Baby Case Has Arrived!

Case Laine Johan McGuire

Born 2/6/13

The big news of the past few weeks is that my sister, Julie, had her baby!  I am now an aunt - again!  Trey is now a cousin - again!  Julie is now a mama - again!  And, most of all, Grady is now a big brother!!!

Meeting Case shortly after birth

Grandpa Gerts and his third grandson 

 Mama gazing at her new baby

Case Laine Johan McGuire was born at 1:00pm on Wednesday, February 6th.  He weighed in at 7 pounds something and was, I think, 19 inches.  Julie called me on Tuesday night around 10:30pm to say that her water had broken and she needed to go to the hospital.  I quickly drove over (another reason I am so grateful that we live 1.1 miles apart) to stay with sleeping Grady until Tim's mom arrived.  Then Julie and Tim headed to the hospital where only 14.5 hours later Case was born.  Her labor was faster and easier than the last time which was a blessing.  (I really want to tell you that she only had to push for 13 minutes, but I don't know if she'd like that...)  My dad and I were there waiting in the hospital and we got to meet Baby Case about 30 minutes after he was born.  You forget how small they are when they come out!  Case's middle names are special because Laine is after our mother, Elaine, and Johan is after our maternal grandfather.  He was known as John after he emigrated from Sweden to the  United States in the early 1900's, but the name he was born with was Johan.  Julie has always had a sweet spot for all things Swedish, so it's no surprise that she kept the original spelling.

Here are some pics and stories from the past few weeks:

As you all know, sleep (well, naps) has been a notorious problem for us.  Since we decided to move, put the house on the market, and consequently moved, Trey has had some bedtime issues.  Then as soon as we thought it was getting better, he got sick and it got worse again.  We've never been a big family bed family, but there is something so absolutely sweet about having Trey next to me sleeping.  It's a slippery slope because as soon as we do it once, Trey always wants to sleep in "mama's bed," but as much as Randy doesn't like it and as little sleep as I get when we do it, I secretly really love it.

I mean, can it get any sweeter than this? 

A few weeks ago, Trey and I met Marika and Vivi, his old daycare provider and her daughter (Trey's BFF), at Hopworks after music class.  Trey and Vivi picked up like they hadn't missed a day, and it was really sweet to see them together.  Marika and I hope to keep the relationship going, and I think (with my history of maintaining friendships) that it is a distinct possibility.

Vivi and Trey, together again

Trey is really in to role play right now.  Like REALLY into it.  Like it makes me want to poke my eyeballs out.  He has a variety of characters he likes to play between him and myself such as Steve and Joe (Blue's Clues), Porter and Bailey (the dogs), and Jonah and Tallin (Marika's boys).  Then we get into the figures and he could play with these guys making up stories ALL DAY LONG.  His favorite seem to be Bert and Ernie.  We have two sets.  The regular set which you see below, and then Baseball Bert and Baseball Ernie which is in the picture below that.  It is constant and it is KILLING ME.

Bert and Ernie on "the Street" 

 Baseball Bert and Baseball Ernie at the "yellow house"

(my old Fisher Price house which I love)

The sickness hit our house about four weeks ago and while I think we got lucky overall, it wasn't the greatest time of our lives.  Trey got sick first, then me, then Randy.  Somehow, I was the one who stayed sick the longest.  Luckily, there was no flu and no puking (knock on wood), but the sore throat was the worst I have ever had and the nagging cough is still lingering FOUR WEEKS LATER.

Here's Trey on our sick day at home together.  Of course, he wouldn't nap for me and I was too tired to do a car nap so I decided the nap wasn't going to happen.  Later in the afternoon, he fell asleep on my lap while watching a show.  The dog decided this was a good time to try and climb on me, and if I had had something harder and bigger than the remote control in my hand, that dog would have gotten hurt.

We have recently joined the Children's Museum, and, for me, it's a nice break from OMSI.  Trey and I went here on a day when Randy went fishing, and we enjoyed ourselves.  You may notice that Trey's outfit leaves a little to be desired.  I was feeling too shitty to care about what he wore.  So sue me.

He sat on this bench holding a baby doll singing it a lullaby for a VERY long time.   

He also enjoyed the water table for a long time.  This made mama's day.

On Super Bowl Sunday Trey and I went to Stacy, my friend from Woodburn's, house to have a little goodbye party for Dora.  Dora is a dear friend who was the Home School Contact while I taught in Woodburn.  Everyone around this table is special to me and from my days at Nellie Muir.  I love that I have been gone six years and we still see each other regularly.  

Ardis and Trey (with Susan in the background)

Trey has a special thing for Ardis.  

It probably helps that she comes bearing gifts every time she sees him. 

Trey's new preschool had a penguin show where the kids did songs and a performance.  Trey was dressed as a penguin and it may have been one of the cutest things I've ever seen.  He didn't know any of the words (to be fair he had only been in the preschool for a few days before the program), but he followed along with the group and was as cute as a button.  He did great until he saw me in the audience, and then he wouldn't stay with the kids and only wanted to sit on my lap.  Oh well.  He's two.

Trey is the second from the right. 

Cute penguin

This past Saturday Trey and I had a fun day together.  We went to music class and then to Muddy's for banana bread and lunch.  Trey fell asleep on the way home (all according to my plan), and then we met Mindy and Camille for happy hour at Hopworks later in the afternoon.

Trey enjoying his banana bread

 The two of us waiting at Hopworks for our friends

Trey and Camille 

Trey came home from preschool last week with a homework folder!!!  I couldn't believe it.  I thought I had a few more years reprieve before homework started.  We sat down on Sunday night (waited until the last minute, of course) to do his work.  It was pretty cool because he could do most of the tasks except for the fine motor component.  He could count the pictures and match it to the number, he could choose the correct colored item, and he could identify the letters.  He just couldn't trace the P's or circle the numbers on the math worksheets.  I felt pretty proud of his early readiness skills.

We made Valentine's Day cookies, and Trey was in heaven.  He LOVES cookies and he LOVES the frosting.  On the night we baked them, I told Trey he couldn't have any until after dinner and then left the room to do something else.  I came back, and he had moved the stool around to the side of the counter with the cookies and had one in his mouth.  The expression on his face is priceless.

Randy was excited to introduce Trey to Hot Wheels. He went and bought some cars and some contraptions.  The two of them are so cute when they play with the cars together.

And then the frosting of the cookies and the decorating.  Trey hasn't learned yet that sprinkles are a pain in the ass to clean up from the floor.

Tonight we made some Valentine's Day cookie deliveries, and Trey got to meet his new cousin Case.  He wasn't very interested in the baby - just how he was with Grady.  He loves Grady now, so I know Case will grow on him too.

 the whole McGuire family!

The joy of reading

Oh, dear reader, how I love reading.  I have loved it since I was a little girl when I devoured Little House on the Prairie, Pippi Longstocking, and Betsy books.  I took a book with me everywhere we went, and I was that quiet girl in the corner who had a book while everyone else was socializing (aka nerd).

I remember doing a really cool book report on this one!

After graduating from college in 1996, I magically stumbled upon Multnomah Village and discovered Annie Bloom's books.  I had a dream of one day working in a bookstore (well, actually, my dream is to one day OWN a bookstore, but working in a bookstore was good enough), and I was lucky enough to work here for 12 years.  I spent several of those years working the Thursday night shift from 6-10pm since I was also teaching full time.  It was so nice to keep my nose in the books and be able to know what was hot to read and get dozens of reader's copies.

College is such a learning experience (obviously), but I think you really learn who you are when you're in your 20's.  Being at Annie Bloom's during this time definitely helped to form me as a reader and introduced me to authors I probably never would have known.  One of those authors is Gail Tsukiyama, and my favorite of her books is Samurai's Garden.  It's been on my Top Five list ever since I read it in 1996.

Do you have a Top Five list?  Mine also includes the Unbearable Lightness of Being (Kundera), Pride and Prejudice (Austen), I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Angelou), and the Dive from Clausen's Pier (Packer).  I could probably revise my list if I wanted to, but those have been my solid favorites for a long time now.

I have always read at night no matter how tired I am, and I almost always have something on deck.  Deciding what to read next is one of my favorite parts of reading, but I have to be careful not to let it interfere with the joy of what I'm reading at the moment.

I just finished a really good book called My Berlin Kitchen by Luisa Weiss.  It's part of one of my new favorite genres which I will just call cooking memoir.  The book simultaneously made me want to travel, cook, spend more time with my husband, and miss my mother.  That's a pretty good book if you ask me.

I'm also listening to How Children Succeed by Paul Tough.  I have read this before, but listening to it again is just as rewarding.  There are so many things I could write about that I value from his book, but near the top of the list is how important early nurturing is to children and how it actually changes their biological reaction to stress affecting them and their resilience for the rest of their lives.  I feel like I could have a discussion with someone after every section of the book.  It's that interesting.

Right now I am reading Friendkeeping by Julie Klam.  I read some reviews of it in a few places (one being Read All Day) and thought it would be a good read considering how much I love my friends.  Needless to say, it's not the best book but it meets my needs right now since it's an easy read and I'm fighting a cold.

Tomorrow is book club, one of my favorite nights of the month.  We have been meeting for over 10 years with some members staying the same but most changing over time.  I love these nights because I get to see some good friends, chat with the ladies about motherhood and marriage, and, occasionally, discuss the book.  Okay, to be fair, we discuss the book every month, but some months are better than others.  I rebelled this month and didn't even touch the book (zero interest), but one thing I like about our book club is that we read a variety of books that I wouldn't always pick up myself.

Trey and I have been reading together since he was a few weeks old.  Right now he loves books, too, and finds comfort and joy in reading every night.  Currently, his favorites are Knuffle Bunny, Curious George stories, and Max and Ruby books.  He also loves any book that has to do with animals.  Shocking, I know, considering his father's interests.  Randy has said he'll be a little heartbroken if Trey doesn't like fishing, and I feel exactly the same way about reading.

Happy reading! What's on your stack?

Happy 40th Birthday to Randy!

It is hard to believe we are only halfway through the month (okay, a little more than half) and so much has happened.  Okay, so not as much as the changes I described in my last post, but it still feels like a lot.  Trey started his new daycare at the beginning of January, and Randy turned 40! Those are the two big events...but does it get any bigger than that?

Trey always seems to be playing with dolls when I pick him up at daycare.  I was about to give away my cradle and dolls (sorry, Camille), but since Trey is interested in them I got them out for him.  It has been such fun to watch him playing with my baby dolls and also to watch his interpretation of their roles.  The boy Cabbage Patch doll is always Daddy, and the girl is always Mommy.  That makes sense, right? But in my literal head I keep thinking, "They're babies; they're not mommy and daddy!" Of course, I don't say that to him.  He became most interested in my Strawberry Shortcake dolls and my Ken dolls.  I am so glad I held on to these toys.

What I love about watching Trey play with the Ken dolls is that he has no (and will never have) concept that two men can't be "together" in his role play.  My dream is that when he grows up anyone who loves each other will be able to marry each other, and he will look back on this time period as if we were all crazy to enforce restrictions (sort of like how people in my generation look back at the 1950's and 60's and the Civil Right Movement).

Meet 'Rika and Adam (Trey's old daycare providers)

Trey hasn't figured out the gender thing yet.  I think that's awesome.  

Saturday, January 12th, was the day of Randy's 40th birthday party.  It was also the day of the Broncos' playoff game.  We tried to get a shot of all three male Clarks in their Broncos gear, but we were faced with a major lack of cooperation.

I have about 8 other shots that pretty much mirror the ones above (this last one was the best one), but I thought I'd spare you the misery.

Kris and John were gracious to host Randy's party at their house.  We created a Clark Birthday Brewfest and had several beers to taste and wings from Buffalo Wild Wings with a variety of sauces.  Beer and wings - two of Randy's things.  How could we go wrong??  (Well, the Broncos pulling out a win in double overtime would have really helped.  I was VERY impressed with how Randy held his tongue as things went south since there were many young ears around at the time.)

Randy, Trey, and I are blessed with such good friends, and the pictures below show just a small sample of the important people in our lives.  Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate!

Whenever you need to put someone in charge of something, you need to turn to John.  I asked him to make a ballot for our voting for best beers, and I was expecting a simple list with lines next to the beers to vote.  This is what I got.  He is amazing.

The kids' table/beer tasting table for IPAs, pale ales, stouts/porters, and lagers. 

Northwest beers (aka anything brewed here that didn't fit in a different category) and international beers

The wings and sauces 

More food and friends 

How did people entertain kids before the iPad?  

I think this was Garland and Maclyn's first experience with the iPad 

and they may have fallen a little bit in love.  

Pregnant Julie and Grady (15 months)

Julie's due date is in four weeks!!! 

Sweet Grady

Adam, Kennedy, and Sarah tasting the non-alcoholic beverages.

The hard cider was also in this section...hopefully, the girls didn't get mixed up! 

Elinor and Tim 

Randy and some of his OHSU ladies (Nicole, Kris, and Elinor) 

Declan, Garland and Trey playing with Sesame Street

(I guess the iPad doesn't always rule...or maybe we put it away.) 

 Family shot - I love how Trey has been mashing his face to mine in pictures.

Sarah, me, and Kathleen 

Randy and Grady doing some important tastings

Sarah, Randy, and Grady discussing IPAs 

Sarah and Neil 

Our plan was to spend the night so I wouldn't have to leave early with Trey to do bedtime or worry about driving.  Needless to say, when I finally started bedtime at 9pm (after most people and kids were gone), we discovered that the packnplay was broken.  I rushed down to Julie's house (about 2.5 miles away) in the thick fog to grab hers.  Came back (after getting lost due to the fog), did bedtime, and at 10:30pm Trey and I packed up and went home because going down was NOT happening.  Trey went right down at home but was up from 130-230am crying.  I eventually brought him to bed with me and we both slept until 630am.  As I was lying in bed, feeling whiny about how the night ended, in the dark with Trey's face right up to mine, I said, "I love you, Trey." And he responded in his sweet little voice, "Love you too, Mama."  Okay, kid.  You're forgiven.

I know my husband looks at my blog (aka photos), but I am pretty sure he doesn't actually read it.  We shall soon find out.  Below are two pictures that demonstrate one difference between men and women.  Or maybe just a difference between one man and one woman.  I asked Randy to put the recycling from the garage in the bin because we have A LOT of cardboard and paper from moving and the holidays.  Later he told me he couldn't get very much to fit. WHAT??  Recycling only comes every other week here, and my piles are overflowing.  I go outside later that day, and this is what I find:

I know it's hard to tell, but there are basically three boxes in the bin NOT broken down filling up the majority of the space so nothing else can fit.  (I just rolled my eyes AGAIN as I typed this.)

It's also hard to tell in this photo, but this is what it looked like when I was done and the contents are MUCH different than they were before.  (I just shook my head as I typed this.)

One thing (out of many) I was very excited about in our new house was the fireplace.  We have had three or four fires so far, and it is so cozy! Below are pictures from our first fire.  Love it.

Monday, January 14th, was Randy's official birthday, and I surprised him with a babysitter (Kris) and a dinner out at Ringside Steakhouse.  Neither one of us had been there before, and it was absolutely delicious.  We both still felt sick when we went to bed because we were so full, but it was totally worth it.  I found myself thinking about the meal multiple times the next day.  Every bit of it was amazing.

Randy, his Guinness, and the really delicious onion rings

(although what made the onion rings better was the dipping sauce - 

apparently French dressing with gorgonzola cheese???)

Randy and I with our dessert and wine

He had an apple pear crisp with cinnamon walnut ice cream, 

and I had bananas foster which I'd never tried before.  

I guess they do theirs differently there, and it was divine.   

Meet Super Trey...or Super Steve...or Super Joe (depends on the day)

Grandma Carmen made him a cape with a T on the back that he loves, 

although he will only wear it if he has these glasses on.  

Nice look, eh? 

Now my last point of discussion has to do with daycare/preschool.  Our new daycare provider, who I will call L, was planning on transitioning Trey to the preschool house in June when he turns three.  He started at the infant/toddler house this month with other kids his age.  I think he had only been in the daycare for 3-4 days when L said she wanted to transition him right away because he had adjusted so well.  It made me very proud to feel like we have a well-adjusted boy.  Starting this week, he is going to the preschool house three days a week (they don't have space the other two) and spending his entire day with other 2.5-5 year olds.

Yesterday when I picked him up, I asked the teacher a few questions about what his day looks like.  I feel weird asking a lot of questions (like I am "that" mom) so I try to space it out to one question a day. I felt justified asking about how the day goes because I literally had no idea (since when we chose the daycare we were pretty much choosing the infant/toddler house).  She told me that among free play time, meal time, nap time, etc. they also have circle time where they do songs and sharing and they have three different rotations ("centers") where they do preschool/kindergarten curriculum.  They mix the ages together in the centers and modify the content to each individual's age/skill level.  I think this is going to be really awesome for Trey, and I am thrilled that he is with older kids.

On the flip side, it is starting to really hit me that we are at that next stage.  You know, the stage when you pretty much have no idea what goes on during your kid's day.  I feel like it is going to be like this from now until the rest of my life.  I know I can ask the teacher how his day was and I know they send home a monthly newsletter, but, seriously, I have no real idea what his day is like or what he is learning/doing.  And I can't rely on him as a reporter because apparently today he swam with whales and rode horses.  O-kaaaaay....

I'm okay with this change (okay, I'm not 100% okay with it) and I obviously know it's natural and a move towards his independence, but it just feels really sad that we are officially done with the baby days.   (As Randy pointed out we are still experiencing the baby days since Trey is waking up 1-3 times a night....)

Here's an example of what came home today.  

It's an igloo, if you were wondering.

As of this moment, the fire has died down and my electric mattress pad is warm and ready for me to climb in.  I've been thinking about going to bed and reading my awesome book, My Berlin Kitchen, for hours now.  Looking forward to a fun weekend and hoping we all get some rest around here and our sniffles and coughs don't turn into anything bigger (hope I didn't just jinx it).