to her, you put your hand on your face to make the "yes" motion. It's like our own made up "yes" sign. Very cute.

Temperament: Every month I hope I am going to get to write you are chill, happy, and relaxed. But another month has gone by and that just isn't the case. I think it is time I admit to myself that this really is you and your personality. You are who you are. And that is a willful, strong, independent, firey, yet loving, tender-hearted sweet bear. I wish I could put my finger on who to blame for this personality, but it just isn't coming to me...hmmm...maybe by next month I will have it figured out. ;) But like I said you are sweet. You think your sister hangs the moon. You love her and hug her all the time. It is so precious. I love watching you two.

Stats:
Ht: 29in {mommy guesstimate}
Wt: 20#
Clothes: 9-12m
Shoes: 4
Diaper: 3 swaddlers

Happy 17 Months Micah Bear!

I love Technology

But not as much as you, you see... {name that movie ;) }

It's as if they are programmed in heaven to know how to operate all electronics. HA! That or we use them as our own pacis around here. :)

This reminds me of when Lo was about this age.

Giraffes and A Painting Kangaroo

Last week we visited Tanganyika Zoo. It is our second time to go. I absolutely love this zoo. It is small and interactive. You can get up close and personal with nearly all the animals for free, animals like my beloved giraffe. First off let me say if I lived closer to this zoo I would be volunteering to stand there all day with the giraffes, they are just magnificent and friendly. You can see the stupid joy on my face. HA!

If you pay $1 you can feed the giraffes (and most animals for that matter). So we did. Leighton was talking a big game the whole night before and way there that she was going to pet all the animals...well, as you can see fear won out.

Micah on the other hand recognized the giraffes right off and started yelling and pointing "giafe, giafe!" Bless that boy, he is definitely my son. He was all about being brave and feeding and petting the "giafes." Love him.

My stupid joy. Random fact but did you know the giraffe Micheal Jackson had came from here (or the family that owns this place?!) yeah, well he did. You know in case it comes up on Jeopardy someday I am ready. HA!

Next Leighton was ready for the "monkeys" aka Lemurs. Once again talking a big game on holding one. Now here the lemurs come and sit on you. You don't get to pet or touch them, only because they don't want them over stimulated and hating humans. Well, a freak out ensued, but in her defense she did MUCH better than last year!

The Albino crocodile/alligator (I don't know which one...don't care, he was pretty cool) Lo was really scared here as most nights we have to spray her room for alligators to keep them at bay. It's really an infestation around here. ;)

Ah, bunnies, now that is something she was on board with! And um, when did MW get so big?! Where is my baby?!

Final stop was the Red Kangaroos. Leighton was mad because she couldn't pet one because they all were napping too far off the path, so a zoo keeper brought one over to paint with her! How cool. You can watch the video below of the kangaroo painting with Leighton and they let her keep the painting. She loved it.

Lo painting with a Red Kangaroo from Michele Keethler on Vimeo.
Thanks Grandma Rachel for taking us!

Keethler Scrapbook

So I decided to create a new blog dedicated solely to my scrapbook pages. Mostly because they are large files and I don't have to take up file space on this blog. I uploaded all my old posts from this blog over there because at some point I will probably delete those posts. So if you are interested feel free to check it out. I have a link on the side bar too.

And that concludes this PSA. ;)

Weekend Rewind

Why does summer feel like it is going at warp speed?! It should be more relaxing than this.

{One}This past week/end I have spent getting ready for our garage sale and then having it. I was so excited to clean out our spare room, so it didn't look like an episode of hoarders in there anymore. Seriously, that must be a disease because I have no idea how anyone could live like that, I was about to go.insane!

However, the garage sale was at my friend's house. Day 1 was nice and cool with 70mph winds, blowing everything off the tables. Day 2 was freezing and I found myself huddled around a space heater wrapped in a blanket on June 1st. I kid you not. Miserable and rainy. Day 3 perfect.  Overall I did just ok, my friend did awesome. No one was in the market for the baby clothes I had, they all seemed to need the size my kids are currently in. Oh well, that is what the consignment sale is for. At least of bunch of my "junk" went. And since this was my first garage sale I learned a lot about garage sale people. Wow. That is all I can say. I may write a book. HA!

{Two}Of course Chad watched the kids while I sat for 3 days and the house is now a complete disaster. But they were fed, dressed and alive by the end of each day, so I guess that is all I can ask for right?!

{Three}To back up pre garage sale, I did go ahead and take MW into the doctor to be certain about his possible hand/foot/mouth disease. Turns out it was a severe allergic reaction to what we still don't know. My best guess at this time is his sunscreen as that is the only new thing I have introduced to his uber sensitive skin as of late. At this point it is nearly healed, except his feet which are all peeled off on the bottoms and red looking. I feel sorry for him although it has yet to slow him down. {This seems like something unrelated to the allergic reaction thing...stay tuned. ;)} So yay no HFM, but boo allergies. 

{Four}Sunday we had an amazing service on prayer and I am excited to hear more and participate in our challenge. Check it out here: talking2God.com I could never do the sermon justice, but it is all about just hitting "click-send" to God. We all formulate thoughts, fears, stressors, hopes, dreams etc in our mind or to family and friends everyday, but a lot of times we forget to just share those things directly to God. He loves us and wants to hear from us. Anyway check out the link.

{Five}Finally, Micah has been such a hoot lately. That boy is such a talker, and I am not sure what age is suppose to start formulating sentences or stringing together words, but he is already doing it! I.am.in.trouble. with that boy. For instance one day daddy got home from work MW says: Hi Da! And waves.

The kids absolutely love QT pina colada freezoni drinks. Today they had to share one. Leighton getting all nervous MW was guzzling it down too fast said: "I want some!" Then as I pass it to Leighton, Micah screeches: "I un um" {I want some}, even Lo a 3 year old understood him. I am just blown away. It took forever to get Lo to talk and then formulate sentences. There is my "my kid is awesome and I am going to brag on him" story.


Now to go do some laundry.
PS sorry I have ZERO pics as we haven't taken one picture in 2 weeks. How sad is that?! Time to do something fun I guess. :)