CTC

Any immediate family member of mine or Bill's will not be surprised by this story. The boys and I went for Jonas' immunization and a peek at Zaky (he has a cold/ virus). After we arrived home I stayed down stairs to play with Zaky. Bill came down and took the car and Zaky to visit a family and get his first barber hair cut (pictures to follow later). Later that evening I started to question where the folder was with almost all our medical receipts and records. ON TOP OF THE CAR! Bill went out looking with the flash light but found nothing. There was still hope it could be in the car or house. This morning I went out with Zaky to buy croissants for our team meeting and look out on the road for our folder. I saw a green plastic folder that looked like it, but this one was torn to shreds, not mine. Until a few steps later I saw a receipt for Jonas' immunization. A few steps later and a doctor's order for blood labs. I walked up and down the busy road picking up trash/ bills. In relief I rummaged through one can and found my ultrasound pictures. And still more pictures were found hanging out of another bin. Darn these shop keepers and their early cleaning! Thankfully I was able to get reprints of almost all the receipts, but I don't have the heart to tell the boy's doctor I have lost their shot records. I barely have the heart to tell myself. The low point of the day came when I asked Bill to come by with the car to fish out a bag from a trash can on the main road, so I could go through it at home. So all ladies out there: fill out that shot record in the baby book as a back up!

Hamburgler

Sunday we offered to watch Big James while his parents went out for a Birthday dinner, not to McDonalds. While we made our weekly visit to the golden arches. There was a birthday party on the other side of the restaurant (I am officially a mother of two when I refer to McDonalds as a restaurant). Last time this happened I was to slow to get Zaky's picture with the Grimace, so this time I had to be quick. I quickly pulled the ketchup covered boys over to the Hamburgler and kindly asked for a picture. He was turned around, he can't see inside the costume, and posed between the boys. My brave, not afraid of anything, boy screamed and tried to get away. His supportive understanding father can be seen in the background, and his likewise supportive mother is taking the picture! The Hamburgler trying to comfort the crying kid, ever so slightly smacked the little one over the head (not his fault he couldn't see). So the temptation to have Zaky's 2nd birthday party at McDonald's is gone.

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for so much. I am so thankful for our health and the simple life that we have been abundantly blessed with.

FYI

For anyone who might want to know: pumpkin soup can be made into pumpkin pie by adding several eggs and and a can of sweetened condensed milk.
I ate most of the pie, Bill refused he said it tasted like soup!

Idle hands continued

Zaky's latest skill is opening the refrigerator. This was cute the first few times when he would say "juice" then reach in and get his own juice. This new skill has since turned into him taking grapes and coffee out of the fridge and bringing them into the living room. Most recently as I was feeding Jonas he brought out the yogurt, when I told him to put it back he did, but then followed it up with the hot sauce and syrup.

And if you notice his hair in the pictures from the pumpkin shots you may be thinking :"man, that Christy is styling that boy's hair", but you would be wrong, that boy is styling his own hair, but not with the traditional hair gel - Vaseline! These pictures were from the next day, after 3 washes!

Intro to Pumpkin 101

Sunday was Zaky's first pumpkin carving and my first time making pumpkin soup. After cutting/ cooking/ then peeling the pumpkin, Zaky then helped blend the pumpkin for the soup. Then after the blending, stirring, spicing, cleaning up after, Bill, Zaky, and myself decided we do not like pumpkin soup.

Two Cute

To Cute! Having 2 boys leaves something lacking in the dress up department, BUT aren't they cute in their first matching outfits?

And with the rain comes...

RAINBOWS!!!!
And we all broke out into song: "The Lord said to Noah, you got to build an archy-archy-- Get those animals out of the mudy-mudy -- children of the Lord"

Double Standard

We all agree that grandparents spoil there grand kids. On my mom's last visit she insisted that Zaky NEEDED to ride the little train at the entrance of the super market. I never once rode one of these things as a kid. But now I know why. Because now every time we go to the store a strong wine and pointing and cry as he says PL-THIS (please)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hang Time

Some days I start to feel bad that Zaky does not have cousins and his foreign friends to play with, but then other days I have to admit he is a very lucky boy. A few weeks ago on our way back from the embassy we stopped for lunch at a mall. Bill had scheduled a meeting afterwards, which left Zaky and I an hour + to kill. Thankfully this mall has a play area, 3$ for the hour, and you can leave your kid (I didn't no worries). I asked a friend if in America there are places where you leave your kid (which is the normal here, she informed me NO)


Over the last few weeks ALL the kids have started school. One little girl upstairs is available for play, but that is just about it. We do have time to play with kids outside in the afternoon, but with winter approaching the evenings are getting shorter and shorter. So time with Zaky's buddies is now special and sought after.

Smiling

Smiling man! Not to compare, but, Zaky didn't smile regularly until he was 7 months old. Jonas on the other hand is becoming a smiling man.

The other night Zaky had to watch Elmo on the computer because the t.v. satellite was not working. He saw me working on the computer today and in typical Zaky form, tried to get his way. When giving a little wine and calling out Elmo and Please didn't work, he tried the only other thing he knew to do - use the remote. Some mothers teach their children sign language, I have not felt the need.

Easy Piezzy

The easiest meal I "make" and host with is pizza. We had friends over Saturday night for dinner, and what did I serve them? What I serve everyone who comes over for a meal, pizza! I buy the dough from the baker down the street for 2$ a kilo, sauce from a can doctored slightly, and cheese. above is my parenting philosophy at work: it is easier to have him join in then to try to keep him away, then just throw the shirt in the wash.

Side note: our neighbors eat ketchup on their pizza, ugh. Some people must be taught mature taste, like ranch dressing.

Update

I can list all the things I stay busy with now a days, I can go on and on about how tired I am. But who really wants to hear about that. I have no great excuse why these kids grandparents and Aunts have not seen pictures of them or skyped with them in over a month. I will say this in my defense: not more then 2 1/2 hours sleep continuous at night for 2 months makes a body hurt. But back to more important things: the Boys.

Zaky: 25lbs (now maybe 22 after a night of throwing up and diarrhea, I will spare the details but he is better now) He is speaking about 5-6 new words a week. And is now says two 2 syllable words: Elmo and Apple. He is finally saying names: It helps that all our neighbors name their kids Ali and Abass.

Jonas: 10+ lbs, little chunk, can turn his head from side to side and up, has just started to smile, is only waking up 2x a night, naps regularly on schedule.

Idle hands

Since having Jonas I spend upwards of 4 hrs a day breastfeeding. What is a 19 month year old boy to do:
play with toys - usually in short increments
color - this was an option until I found a crayon in Yo's mouth, now all colors are stored away and usually forgotten about by me.
Play dough - now only keeps him busy for 2-3 min, requires me playing with him.
T.V. - primary source of entertainment (hence his vocabulary of Elmo)
letting him wander the house finding trouble - not my first choice but usually the fall back

He is learning though to clean up after himself; something I thought hilarious, he cleans up spills with his foot like us, monkey see monkey do!

Bee-sh

Bee-sh, Bee-sh, BBBBBB.... All summer our family has been enjoying the one free form of entertainment our area has to offer, the beach. We started going with friends the end of May, steadily almost every weekend through the end of September. Through July and August we would go as a family on Saturdays early morning and leave the beach by 1/2 pm (just when the locals are coming and the staff is waking up). Sunday evenings Bill and a coworker would distribute Bibles on the beach front and I would take Zaky to play in the water (followed by a bucket bath on the side of the car and dinner in the driver's seat). Zaky's progression as a beach boy was very noticeable. In May he was timid and scared of the waves, by July he would see the water and point yelling "Bee-sh, Bee-sh". His father is so impressed that he will fall over, face and all, and get right back up (Zaky's mother wines about the salt water in her eyes!)

Broders

Broders as my gramma refers to my dad and my uncle. A special pair these and those two. Our neighbors keep asking if Zaky is jealous. So far so good. Zaky loves to give his "bro" kisses and as long as we go outside to play with neighbors he is his usual some-what content self. Content though is a relative state for a year and half year old.

The many phases of Yo

Well not many. Yo basically has 3 faces. He varies between them through the day, but always chooses to cry between 6-8 every evening. The exact time I am trying to feed, bath, and put Zaky to bed. He is getting more "use" to life on the outside, the last 4 days he has only woke up 2 time during the night which is a huge answer to prayer. He is so different then Zaky: gasy and ALWAYS wants to eats. I am reminding myself to enjoy these days when he is so small, but I am loving watching him fatten up and get bigger.

Jonas' Brother

Not to be out done by a new baby brother, this story came to me the evening I was in the hospital. A main incentive for induction was the peace of mind that Zaky was taken care of and had everything in line. Our team mates came at 6:30 that morning and stayed with Zaky until the evening, when they drove him to another set of friends (Big James). He stayed with Big James until we returned from the hospital. He had a blast with his buddy and was even taken to the beach. The first set of friends that watched Zaky kept Zaky busy, so much that he didn't even appear to notice that we wern't there. These friends don't have kids. (this is where the story begins)

That afternoon Mark was watching baseball and his wife Bev was cleaning up before they were to pass Zaky off. Zaky walked up to Mark and gave him a piece of cake. Mark thanked him then started to think, "where did he get cake from?" He rubbed it between his fingers for a second before he figured out what he was given. Zaky unaccustomed to less experienced care givers, was making it clear to Mark he wanted to be changed! They searched the house for any other pieces of "cake" non were found. I died laughing!

This picture is of the boys first meeting. So far Zaky's sweet nature is coming out. He gives Yo kisses then walks away, not paying him much more attention then that. He recently discovered the pacifier and will bring it to Yo saying Baby, stick it in his mouth, then pull it out, and run away. (Little stinker!)

Gramom and Pop Pop's visit

They arrived 3 days after Yo was born and hit the ground running. In the 10 days they were here they went to the beach twice, did laundry, cooked, cleaned, did dishes, hit every play ground in a 40 mile radius, played baseball, kick ball, play-doh, colored, read books, saw Roman ruins, enforced time-outs, entertained Bill, hosted neighbors, rocked crying baby, recovered from jet lag and a stomach virus.

Two Weeks

Two weeks. But reality has just set in. The grandparents have left, and Bill must return to his work tomorrow. Egh! Scared, tired, the list of emotions flow hourly, and all while wanting to enjoy my boys with 4-5 hours sleep is challenging. Our newest little man is doing very well. He cries and eats much more then his brother. And learning how to mother a child not Zaky is very challenging, a lot of the things that worked don't, and things I didn't try are now being done in desperation (pacifier, walking in and out of rooms in the wee hours of the morning.) Zaky has been sleeping through the night for over a year and 4 months, now I am constantly asking Bill if I should wake Yo up so that he will sleep later, and if I let him sleep now does he think he will wake up later? And if he wakes up later should I feed him or make him wait the 2 hours? ect... I am doing well, I have finished some antibiotics for mastitis, and working through some other nursing mother issues, all with the help of my friends - Tylenol and Advil - great friends! Please keep all prayers coming.

Jonas (Yonas) Michael Bowers

5:30 pm/ 9:35 am CST August 23, 2010 3.4kg/ 7.5 lbs/ 20cm. Healthy, eating well, and a little cone headed.

Renaldo

The pretty boy "fottballer" soccer player. Obviously I have been forced to watch to much Champions League.

No Tomorrow is Sunday

My doctor said anytime I decide to be induced, just call him the day before. Well we decided on Sunday. Sunday so that the people taking care of Zaky wouldn't be inconvenienced on a work day. Well when I called yesterday to line everything up, he said "No, No not tomorrow, tomorrow is Sunday, Monday is better." This was not so nice for me. It gave me more time to freak out in anticipation of what is going to happen. Not just the pain, but the weight of having TWO kids! Woof, as my aunt would say.

So Monday it is. Sunday is now a cleaning day, whoo hoo (I think I would have preferred child birth.)

This is what happens when little man is in the bathroom the same time as Bill getting ready. Our little Renaldo (5 points for those of you who know who Renaldo is)

Count Down just got shorter

Well the count down that began so many months ago just got shorter (but longer feeling). Baby Yo is officially 38 weeks and 6 days today. What this means: He is cooked. But unfortunately he is behaving just like his brother, or should I say his aunt and uncle (flight attendant and pilot) he loves to be high. After talking with the Dr. Tuesday, prayer and discussion, we have decided to induce. Many factors went into this decision: heat, pain, discomfort, fatigue, foreknowledge of looming hormones, disengaged head, ect. ect. ect. We have coordinated with friends for Zaky care, and have decided on Sunday. Crazy to know in advance the date, but anyone who knows me knows I hate surprises.

Sunday we cleaned baby/ Zaky equipment, and this Saturday we will take our last single child trip to the beach. It is crazy how many pieces of Greco "stuff" can fit on one balcony.

Notice the large quantity of cookies/ chips/ and unidentified crumbs in that car seat. There were many layers and rings of spilled milk! Disgusting!

Trip to the River

Our first trip to the river this year. The river is a much more cultural experience then the beach. It is also a bit dirtier and much more conservative. Our friends love to go though, and envited us to dinner on the river. Zaky warmed up to it, or cooled down to it, the water runs from the mountains and is quite cold. We are blessed/ cursed to have a boy with little fear. He took to this slide fairly quickly: this steep/ slightly rusty, landing into deep water slide.

Side note: We did take his 10lb diaper off and put his swimming trunks on!

Time Out

He routinly goes to time out 2-3 times a day. A friend suggested if you keep it up, eventually he will understand. I am not morally apposed to spanking, but considering 90% of his time outs are because he hit me would be a little counter productive. Although he doesn't seem to be suffering here.

Cool Down

We are so thankful we have had a mild summer so far. I tell everyone where I am from (Texas) is VERY HOT, BUT everywhere you go is 75 degrees. I purposefully choose not to get an a/c for the summer. I figured it would just be more misrable to be very cool, then hot, then cool, then hot. Instead we invested in a battery fan, that works on the evenings we don't have power. Little man cools down in his new pool (gift from Gramma), and the occasional ice cream/ pop cycle. And yes, he does get his own.