Daily Schedule

I thought it would be fun to tell you what our daily weekday schedule is like. Here you go:

Mari usually wakes up between 6:00 and 7:30. I take her downstairs, and Susan rolls over to nurse Andrew, who is still sleeping. Mari and I hang out downstairs, washing diapers, cleaning the kitchen, showering, listening to NPR, and listening for Andrew. Usually Mari falls asleep after about 45 minutes, and I am able to lay her down. If Andrew wakes up before she goes down for nap 1, then she is usually up longer. Andrew usually gets out of bed between 7 and 8.

Once Andrew is up, I get a lot less done. Usually we eat some breakfast. If Mari is still awake, then this is usually when she falls asleep. Then we all read/build a train/play with toys. I wake Susan up between 8:20 and 8:30, then it is off to work for me. Mari's first nap usually only lasts about 45 minutes, so she is usually up before I head off to work.

Susan and the kids usually do one out-of-the-house activity in the morning. This could include going to the library, museum, zoo, or a friends house. They come home, eat some lunch, and then it is time for naps. Mari falls asleep first, then Susan has to get Andrew to bed before Mari wakes up, which could be anywhere from 30 to 45 mins. Once they are all awake, they usually just hang out, playing, wandering around the neighborhood.

I work until 4:30, so I am home by five. We make dinner, eat it, and then we usually do an evening activity. This could include visiting family or friends, shopping, or walking. By 8:30 we usually head upstairs and put some diapers and pajamas on the kids. I rock Andrew to bed, while Susan gets Mari to sleep downstairs. After the kids are asleep, we usually watch TV for an hour or two, then head to bed ourselves, to do it all again.

Other random notes:

• Mari and Andrew are now wearing the same size disposable diaper
  
• Andrew still loves to sing, and Mari loves to hear it
  
• That's all I have for now. Until next time . . .
  

You asked for it (Mimi)

• Andrew & Mari
  
• Andrew's message to Mimi and Papa
  
• Susan & Mari
  
• Andrew's Sign Language
  
• Andrew Singing
  
• More of Andrew Singing
  

Also, check out the new pics.

We Did It

I know what you are thinking ("Of course you did, you have two kids.") We bought a cell phone. I have been an active opponent to cell-phone use (or over-use) for a while, especially when someone is on my couch, but I caved. Susan and I decided that it would be nice to be reachable when we are out on a date (and I like her having the extra bit of security during her normal existence). I would post the number, but we only have 268 minutes left for the whole year.

We have all really enjoyed the warm weather the past week has brought, but that is about to come to an end, which means more time inside, and maybe more time playing in the toy department at Target. It was great weather for gathering/playing-with leaves and destinationless walks around our block.

As winter approaches I am more excited about next spring's outdoor projects than this winter's indoor ones. Maybe I need to come up with a more concrete plan for the winter.

Mari is in the early stages of sitting. She is getting stronger and stronger every day. Her coordination is improving.

Andrew is still Andrew. Still loves pizza, Simon & Rachel, and Pony Rides. Counting is getting better. He hated his last haircut(means), as well as mine(end).

Daylight Saving Time

Nothing like getting up at 4:30 in the morning, before Morning Edition, before the local news shows start in the morning, and long before The Home Depot even opens. Before work today I managed to: dry the diapers, watch some TV, take a nap (for about 15 minutes), go to the grocery store, clean up from last nights dinner, eat breakfast, get Mari down for not one, but two naps, and go to the bank. Not bad for a Tuesday morning. The only thing that I didn't get done this morning was a little reading, but I guess that is my fault for opting to nap, which is always a good idea at 5:15.

Other than getting up early (and going to bed early) things are going well. Andrew had a fun/cute halloween, although he was very tired. He is starting this thing where when he gets tired at night he looks like a bored student in a three-hour class. He kinda slouches/hunches/nods into a strange state of awakenessitude.

Mari is getting bigger at an alarming rate. She is interacting a lot more and is playing with some toys. She will shortly be wearing the same size diaper as Andrew.

Two Announcements

1. Mari made Andrew cry this morning.

2. You can see video of a similar incident here.

2b. Here is another video.

AMEN! ! ! ! ! !

Susan, Andrew, Mari and I tried to go to church last night. We usually hang out in the back of church, where Andrew can run around and be crazy without causing too much trouble, but last night we decided to try to sit in the actual church, near the back, of course, where we could escape if need be. Things started well with the opening song, as Andrew likes to sing and watch musicians. After the song Andrew began to clap and screamed "Yea!", he was smart enough to stop quickly when he realized he was the only one cheering.

After that Fr. B led everyone in a short prayer, throughout which Andrew kept yelling "Amen!" We tried to get him to whisper, but it did not work. We decided to head back to our normal spot in the back of the church, where Andrew could express himself more freely. The problem was that there was a display set up for Habitat for Humanity that Andrew really wanted to play with, so Susan and I decided that maybe it was time that we sent him over to the childcare.

Susan offered to take him, but she was holding a sleeping Mari, so I took him over. We got to the room where the childcare is and there were about eight kids playing with various toys. I introduced Andrew to the two ladies watching the kids and Andrew headed over to play. I stayed there for a few minutes while he played and he appeared to be doing well, so I decided to head out. I said bye to Andrew and explained that we would be right across the street at church and he could stay here and play. He said "bye" (like he usually does), but as soon as I stepped out the door I could hear him screaming. So I went back in to help calm him down. We stayed and played for a while, but it was obvious that he was not going to let me leave, so I took him back over to church.

When we got back to church, he behaved much better, for about five minutes. Then it was back to running around. The biggest challenge was trying to explain the difference between the baptismal pool and the swimming pool that he played in last weekend. He wanted to sit on the side of the baptismal pool with his feet in the water.

Anyway, that was church. Sleep was also an adventure last night, as Andrew was wide awake at 3:30 in the morning and spent the second half of the night with his head half-buried under my pillow.

Mari is doing well. Her thighs continue to develop very well. She is sleeping and nursing a little less, which is nice. She is also getting to the point where she likes some company in the car, so Susan or I usually sit in the back with her and Andrew. I remember that we did this with Andrew for a while. Like all things parenting, this too shall pass.

• B.Y.O.P. this weekend.


• We are expanding the garden in our back yard to add some flowers.


• Andrew likes to play the harmonica.


• Mari is four months old today, and sees the doc tomorrow.


• Andrew weighed in at 24 lbs last week at the Dr, three pounds less than one-year-old Andrew Kinne, whose 1st birthday party we attended last weekend.    

Andrew is TWO! ! ! ! !

Andrew turns two today, which is exciting. His birthday is a lot different this year, as he is able to understand a little more. He is excited about singing, presents, cake. . . all those good things.

We just got back from a great trip to Champaign, IL with the Des Moines extension of our family. We met at a hotel on Friday night and spent the weekend hanging out. Susan's favorite times were in the morning when everyone was just hanging out (and synchronized swimming). I really enjoyed the birthday party that everyone put together for Andrew. Click here for some pics.

Andrew and Mari have been doing great and did very well on the trip. Mari slept well in the car, and they both slept well at the hotel.

Mari is getting more and more fun every day. She is interacting a lot now and loves to smile, when she is in a good mood. She still spends a lot of time sleeping, but I bet that will change over the next few months.

The next few weeks bring some fun times, but nothing major. We'll keep you updated.

Click here to view some updated pics of Andrew and Mari.