Escape Artist

So we think our little man has had a growing spurt. Things he can reach that he couldn't before includes the thermostat to the apt. and the lock to our front door.

We can't do much about the thermostat except check it when it seems awfully hot or cold in the apt but the door..... well, we HAD to do something about that. After a day of chasing after him in the cold because he had gotten out, was spanked, brought back inside, and still continued to do it, Popeye didn't waste any time in putting a chain lock high up.

Here he is trying to get out. The door opens just enough for him to see out but not enough he would even possibly squeeze through. As I've said before, we are CONTINUALLY childproofing!

:O) ~Olive

Civil War Reenactment

This past weekend was a busy one! We had family and friends visiting from IL and Missouri. We got to take time to do something just with us as a family though.... which doesn't get to happen too often with Popeye's weekend hours. There was a Civil War Reenactment about a 1/2 hour from us so away we went.

To be honest, we actually didn't get to see the reenactment. We got there pretty early and it was chilly so we walked around the 'camp' and listened to the various Generals talk about their lives and war strategies. Emmett got to play on some of the slides and play areas they had set up for kids too.

The funniest part of the day was, as usual, Emmett. There were horses there, of course, for the Calvary and Emmett was all about those horses..... from a distance. He yelled at them, 'baa-ed' at them, and downright talked their ear off. However, as soon as one of the soldiers rode over so Emmett could pet his horse, Emmett was not that brave at all. No touching anything of that size I guess.

He's sticking to the bunny rabbits that were there to pet..... much smaller animals :O)

~Olive

The Baby's name is {gasp}

We do have a name picked out!!! (and the baby's not due until Feb???!!!!) Shocking, I know. :O)


You won't get it out of us though. ;)

I was told most people are calling the baby Norah because they know I love the name so.
Unfortunately... the baby's name is not Norah but feel free to continue to call her that for the time being.

However, rest assured that the name we !agreed! upon is:
1) similarly cute
2) a little bit classic, like 'Emmett' is
3) actually shares something in common with one of you.... ;)

Now that I've hinted but not given a thing away!!! You'll have to patiently wait until Jan/Feb to find out ;)

~Olive

Emmett's Favorite Things

So I was thinking the other day that Emmett has his very favorite things.... toys and items that I know will come out sometime during the day. While he reminds me every now and then that I can't put some things into storage I'd like, his play is changing!!! That wonderful imagination of his is definitely headed towards 'action figures' and imagination games.We recently got Emmett some new rain boots as he's had a few growing spurt since Uncle Mike and Aunt Regenna got him his first pair (a size 5), we're now on size 7/8s. Emmett has a pretty good shoe fascination and these are his 'go-to' boots. Whenever I tell him to get his shoes, these are the ones he drags back to me.... this is really only a problem on Sunday mornings :0)

He actually plays with these more at his Grandpa and Grandma's house because I tend to keep these somewhat put up but he loves legos. Now, there is a catch. It can't be just legos but it has to be with lego people and wheeled lego..... DUPLO to be exact (all the 1 1/2 -5 ages ). Something about legos mixed with 'wheels' is a great combination for a little boy's budding imagination.
We have one ball in particular that Emmett brings to his daddy as soon as he gets home from work. I can't decide from watching them play if Emmett will love basketball or soccer but right now he tries his hand (and foot) and both. :)

Every morning we start out with Curious George cartoon episode and breakfast. It's on our tv about when he wakes up. He owns the original cartoon movie as well for long car trips but if any cartoon can keep him completely entertained it's this one. I don't mind as its based off a book and Popeye actually enjoys watching it too.

We actually own an older version of this that I found at a garage sale without any cars to it. I found some cars a while back at another garage sale for 25 cents so I picked them up to go with it. Although we don't have any people, he doesn't seem to mind. He loves playing with this thing and loves to run the elevator up and down.... also it has sound!!!

His uncle Josh and aunt Bethany found a fire engine that makes noise somewhere and picked it up for him. He is all about this firetruck toy!!!! He loves this thing. Not only does it make great noises that he LOVES to imitate but he can carry it around by the ladder.... super!!!

~Olive

Cousin Time

We got to keep Zoie for a few days this week and boy are these two growing up fast! While there's still the occasional toddler fights over toys, they definitely are playing together better and enjoy each others company more. Emmett is REALLY going to miss Zoie the rest of the week.... I have a feeling when he wakes up from his nap he's going to be looking for her (he's determined if he's up, she's got to be up playing too :) Thanks for coming to stay Zoie!!! We loved having you :)

~Olive

October Swim

Oh Emmett. Oh my little guy.

We went to a park/garden place near us with a children's play area. It had forts, slides, little water things, etc. spread out among a huge garden. We stopped at a little fountain thing that had a small cascading water fall. There were large stones the kids could take out of the water and throw back in as well as statue frogs that spit out water. Emmett LOVED it.

After us moms had enough of the water, we went to a fort thing that was right next to it. ..... Emmett wasn't really that interested in the fort. He found the kids' tunnel that led back to the water section. I thought he was right on the other side until I realized it was one of the other little girls we came with the other mom was talking to.

I headed back over to the water section but before I reached it, I heard crying. It was a familiar cry. I saw moms looking and saying, 'ahh, that little boy fell in.'

I rounded the turn and saw Emmett. Picking himself up on one of the waterfall levels, wet from head to toe, and crying. He had apparently tried to get some stones and fell in head first.

He was fine. Just very, very wet.

He wanted a hug or two and then down. He wasn't done with that water yet. There were still more rocks to throw and water to hit at.

Thankfully we brought extra clothes. :O)

Oh my little guy.

~Olive

Cleaning Trial Runs

So I was looking at a bunch of cute baby things I could make online and I ran across this blog. The pregnant mommy was talking about how she had switched awhile ago to 'natural' cleaning products so that she didn't have to worry about cleaning while pregnant and her kiddos around. That struck a cord. I'm not a fan of cleaning but I REALLY hate breathing in that potent smells and trying to keep Emmett out of the room while I do it. I can't clean EVERYTHING while he's taking his short naps. :) (Our apt. has really gone downhill since pregnancy because I don't feel safe cleaning it well.)

When I say natural, I'm not talking about cleaning products that are way overpriced and claim to be safe. I'm talking about the stuff you find in the kitchen. Even though I'm sure my mom used the age old vinegar, baking soda, etc. tricks, I feel like I grew up a generation that believes mostly in buying things such as Lysol Kitchen, Clorox, soft soap, etc. items. And that's the only way to clean.... or maybe its just me... either way...

Not anymore!! :O) My trial run was this morning in my kitchen. To my surprise and great joy, white vinegar, water, a lemon, and baking soda did the trick for everything (from cabinets, to microwave, counter tops, to grease stains!!). And Emmett got to help me wipe down the cabinets so he could be my big helper!!!

Tomorrow is the bathrooms so we'll see. They say it even works on soap scum but I'm a skeptic so I can't wait to find out.



Here's two great sites if anyone is interested :O)

http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/green-cleaning-spring-cleaning-460303


~Olive


P.S. The bathroom cleaning trial went great too!!! I used toilet bowl cleaner just because we had some left to use but for the most part everything else was vinegar, baking soda, and water!!!! Emmett was, once again, my big helper!!!! I think he wished we had more toilets in our apt. uck!

Feast of the Hunter's Moon Influences

I wish I had some photos from the feast but we weren't there uber long due to a tired 1 1/2 yr old. We did have a nice time though. Me... it was all about the yummy and different food they had to offer. Popeye and Emmett... definitely all about the BIG guns (aka. canons). They set them off several times in a canon demonstration and they were loud!!! You could literally feel the ground vibrating underneath us.

So, was our son scared??? NO! He LOVED it! He must take after his daddy I think. He came home pointing his finger in the air going 'boom', 'boom'. Not only that but after the rifle demonstration he saw ONCE, he came back to my parents house to find the airsoft guns and was carrying them around the right way and making noises. Honestly. He picked all that up at one festival!!!

Now before you think he's getting influences at home too, I assure you Curious George has yet to have a gun in the show and Curious George is (most days) all I feel like we watch. Maybe the occasional Mickey Mouse Club or Dr. Seuss but I haven't seen booming canons in those either.

sigh. My little boy loves: dirt, legos, guns, hats, balls, and (my favorite) his daddy!!!

18 month photos

These may end up as Christmas photos if I can't get good ones as the weather gets colder but.... technically these are his 18 month photos :) Our little man is getting TOO big!!!!!

~Olive

And We're Having....

A GIRL!!!!


We're pretty excited. I think Popeye and I were both concerned that it would be a little more difficult to tell if it was a girl so Popeye had the nurse AND the doctor identify the gender :O) Emmett, I'm sure is very excited. He sat on his Daddy's lap during the sonogram looking very concerned about what all was going on but was full speed ahead as we left the doctor's office.


Now for her name....... :O)

In the meantime, I'm going to get busy making all sorts of cutie-pie girly things. No reason to sit still. ;O)

~Olive

New Vehicle

We got a new vehicle. Yes, it was about time to retire my car. It had been a good one these last six year but with 200,000 miles creeping too close and the amount of traveling that we tend to do it was time. So the next big question.... what to get. I knew I wanted an SUV with another little one on the way (so much easier than bending down all the time with car seats). The real question came down to size. Short-term or long-term (Lord willing.) After some debate and test driving we went long term. It just made more sense. Even if the Lord only blessed us with one more child after little Feb. Lindberg, where would we put him :)

I'm soooo very happy with our choice. (A Ford Explorer.) I told Matthew if it had a bathroom I could pretty much live in there for awhile. After the original purchase wears off (because let's face it, no matter what you get new vehicles aren't cheap) its pretty exciting to have a new-to-you vehicle!!


~Olive


p.s. not my photo work. decided it would be easier just to pull a photo off the internet :)