Welcome to Forty!

In celebration of Anna's fortieth birthday we went away on a cross country ski weekend.
Mor Mor, Aunt Sandy, and our friend Renzo helped us to bring on the big FOUR O.
Anders was pulled behind in the polk and Jakob was snug inside Renzo's jacket...she is an amazing skier and he was safe as could be. We had such a great time, and hope to repeat this winter adventure every year!

Falling in Love

It wasn't just the never ending supply of sweet milk, or that beautiful face that had him hooked, oh no. It was the singing and the guitar that took him right over the cliff into major love with Anna. Same thing that did me in.

Parenting 101

I am going to a 6 week parenting class, and even though it's only week 3, I feel myself slipping lower and lower into my chair - oh boy. I think I am learning a lot. Last nights topic was "praise" and I think we have a praise junkie on our hands thanks to me (and Anna?)

Thinking about how you speak to your children is hard work. Noticing how quickly "good job" blurts out of your mouth is a terrifying realization. Hearing "watch me, watch me" over and over again from the mouth of a 3 year old is something I am being told is not ideal. Attention child. A child used to getting lots of attention and not necessarily for important reasons. I learned that kids who get praise all the time, have low self-esteem. I learned that kids who get praised a lot are at-risk kids. Because they fall prey to anyone who gives them attention... Because they learn that what you think of them is more important than what they think of them.

This has been one wild month. SO much focus on how to parent well, how to parent capable, responsible, independent kids. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! It feels a bit daunting when your whole house was built out of playing cards but you thought they were bricks.

More on this.....

Cute Close-up

Here he is in all his blue-eyed glory.

Doesn't Jakob's hair appear to be blonde-ish in this photo?

It's exciting to wait and to see what his hair color will end up being- we keep thinking real real blonde, or redish, or light brown...we just don't quite know.

But we do know he is a real cute baby.

As he approaches his 3 month birthday so many things are changing.

He seems to have discovered his hands, even though he can't quite use them yet, and he has discovered his tongue for licking, and he is just so absolutely curious about the world around him. This wide eyed look is how he approaches this big life. Oh, and in case you are wondering, those are Anna's knees.

Feeding the Babies

How clever of Anders to turn a baby toy into a breast and stick it to his shirt. He was so happy to feed baby Peter right next to Anna who was feeding baby Kuba.
Having baby Peter, his little boy doll, has helped so much with his transtion to being a big brother.

Slang...already!

Anders was playing cars this morning, and his little yellow speedster found it's way underneath the table.

"Bummer" said Anders.

What does that mean? we asked...

"If you hate something, that bummer."

How does he get that information?!!

Quote of the Day

Today when we came in from sledding, I needed help getting my boots untied. I had the baby in the bjorn, and couldn't really bend down to do it.
Anna was helping Anders out of his snow clothes and I asked him if he wanted to help me take my boots off.
His response:
"No, I can't help you."
I asked him why.
"Because I am not a boot helper."