oh, just about everything

Iris can...

• ba like a sheep
• roar like a lion
• indicate who she wants by saying "ma ma" or "da da" 
• sign: nurse, pick me up, all done, more, feed me
• she's actually starting to walk more
• make a "cheese" face when she smiles for the camera - although I've never captured it properly. It involves her scrunching up her eyes and nose, and opening mouth for a giant smile. 



Super Cheese Face: head kicked back, face scrunched up, mouth big.

• clap, keep rhythm on her legs, and shake eggs to rhythm
• get whatever she wants whenever she wants it
• not sleep through the night yet. =(

I actually went into her room the other night and gave her a pep talk. it went like this, "I know you like to wake up and cry and then nurse back to sleep, but we're gonna be all done with that. I'll come in here and hold you, but you can nurse in the daytime." It amazingly seemed to help and for the rest of that night, and last night she enjoyed snuggling instead of nursing. This has cut down our nighttime visits from hour long snoozes on the mattress in her room to 2 minute cuddles. We'll see if it helps.

Inspecting the bath tub

______________________

Clark is pretty amazing. Almost 3 is a cool age, he's smart and remembers stuff, and makes things up.

The other day I said, "Clark tell me a story" This was his story.
"Once upon a time......
there was a bad guy....
and he stole our pig....
wait, he was a good guy......
there were two good guys.....
and they went in their car...."
(and he drives his car off of a cup onto the counter in a big downward swoop)
"and bbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (engine noises) ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh (screaming noises)
down
the end"

he's very creative.

We are reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingels Wilder. We read a chapter a day. I'd like to get the activity book from the library and do an activity for each chapter. The first chapter was about killing the farm animals to have meat for winter, the second chapter is about killing wild animals to have food for winter. The third chapter is about cleaning Pa's gun. Then Christmas, then how boring Sundays are, then a story about 2 bear encounters.  I'm enjoying it.  I think Clark likes the cuddles best.

_____________________________________________________
Well, we definitely have a gluten problem of some sort, and I'm bringing the kids to a specialist tomorrow. I've been glutenating them for the past few weeks.

little Iris rash from "cross contamination" - things that said, "made in a facility that also processes wheat"

the following week after having many things that were contaminated, and a few bites of gluten

and now after having cake and donuts and croissants.

this is Clark.

this is Clark too. =(

They are pooping more frequently, and covered in rashes.  It stinks, but we are enjoying all sorts of previously terrifying foods like cake, croissants, and we went to Dunkin Donuts!  I hope we get some good samples for the testing. I'll keep you updated about any outcomes.

Tom and I are also feeling "foggy" and tired this week, almost like a hangover, and having more tummy troubles. Boo this stinks!  We are all looking forward to being gluten free again, and eating our healthy diet of vegetables, fruit and meat!

Iris, you're doing it wrong.

 Here are the cuties, Clark is being Precious and Iris is being Adorable - just as they are named.

I get what I want.

Iris Lists

Here's some lists of things about Iris at 1 year and 3 weeks. This is originally a Clark list from the same time. The original can be found here . I'm just going to modify Clark's list by crossing things out and adding some so you know what Iris is up to, and can compare her to Clark as this same age.

IRIS Clark can make the following word-like sounds...

• mama
• dada
• yumyum
• eggeggegg
• oh no/uh oh
• bababababa
• do (dog)
• ttttttt (turtle)
• kkkkkkk (Clark)
• (S)he also "sings" along with me when I sing to him, its like humming with an open mouth and its precious.
• (S)he also sings a high note when I play the guitar or (S)he gets excited or when she plays with her Singamathing
• SHE can say mmmmmm after taking a big bite of food. 
• SHE has conversations back to you, even though you don't really know what she is saying.
• She makes engine noises when driving a car or train or other machine
• She can do our "pee pee" high five that we do with Clark after he pees on the potty. Its a high 5 with a "ptsss" sound
• She clicks at cats.

Iris Clark can...

• clap
• wave hello
• wave goodbye (although a minute after the person has left) (as soon as you start discussing going somewhere)
•  indicate all done (kind-of)
• shake his her head "no"
• stab with the fork (like a murderer)
• get food on his fork
• fork food into his mouth
• put the spoon into the bowl/food area
• put the spoon into his mouth (most of the food falls off, but he's getting better)
• open cabinets
• climb stairs
• go down steps face first - crawling style
• walk
• stand up without pulling-up on an object
• bang objects together
• "play" the guitar and piano
• climb into a cardboard box
• sit happily on his potty chair
• stand on the potty stool and get his hands washed
• hug
• kiss mama and dada
• blow on our bellies =)
• sing a very high noted aria.
• almost always sleep through the night until 6am (we are now working on a 7 am wake up/expect mommy to get-to-work time)
• Iris can additionallly....
• climb down the stairs, and slide down on her belly like a rocket
• eat with desire and pleasure
• slap her legs to a rhythm when certain songs come on
• dance back and forth
• swing her arms like holding a baby
• point
• feed us food on a spoon
• put food in my mouth, or in the Singamathing's mouth
• get us to do just about anything she wants at any time... go figure.

things Iris Clark doesn't like...

• wearing hats
• wearing his bike helmet
• being laid down to get his her diaper changed
• balls or balloons or things that are larger than his head.
• getting knocked over by Clark (or Owen) 
• not getting what she wants when she wants it

things that will make Iris Clark ridiculously happy...

• being ticked on his knees, toes, and neck
• extreme peekaboo
• running between dangling things (strings, curtains)
• watching himself on video
• Tom's funny faces
• plastic Solo cups
• Iris additionally loves
• dogs, cats, and any fluffy real or stuffed (including her Elmo chair and pillows)
• music
• being lifted up into the air in order to enjoy things on the ceiling or on a high shelf
• climbing up onto anything so she is higher
• Clark's funny faces
• food

things that Clark really likes to do right now.
Drag things around the house including:

• Alligator Piano/Xylophone drug by the string and mallet
• Puppy Dog drug by the leash
• Camera Case drug by the shoulder strap
• Shoes drug by the laces

Chew on things and walk including:

• very large cardboard boxes
• pencils, spoons, long stick-like objects (we remain vigilant for his safety)

Door interactions

• stand by the door and look out at the world
• bang on the door
• open and close the door (but not his fingers- that goes under "dislikes!"
• climb face first out of the doorstep

Other things

• walk around with toys and leave them scattered all over the house
• open and close cabinets and doors
• inspect everything that looks like a button, grommet, knob or protruding round thing (and see if it has milk in it)
• turn things like gears or handles and generally try to modify the environment
• this kid really loves mechanics.

Iris things

• play with balls
• play with cars or trains or busses or things with wheels
• color on a magnadoodle
• play with an electronic "ipad" thing that she got for Christmas
• anything that makes music
• opening and closing desk drawers
• taking things out of boxes, laundry baskets, cabinets
• putting things into boxes, laundry baskets, cabinets. 
• going down the slide
• swinging
• climbing stairs 
• climb the playground structure and go down the curly slide all by herself.

We love him. 
We do love Clark, be we love Iris too. She's amazing.
Love, Veronica and Tom.

An interview with Clark

An interview with Clark about the Meadowside Nature Center Preschool Field trip on Tuesday where we played in an indoor outdoor exhibit featuring caves with a slide, eating lunch outside, and playing with dishes.  

Clark, tell me what you did today.

Today, Kathryn said no pushing. I push Owen. No pushing. 

Tell me what we did today. 

We saw Owen and Emily and Kathryn and Sara and we went down the slide.

Where was the slide? 

In the dark cave.

And then what did we do?

Lunch. We ate lunch outside. 

What did you do after you ate lunch?

Sticks with Owen. We picked up fireworks. We collected fireworks. (referring to firewood. Then he sings) What's gonna work? Team work! What's gonna work? Team work! (because they worked together to move giant sticks)

Anything else?

Mommy, then I chopped fireworks for you. Then I made some coffee for you. Then we went down the slide. Then we hit. No hitting. 

Sleepover!

Clark and Owen at preschool, well, making a train on our train table, and Abby, another friend and her barbie.

Abby is pretty cute!

 Ok, so here's the sleepover photos.
Our poor friend Kathryn was abandoned by her husband as he went to Jordan for 11 days to do some top secret military stuff. She was soley responsible for care of her son, Owen, for ELEVEN whole days. We took pity upon her and took Owen for the night. It was super fun. What did Kathryn do with her night off? She took her dog to the vet because Iris fed him grapes. Not fun for her, sorry Kathryn, at least you got a break from Owen. 

The boys are reading a Thomas book.

They are playing bumper cars.

And a long bath for all 3 kids.

 

with silly faces

and bubble beards

her royal adorableness

oh so cute.

It was fun. The end.

January cooking!

Tom made Tom Ka Gai, a Thai Coconut Lemongrass soup with chicken.  yummmmm

It has been a tasty month for us.

Recently, Tom made the most delicious steaks ever! It was Filet Minon steaks from our Amish dealer (grass-fed, organic, local) wrapped in yummy bacon, deliciously seasoned.  

Clark is a great helper in the kitchen. Here he is measuring Thyme.  We are making Pistachio Encrusted Tilapia

and getting ready to pour it in the food processor (don't worry, I'm careful about the blade!)

and here he's grinding up the pistachios and seasonings.   

And after a long day of helping, we let the kids relax with their favorite snacks. Iris and her milk, Clark and his thumb.

Greenwell Family Photos

 

Since we were all together for the holiday for the first time in a few years, and we had two new babies since our last gathering, we got Greenwell family photos done!

top L to R: James, Dad, Mom, John. Bottom L to R: Monica, Ray, Tom, Andrea

beautiful sisters

Nana and Grandpa with the kids. Clockwise starting with Noon. Will, Ivy, Ruby, Clark, Iris, Ben and Sophia

Everyone!

Just the dudes

Clark has been sucking his thumb and finger lately, this was captured in the rare moment when his finger was out of his mouth!

Our baby Joy, Iris.

Our beautiful, laughing family.

We lined the kids up to take a photo of them all. We told them it was a race!

IT was hard for them to hold still while we got the shots!

On your mark, get set, GO!

Ivy didn't want to leave Iris.

Sophia wasn't sure what was going on.

When Ivy finally realized that Iris couldn't run (or walk!) she took off. Iris indicated, "I'm waiting for someone to come pick me up and run me over there with the big kids!"

Daddy's Girl

Oh, she's so beautiful!

and he's a nut!

and a wonderful big brother.

All the ladies!

what the big kids did while everyone was getting their family photo!

we're a fun group!

our family with Nana

helping Iris walk. This is probably my favorite picture.

Silly kids with Nana and Grandpa!