Merry Christmas!

Jeffery Lionell Walker ~ Born 12/22/2007

To all of our family and friends, here are some pictures of yesterday and today at the hospital. It was so nice to talk to many of you over the past couple of days. Jeffery was born at 7:24 AM on December 22, 2007 - 8 lbs 13.1 oz, 21 inches long.

We are so excited for him to be with us!

Grace is Two

Ryan has wanted to give Grace one of her birthday presents early this year. Why? Because he is tired of being bounced on. Grace has an enourmous amount of energy!Fortunately, Rody (a bouncy pony) is Grace's new best friend. I'm hoping that this will help Grace nap better too.

Grace had a few simple requests for her birthday: pink cake, pink frosting, and pink sprinkles. She also requested a Curious George party. She celebrated her birthday for almost three days. We are done celebrating now. Back to reality.....

We thought it would be fun to let the kids help decorate the tree. I took a few pictures for sentimental value and then banned them both from the tree once things started to break (not shown). We've already broken 4 balls and counting. We purchased our Christmas ornaments before we had kids. Oh well...less stuff to put away this year.

Jacob's First Recital

Jacob had his first violin recital on Saturday. He played “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” He was so proud! He was inspired by the other students and commented to me, “Mom, will I play like him when I am five?” I have a new respect for parents who raise children who play musical instruments.

Birthday Dinner for Grace

We went out to eat at Red Robin last week. We figured it was “close enough” to Grace’s birthday that we might as well ask them to sing Happy Birthday to her. Little did we know, the actual Red Robin bird would come out. Grace was quite disturbed by the whole event and said “No thank you” for the ice cream. Yes…she actually refused to eat the ice cream because it was from the bird. Jacob didn’t mind her refusal. On the way out, Grace replied, “it’s not even my birthday.”

Why I never make time for myself....

One of the hardest parts of being a mom (for me at least) is balancing my life with theirs. I want to have time for myself and pursue my own interests, but it is usally for a hefty price. Sometimes I am willing to pay the price and sometimes I'm not. Last week, I finally decided I would demand a few minutes to myself and finish a project on the computer. In my ten minute absense, Grace and Jacob peeled an entire box of satsumas. The picture doesn't show the satsumas that they already managed to consume. How does the state figure that a seven to one adult to child ratio is sufficient when I seem to struggle with two?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We thought it would be fun to let the kids help decorate the tree. I took a few pictures for sentimental value and then banned them both from the tree once things started to break (not shown). We've already broken 5 balls and counting. We purchased our glass Christmas ornaments before we had kids. Oh well...less stuff to put away this year.

A Seattle Snowman

It snowed in Seattle today! Jacob and Grace literally waited by the window all day until we told them there was finally enough snow to make a snowman. They used every last snowflake on the ground to make their snowman.

We love Grandma!

We always love when Grandma comes. My mom makes me feel 17 again! She does our laundry, dishes, babysits for FREE.

Grandma got to join us for a Tiny Tots performance this trip at the symphony. On the way home Jacob said, "Mom, can we go out to a restaurant since Grandma is here." Ryan and I were glad Jacob asked so we didn't have to ask.

Jacob's Violin

Jacob has been asking to play the violin for over a year now. Grandma got him his Christmas present early this year. Jacob FINALLY got his "real" violin after a month of practicing how to hold a violin. I have never seen Jacob so excited about anything. He is so proud of his violin and insists on practicing three times a day.

Two Great Minds

Jacob is an incredibly helpful brother. Look at this tower that he built to help his little sister get out of her crib.

Just ask Grandma

Ryan has been travelling a lot this month; but, fortunately Grandma Romney came to relieve me this weekend. Grandma had been in the car three minutes before Jacob jumped into his first request. "Grandma, my slippers at school are too small. Do you think we could go shopping while you are here?" Ryan and I had been receiving complaints that Jacob's slippers were too small for several weeks now. Apparently kids learn very quickly who responds to their requests.
(Just to clarify...the diet pepsi in the picture doesn't belong to Jacob.)

"Down Came the Rain..."

Grace is constantly singing to herself. She has an amazing memory and seems to remember the words better than I do. Gracie's monthly top ten is below.
1) Eensy Weensy Spider (see actions in the picture above)
2) Down by the Bay (she even caries a pretend "Ipod" that she can push and start playing this number)
3) Twinkle Twinkle
4) "Woodpecker, Woodpecker, why are you tapping." (This is a dinner time favorite where she can use her fork for background noise.)
5) Miss Mary Mack
6) Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
7) Hop on Squirrel
8) ABC's
9) 1,2,3,4,5...Once I caught a fish alive
10)Old McDonald (Grace prefers the duck. If she had it her way, we would sing this song over and over again with ONLY the duck.)

Happy Halloween!

Jacob was a dentist this year for Halloween. He wants to do everything just like Ryan. Grace was a toot fairy. Whenever someone commented on Grace's costume with something like "oh, you are such a beautiful princess," Grace would immediately correct them. "No, I'm a tooth fairy."

Gracie & Owen

Aunt Allison and Uncle Nate stayed with us last week. We loved having visitors~ Jacob, Grace, & Owen had a fun time at the Science Center.

Trunk or Treat

We went to "trunk or treat" tonight at the church. Grace (tooth fairy) is with her best friend Ethan (tooth). Aren't they adorable?

Fortunately, the kids agreed to keep five pieces of candy and trade the rest in for a small toy. Grace exchanged her loot for $1 worth a stickers. I wonder if we can pull this off next year.

City Kids

There are serious advantages to living in a city, but there are a few drawbacks. When we visited the pumpkin patch this year, we discovered that our kids DON'T know how to get dirty. Ryan had to insist that Jacob and Grace both wiped the dirt off the pumpkins before we could take them home.

Best Friends

We have our moments of "sibling rivalry;" but for the most part, Jacob and Grace are best friends. The sweet moments when they spontaneously hold hands or immediatetly hug after school seem to make up for the tired and hungry moments of rage that happen before lunch and dinner. It's really amazing to watch how the bond between siblings can be so sweet.

Maybe this is why it takes so long to get ready in the morning...

For the last several months, Jacob has been obsessed with the idea of being just like his dad (ie; his Halloween costume). If Ryan is wearing a button down shirt, Jacob changes his clothes. We even had to get a coat for Jacob that looks like Ryan's coat. But if Jacob is the first to get dressed in the morning, Jacob likes Ryan to look like Jacob.

Jacob has now started giving his input on what I wear too. Some days I just want to wear a sign that says "my son picked out my outfit today and I was in too big of a hurry to argue." I try to draw the line with Gracie. I like having control on what at least one person wears. But some days, we all look just how Jacob wants us to look. Yes...he still doesn't like my glasses or when I pull my hair back. I wish I could get through to him that I don't always have time to do my hair. Ryan's tried to convince him that he likes my hair pulled back (in support of my esteem)...but we are still in the same place three years later. Jacob knows what he likes!

Jacob also is big on "tags." He always wants to know where something was purchased, who purchased it, and whether or not it is expensive. Getting ready in the morning is a true ritual at our house. Everything has to be JUST RIGHT! My mom claims that I had unusual and specific clothing preferences as a young child. Even little Grace (at 15 months) cried for forty-five minutes one morning when she wanted to wear a different dress to chuch. She kept yelling..."take-it off!" My mom happend to witness this event, and she simply laughed. I guess she figures that I got what I deserve.

The Moose

Jacob was thrilled that we were able to get a picture of the Moose at the Mariner's game yesterday. Grace was not.

Finally...a vacation!

Ryan finished taking Part II of his Dental Boards this week. I'm not sure which one of us was more relieved. Ryan was anxious to get out of town on his "three day break" before school started. This summer has been busier than usual, so we haven't had a lot of time to vactation. This weekend, we took our bikes up to Whistler. The kids loved staying at a hotel and Jacob (in particular) loved the bike trails. I had to push my bike up a few of the hills, but I tell myself I'm still in great shape. It's amazing how your body feels with the third! Jacob is amazing on his bike. He is definitely faster than I am. Grace doesn't seem to mind sharing the stroller with George instead of Jacob anyway.

Did you notice George in the stroller? Curious George still plays a significant role in our family. I can't tell you how many meals I have put on the table for this stuffed animal. As if it isn't enough to feed and care for two kids?!? Jacob and Grace are incredibly imaginative. But I put up with it mostly because George is a perfect playmate. He doesn't make messes and he isn't noisy. I think their imagination sometimes even starts to affect my reality.

It's a Boy!

We had an ultrasound yesterday. The baby seems to be doing well. We also found out that we are expending a BOY! We are so excited to have another little boy. It seems natural that our third child will be a boy. After all, the birth order in both of our families is boy, girl, boy.

This third pregancy has been different for me in one specific way. I haven't had time to obsess about details...

Jacob, on the other hand has been much more on top of the technicalities. First, he's very concerned about how the doctor is going to get the baby out of my belly. This still confuses me, and I'm 29. He also wants to know why we don't have a bed for the new baby, where the baby is going to sleep, when we are going to get more picture frames on the wall for the new baby, and how the baby is going to fit in the back of our little car...

Grace is little confused about this new sibling process. We showed her the ultrasound picture to her yesterday and she seemed disturbed and confused. Some days, she claims that she has a baby in her belly too. I think that this transition is going to be a difficult one for little Gracie.

Camping

I love camping. I don't just love camping because it's cheaper than a hotel (which is probably the reason I camped as a child), but I LOVE nature. There is something refreshing about waking up in the middle of the night because of the cold mountain air. We went camping with some friends near Yakima after one of Ryan's dental rotations this summer. The kids loved it! We stayed at an LDS camp where the tents were already set up. Can you imagine such luxury for $9?

Jacob is Four!

We had a bike themed birthday party for Jacob this year. We even got him his own bike for his birthday so he doesn't have to ride the neighbors pink one (see previous blog). Kid birthday parties are absolutely magical to me! I love birthdays. I can't believe that Jacob is 4. I hope that 29 seems equally magical to me this year.

Jacob can ride a bike!

Jacob LOVES bikes. When he's not riding his bike outside, he is playing with his 5" toy bike inside.

Today was a significant day in Jacob's life. Jacob learned to ride a bike today WITHOUT training wheels. Jacob likes to do everything on his own terms, so he naturally insisted that we could't help him. He borrowed a neighboor's bike today, and in ten minutes he was riding a bike on his own. Jacob was so PROUD.

Daddy, can we get a boat?

Jacob and Grace love boats! How can you not love boats when you live in Seattle?

Our Little Lady

I didn’t even know that Grace knew what a purse was until today. It seems that some things come so naturally. Looking inside Grace’s bag often gives me a great insight to the important things in her life. Sometimes I even find some of MY important things in her purse.

It's funny to ask Grace if she's a baby or a big girl. This picture gives you a clue to her usual response.