Pattishall Christmas Letter 2012

Sibling Love

Seasons Greetings Friends and Family,

If you are reading this then you got our family picture and may have wondered why our annual letter was conspicuously missing.  I'd love to say I directed you to our family blog in an effort to be more green, but in fact time was simply slipping away from me this year.  "Little Miss Evelyn," while our biggest blessing of 2012, has also taken up much of our time.  Of course that's how it should be.  I didn't want to have to choose between feeding my children and sending out Christmas letters, so writing it here was the compromise.  My family's hungry tummies thank you for understanding.  Without further ado I give you our seeming whirlwind of a year in a nutshell.

Soccer Star

February 2012 - After almost 7 years of teaching I decided to stay home full time.  It has been a bit of an adjustment, as I'm a person who likes the structure, challenge, and built-in friends the workplace provides. I do find ways to stay busy though.  Evie and I attend a couple of playgroups and I volunteer for several organizations and serve as room parent at Edmund's school.  Being at home has given me more rest, however, and in turn I have more energy to spend on the family.  Edmund also had a big change in February.  He left the school he had known since he was 3 months old to begin attending Resurrection United Methodist Church Preschool (or Jacob's School if you ask Edmund) in Durham.  The change of preschools went incredibly smoothly for him.  Both he and I have made friends at the new school, but still try to keep in touch with the old.

May 25, 2012 - We welcomed Evelyn Rose Pattishall into our family.  It is hard to believe she will be 7 months old on Christmas Day.  It seems like yesterday we brought her home, but at the same time we can't remember life without her.  Evie, as we call her, is an easy baby with just a little bit of attitude.  She adores her big brother Edmund, and Edmund is enamored with her.  Sometimes Edmund loves a little too much, but Evie takes it in stride.  Steven and I are delighting in watching the sibling relationship between them develop.

July 2012 - Steven began his third and final year of pediatric residency.  Our family also went on our annual Holden Beach trip, which marked Evie's first vacation.

August 2012 - Edmund tried his hand, er feet, at his first organized sport.  He played soccer for the Black Knights with one of his good buddies.  Time will tell if soccer will be a yearly occurrence, as he didn't quite understand why sharing the ball wasn't encouraged.  For now I think we may need to help him explore his creative side.

October 2012 - Steven, Edmund, Evie, and I took a road trip to see my Kentucky relatives.  I had fond memories of visiting Lincoln's birthplace and boyhood home in Kentucky, so we took the kiddos there.  Edmund is a Lincoln Log builder extraordinaire, so he was thrilled to learn about the person who inspired the name.  After time with Lincoln, it was off to Virginia to visit with Kay Kay and Granddad while Steven went on his first interview of the year.

Little Elf

December 2012 - Steven has completed several interviews, so now we are faced with the tough process of deciding where our family should be next July.  If there is one thing Steven and I have learned from this process it is that we sure like to stretch out our decision making.  We really do hope to know our plans for the next stage in our lives by the New Year.  

This year has been one of many changes for us, and for a family that doesn't handle change well, I'd say we're doing pretty well.  In a year of many changes I feel a non-traditional letter is fitting.  However, one thing I will miss about not having a formal Christmas letter this year is that I can't write a personal message to each and every one of you.  Please know that we think about you all often.  Feel free to call or write anytime.  And I do mean any time as Evie still thinks it's fun to occasionally keep her parents awake at night.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a sleep filled night!

Steven, Tabitha, Edmund, and Evie Pattishall 

Jesus Goes to a Monster Truck Rally

"Welcome to the Monster Truck Christmas Show"

My two good friends and I were having coffee this past week.  They mentioned they take baby Jesus out of their nativity sets and wrap him so the first gift the family opens on Christmas morning is Jesus.  I thought this was a great idea so I got baby Jesus from Edmund's Fisher Price nativity and put him in our bedroom to remind myself to wrap him later.  When I went back to retrieve baby Jesus I found him missing.  I asked Edmund if he took him back and he replied "yes."  I asked, "don't you think it would be fun to open Jesus on Christmas morning."  Edmund said "No, I play with him a lot and I'd miss him.  Come see mommy.  Jesus and the camel are attending my monster truck show."  And indeed they were.  Perhaps we'll trying wrapping him next year.

Baby Big Heads

It is no secret that my children have big heads.  One day I was commenting that Evie was a "baby big head."  Reminiscing I said, "Edmund I remember when you were a baby big head." 
Edmund said, "Mom, I'm still cute.  I have cute shirts."  
I replied, "Yes you do, but you have a cute face too."

Cute Boy Had Cute Shirts Even Then

 

Who Says Art is Dull?

The Picture Taken By the Chapelboro Photographer

On July 22, 2011 Edmund and I went to a Family Day at the Ackland Art Museum.  I intended to write about our adventure back then, but never got around to it.  Or I did and I'm too lazy to check the old posts.  I'm not sure why or how, but when I wrote the date on the artwork Edmund made that day it engrained in my memory.  We kept his stamp art on the refrigerator for awhile, and then, because it didn't make the monthly art save, ended up in the recycling.  That was almost a year and a half ago, but still that day is fresh in my mind and apparently is in Edmund's mind as well.

For months now Edmund has been begging to go back to the "art museum."  The Ackland Art Museum is located on UNC's campus and now that we're in Durham can be a bit of a drive to do with both kids.  However, Steven has been working long hours and I knew I needed to get out of the house this past weekend.  I did a web search to see when the next monthly Family Day would take place.  I was in luck when I discovered it was on Sunday.  Edmund couldn't contain his excitement when I told him we were going.

Japanese Pattern Inspired Art

Since it was post Thanksgiving weekend I found parking easily.  I mention parking because that was my biggest hesitation about doing this outing on my own.  You may recall that after the symphony Edmund fears my parking abilities, and I didn't want that to be another outing hitch.  With Evie in her Beco (our soft carrier) and Edmund's hand in mine we walked to the museum.  When we entered we were greeted by volunteers who informed us of the afternoon's activities.  The topic of this particular Family Day was "Images of People in Japanese Art" which corresponded to the current exhibit "A Season of Japan."  We began with an art scavenger hunt, but not before having our picture taken by a photographer for Chapelboro.com.  Evie peeked up from chewing on the straps of the Beco long enough to be stunned by the camera flash.

Edmund quickly found several items on the scavenger hunt, but soon tired of the game and asked to go make some art.  He sat down at the table and got to work on art inspired by Japanese patterns.  The volunteer was incredibly friendly and helpful with him and the other children.  She helped Edmund cut ribbon so I could walk with Evie who wanted nothing to do with standing still.   After Edmund signed his artwork we went back to the lockers where I had stored the diaper bag so I could retrieve some wipes.  While I cleaned up the spit-up that Evie had lovingly bestowed upon me, Edmund chatted up a security guard who was clearly trying to eat a snack in peace.  The guard, like the volunteer at the craft station, was incredibly friendly and engaged Edmund for quite some time.  Once Edmund finds someone who will listen to him it's hard to get him to stop talking, so I had to drag him away.

Origami Dog

Next we went and viewed some Japanese pop art.  Edmund found a room behind a curtain showing Japanese pop art films made in the 70s.  The psychadelic like films got Evie's attention and she found them worthy enough for a few minutes of time away from her strap chewing.  Family Day was about to come to a close, so I encourage Edmund to try his hand at origami before it was time to leave.  There was a very simple dog pattern that Edmund did with only a little help from me.  I helped him match corners, but he did all the folding and drew a very cute face.  This was the perfect way to wrap up our time at the art museum.

As we exited the museum I told Edmund we could go to Sugarland, a dessert shop on Franklin St., for some gelato.  To my surprise Edmund asked what Sugarland was.  In all honesty I suspected the reason Edmund kept begging to go back to the art museum was because he remembered we finished our last outing there with a sweet treat.  While we did have a great time at Sugarland, and I got to eat my favorite peppermint stick gelato, I was encouraged that Edmund really does enjoy a bit of culture.  And who knows?  In a couple of years, my strap eating baby may even be cultured as well.

Evie at the Helm

Nothing Says Fun More Than Chilling in a Giant Fish

So I know I'm the second kid and all, but where's my time on this blog.  I'm supposed to be napping, but I've decided to seize the blog reigns and give you a little update on me, "Ev", "Evie", "Shmonkey", or the "cutiest baby you've ever seen".

 I took a road trip to see lots of relatives like my Nannie, Aunt Zann, Kay Kay and Granddad.  I decided this was the perfect time to make my parents suffer.  I wailed in the car and they couldn't escape, ha ha ha.

I went to two birthday parties for buddies who were turning one.  At one I was held by lots of different people and fell asleep when it was time to open presents.  At the other I took notes on how to smash a cake.  Just wait until it's my turn. 

I helped carve my first jack-o-lantern.  Mommy really wanted me to touch the guts, but I was too tired and ready for bed.  She should know I'd only want to put them in my mouth anyway.

I went trick-or-treating.  This involved dressing up like a little elephant and watching my brother and his friends running around the neighborhood like crazy people.  I do that most days anyway without dressing up, but I saw myself in the mirror and must say I looked mighty cute.

I tasted my first bite of rice cereal.  Mom and dad were about to give up, but then they gave in, gave me the spoon and I ate it all.  I'm a big girl and have things under control.

That about covers my first October.  If I'm not given my due time in November you may hear from me again.  Just don't give away my secret.  Remember, I'm napping ;)

The Valiant Knight

The Knight going off into battle with his trusty...Elephant

About a month ago one of my mommy friends told me about a concert series for kids put on by the North Carolina Symphony.  I have had the symphony bookmarked on my computer since Edmund was about a year old as a fun out of the box activity.  Around that time I learned that Edmund is a kid with sensitivities to loud, even moderately loud noises, and dim or dark lighting, so I put the symphony out of mind until my friend mentioned it.  Edmund has made progress in the things he can handle as of late.  He's now seen a movie in the theater and even greatly enjoyed a bouncy house excursion after the initial tears subsided.  I love live instrumental music and wanted Edmund to have an opportunity to experience it, so I took a chance and bought a ticket to one show.  Until I tested the waters I wasn't about to buy the whole series package.

While Evie could have gone on this outing, it was best suited for a mother/son date.  The concert was entitled Halloween Spooktackular and children were encouraged to dress up in costume.  Edmund was thrilled with a chance to premiere his knight costume a couple of days early.  We arrived at the concert hall with about 10 minutes to spare.  There were musicians set up in the lobby with instruments for children to try.  We had time for Edmund to choose one before it was time to take our seats.  Edmund chose the violin and the violinist on hand found one just the right size for him.  He instructed Edmund on how to hold the violin under his chin and the proper way to hold the bow.  Edmund was a bit too enthusiastic when he took the bow to the strings, but with some guidance the musician was able to reign him in. After his 2 minute lesson Edmund looked like a true concert master.

Little Elephant

Over the loudspeaker we heard our 5 minute show call and found our seats.  I strategically purchased aisle seats in case we needed to make an early exit.  Soon the lights dimmed and I talked Edmund through it.  He settled in and excitedly awaited the beginning of the concert.  The concert began with Hedwig's Theme from the Harry Potter score.  This was a great song to begin with because it remains fairly quiet throughout.  I also knew when the crescendo was coming and was able to prepare Edmund for it.  Edmund, who was now settled in my lap, tensed up at this, but still enjoyed it.

Next a storyteller told a "spooky" story as the orchestra played behind her.  Edmund was at the edge of his seat, er my lap, and bravely told me he wasn't scared.  The concert continued with Storm Troopers making their way through the audience as Darth Vader took control from the conductor to conduct his "Imperial March." Edmund has been very into Star Wars, although he has not seen the films, so this was a treat for him.  Once I assured him that these were people pretending and the conductor was indeed not in Darth Vader's grasp, Edmund was enraptured by the scene playing out before him.

Mommy and Daddy-"Smile Edmund."
Edmund "This is my brave knight face."

After another slightly chilling story from the storyteller it was time for the costume parade.  Edmund couldn't wait for his turn, but wanted me to walk on stage with him.  Not because he was afraid of the costumes, but because he was fearful the orchestra would get too loud.  I walked with him to the stage, but to my surprise he chose to parade without me.  As I waited for him to come down the steps I saw the biggest smile cross his face.  He was so proud.  

It was now time to go and I'd like to tell you the outing went off without a hitch.  Unfortunately I had a bit of trouble locating my car in the parking deck at concert's end.  It was a small parking deck and Edmund and I eventually found the car after walking around each level.  In my defense the car was where I looked initally.  The lights didn't blink when I clicked the remote, so I assumed I'd gone to the wrong place.  In fact I'd love to leave this little detail out of the trip altogether, but my son is now old enough to tell on me.  When friends and family ask how the symphony was, his response, "It was great until my mommy got lost in the parking deck and I was so scared."  So before my son can tell on me to anyone else, I'm telling on myself.

 Since I haven't talked much about Evie this post you will see some of her Halloween pictures scattered throughout.

Jack-O-Latern the Verb

Sitting Among the Gourds

Hello again faithful readers.  When last I posted Edmund was just about to begin preschool after the summer hiatus.  His entrance back into the world of formal education went very well.  Edmund also began soccer.  I've resisted mentioning soccer, because to be totally honest, it has not been at all sunshine and rainbows.  However, today Edmund made it through soccer pictures and the entire game without tears or complaints.  Hallelujah!!!  Those 3 exclamation points are an understatement.  He happily cheered on his teammates when he didn't have the ball and even made a few goals for the other team.  We're making progress.

How is Miss Evie you may ask?  She is doing splendidly.  I have quite a bit of "mommy guilt" over the lack of time I have to focus exclusively on her.  I suspect this is par for the course with subsequent children and may explain why many people say going from 1 child to 2 is more difficult than 2 to 3 and so on.  I remember saving tickets and recording every first adventure Edmund had.  Evie has done a lot of the same things and sooner, but I simply don't have time to stop and record each event.  Yesterday we went to Ganyard Hill Farm, the pumpkin patch we visit annually.  I knew I hadn't posted anything recently and wanted something fresh and exciting to post about.  I don't want to bore anyone with repeat posts, but when I got to thinking about it, the pumpkin patch is still a new experience for Evie and this blog is really for the kids.  So without further ado I give you the Pattishalls 2012 trip to the pumpkin patch.

We picked the perfect autumn afternoon to spend on the farm.  The temperature was in the mid-70s and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.  Edmund has a superb memory and remembered all the farm has to offer.  Before we arrived he laid out our game plan, so as soon as we entered the farm it was off to the tube slide.  Edmund climbed the large bales of hay to the top and waited patiently in line for his turn to slide.  He decided a trip through the bumpy tunnel was not complete without sound effects.  We knew Edmund was coming when we heard the shaky "ah ah ah" emanating from the chute.

Next Edmund led us to the corn crib.  Edmund loved jumping and sliding into the massive bin of dried corn.  Evie loved watching her big brother being so goofy and laughed at his antics when she wasn't busy chewing on her baby carrier.  This was by far Edmund's favorite spot, so we hung out here for awhile enjoying the Disney music playing around us.  Edmund was convinced it was Halloween music, so we just let him believe that.

After bouncing about in the kernels it was time for the requisite hay ride.  Evie was wide eyed as the tractor pulled us around the farm perimeter.  She definitely wasn't sure about the jarring ride, but if Edmund could handle all the bumpiness it must be ok.  When we were about halfway through the ride Edmund cried out, "Where's the maze? I need to do the corn maze."  The previous year the tractor dropped us off in a corn maze toward the back of the farm.  This year it was in a different location, and Edmund feared he wouldn't get to do one of his favorite pumpkin patch activities.  We assured him there was indeed a maze and we would do it as soon as the ride stopped.

Immediately upon our exit we headed for the tall corn.  We let Edmund take charge as we maneuvered the twists and turns.  OK there really were only two paths, but to Edmund it was a labyrinth.  In the past there hasn't been much corn to find, but this year we were finding it all over the place.  Evie really got into this and reached out to grab the stalks in an attempt to lead us to the biggest ears (of corn that is).  After collecting more corn than I could hold, because somehow I became the sole corn carrier, we decided to exit the maze.  At this point Steven decided to take the lead because if Edmund remained at the helm we probably would have continued in circles for hours.

We then fed our corn to the goats, made a few pictures, and picked out our pumpkins.  This year we decided to get one of the pre-picked pumpkins  to ensure we have a good carving pumpkin.  We decided the last 2 pumpkins should come straight from the vine.  I found a good one and then encouraged Edmund to find one of his own.  Despite showing Edmund a multitude of perfect, ripe pumpkins on the vine he set his heart on one someone had already plucked and left sitting next to the vines.  After encouraging him to find another pumpkin I caved and let him take his "very best" pumpkin with us.  Edmund was so excited about his pumpkin he asked "when can we jack-o-lantern my pumpkin."  And with that it was time to leave, but I assure you dear reader,as I did Edmund, that it won't be along until we are able to jack-o-lantern those pumpkins.

Even though we could have just gone through the motions of our tradition, I made it a point to really make this a "special first" for Evie.  As part of our family she will be thrust into our rituals, but I'm going to try my hardest to make sure she is able to truly enjoy the experiences as they come to life for her for the first time.  Fortunately for her, she has a big brother who seems intent on making sure his little sister doesn't miss out on anything, even if it means squeezing the daylights out of her!

Closing Out Summer

Water Fun

Edmund begins school this coming Tuesday, so I took it upon myself this week to have several adventures with him.  Despite the fact that summer doesn't officially end for a couple of weeks, I still feel that once September arrives, summer is over.  Classes, school, and obligations begin again.  I feel like I spent this summer bleary-eyed, although I suppose that is to be expected with a newborn.  Edmund probably felt he had a grand time all summer, but I had mommy guilt about not doing as much with him as I would have liked.  Thus, I decided to get myself together so we could try a few new things before the majority of our time is spent going from school to soccer practices and the like.

Rocket Painting

Early in the week I took Edmund (and Evie) to a drop-in art studio for preschoolers at a local business called Bull City Craft.  Playcraft, as it is called, is offered Monday-Thursday from 11-12 and 4-5.  It was $5 for the hour and well worth it.  The owners have a child of their own and as so, are great with the children.  When we got there Edmund was given a ball of dough into which he mixed purple paint and glitter to make his own custom play dough.  Next he went to the large art table with the other children, who happened to all be girls on this particular day, and painted several pictures with water colors.  Edmund set out to make a rocket ship and he did.  He also made several pictures in the impressionist style.  The man leading the session was happy to let Edmund paint as many pictures as he wanted.  He also commented that he wouldn't be surprised if Edmund became some sort of artist when he gets older.  We'll have to see, but Edmund is certainly into crafts right now.  At the end of the session the teacher offered stamps and a large piece of paper for the children to stamp on to their hearts' content.  I thought Edmund would spend the majority of his time here, but to my surprise he went back to the play dough.  What we loved most about Playcraft was the variety of materials to explore and the fact we were free to be messy without worrying about clean-up.  

3 Months

A couple days later we headed to a Durham park we don't get to often, called Forest Hills.  The park is near Bull City Craft which reminded me we should go.  During the cooler months there isn't much reason for us to go the extra miles for the pretty typical playground, but in the summer the park offers a sprayground.  I decided Edmund could end his August with a run through the sprinklers.  Edmund came up with the idea to pack a picnic lunch.  Edmund had a great time running through the water with the three other boys who were there that day, including another 4 year old who was vacationing in Durham with his family from England.  As Edmund played and splashed I couldn't help but think how far he's come since the beginning of summer when getting water in his eyes caused uncontrollable tears.  Nothing can stop Edmund now.  Evie was also very amused by the running and splashing.  She thinks big brother is great as long as he keeps his distance.

First Time in Swing

Currently Evie simply goes along for the ride, but she seems to enjoy all the sights even if she can't actively participate just yet.  She is getting so big and this past week hit many new milestones.  Evie has been rolling from tummy to back since she was a few weeks old, but can now consistently roll from back to tummy.  She also began grasping toys.  Her favorites are her O-Ball and a rattle phone, although I'm not sure any child these days would actually recognize it as a phone.  She loves to play with her toys, and by play I mean shove them in her mouth.  Today we decided to put her in a swing at the park.  We know she is a bit small, but thought we'd try it for a second.  To our surprise she loved the swing and even let us push her gently.  For a 3 month old she has excellent head control.  I suppose I forget she is a bit young for the control she has, but this is the first things other parents comment on when they first meet Evie.  

Both children are giving Steven and me so much joy.  I'd be lying if I said we didn't have our challenges.  We do have a very silly, yet strong willed 4 year old, and a little girl growing by leaps and bounds.  We're trying our hardest to give both children many opportunities while also teaching them to have respect for others and their surroundings.  If we can do that we'll feel like we've done our job as parents.  Thank you all for helping us along the way.

British Invasion

This past week I got up the nerve to have an all morning adventure with both children totally on my own.  I've done a few short adventures here and there by myself with both children and a couple of longer ones when I knew other moms would be around to help me keep track of Edmund.  Getting out takes longer with two, but isn't in itself all that difficult.  What I have found difficult is timing Evie's feedings when out.  Evie requires a few supplemental bottles a day due to low weight gain.  However, I'm determined to have nursing work as much as possible this time, so in the mornings we stay away from supplementing.  This is great because it means no extra bottle preparation when we head out in the mornings.  On a side note, whoever says bottle feeding is taking the easy way out is mistaken.  It is so not convenient and expensive at that.  The only downside to nursing I have found and one I'll take over bottle feeding, is that when Evie needs to eat it is hard to keep an eye on Edmund, the bouncing ball of energy.  He's gotten very good about making sure he can see me when I sit down to feed her, but sometimes he will get out of sight and poor Evie has her meal cut short while I determine his location.  Somehow on this adventure we were able to get out all morning and I didn't lose track of Edmund for a second.

This adventure was a modified Super Monday which I wrote about several months ago.  We were already in Chapel Hill for Evie's weight check (this past check she gained weight, thank goodness), so we headed to the Community Center Playground.  Edmund had a great time playing and seeing what playground obstacles he had mastered since the last time we visited the park.

Next we headed to University Mall for Chapel Hill Public Library's story time.  When we went to get a ticket we were told we didn't need one because it was being held by the stage in the mall's common area.  Edmund thought this was so cool.  It was also great for me because they had chairs I could sit in while he listened to the stories and songs.   

Finally, we ended our excursion with a trip to The Red Hen, which is located in the mall along with the library.  The Red Hen is a local consignment store for children that I love to visit for outfitting my children (when I'm not scouring Gymboree for deals) and as a place to sell my used children's gear and clothing when I just don't have the time or energy to tag items for one of the children's consignment sales in the area..  The Red Hen is also home to the following story from which I got this blog post's title.

The staff at The Red Hen really take an interest in their customers.  Most know my name, or at least recognize me and Edmund.  Evie's still a little new for her recognition, but that will come.  The store has a children's play area where Edmund loves to play while I look around.  I'm 100% comfortable with him playing there when no other children are around, but check back very frequently when I know other children are there too.  He's a good kid, but even good kids can still forget what sharing is all about.  The staff is great though, and will often give me a thumbs up when I peek around to see how he's doing. 

Edmund started out being the only one in the play area, but eventually many other children descended on the area as well.  Thus the checks began.  Edmund had already claimed one of the ride-on cars and was driving it in circles.  Another child took control of another ride-on and began following Edmund on his path.  Then a little girl decided to set up the toy gas pump and set up her own gas station.  Except she had titled it her petrol station.  Every time the boys would drive by her station she would say in the sweetest British accent, "petrol for sale."  Edmund would stop and and say "gas please."  She'd say "here's your petrol."  Edmund would say, "I need my gas."  This conversation continued in this way every time he made it to the pump. Both children looked confused, but she still filled up the tank and Edmund still got his "gas."  

If the above exchange wasn't funny enough the Red Hen play area visit ended with this.  The little girl said "after I get your petrol I need you to pop your boot."  The look on Edmund's face was priceless. She was speaking English, but for all he knew she was speaking a foreign language.  Edmund never did pop his boot for it was time to go.  Our outing was successful with no tears for either child and ended in a rather amusing discussion, in our car, about why the little girl talked like Mary Poppins. 

A World Without Pain

Some of you may know Edmund struggles with bumps and bruises slightly more than other kids.  He can bump himself lightly and totally fall apart.  Lately this has been getting better, but actual cuts and scrapes are still incredibly difficult for him, and in turn, Steven and I.  Yesterday Edmund fell and scraped his knees at the Museum of Life and Science.  One scrape needed cleaning and a band-aid, but sometimes for Edmund, this part is even worse than the scrape itself.  Eventually, with help from my friend Emily, Edmund accepted the band-aid.  

Later that evening I was feeding Evie while Edmund got ready for his bath.  I heard him tell Steven he only wanted a short bath because cuts sting in the water.  A few seconds into the bath he began wailing.  My heart broke when I heard him cry "why are there hard things on earth?"  I know we'd all like the answer to that question.  Steven got Edmund calmed down and even got Edmund to put on a new band-aid with a picture of Abby Cadabby.  I walked in the room and Edmund told us that he would tell his friend Emma all about his scrape on their play date the following morning.  

This morning Edmund had his play date.  The first thing he noticed was that Emma had a band-aid on her knee too.  I encouraged them to swap "war" stories.  Edmund began "Once upon a time there was a boy..." Oh no I thought.  Edmund was so traumatized he is retelling this story in 3rd person.  He continued "there was a boy who lived in a world where when he fell he only fell on clouds and pillows."  At times I wish I lived in a world like this too, and I'm glad Edmund could use his imagination to deal with something that is difficult for him.  We are definitely making progress!

You're a Grand Ole Flag

4th of July Parade

This 4th of July was full of adventures for both our kids, but Edmund will be the one to remember them as he wasn't the one to sleep through said adventures.  Upon waking bright and early Edmund dutifully reminded us to pack his trike in the trunk of Daddy's car because he was going to ride it in a parade.  Our neighbors had let us know about a bike decorating event at Central Park in downtown Durham and we made plans to meet them there.  When we arrived the kids chose red and blue balloons and paper flags to put on their trikes.  They then chose a variety of odds and ends provided free by "The Scrap Exchange" to perfect their parade creations.  Edmund found bunches of aluminum foil and sponges cut into star shapes with which to decorate his trike.  Daddy helped Edmund string the sponges on some ribbon.  It was a very beautiful piece of work, which Edmund decided proudly to display on his trike's trunk.  After about 10 minutes of decorating Edmund was done so he and Daddy went to explore the fire truck that made a special appearance for the event.  While they did that I decorated Evie's stroller with her own balloon and flag.  She needed a festive ride if she was going to be in the parade too, even if she did sleep through the whole thing.

Driving the Fire Truck

At 10:15 on the dot the parade master called all riders to line up.  As patriotic tunes played on the loud speaker we made our way around the park.  There was a short episode of tears as Edmund had trouble understanding why he couldn't ride his trike at full speed.  "You mean I can't run into the people in front of me?"  Going at the pace of the crowd when you're a little kid just learning to control your speed is a bit "tricky".  It seemed he wasn't the only kid with this problem, as his friends Jacob and Abbie also found it a bit trying to correct their speeds.  Edmund's tears were short lived and he returned to his happy self.  The parade reminded me of old timey photos of 4th of Julys past and I couldn't help but think this is one holiday that time hasn't changed much. When the paraders finished the route there were popsicles waiting for all. This was the perfect way for us to cool down in the sweltering heat.

After the parade we returned home and cooled down before hosting a neighborhood ice cream social.  Due to the heat we socialized quickly before heading back inside.  Edmund went down for a late nap, which fit our plan perfectly.  Our goal was to get him to sleep a little later than normal because for the first time since he was born we decided to take Edmund to the fireworks.  And since Evie goes everywhere the family goes. she was going to get to see some fireworks too.

The fireworks weren't to begin until 9:30.  Edmund's normal bedtime is 8 in the summer, so this was also our first experiment with purposely keeping him up.  Not only were we taking him to a place with loud noises, which has always been a source of stress for him, but we would be taking him when he would be on the verge of exhaustion.  Steven and I knew this could be a great experience for all of us or one that could implode at any time.  We decided to risk it.  We thought the odds would be in our favor since we invited our neighbors and their children and Edmund is much more brave in the presence of friends.

"American Flag Evie"

At 9 pm we packed up the kiddos and headed to Kenan Stadium, home of UNC football, in Chapel Hill.  As we walked from the parking deck to the stadium, Edmund, Jacob, and Abbie talked about how excited they were to see the "boom booms."  When we entered the gates we all received glow stick necklaces.  It's  been years since I played with one of those.  I love the crackle they make as you activate the glow.  The crackling sound took me back to my childhood and made me that much more excited to introduce Edmund to the fireworks.  We continued further into the stadium where Grandma and Grandpa had saved seats for all of us.



As 9:30 approached we were filled with anticipation.  I was more concerned with how Edmund would fare.  If he didn't like the fireworks we would be stuck for 30 minutes with a screaming child.  Finally the moment of truth arrived.  The first few booms went off.  Edmund covered his ears, but said "this sounds just like the fireworks in Mary Poppins."  So far, so good.  The noise got to be a bit much for him, so Edmund decided to don some headphones that Grandma and Grandpa had thoughtfully packed for him.  With the noise out of the equation, Edmund absolutely loved the fireworks.  Every time I looked down the aisle to make sure he was OK I observed the biggest smile imaginable on his face.  I was getting to experience one of my favorite childhood events again through his eyes.  And when your child is having the best time of his life it's hard for you not to as well.  "How did Evie enjoy her first fireworks?," you ask.  She slept through it of course.  

One World, One Sky

Standing on the Morehead Planetarium Sundial

This past Saturday we embarked on our longest adventure as a family of four to date.  I have been wanting to take Edmund to Morehead Planetarium for a while now, but because he is afraid of things that are dark and loud, I had been a little reluctant.  From what I could gather, the only show offered for young children still might have been a little "too scary" for Edmund.  Then a couple of months ago Aunt Alison informed us that a Sesame Street show was coming to the planetarium.  I did some research and decided this was about as tame as shows come, and decided Edmund could handle it.  I made some very loose plans to take Edmund on May 26th, but as you know, Evie arrived on May 25th.  Her arrival nixed that plan, but Edmund didn't care as he was still very apprehensive about going.  As Evie approached 4 weeks I started talking about the planetarium again.  Edmund still wasn't sure.  Then something timely happened--Edmund received a Curious George space DVD from Netflix in the mail.  In between the cartoon segments there are segments with real children learning things that are relative to the previous show's message.  In this case the children go to a planetarium.  Edmund got to see what it would be like and declared he'd like to go that very day.  It was settled.  We packed up the car and headed to Morehead to see "One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure."

We arrived at the planetarium with a bit of time to spare.  While waiting for the show to start, Edmund explored the gift shop.  It was his dream.  All his favorites in one location--dinosaurs, space, science, what more could a boy ask for?  We've made a note that we can do one stop Christmas shopping there this year.  After much debate, Steven decided to stay out and walk Evie around.  This was special as I hadn't had a mommy-son outing since Evie entered our lives.  Finally the doors opened.  Edmund and I went into the dome theater and took a seat near an exit in case we needed to make a break for it.  As we waited for the show to start, trivia questions about space and the planets played on the dome.  Edmund knew the answer to many of the questions and recognized several of the planets by sight.  I must admit even I am unable to do that.

Posing at the Old Well

At last a man came forward and let us know the show would be starting and gave us instructions.  The lights went down.  I waited for panic, but none came.  Surprisingly the theater didn't get as dark as I expected, and when the dome got slightly darker, Big Bird very kindly let us know what was about to happen.  During the show Big Bird, Elmo, and their new friend from China. Hu Hu Zhu, taught us about the sun, various constellations, and even traveled to the moon using their imaginations. We learned that despite being in different parts of the world, people, and "monsters," all live under the same sky.  Edmund answered the questions posed by Big Bird and his pals and seemed to have a great time.  When the lights came up the man running the show said people could leave or stay to see some more projections of constellations.  Edmund declared he was ready to leave, but even so, the experience had gone off without a hitch.


After viewing some of the small exhibits in the basement of the planetarium we decided to extend our outing.  I must mention that at this point Edmund received his favorite treat, astronaut ice cream.  I'd be lying if I said we didn't use this as a bit of incentive to get through the show without tears.  After the ice cream, Edmund and Steven walked around campus while I fed Evie.  Edmund knew just where he wanted to go, and according to Steven, led him to the Old Well without any help.  This is impressive, since we haven't walked on campus in about a year and the Old Well was visible when they started off.  I'm still amazed by Edmund's sense of direction since I get lost walking across the street.  When we met back up we made plans to finish our outing with a lunch on Franklin Street.  Even though it is a little tougher to coordinate these kind of outings with two kids, we pulled it off, and claim this adventure as a success.  

Evelyn Rose Pattishall is Here

Evelyn Rose Pattishall arrived on May 25th, and it's hard to believe she is now one month old.  We have had many adventures as a family of four already, but between feedings and the fact Ms. Evie only sleeps in someone's arms during the day (making it hard to type), I haven't had time to post.  I look forward to getting one post up in the next week because big brother Edmund has done some pretty silly things and had some great new firsts I simply don't want to forget.  

I need your help.  Now that we have a new addition the blog needs a new name.  I'm never very good at coming up with titles, so if you have a suggestion leave it in the comment box.  Perhaps your name will be the winner.  Until I'm able to get another writing minute, I leave you with this story.

Yesterday, while eating lunch Edmund asked if he could have some ice cream afterwards.  We told him he could have a little bit after nap for snack since he had been making very healthy snack and meal choices.  He informed us that in The Little Engine that Could ice cream was an after meal treat and that he wanted ice cream for after his meal.  Steven said "we'll think about it."  Edmund chimed in "I'm thinking about it and I want it after my meal."  Who could argue with that?

Edmund's Memoirs

Edmund With His Memoirs Doing a Silly Pose

This past Thursday Steven and I celebrated our sixth anniversary.  Yes I do know our actual anniversary is May 20th, but since we have no idea where we'll be on the baby front we thought it best to celebrate a little early.  May 20th will also mark the seventh anniversary of our engagement.  We were engaged in Central Park in NYC and that night saw Wicked for the first time.  So for this double anniversary of sorts, Steven surprised me with tickets to Wicked at the Durham Performing Arts Center (it's been named one of the top theaters in the country, so they know how to put on a show).  Despite being a bit uncomfortable at this point in my pregnancy, I had a great time.

Before the show we went out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Guglhupf, and got to reminiscing about how far Edmund has come in his language development.  This is one area where Edmund never struggled, as the first thing strangers comment on when they meet Edmund is how verbal he is.  While he was indeed talking at an early age, he still had cute ways of saying certain words.  We found ourselves wondering when in fact he replaced the "baby talk" for the more sophisticated vocabulary he uses today.

Here is a look back at some of Edmund's favorite toddler phrases.  Edmund loves trains and especially tunnels, but for toddler Edmund they were "choo choos" and "nunnels."  Any liquid beverage he referred to as "watoo." Edmund was and is still all about the food, but back then whenever he wanted to eat he'd ask for "nenu", which translated into dinner or any meal for that matter.  Dogs were "gogs" or "goggies."  This last one persisted into his third year, but sometime over the past year, "gogs" and "goggies" went the way of the others.

This reminiscing was not brought on by the thought of our new addition, but instead because that very afternoon Edmund walked into the house with a little booklet he had made while at Grandma's.  He had carefully written on the pages in a hard to decipher script.  But Edmund knew just what he had written and proudly declared to us that he had "written his memoirs."  And so we found ourselves asking the question, "how does a little boy, who just two years ago referred to "tunnels" as "nunnels", suddenly turn into a child who comes home talking about his memoirs?"  While we might scientifically understand the process, this is something I think all parents, including me and Steven, will wonder about as our children move from one childhood stage to the next in what seems like the blink of an eye.. 

Pullen Park

Captain of the Boat

This past week Steven started a difficult rotation in the NICU working two weeks of night shifts. While Edmund and I go about our day, he is at home sleeping. Fortunately, Steven got a couple of days off before the craziness began. We toyed with doing a simple overnight or day trip while he was off, but couldn't get coordinated enough to plan a trip. However, we were finally able to make it to Pullen Park in Raleigh. It had been almost 3 years to the day since our last visit and we were thrilled to return, especially Edmund. Although I doubt he had any memories of the place being that he was only 9 months old the first time. Pullen Park is about a 20 minute drive from where we live in Durham and somewhere we would have gone more frequently had it not been closed for two years for renovations. I must say the wait was well worth it.

Train Ride

We ventured out on a a beautiful Friday morning. I had heard crowds were ridiculous on weekends. Although we were lucky to be able to go as a family on a weekday, the place was still packed, but not so much as to not have a good time. Edmund has been begging to go on a picnic, so before we left we packed a cooler full of food. The park has a new, local food cafe, but the picnic seemed the more adventurous way to go.

When we arrived at Pullen Park Edmund was in awe of the multiple play structures before his eyes. There is a swinging section, a playground for children 2-5, a playground for children 5-12, a water and sand area, and a caboose. Edmund had to check it all out, but the caboose took first priority. After getting my ticket punched (a leaf from a bush) Edmund and I climbed aboard and kept our eyes out for Daddy who had gone to park the car. Edmund could have stayed in the caboose all morning, but there was more to do. After our caboose departure he went from playground to playground exploring all there was to offer. Mommy and Daddy even did some playground exploring of our own. The playground was definitely part of the park overhaul and well worth it, although I believe Edmund only used the swings his first time anyway.

After spending a good deal of time at the playground, we went and purchased tickets for the train that runs along the perimeter of the park. When we first arrived the line for tickets was long, but by the time we were done "playing" there was hardly a line at all. We were even able to board the next train with minimal wait. Edmund went through a period about a year ago where he was terrified of riding moving trains, but he has since conquered the fear and had a great time. He loved waving to the passersby as we rode around the park.

Carousel Ride

Next we decided to head to the carousel. I let Daddy do the riding with Edmund on this ride. I wasn't sure how much spinning I could take. The antique carousel was there on our last Pullen Park adventure, but now it is housed inside an air-conditioned building. This was nice for me while I sat and surveyed my two horse riders. Steven helped Edmund mount one horse and then got on one of his own. I had thought he was going to stand next to Edmund, but I thought wrong. I have to admit there were times I thought Edmund was going to fall off his horse as the carousel twirled around, but Steven assured me Edmund was holding on for dear life.

Once the carousel ride was complete and I was sure my child was still intact, we decided it was time to eat. Edmund helped choose the perfect spot for our picnic lunch and dined on carrots and apples. Although he had insisted we pack a PB&J sandwich, he didn't show it much interest. I decided to get one item from the cafe and chose seasonal veggies. I absolutely loved the roasted beets and squash I had, especially since my foray into cooking beets the previous week had been a disaster. I finally satisfied the craving for beets I'd had for several months. As we ate we watched children play ball on the lawn and talked about our final activity, a boat ride. While in line to board the train, Edmund had spotted some adorable kiddie boats and asked to ride. Tickets for all the attractions are just $1 each, so we couldn't refuse.

Picnic Time

Edmund boarded his boat and graciously gave up his spot in the front to a pair of siblings. This was such a kind thing as the kids in the front can ring a little bell, and Edmund clearly was in line first. Edmund still had a blast steering his boat around the water, and when the ride ended we helped him up front to have a turn ringing the bell. This was the perfect way to end our morning. The park does have a pond and paddle boat rentals that will open later in the season. We'll certainly check those out on later trips, but Steven and I knew we were already pushing our luck with nap time. As we headed to our car Edmund said "I liked this park," and I must say I agree.

Super Mondays

Parachute Time at Gymnastics

* Disclaimer: The photos are a bit shaky. It's hard to catch a 3 year old in action, especially when he doesn't want his picture taken.

When I began staying home full-time last month Edmund began a new preschool. He loved his old "big boy" school, but with the distance and cost Steven and I knew we would have to make a change. Edmund now attends Resurrection United Methodist Preschool which he refers to as "Jacob's School." (Jacob is our neighbor who also attends.) Despite the transition, Edmund seems to be loving Resurrection and often has to be told to wave good-bye to mommy because he is just "too busy." Steven and I have definitely been happy with our decision to move Edmund and Edmund has enjoyed getting to make new friends and having a multitude of play dates with the old.

Because Edmund only attends school Tuesdays through Thursdays we now have Mondays and Fridays to fill with our own activities. I've found getting around a bit more cumbersome as my pregnancy progresses, so I try to stick with simple adventures. Some days we take a short walk to the neighborhood park to skip stones in the pond, other days we go to our favorite nearby museums, and still others we simply set up shop at home doing crafts or playing sports galore in our driveway. Recently, we've gotten into a Monday routine of activities. This began when Edmund tried out gymnastics in mid-February.
In January Edmund passed by a gymnastics facility that had briefly relocated to a small mall in Chapel Hill and got it in his head that, by golly, he was going to try gymnastics. When he didn't forget, I signed him up for a trial class at Orange County Gymnastics. He had a great time and the teacher was phenomenal with his age group. I was able to register him for one month instead of a whole semester, so until the end of March, gymnastics is Edmund's weekly activity.

Because of Edmund's gross motor delay there are some aspects of gymnastics that are tricky for him, and he often wants to give up. The teacher and her assistant are both parents themselves and encourage him to try at least once. They don't force him to go beyond the one try and will give him assistance to build his confidence. I've been so pleased with this because, "I can't", is a phrase we're hearing more and more from Edmund. He's a kid who doesn't want to fail, so instead refuses to try. Knowing I was a similar kid myself it's important to me that Edmund gets that one try in. As much as I'm loving that Edmund is enhancing his gross motor skills in gymnastics, I'm even more thrilled the teachers are reinforcing the lessons we are teaching at home. Gymnastics won't be a long-term activity for Edmund, but I'm so glad he pushed me to sign him up. He's excited about being eligible for sports next year, and gymnastics has taught him that if you want to be an athlete you have to try and practice to learn new skills.

After our first day at gymnastics Edmund and I left and headed to Chapel Hill Public Library. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that story time for 3-5 year olds is offered just following gymnastics since our library in Durham only offers preschool story time while Edmund is at school. Edmund enthusiastically grabbed a ticket for story time that first day, and has asked to go back almost every Monday since. It is the perfect cool down after an exhausting physical workout. The parents at preschool story time sit back and for the most part act as if they aren't there. We are given the option to leave, but I'm so glad I haven't yet since Edmund has said some hilarious things.

Today's theme was bugs. The librarian asked the children if they like bugs. All but one little girl raised her hand. Edmund said "I like bugs, but not mosquitoes and bees because they sting." I'm with you on that Edmund. The librarian and the children spent the next few minutes discussing different kinds of bugs before jumping into stories and songs. Edmund said, "you know what? Beetles are bugs that roll poop." Not missing a beat the librarian said, "yes, dung beetles do that." Then Edmund replied, "you know what poop is? OK let me tell you." At this point I kind of wished I had left and sunk down against the wall. I wasn't sure where this was going. Edmund continued, "first you eat food, then it goes into your tummy and gets smushed up, and then it comes out your bottom." To my surprise the children took in this science lesson with no silly giggles and the librarian acknowledged Edmund and moved on. It was the parents who had to do their best not to laugh. Edmund remained engaged for the stories and had a great time with the hide-and-seek rhyming activity, "Bug Under a Rug." When gymnastics ends we'll definitely continue with story time, especially on those days we simply have to get out.

Our adventures over the past month haven't been exciting in the traditional sense, but as they've been things we would not have been able to do while I was working they're exciting for us. I'm liking our little routine for the moment, but also look forward to finding out what other mischief we can get into now that I have the flexibility.

A Sunny Day Chuckle

For any of you who don't know, though I suspect no one at this point, we are expecting an addition to our family in a few months. Extreme fatigue has been the name of the game for me lately and unfortunately that has meant not documenting any adventures. The following story occurred about a month ago. It is too good not to write down for posterity. However, if Edmund reads this in a few years it may just have to come down. There are no pictures, thank goodness, and after reading you'll understand why.

Edmund and I accompanied his friend Emma and her mom, Jennifer, to a park one day several weeks ago. Earlier in the day we had gone to visit some primates at the Duke Lemur Center. Afterwards the kids begged for time to simply run around. The day was absolutely beautiful. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the temperature peaked at 72 degrees. I even found myself talking as if summer were not far off, believing it truly were early spring and not late January. So of course we could not deny the children a frolic in the park.

It appeared everyone else in our town had the same idea as I had never before seen the park so crowded. There were at least 100 people, if not more, enjoying a day in the park. Jennifer and I stood talking as Edmund and Emma took turns climbing and sliding. Then out of the corner of my eye I spied a child relieving himself in an open, grassy area of the park. To my surprise and horror it was my child. I had asked Edmund multiple times before arriving at the park if he had needed to go potty, and he told me "no." When I finally got to my son I had no choice, but to let him finish. I asked him why he thought it was OK to go potty in the middle of the park. He said, "I chose a part with no people around." This was indeed the truth, but there was also no tree cover, so he was on display for all to see. I don't know how, but it honestly seemed like not a single person, except myself, witnessed the display. Warm weather it seems put the blinders on. All I have to say is "thank goodness."