Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!

Happy 18 months, Henry!  You're a little joy and full of wonder and amazement.  As I sit here starting to write, I'm watching you play in the bathtub with your Thomas the Tank Engine train.  You're making "brummm...brummm...brummm" sounds as your train chugs up the wall of the shower, along the edges of the bathtub, over the bridge of the faucet.  I'm letting you stand...you're a risk taker.  Never sitting down, even for a second.  You've kept yourself occupied now for a while and I am observing with admiration of you and what a little boy you're becoming.  You were fearfully and wonderfully made.  One in a million, one of a kind.  You love anything with a motor.  This afternoon you stole away from the yard and headed straight to the shed, where you climbed the big green lawn mower and sat on the cushy yellow seat like a little man.  My little man.  Then when Daddy took a quick break to grab a water and a granola bar, you went right up to the running backhoe and tried to climb up it.  You might have been able to too, but I pulled you off before you got the chance to really try...it was running, after all.  The other day, you did climb up the steps to the tractor from the ground, on your own.  No fear.  While we were at the airport in Atlanta on the layover between Munich and home, you intently watched out the window for twenty-five minutes, the comings and goings of airplanes, baggage carts, and trucks.  Twenty-five minutes.  That's a long time for a little guy to be occupied with any one activity.  Your mama appreciated that break after the ten-plus hour flight though!  What I would give to have known exactly what you were thinking that whole time.  You're starting to talk a lot.  You make lots of different noises and have been experimenting lots lately with your voice!  You even use a few words: Daddy, Mama, of course, but now you say Mama with gusto, and repeat Mama until you get my attention.  You say Traktor (tractor), wawa (wasser/water), doh (dog).  You sign 'more' when you want to eat and 'drink' when you want water.  You dislike the taste of cow's milk.  You usually check your cup to see if we've given you water or milk, and if you see white, push the cup away.  The other day, though, you took a drink from Claire's cup and forgot to check and twisted your mouth in disgust.  You sign 'train' and point like a guy who knows what he wants.  The first thing you usually point to in the morning is your toy bin of tractors that's too high to reach.  You can occupy yourself with those for a long time, too.  You drive them along the tables, behind the log bin on the fireplace, on the TV (opps!), and anywhere else you see some landscape to conquer.  When Daddy gets home, you play tractors with him.  You find the field cultivator together so that you can do what Daddy's doing.  I'm pretty sure Daddy is looking forward to the day when he can teach you everything about the farm.  And you'll love it.  You are getting really good at letting us know what you see from your carseat.  You 'talk' to me when we're on the drive to town until I see what you see, whether it's a tractor, a train, a truck, cars, or a lake.  You're satisfied when you've shown me what you spied, until you spy the next thing to point out.  You are easy going, but you do let us know what you want.  Once we understand and take the necessary steps towards your goal, you let what was bothering you pass by quickly.  There's no drama from you.  At the table, you like to tease Mama that you're going to feed her and then pull your food away quickly.  You learned that game from your sister, and like the sound effects Mama makes each time you tease her.  That's not all you'll learn from her, of that I'm sure.  You like to read now, especially when Mami reads the book with you and we point out everything that we see.  Your favorite one right now is "Wieso? Weshalb? Warum? Laster, Bagger, und Traktoren."  You know right where it is and like to read it yourself.  I like reading it with you, too, and I even learn from it!  I love the things that you love and I love learning about them with you.  Because of you, Claire, and Daddy, I've learned the difference between a field cultivator and disc, have learned about the combine, the Korntank, tractors with loaders, Traktoren mit Allradtreib, augers, backhoes, and so much more.  You are growing into a fabulous little boy and I love watching your development and your personality grow.  I love being your Mami, Henry, and am so joyful that God choose us to be a family.  What an incredible gift!  Love, Your Mami

Eucharisteo

Eucharisteo.  It's a fancy word, Greek actually, that I've been focusing on lately.  Not so much on the word, but on what it means.  Charis = Grace.  Chara = Joy.  Eucharisteo = Thanksgiving.  It's pretty life changing, having this perspective.  If you're curious, look into it more.  The book that I've been reading is One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp.  I'd highly recommend it.  However, I do believe that it's not just the book, but the way that God is using the message of the author to change my heart.  He has a funny, and pretty perfect, way of doing that, you know?  :)

Here are a few things that I've been thankful for lately:
(And, admittedly, there are also a few crazy things here that I would not have been thankful for a month ago!)

• Laundry - piles and piles of 'never-ending and never-gets-put-away-before-there's-more' laundry!
• Littles climbing on me while I am stretching.
• Henry playing in mud puddles, throwing rocks and twigs into the puddles.
• Sitting and watching the goldfish at the museum, way longer than I would have chosen to sit.
• The drive to town on highways, while going only 55 mph.
• The breeze (okay, actually gusting wind) on my face!
• Country sunsets and early morning sun.
• Getting up at 5 am to start my day off right.
• Staying home during the day, whenever we can.
• Wild asparagus to harvest in the ditches.
• Exploration of the farm, the fields, and nature.

Pumpkin Oatmeal

I love paging through recipes to find wholesome, real meals to cook for our family.  Then I dream about that food!  I'm a foodie, thanks the the influence of Aunt Chris and my own craziness, but often times those recipes are a bit too labor intensive for me.  (I'll go try them in a restaurant anytime!)  Around here it only gets made and tested if it's also EASY!

I think my favorite meal...scratch that...I love all meals.  I really like breakfast!  Breakfast foods are usually so quick and easy to cook.  Plus I have two little mouths five days of the week who eat mostly whatever I give them and I don't have to listen to any complaints about onions in the food!  (clears throat)  ;)  Our standard is eggs and omelets with whatever meat, cheese, and veggies we have on hand or have to use up.  The whole family also loves pancakes and usually I make a buckwheat pancake that is tasty and super healthy!  Oatmeal ranks high because it is such an inexpensive food that packs a lot of nutrition.  Usually we top it with dried berries and nuts, but when I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it.  Ingredients I already have on hand and easy, what could be better.  Yesterday I was also reading that walnuts provide a great source of Omega-3s, so now it gets bonus points!  And real maple syrup (which we used instead of honey) takes the cake!  (If you've never tried it, you may just be hooked and think that the corn syrup fake syrup is now...gross.)  Claire and Henry both loved it, so it is a keeper around here!

P.S.  If you have any recipes that fit the interesting and easy bill, send them my way!

Without further ado, here is the recipe for Pumpkin Oatmeal, courtesy of www.passionatehomemaking.com

2 cups rolled uncooked oats
3 1/2 cups coconut milk (or combination with water or other milk of your choice)
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice (or 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp nutmeg, dash of cloves)
Candied pecans/walnuts
Maple syrup or honey, to sweeten

1. In a medium saucepan, combine rolled oats, coconut milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla and spices. Mix till well blended.
2. Place saucepan over high heat on the stove and bring to a boil. Turn down to a simmer and allow to cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Remove from heat and transfer to individual bowls and top with chopped nuts and sweetener of your choice. You may want to add a bit more milk to your taste.

Enjoy!

Yield: 4-5 servings.

Claire Writes

Claire wrote a couple letters while we headed home from Grandma and Grandpa Dodge's house today.  She's always taken a great interest in drawing/writing.  And her 'writing' just keeps getting better, and now actually writes a few letters.  She particularly likes 'H.'  Her drawings are also getting really good!  She drew a monster last month and it looks awesome!  It is similar to a closet monster from a book we read.  There was more content to the letters today, but here's what I remember...

"I am a lovely sister for Henry.  I love Grandma and Grandpa Dodge."  (Lovely sister...that she is.  Grandma Dodge must have said something like this to her this morning.)

"I love Grandma and Grandpa, Mark and Brenda.  I love Grandma and Grandpa Dodge."  (Hurry home, Grandma and Grandpa!  Someone has been missing you.)

"Mami and Daddy, Thank you for picking up my toys.  I'm gonna pick up my toys."  (Good thing that lesson from last night was remembered.  I am not sure how many times I told Claire to pick up her toys.  I helped her at first, but when I was the only one picking up and Miss Dawdler wasn't doing anything, I stopped helping.  So I set the timer for more than enough time.  When it went off and she hadn't made much of an effort, she lost everything that was still not put away.  Lucky for me, there were one or two things that she actually cared about losing in the stack - that is always a gamble.  So, let's hope that the "I'm gonna pick up my toys." sticks!)

Might I add that we are so fortunate to have such a supportive family who love to spend time with and watch our kiddos!  Grandpa mentioned on the way out how busy they are, and we all agreed that there is a good reason that 80 year olds don't have babies and little ones.  :)  (Imagine how the woman in the Bible must have felt (Sarah, was it?) having a baby at such a ripe age!  God must have given her the strength and energy to raise a little one!)

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb?

Wrong month, actually, but January looks like it was in like a lion - snowy at first - and out like a lamb - no snow here (besides a few piles here and there).  We wish there was more snow, but are thankful for the fact that the first month of the year had above average precipitation.  Hopefully that January rain will continue into the spring and summer!  Here's the picture recap from the last month or so!

Yep, we've still got it!  (Even though we're old and married, and us with kids.) 

A little Mad Gab for your evening fun.  Good thing Jaclyn was on my team - she gets competitive!! ;)

"Let me feed you!  Yum.yum.yum."

Amber and Sage visit!! - Future Marching Band

A Boy and His Dog

"What 'cha got?  What 'cha got?  What 'cha got?"  (Claire likes to put Riley's biscuits in her pocket and he follows her around sniffing and almost knocking her over until he's sure he has all of them!)

Little Mama with 'Baby' in her new Mei Tai!

Climber Extraordinaire while Daddy works on his hobbies. 

"Help!  I crawled under here to pull the cat's tail and now she ran away and I can't get out!"  (The kitties are amazingly patient with Henry's pulls.  We are working on gently petting them.)

"I'm getting pretty good with eating with a spoon!  Sometimes I squawk when Mami and Daddy don't give me utensils to eat like the big kids."

Picture 2: The Giant wreaks havoc on the town after his nap!  He crushes homes and pulls the Autobahn up in one fell swoop.

Picture 1: Architects Claire and Mami plan a town, complete with a business district, parking ramp, 2 Autobahns, housing area.  Look closely!  The skyscraper hospital even has a helicopter pad!  (I did want to be an architect at one point in high school.  Good thing I went with teaching and motherhood.)

I love breakfast.  And my sweet boy.

CHEERIOS!  The luxury of a Saturday when Daddy's home.   Mama has us eat omelets, pancakes, oatmeal, and other homemade goodness when he's not here.

Henry the Destroyer!  (Seriously people, this is the most curious kid you've ever known.)

Daddy's Little Helper: Painting the basement walls in their work clothes!  I tried to throw some old shoes of Claire's away today because Riley had chewed them, and she talked me into keeping them as her work shoes for when they paint the basement floor.

Part 1 Addendum

Henry also likes spicier foods, I think!  He loves the spaghetti I make with Italian sausage, whereas Claire sometimes thinks it's a bit too spicy.  This week we've been out to two Mexican restaurants (unusual that we go out so much!) with Grandma and Grandpa and Omi, Opa, Onkel Alex, and Tante Jaclyn, and he's gone crazy dipping his chips in the salsa.  This may not be spicy in some people's definition, but according to Omi, "it's got a little kick to it!"  I am relieved to notice this about Henry, because for a while I thought we had a picky eater on our hands.  Luckily he is proving me wrong! ;)

I'm in LOVE! - Part 1: Henry Matthew

My kids are great!  I'm in love!  It seems like tragedy has been evident lately.  It really makes me appreciate that we are healthy and happy and safe.  Here are some of the wonderful updates that I want to record before I forget.

Thirteen months is so fun!  I love my little Henry and can't believe he's now a toddler.  He's been walking since about two weeks after November 12th, his first birthday.  He toddles everywhere, quite quickly actually!  Big cooking spoons and whisks are his favorite.  He loves to carry them around when he's on the move (which is pretty much always!).

(Unless you want details of our routine, skip this paragraph.  I'm typing it more for myself, to remember what I love about this time with Henry, but it may bore you...)
My favorite time with him is before nap time or bedtime.  We moved him from our room to Claire's room about a week before Christmas because we really wanted him to learn to sleep on his own and having his crib in our room was just not working.  He learned so quickly, literally in about two nights, that we're thinking we maybe should have moved him sooner! ;)  He soothes himself by laying on his belly and kicking his feet against the mattress, so cute!!  Since moving into his big boy room (meaning he's not with mama and daddy anymore) we have started a sleep time routine that I love, because it's all about him!  It's the one time in the day when I can give him my undivided attention.  Claire usually stays downstairs and plays while I'm putting him down for nap, and then she and Daddy read books downstairs when I'm putting Henry to bed.  Henry knows exactly what to do when we go upstairs to his room.  He heads over to the books, and pulls a few down that he 'wants' to read.  He really loves books now!  He loves to look at them and turn the pages.  His current favorites are a peek a boo book with holes and a favorite things book with holes in the pages.  While we are reading, he pulls down the sock basket and dumps them all out, sometimes over his head like it's raining socks.  Then he wears the basket as a hat and also gives me a turn, handing the basket over.  We sing the "Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken..." song and play with and read books in between.  He also loves pulling Claire's clothes out of the dresser drawers while we're upstairs.  Then we have our cuddle nursing time and sing "Der Mond ist aufgegangen" and "Guten Abend, Gut' Nacht" before I put him into bed.  "Ich liebe dich, bis zum Mond und wieder zurueck, mein Maeuschen."

Henry is so fast that he can disappear in seconds.  He's getting good at playing independently for a few minutes at a time.  Often when he's all of a sudden gone, our best bet is to look upstairs.  Lately he's been sneaking up there and opening all the dresser drawers and emptying Daddy's clothes out of them.  He also loves to snuggle up in Claire's bed with the big comforter (which right now is a mattress on the floor in our room).

My little guy has such a sense of humor!  We play this game where he makes a noise and then I imitate him.  Each few times of doing this and he starts to giggle, and of course I encourage him by joining in the laughter.  He laughs so much and it's so good for my heart!  I need to record it.  :)

One of the things I love about thirteen months is that he is starting to understand and communicate so much.  A few days ago, he finally started saying mamamamamamama.  It hasn't been totally clear that he is referring to me specifically, but I'm pretty sure he means Mama when he says it.  I can tell that he understands some simple questions and phrases.  Today we were watching Daddy outside as he was going to the burn pile, and we were talking about Daddy and then the cats and I could tell Henry was following what I was saying.  He likes to do "Wie gross ist Henry?  SOOO gross!"  (How big is Henry?  SOOO big!) and to do 'so big' with me in reference to other BIG things.  He is also making sounds that we think are words, like ba for ball and uuh for up.  He knows the signs for 'more' and 'all done' and sometimes uses them.  Yesterday Matt gave Henry a tiny piece of brownie, and he immediately and enthusiastically signed 'more!'  And on top of that, he definitely communicates in other ways, like lots of pointing and noise making if he is trying to tell us something or isn't happy!  ;)

Henry loves to CLIMB!  We've known this for a while.  Even the church nursery staff have made several comments about his super climbing abilities.  Tonight, he climbed onto the fireplace brick.  I set him next to the table and told him to climb onto that instead (which he understood...yay!).  So, he climbed onto one side of the table, crawled across, turned around, and climbed down the other side.  Then he walked back around to the starting side.  He did this probably a dozen times and was having so much fun with it!

Big news for Henry is that his very own big boy room is almost done!  And it's the exact same big boy room that Matt had.  I have to admit that it's pretty cool that we're now on the family farm and we can create memories here with our little family, and that Matt has so many good memories of growing up here.  Matt replaced the cardboard tile ceiling with drywall, hung a new ceiling fan, and gave it a couple fresh coats of bright green paint (what could be better for a kids' room!) and the carpet is being installed this week!  A beautiful and bright dinosaur quilt that a very talented friend sweetly made will finally be hung to decorate the wall, and it will be complete!  I am more excited than Henry.  ;)