Nasal passage

After roasting s'mores for family night with the Wangbergs at Black Hill Regional Park, we were in the car leaving the park when we heard a distress call from Noah in the back of the van, "I can't get the rock out of my nose!"

Carrie and I both had a look at it. It was dusk, so the light was poor. I didn't want to push it farther up in an effort to dislodge the rock, so we decided we had better head toward urgent care. Fortunately, I was able to get it out while we were still en route with just a little effort.

Once everything was calm, Carrie wanted to make sure the lesson was learned.

Carrie: So, boys, what did we learn from this?

Luke: Don't put rocks in your nose.

Me: Don't put anything in your nose.

Luke: You can put air in your nose.

[...a few minutes later...]

Luke: Pieces of cloud. You could put cloud pieces in your nose.

By the time we reached home, Luke had informed us that we can also put light and rainbows in our noses. So there you have it. Does anyone have anything else to add? I'm sure Luke would love to have a more complete list.

Carrie's note: What is funny to me about this situation is the thought process that goes into putting something up your nose. I imagine it goes something like this:
"Hey, this is a nice rock. I'd like to keep it. But, I am not sure where to put it."
He pauses while contemplating options... the light goes on and Noah realizes,
"Oh, I have a perfect little hole right here in my nose."
He proceeds to place small pebble up left nostril.

Team Fredin

Out where we belong, following the little men on a little nature walk while praying it's not poison ivy we're following them into.

note: I have probably learned what poison ivy looks like a million times but I find the little saying, "leaves of three let them be" totally unhelpful due to the fact that lots of plants have groups of three leaves.

I love this last one. I think that I have a similar picture of Jakob, only he was posing-- this shot is totally organic.

Happy Monday!

More from Courtney and Dave's wedding

Avocados for Isaac

About this time in Noah's life I found myself reaching for the camera whenever he sat down to eat. I was just looking through archives of the blog and found a bunch of posts about the pleasures of feeding an eager little mouth. Here I am again. And it's still fun.

Eight Months

Isaac watches on as his brothers play in the "hot African sun" and wishes he could participate.

As an aside, I need to understand the male relationship with sticks. Do all little boys (and men) love sticks? Is it inborn? I tried (without success) for a while to enforce a "no playing with sticks" rule but that was a losing battle. The little boy draw to sticks is another boy mystery to me.

All too soon my little man will be running and playing along side the big boys. For now he remains my baby and my little sidekick. I am thoroughly enjoying all the little parts of his babyhood from the squishy thighs to the toothless grins and giggles because way to soon he will start to take on more toddler characteristics and I will be left empty armed while he runs around.

At eight months he:

• crawls quickly
• pulls himself up and cruises on furniture
  
• has stood unassisted one time
• eats anything in his path
• giggles at pictures of other babies in books
• belly laughs at his brothers' jokes
  
• is a terrific sleeper
• is less in love with nursing than he previously was (too much to do!)
• delights in ripping up books and magazines if he can get his hands on them
• routinely pulls all the books off the lower shelves
  
• loves avocado, carrots, peas and finger foods
• hates really sweet fruits and being fed
• has more hair than either of his brothers did at his age and it has stayed dark
• has eyes that seem to be turning brown
  
• is terribly social but loves his momma best
• has added quite an array of consonant sounds to his babbles
  
• still flaps his arms and kicks his legs quickly when he gets excited
• has done a good job of convincing me that three boys all close together is pretty wonderful, after all-- who needs a girl?

Here's to the last and fleeting days of my babe in arms! I do love having a fat little baby to snuggle.

Luke and Ivy

For some darling flower girl and ring bearer pictures go here.

Kindergarten Smile

He's got it!

back

Isaac became the third Fredin boy to learn stairs on this set at Grandma Barb's house

I wonder how many posts start with something about the whirlwind we are (were) stuck in. I was about to write that we have been in a wedding whirlwind when I realized that it seems that we are always in a whirlwind of one sort or another. I am happy to report, however, that the bags are all unpacked, the laundry is washed and put away (as much as it ever is) and the kids went to bed at a reasonable hour tonight. So it seems that this whirlwind might be coming to a close as we struggle back into our routines.

We had a delightful trip back to our Midwestern roots, celebrated Courtney and Dave's marriage, had some quality cousin time, a good trip to the zoo, took the kids fishing for the first time, and generally recreated with Nat's side of the family.

Here are just a few of the highlights:

Brookfield Zoo

the delightful local childrens' museum

Grandma and Grandpa's Fire Pit

more will follow... Whitney took much better wedding and fishing pictures than I managed

Noah

In a word, heartbreaker.

Isaac

In a word, edible.

Forgiveness

This post made me so happy all day today. I really love my calling.

Sunday Night Musings

Warning: this is a terribly sentimental post from an introspective mother, written mostly for my benefit.

A little over five years ago I became a mother to this little man. He loves to hear the story of when he was born and stories of his infancy. I laid in bed next to him tonight and told him, again, about the moment when he was laid on my chest and I reached down for his hand, looked in his eyes and greeted him. A slow smile spread across his face as I told him about how, as an infant, he never left my side. We did everything together; he slept curled up next to me and spent the rest of his time in a sling on my chest. Nat and I used to argue about who got to hold him and who got to get him up when he woke from napping (on the rare occasion that I wasn't napping next to him). Our world revolved around him. I have wondered at times if I did him a disservice and sometimes wish that I had encouraged a little more independence earlier on. But then I look back at the lessons that this type of relationship and this level of connection taught me about myself, about children, being a mother and being a family and I know that it was exactly how our family had to start. For him, my first born, independence followed this period of interdependence. Tonight as he drifted off to sleep listening to these stories of his beginnings I thought about the importance of connection and was reminded that what that connection looks like varies from relationship to relationship. Luke was (and continues to be) the most intense of the three and he needed that solo time.

The relationship is different with Noah, as is my relationship with Isaac. They both slept, from early on, in their own rooms in the crib. I, however, feel just as connected to them. It's just different. I am learning that different is just different not better or worse.

It is fascinating to see the way these things unfold and the way it falls into place within our family. Luke paved the way for his brothers and taught me the lessons that I needed to parent them. My responsiveness to him and attention to his needs honed my maternal instincts. I can tell when Isaac just needs to settle himself down and when he needs a little comforting. I know when Noah needs distraction instead of a lecture about the rules.

I think that is why number three is my favorite. My confidence in caring for Isaac is boosted by the experiences gained with his brothers. I've come into my own as a mother and can now just enjoy it. Perspective will do that to you.

I am grateful, so grateful to be learning these lessons. I can see that, in another five years, if I keep working at it I will be closer to the mother I am striving to be. What a beautiful plan this is and what delightful little tutors I have.

Jedi Training

We have had a Star Wars renaissance around here. The toys are finding their way into circulation and the pretend play has started to include ewoks, storm troopers and the rebel alliance. My favorite part of Star Wars play is when they get these Jedi robes on (these shots were taken while Noah and Isaac slept and so Luke had to do all his own imagining). Sent by their thoughtful Aunt Whitney, these robes bring about the best of pretend play. Oh, how I love this one's imagination.

Happy Fourth

from all these firecrackers

Looking

I got an email from Marisha today. I had a conversation with Shelley while she labored. Nat brought up the idea of applying for a job in New Zealand. All this has my little heart swimming in possibilities. There are times when I miss Chicago and the people there so much it makes me ache. I long to be in Madison again, what a charmed existence we lived there. And then there's this whole family thing. I would love for my children to have a daily relationship with their cousins and grandparents. I would love to have a date with my husband while dumping my kids on someone who wouldn't consider it dumping (Heather dear is always willing-- God bless her). I need my sisters. I miss my mom (and dad). I love my in-laws. There is also a part of me that wants to flee to Samoa and live in Vaiola so my little ones can learn to cook their food in umus and we can relish that slow pace of life.
What makes it worse is that I love Maryland. It's a terribly interesting place to live, I adore my neighborhood, love the location and have treasured friends (old and new) here. I just feel torn. Nat keeps having conversations about his future with his boss and we are getting closer to decision time. It's almost to much for me to wrap my mind around. How do you make these kinds of decisions?