Getting Ready for Baby to Arrive

The weekend after Noah's birthday was potty training weekend. That weekend also happened to be Valentine's Day. It was my decision to do it that weekend because I feel the baby countdown moving quickly. I let Jason take my place as Kyle's date to the BYU basketball game that night. Kyle informed me that I am a much better date than Jason is; Jason was asking to leave the game after consuming his pretzel, and then he lectured Kyle on the way home about how he had chosen a bad date. Why couldn't they have gone swimming or bowling instead, Jason wondered? 

Unfortunately, potty training weekend totally tanked. Noah was totally against getting potty trained, and so we will wait and try again in the summer. Fortunately, I got a Valentine's date two weeks later to a Jazz game, and I didn't complain at all :).

Again feeling the baby countdown, we just moved Noah into the bottom bunk (his first big-boy bed) in Jason's room. Double cold turkey. The first night was totally wild. Noah didn't get much sleep, and neither did we, but we've had progress and are hopeful that this will actually work out faster than potty training. Jason loves sharing a room. He's been waiting for it for a couple months now. Hopefully he won't get tired of it too soon.

Noah Turns 3

This cutie just turned three! To celebrate his big day, we went to Arctic Circle for lunch. After lunch we went with our friends, the Mayers, to Jungle Jim's Playland, where they have rides just for kids. Noah loved going on all the rides, including the roller coaster. I was sure grateful we had eight-year-old Joaquin along with us to help Noah because I was far too pregnant to go on the rides. After spending 2 1/2 hours there I was ready to go home and get ready for dinner, but Noah was sure sad to go.

Kyle and Grandma Linda were able to celebrate with us in the evening after work. We did pizza, cake and ice cream, and presents. Noah was thrilled with his Lego Duplos, craft sets, and play dough sets. This birthday was a smashing success. Jason is already talking about how he wants to do the same things for his birthday, but time will tell if that actually happens.

Dear Noah,

You are growing into such a big boy. Turning three signals big changes coming for you--big changes which will move you from being a toddler to a little/big boy. Very soon you will get potty trained, move to regular bed, share a room, become a big brother, and start preschool. Thinking about all those changes is both exciting and sad for me. I have sure loved having you as the baby of the family.

Right now your imagination is fantastic. You love to pretend we are so many different people and creatures throughout the day. An idea will strike you and you will say, "Let's play a game. I am (blank) and you are (blank)." If I forget who we are pretending to be and call you by the wrong name, you are quick to reprimand me.

Jason and you are still good buddies. I love it when Jason takes your hand to help you around church or to get across the street. And it is always fun to have a built-in-friend when we go to the park. But you and I are the best buddies. You are quite content to stay at home with me as long as you can get me to participate in your imaginary scenarios.

Your favorite toys to play with are trains and legos. You can play for hours with your new legos, and you are constantly building long trains of toys throughout the basement. As soon as I get one cleaned up, you start a new one.

Once you get focused on a fun activity, it is very hard for you to leave what you are doing, whether it be to get your diaper changed or to get in the car. I have carried you out kicking and screaming many times. Sometimes I feel quite exasperated with your stubbornness, but then you turn around and tell me, "I'm so happy"and it melts my heart. You are a good example to me of how we should express our happy feelings out loud because it helps others feel good too.

I know that getting a baby brother will be a hard adjustment for you, but I know you will grow to love him as much as Jason has grown to love you. I love you so much, and I am grateful to be your mom.

Love,

mom

Jason Loses His First Teeth

Jason lost his first tooth December 26, 2014. The next tooth fell out two weeks later, so now he can stick his tongue through the bottom center gap. Although Jason was anxious to lose his first tooth, he was not willing to yank it out. It fell out onto his lap when it was good and ready. Same with the second. Grandma Diane gave Jason a special tooth-fairy pillow with a velcro pocket to put next to his bed. Jason feels so grown up now that he has lost some teeth (and earned a dollar per tooth).

Christmas 2014

Christmas Eve started off with Jason's first day skiing! He was a really good sport. I took him to the free Alta tow ropes while Kyle stayed home with Noah. As a novice teacher, I had no idea how much strength was required to help a child learn how to ski, nor how much more strength was required to hold onto the tow rope and a child at the same time. I was four months pregnant and exhausted after just two runs. Jason suggested that next time we try the chair lifts instead, and I agreed. I told Kyle from now on he can teach the kids how to ski.

That afternoon and evening we spent with the Hunsakers. We started off visiting Anne's grave. 

Back at the house we had a wonderful dinner, followed by lots of fun activities. Grandma Diane gave all the grandkids these fun, flashing Christmas necklaces to wear for the evening.

Each family provided some live Christmas music. The kids had a great time dancing up the songs. And of course, Christmas Bingo is always a favorite tradition.

For the past few years, instead of giving sibling gifts and parent gifts, we (the Hunsaker family) have chosen to give the money that would have been spent to a family in need. Christmas Eve we all shared what we did. My mom also had the great idea for the whole family to write letters to our cousin, Guy, who is in prison. I know these activities will help the children understand the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas morning we woke up to a very white Christmas. Jason woke up earlier than usual (6:40) to open presents, but we only let him open his cereal and made him wait until 8:00 when we woke up Noah before opening presents. We learned the hard way that we should have bought two of everything we got for Jason. Noah just wanted whatever Jason got. Jason got more Angry Birds toys, a new race track, and art supplies. Noah got a pretend cell phone, a dragon, and art supplies. 

I was excited to use our first ever stockings this year. I started making them two weeks before Christmas, but having a firm deadline kept the project rolling along with help from Jason, Kyle, and my mom.

 Around lunch time we made our way to Grandma Linda's house. The boys enjoyed opening more gifts there. We ate a nice lunch, and then waited for the main event-- a call from Blair (in Bolivia on a mission). When the kids got restless, Kyle busted out his own Christmas gift (a balloon pump) and made balloon swords for all the kids. Kyle is going to become very handy at birthday parties and various gatherings.

 We are grateful for families, and all our many blessings!

A Jolly Christmas Prayer

For the majority of December, Noah has pretended to be Santa, complete with the hat and a deep voice. When he sees a picture of Santa, he points to it and says, "Look. That's me." Noah also calls me "Mommy Elf" and Kyle "Rudolph." We too are expected to play along with Santa on a daily basis. Jason is not always part of the game because he refuses to be told by anyone (Noah) who he should be. One night as we gathered for family prayer, I asked Noah if he would like to say it. Noah said, "Yes. I am Santa." The prayer went like this:

Kate: Dear Heavenly Father.

Noah: silence

Kate: Thank you for this day.

Noah: (In a deep Santa voice) Thank you for this day. HO, HO, HO.

Stifled laughter

Kate: We are grateful daddy got home safely.

Noah: (Deep voice) Yes.

Uncontrollable laughter. End of the prayer.

Although I'm sure it's not nearly as funny through this retelling, Kyle and I still laugh when we think back to this prayer.

In other news relating to this cute Santa, he has officially given up naps as of this month. He is following in Jason's footsteps, giving up naps before age three. Although I still miss my alone time to clean up the house, I have enjoyed going to Christmas parties without the worry of naps.

Christmas Card 2014

Designed by Kyle, and I think he did an awesome job!

Boy #3

We are having another boy! No big surprise there. After having two boys, I really figured our chances were high of having all boys, so I just told myself it was a boy. I actually even had a dream about it being a boy, and then I told Kyle the dream, and then he had a dream that the baby was a boy, but I don't rely on our dreams to tell me my future. Still, it is funny to relate. 

Jason, Noah, and my mom (who was baby-sitting) were the first to know after Kyle and I got back from the appointment. My doctor's office has dum-dums for the taking, so I picked out two blue dum-dums. When I got home, I told Jason and Noah to close their eyes, and then open them to guess if the baby would be a boy or girl. Jason opened the sucker that I placed in his hand and guessed right. Noah did a full-on dance, but I am sure it was just for the sucker. He still seems pretty clueless about the whole baby thing, but he has started noticing my belly sticking out. Jason was hoping for a girl, but he accepted the news gladly.

Noah had already consumed his sucker by the time I got the camera out.