All About Elsa, Henry, & Olin

We've Moved!

2011-08-13T18:29:00.000-07:00

Our new blog: www.wetzlercircus.wordpress.com.

Blogger quit on me - I can't seem to type and load pictures together anymore. After a month of trying again and again I decided to make the switch.

Hope you follow us there! Thanks!

Summer Days

2011-08-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

food tastes so much better when it comes from your brother's tray

tired girl from a big day of summer fun

we had a farewell party for Miriam - she's leaving us on Tuesday
the boys love the balloons the most

as you can probably tell, the blog still isn't cooperating...hopefully it will be fixed soon

Point No Point

2011-07-29T08:26:00.000-07:00

Blogger has been causing me problems lately. Either I'm not able to type or the typing works but it won't post. Brian found a temporary solution, but I may have to change to a different format soon. Bummer. Considering the blog has been an account of our life since Elsa was born, I'm really hoping I can get this one fixed...

Just Another Day...

2011-07-21T09:54:00.000-07:00

Grand Old Fourth 2011

2011-07-07T06:55:00.000-07:00

Rock and Roll, Baby

2011-06-25T17:24:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling on top of the world today.

It's hard to believe that 1 year ago I was having twins. In December I set three goals: (1) lose 25 pounds, (2) run a 5K, and (3) run the Seattle Rock and Roll half marathon. Today I can say proudly that I've accomplished all three.

In no way would I say that the 13.1 miles was easy but I definitely didn't feel like I was going to drop afterwards. I held my 10-minute mile pace almost the entire time - my average throughout the whole race was 10.o3 minutes/mile - and I had enough in me to made a final surge toward the finish line.

My final time was 2 hours, 11 minutes, 28 seconds. My pace was a bit faster at the beginning (9 1/2 minute miles) than the middle (10 1/2 minute miles); my miles at the end kind of evened out (10 minute miles). To see those 9 minute splits was pretty thrilling for me! Overall, I placed 6591 out of 17083.

My cheering squad kept me going. Amy met me at mile 8 as I was going along Lake Washington Blvd. Brian, Elsa, Henry, Olin, my Mom, and Dad met me at mile 12.5. The excitement was too much for Henry as you can see from the picture above.

One of the most moving moments during the race - besides finishing, of course - was at mile 7. For about 1/2 mile a row of people were lined up holding American flags to show support for a group of racers whose husbands had been lost in the Iraq & Afganistan wars. To see the flags all lined up was enough, but it got me thinking how supported, loved, lucky and blessed I am. Nothing like a bit of crying to give you some motivation to keep going!

Go #29340!

More Party Pictures

2011-06-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

I love this picture. It's almost like you can see Olin thinking, "that guy is crazy!"

Henry put on quite a performance for the crowd. He dug right in with two hands - typical Henry eating style.

Here I am trying to get Olin to taste some frosting off of my finger. He eventually took one tiny bite and that was enough for him.

Happy times on the deck during the party. You can see their "Hello My Name is Baby A/Baby B" shirts - so cute!

First Birthday Celebration

2011-06-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we had a big one year celebration with friends and family. We did all the usual "first birthday" events with the boys (cake, presents, etc) but the overall theme of the party was to honor all of those people who helped us get through this year. We just couldn't have done it without the support of so many people.

Olin sporting his "Hello My Name is Baby B" shirt

Cake, cake, and more cake!

As predicted, the cake event showed off the very different personalities of our boys. Henry dug right in - the messier, the better. Olin just watched for a while. Eventually, he had one bite - and that was after I had assisted him with some tastings of frosting.

Unwrapping presents was a fun time!

I was pretty proud of the food for the party. I made a few dishes (fruit platter, quinoa salad) but I also ordered some delicious food from a local catering company. Yum!

Quote of the Day

2011-06-13T17:09:00.000-07:00

"Henry..." Elsa said, "don't worry, you'll get a lollipop soon... when you grow into a person."

My mom always reminds me to write these things down. I can't say I've remembered to record all the good ones, but I'm trying. 3 year olds are pretty hilarious!

This picture sums up our life perfectly...

2011-05-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

11 Months

2011-05-25T07:05:00.000-07:00

May is a crazy month. The only month that comes close is August in terms of busy-ness. So it's no wonder that I completely forgot to take an 11 month picture of the boys or really mark the occasion at all. Well, plus is happened on my birthday!

The boys are so silly these days. The love to laugh at their crazy sister. While they're not quite crawling, they are scooting all over the place and really can't be trusted anymore. We're working on starting the transition from bottle to sippy cup. Both love to eat solid food. Olin still has intense stranger anxiety - he starts crying when someone he doesn't know just looks at him. And then Henry starts. I feel bad for the person (after all, when it happens they've usually just made a nice comment about the boys) but I know it's something I'll look back on and laugh about one day.

My half marathon training cheering squad

Mother's Day Tea

2011-05-06T06:55:00.000-07:00

Elsa's preschool held a Mother's Day Tea on Wednesday. The kids "secretly" decorated the preschool with flowers, handmade decorations, and party hats (what's a party without party hats?). They even made strawberry shortcake with Teacher Ellen's help - yes, I ate it even though strawberries are pretty low on my list - I had to be a good role model right?!
I know the cynics all say that Mother's Day is just another Hallmark holiday...but I sure did feel special and so proud to be a mom.

Peekaboo

2011-04-25T07:37:00.000-07:00

I see you!

10 months old on 4.20.11

Time goes by fast. The boys aren't crawling yet but are getting close. I like to blame it on their massive weights - they both weigh 24 1/2 pounds (Elsa weighed that at 18 months) - that's a lot to haul around. No...I know it's just because they're individuals but I'm getting anxious... plus, my back is hurting from carrying these guys around all day!
The boys continue to be opposites in every way. For example...when playing with toys, Olin likes to pound on the toy like a drum while Henry likes to throw the toy and watch where it goes.
Olin is doing much better with eating. He's relying less on people feeding him and putting in some of the effort himself. Henry continues to use his hands as little shovels. He has quite the pallet, enjoying basil and herb couscous the other day!
Henry has 4 teeth - 2 on the bottom and 2 on the top (but not where you think they might be). Olin has so many I've actually stopped counting, but he pretty much has all the teeth in the front of his mouth.
Both boys are sleeping through the night for the most part. Henry occassionally requests a bottle before we go to bed.
It seems like I can see changes every day these days.

Easter Memories

2011-04-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't get a single picture from our Easter weekend egg-stravaganza...but our resident photographer, Miriam, did! The day before Easter was absolutely beautiful - sunny, warm (well, low 60s), and full of egg hunts for the little ones. We managed to make it to the egg hunt at Strawberry Hill park. The hunt was really well organized and had different hunting areas for each age group. The boys got a few treasures from the 0-2 group and Elsa filled her basket with goodies from the 3-4 area. A good time was had by all!

We then enjoyed a relaxing Easter with Brian's family (minus Brian) on the actual day. Elsa enjoyed another egg hunt in our neighborhood with friends, too. I don't think there's a day that goes by that I don't feel so grateful and happy to be living on Bainbridge Island - especially in our neighborhood. It's the best.

Olin and the monkey on his basket look pretty similar, don't you think?

A good family photo is virtually impossible these days

Happy Easter!

2011-04-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

Neighborhood Egg Hunt

2011-04-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

There are so many kids between the ages of 2 and 4 in our neighborhood. I thought it'd be fun to get everyone together for a good old-fashioned egg hunt on our community playground. Every family brought a certain number of filled eggs for each of the hunters, we hid the eggs all around the playground, and then let the kiddos loose! They had a blast! Olin and Henry didn't participate this year, but they had fun too!

Pictures and Updates

2011-04-06T11:49:00.000-07:00

Henry and Olin are starting to interact more and more with one another. So cute.

Elsa is officially diaper free! She's been using the potty during the day for a while now, but we were still having her use pull-ups at night - we just couldn't handle any more interruptions at night. She started expressing a lot of interest in wearing undies at night...so we went for it. Here she is with her "no more diapers" treat!

Henry is pretty hilarious these days. He loves to be the center of attention! He's just about crawling and absolutely loves food - he'll eat anything you put in front of him. While his reflux hasn't completely gone away, it's finally getting better. And, boy, does he loves to laugh.

Olin continues to be very mellow and super sensitive. I've never seen a kid with such intense stranger anxiety. On the flip side, he's the most cuddly guy when he knows you. Olin doesn't have much motivation to crawl or put food in his own mouth (did I mention how mellow this guy is?) but he sure is a sweetheart.

All About...Me

2011-03-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

Three months ago I made some personal health goals so that I could start feeling better about myself. I met with a fitness consultant at my gym who took some measurements and wrote notes on my abilities to do a variety of strength/stability exercises. Then I scheduled a follow-up visit for 3 months later to see my progress. I figured this would hold me somewhat accountable.

My initial goal (for the 3 month mark) was to lose 20 pounds and complete a 5K (run the whole thing but time didn't matter).

Drum roll please...............

I've lost:

-23 pounds total

-6% body fat

-4 inches off my waist

-2.5 inches off my hips

She also had me do lots of different exercises to see the change in my ability levels. I was basically able to double my wall sit time, push ups, crunches, and flexibility tests. And there were a few exercises that I couldn't even do the first time and didn't even break a sweat this time - standing on a bosu ball and alternating legs, for example.

I actually started crying when the fitness consultant said that my changes (both in weight loss and improvement in strength/stability) go down in the books for being some of the best she's seen in a 3-month period.

I wouldn't say the last 3 months have been easy; but they haven't been torture either. I've made some changes to my lifestyle that have really helped:

-joined our local gym and made it a point to get there at least 3 times a week

-met with a personal trainer a couple times a month

-wrote down what I ate every day with Weight Watchers

-planned our dinner menus and shopped for the week so that I wouldn't fall back on take-out or something equally unhealthy

-found a love in my crockpot - so many healthy crockpot recipes out there! You can't fall to take-out when your meal is already ready at the end of the day :)

-and, yes, cheated every once in a while, too!

A big shout out to Brian who has been so supportive and has basically encouraged me to go to the gym whenever I wanted/needed to. It's been so helpful to have Miriam, too - I could work out with no guilt (or little guilt, let's be honest...) or worry.

What's next for me? My half marathon training starts tomorrow. I'm planning to do the Rock and Roll half marathon in June - anyone want to come cheer me on? My ultimate goal is to complete an Olympic distance triathlon sometime next year. My gym has an awesome "Train to Tri" program that I'll probably start after the half.

One downside. Did I mention how expensive losing weight is? Ugh. But it's all worth it!

Chunky Monkeys

2011-03-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

The boys had their 9 month check up today. The visit went as predicted - Olin (aka Mr. Sensitive) cried the whole time and gave the nurse and doctor a run for their money with every test. Henry, on the other hand, seemed to love every minute of it. From getting his head measured to having his tummy squished...it was all good with him.

Although the boys weren't quite as heavy as I thought, they are still pretty high up there on the growth charts:

Henry weighed in at about 22 1/2 pounds (88th percentile)
Olin weighed in at 23 1/2 pounds (95th percentile)

Both boys are now 31 inches long (99th percentile)

The only safe place for the 9 month sign was behind the boys where they couldn't see it

Trip to Arizona

2011-03-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

It seems like ages ago when we booked the tickets to Arizona. I bought the tickets back when the boys were just a few months old...now they're almost 9 months! All in all, the trip was a success. We enjoyed five days of 85 degree sunshine and lots of swimming, tennis, and golf. The kids were pretty good, too. A few notes about each kiddo (mostly for us to look back on someday) below...

Future heartbreakers

Henry was a superstar on the plane ride down. The way back was a different story - lots of screeching and screaming. Except for the nights, he did great during our stay. Henry pretty much rolled with the punches. He didn't care who held him, fed him, etc. He loved to be at the center of everything. He's quite the social guy!

Mr. "O" was a superstar on the ride down and back. He's developed major stranger anxiety though. It took him a good 2 days to let my mom get anywhere near him. Once he settled in though, it was back to the super mellow guy we all know and love.

It was so great to have Miriam with us on the trip. The plane rides would not have been possible without her. She also gave my parents a hand with the kids so that Brian and I could have some pool and golf time.

We had some other GREAT news last week. Brian was offered a job with Airlift Northwest (contracted through Aero Air). He will be flying a Lear jet out of Boeing Field and sometimes Juneau, taking critically ill patients back to Harborview from smaller areas around the Northwest. This is amazing news for our family. We will now have a "schedule" (or the closest thing to a schedule in the aviation world) - Brian will work 7 days on, 7 nights on, 7 on-call days, and 7 days off. It will be a tough adjustment, but worth it.

The other perks? Benefits for our family, better pay, and the satisfaction of doing something that he loves and helping others who really need it. He starts at the end of April.

Giggles All Around

2011-03-06T18:59:00.000-08:00

There's nothing that warms a mother's heart more than hearing your kids laugh.

It's a Beautiful Day in our Neighborhood...

2011-03-05T17:35:00.001-08:00

Survival of the Fittest

2011-02-28T08:48:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it. I survived a whole week (minus one day) without Brian or Miriam.

I wouldn't say it was easy. And I definitely wouldn't call myself a SuperMom or anything. Truth be told, I let a lot of things slide this week; but I also overcame a few obstacles. All in all, I'm feeling pretty proud of myself.

Some of my "lows" (or just survival techniques?):
*letting Elsa watch an extra show during her brother's morning nap so that I could have a break. TV = babysitter?

*turning the monitor OFF in my room at night. I left the monitor on in the kitchen in case Henry was really screaming bloody murder... which he did sometimes ... but at least it gave me some much needed rest.

Some of my "highs":
*making it to the gym 3 days this week. One time I even hauled everyone to the child care center at the gym! Elsa and Henry did great; Olin cried off an on the whole time. It was a major feat just getting everyone fed, diapered, bundled up, and rested at the right time to maximize my chance of getting an actual workout in. I was exhausted before I even got there!

*most days I was able to get all 3 kids down for second nap together. Granted, Henry only takes 30 minute naps, so I didn't have time to actually get anything done or take a nap, but it was a nice, quiet 30 minutes to myself nonetheless...

I'm so glad to have the week behind me. I am so thankful for all the help I got from family and friends, too. Another minor miracle is that I didn't gain any weight this week either. I also didn't really lose any - but I'm holding steady at my 16 pound weight loss so far. Feeling good!

And off we go...

8 Months Old

2011-02-21T10:57:00.000-08:00

3 Year Stats

2011-02-18T09:08:00.000-08:00

It's still strange to say that I have a 3 year old. I remember when Elsa was 3 weeks old and our doctor told me to just hang on until the 3-year mark - that things got much easier then. And you know what? It's true!

That's not to say that a 3-year old is easy...just easier. Case in point: since 6 months old, a doctor visit has always been a source of trauma and drama for Elsa (and us). The moment we would set foot into a doctor's office Elsa would start protesting with screams, cries, etc.

But this visit was different! Yay! She was a total superstar and the nurses and doctor raved about her polite behavior, willingness to go along with all of the procedures, and (of course) chatting it up with everyone. I was so incredibly proud of her when we left.

Her stats continue to reflect the fact that she is Brian's mini me:

Height: 39 inches (90th percentile)
Weight: 35 pounds (75% percentile)

3 under 3 no longer...

2011-02-10T19:11:00.000-08:00

Our little buzz, Elsa, officially turned 3 today! She ended up having 3 celebrations (how fitting...): a big party with family a couple weeks ago, dinner out at Red Robin with Mommy and Daddy last night, and an impromptu party with Miriam and her brothers today (Brian and I both had to work). Seriously...how did we get so lucky to have an au pair that throws a spur-of-the-moment birthday party for our daughter in the middle of the day complete with birthday hats, a birthday sign, and a cupcake? Our kids are in such good hands!

It's good to be 3!

The birthday girl's fan club

Gotta love the drool - Olin has 3 teeth now (2 on the bottom, 1 on top)

All tuckered out after the party

It's Great to Be...Three!

2011-01-31T13:37:00.000-08:00

Elsa officially turns 3 on February 10th but we celebrated early this year due to everyone's crazy schedules. To keep things "simple" we just had family over on a Friday night - pizza, cake... you know, the basics. The nice thing about having an evening party is that Henry and Olin go to bed at 6pm, so all eyes could be on Elsa during the party.

And that's just how she likes it.

The party was a pirate theme. Safeway did an amazing job at making the perfect cake for a three year old (complete with gobs and gobs of sickeningly sweet frosting).

Tiver me Shimbers! (Elsa's pirate talk)

Uncle Bryce brought some dry ice to the party. It was great entertainment for little kids and "big" kids alike!

Toddler in Training?

2011-01-22T07:45:00.000-08:00

Elsa continues to amaze us with her outgoing personality, wild imagination, and...umm...."leadership" skills (aka bossiness). These traits were confirmed at her recent parent/teacher conference.

This morning she came down to us at her normal 6:30am. She proudly reported that Henry had been crying so she found his monkey plug in her room, brought it into him, told him to "calm down buddy", and shushed him until he went back to sleep. Although the monitor was turned off (due to a crying episode a few hours earlier), we chalked Elsa's tale up to yet another one of her clever stories...

until we went to get the boys up for the day at 7am. And there was Henry with his monkey plug in his mouth happy as can be. What preschooler does that?!

Other fun and not-so-fun milestones we are seeing from Elsa right now:
fears of the dark
imagination play (birthday parties for her animals, for example)
trying to color objects on a page instead of just scribbling
jumping on one foot
telling jokes (including her fav new phrase: "I'm just kidding")

Babies in the Bath

2011-01-16T17:48:00.000-08:00

What's cuter than one baby in a bathtub?

Two!

Our bath routine has gotten significantly easier now that the boys can sit up in the tub - no more obnoxious baby tub to fill, clean, and dry! Woohoo! Another first? the boys are really becoming interested in each other and the toys in the tub. They are starting to entertain each other which is so fun to watch.

Happy Henry!

Splashy Olin

It's all fun and games until someone pukes in the tub...

Good Times at Lake Wenatchee

2011-01-09T18:56:00.000-08:00

I wasn't sure we'd make it up to my parent's "cabin" at Lake Wenatchee this year - the thought of packing (and unpacking) for 2 adults, 1 preschooler, and 2 babies and dealing with 3 kiddos out of their routines just didn't sound all that appealing to me.

Much to our surprise, Brian's parents offered to watch the boys while we enjoyed a vacation just the 4 of us (Miriam too!). And what a wonderful 3 days/2 nights we had! Since we knew the boys were in excellent hands, we could really kick back and enjoy ourselves. It was remarkable how much easier Elsa has gotten on vacation, too. She was able to entertain herself for stretches so that Brian and I could enjoy ourselves by reading magazines, watching football, etc.

Of course, we enjoyed the usual fun things to do at Lake Wenatchee as well...

We took Miriam to Leavenworth - she got a kick out of the Bavarian decor. (Fun fact - did you know that Germans do not typically put sauerkraut on their bratwurst?)

Playing in the snow!

Elsa really enjoyed sledding this year. She had a huge smile on her face every time she whizzed down the hill with Brian.

Having fun at the cabin!

Farewell 2010...

2010-12-31T14:50:00.000-08:00

2010 was the most momentous year yet for us. It will be hard to beat. From learning that we will be parents to three under three, to selling AND buying a house, to a big family wedding, to the birth of the boys the next day (and a stay in the ISCU), to the arrival of our au pair... not to mention many "firsts" for all of our kids - there are so many reasons to celebrate and look forward to yet another exciting year.

We are so thankful for our many blessings.

Pass the Peas, Please!

2010-12-28T07:26:00.000-08:00

The boys seem to love food. Henry a little more than Olin, but Mr. O is catching on...

So far the big winners have been rice cereal, sweet potatoes, carrots, pears, and peas.

Peaches and avocados (seen below) were not quite as popular.

Henry was not fond of the avocado at all. He loves most other foods, though. Another bonus of real foods is the effect of them on his sensitive tummy - because the pureed baby food is a bit thicker it doesn't come up quite as often as his milk.

Half way there...

2010-12-22T16:16:00.000-08:00

With Christmas just around the corner, the boys' sixth month "birthday" snuck up on me. How much they've changed in these past 6 months! It's hard to believe that our little premies (well, sort of...) are now babbling, laughing, interactive boys who can sit up (for short amounts of time) by themselves. We are so grateful for these guys.

You wouldn't know it from the pictures, but these guys love to smile and laugh. I think the camera sends them into a stupor...

Stats for "Mr. O"
Weight: 19 pounds, 11 ounces
Height: 27.5 inches
Head: 46.5 cm
Olin is roughly in the 75th percentile for all his stats

Stats for Henry "Higgins"
Weight: 18 pounds, 5 ounces
Height: 26.5 inches
Head: 43.5 cm
Henry is roughly in the 50th percentile for all his stats

Elsa has been busy with her own activities. Here she is decorating an impromptu Christmas tree at her preschool holiday party!

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-09T20:54:00.000-08:00

Am I Crazy?

2010-11-30T18:05:00.000-08:00

About 3 years ago, Amy and I completed the Vancouver half marathon - what a thrill! I decided that it's high time for me to get back into the swing of things after having 3 kids in under 3 years. I've been working with a personal trainer to get my alignment back on track (imagine that...two 7 pounds babies threw off my alignment) and I just signed up for the Seattle Rock and Roll Half Marathon - a course I've heard good things about.
The race falls just about the same time as Henry and Olin's first birthday in June. Should be a fun and crazy time!

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas...

2010-11-30T15:04:00.000-08:00

Last year I was too sick with the boys to care much about putting up Christmas decorations so I was anxious to get everything out this year. It was especially fun to decorate our new house - everything seemed to fit well.

our stocking load has doubled

Miriam made this cool advent calendar

I attempted some creativity and made this tree skirt - each year we will add new handprints for the kids

we were all about convenience for our Christmas tree this year - we got ours already cut at Central Market - they even bagged it up and put it on top of our car for us!

I'm Thankful For...

2010-11-25T19:32:00.000-08:00

...three healthy children
a supportive husband
helpful and loving family
friendship
an amazing au pair
our cozy home & caring community
electricity!

Happy Thanksgiving!

First Storm of the Year

2010-11-24T18:04:00.000-08:00

We just made it through our first winter storm and power outage of the year (one of the true downsides of moving to Bainbridge Island). The power went out around 6:00pm on Monday and came back at 11:30pm on Tuesday - only about 30 hours but it felt like 30 days! We were actually pretty well off with our propane fireplace and stove, but electricity sure makes things a whole lot easier when you have two babies around!

One of the most exciting things that happened during the storm was this huge tree (roughly 125 feet) that fell straight down the middle of our neighborhood playground. It's pretty miraculous that it missed the swings and play structure by just feet.

We sure are grateful for living in such a thoughtful community during events like this though. We had friends coming to check on us, plenty of kids for Elsa to play with to pass the time stuck at home, and neighbors that allowed us to charge our phones (our only lines of communication in/out) using their generators.

5 Months Old

2010-11-20T15:48:00.000-08:00

Henry decided to sleep through the night (6:00 - 7:00...oh yeah....) for the first time to celebrate turning 5 months old today. Woot!

My guys are growing up fast. What can they do now?
*roll over in both directions
*reach for objects and put things in their mouths
*make raspberries & other cute sounds
*smile and laugh
*sit with support and hold heads steady

*

Let the Fun Begin!

2010-11-12T13:47:00.000-08:00

Things are changing fast in the Wetzler household. Olin rolled over for the first time yesterday from his back to his tummy. Today, Henry rolled over for the first time (with a purpose) from his tummy to his back - after all, they are opposites in every way!

The boys have also been talking up a storm. Olin has been practicing his raspberries and happy screeches. Henry loves to shriek in excitement. They are also starting to interact more - one might "say" something and the other "talks" back. Pretty cute.

best buds

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T20:24:00.000-07:00

Who was I kidding to think that I could actually get pictures of all 3 kids looking and/or smiling at the camera?

We sure had a fun-tabulous Halloween weekend though. On Saturday we carved pumpkins and went to the Wilkes Elementary Carnival. Elsa won the cake walk! On Sunday we went trick or treating in downtown Winslow and then ended with more trick or treating around our neighborhood. Elsa was definitely on a sugar high for two days... but it sure was fun!

Princess and the Peas

Two Peas in a Pod

An unhappy Pea

BOO! (not 1300)

The Honeymoon is Over

2010-10-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

...the honeymoon with Elsa and her brothers, that is.

Actually, Elsa continues to be very sweet with her brothers. She loves to make them laugh, push them ("GENTLY!!") in the swing, and give them toys. But the fun of having lots of visitors has started to slow down and reality has set in. The unfortunate effect? Elsa has started to use peeing and pooping on the floor as her way of asking for more attention.

For any experienced parents out there, I'd love to hear your advice. We always give tons of positive reinforcement for good behaviors and we try to give her as much attention as possible with two babies around the house. Here are the reactive strategies we've tried:

*requiring her to wear a diaper the rest of the day (result = she simply takes it off)
*making her help clean up the mess and /or help with the laundry (result = she loves this because she's getting just want she wants - attention)
*giving her a time out on the stairs (result = she loves this too because there's always something interesting going on to look at)

Right now, after each incident, she now has to spend 3 minutes in her room with the door closed (she hates this). After this new time out is over, when she asks us to play, we immediately tell her that we can't right now because we're "too busy cleaning up your poop/pee." It's not working perfectly, but we're seeing small improvements.

Ah, the joys of parenthood!

Here are some pictures of happier times!

4 Months!

2010-10-21T15:32:00.000-07:00

Well, we've made it to yet another milestone...the boys are now 4 months old! They had a great check-up today with their new doctor and their stats are as follows (keep in mind, these guys are still considered "premature" by 3.5 weeks!):

Henry weighs 14 pounds, 7 ounces (50th percentile)
He is 2'1" (50th percentile)

Olin weighs 15 pounds, 14 ounces (75th percentile)
He is 2' 4" (100th percentile)

Olin is becoming very chatty. He loves to smile, gurgle, and coo at anyone and everyone.

Henry has rolled over a few more times. He is starting to enjoy attention from people and loves to smile and laugh like his bro.

Fall 2010 Memories

2010-10-20T15:49:00.000-07:00

Me and my "mini me" (aka Henry) at the pumpkin patch

Henry loves his bath and doesn't mind one bit entertaining us with Mr. Potato Head pieces

Elsa wanted to be a fairy princess at the Bainbridge Gardens pumpkin walk

My guys

Trip to the Fire Station

2010-10-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

October is safety month at Elsa's preschool. They've been learning all about safety rules and what to do in emergencies. Today we went to the Bainbridge Island Fire Department for a tour. Firefighter Carol was wonderful - she put all of her gear on for the kids (it was explained to us that kids often run away from firefighters during a fire because they look scary so it was great for Elsa to see a real firefighter in a non-emergency) and had the kids sit in an ambulance, firetruck, and fireboat. Elsa had a blast.

Elsa and Firefighter Carol

Getting "checked out" in the ambulance

Elsa has a small class which means lots of one-on-one time with Teacher Ellen and guest teachers

Firefighter Carol gave the kids firehats and sticker badges

Fall Fun

2010-10-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite season for so many reasons - crisp days, yummy fall flavors, pumpkin patches, and holidays...to name a few. We made a trip to the local pumpkin patch today. Elsa enjoyed playing in the hay maze, tromping through the pumpkin patch, and surveying the assortment of squashes.

Elsa is such a good big sister. She posed with her brothers for 3 photo takers (me, Miriam, and Grandma)

Miriam and the kids

A blackmail photo for the teenage years!

First Day of Preschool

2010-09-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

Elsa had her first day of preschool today. We couldn't decide if she should be in the 2-year old class or the 3-year old class - but after attending the 3-year old class today it was clear to us and Teacher Ellen that this is where she belongs. She had a blast reading books, painting, playing with play do, pretending in the kitchen/dress up area, and singing songs during circle time. It was amazing to watch her sit in a group and particpate with her classmates. Our little buzz is growing up!

Elsa with her "big girl" backpack

Elsa has been calling me "Mama" lately

Painting with Teacher Ellen

Investigating the class rats!

3 Months Old

2010-09-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

Our little guys are 3 months old today! Time hasn't exactly flown by ... but we're so grateful for two healthy baby boys who amaze us every day with their differences. We love them so much!

Henry Jack at 3 months

Mr "O" at 3 months

Big Sis and her bros

"No" and "Why"

2010-09-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

We always get the question "what are the boys up to lately?" but it's little miss Elsa that has a few new tricks up her sleeve. We are venturing into the wonderful world of "no" and "why" in response to pretty much everything these days.

The "no" really bugs me - even though I know it's perfectly normal and right on schedule for this age. My patience isn't what it used to be.

But it's the "why" that we have a bit of fun with (despite every child psychologist's warning not to). Brian likes to see how far he can go with it. For example:
B: Please put that puzzle away.
E: Why?
B: Because I asked you to.
E: Why?
B: Because I'm smart.
E: Why?
B: Because I went to college.
E: Why?
B: Because I wanted to learn more.
E: Why?
B: Because I like learning about things like airplanes.
E: Why?
B: Because when I was little.... (you get the idea)

Good Times!

2010-09-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

The boys are getting older and the "good times" are getting more frequent. Here are some highlights from the week...

Big sis reading to little bro. Elsa loves to read and she loves her brothers - a perfect combination!

Elsa's last potty hurdle is going #2 in the potty. Here she is trying to go while watching her favorite show. This great plan didn't quite work though - not only did she not go, but she got to watch TV in the middle of the day (usually a no-no) and she promptly pooped in her pants a half hour after getting up. UGH!! Luckily she pees in the regular potty by herself no problem. Patience, Kari, ... patience.

Old Man Henry
(yes, that's a spit up beard)

Bye Bye Diapers!

2010-09-07T18:20:00.000-07:00

Elsa has got this potty training thing down pat. She hasn't had one accident in 3 days and thoroughly enjoys dropping her pants, running to the potty, and exclaiming "I did it all by myself!" when she finishes. It cracks me up every time I hear the toilet flush and Elsa yell, "bye bye!" to her pee. It's also pretty wonderful that she seems to have gotten it so quickly in spite of all the craziness going in our house right now... although, on the other hand, we've been home so much that maybe it was the perfect time to do it.

She has yet to do #2 in the potty. They've all happened in her pants... or one awesome one in the middle of her room. I can't WAIT for her to get over this last hurdle.

I'm so proud of her!

More Firsts

2010-09-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

So much has been happening in the Wetzler household recently. Sometimes I go months without posting anything to the blog! And now here I am writing two posts in two days. Although I guess with twins there will be lots of "firsts" to announce.

Henry rolled over for the first time yesterday. I thought he might roll over early since he's so strong (all that crying really strengthens the neck muscles, you know?) but he surprised us all when he rolled over with a purpose last night...at 10 weeks old. I think I scared him though when I screamed and cried (maybe a bit of an overreaction!).

Elsa has been making lots of progress with her potty training, too. We started her in big girl undies a few days ago. The first few days were mostly just accidents and drama. Yesterday she had several successes (and jelly beans). This morning she came down in the morning carrying her undies and told us she wanted to go potty and then put her undies on! And she did!

Call us crazy for trying to potty train our toddler when our twins are two months old. Might as well just go for it, right?!

This is what 3 under 3 will do to you...

2010-09-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

gray hairs!!!

Dare I say that it's starting to get easier? Our days have been running a bit more smoothly these days thanks to extra helping hands from family/friends/Miriam and everyone getting a bit more sleep during the days and nights. Our little Olin even slept through the night from 8pm to 6am!

Miriam and the kids

Smiling Henry

Gotta love summer

"Sleeping Thru the Night"

2010-08-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

Elsa was an amazing night sleeper from early on (well, at least she went down easily), so Brian and I decided to start the twins early on the sleeping theories from the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Twins. At first it seemed pretty crazy to me to start "sleep training" our little guys so early - we started them at 6 weeks after their due date with small "cry it out" periods (5 minutes at a time). This was necessary for us to get a little bit of peace during the day and night
.
Amazingly enough, we are starting to see results! Last night both boys slept from 8 - 6 with one wake up time each (Henry at 2:30 and Olin at 3:00). That means each boy slept at least one six-hour stretch! Some people call this "sleeping through the night". Brian and I don't quite agree. But it's better than every 3 hours! We have even seen some progress with naps during the day by putting them both down/waking them up at the same time and letting each boy cry for a bit. Shall we call this a schedule?

I don't want to celebrate quite yet (speaking from experience, I know these things change daily) but at least there is progress being made. Woohoo!

Henry loves watching his big sis

Deja Vu

2010-08-25T16:34:00.001-07:00

Two Month Stats...and some fun pictures from the past!

2010-08-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

Henry and Olin had their 2 month appointments today. My little guys are growing like weeds! Technically, they are only 6 weeks old since they were 3 weeks early, but they are way up there on the charts for a "normal" two month old.

Henry is now 10 pounds, 14 ounces and 22 inches long. Olin is 12 pounds, 3 ounces and 23.5 inches long. Actually, Olin is a full pound bigger than Elsa (a full term, 8+ pound baby at birth!) was at her two month appointment. I guess I'm making enough milk for them!They were a bit fussy after their shots, but handled the trek to the doctor pretty well and were the talk of the waiting room.

My Dad sent me some of these oldies but goodies...

Two Months Old

2010-08-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

A day in the Life

2010-08-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

Our days go by so fast...yet so slowly all at once. It's pretty much nonstop all day - and night - long. Brian and I take "shifts" at night so that we can each get a chunk of sleep. The boys are not on a schedule yet (not sure they ever will be), so I sleep from 9 - 2 and then Brian sleeps from 2 - 7. Granted, the sleeper sleeps in Elsa's room and has to deal with her if she wakes up at night.

Elsa's day usually starts around 6:30am these days. She loves to help with meals and certain baby tasks: giving them their pacifiers, putting laundry in the hamper, etc. Her tantrums have been more frequent since the boys have been home, but she hasn't shown any jealousy or meanspiritness toward them. In fact, she seems to really love them. So sweet.

The boys are starting to sleep a little less during the day and play a little more. We've been encouraging them to do the eat-play-sleep pattern. Here they are "playing" together. They are so different - from their appearance to their personalities! Right now Olin cares more for looking and listening to people. He did his first social smile at 5 weeks. Henry likes people, too, but he loves his toys and is already reaching for them. Henry recently started social smiling at 6 weeks.

We also have a constant team of helpers. The days run a lot more smoothly with 3 helpers - one for each kid. Nana is here most of the time but during her breaks it's usually Grandma or Amy here to give bottles, change diapers, and entertain. Kaye and the Grandpas have also been a huge help. We really could not have done it so far without them!

One Month Old

2010-07-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

We did it! We survived one of the most challenging and rewarding months of our lives. From the twins arrival... to having them in the ISCU for a week... to the endless feedings and diapers... to trying to make time for Elsa, ourselves, and each other...

the past month has gone by so fast. We could have never gotten through it without the support of our family and friends.

It Takes a Village

2010-07-14T17:51:00.000-07:00

Today was my official due date - my, how things have changed. The days seem mangageable with 3 people (one person for each child). We really couldn't do it without the help of my mom and Brian's mom. Our dads and sisters have also helped out quite a bit. It seriously takes a village!

Olin's first bath at home. He didn't make a peep.

Henry's bath was a little noisier. Check out that pout!

The boys are becoming more like babies and less like premies. Henry loved thrashing about and checking out the black and white creatures on his play mat. Olin was his normal quiet, reflective self. He seemed to like watching his brother more than the toys.

Both boys have been packing on the weight like crazy. Both are getting those cute little rolls on their legs and chins. Henry gained half a pound in 2 days; Olin gained almost as much.

What a good big sister!

Grand Old Fourth

2010-07-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

Brian, Elsa and I made it to the Bainbridge Island Grand Old Fourth street fair and parade this year (my first outing - besides to and from the hospital - since the boys came home). A great time was had by all. This year in particular was so much fun because of Elsa's age - she was really able to get into some of the fun activities.

Elsa's first pony ride!
I wasn't sure if she'd go or not but she had a great time.

This girl can eat!
We let her get whatever she wanted for her special outing out with mommy and daddy. She ate a whole hot dog, the rest of Anna's pizza, and cotton candy. (with no tummyache afterwards - thank goodness)

Sparklers were the best fireworks we saw this year but she loved them. Elsa called them "farklers".

Reunited!

2010-07-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

Henry came home on Wednesday and is doing great! He had an appointment today and gained 3 ounces in 3 days - he is thriving according to the doctor. Phew!
Elsa has been an incredible big sister so far...although I understand we're still in the honeymoon phase of "big sisterhood." (Truth be told...I did have to bribe her with a cookie to get this picture though).

It's amazing how incredibly different Olin (in green) and Henry (in brown) are!

Olin is a silent, reflective guy so far. He just eats, sleeps, poops, and looks around. He hardly cries at all - definitely NOT the kind of baby that I'm used to!

Henry, on the other hand, likes to be the center of it all. He demands constant attention (like someone else I know) and loves to be held all the time. Doesn't he look like a Hendrickson baby?!

More twin pictures

2010-06-28T17:39:00.000-07:00

We still don't have a great family picture because Henry is still in the infant care unit. He is doing much better with the feeding and may be released in a couple days. We are keeping our fingers crossed. Olin came home yesterday and, so far, as been doing very well with his feedings and sleep. We can't wait to have our family altogether!

Proud daddy of two boys!

Olin

Auntie Kaye with Henry

...and along came Henry and Olin

2010-06-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

The story of Henry and Olin's arrival is a good one! It all started on Wednesday, June 16th when I started having contractions and other signs that labor might be soon. I ended up going to the hospital where they promptly stopped - unfortunately my doctor put me on rest orders so that I had to miss the last day of school. As many of you know, Amy and Bryce were getting married that Saturday so I made sure to do the very least that I could so that I'd be able to make it there! And it worked! The wedding was beautiful and we all had a blast.

At 10:00pm I decided to head up to the room after the wedding. At 10:10 my contractions started. This was it! We left the hotel and got to the hospital at 11:30. Henry and Olin were delivered via C-section at 2:12 and 2:14 respectively on Sunday, June 20th. They were both 6 pounds, 11 ounces. Henry was 17 inches, Olin 19 inches.

Olin ended up going to the NICU for low blood sugar while Henry stayed with us. As the days went by Olin ended up going to the ISCU (infant special care unit - a step down from the NICU) and Henry joined him to go under the blue lights for jaundice (we called him the 4th member of the Blue Man Group). They both ended up staying to learn the "suck, swallow, breathe" technique while eating.

Since we've been in different places since their births we don't have a full family picture yet! As of right now, both boys are still in the ISCU but they are strong and healthy and will be coming home as soon as they master this last skill. I was discharged yesterday and it was difficult leaving the boys there, but also wonderful to be back with Elsa and to know they are getting excellent care.

Henry looks just like a Hendrickson - fair hair and skin. Olin, if any of you remember, looks just like Miss Elsa when she was born - a shock of brown hair and slightly darker skin.

More pictures to come!

35 Weeks Twin Update

2010-06-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

Henry and Olin continue to look really healthy. This week I have a whopping 5 doctor's appointments to prove it. I had my last growth ultrasound yesterday and found out that baby A is measuring about 5 1/2 pounds and baby B is approximately 7 pounds! The doctor assures me that everything else looks great and the difference between the weights are just because they are individuals. Still, it's a pretty big difference!

Elsa is coping the best she can with all of the changes going on in our family. She knows that mommy is getting bigger and she loves to talk about her brothers (we'll see how that changes!). We've been spending most of our weekends on the island and weekdays in the city because of my work and Elsa's school. She is such a trooper.

3D picture of baby B (face shot)

Twins Update - 31 weeks

2010-05-12T14:41:00.000-07:00

It seems that Henry and Olin missed the memo that they are twins and, therefore, should be slightly smaller than the average "singleton" baby. At my doctor's appointment today I learned that one boy is about 4 pounds and the other 4 1/2 pounds (the average baby at 31 weeks is about 3 1/2 pounds). If you do the math, that's 8 1/2 pounds of baby - or about the same size as Elsa when she was born! Add on two placentas and all that extra fluid and you've got a lot of weight!

Everything else continues to be going great with the boys. They are both head down and, most likely, wont change at this point. All signs point to a normal delivery - although, as any mom knows, you never know what's going to happen in the delivery room!

Oh, and they both have a ton of hair already. I guess I can count on not having any kiddos that look like me :)

Happy Mom's Day

2010-05-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

How could a Mother's Day get any better? We celebrated with family - everyone pitched in to make a yummy salmon barbeque lunch complete with brownie sundaes for dessert. While I had a massage in the afternoon, Brian took Elsa to the Locks to burn off some energy and enjoy the beautiful sunny May day.

You gotta love Elsa's cheesy smile

30 weeks pregnant with Henry and Olin

Elsa is quite the mommy herself - here she is putting diapers on all of her "babies"

Bunnies and Snakes and Quail...oh my!

2010-04-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

You might think there's not a lot to do to keep a toddler happy in an active adult community...but you'd be surprised! We just got back from a fun and fast week at my parent's place in Tucson. Our days were spent splashing in the pool, riding in the golf cart, chasing golf balls, looking for quail and bunnies, and just enjoying the sunshine. The weather was beautiful - in the high 70s/low 80s. Elsa also got an A+ on both flights, thanks to her BFF Elmo.

Elsa's highlight was the rattlesnake we found on the front porch! Nana was going out to get the mail and there it was - very exciting. We even got to call the fire department to come and take it away!

My highlight would be the surprise "babymoon" that Brian had planned for us. We went to the Mariott Star Pass resort for one night (Elsa stayed with Nana and Grandpa) where we enjoyed a wonderful dinner, time at the pool with our books, a yummy buffet breakfast, and plenty of time to just relax.

Times they are a Changin'...

2010-04-03T20:10:00.000-07:00

We recently closed on our house in Ballard. It's a bit sad to think that we no longer live in Elsa's first house, but we're looking forward to moving to Bainbridge. We are supposed to close on our house there next week.

Egg Hunt

2010-04-03T11:30:00.000-07:00

We went to the Magnolia Community Center Easter egg hunt this year - it was a blast! They split up the hunting areas so that kids 0 - 3 had their own section (i.e. no big kids running over the smaller ones) and provided lots of great treats like packs of Annie's bunnies and fruit snacks in addition to the standard eggs with candy. Elsa loved it. A trip to Starbucks for hot chocolate to warm up afterwards made the morning complete!

BFFs

2010-02-26T09:13:00.000-08:00

I just love two year olds. Besides the tantrums (and there are plenty of them, believe me!), Elsa makes us smile with her hilarious antics, creativity, curiousity, and overall cuteness. It's amazing to watch her figure out the world around her. Her language is becoming more and more advanced by the day, which is great because we're better able to understand her needs. She is also becoming a lot more independent and wanting to play by herself sometimes (woohoo!), pick out her own clothes, and be the "boss".

Elsa and her 6 BFFs
From left: Monkey, Cookie Monster, Abby (leopard), Squirrel, Bear, and Duck

BTW... Elsa set these guys up herself for the picture. She's becoming quite the boss & telling her animals to "come on, guys!" and "no Monkey, my blankie!"

Laptop buddies

This toychest makes a great place to play - Elsa and her buddies can all fit inside and it's nice and "cozy" (one of Elsa's favorite words)

Boy, oh Boy!

2010-02-11T19:46:00.000-08:00

We found out yesterday that we are having two BOYS! We're super excited - and even happier that everything on the ultrasound looked good and they both appeared healthy and active. As for Elsa? She definitely has no idea how much her life is going to change. But if anyone can handle the craziness of having two baby brothers, it's our feisty little Elsa! She's a tough cookie!

Baby B was very photogenic. He kept creeping into his brother's "shots" - waving his arms and sliding into the perfect profile picture. What a ham!

Baby A was very shy. He didn't want his profile taken until the very end (even though he was the first baby the technician examined).

Cute shot of both boys' feet (baby A has his feet crossed on the top and Baby B is in the lower left hand corner). At the time of their photo shoot, they were both head down and continued to "bump" into each other and try to steal the other's attention. And so it begins...

Happy 2nd Birthday Elsa!

2010-02-07T17:43:00.000-08:00

We had a small birthday party for Elsa today - just aunties, uncles, and cousins (no grandparents this time). Because our house is on the market, we held the party at my parent's condo. The party went off without a hitch and Elsa seemed to love every minute of it...

posing with her BFFs

hanging out with Uncle Mark

playing "pin the nose on Elmo"

opening presents (with help from her cousins)

New Years at Kahler Glen

2010-01-02T08:16:00.000-08:00

We went to Lake Wenatchee again for New Years Eve. No cross country skiing for me this year, but we had a few other highlights: Elsa LOVED the snow and enjoyed sledding and throwing snowballs (thanks Grandpa). She's also becoming more independent in the pool (with careful supervision, of course) and entertained herself for longer periods of time. We also went on a sleigh ride - a first for Elsa and Brian. It was bitter cold outside (in the mid-20s) but we all enjoyed getting outside in the fresh air and watching the "horsies!"

Elsa's latest trick: attempting to whistle!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T15:47:00.000-08:00

it's not All About Elsa anymore...

2009-12-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

Some people have pointed out to me that the blog hasn't been updated in a long while. Well, I think this post is worth the wait! Brian and I found out that I was expecting about 4 weeks ago. My major nausea hit about 3 weeks ago - it's been so bad that I missed work and could barey take care of myself...let alone Elsa.
Which kind of got me wondering... what if....?

The ultrasound picture below explains it all!

Brian is super excited and has already planned what minivan we're getting. I, on the other hand, am still in the worrying/overwhelmed/scared/"how am I going to raise 2 babies and a toddler?" stage. I know I'll come around eventually though :).

Everything looked good at the ultrasound. Two speedy little heartbeats. 4 arm buds, 4 legs buds, 2 little gummy bear bodies. The technician said that, from the thickness of the "divider," she thinks they are probably fraternal. And they both measured out to be roughly 9 weeks - which is just what I thought I was. So far, so good!

Trick-or-Treating in Ballard

2009-10-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

Elsa really enjoyed her first trick-or-treating experience. Her Aunties - Lynn & Amy - joined us for the festivities. She was not shy at all asking for candy, reaching in the bowls, and dancing to the street musicians. In fact, "treat" is her new favorite word (uh oh...). What a fun afternoon!

Fall Festivities

2009-10-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite season so it was fun to get to try out some of the kid activities around the city this year!

Carving pumpkins at home - Elsa was into the slimy at seeds at first, but lost interest after a short while

Swansons Nursery offers fun activities -she really enjoyed the hay maze...

...and the tractor ride around the parking lot

I wasn't sure we'd make it to the Zoo Pumpkin Prowl - Elsa was sick most of this weekend - but luckily she was on the mend by Sunday night! She really started to get the hang of trick-or-treating. Her favorite part was the giant dressed up Brown Bear (from the brown bear carwash, you know?). She just wanted to hug and kiss him - so sweet :)

Fluffy Wetzler

2009-10-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

Elsa got her first pet this week - a blue beta fish named Fluffy. The name (we think) came from one of Elsa's favorite Elmo videos. Surprise surprise! We were originally going to get a goldfish, like the one in Elmo, but ended up getting a beta because they are easier to care for.

Besides wanting to put her hand in the bowl and "pet" Fluffy, she's been pretty good with him (in her normal hyperactive way). She loves to look into the bowl, say hi, and "night night." So sweet!

Fluffy is visisted only under strict adult supervision!

Tumbling Toddler

2009-10-03T07:25:00.000-07:00

Elsa recently started a gymnastics class for toddlers at the local community center. It's basically free play but with mats, bars, balance beams, etc. It took her a bit to get comfortable, but now she keeps up with the best of them! (and she's the only girl in the class!)

Elsa has been practicing her somersaults at home.

Transitions

2009-09-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

Times they are a changin' around the Wetzler household. I hope that explains why I haven't sent out an update in more than a month!

Elsa and I started up another school year at the end of August. Elsa's transition to toddler school was, well, not exactly easy. A new school + Elsa the drama queen + the time of day she starts school (right before lunch/nap) = disaster.

I'm happy to report though that things are getting noticably better. She's had a few great days recently - very few tears, great naps, scarfing her lunches (as usual), and fun times singing, dancing, and playing with friends. Just what a nervous mom could hope for!

How time flies when you're having...fun?

Elsa loves being naked these days :)

The gorillas and monkeys at the zoo are the best!

The librarian in me loves this picture. Here she is just chilling at the public library with her stuffed animal buddies and a good book!

18 Months Old!

2009-08-13T17:33:00.000-07:00

I still remember thinking if I can just make it to 18 months... and here we are! Elsa is really turning out to be a free spirited, imaginative, creative, determined, and kooky little kid. She loves to play outside, swim, watch Elmo, have "tea parties" with her animals, and more... She is also becoming much more confident with other people. I went away for 4 days recently and she didn't seem to mind one bit who took care of her (Daddy, Nana, Grandma, etc.) or where she went - just as long as she could run around and explore.

I took Elsa to get some pictures of her at 18 months. You can view the pictures by clicking here. Just use the password KARI WELTZER (note the misspelling of our last name! Ha ha!)

San Juan Islands on the Copycat

2009-07-31T07:37:00.000-07:00

We just returned from a fun-filled (and HOT) "week" aboard the Copycat with Nana and Grandpa. Brian and I decided that 5 days would be enough this year with our type A toddler. I think we made the right choice. All in all, Elsa really was very good - she slept in her makeshift crib with little complaining, watched Elmo videos while we were under way, and LOVED exploring the new ports.

Roche Harbor is one of my favorite places - and I think it's one of Elsa's now too. She couldn't get enough of the pool (seen above), playground, flower gardens, and - of course - the donuts.

Elsa didn't mind her life jacket too much. I think it helped that other kids were usually wearing theirs, too.

We went ashore at Hunter Bay - the water was 58 degrees. Elsa didn't want to stay on the beach though (did I mention she LOVES water?), so we had to strip her down to her diaper to preserve one of her few precious outfits that I took along...

Swimming in the Sunshine

2009-07-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

Elsa has become a huge fan of our neighborhood outdoor pool. She loves going down the slide with the "big" kids, running around in the grass, and just hanging out in the Northwest sunshine.

Here she is hanging out with her friends Caiella Young and Lily Vanderkolk - both Spiritridge babies too. Such cuties!

4th of July Weekend

2009-07-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

We met up with Auntie Lynn at Golden Gardens one beautiful July day. What a summer we're having!

Elsa kept wanting to go deeper in the water. Lynn and I were freezing and Elsa's lips were quivering when she got out, but that didn't stop her from wanting to go again!

We spent the 4th of July on Bainbridge Island again. As always, we had a blast - good food, running into old friends, watching the parade...one of my favorite days of the year for sure!

Elsa participated in the Kids Run this year too! She wasn't too excited about the running heat (actually, she cried when all the kids rushed by her), but she did give the crawling heat a try. I would love to know what was running through her mind - our usual speedster was slower than molasses! Great memories.

Elsa's Excellent Adventure

2009-07-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

So it appears that Elsa can now open doors.

I found this out the hard (and very, very scary) way.

I had been working in our room - you know, sorting and cleaning. The usual. Brian was working outside in the yard. Elsa - amazingly enough - had been quietly playing and watching her "Melmo" (Elmo) video in the family room every time I checked on her.

It had been quiet for a while but I figured she was engrossed in the Melmo song screeching from the TV. I glanced out into the room and...no Elsa. Not only that - the door to the street side of the house was wide open. Wide. Open. Oh. My. Gosh....

I probably looked like a complete lunatic - still in my bathrobe, looking around like a crazy person, screaming Elsa's name. Looked over at the chickens - No Elsa. Looked down the street towards the Locks. No Elsa. In my mind she was half way to Nana and Grandpa's by then.

I ended up running around the house and...there she was. She had collected my planter labels along the way and a few other treasures, but was just waiting by the fence to be let in to the backyard (Brian hadn't heard her because he was using a powertool). She looked pretty proud of herself - after all, she had just had her first solo adventure. I can not even begin to explain the relief that I felt at the moment. Wow.

Note to self: just because Elsa can't do something one day does NOT mean she won't do it the next day. Good or bad. Another note to self: time to start deadbolting all doors all the time.

June Memories

2009-06-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

A parent in my class gave us this bike trailer. Elsa and her duck love going on rides (she doesn't even mind the helmet much!)

Check out that hair!!! Elsa refuses to let us cut her hair, so it just keeps getting longer and curlier...

Dad's Day! Elsa can't get enough of her Daddy (don't they look like twins?)

School's Out for Summer!

2009-06-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that today is Elsa's last day of school. She started daycare at the BSD Newport infant center in September when she was 7 months old. She wasn't even crawling yet!
Now she's running, talking, and has made some real friends. I think she's really going to miss her "best" friend - Maddy J. I know that we're going to miss her wonderful teachers who took such good care of her when I was at work.
Next September Elsa will move to the toddler center closer to my school. The toddler center will be a LOT different - there's an actual schedule, lunch time, and nap time. I'll keep you posted on how she does!!

Elsa's teachers: Sandy, Luqui, Kimberly, Julie, and Ricki

We miss you Nova

2009-06-15T17:16:00.000-07:00

We had to put Nova down to sleep today. She was a wonderful cat for 13 years and she will be rememebered as Elsa's first cat forever.

Nova was the most kind and gentle cat. When Elsa cried, she would come around to see if everything was okay. She never reacted to Elsa's petting (no matter how rough she was at times). And she was a constant source of entertainment - along with her pal Mr. Orange - for Elsa and us.

"Cat" was Elsa's first word. Nova will always be with us.

Backyard Fun!

2009-05-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

The weather in Seattle has been nearly perfect for almost a week now - 70's and sunny. Unfortunately, I've been feeling under the weather, so Nana and I decided to set up some backyard activities perfect for a crazy 15-month old. Elsa especially loved her slide and sprinkler.

Hamming it up for the camera

Sprinkler fun in the sun

A true Hendrickson - not afraid of any water!

Tulip Festival

2009-04-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

Elsa was more interested in the dirt and rocks at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, but we all enjoyed this sunny day outside! Since it was a Wednesday, there weren't any crowds to deal with either.

Yummy!

2009-04-28T21:06:00.000-07:00

Food is so much better when you can eat it yourself!

So long old friend...

2009-04-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

With a tear in my eye, it's time to announce that Elsa is down to one nap (most days) a day. I knew it was only a matter of time - after all, *most* toddlers get to that stage eventually - but how I cherished that hour to myself before heading to work in the late morning...

Spring Break!

2009-04-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

We headed down to Arizona for another visit with Grandpa and Nana. The twist? Brian and Elsa came back a few days early and I got a REAL vacation for a few days. It was wonderful!

Elsa loved playing outside - wading in the pool, chasing golf balls, riding in the golf cart...you name it, Elsa did it!

Elsa is a true citrus lover. She "helped" Grandpa pick a bucket full of oranges one morning from his garden.

Easter egg hunt anyone? E figured it out right away (of course, there was no competition this year...)

Hangin' out with the cousins on Easter

One Year Stats!

2009-03-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I'm her mom, but I have to admit that Elsa is a lot of fun! She cracks me up on a daily basis. She now loves to show you where her nose, ear, and belly button are on her body.

And it continues to be true that she is Brian's mini-me. Her one-year stats are as follows:

Weight: 22 pounds (58%)

Height: 31.5 inches (96%)

Head: 48.3 cm (99%)

On the flip side, we are now entering the wonderful world of tantrums. I guess it's just a normal sign of increasing independence and she seems to only have them at home right now, but I know it's only a sign of more "exciting" times to come.... yikes!

Winter Fun!

2009-03-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

We just returned from a fun-filled weekend at the "cabin" with our friends Annie, Ged, and Lily. Our time was mostly filled with chasing after walking/crawling babies, but we did get out a bit to go cross-country skiing and swimming.

Elsa and Lily loved X-country skiing (and it made them very sleepy...)

The girls entertained themselves pretty well!

Par-tay!!

2009-02-22T16:12:00.000-08:00

We finally had Elsa's first birthday party on Sunday. Elsa's nickname is Buzzy, so her party was a bumble bee theme.

"Gee, that beehive cake looks pretty tasty..."

"Wow! This is fun to smash!"

Elsa received many wonderful gifts and we were so thankful to have most of our family at the party. A highlight was when she opened a book about cats and exclaimed "Cat!" Auntie Kaye made Elsa this cool poncho!

Very little of Elsa's cake made it into her mouth. Most of it was smooshed, squished, and "offered" to others (how sweet....our litle girl has manners - yeah, right). Amazingily enough, no frosting got in her hair!

Our little pack rat

2009-02-17T07:05:00.000-08:00

Elsa has begun to put things "in" now. We need to start using this to our advantage!
Lately she has been obsessed with putting all of her worldly possessions in her train and taking them for a ride - how many items can you spot?

answer: 5 (camera case, sock, Wubby, hip hop bunny, & toothpaste)

Happy Birthday Elsa!

2009-02-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

We did it! We survived the first year of parenthood!

It is pretty amazing how much Elsa has changed in one year. She has mastered smiling, rolling, laughing, crawling, walking (soon to be running!) and so much more. She says a few words: cat, up, Wubby, and dada. Her hair continues to get longer and curlier.
She is an opinionated, strong-willed, loving goofball who loves her Wubby (and sometimes her mommy and daddy).
We are so thankful to have her in our lives!

February 10, 2008

Maui 2009

2009-02-08T10:57:00.000-08:00

We just returned from our fabulous family reunion on Maui - all of the Wetzler family was there!

Daddy and Elsa testing the water

Elsa and Elio (both 11 months)

Mommy and Elsa on the beach

A good ole' family pic

Our little water lover