We cut Xander's hair again. Almost buzzed it, really. He is a happy little guy, who LOVES to give kisses. He opens his mouth wide and slobbers all over your cheek, then comes away with a HUGE grin on his face. I love that he gives them to me all the time, even when I ask for them.
Xander army crawls everywhere. He cried and cried on his tummy, did not want to learn how to crawl. Now that he is fairly mobile, he pulls himself to a standing position. He refuses to crawl (not that I force him to, obviously). He just wants to walk. He is beside himself with joy if I hold his hands and we run around the house, especially if running means chasing Isabela. Those two are quite a pair. Isabela frequently tells me, "Xander my favorite." Whenever she says his name, she says, "My Xander friend..." I smile every time.
I have noticed lately that Xander tips to the side a lot when he is sitting. He seems really happy doing so. Saturday we stopped by Walmart and they had a Santa (not a particularly convincing one at all!) there to take pictures (they give you a cheesy 5x7 for free). So of course, we did it. Isabela greeted Santa, talked to him, said he was nice, then cried when we asked her to sit on his lap. She adamantly refused and I didn't force her. She said "Santa scary." Xander took a picture, all smiles, flopping over to the side like he does. Just to have his 'leaning' documented makes me happy. When Xander was done, Isabela thanked Santa. She was so happy and outgoing, I asked if she wanted a turn so she could have a picture, too. She cried again. But she told Xander he did a good job. What a good little example he is, without even know it :D
12/5/11
12/2/11
All before 7:30AM
For months, Isabela wakes up dry. I still put in her diapers every night, just in case. I didn't really want to chance it. And except for when visiting family out-of-town, Isabela hasn't had a dirty/wet diaper in weeks, either. So last night when I got home and she was ready for bed and no diaper, I wasn't too worried.
After Brandon left for work, I walked in to get a diaper to change Xander's wet diaper. Then I smelled it. The room wreaked. Izzy turned over. I asked if she was dirty. She started to cry. She managed a "Yes," through her tears. I felt so bad. Luckily, Brandon had put a towel under her before he went to bed last night. It still soaked a little into the mattress, but not really bad. I picked her up, pulled off the sheets and headed to the bathroom. We cleaned her, the clothes, sprayed her off, and stuck her in the tub.
Then I turned to find Xander who I had left with a wet bum. He had crawled into the kitchen (I am sure to watch us in the bathroom). He had spit up everywhere, then rolled all over in it. His pajamas were practically dripping. And he had a blowout diaper (ya know, the one I was about the change before I found Isabela laying in bed all gross). Poor kids! Luckily, he had crawled into the kitchen! Sopping wet, I picked him up, repeated the process we started with Isabela, and stuck them both back into the tub to play. I started the laundry and looked at the clock. What a great beginning to the day.
After Brandon left for work, I walked in to get a diaper to change Xander's wet diaper. Then I smelled it. The room wreaked. Izzy turned over. I asked if she was dirty. She started to cry. She managed a "Yes," through her tears. I felt so bad. Luckily, Brandon had put a towel under her before he went to bed last night. It still soaked a little into the mattress, but not really bad. I picked her up, pulled off the sheets and headed to the bathroom. We cleaned her, the clothes, sprayed her off, and stuck her in the tub.
Then I turned to find Xander who I had left with a wet bum. He had crawled into the kitchen (I am sure to watch us in the bathroom). He had spit up everywhere, then rolled all over in it. His pajamas were practically dripping. And he had a blowout diaper (ya know, the one I was about the change before I found Isabela laying in bed all gross). Poor kids! Luckily, he had crawled into the kitchen! Sopping wet, I picked him up, repeated the process we started with Isabela, and stuck them both back into the tub to play. I started the laundry and looked at the clock. What a great beginning to the day.
11/29/11
Izzy-isms in Espanglish
The other day Isabela caught a live spider. She said, "I caught spider lips." She calls anything that looks like a spider or anything fibrous, spider lips. She grabbed a tissue from the bathroom, smashed the spider with it, and threw it away. It was great!
Later she painted my face with a clean brush used for blush. Usually she says she painted me into Dora, or Alicia. Today she said, "You a pretty girh, mommy." She doesn't quite get the 'L' pronounced. It melted my heart.
Spanglish she used today alone:
Manana my birthday party!
Tu be nice a mi.
Es mi platano (but really it was a half-deflated globo)
Viene bebe dinosaurio... y VIENE BEBE VENADO! CORRE!!
Evidently, baby dinosaur now has an imaginary friend, baby deer.
Our family conversation:
Isabela points to Brandon "Es my daddy."
Me: El es tu papa?
Isabela: No. No es papa.
I tell Brandon: That's news to me.
Me to Isabela: No es to papa?
Isabela, exasperated: No! You guys Forster's!
Me: Tu eres Forster tambien?
Isabela: Si! Soy Forster.
Then we had been in the car for 5 hours, with two crying, hungry children, late at night. With 1.5 hours still to go, we were on the look out for a McDonald's or anywhere really that the kids could get out and breathe. After 20 min, we arrived. When she sees it, Isabela laughs all excited and cries out, "I wanna abrazo a McDonald's!"
Later she painted my face with a clean brush used for blush. Usually she says she painted me into Dora, or Alicia. Today she said, "You a pretty girh, mommy." She doesn't quite get the 'L' pronounced. It melted my heart.
Spanglish she used today alone:
Manana my birthday party!
Tu be nice a mi.
Es mi platano (but really it was a half-deflated globo)
Viene bebe dinosaurio... y VIENE BEBE VENADO! CORRE!!
Evidently, baby dinosaur now has an imaginary friend, baby deer.
Our family conversation:
Isabela points to Brandon "Es my daddy."
Me: El es tu papa?
Isabela: No. No es papa.
I tell Brandon: That's news to me.
Me to Isabela: No es to papa?
Isabela, exasperated: No! You guys Forster's!
Me: Tu eres Forster tambien?
Isabela: Si! Soy Forster.
Then we had been in the car for 5 hours, with two crying, hungry children, late at night. With 1.5 hours still to go, we were on the look out for a McDonald's or anywhere really that the kids could get out and breathe. After 20 min, we arrived. When she sees it, Isabela laughs all excited and cries out, "I wanna abrazo a McDonald's!"
11/10/11
The result
Isabela woke up shortly after I posted last time, about 9:15PM or something. She didn't go back to sleep until almost 1AM.
Xander woke up at 4:30AM to eat. I got him back to sleep about 6. Then Brandon got up to go to work. They were both up again about 7:30 or so. Something like that... the joys :)
But we have slept through the night every night since. Hooray!
Xander woke up at 4:30AM to eat. I got him back to sleep about 6. Then Brandon got up to go to work. They were both up again about 7:30 or so. Something like that... the joys :)
But we have slept through the night every night since. Hooray!
11/6/11
An extra hour?
As many of you know, Utah State played at Hawaii in football last night. Every time they play in Hawaii, it's a late game... starting at 10PM. So Brandon stayed up til 2AM to watch it, and when they won, yelled and celebrated! Yay!!! Go Aggies! But, of course, I got to wake up at 1AM, too. Then Xander woke up at 6, then Isabela, and so on....
We ate lunch/dinner with friends so the kids got a late nap. They both fell asleep at 6. I can't wake them up. I've tried, multiple times, including picking them up, talking to them (in which Isabela talks back), etc. They both just half respond (or half open eyes, in Xander's case), then roll over and sleep again.
I have a feeling we will all be waking up at 3AM for breakfast.
We ate lunch/dinner with friends so the kids got a late nap. They both fell asleep at 6. I can't wake them up. I've tried, multiple times, including picking them up, talking to them (in which Isabela talks back), etc. They both just half respond (or half open eyes, in Xander's case), then roll over and sleep again.
I have a feeling we will all be waking up at 3AM for breakfast.
10/31/11
Painting faces and Push-ups
Isabela loves to pretend to paint your face with a blush brush. She paints herself and says, "I Dora." Mom is usually Alicia and Dad or Xander is Diego. Today, however, without painting, she declared, "Xander: Baby Jaguar," as if she was dubbing him a knight or something. She definitely made me laugh.
Xander can get up onto all fours now. For the first time, though, I saw him do a really good push-up like babies do before they start crawling. I never was able to capture a picture when Isabela did it. I am going to try my darndest to get Xander in the act. He is a funny little kid.
Xander can get up onto all fours now. For the first time, though, I saw him do a really good push-up like babies do before they start crawling. I never was able to capture a picture when Isabela did it. I am going to try my darndest to get Xander in the act. He is a funny little kid.
10/30/11
One season ends as another begins
We are nearing the end of our first high school football season in Colorado. It is bittersweet. The kids and I loved going to the freshman games the most. They were earlier in the day when it was warm, fewer people in the stands, and I could really watch the game while Bellie ran around and played.
However, coaching and politics have been outrageous to say the least, nothing like when Brandon has coached other years. Today he said, "I wish I had coached soccer this year rather than football." Holy Cow! It must be bad. Never in my life would I have imagined those words coming out of my husband's mouth. I told him, "Yeah, but we would never have guessed it in a hundred years before the season started that you would feel that way now." I am way excited to see my husband a little more often! We miss him so much! (So hoping when basketball starts the week after that it isn't so demanding!)
However, coaching and politics have been outrageous to say the least, nothing like when Brandon has coached other years. Today he said, "I wish I had coached soccer this year rather than football." Holy Cow! It must be bad. Never in my life would I have imagined those words coming out of my husband's mouth. I told him, "Yeah, but we would never have guessed it in a hundred years before the season started that you would feel that way now." I am way excited to see my husband a little more often! We miss him so much! (So hoping when basketball starts the week after that it isn't so demanding!)
10/26/11
Close one...
Isabela is all about the liquids today. First, she peed all over my bed this morning... Yuck!
Second, at the library drinking fountain, water splashed on her, the walls, the floor... you get the picture.
And precariously close to her 3rd spill of the day, I caught her just in time. She was "washing dishes" but I hadn't initially realized that she actually plugged the sink.
Notice the water level is quite high. Yes, I turned off the water before taking the picture.
And fourth, as I am writing this, Isabela is dumping laundry detergent all over the bathroom floor!
Oh, the days of a 2 year old! Oh, and her imaginary baby dinosaur is still here. I wasn't sure it would stick, but we are into day two...
As for Xander, we went on a walk the other night and he was SO HAPPY to be outside!
Second, at the library drinking fountain, water splashed on her, the walls, the floor... you get the picture.
And precariously close to her 3rd spill of the day, I caught her just in time. She was "washing dishes" but I hadn't initially realized that she actually plugged the sink.
Notice the water level is quite high. Yes, I turned off the water before taking the picture.
And fourth, as I am writing this, Isabela is dumping laundry detergent all over the bathroom floor!
Oh, the days of a 2 year old! Oh, and her imaginary baby dinosaur is still here. I wasn't sure it would stick, but we are into day two...
As for Xander, we went on a walk the other night and he was SO HAPPY to be outside!
He really is such a cute little man!
And this is from our walk that night... I was enthralled with all of the criss-crossing clouds! They seemed to cover the whole sky, like a swarm of jets went by in various directions. Brandon finally told me to stop taking pictures. I just couldn't get over it. The sky here is always sooo beautiful!
And this is from our walk that night... I was enthralled with all of the criss-crossing clouds! They seemed to cover the whole sky, like a swarm of jets went by in various directions. Brandon finally told me to stop taking pictures. I just couldn't get over it. The sky here is always sooo beautiful!
10/25/11
Imaginary Friend
Isabela now has an imaginary pet baby dinosaur. She talks to it in a squeaky voice like she does to Xander… because it is a baby. She pointed up and told me it was on the ceiling, then it came down and sat by her. “Look, mommy, bebé dinosaur! Come with me…” She was walking around the house and in circles, babbling nonsense behind her at the floor where her baby dinosaur was closely following behind.
When Brandon came home for lunch earlier, she had been playing, saying “The dinosaur get me!” and running to hide under my blanket. Then dinosaur gave daddy cosquillas (tickles). It has just evolved into a baby. I love her imagination!
10/24/11
Wellness check-up
Xander has his 6 mo check-up today. He did really well, and only cried a little bit when he got his shots. I fed him right after and he as his cheery self.
Isabela kept asking for a treat. At the doctor office in Logan, they always gave her a treat or a sticker. The office here isn't quite as child-friendly, I guess you could say. No books in the drawers here, either, that she can read while she waits. She whined at me the whole time, but she survived :)
Random thought: In Colorado, it appears that you can take classes OR take a test to add an endorsement to your teaching license. Oh, the possibilities... If I can just test out of everything and teach Spanish and other things, like science or math...
But then I remember that I want to be a stay-at-home mom. And I see the kids at Brandon's school and don't really want to hang out with a hundred hormonal teenagers all day. What I really want is to continue learning and going to school. When I grow up, maybe I will be a professional--part-time--student.
Weight: 18 lbs (75%)
Height: 27.5 in (80-90%)
Head: 18 in (95-97%)
Isabela kept asking for a treat. At the doctor office in Logan, they always gave her a treat or a sticker. The office here isn't quite as child-friendly, I guess you could say. No books in the drawers here, either, that she can read while she waits. She whined at me the whole time, but she survived :)
Random thought: In Colorado, it appears that you can take classes OR take a test to add an endorsement to your teaching license. Oh, the possibilities... If I can just test out of everything and teach Spanish and other things, like science or math...
But then I remember that I want to be a stay-at-home mom. And I see the kids at Brandon's school and don't really want to hang out with a hundred hormonal teenagers all day. What I really want is to continue learning and going to school. When I grow up, maybe I will be a professional--part-time--student.
10/22/11
10/21/11
Addicted to the LIbrary... and it's FREE!
Our libraries here are the most amazing! All of the libraries in the county work together. They have this amazing courier system. You can check out a book at any of the 7 libraries and return the same book to any of the 7 libraries. You can also request that a book be sent to your library for pick up. Needless to say, I have been reading a lot, maybe a little too much. Just fiction. But it has been a good escape. Why don't all counties have library systems like this one?
10/20/11
Today I made pasta for lunch. Isabela said she was hungry, but wouldn't eat. I told her to take just one bite to try it. She refused and chose to go to bed. Since she had just gotten out of the shower, she was naked, and fell asleep for 2 hours. I stewed the whole time whether I should risk waking her to put on a diaper. I didn't. Miraculously, she didn't wet the bed!
Picture updates!
20 October 2011
Watchin' daddy's football game. I chose this for my tub today :)
Hmmm... these glasses are HUGE! Grinding wheat with mom. When we are rich
I won't have to do hard labor anymore...
We'll have an electric grinder!
Sittin' at the restaurant all by myself. Sittin' by myself... again! Ha!
So cool!
Dressed myself, thank you very much! Picking mini apple things.
I like them (they were bitter)
Rained out at daddy's first football game this year! ALL of my clips in my hair...
My favorite picture of ALL! I love their eyes.
I won't have to do hard labor anymore...
We'll have an electric grinder!
So cool!
Going to crawl now. Psych! And you really believed me. You can't make me do anything.
I like them (they were bitter)
The COOLEST girl of ALL! Say "CHEESE!"
10/19/11
Yesterday Isabela would hit the button on a toy to play music, then teach Xander how to dance. She would wiggle and shake while looking at him, and say, "Look! Do this... dance Xander." Repeated over and over.
Today she is teaching him to sing songs from Dora. "Xander, say Map... I'm the map, I'm the map, I'm the map!... Songing Xander!"
Xander is feeling a lot better, sleeping marginally better, and is laughing a lot. He still has puffy, red eyes but he always had those. Still looking for the cause of that one, but at least he is doing WAY better.
Today she is teaching him to sing songs from Dora. "Xander, say Map... I'm the map, I'm the map, I'm the map!... Songing Xander!"
Xander is feeling a lot better, sleeping marginally better, and is laughing a lot. He still has puffy, red eyes but he always had those. Still looking for the cause of that one, but at least he is doing WAY better.
10/17/11
Parenting...
I think Xander has a food allergy or digestive problems, or something. Tummy aches due to something, I think... being a mother is such a guessing game! He doesn't sleep through the night anymore, gets rashy sometimes, and seems more irritable. It is definitely SO different than parenting Isabela as a baby. They certainly have their own quirks and personalities.
For lunch, Isabela loves Spaghettio's. Today I pulled out a can and she said "No! I no like it Spaghettio's," which really means she does like it, but doesn't want them right now. She wanted steamed carrots instead. Who am I to argue?
For lunch, Isabela loves Spaghettio's. Today I pulled out a can and she said "No! I no like it Spaghettio's," which really means she does like it, but doesn't want them right now. She wanted steamed carrots instead. Who am I to argue?
10/13/11
Fall
We are finally experiencing what seems to be Fall. I haven't experienced that in a really long time. In Logan, it seems to go straight from hot hot summer to snow. I LOVE IT! The kids and I go for walks, always to the post office and sometimes farther to a park or something. Isabela just loves to sit on grass since we don't have a lawn. There is a little doctor clinic near our house that has grass. We walk there just to sit.
The only downfall is wasps and flies, which infest mainly my one window and my door. The wasps hang out in the doorframe and come in about everytime I open the door.
Last week a girl from my ward, Steph, invited me to go to Maroon Bells. It was a blast! I will post pictures one day... It is about an hour drive from my house and there are TONS of Aspen trees with yellow leaves, red rock covered in Pine trees and snow on the mountains! We both took our little toddler girls and 6 month old boys (they are 6 days apart). We hiked up about a 1/4 mile to a lake, the girls were getting tired, but we made it all back. Best day without my husband that I've had in a long time! Thanks Steph!
The only downfall is wasps and flies, which infest mainly my one window and my door. The wasps hang out in the doorframe and come in about everytime I open the door.
Last week a girl from my ward, Steph, invited me to go to Maroon Bells. It was a blast! I will post pictures one day... It is about an hour drive from my house and there are TONS of Aspen trees with yellow leaves, red rock covered in Pine trees and snow on the mountains! We both took our little toddler girls and 6 month old boys (they are 6 days apart). We hiked up about a 1/4 mile to a lake, the girls were getting tired, but we made it all back. Best day without my husband that I've had in a long time! Thanks Steph!
9/24/11
I miss blogging
I miss having the internet and access to everyone's lives (I sometimes think they are more interesting than my own). I miss blogging, and venting, and sharing our little moments. I tend to let the little things pass on by and not document them now that we don't have internet.
Isabela is SO big and SO smart. Xander is getting close to wanting to crawl. He rolls and laughs a lot. Isabela loves to make him laugh and laugh. It is great he is such a great audience for her. I love watching the light in his eyes when he catches on to something (like when I made his fingers push the light switch and he would watch his hand then look at the light bulb....he was in awe).
Brandon is home maybe 5 waking hours Monday thru Friday. Both the kids and I really miss him. We need him more in our lives. I, therefore, get very little selfish time and my body is showing the effects, so is my mind.
Isabela is SO big and SO smart. Xander is getting close to wanting to crawl. He rolls and laughs a lot. Isabela loves to make him laugh and laugh. It is great he is such a great audience for her. I love watching the light in his eyes when he catches on to something (like when I made his fingers push the light switch and he would watch his hand then look at the light bulb....he was in awe).
Brandon is home maybe 5 waking hours Monday thru Friday. Both the kids and I really miss him. We need him more in our lives. I, therefore, get very little selfish time and my body is showing the effects, so is my mind.
9/7/11
9/7/11
Surprise to Brandon. I am at the library and so he doesn't know I am posting.
We are having fun today. Isabela loves playing games on the computer library.
Only Xander's eyes got a little red and puffy on the way over here. I hope it's just allergies or something. It doesn't make me feel good. I shouldn't worry, but hey, I'm a mom. It's what I do.
I still can't believe how beautiful it is here. There are so many lakes and rivers everywhere. The camping and hiking possibilities are endless.
Isabela made me put ALL of her tiny hair clips in today. It actually looks pretty cute.
Xander is growing SO FAST! I can't believe how big he is. All of his clothes now are 12 mo an he is still only 5 months barely.
But he is stinky now so I must go change a diaper...
We are having fun today. Isabela loves playing games on the computer library.
Only Xander's eyes got a little red and puffy on the way over here. I hope it's just allergies or something. It doesn't make me feel good. I shouldn't worry, but hey, I'm a mom. It's what I do.
I still can't believe how beautiful it is here. There are so many lakes and rivers everywhere. The camping and hiking possibilities are endless.
Isabela made me put ALL of her tiny hair clips in today. It actually looks pretty cute.
Xander is growing SO FAST! I can't believe how big he is. All of his clothes now are 12 mo an he is still only 5 months barely.
But he is stinky now so I must go change a diaper...
9/3/11
9/3/11
I jog-walked five miles today! It was great! I rand a 5k with Brandon’s mom last 24th of July, but other than that haven’t ran in probably 3 years. My neck and back feel way better, a lot more blood flow.
Brandon coached his first football game last night. They won 28-0! He is way stoked! And therefore it is a good day in the Forster household. Congrats babe!
I finally have a pic from the reservoir. We went out Friday night with my parents then I took Brandon out Saturday morning. Isabela was about the same size as a catfish some guys had just caught so we took a picture :D
Going for a walk, both kids in the stroller, this is what I see through the little plastic window (only usually upside down. I rotated the picture). Doesn't Xander look slightly like an alien?
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