Pain in the patootie

Just finished getting all the documentation together for our passport applications. Well, almost all. Aaron's out with Pete and I need to make a copy (2 actually) of his DL. We're going to try and get this done at the post office tomorrow before heading down to Murphysboro. I'm expecting great delays and frustration. Our post office is ridiculously bad. I'm having a glass of wine tonight as a preemptive strike.

Sad to say that Pamela and Harper will exit Chicago tomorrow morning. So, instead of moping around all weekend, Aaron decided to take us down to his hometown. I don't want to write too much about their exit, because I'll get all weepy. Maybe next month I can write more about it. :)

We actually had a pretty good day. Went to a much better story time this morning. It was at our localish Barnes and Nobel. It was fun. The boys both seemed to have fun too. Waylon would have fun anywhere right now, he just crawled and walked all over the place. Bryon actually sat and listened to the stories. Both boys even got to pick one out.

I'm very excited about our weekend getaway. The weather here is so awful, and I am going stir crazy not to mention the boys.















Bye for now!

Hola Cancun!

That's what we will be saying in 3 months and 3 days or so. Aaron got accepted for a conference in Cancun this May so we're tagging along as his entourage. He really needs supervision at all times. He he. I am so excited. Instead of a view of this.....

It will be this.....(photo from http://www.marriott.com/)

Ahhhh.

15 mo Checkup

That's what we did this morning. Waylon had his 15 month checkup with Dr. Deitch. Everything went great. He's 22lb 4 oz, 21.25 in tall. That puts him in the 25th and 50th percentiles respectively. Although, I think there might be an error with the height. He was in the 95th percentile for height at his year check up. It's not really an exact science though and our nurse was an obvious newbie. He got 3 shots, and is doing great (one was the dreaded MMR). He didn't even cry very long. We hit subway on the way home and he devoured 1/2 of a cold cut combo (6").

The little guy is doing great. He's so happy. Here is a video of one of his favorite tricks with dad. You have to visit the blog webpage here to view the video.

He loves to play this game. He'll back it up again and again. If you take too long to catch him, he'll turn around and tackle you. Such a ham.

Off to watch the Bachelor. I will definitely lose a couple million brain cells in the next 50 minutes.

Chicago today: 34 and snowy
Savannah today: 68 (ah!)

Tres Hombres

Dragons

"Mom, Dragons aren't scary. They just walk around looking for friends. They don't eat babies or anyone."

Brotherly love

Nothing says love like a zerbert to the butt. (Sorry, no pic!) Will have to remind Bryon of that one in 10 years.

House hungry

Dear real estate agent,

Will you please be our realtor? I am looking for a house that two boys (+ one someday??) can play in, one dad can relax in and one mom won't kill herself keeping up. We need one room for the boys and one room for their toys. Dad needs a deck. Mom needs a jet tub.

We hope that our dog won't drive the neighbors too crazy barking at 6 am...

..or our boys running wild at the same 6 am. Maybe something with a big yard is needed and a 12' high security fence.

We would like something close to good schools, good food, and water (of the salty kind).

Oh, and by the way, we plan on having massive amounts of company at almost any time. Excepting July and August which we're told is just too hot to do anything except hang at the pool or beach. We would like them (the company) to have their own "suite", be it one room or two, but always feel comfortable and never need to leave due to claustrophobic feelings. An extra doggie suite for visiting canines would be great.

We'll be there in March, so get ready!!!

Sincerely,
The Pedersons

Weekend

We had a great time this weekend. Brent (Aaron's high school bff and our wedding musician) came up for his friend, Christina's 30th birthday party. Aaron went out with the boys when Brent got in on Friday night and I went out to the b-day party on Saturday night. We really should get a babysitter one of these days. Then we could both go out together! What a novel idea.

Anyway, the party was great. I got to wear my favorite shoes. I love em. They're even comfortable, even though they don't look it. Not that I would go running in them, but they're not bad. I feel like a pretty sexy momma in them. I think from now on it'll be a requirement that I always have a great pair of red shoes.

The shoes...

Sunday we went out to brunch. The boys did great. Not that long ago we couldn't take Waylon anywhere to eat. He just didn't have the patience to sit while we ate. He's over that now. The last couple times we've gone out, he's been a prince.


He just and eats and eats, usually for the entire time. He is more of a leisurely eater. Plus, I think he's going through a major growth spurt. He is eating constantly right now. Can a growth spurt go on for a month?

It's so nice being able to eat out as a family though. That's something that Aaron and I both really enjoy. I feel like our life is getting back to some sense of normalcy after the crazy first year after Waylon's birth. It's really fun.

You tube fun

Love this.

Click here.

The muppets never get old.

Chicago high: 28
Savannah high: 59

Cutie pie

PS-
Chicago high: 34 today
Savannah high: 67 today (!!)

Byron baby

Some of the things that have been coming out of his mouth lately...

"Does that sound like a deal, mom?" (future lawyer?)

"Why don't we go to the park/library/Harper's, or something?"

"I have a bad feeling."

" Let's play tickle tickle."

" Will Waylon protect me?" (at night when going to bed, I always say yes)

" Boo boo catchoo" (said this when playing hide and seek the other day)

"Smasheepatoochee, that means shark-dino guy in spanish." (got a spanish book from the library a couple times and now likes to pretend to make up words in spanish)

"I'm mam" (in response to pretty much anything we ask him to do)

"5 more minutes" (ditto from above)

He's really doing great lately. We had a bad case of the whineys last fall, but after that it's been smooth sailing, for the most part. He's such a happy guy.

I sent off his registration for preschool next fall just last weekend. He'll (hopefully) be going to Skidaway Presbyterian. He is going to be so ready. One of the games he likes to play lately is school. We pretend I'm the teacher and learn about different things, mainly sharks and dinos.

Sad, sad, sad

Haiti.

Pamela, David Dude, and Harps moving to Minnesota on January 29.

Sigh.

Oh My God

I just got..

my butt...

completely kicked.

I don't actually think it's there anymore. It got kicked off. Wait, there it is. It's going to be sore tomorrow.

I just tried my first spinning class. It was fun, in kind of a masochistic way. I thought I was going to die after 20 min but managed to stay in there for the whole hour (WHOLE HOUR!!). I haven't sweated so much since... I can't remember when. I guess maybe when I ran the half with Pamela last summer, but this felt harder. Tomato head was in full effect. That's the term Aaron affectionately uses to describe my "exercise flush". Some people sweat. Some turn red. I do both. Not just a nice healthy glow, I look like I have a sunburn for a minimum of an hour after.

It was fun though. My wonderful hubby gave the boys a bath and put them to bed. No small feat.

I think I'll try the class again, as long as I can walk tomorrow that is.

Lazy, cold Sunday

Chicago: high 13 degrees F (-5 ish with windchill)
Savannah: high 41 degrees F (and it was a pretty cold day for them)

Can't wait! It was bitterly cold today, but sunny. I guess that was a saving grace. We spent most of the day/weekend inside. Although, yesterday we headed to Marshall's and then had a great dinner at Arturro's.

Today the boys were going a little stir crazy. I broke out the old, let them play in the sink and get soaked trick. Worked like a charm.


Pete came over for dinner tonight. We actually bundled everyone up and headed outside for a couple minutes. We were going to try some snowman building, but it was too cold. The snow wouldn't stick. Instead, the boys piled most of the snow in the backyard into a huge mound.


Headed inside for dancing and Cassoulet.

Communication

Waylon has really started communicating with us now. He still only has a few words, but is signing like a mad man. I don't remember Byron signing quite as much. However, I think Byron probably had more words at this point. It's really hard to remember back and compare the two. That's probably a good thing.

It's really nice. I think it makes him so much happier if he can tell us what he wants or needs. Of course, 90% of the time it's a snack. He's mostly signing eat, apple, cracker, grapes, cookie or milk. Some of the other ones he's doing are sleep, doggie, fish, book, thank you, please, bath, car, more and all done.

In this vid he signs apple (finger on cheek) then more (hands together), then grapes (finger on top of hand) and all done (both hands waving).

Most nights, as soon as we finish dinner he starts signing bath. Then, after bath he starts signing bed. We usually try to keep him up until at least 7:30 so that he sleeps in a little longer in the morning. He really lets us know what he needs.

Soccer time

..or as I like to call it, 45 minutes of running around at top speed so that Byron can expend some of his crazy energy in this horrible Chicago weather. Man, I miss the park.

Byron started his first team sport class today. We signed him up for a 3 yr old soccer class at Brand Park through the Chicago Park District. They really have great classes. We've been in swimming and a playgroup through the Park District before. His first class was at 18 mo. This year I wanted to do something to let him run around and get out of the house, hence, indoor soccer.

The first class was a success. It's crazy though, they don't need the parents to stay. At first, Byron wanted me to stand next to him, but he soon got over that. It took about 30 seconds. There were 2 twin girls there with him. There's supposed to be 5 in the class. He was talking with them and running around with Gil, the coach. I tried to sneak some pictures. I couldn't help myself.He had a great nap afterward, 2 hrs of bliss. Well, 1 hr. Waylon hasn't been napping as long in the afternoons lately. Only 2 more years until he can join in the fun.

Snow day

My helper out shoveling.

Bros hanging

Sailing the open seas

Fort Pederson

Ready for the slopes

Aha, Molar!

The sleepless night last weekend, the crying before naps and the general fussiness all make sense now. We went to the library for story time this morning. The boys had a good time and Waylon gave every baby there a hug (super cute). He also tried to put one little boys hands in his mouth. Hmmm. Made mom think there. One mom said, "My he has a lot of teeth". Hmmm X2. Checked when we got home and he has his first molar coming in. It's on his upper left side. Just a little spur of the tooth is sticking through now.

Byron had a good time, but didn't pass out the hugs at the library. He mainly looked at books on his own.He was the oldest one there by about a year. It's kind of weird that all of his contemporaries are now in preschool. We rarely run into a kid his age in the morning hours. He wasn't too into the weird story lady. She really picks the weirdest books and songs. I think she makes the songs up on her own. They are really hard to follow. She had the kids sing, It's a small world after all. The moms (and one dad) did all the singing. Come on! It's a bunch of 1 and 2 year olds. They do not know it's a small world after all. Where is the ABC song and twinkle twinkle? I'm longing for our regular story time lady to come back. It's rumored she'll be back in March. Until then, we might have to head over to Barnes and Noble.

Off to make dinner now. It's sweet and sour cous cous with tofu tonight. A great, quick one pot dinner.

Ah, Monday

You know it's not going to be a good Monday when you get up before 6 am. Waylon was up early this morning. Ever since he got a cold, he hasn't been sleeping so well. Then, poor Piper had some digestive, ahem, issues yesterday and last night. She left me a little present to clean up this morning. From that, it just spirals out of control.

It was pretty cold here today, but definitely warmer than the weekend. The boys and I got outside for the first time since getting here Thursday night.

Our checklist for leaving the house:

• Potty and diaper change- check and check
• Socks- check and check and check and check
• Snowpants- check and check
• Boots- check and check and check and check
• Coats- check and check
• Mittens- check and check and check and check
• Hats- check and (after getting Byron's hat from last year for Waylon, he's outgrown his) check
• Diaper bag- check
• Library books- check

I've learned a trick of making sure I'm dressed before tackling the boys. If there's too much time between dressing and leaving the house one or both of them will lose some piece of clothing and then the list had to be repeated numerous times.

The boys were so stir crazy. We went to the library this morning and it was great. In the afternoon we headed over to Pamelas house. Byron was very excited to be reunited with Harper. They play so great together. We're waiting to hear if Pamela and family might be heading up to Minnesota. Selfishly, I'm hoping for a summer move. :)

Here's one of Waylon's latest tricks. He's very talented.

Colder Chicago

Chicago was colder today. It was sunny, so that helped, but it was bone chilling in the shade. I got out for a bit this morning and froze.

Frost on our windows

Waylon has a little cold, poor guy. He's doing fine, but has a bad cough. He was up once last night. Hoping for an uneventful night tonight. Needless to say he won't be going outside for the next couple days.

Byron is putting on his own clothes! I changed his dresser around yesterday so that his pants and shirts are within reach. He picked out and put on his own clothes this morning. He got some help with getting the shirt over his head (Pederson's have big heads) but that was it. He even did pretty good with the colors.

I got my new glasses today! I'm so excited. I've had the same ones since 2005, and pretty much wear them exclusively now, so I was ready for a new pair. They have a tortise shell pattern on the side.
I'm off to start a new crochet project and Aaron's off to watch some UFC with Pete.

2010

Happy New Year!!! I hope all are having a wonderful 2010 so far. We are.

We're back in cold, cold Chicago today. The boys and I got in around 6:30 last night. They both did great on the flight. The nicest stewardess ever gave Byron free cartoons. Waylon slept for the first hour of the flight and then terrorized Byron for the last half. They were both very excited to see dad, as was I.

We just had time for some Thai food before putting the boys to bed. We had a pretty laid back New Year's eve, but it was great.

I'm so excited for this year. It is going to be so exciting. Last night, we were looking through some real estate mags from Savannah. I can't wait to buy our own place. We're looking for something with a big yard, porch, and 4 bedrooms for all our visitors (and kids). We found one that even had the mother in law suite/apartment above the garage! You can check it out here, 27 waite drive.

No resolutions for this year. Well, I have continual resolutions. Here are some of them:

-Keep the house clean (ish)
-Keep/get in shape
-Keep boys from hurting each other/themselves
-Snuggle with boys as much as they'll let me
-Be nice to hubby
-Be nice to myself
-See family lots
-Get outside as much as possible

As you can see, they are never ending. :) I'm sure there's more too, these are just the ones off the top of my head.