"Baby" turns 2

It seems every time we have another baby Christian has to remind me it's time to stop calling our youngest "Baby."  I know it has to go, but Charles still seems so little to me, so huggable, so cuddly, and so cute.  I will be sad to say goodbye to my littlest boy and turn him into a true toddler.
Some highlights of his toddler-hood (we think he is hilarious):

Me:  Do  you want some milk/crackers/pancakes/any food?
Charles:  Me, me, me! (while jumping up and down)

Favorite words: Bacca (Chewbacca), DarRex (T-rex and Dinosaur), Tops (triceratops), "Is hot?" (the question before every meal), "Byyye Mommy" (accompanied by a wave when leaving my room each morning after waking me up), "Diaper on.  Is yucky." (on = off).

Favorite songs: Star Wars theme (which he sings perfectly), I am a child of God (he can sing nearly the whole thing), ABC, Follow the Prophet (he gets very serious and wags his finger on the words, "DON'T go astray!"), Twinkle Twinkle (which he hears on the Suzuki violin CD every night of his life).  Not to boast, but this kid can sing!  It does a musician and mother proud.

Favorite people: Jack, Winfield, Mom, Dad, cousins Jane & Audrey, Charlie across the street (he's 5).  In that order.  Someday Charles will realize he is 2, not 6.

Someone is excited for cake!  Isn't it grand that Charles has no idea that we celebrated days after his real birthday and that I just slapped on the plastic Cars tablecloth I used on Winfield's birthday?

A true blow, but a little close to those candles.

This is serious inspection.  Charles had first dibs on the gummy bears, but as you can see on Jack's face, the boys helped me frost and decorate the cake.

Ahh sharing.  This is the way a 9-month pregnant mother did the birthday shopping: a trip with just Charles to Toys R Us to pick out a toy.  No wrapping paper, no surprises, and guess what?  No disappointment on his part.

Thanks to Gammy and Paddy, we did have at least a couple wrapped gifts.  Thanks for coming through for us.  He was very into unwrapping.

Don't let the cute face fool you, this kid has perfected weapon sounds - guns, light sabers, swords, you name it.  He even says things like, "A DarRex kill a Tops" (can't believe I'm admitting that my two year-old knows what kill means).  Like I said, he thinks he's six and we love him.  Happy Birthday, Baby!

Showered...make that Soaked

Check out this spread!  That is the magic of Cortney Huber's creativity.  She and Laura gave me the most fabulous baby shower.  There were potted flowers with little seed packages stuck in, veggies in lined pots, and tiny little flower pots with quotes in them from my mother (things like, "Elbows off the table" and "Be interested and interesting").  I wish I had added "grits and sausage are married" but maybe I would be the only one to get that.  In any case, it was a gorgeous spread and the food was incredible.  Just check out this lemon tart with raspberries, and no, I didn't take the pictures.  That would be Melinda from our ward - she's a genius with photography. 

Laura put together my first every diaper cake, complete with a tiny pair of black, patent-leather shoes on top and home-made flower clips.  Each diaper was tied with one of those unbelievably skinny rubber bands that mothers of girls use with a magical ease.  The next day I practiced on Audrey's hair and saw what a long way I have to go with hair-dos.  In any case, it was a really cute addition to the already decorated house.  Laura had painted a big "Baby GEORGIA" banner on fabulous paper and it was less shocking to me than I thought it would be.  I just have to again say how thrilled I am to use that lovely name in honor of a lovely person!

Okay, I have not been this spoiled at a shower since I had Jack.  There were something like 25 women there from church and they all were in the party spirit.  It really was a girls' night out kind of party.  So, kudos to Laura and Cortney for planning such an event.  

This is me with Audrey before opening presents.  Just add two more curious hands and a mound of gift bags and you get the idea of the shower.  I was surrounded - by children and gifts.  But hey, I'm not complaining.  I felt so utterly loved that night.  So, thank you a million times to Laura and Cortney!!

I just had to add this last picture.  As you can see, I am one of the last in the ward to have a baby in this ridiculous surge of births.  Luckily, 4 of these 5 baby carriers are for girls, so our little one will have lots of friends.  Adam stayed downstairs during the shower with the toddlers for as long as he could manage, but they all made their way up, along with Adam - the sole male at the party.  With a baby on his hip, he seemed quite at ease among the moms, albeit a little frazzled with the kids.  Way to be comfortable with your manhood, Adam!  (oh, and thanks for babysitting).

Jack Attack

Finally Jack has a real uniform, a real team, and real games!  He could not be more thrilled.  This was his first game and it was wet and very cold.  He is easily one of the biggest kids on his team and actually really good.  Next to him in this picture is Rocco, the "biggest boy in my class, but I'm actually faster than him."  I think our son has some good competition in him.

They only play 3-on-3, so it gives them a really good chance to learn passing and teamwork.  Can you believe there was actually a kid talking smack at Jack's game?  They are kindergartners for crying out loud!  He loves to tell the story of the "tall boy" that said to him, "You're not going to get the ball!" then just as the kid swung his leg to kick, Jack stole the ball from him.  He is so proud of that moment in his first soccer game and I can't blame him.  I'm pretty proud myself.  

That is Jack's Russian coach in the black, behind him.  These teams are coached by parents, but we really lucked out with this guy.  He says things during the game like, "Are you dreaming or playing soccer?  Run!" which is kind of harsh on a 6 year-old, but he is also very nice and playful.  Every time they score he says, "Celebrate!!"  I'm grateful Jack is getting some good coaching.

I had to add this photo after all of the soccer pics because Jack said to me the other day, "Mom, I really like soccer better than violin."  Oh boy.  His teacher just told me he is one of her best students.  At least he is learning and doing well.  Thank goodness his friend, Seojun is still taking lessons (not that I really care, I mean let's be honest, it's still up to me and so he's taking violin.  Case closed.), so at least group class is fun!  I'm really proud of Jack.  He is a hard worker, no matter what it is.  I think he gets it from Christian...

A change will do us all good.

Do you like it?  My new background for the blog?  It's so refreshing for me, and in honor of a new female joining our family soon (better be soon!!!), I decided to go a little spring-and-flowers on the boys.  It feels wonderful!  On a side note... I am due in exactly one week.  Christian is supposed to hop on the company jet tomorrow and go to NYC for a meeting.  He'll be gone for 12 hours.  I have never been an early deliver-er with our babies, but what if, just this once I go into labor tomorrow?  Will we forever have to tell the story of our first girl coming into the world while her Daddy was jet-setting across the country on a posh private jet?  We're torn.  What's a man to do?  I'll take the pressure off of him and say for the record, I think he should just go.  Check back with me after this is all over - I may have changed my mind.

Daddy Time

I just love the fact that the boys all crowded around to be on Christian's lap instead of spreading out on the couch.  They get all worked up when they hear him coming in the door each night and their favorite thing to do with Daddy is to jump on him when he's laying down (usually on one of their beds).  It's great to see the wrestling side come out in Christian.

At Winfield's preschool they had a Dad's Night where each dad was presented with a portrait and description of themselves.  Here is a little of what Win said about Christian:

"I call him Christian Mitchell or Dad.  He is 100!  He's huge, and his hair is white, but I have blond hair. His eyes are blue like me.  He's at work.  He just works.  He just does some things.  Dad wears worker clothes - white pants and a black shirt.  When he comes home from work, he plays Lego Star Wars with me and Jack.  He is good at Legos.  I like to hug Dad, and he does like that.  Dad likes to eat cheese.  He eats cheese a lot, and that makes his tummy bigger.  Dad and Mom like to go on the computer and set up PBS Kids for me.  I love Dad because he is so cool, and so is my mom."

Yeah, I love that last line.  I love the whole thing.  I have to add my two bits that Christian really IS a wonderful dad.  I'm so lucky that my boys have such a steady, loving, and hard working father and he really is the love of my life.  I can be sappy on my own blog, right?  Love you, Babe.

Oh, and I just have to add a funny side note.  See the hat Christian is wearing?  That is a fleece-lined hat that he wears inside the house.  It's cold here and we have a very drafty house, what can I say?  But, the best is to come to bed at night and see him reading in bed, pajamas on, and a snow cap on his head!  Our house isn't that cold!  Or is it...

Easter Photos, oh boy.

You would think I could capture my boys in a better picture for Easter, but under the circumstances, this was honestly the best we could do.  Winfield wet his pants (at Marriott's) and ended up in size 2 pants that looked like tight knickers on him, plus Jane's underpants (which he called "paneez").  Charles wanted nothing to do with his cute hat my mom gave them when he normally wears it around the house. But wait, the pictures get worse...

Jack holding the newest of his cousins, Madelynn, who is almost three months old.  He is going to be a wonderful big brother to our baby girl.

Nana with the boys.  Again, the best we could do.  This was the only one that they weren't doing fighting/star wars faces.  I guess that is what you get when you holler, "say Darth Vader!"

With the Marriott girls.  We are going to miss them!!!

The Recital

My viola recital was quite an event - for me.  I worked for months to be ready and I really did feel ready.  Admittedly, it wasn't my most impressive program, nor my most advanced playing, but it was the best I could do at 8 months pregnant and I felt very satisfied.  The audience was larger than I dared to imagine and so supportive with flowers and tears!  I think my mom cried the hardest, though.  Although it was only 45 minutes, I was completely spent by the end and grateful to have made it all the way through the Bach Suite.  My dad thought I was going to faint from exhaustion!  

Thank heavens for Megan and Jeremiah who drove up from Evanston to join me in the recital.  Megan was a dream accompanist and Jeremiah made the duet so much fun - for me as well as the audience.  

A serious expression, but kind of funny to think of a pregnant woman playing the viola!

Mom and me after the recital - whew! - in front of the conservatory.  It was such a beautiful hall, inside and outside.  It used to be a residence and then was turned into the music conservatory.

I could not have made it through the concert without my parents.  While I waltzed off to warm up, they cut flowers, arranged desserts, and got everything set up with Christian's help.  It meant so much to have them there supporting me and felt almost like the old days...give or take a few decades.  Adam and Laura picked up David and Abby from the airport and made it to the recital just in time, so I really did have a huge showing from my family alone.  I am one lucky woman!