So Close to Crawling!!

Penn has progressed from enjoying tummy time finally (last month) to a fantastic spinning/moving backwards technique on his tummy (past few weeks) to now getting up on his knees and rocking a little before going back to his tummy.  He is oh-so-close to crawling!  Here's the pics I snapped to prove it.

And then, oops, I got a super cute closeup of his adorable face.  I love you, Penn!!

Me & The Little Guys Again

Koen's school has a tradition of an overnight camping trip for the K-5th grade every year.  Since we are new Kindergarten parents, this was quite a surprise (and honestly, a little bit of an annoyance too).  The school has been doing this for 20 years and supposedly it's a great time for the kids and families (Kindergartners and 1st-graders have parents attend, and most parents attend with their kids even after that).  Well, anyways, Thursday/Friday this week is this special school outing.  Koen, of course, was super pumped.  Doug was, well, being a good sport.  They took off this morning and will be gone until tomorrow afternoon.  I've received some updates today.  Here's the happy Melder boys on their voyage out to "camp." 

While they were driving out to Somerset County, Tavin, Penn and I were at Tav's speech therapy.  Tavin loves his speech therapist through the Pittsburgh Public School's early intervention program.  She is a sweetheart and so good with his age group.  Every week she has an activity ready for him that engages him wile they work on his speech issues.  They also do a lot of little things week after week to build on his new skills.  I LOVE her.  I wish we got to stay with her until Tav is through this program, but we only get her a few more weeks until the school year ends.  =(  Here's Tavin being a butterfly fluttering his colorful wings after they read, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar."

Penn loved the show (and he loved playing with my house keys), he's a pretty happy speech therapy by-stander.

The little guys and I had a great morning out and about on foot (no car and lots of errands to do plus nice weather).  We viewed a demolition project near Bakery Square and let Penn take a long nap in the stroller by just walking around for awhile and then stopping at a playground for Tav to get some energy out.  While there, we received an update from Doug.  Koen loved the exploratory creek walk.

I got the little guys home around noon and we had lunch and then got through the naptime routine.  I had a friend visit during naptime this afternoon and then it was pretty much time for the little guys to get through dinner.  I decided to feed Tav early with Penn so that we could get back outside (hoping the rain would hold off so we could get some fresh air).  Here's Tav enjoying his dinner.  I love that smile!

So, we did end up getting out before the next batch of rain and storms came.  Unfortunately, we did not get home before the storm though.  Oops!  We went to the new Aldi and loaded up on groceries and were just pulling into the playground for Tav to play diggers in the fresh new mulch (he was so excited!) and the thunder rumbled and then the big, heavy drops came and then it was an ultimate downpour and full-on thunderstorm.  Yep.  So, cue crazy urban momma running full-speed uphill with 2 kids and a stroller full of groceries.  Penn was frozen in confusion and Tav was giggling.  My heart was rushing wanting to get my babies home before lightning struck us and our steel-framed stroller!  Thankfully we made it safe and sound (and SOAKED!).  I carried everything up on the porch and then got things inside and the boys upstairs to dry off.  I didn't want to give them a bath since it was still lightning, so we just headed upstairs to air dry and play for a little while before bedtime.  Of course, photo opp!

Well, turns out it was a pretty fun night with my little guys.  We missed Koen and Daddy, but we had fun ourselves for sure.  We sent this pic to Doug to say goodnight.  Hopefully all is going OK at "camp!"

More Grampa Fun

Yesterday was my dad's last full day here with us.  It was such a blessing he was able to spend this time with us.  The boys adore him (well, Penn is still warming up to anyone other than myself, Doug and children).  I miss him so much when he's not around that a few days of just being around each other feels like home.  Not to mention he comes in very handy for a few fix-it projects here and there. =)  Tavin randomly remembered that Koen's toy crane broke about a month ago and that I had said, "you'll have to show it to Grampa" since I couldn't fix it msyelf.  It was as if Tav had an epiphany.  He was so excited and scampered right upstairs and back down with it spouting about 10 words a second.  It was adorable.  Grampa saved the day and did fix it (after literally completely dismantling it and working with it for about 2 hours! - labor of love!).

While Grampa repaired the crane, Penn took a nap and Tavin and I enjoyed some rare one-on-one time.  We walked to the library and Whole Foods, crammed the stroller full of groceries and books and enjoyed the fresh air and time together.  When we got back we hung out at the house and had lunch. After lunch we were all itching to get out of the AC and into the fresh (HOT) air again, so we took a walk to witness the demolition of a building nearby.  Dad helped me figure out the wagon roof for the first time.  It worked so well to keep the boys shaded (and not needing sunscreen for our quick outing).  Grampa and his youngest grandsons all ready to go see some diggers...

Tav was so excited to see the digger working with its claw.  He was imitating its motions with his arms and hands (and of course making noises with his mouth).  It was a pretty impressive work site with the digger just grabbing scrap metal and shoving it into a dumpster repeatedly.  A 3 year old boy's dream.

Tav climbed up the embankment to sit in the shade with Grampa.  Note his hand on Dad's leg.  Tavin was so lovely with Grampa this time.  He's a total fan.  Love it!

After the hot walk I got the little guys cleaned up and to nap at their regular times.  Tuesdays is a long day for Koen at school, so he doesn't get home until 3:30pm.  Dad and I enjoyed a little quiet before he returned, but unfortunately right around that same time we got some annoying excitement.  Doug had to stop off at home to pick a few things up for an evening engagement.  When he went back to jump in the car it wouldn't start.  It was great having Dad (who is an engineer professionally and at his very core) here to troubleshoot a few options, but the inevitable truth was that it was a computer issue and we would have to get a tow to a mechanic.  Doug had to leave for his meeting (and one of our awesome neighbors lent us their car!), so Dad hung out in the heat waiting for the tow truck and then made sure the van got up on the flatbad with no issue.  It was so great to have an extra adult around.  I got to take the boys to a friend's backyard and let them play in the baby pool while Dad and Doug dealt with all the drama.  What a gift!  Thanks, Daddy!  Due to all of this, we were late through the whole bedtime routine and while I laid Penn down, Grampa read the big boys a story.  I just love seeing my boys snuggled up next to my Daddy!

Grampa left this morning a little after 8am.  All 3 boys got to see him off.  It's always so hard to say goodbye, but we are all already looking forward to our trip to NH in August (oh how I wish it wasn't 2 months away!).  Our day was low key after Dad left, Koen left for school and Tav and Penn did our normal stay-at-home thing.  We did head out before lunch for a walk to see diggers.  The demolition site was on their lunch break, but thankfully we did find some action on another street with some gas lines being replaced (thanks, Pittsburgh, always something!).  We stopped to take a picture to send to Grampa to let him know we were thinking of him and wishing he was with us again.

Daddy, thanks for stopping here for a few days on your trip home from Ohio.  We have come to count on this May visit and it's always such a wonderful time with you and the boys.  We love you and miss you already!

Grampa Fun

Koen and Tavin are just beside themselves with Grampa here.  Penn is still deciding if he's going to warm up to him or not.  I mean, he will smile at him from my arms, but if Grampa tries to hold him he immediately turns serious and nervous.  We are hoping he braves out those loving arms before Grampa heads back for home.  

This morning Tavin was following Grampa around before he even got to finish his coffee.  You can see Penn is just checking out how proud his big bro is to be with Grampa.

Now Penn smiles for the camera.

And look at this...Penn is cautiously touching Grampa's hand.  Pretty sweet!

Grampa and Tavin played outside in the early AM before it got hot and they also took a little walk and found some diggers working in the neighborhood.  When Koen got home later and after we all had lunch, we all went out to see the construction site progress.  Here's a picture of Grampa and his 3 grandsons on our way home.

Tonight we had a family date.  Me and all the boys...my dad, my husband and my boys.  Pretty great date!  We enjoyed the fresh air and ate outdoors at Hofbrauhaus.  I had to help Tavin with something and look who was happy in Grampa's arms!

After we finished our meal, we went for a short scooter walk by the river.  Just our luck, there was a digger project going on right at the river walk.  

I had Doug take a picture of me and my Daddy.  I'm so happy he's here!

Dinosaur Petting Zoo

This weekend was the International Children's Festival here in Pittsburgh.  Unfortunately, we weren't able to make it to any of the events until today.  Doug received tickets to the Dinosaur Petting Zoo show.  It was an Australian group that had life-like dinosaur puppets.  Doug said that when they introduced them you knew they were puppets, but once they started moving around and acting you forgot because they looked so real.  Oh, and perhaps the best part of the show?  Grampa got to go!  He's in town just for a few quick days on his way home from a conference in Ohio.  The boys were thrilled to have him arrive this afternoon and so excited to snuggle up to him at the show.

Here are some of the smaller dinosaurs...

And everyone's favorite (especially Tav's), the T-Rex.

Apparently he came down into the crowd and the way to fend him off was to "roar" super loud.  Clearly the boys were not interested in a visit from the huge, life-like T-Rex so here they are roaring their loudest!!

A fun way to start Grampa's visit and a really nice way for Doug to end a super busy work weekend.  I love my boys...Douglas, Koen, Tavin, Penn and Grampa too. =)

More Random Catch Up

The cycle of illness and busyness of the regular day-to-day activities have left me camera shy and just distracted from my normal snapping and recording of our daily adventures.  Here's a review of what I did capture from Friday and Saturday.

Friday, Tavin was a mess.  We dropped Koen off at school and then went to speech therapy at Children's Hospital, but the poor child was coughing so badly and projectile snotting so heavily that his therapist suggested we go home as she felt bad forcing him to work amidst his effort to breathe.  Cue me feeling guilty for bringing him.  How was I to know he was going to have a coughing fit the whole time (or that he had a fever again)??  Poor Tav!  Penn was along since Doug had to forfeit his day off for an all-day meeting.  Penn was farther along the recovery route.  He had fun at the abridged speech therapy session (he ate his book...a favorite activity he likes to sneak in when I'm not looking).

Saturday Tavin was miraculously feeling so much better (and thankfully his snot was under control, I think I could've literally bottled a gallon of it on Friday).  He went out with Doug and Koen for a bike ride/errand run.  He was super excited that they had to stop at the deli counter.  Yay, Tav is back!

Penn stayed home with me and had a blast "re-organizing" the tupperware lids while I cleaned the kitchen.  He was so happy he hung out there for 30 minutes and I moved him before he even complained.

It was a preaching weekend, so after 10:30am, Doug was off to work and it was Mommy time.  We had a really nice day even though we missed the usual time with Doug.  In the evening we went to the playground for some post-dinner/pre-bathtime play.  Here's my attempt to get a picture of all 3 boys.  Oh well, maybe next time!

Penn loved being on the slide with his brothers (he would go down with Koen, it was so sweet!).  But when the big bros bored of sitting around on baby slides, Penn hung out on the playground equipment himself.  He was so happy just to be sitting there watching all the kids playing and feeling so proud.  I love this face.

Koen developed a fun new game.  He balanced and jumped from one wood bench to the next.  It kept him busy for awhile and was great exercise.  I was so excited I caught a pic of him in flight!

Well, that's it.  It's Sunday and no pics yet.  My dad (Grampa) just arrived this afternoon though for a few days, so stay tuned for some more timely blog posts (I hope!).

Random Catch-Up

I feel guilty sometimes when I'm so demotivated to blog.  The days just fly around here.  I think it's partly because of speech therapy three times a week for Tav on top of Koen being at school 5 days a week.  And then there's all the snot lately.  I'm mopping that up most of each day.  Koen bounced back quite well after the weekend illness, but Tavin and Penn are still struggling. Penn especially is a mess.  So, amidst the snot, constant coughing (and even some gagging) and then the running around to all these appointments, here are a few pictures/videos from recent days.

Koen's handsome haircut (actually from Friday afternoon).

Tavin working on a new Play-doh project.  James (the enging from Thomas the Tank Engine) is the bad guy and he's burying him in mucky mud and he's oh, so happy about it!

Last night I had to go out after I laid Penn down.  Usually I would have laid Tav down too as he still goes down around 7pm, but we ran behind on dinner and so Doug took over on the bedtime responsibilities for Tav.  Tav was so unhappy about it.  I mean crazy sobs.  I felt so guilty, but had to go.  Doug knew that my heart strings were tugging so they sent me this picture to make me feel confident that he had it under control.  

Today Penn was the sad one.  He's a mess.  He has an eczema-type (I think) rash all over his chest that itches like crazy, then he has a crazy diaper rash too.  Not to mention all the drainage down his face.  The poor thing has little appetite.  He's learned to shake his head "no" to make me stop trying to force him to eat his solids.  Poor little guy (but he's still so cute!).

The sweetheart is such a good sport that after I stopped attempting to feed him his peas, he grabbed his washcloth and started playing peek-a-boo.  What a trooper!

Hopefully I'll get back into my blogging routine.  I miss it and I miss sharing more with all of you.  See you soon!