Round 2

Gerrit made it 2 weeks before another cold got the best of him. He's back with a snotty nose. His spirits seem fine though. More of a pain for us trying to keep that nose wiped and snot off of us! Its getting to be that time of year; I'm curious to see how many colds he gets this season!

He didn't eat much for dinner which isn't unusual - his better meals are definitely breakfast and lunch. But he just had a snack - left over Belgium waffle that has been sitting on his 'food tarp' for a few days. I should see what else is down there and get it before Gerrit does! How gross; he didn't seem to mind the crunchiness because it is all gone! Guess I should take that has a hint to shake it out one of these days. It truly is amazing how much food ends up on the tarp in such a short amount of time.

New Fettish

I shouldn't be admitting this but I will because it is too funny. (Adam won't be happy about this being publicized). Anyways, Gerrit use to love to play with socks and would wear them around his neck or throw them etc. Well I think he has a new love - my underwear! After doing laundry I fold it and put it in piles in the basement to be taken up. Well, Gerrit loves to grab all the laundry and mess it up after I took the time to fold it. He now seems to pick out my underwear and wear it around his neck or whip it in the air. (No, I didn't take a picture of it!) I think it's funny - Adam doesn't. Adam would rather see Gerrit wear his around his neck then mine. When I asked Adam why - he said because he was a guy! As I write this Gerrit is playing with my laptop case and putting the strap around his neck. Maybe the kid just likes wearing things around his neck - no matter what it is.

Duluth

We had a nice short trip to Duluth. We stayed in a hotel with a pool and Gerrit and I hung out while Adam and dentist Dave raced the evening race under the lights. Gerrit and I went swimming and dined at a fine establishment next to the hotel (left w/ no car) - Country Kitchen (it really was quite disgusting but we made the best of it). The pool was nice and hot tub was even better we thought. Surprisingly Gerrit went to bed well considering we all slept in the same room. I had to sit in the dark for a few minutes but then was able to knit and watch Big 10 football quietly. Here is Gerrit's favorite part of the hotel:

We may have a safe cracker in the family!

Gerrit and I did attend the Sunday race. We stopped at friends' of friends' home who we've met through the cycling community. Gerrit and I hung out there while Adam and Dave went to the race venue early and help finish setting up the course (friend of friend put the 2 races on). Gerrit had fun chasing their dogs and the dogs had fun chasing him too. He fell asleep on the way to the race (10 min. from their home!) so he missed the 1st half of dad's race! When he woke up he enjoyed seeing the bikers and being outside.

The happy family overlooking the race and a beautiful view of Lake Superior:

The view minus the happy family.

Mom and Me Hat

I took off the 'mom hat' and went for a run this morning - by myself! When I returned home I was hoping to keep that 'me hat' on a bit longer and enjoy a few minutes stretching and drinking water (not too much to ask). Well, it wasn't more than 30 sec. after I walked in that the 'me hat' was thrown off and the 'mom hat' forced back on. Gerrit noticed I was home and of course wanted to be by me. I was able to get my water and when I sat down, he wanted some. Here I just ran 5 miles and my son was taking control of my water! How does a 17 month old get control so fast and easily? Not only did he drink most of my water, when I tried to stretch, he thought I was a jungle gym and climbed on me -jumping up and down once he was on top of me. So much for wearing my 'me hat' a little longer. I guess the 'mom hat' is pretty much glued on for the next 18 years...


PS - we are off to Duluth for bike races (yes, one tonight under the lights and one tomorrow). Here's hoping to a good nights sleep for all of us in a hotel room! :)

Studious?

Gerrit found Adam's old glasses that he uses for cycling. He knows he shouldn't play with them but seeing Adam wasn't around and I was too lazy to take them away, he had fun for a few minutes. Here is Gerrit looking quite studious:


Adam joined us a bit later (after Gerrit had his fill with Adam's glasses). Adam enjoys cotton candy - so does Gerrit. I'm not sure if studious people like cotton candy. Hmmm...

Mystery Solved

I am a bit anal when it comes to toys. I don't like to lose them so periodically I double check to see that all the sports balls are accounted for as well as nesting cups/blocks. Well, one nesting cup has been missing for almost a week! It has been bugging me and I've searched all the typical spots. With Gerrit throwing things these days, who knows where things end up! (And I know some of you are saying, get use to it - toys are lost all the time!) Well, Gerrit was stacking his nesting cups and will only stack so far b/c he knows when they don't 'fit together' he has the wrong order. So I decided I would find that silly purple cup tonight....and I did on the first try! It was hidden behind the couch cushions! I feel like I can sleep again - until the next toy goes missing....

Liberating

I usually write about Gerrit and Adam, but not this time. I'm writing about me! My new favorite thing is to drive home with the windows open and the radio cranked. Going 75 mph, my hair going wild, the warm temps, and singing to the radio is very liberating. I feel so much better when I get home. You should try it some time...

The Dismount

Adam has a new blog! I thought I'd pass it on to you - its about biking...surprised? (Eliza - you might have a new customer!)

Proof

Adam put Gerrit to bed tonight and the only thing that calmed him down was having the silly bike helmet in bed with him! He did have his arm on the helmet but it must have slid off by the time I got up there to take a photo. He is sleeping on his blanket from here. (Thanks Elizabeth!) I think we may need to get Gerrit a NEW helmet - one that doesn't smell of sweat!


I just realized how 'busy' his bed looks. No wonder the kid doesn't want to sleep! This sheet was given to me by my sister-in-law - its really cute but is a bit much with his bumper pad. I washed his other sheet and sheet protector and need to do the switcheroo; I've just been to lazy. Often when I think about it is when Gerrit needs to go to bed! Who wants to switch bedding when a tired kid is waiting. This happens to me with his laundry too.

Daddy Daycare

Today Julie had off so Adam stayed home and acted as daycare. The boys started their morning off by going to Area 57 for breakfast followed by errands in Roch. Nap time was a bit later than normal and it wasn't quite as long either. Dinner was in the oven when I got home which was very nice too.

I often hear about kids wanting to bring certain toys with them to bed and today Gerrit was no different. He wanted his bike helmet with him! Adam has given him his old one and often Gerrit will put it on and walk around the house with it, or if you are lucky, he'll put in on YOU! I wonder what people would think if they came in to our house and saw me sitting on the couch watching TV with a bike helmet on! They'd probably say the short bus makes a stop at our house too!

I guess the boys had a good day together but I know I have not been replaced. Case in point: Gerrit fell off a step and who did he want to comfort him? Yep - his mother.

Porkchop Challenge

Let the cyclocross season begin! Today we headed to St. Cloud for the first race of the season. We took our friends' 2 boys as they were going to the Viking game and the boys needed something to do. The oldest, Paul can race as a junior and Luke does the kids' race. It was nice having extra help with Gerrit too. The boys totally love going to the races and racing themselves. Here is the cheering section during Adam's race:


Adam going over a barrier. (He's the tall one in middle with a white helmet, dark skinsuit.) He placed middle of the pack and did well for the first one of the season.

At the end of Adam's race:

Wonder Woman

I thought I'd share a story about an amazing student of mine.

I was administering the 60 second sit up test to my 5th graders yesterday and when I went around to record the scores, I had one girl tell me she did 95! Ha!! Needless to say, she'll be redoing this test next week.

Errands

Tonight Gerrit and I hung out while Adam had meetings in the cities all day and a date with a favorite bike ride following the meetings. I had an exchange to make in Roch. so Gerrit and I headed down there after work.

First stop: JoAnn's. Patterns were on sale and I think I'm going to attempt to make his costume for Halloween (with the help of Omah - dutch for grandma). While looking through the pattern books, Gerrit was in the cart and grabbed a flier that was on the table. He spent most of the time looking at the flier as if it were a book! I was able to get what I needed with little issues from him! Omah would be proud - it was a Burda flier! He even looked at it while in the car going to our next stop.

Dinner: Famous Dave's. I had a hankerin for beef brisket and a corn muffin. I ordered the platter and chose sides that I thought Gerrit would like. I read somewhere that if the kids menu looks full of fried foods, to order something for yourself and share. Seeing he's not even 1 1/2 and doesn't really need a 'full' kids menu with drink and dessert, I decided to share my meal with him. He loved the brisket - who doesn't? And the 'drunken' apples were a hit too. He wasn't too keen on the garlic mashed spuds - a spawn of mine not like garlic mashed spuds? Anyways, the reason I write all this is because he did so well! Of course eating but sitting thru dinner with only me to entertain him. If you know the restaurant, you know the blue grass, upbeat southern music playing throughout....well Gerrit would take breaks from eating and bob to the music while sitting in the high chair. I couldn't help but laugh. And at times, he was watching sports center - football preview. Now that IS a spawn of mine! :)

Next stop: Old Navy for an exchange. I found the correct size shirt and was doing the exchange at the register and put Gerrit in the cart after I spent 5 min. chasing him through the store. (I felt bad he had been buckled in everywhere we went tonight, I thought I'd let him walk and be free seeing this stop was a quick one.) I tried just setting him in the basket part of the cart seeing it was just to keep him in one spot while I tended to business - well he tried to climb out! So, in the front he went. Well, he reached over and pulled a credit card application off the counter and began playing with it like it was a book. I finished the exchange and went to put the application back (he hadn't crumpled it or eaten it - it was in good shape) but he wouldn't let me! So, we took that in car too.

Next stop: Target - well it was suppose to be but I didn't feel like it so we headed home.

Once we were at home we learned that Adam was going to be later than he thought which meant Gerrit had to go with me on my run. It was getting dark so I quickly changed and off we went. I had a pretty good run - fairly fast considering I was pushing about 30+ lbs with me and I hadn't had much of a break all day (except driving in the car). After a little cat nap in the stroller, he was ready to play ball with Dad who rolled in shortly after we did.

A busy day but fun and productive - my kind of a day!

Tubby Time

Following a busy night at the park, a stop by the porch where Bryan gave us an ice cream sandwich, and a handful of chips thanks to dentist Dave, it was time for a tubby. (Adam met us at the porch after his bike ride - he flatted 6 miles out! I didn't have my phone so he slowly made his way home. Oops. We were having too much fun to stop what we were doing and find him on some country road!)

I had the camera with me from the park so I thought I would try and get a few pics of Gerrit's hair when its wet. It is getting so long but I just don't feel like dealing with getting it cut and seeing how he will respond. Actually, the real reason is he'll look like a big boy when it does get cut and I don't want to admit he's a big boy! (If you zoom in you can see what a messy face he had.)

Too Nice of a Night

As much as I wanted to sit on my butt and knit, it was too nice of a night to stay inside. Gerrit was very upset to see Dad leave for a bike ride without him (he went on one last night when I was in book club). So mom called Luke and Anne and asked them to meet us at the park. We got there a bit before Anne and Luke so I took some pictures. Gerrit is much more daring than he was last time we went to the park. He is willing to go anywhere! He even tried 'walking' down the slide! Luckily, he didn't try to slide down the fire pole!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The rest of the week looks great too - guess the knitting will have to wait.

Crusties

For some reason Gerrit had a ton of energy when he was playing on the couch. He would try and jump, but fell between the cushions, fall back on the pillows and just laugh. When he finally calmed down he looked like this:


That is not lint that is on his face, its crusties, aka boogers! And we thought his cold was getting better...

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree

Saturday Gerrit didn't take a very long nap in his crib. So Adam put him on his chest hoping that as they watch football he'd fall asleep. Well, I guess it worked - for both of them! They slept at least 1.5 hrs together on the couch.

Who's mouth do you think is open wider?

F1

I love Formula 1 weekends. Its a 2 day event that is aired around 7 am on Sat. and Sun. When Gerrit is up way too early (today it was 5:45!), Adam usually gets up with him because he wants to see the race. So I don't have to feel guilty that Adam is the one always getting up with him on the weekends! The only problem is there aren't enough races in a season. (Gerrit did fall back to sleep after a bount of being in our bed and then being brought back to his bed before returning to ours and finally falling alseep for a brief moment.)

Although I don't know if I should trust Adam getting up early with Gerrit after hearing about this morning. Adam said he fell asleep a few times and when he woke up the first time Gerrit was trying to plug the space heater in the electrical socket. The second time he fell asleep, when he woke up Gerrit was running around with scissors!

I guess what goes on when I'm not around isn't something for me to worry about. I was enjoying some blissful sleep.

Daycare

I should've written this story yesterday but I was too busy scrapbooking. I was the only one there last night (signs of a small town) but the owner didn't mind because she had a lot to do. I did get a lot done - I'm up to July - of 2007!

Anyways, my favorite moment of the day comes when I pick Gerrit up after work. He looks up, drops whatever he's playing with and comes running towards me with a big smile. Well I don't get to have those moments much this year as Adam is the one picking him up.

Yesterday when Adam went to get him, Julie (daycare provider) told him that Gerrit said "da da" when he saw him walking up the driveway. How sweet is that?

Grocery Bill

OK, last post for tonight. I've got pictures and paper to match as I'm going scrap booking Fri. night - in ZUMBROTA. Yes, our town of 2700 people and no traffic light has a store that sells scrapbook supplies and is hosting crops! Who would've thought? That is not my main reason for this post, just a side note I guess...

This morning I made Gerrit 2 eggs for breakfast which is ate quite fast. I gave him some dry cereal to munch on while I ate my cereal. We had time before we needed to leave so we walked to the coffee shop (a block away) and got Adam and I a Latte (helped with the cold). The owner knows us and gave Gerrit a free sugared (homemade) doughnut for the road. I didn't think he'd eat much because he had just finished breakfast.

Well think again!

By the time we got home (remember, its only a block away), he had 1/2 of it gone! He was mad I took it away to get him out of the stroller. As much as I cringed at the site of a sugar-faced, sugar-coated clothing kid (I like him to be somewhat clean when I drop him off at daycare!), it sure was cute to watch him eat the doughnut! I managed to get him back into his high chair to finish the doughnut - which he did no problem.

Thinking about what he ate for breakfast makes me scared to think what our grocery bills might be when he's in high school!

Watch Out Michael Phelps!

Here comes Gerrit Birr swimming the back stroke and breast stroke!




Bath time is a bit more entertaining these days. Gerrit is more daring at each bath. Tonight I didn't get a chance to rinse his hair before he put his head in the water. One less job for me! (Sorry for the poor light quality, the camera dimmed once I started recording.)

Learning a Lesson (hopefully)?

Can you tell what's missing?


Gerrit can't seem to understand that he can't hang on the net! We've tried raising the hoop but then its no fun to shoot (he can't make any baskets). He doesn't understand the many times we say 'no' or when we turn the hoop towards the wall. So, we just removed the problem all together. He looked at it strangely when Adam took the net off and knew something wasn't the same. For now we'll shoot w/o the net and hopefully we can put it back on in a few weeks.

Then and Now

Feb. 2008: Gerrit fell into the toy basket trying to get at his toys.

Seven months later: Gerrit climbs into his toy basket to get at his toys.

T

Maybe Not

After work today Gerrit was sitting on my lap and looking at his truck book. This was the same book that he was looking at intently yesterday that made us so proud. When I looked at Gerrit 'reading' the book today, I noticed it was up side down! So maybe we don't have a scholar on our hands unless he's one of those 'think outside the box' kids.

Double Scholarship

We are all battling colds at our house these days. It doesn't seem to stop us, just is a bother. Despite the runny noses we are managing to keep up with our busy schedules. Adam has spent the past 2 days fixing our 'sick' computer - it had a virus. Thanks to a friend who gave him guidance it didn't take a ton of time to fix. I was able to get a quick run in before dinner with Gerrit along for the ride. I started training for a 1/2 marathon (no time for a full one) which is in Phoenix in Jan. - hoping to visit Uncle Travis and Great Uncle Bryan for a long weekend. Gerrit kept busy doing his own thing as well.

He spent quite a bit of time looking at his book on trucks. It was fun to watch him sit amongst his toys paging through the book. For some reason he managed to move to the stairs and sat there to read it too.

Adam is hopeful for a double scholarship based on these two photos...

Gerrit has both brains and game!
(A little bit of mom and dad!)

Pumpkin

One of my favorite veggies to grow is pumpkins. I don't do much other than plant the seeds and let nature take its course. This year I planted seeds from Gerrit's pumpkin from last year as well as new seeds (in case the old ones didn't take). Well, I am proud to say I have 7 pumpkins growing and a few are turning orange.

I had heard that if you carve a name in the pumpkin while it is still young, the name will grow as the pumpkin grows. So, on one of the pumpkins growning from Gerrit's pumpkin seeds from last year I decided to try it. Hopefully I didn't wait too late and this pumpkin will still grow a bit larger before turning orange. We shall see; I'll keep you posted.

Football

Yesterday we went to Paul's first 6th grade football game. It was a beautiful Sat. morning so we went to check out the game. They play on the big high school field which makes it more exciting for a bunch of 6th grade boys. Here are a few pictures from our time at the game. We didn't win but its early in the season...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Busy Morning

I'm still working on getting a routine down in the mornings. I realize that sleeping until Gerrit wakes up isn't going to work well. I am hoping to get up early enough to work out (hoping is the key) and then get ready before Gerrit wakes up. The days I tried to get ready when Gerrit was up were disastrous! I made it to school on time, but had to listen to a whiny, crying child while I got ready; not how I had hoped we would spend our extra time together. When I did get up earlier and at least had my shower in before Gerrit woke was a much happier time-for both of us.

Today was one of those happier times. I was able to clean up the kitchen because Gerrit made his way down stairs and started playing in the dark. When I went to check on him (and turn the lights on), he was busy stacking - his latest obsession:

When he wasn't stacking, he was practicing his bike mechanic skills in the kitchen (where Dad left the pump):

He 'pumped' nothing for quite a while this morning too. His papa would be proud! (As I write this, the boys are on their way to Rochester via bike.)

Side note: when I got Gerrit out of his crib today he was able to get his crock on - he was wearing a fleece sleeper! It didn't fit real well but I give him credit for getting it on - standing up! It was fun to watch him catch himself before he fell over from loosing his balance!

Rite of Passage and Smart Dr.

Gerrit joined the many other toddlers today - he fell down a few stairs. He usually goes down the stairs just fine so I didn't think much of it when I heard him coming. Adam was in the office and I was in the living room. Next thing I hear is a thud, thud, I turn around and see Gerrit sliding down the last few stairs. Don't worry, he didn't fall down many, and they are carpeted. With a few hugs/kisses all was well again. We did give him some yummy medicine in case he had a headache.

During bedtime Gerrit is starting to sit through reading a book - he must be like his mother who didn't like to read when she was young! Anyways, tonight I realized while reading a Dr. Suess book, that they make sense read forward AND backwards! Gerrit liked to back up pages that were already read and the storyline still made sense. That Dr. was really thinking when he wrote some of those books....

Dumpster Diver

My schedule this year allows me to be home with Gerrit in the morning. I don't teach 1st period so I don't have to leave real early and Gerrit can wake up on his own (which is earlier than I'd like!). Anyways, we have breakfast together and then get ready for our day casually. Today I was taking care of things in the kitchen and when I am in the kitchen, Gerrit usually is too. He likes to open the garbage can and see what he can reach and throw back out on the ground. Then we tell him to get out and pick up after him and he walks away from it for a few minutes and then he's back at it again. A nice little pattern that gets old real fast especially when he pulls something out that makes a huge mess!

I guess he was still hungry after eating a whole package of instant oatmeal and some melon. What he found in the garbage was his leftovers from dinner Sunday night (which he had some on Mon. for lunch). He found a french fry and started eating it! Nothing like a rubbery, cold, 2 day old french fry to finish your breakfast! It must have tasted good because he ate the whole thing!

Last Day of Summer

We've had quite a Labor Day! Adam golfed with a few biker guys and I played tennis with one of the biker guys who doesn't golf. (Gerrit went to Dahlen's for a bit during this time). After lunch we regrouped and headed to Lake City. What better way to end summer than swimming at the Lodge. The heater is still on in the pool so its perfect for little limbs.

Gerrit was in the pool a very long time. I was in the pool with him while Adam biked to the gathering w/ a few of the guys. Gerrit spent a lot of time putting his face in the water and even blowing bubbles (and drinking a bit as well). Here he is putting his face in the water after dinner when dad arrived to take over.

Where's Gerrit?

Here he is!

Its always fun at the pool because we tend to be the only ones that use it! Even though its a community pool for those that have condos there, we rarely see anyone else by the pool. Such a shame, but great for us. The kids love to raid the pool room and get all the fun toys out (look at the left corner of the picture) - Adam and Gerrit had fun with the blue whale for a while.

Following swimming and dinner, Gerrit got a quick wash in the tub.

Ya, Abby joined him. (I figured I'd get a picture of them in the tub to use at their high school graduations! Abby is a year older than Gerrit and has a sister now, so Gerrit will have his pick of the Rockne girls for prom!) We later thought we 'lost' the 2 of them as we couldn't find them for a few seconds, only to find them in a bedroom, with the door closed, hiding in the closet! We said we wouldn't worry about what went on in there until they are older!

We had a nice weekend, didn't get any 'work' done but we celebrated the end of summer in style! Its back to reality - at least for me as kiddies come tomorrow. How many days till June?