Tavin is still loving to squawk, screech and squeal. Koen actually communicates with him (to my chagrin - the decibel level is a little intense). It is so sweet though to see Tavin trying to talk to Koen, just looking at him so lovingly. And Koen just loves an excuse to be loud!
Here's a video of Tavin talking and blowing bubbles and then a video of the boys talking to each other during dinner. Tavin is a mess in both of them, he gets so dirty when eating!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Matchy Melder Boys
I meant to post this a few days ago. I got some swimming shirts at Target the other day. These things are a great invention. My boys are quite white and so I like to have a shirt on them at the pool or the beach. These things are really breathable and dry fast so they are a lot more comfortable for them to wear for a long time at the pool or beach. Anyways, I got them matching ones and Koen was so excited (is it strange I had him try it on in the children's section while sitting in the cart?). Here they are on their trial run. Koen actually asked for me to take the picture. He never does that. He loves his brother so much. He was so proud to be matching with him. SO cute!!!
Melder Boys Love Melons
We had people over on Friday night. I cut up an entire cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew melon. There was about 3/4 of the honeydew left and 3/4 of the watermelon left and about half of the canteloupe left. Koen ate all of the leftover watermelon yesterday between breakfast, lunch and dinner. He also had a little of the other melons. Today he has already finished the canteloupe and has had about half of the remaining honeydew. Unbelievable!
I have this great little toy thing for Tavin where you stick food into this mesh area and can close it and the bottom is shaped like a teething toy holder. Anyways, I have been putting apple slices in there for him to gnaw on for his teething. Today I put in some of the honeydew. He loved it! He spent about 20 mins. enjoying it. Looks like Koen might have to be fighting for the melon eventually!
Here are two pictures of them enjoying the melon...
I have this great little toy thing for Tavin where you stick food into this mesh area and can close it and the bottom is shaped like a teething toy holder. Anyways, I have been putting apple slices in there for him to gnaw on for his teething. Today I put in some of the honeydew. He loved it! He spent about 20 mins. enjoying it. Looks like Koen might have to be fighting for the melon eventually!
Here are two pictures of them enjoying the melon...
Crazy Hair Day
The fun theme at Kidz Church at Northway Oakland today was "Crazy Hair Day." Doug was in charge of Koen's look. He had a tough time using gel in Koen's very fine, almost still baby-like strands. It sort of stood up. Koen was really excited about it though. Tavin has almost nothing to work with, so we didn't bother with him this week! Here are the boys all enjoying breakfast together...
Debacle Days
Sorry no posts lately. It's been a whirlwind and a mess around here!
This week I was originally planning on being in NH already, so Doug packed his schedule with work stuff. Since we were here it was nice to be a part of some of those things, but it also made for a hectic last few days together. We made it through it all up to Friday night very well, although Doug had some really late nights, which I don't think is super wise leading up to an international 2 week trip. Anyways, on Friday night my phone broke and so that made us both ill at ease as Doug was leaving the country in about 36 hours and I would be going to NH on Tuesday. So, on Saturday, Doug had another work thing from 9am-3pm. He got home a little after 4pm and went right to take care of my phone (he still hadn't packed at this point and would be leaving this morning). After Doug got to the phone place, they sent him home and told him he had to have an appointment and their earliest one was for 7:50pm. Wasted time (my nemesis)!
Finally, Doug started packing around 5pm last night. He went to grab his passport and realized that we had recently stowed it away in a safety deposit box. Yeah, past 5pm on a Saturday...the bank 1-800 number isn't even open at that hour. We called a friend that is high up in the bank organization and he tried to get Doug into the branch, but there was nothing he could do. Doug is so good about dealing about this stuff, but I just felt horrible. I was at the bank about a week ago in our box getting a copy of Tavin's birth certificate. I saw the passports! It never even crossed my mind. We were both so frazzled from being so frustrated for so many reasons the past few days. It was not a fun afternoon/evening.
Thankfully we did get a break when Doug finally had the appointment at the phone store and they were able to just exchange us a new replacement. Yay! Something good! I shouldn't say that, we have so, so much to be thankful for, but in the moment, we definitely needed something positive and that was a good one!
Last night we were able to unwind after Doug accepted the passport issue, transferred his flight to one leaving on Monday instead (after bank opens and he can get the passport) and called the other trip leaders, etc. We had our favorite, pizza date night, and got to bed earlier than we have all week.
So, now, on Sunday, we've been to church together (it was so fun to go with Doug as he usually has responsibilities, but today was able just to sit with me since it was covered because he was supposed to be gone already), he saw the missions trip team off at the airport, he's taking a nap (well, all the Melder boys are right now), and I am about to go to the grocery store. Not to mention Koen has been pretty easy today, which is a huge blessing after the emotional strain of yesterday!
PS - On top of the tense day yesterday I had to get fresh air so I took the boys to the pool by myself around lunchtime. It wasn't a bad idea, but it wasn't easy either. Not easy to feed an infant and keep an eye on a beginner swimmer, but we made it through and Koen had a blast and I felt better for the fresh air and cool water. It's the little things!!!
This week I was originally planning on being in NH already, so Doug packed his schedule with work stuff. Since we were here it was nice to be a part of some of those things, but it also made for a hectic last few days together. We made it through it all up to Friday night very well, although Doug had some really late nights, which I don't think is super wise leading up to an international 2 week trip. Anyways, on Friday night my phone broke and so that made us both ill at ease as Doug was leaving the country in about 36 hours and I would be going to NH on Tuesday. So, on Saturday, Doug had another work thing from 9am-3pm. He got home a little after 4pm and went right to take care of my phone (he still hadn't packed at this point and would be leaving this morning). After Doug got to the phone place, they sent him home and told him he had to have an appointment and their earliest one was for 7:50pm. Wasted time (my nemesis)!
Finally, Doug started packing around 5pm last night. He went to grab his passport and realized that we had recently stowed it away in a safety deposit box. Yeah, past 5pm on a Saturday...the bank 1-800 number isn't even open at that hour. We called a friend that is high up in the bank organization and he tried to get Doug into the branch, but there was nothing he could do. Doug is so good about dealing about this stuff, but I just felt horrible. I was at the bank about a week ago in our box getting a copy of Tavin's birth certificate. I saw the passports! It never even crossed my mind. We were both so frazzled from being so frustrated for so many reasons the past few days. It was not a fun afternoon/evening.
Thankfully we did get a break when Doug finally had the appointment at the phone store and they were able to just exchange us a new replacement. Yay! Something good! I shouldn't say that, we have so, so much to be thankful for, but in the moment, we definitely needed something positive and that was a good one!
Last night we were able to unwind after Doug accepted the passport issue, transferred his flight to one leaving on Monday instead (after bank opens and he can get the passport) and called the other trip leaders, etc. We had our favorite, pizza date night, and got to bed earlier than we have all week.
So, now, on Sunday, we've been to church together (it was so fun to go with Doug as he usually has responsibilities, but today was able just to sit with me since it was covered because he was supposed to be gone already), he saw the missions trip team off at the airport, he's taking a nap (well, all the Melder boys are right now), and I am about to go to the grocery store. Not to mention Koen has been pretty easy today, which is a huge blessing after the emotional strain of yesterday!
PS - On top of the tense day yesterday I had to get fresh air so I took the boys to the pool by myself around lunchtime. It wasn't a bad idea, but it wasn't easy either. Not easy to feed an infant and keep an eye on a beginner swimmer, but we made it through and Koen had a blast and I felt better for the fresh air and cool water. It's the little things!!!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
My Sweet Tavin Dale
Just a few pictures of Tavin and I loving it up before we woke Koen up for our fun day...
A Chocolatey Calamity
For Koen's birthday, Doug bought him this cute book, "Oh, Ducky, A Chocolate Calamity." It is really cute and has great illustrations for an imaginative, 3 year old boy's mind. Koen has been very interested in factories since getting really attached to the book. Well, lucky for us, soon after Koen's birthday we met some new folks at our church whom we've become fast friends with and they just happen to have a family chocolate-making business! Or, as the Dad (Mr. Mark to Koen) likes to claim...he is a Master Chocolatier! =)
So, we've been meaning to take a trip to the factory for months and today we finally did! It was such a great adventure for all of us. I, being the dark chocolate lover that I am, was totally looking forward to the opportunity, but Koen really was excited as well. I was so impressed with him throughout the excursion as he was very interested in how the chocolate and candies were being made, he stayed pretty close by me and listened and obeyed for the most part. Very encouraging as I was envisioning quite a few other scenarios (Koen going down a conveyor belt covered in chocolate perhaps? or getting locked in a cooler?). He cracks me up too. He is not a kid that just accepts any piece of candy or anything sweet. It's nice to see as a mom actually. He definitely found some favorites though...plain dark chocolate, dark chocolate over creamy chocolate and plain milk chocolate. What can I say...he's my boy!
Here are some pictures from our time in the factory. Note how intently Koen is watching our friend, Mark, make the toffee. After we left today he said, "maybe I could be a chocolate maker someday, Mommy." Music to my ears! =)
They have a retail store at the Pentagon, these chocolate molds are made for this store.
Spreading the toffee (above).
Cutting the toffee (above).
My favorite treat on the factory floor today, dark chocolate with a decorative white chocolate drizzle.
Koen, the engineer, checking out how the conveyor belt machine parts work. A chocolatier in training (or a part-time summer factory worker).
Happy Chocolate Lover!
Uh, oh...Look who found the store room!
The retail store above the factory.
Look at those wide eyes! Yum, yum, yum!
The Mommies sporting the hairnets (Koen chose not to participate in the picture...classic!).
So, we've been meaning to take a trip to the factory for months and today we finally did! It was such a great adventure for all of us. I, being the dark chocolate lover that I am, was totally looking forward to the opportunity, but Koen really was excited as well. I was so impressed with him throughout the excursion as he was very interested in how the chocolate and candies were being made, he stayed pretty close by me and listened and obeyed for the most part. Very encouraging as I was envisioning quite a few other scenarios (Koen going down a conveyor belt covered in chocolate perhaps? or getting locked in a cooler?). He cracks me up too. He is not a kid that just accepts any piece of candy or anything sweet. It's nice to see as a mom actually. He definitely found some favorites though...plain dark chocolate, dark chocolate over creamy chocolate and plain milk chocolate. What can I say...he's my boy!
Here are some pictures from our time in the factory. Note how intently Koen is watching our friend, Mark, make the toffee. After we left today he said, "maybe I could be a chocolate maker someday, Mommy." Music to my ears! =)
They have a retail store at the Pentagon, these chocolate molds are made for this store.
Spreading the toffee (above).
Cutting the toffee (above).
My favorite treat on the factory floor today, dark chocolate with a decorative white chocolate drizzle.
Koen, the engineer, checking out how the conveyor belt machine parts work. A chocolatier in training (or a part-time summer factory worker).
Happy Chocolate Lover!
Uh, oh...Look who found the store room!
The retail store above the factory.
Look at those wide eyes! Yum, yum, yum! 
The Mommies sporting the hairnets (Koen chose not to participate in the picture...classic!).Doug had coached Koen last night to ask Mr. Mark for chocolate peanut butter chocolates. Koen made his Daddy proud. He went right up to him and asked accordingly. So cute!
After our visit to the factory, we headed to Chik-fil-A with our friends. It is so much easier caring for two when you have friends around! Koen again did surprisingly well (at first it seemed we were heading towards meltdown, but after some real food he was very pleasant...can't blame the kid for that!).
I decided to squeeze in a few errands on our way home since I knew Tavin's schedule was already so messed up and Koen can usually handle an odd day every once in awhile. We got gas and went to Target and got home later than Koen's usual naptime, so I did deal with the consequences, but we got through the meltdown relatively quickly. It seems to help when I have low expectations and I don't really make a big deal about it. I knew he was tired, so I just dealt with it and it turned out fine. Koen had to be woken up at 5:40pm tonight. I guess he was tired!
I decided to squeeze in a few errands on our way home since I knew Tavin's schedule was already so messed up and Koen can usually handle an odd day every once in awhile. We got gas and went to Target and got home later than Koen's usual naptime, so I did deal with the consequences, but we got through the meltdown relatively quickly. It seems to help when I have low expectations and I don't really make a big deal about it. I knew he was tired, so I just dealt with it and it turned out fine. Koen had to be woken up at 5:40pm tonight. I guess he was tired!Tavin didn't fare so well, but that's OK. I kind of figured that would happen. He screamed through the late afternoon nap I attempted to try and have him take. So, after trying to comfort him with a visit and then letting him struggle a little more I rescued him. I took him down to my bed and we just laid there and I was thinking he would be all tired and want to cuddle. Not so much! It must have been all that time in the car seat. He was ready to play. It was hilarious. 75% of that time he had a sock in his mouth, it is the cutest and funniest thing with him, it seems to be a great teether for him and it looks hilarious! He wanted to practice sitting up and play with toys and of course, chew the sock. So, I let him. I laid there and relaxed and watched some Friends episodes and he did his thing. It was actually a nice change. We did that for an hour! At 5pm I fed him and then he went downhill fast with very little napping in except a few catnaps throughout the day in the car.
Both boys are now in bed sleeping. I had a nice evening taking care of the garden and plants after laying Tavin down and while Doug took care of Koen's last few pieces of his day. Now, Doug and I are multi-tasking on our computers with a movie on in the background and the sun is setting. It's been a good day.
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