Thankful

Since Thanksgiving is upon us I thought I would dedicate this short post to what I am most thankful for. It's so easy to forget on a daily basis how very lucky we are. I am so grateful for my family. I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful little boys, who brighten up my life. I am so lucky to have them. I'm thankful that we're happy and healthy and pray that this will always be true! I am thankful to have such caring and supportive parents (including my mother-in-law) who are involved in the boys' lives. The boys have two loving aunts, who spoil them and indulge them with craft making activities. We are so very, very lucky to have each other and our families. Happy Thanksgiving to all! Love the Ferreiras.

Things They Say...

On our way home from Siti & Papa's today in the car Dylan was counting by tens...
D: ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, tenty!

My favorite word of Luke's is because. Example:
Me: Luke why did you do that?
L: Puz I wanted to.

School Songs

Here's a sample of what the boys are learning...

Dylan is learning about geography, which is great because he loves looking at maps and learning about places. He's also learning letter sounds and recognition, while practicing writing. His teacher thinks he'll be reading by the end of the year...we'll see. The best part is that it's all at his own pace and he's loving it. He comes home from school and goes through the different activities they do. He especially loves singing all the different songs he's learning. Oh and they do yoga too!

Luke is absorbing a lot as well. He knows his ABC's and even recognizes some letters. He says "L is for lion!" He can count to 13 and knows most of the colors. It's interesting how much he knows compared to Dylan at that age (I know I'm not supposed to compare!). Of course we didn't really push that stuff when Dylan was two and Luke hears it all the time and is just trying to keep up with his big brother.

My Little Helper

After putting Luke down for a nap yesterday, Dylan proudly greeted me as I returned to the living room with "Mom I helped you fold the clothes!" I had a basket of laundry that I'd started to fold before putting Luke down and Dylan finished folding it for me. My first thought was oh no! I was dreading the mess I thought I'd see, but was quite surprised to see this instead...
Dylan's new school is a Montessori and the kids do "jobs" all day long. I've definitely seen the effects of what he's learning at home. He really wants to help out and do things on his own more and more. One day he helped unload the dishwasher by sorting the utensils. Another day in his zest to clean the table, he spilled water all over the bathroom floor after soaking a wad of toilet paper that he was going to use to clean with! I'm learning that in order for him to be successful and actually help out, I need to structure his chores appropriately.
Another school activity that he really enjoys, is having tea with his classmates. Here he is sipping tea with his buddy Franny.

Spooky Trick-or-Treat

Here are my space boys all dressed up ready to hit the hood for some sweet treats! Dylan is a Star Wars storm trooper and Luke is Buzz Lightyear. We trick-or-treated for an hour and came home with way too much candy! They pretty much have it down this year. Dylan excitedly rushed from house to house in search of more candy. Luke followed behind, but was usually first to say trick-or-treat. When I prompted him to say thank you at one house with "Now what do you say?" he replied "Give me more candy!" It was hilarious, but quickly discouraged.

We woke up this morning with Dylan asking,

"Do I have school tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"And then is Christmas the next day?"

Pumpkin Patch 2009

We're Still Here!

Looking back over past years I realized that I'm notorious for not posting regularly once fall rolls around. In my defense it's the busiest time of the year for me at work. Not to mention that this year everything was even crazier as both boys started new schools! The end of October is here with Halloween right around the corner, and I finally have a chance to update this darn blog. (Must also note that photos are sparse since I haven't been great about taking pictures either!!) Anyway, excuses aside, we're back!

School is going well. Both boys have adjusted to their new environments and are enjoying themselves. Today Dylan had a Fall Festival and had his face painted by the"big kids". He was so happy when I picked him up; he had a great day! Luke had a parade at his school where all the kids walked around the neighborhood and got treats from the local banks. I was able to attend and it was a lot of fun. Luke is communicating very well these days and I think it helps the boys play together more now that he can express himself. He totally adores his big brother (or "bwudder" as he says). Of course they also fight a lot too! They're very excited about trick-or-treating and very much looking forward to CANDY! We're also in Christmas mode, since all the stores have decorations out and toy commercials are gearing up. It's going to be a long two months of "I want that!" But I've also been able to use "Santa's watching you!"

School

Dylan started school last week, and although it's been rough in the mornings, I think he's adapting well and really in the right place. We decided several moths ago to enroll him at Woodland Montessori this fall to begin a more structured learning experience for him. He's still a bit overwhelmed by the change, but I'm confident that in time he'll love it. Here are some photos his teacher took last week - a peek into the classroom.

Luke will begin preschool this week. While I would have liked for him to stay in the daycare setting where they were, we were "dumped". And so too, he begins a new chapter in life. I think he'll enjoy school as well, and am very happy that he will have a chance to interact with kids his age. In the end, I think this will actually be a better experience for him than daycare (and most definitely more reliable for us!). I think the hardest part for him will be doing something without his brother by his side.

Change is in the air around here. The next month may be a bit bumpy on many fronts, but we'll get used to it soon (I hope!!).

FOUR

Dylan just celebrated his 4th birthday. I can't believe my baby is four years old!! While it doesn't seem like that long ago, I'm constantly amazed at how old he acts. He has such a vivid imagination and sweet spirit. He's been a lot more outgoing lately, making friends with other kids at the park. He'll even be starting school in the fall. We've been swimming several times this summer and he's ready to be out on his own... literally testing the water and learning to swim. We had his party at a bounce house party place this year and I think it was a hit.

Beautiful Boys

We've been enjoying a nice (cooler than usual) summer. The boys got buzz cuts from Dad and really look a lot older! They play (and fight) together all the time. Luke is talking tons and we even understand most of what he's saying. I can't believe what big guys they're becoming... almost makes me want another baby (not really!). We had some professional photos taken last month, and they turned out really great. Enjoy!

Father's Day Fishing Adventure

Happy Father's Day Rob & Dad. This one's dedicated to you...

Rob's had the idea of taking the boys fishing for a couple of weeks, so today was the day. They're still a bit young, but I'd say overall the day was a success. They were excited to use their new Star Wars fishing pole and even more excited when their dad caught a fish! The only thing missing from the morning was Papa (then I wouldn't have had to go along ;-).

These Are the Days to Remember

Lately I've been tired and grumpy. Instead of seeing good, I've focused on the bad things. I've also been feeling guilty. I don't know how many times I've had people tell me to enjoy the kids; that these are great ages. Of course I nod and smile, but deep down I often think about how I can't wait until they get older - it has to get easier! It seems like they're always fighting or crying or whining and it drives me nuts. Of course my reaction is to get upset and yell and be mean... fun times!! Anyway, I was home with them yesterday and decided to take them to the park (when we're in public we all tend to behave better). It was a nice day. I sat on the bench in the shade and they proceeded to play in the sand and on the play structure together... alone - it was great! I didn't have to be right there and they got along and kept each other entertained (for the most part). And it hit me as I sat there on the bench - this is it, these are great times, times that someday I'll look back on and remember fondly. I'll be the one telling some tired young mother how great it is when your kids are this age. I need to appreciate how good it is, how lucky and blessed I am, what a wonderful family I have. It's easy to trudge through each day, just waiting and looking forward to bedtime, but I know I'd feel much better if I could focus on the greatness of every day and cherish each moment I get to spend with my little monkeys. Now I'm not going completely Pollyanna here, I know there will be times when we all want to kill each other; but rather than get bogged down by it, it's important to keep moving froward and trying to find the good in the days, weeks and months. Soon they'll grow up and want nothing to do with me, so I'm going to try to be the best mom I can be now. I need to be more present in our lives.

Luke Turns 2! (and other updates)

I haven't been keeping up with the blog and figured I better post about Lukie, since his 2nd birthday is quickly fading into history! Two weeks ago we celebrated with a fun party at home for the occasion. We had a bounce house and BBQ in the yard with friends and family. It was a great time. The kids loved the bounce house! Turns out I chose the perfect weekend, seeing as it rained the Saturday before and was 104 last weekend! I'm still trying to come to terms with fact that my baby is 2 now!! He's no longer my tiny baby boy with a fuzzy head. He has a ton of (still blond) hair and his ever sweet smile. He does his best keeping up with his brother and we're constantly amazed by what he can do. In fact, when you ask him how old he is, he says 4! He's talking a lot these days, expressing himself using full sentences. Sometimes it's hard to understand him, but we're getting better! The cutest thing is overhearing conversations between him and Dylan. He can even count to ten! He's very adventurous and tends to not look before he leaps; however he's very shy when we're out in public and lets his brother take the lead. They're turning into great friends, although they fight quite a bit too! Lukie, I adore you and can't wait to see how you grow more and more into a little boy! Happy Birthday baby boy (because you'll always be my baby)!

I returned from my trip last weekend and Rob survived on his own for a couple of days with the boys (first time, but I knew he could do it!). They went to my parents house for a couple of days as well. Once again, I think I missed them more than they missed me!

Happy Birthday Luke!

Today you are two Lukie Loo! I can't believe how much you've grown and changed over the past two years. You're a sweet little boy who brightens up our lives. I love you!

Love, Mama

The Bonk Bed

The boys have been back home for over a week, and we're back to life as usual. They had a great time in San Francisco and did very well away from home for such a long stay. I'm glad to have them home, but also enjoyed the time when they were gone with needed R&R. Anyway, last weekend we went to Ikea and bought them bunk beds (or bonk beds as Dylan says). We're trying to transition them into their own room and beds. It's going surprisingly well so far. The first week was a little hard (I was up once or twice during the night all week, usually to get Lukie back to sleep). Now when/if they wake up they just come into our room, usually in the early morning. While we're not quite there yet, we're on our way! They're also both very excited about their new beds.

We're getting ready for Luke's 2nd birthday this weekend and I still have a lot to do! Then I'm off to DC for 4 days for work. I'm already missing them!

Bittersweet

We left the boys at my parents house and returned home yesterday. I'm looking forward to the quiet down time here with Rob, but it's also really strange not having them around. Our goal is to try to tackle some home projects that remain unfinished and maybe even sleep in for a day or two. We've left them with my folks before, but we've always gone away somewhere else. It's weird to be home and not have them around. They're having fun and doing fine without us, which is reassuring (I think I may miss them more than they miss me!). I know the next couple of days will pass quickly and the chaos of our home will soon resume. I'm trying to focus on just relaxing a bit.. oh yeah, we also need to get to work around here!

All in a Day

We started the day with an AM appointment with the pediatrician for Luke. He's been tilting his head to the side since Friday. It looks odd and I was a little concerned. Seeing as how the boys will be spending the week with my parents in SF, I thought it would be good to get it checked out beforehand. I figured it could be an ear infection or even a stiff neck, but wanted our doctor to check him out. Anyway, she felt his neck and said it seemed a bit stiff, and he also had fluid in both ears (he's had a cold for over a week, so I wasn't surprised). Then she said she wanted to have him get an emergency CT scan in Sacramento"just in case." I knew what this meant since I had done an Internet search on the head tilt before our appointment. There was a chance (a small chance) that it could indicate a brain tumor. I got dizzy in the exam room when she made this recommendation as I was well aware of the reasoning she had. My mother's instinct figured he was OK and my assessment of the ear infection was probably correct, but I had to follow our trusted doc's advice (and I knew it would be a long week of worry for me if I didn't!). So instead of heading off for SF as planned, we went the opposite direction to the hospital in Sacramento. It wasn't too bad and didn't take too long. Then we made the trip to SF. Anyway, I received the call a couple of hours ago that everything looked OK on the CT. OMG the relief I felt cannot even be explained. I started to cry a bit, so happy not to hear the dreaded news that no parent could stand to hear about their child. I just hope I never have to experience those feelings ever again!

Party Time!

We just returned from Dylan & Luke's best friends' birthday party at Fairytale Town. Wow! Crazy kids - my kids ran around like monstrous children. I guess I'll chalk it up to extreme excitement because really they're usually well behaved. And yeah, all the sugar at the end of the day didn't help either. Anyway, we survived. They're headed off for a week at Sitie & Papa's so as much as I'll enjoy the break, I know I'll miss them like crazy.

Sunday Quotes

Heard in our home this morning:

Dylan: Lukie I love you.

Luke: I love you too Diddy (Dilly)!

Melts a mama's heart.
Let's see if they can remember their love throughout the day!

GOAL!

It's soccer Saturday and Dylan‘s made a 360 change. Not one tear today (and minimal whining)! He has gained confidence since his last game and he's getting out there and having fun. I'm so relieved (I was thinking soccer was a bad idea, and maybe it is still a bit soon) but I'm encouraged by the progress he's made. To top it off, towards the end of the game he even scored a goal! Yay Dilly!!

Me Have It?

Luke's latest favorite phrase has been, "Me have it?" He says it all.the.time... anytime anyone has something he wants, or he sees something he wants, especially with food. It's pretty darn cute the way he says it with the inflection of his voice on "have it". He's talking a lot these days, although we still sometimes can't understand him. I'm having a hard time believing he'll be turning two in less than a month! What happened to my babies?

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny visited us our house before we rose today. The boys awoke with glee to Easter treats. They've had an egg hunt (and were most interested in the snails they discovered) and they're all sugared up on a candy high...fun times! Happy Easter to all! Hope you enjoy the day!

Soccer Saturday

Dylan had another game today and things didn't go much better than last week. He really likes practice and doing drills with his teammates, but the aggressive nature of the game really turns him off. He hates it when the other team gets the ball away from him and especially if they make a goal. Oh well, maybe it was a little too soon for him, and maybe competitive sports just aren't his forte! We'll keep trying...going to practice is fun and if he doesn't want to play come game day, I'm not forcing the issue. Today was also picture day and I got some cute shots! Happy weekend!

Soccer Shots

Today was Dylan's first soccer game. I have to say that it's pretty hilarious watching 3-4 year-olds run around the field rather oblivious to the concept of playing a game of soccer. It's amusing until your child starts to cry because the other team has the ball and shoots a goal. "I don't like the red team. They're bad guys!" Not quite what I was hoping he'd learn from this experience. We are obviously working on teaching him that it's a game and it's meant to be fun for everyone. They get the ball, then you get a turn. We're all friends! It's fun dammit!! I think it was all just a bit overwhelming, but am hopeful that with more practices and games it will get better. At the end of it all he did say he had fun, so that's a good sign I guess...

Busy

Dylan started soccer practice last week and has his first game on Saturday. So far he's enjoying it. He runs around and is getting better at kicking and controlling the ball. The main point of the activity is to work with the other boys on his team, listen to his coach and have fun! So far, so good (although he always wants to hold the ball). Hopefully I will be able to post some photos of the game (if I can remember the camera!).

Luke is growing and changing more and more. He is definitely more challenging than Dylan was at this age and we're getting a flavor of the "terrible twos!" Luckily his tantrums are at home (so far). I think this also has to do with how we communicate with him as opposed to Dylan when he was that age. We were able to talk and explain more things to Dylan, when we just assume sometimes that Luke should just know those things (something I'm working very hard on correcting). Luke is also talking a lot more. It does help that he can communicate better with us.

Yesterday Luke was the age that Dylan was the day he was born (22 months, 11 days). It is so hard not to compare the two. I sometimes feel a bit guilty that Dylan got more undivided attention from us, but have to remind myself of all the great things Luke and Dylan have experienced by having each other. Luke has definitely made all of our lives richer - he's a special, invaluable addition to the family and I cannot imagine our lives without him. I overheard the boys in the bathroom the other day (Luke was "helping" as Dylan used the potty; he's the flusher) and Dylan said "I like you you Lukie!"...melts a mama's heart.

Cutie Pies!

It has been a very long week! Luke got really sick last week and is finally doing better; much to my relief. It started out as a cold, then he developed a rash that spread over his entire body. It got worse day by day. Several visits to the doctor and many blood tests later we could pretty much rule out a horrible bacterial infection & measles. It turned out the be a virus (the one that causes mono) that very rarely also causes this strange rash. It was a long week. Not much sleep paired with lots of worry. But in the end we are all OK - most importantly he is OK! The rash is still lingering (could last up to 8 weeks!). But he is 1000% better! Fever is gone and pretty much back to his normal ornery self! Glad to have you back Lukie Loodle. Both boys still have coughs and runny noses, but they will get better with time! Things like this make me remember how special these are guys are to me. I am so lucky to have two happy and healthy children. With the rain and illness we have been cooped up indoors watching way too many movies. I think I've seen Toy Story 2 like 300 times!! Anyway, looking forward to some sunshine and better health!

Happy Valentines Day!

Just a quick note to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day.

Here is our card for you - sorry no flowers or candy, but these two are pretty sweet! Love to you all!!

All dressed up in their V-Day gifts - Spider-Man & Batman Underoos!