More of the Little Things I Love

Gage wrapped a balloon up in with a coo and gave me a special birthday present.

Gage got a pillow pet for Christmas-- the dog-- and he's been introducing him all around to the other stuffed animal members of our family, explaining procedures for taking shoes off at the door and for bedtime. :)

Leila falling asleep 'reading' books to herself in bed.

Bedtime of all four of us snuggled in bed winding down with some tv... these nights are going to end before I'm ready for them to end.

The excitement that my kids have for Christmas decorations and lights.

Leila busting out dance moves whenever she hears good music--her favorite right now is Usher.

Seeing my family all bundled in carharts and winter coats, playing down in the park at Austin Lake even with snow on the ground. I'm telling you, these kids have it made when it comes to great places for playing and exploring.

Watching the progress Gage is making at 'giving it back' to Grandpa Cable and the teasing.

.... among lots and lots of other things, I think I really love that this stage exists and that I get to be around for it. Gage will soon have more and more influences and experiences at school--and I know they won't all be positive, so right now I'm so thankful that they both look up to us, talk to us, and trust and love us. (Not to mention that they both still get upset whenever I leave without them-- as one day they will be trying to make me leave without them.)

I will never, ever regret taking time off from earning a full-time salary because any one who has been in these shoes know that I definitely am working full time :)

Christmas 2010

... Came and went in a blink!

On Christmas Eve we celebrated with the Cable family and had a really nice time. The kids were well behaved, we got to spend more time with that fancy train under the tree, and it was just a relaxed occasion with everyone together and without too many interruptions. That's a Christmas miracle.

Leila woke up on Christmas Eve morning with a fever and it only rose throughout the day, but she really did well despite all of us knowing how poorly she felt. I didn't get to take too many photographs because she sat on me for most of the weekend, but it's nice to know that I could just sit with her and help comfort her.

By Christmas morning, Gage was biting at the bit and just couldn't believe all that Santa brought. There were also miniature stockings on the tree for Firedog, Puppy, and Pink Puppy that Gage was super excited to see. He kept repeating that it was the best Christmas ever... and the snowfall certainly helped all of us to think that.

One thing about Gage is that he really likes to open a present and play with it for awhile. We really tried to stall him on wanting to open more presents until Leila woke up and so we spent some quiet time with him putting together puzzles. Believe it or not, they were his first puzzles besides the little-little kid kind and he actually enjoyed doing them. By the time Leila woke up, we were all ready to dig in, but she still just didn't feel well and was still carrying a high temperature.

We almost put our Christmas trip to McConnelsville on hold because of Leila, but we trudged ahead with doctor approval and the rest certainly just went by in a wink. There is something beautiful and chaotic at the same time about a small space packed with so many good people--eating, playing, coming and going, exchanging presents. It's really fun but I always seem to turn into a wall flower at Christmas time. Something about becoming a mom has kept me in that position whenever we seem to be in crowds--I can't explain it.

Gage loves his older cousins and really would like to be able to spend more time with them. Dominic and Gage really can sit down and play for quite awhile together. They both really like the mechanical kind of toys and being in their presence makes Gage feel special. Usually the three boys sleep together but because of Leila's sickness, I didn't want Gage to sleep with the older guys and send any extra germs home with them. This resulted in Gage sneaking out of bed to go be with the cousins again. Even on Christmas, I felt I had to lay down the law with him as sneaking or defying just isn't behavior that will ever be acceptable at Austin Lake--way too many dangers and these are his formative years to understand that sneaking just isn't acceptable. I felt like a Grinch but felt like I did the right thing when I made him come back to bed and took a moment to explain that he has to talk to me if he wants something... Sometimes this is when I think being a teacher takes some fun out of being a parent--we see too often what happens when kids just aren't given boundaries or direction and it really can be sad. Anyhoo--

Before we knew it, it was time to come home... and now the toy-playing madness ensues. Gage's 'big' presents were additions to both his John Deere equipment fleet and to his John Deere farm fleet, additions to his GeoTrax world, and a V-Reader that has gone over way better than I had hoped. Leila was spoiled with a wooden dollhouse that she, herself, tried to get into today and lots of little things that keep her hands busy-- legos, more blocks, her own make up bag, and, of course, baby stuff.

PS--Somehow without even planning for it, Uncle Dustin saves the day. Last Christmas, he introduced Gage to GeoTrax with crazy load of passed down stuff. (GeoTown has been going strong ever since.) In Florida, he took care of Gage in the middle of all of his vomits and times of being really upset and over Christmas, he took care of Little Leila with her fever, lethargy, and a crazy demand for Dora the Explorer... as he just happened to have two DVDs in his car collection. (that he also just let us bring home)

These are little reminders of how precious family is and I'm so appreciative to have such a good one! :)

Christmas Countdown

WIth only a few days to go before our Christmas celebrating begins, here's how we've been getting ready in the Cable household:

Gage has spent at least 30 hours under the Christmas tree as the train engineer at Grandma and Grandpa Cable's house. He is pulled in like a magnetic force and can only leave his duties for urgent business like going to the little gentleman's room.

Austin had surgery--in time to officially get out of wrapping or doing any of the shopping, but also in time for both of us to be more grateful for the work that each person does. Whew. I have learned that I have a love/hate relationship with the wood burner.

Despite our third straight year of being in some stage of remodeling (aka: complete overhaul from room to room), I decided I had to put up the Christmas tree and Austin would have to put a hold on drywall installation until after Christmas.

Gage's preschool Christmas party was exactly what I envisioned preschool parties to be-- lots of singing, lots of food, lots of smiling faces, and 1 little Leila in the thick of it who was falling right into place with what the 'big' kids were doing. I was actually impressed with her... not just proud and relieved, but impressed. She even followed directions during carpet time until the A B C s that are on the carpet got her attention. When the kids exchanged presents it was really nice to see how grateful they were towards their friends. It was nice to be part of it.

... and the traveling chaos and celebrating with family begins soon!

Santa's Workshop

Gage experienced his first Secret Santa trip at school. We didn't have much notice so we also didn't have much of a chance to talk to him about its purpose and such. Austin had the ride to school with him so I don't know what was talked about, but when Gage came home from school with three gifts to himself and one gift for my brother's dog, I can bet that they didn't have a chat about buying for other people during the car ride to school.

I don't want to give it all away, but he did buy for his aunt and uncle to whom the dog belongs so I guess he did a pretty good job thinking by just sticking to one family at a time. On the ride home, he informed me that his other aunt and uncle 'were still on the list.'

Inspiration

When it comes to our Pierce trip, I think of the current commercial that advertises either a phone or a credit card that depicts how one lucky break to get into a football game inspires the kid's entire life and he later becomes a pro football player.

Random thoughts on random days regarding Pierce are mentioned frequently by Gage. I wonder if the trip really will be not only remembered by him but inspirational to him and his future.

Today at lunch Gage told me that he really likes to eat at 'that' restaurant in Wisconsin because they had Pierce food mats. Then he wondered how that restaurant got Pierce food mats. Then he wanted to know how he could get Pierce food mats. (Pierce had its logo on the menu at the restaurant we went to because it's the place they take all their big clients who come into town.) Then he said he had a plan:

Next week, we'll take a flight, stop at the IPP Plant, and see if we can take those people out to eat. Then, when we're at 'that' restaurant, we'll ask them if we can bring home one of their food mats.

Will I regret mentioning...

12 days without formula at bedtime
9 days without a bottle at bedtime
and I refuse to name how many nights she's slept all night long... because I'd like it to continue.

Twenty-two months later and I now have a kitchen drawer completely free of Avent, Doc. Brown, and Enfamil.

I Don't Know Where it Comes From ;)

With winter hitting us hard and fast--high temperatures not out of the 20s for over a week, Leila could care less. It doesn't matter how cold it is or how much snow there may be, the girl will wear the shoes the girl wants to wear. Likewise, I can't put a winter hat or winter coat on her as she is only accepting of her pink fleece jacket and Gage's Thomas the Train ball hat. She is such a sight on some days.

Gage wouldn't pick out his outfit if I paid him... well, maybe if payment was a toy, and Leila won't get dressed unless she picks it out. I had no idea what I was going to be in for when it comes to a girl. She isn't even 2 yet!

and We're Back... Live from our Car...

On the way to town today...

Mom, those people in Happy Feet just really need to buy a trash can.

Hope the Love Lasts

No doubt Leila is the 'pistol' of the Cable children. Her feelings really get hurt when she is even told a simple no, like, 'don't touch the hot cup of coffee' or 'don't put mascara all over the walls.' For being so sensitive it doesn't surprise me when she shows sympathy for her brother or for others when they are upset.

When we went to pick up Gage from Grandma and Grandpa Cables, he had been asleep all day and definitely showed signs of a fever or the flu. He was so upset to be woken up and didn't want to get out from underneath the blankets that he had been snuggled in all day.

Leila was really upset by him being upset. When she was smaller this was also true and she used to cry whenever he cried. Yesterday, however, instead of crying, she tried to comfort him. She walked over to the couch and started to pat him and rub his hair. She said over and over, "It's okay, Gage." This sounds like "dits otay, Day" and, of course, makes it all the cuter.

Of all the other kids who wait for their older brother or sister to get out of preschool, Leila is the only one who runs to her brother and throws her arms around him in a big hug before requesting permission to hold his hand so she can leave.

It'd be really something if they grow up together mostly getting along like this.

I Don't Make These Things Up

Gage has been curled up in my bed for the last 24 hours and we've had a lot of tv time together through our latest and greatest cold/flu/winter whatever. This morning some commercial sparked this conversation in which he began

Mom, I really want to go into outer space and check out our planet when it's in the shade, not when it's facing the sun....
Where would I sleep in outer space mom?

Well, I'm sure astronauts have beds in their space ships just like your toy space ship has a bed.

Oh, mom, I don't want to be an astronaut... I don't want to drive the space ship, I just want to ride in one.