The many faces of Ryan Francis

3 month photo shoot

Serious 

Happy

Laughing

Contemplative

Surprised

Asleep

Little Luigi

With the flood, we ate out a lot.  One night Kurt took Kate and Luke to Zapatista for Mexican.  He said the highlight was the guacamole they literally inhaled.  I think the highlight was this picture of Mexican Luke with a Luigi style mustache that he texted to me from the table.

The Flood

On Wednesday February 1, 2012 we had a small house flood.  The toilet in the kids bathroom ran and overflowed for close to two hours.  Water made it all the way to the basement via dry wall and light fixtures etc.  While the flood was memorable, the aftermath of drying out will be more memorable.  A water restoration company installed dozens and dozens of pieces of equipment (fans, ejector drying mats, dehumidifiers, air purifiers, blowers) throughout the house to dry the carpet, hardwood floors, dry wall and all.  It was loud.  It was dusty.  It was unsettling.  We only had access to the master bathroom and the bathroom in Ryan's nursery.  There were plastic barriers up like a scene from the movie E.T.  The best comparison I can make to the noise is sitting under the dryer at the salon when you have your hair colored - for 7 straight days!  We lived in a virtual wind tunnel for 7 days.  Today, they turned everything off and it is finally quiet.  Well, until the kids start screaming and crying, but at least they aren't screaming and crying over gale force winds.

A few photos to remember the "drying" portion of the whole ordeal.

You get the idea.  If only the pictures came with sound!

Luke's 2 year stats

Luke had his two year old well visit today with Dr. Nelson.  His official stats are as follows-

Height - 34.5 inches  50th percentile

Weight - 24 lbs 4 oz  10th percentile

Head Circumference - 49.5 cm  75th percentile

Luke is continuing on a consistent growth curve.  Based on our discussion with the doctor as well as reviewing their handouts for the two year old visit, Luke seems to be right on track with gross motor, fine motor, and verbal communication skills for a two year old.  He also seems to be embodying many of the characteristics that contribute to the infamous label of the "terrible twos" - lucky us.  He had one shot and he cried more when the nurse put on the band aid than when she administered the shot.  Thankfully I was expecting the worst and already had him 90% dressed.  When the nurse followed up with train stickers and a sucker and we managed to get home without a complete wrestling match in the parking lot.

2 year old birthday post and pictures to follow soon.

Luke's Birthday Party

Today we had a family party to celebrate Luke's 2nd birthday.  Grandma and Grandpa were visiting from Tennessee and Mimi and Papa joined via Skype.

 Intently opening gifts

Luke loved the basketball I got Kurt for Christmas so we got him a toddler size version of the real thing for his birthday.  

Talking to his new Woody and Buzz dolls.

Kate got Luke a backpack just like hers but with his initials on it.   She remembered she got hers when she was 2.  It was really her idea, which was fun, and she picked the train motif.  We were worried how she would handle the attention being on Luke and while she certainly tried to share the spotlight and was excited to share his new toys, she was very excited to give him her gift.  They like to play "Dora the Explorer" with their backpacks on.

 Singing Happy Birthday with a giant #2 cake.

 Posing with Grandma and Grandpa - unfortunately Luke already got into the blue icing!

 A picture with Daddy.  Too bad Luke's teeth are blue.

Milestone

I am excited to record that Ryan rolled over from his tummy to his back for the first time this morning.  I put him down on Kate's rug on his tummy for a minute while I helped her get dressed.  Before I knew it he flipped over to his back and was all smiles.

Kate's feast

Undirected.  Spontaneous.  Imaginative play.  It is one of my favorite things about having a preschooler.  It happens at the most unexpected times and when it does it goes on for long periods of time until something concrete that can't be moved (like school or a doctor's apt) interrupts it.  She is a girl on a mission.  This morning instead of eating her own breakfast, she decided to feed her dolls.  She herself started calling it a feast.  The table setting process was very intricate and she was talking to herself the whole time as she got her friends their placemats, bibs, plates, food, spoons, etc.  Finally after over an hour, she sat down and joined them for some food.  If only I could find the magic potion that spurs this form of entertainment on when I really need it, but that's part of what makes it special- how truly unexpected it is.  

Brothers

On Monday when Kate was at Kid-motion, Luke was helping me entertain Ryan between naps and feedings with some tickles and peek a boo.  Luke's not as gentle as I would like, but he was incredibly enthusiastic and Ryan was all (okay, mostly) smiles.

Here's hoping this grows to be a very special bond.

Two Month Stats

Ryan had his two month well visit today.  His stats were as follows-  

Height - 23" 50th percentile

Weight - 12 lbs 13 oz - 75th percentile

Head Circumference - 40.5 cm - 50th+ percentile

He is continuing on the same growth curves he started on and doing great.  He showed off his social skills by smiling and cooing.  He turned his head a full 180 degrees while on his tummy.  And he went nuts when he got his shots!  All of which met or exceeded the doctor's expectations.  We go back in two months assuming he stays healthy and avoids the preschooler germs that frequent our house.

Two Months Old

Ryan Francis is two months old!  Flying by for sure.

He was super happy and smiley this morning, but this pictures don't really capture that.  

Official stats to follow Friday, but I'm pretty sure he's perfect.  His hair is thinning, he's smiling more and more, and occasionally he'll sleep more than three hours at a time.  

Special thanks to dear friend and blog inspirer, Rebecca, for the sticky bellies month stickers!  Hopefully this will keep me on track to at least take pictures of Ryan on his monthly birthdays.  

Little Bits

Luke started his first class on his own today called Little Bits at the Community House.  I wish I could tell you he enjoyed it, but I don't really know because he doesn't have the language to communicate a lot of detail.  I know that when I dropped him off he fell right into playing alongside the other kids and didn't even stop to say goodbye to me.  I know that when I picked him up 90 minutes later he rushed over to tell me he had a dirty diaper and then went right back to playing with the toys.  His teachers Miss Mary and Miss Elyse said he did great and they wouldn't have even known he wasn't two yet.  Class is for 2-3 year olds but they were flexible with his upcoming birthday.  After class we took Kate to lunch bunch and school and then came home.  We ate lunch together and it took him 45 minutes of babble before he calmed down for nap.  So from all this I think it is safe to say,  he enjoyed himself.  I am thrilled he has something all his own and isn't just being dragged around to activities for Kate.  I'm not trying to rush him along, but I do think this will be good for him.  I tried to snap some pictures before his first class to mark the milestone, but I didn't get anything special.  It is nearly impossible to take a picture of Luke these days because all he wants is the opportunity to push the buttons on the camera himself and runs around screaming, "button, button".

To anyone actually reading this after yet another blog hiatus, thank you.  I hope to be back more regularly soon and to back fill some posts and pictures from the holidays too.  Stay tuned . . .