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Haven't had a chance to post, but here's a link to a cute video on Grandpaparazzi's blog.

Reedy River Run

The first weekend in March, we did two of the events in the 2010 Reedy River Run in Greenville.
Friday evening was the Kids' Fun Run of 400 meters (about 1/4 mile). We drove out there the weekend before, to "rehearse," that is find the park (hidden under Academy Road), scope out parking, and see the course. We actually ran into the director of the run while we were there. He was very friendly.


This is a "Where's Waldo" type picture of everyone waiting for the start of the race. You can't see John at all, but Tony's head (in a beige baseball cap) is right in the center of the picture. He is looking down at John.


John's BFF James is in the center of the front row in the dark green shirt. James really wanted to win.


Here is the run just after it started. Christopher (in the stroller) and I ran as fast as we could back around to the finish line so that we could see the finish. I think that was about the same distance as the course. I was sad to see all the late people walking up. One dad said, "Why are you all running back this way?" I had to tell him the race had already started and we were racing to get pictures of the finish line.


Here are Tony and John finishing. They held hands the whole time.


Here is John contemplating the symbol of his victory. I looked at this picture four times before I realized he was surrounded by extra medals!


James and John sharing their triumph.


Local ice rink spokespenguin.


We had dinner at a rib joint downtown afterward.



The next morning at 9:20am was the 5K Run/Walk.
My plan was originally to have both Christopher and John start out in the stroller and John could get out and walk occasionally. However, I "wore" Christopher in the Björn, which made a lot of our fellow walkers smile. One woman even took a picture of him.


Also, in the 40 pounds of extra gear I packed for "just in case," I neglected to bring John's shoes. So he HAD to ride in the stroller.


We started at the back of the walkers, with several other strollers. I think there were about 2000 5K walkers. We did not finish last.


John did amazingly well in the stroller, his favorite activity was reaching out to touch the cones as he went by them.



We're not sure how this taxi got on the course. We made sure that no one got out and ran across the finish line...


I saw the clock reaching one hour right after we passed the taxi, so we decided to run to make it under an hour! We made it! Tony was later disgusted to find out our actual time was about 57 min 30 sec, since we started at the back of the race. I think his comment was "You mean we didn't have to run?"


At the end of the run, as we went back to the main area for the post-race festivities, we crossed the Reedy River.


We met up with BFF James and family at Falls Park afterward. Miss Kerri ran the 10K.


While the boys ran around, Tony enjoyed a little quiet time with a sleeping Christopher. This was Tony's favorite part of the day.


Here are our two future old farts, sitting on a bench, waiting for Miss Kerri and Andy to catch up.


We all had a great time, and the weather was good. It was pretty chilly, but very clear. I definitely plan on doing it again next year!

I call him "Fat-Leg"

A couple of unsung heroes

Topic Debate: Allowance and Chores

Tony and I have been talking about getting John officially started on an allowance and chores. Right now, he does a couple things around the house, but doesn't have a set of clearly defined responsibilities. Most of them are also only performed on request, and sometimes with 3 minutes of complaining for a 1 minute task.
-Feeding Keats
-Putting dirty laundry in the chute (always his, sometimes he empties our basket also)
-helping to put away the laundry
-taking his plate and utensils to the sink after meals
-setting the table
-helping to unload the dishwasher
He's also pretty good at fetching things for me when I'm nursing Christopher.

Now that he is starting to be interested in money as a tool, rather than just a round, shiny object, we think it might be time for an allowance... Our biggest debate is whether he should get it free and clear or whether it should be tied to a set of specific chores he is required to do.

I have been re-inspired to get this going by a post from my sister Jenny and a blog she follows, about a mom trying to correct a sense of entitlement in her older children.

I also heard a podcast on the Parents' Journal (a radio show) about a woman who actually gives her kids a set amount each week and they have to manage it well enough to buy their own food and clothes. Even when they were as young as 10 or so!

So, let the commenting begin. What did you have to do when you were a kid? What do your kids have to do? Do they get money from you? With what conditions? How do you think it should be? How do you think it might actually work in the real world?

Party!

Here are three of us at a birthday party for new friend/neighbor June. (Tony is manning the camera). June turned two last week, but her brother Henry, pictured on the left, is about 6 months older than John. The party game was to make little volcanos in play-doh mountains, with vinegar and baking soda. It was a hit because it was messy.



Tony was excited to capture the exact moment Christopher fell asleep.

Snow Day

Our friend Kerri hates the cold and is particularly disgusted when there is snow that doesn't stick well enough or long enough for the kids to enjoy it. We had such a day last week, and so she took matters into her own hands.
Her paper snowball fight was a hit! Literally.

After throwing snowballs got old, Kerri invented a snowball throwing obstacle course.

Christopher sat on the sidelines and watched.

Tummy Time with your host, Christopher

I'm actually a better baby-mom with Christopher than I was with John, even though I have less energy and time. I sort of "get" entertaining a baby now. Like any first time parent, I expected too much from John right away. Now I know how to just a take a toy and hold it near Christopher and just have a couple minutes of playtime, rather than thinking the perfect toy is going to hold his attention for 10 or 15 minutes!
Anyway, here's a fun tummy time I figured out this time, combining tummy time, with the help of a Boppy, and a mirror.

Chef John

John is getting to be quite the cook's assistant. As long as I have the patience and time to set up and supervise his tasks, he is quite capable!

Here is John with his own pizza. He kneaded the dough, rolled it out, pricked it with a fork, spread butter on the crust with a pastry brush, and sprinkled it with cheese.


Here is John with some pigs in blanket. I showed him how to do one and then he did the rest (15 more) by himself. It was great!

One of the tricks is to catch his attention long enough to show him before he leaps in to do it himself... Teach a man to fish...

Just a couple pictures

Here is John in my favorite folding infant chair. He was about 4 months old.


Here is Christopher in the same chair. He is about 4 months old.


Here are John and Christopher together.


Here is John putting "goggles" on Christopher.

Overnight Sensation!

[Imagine the Hallelujah Chorus playing]

Everyone slept through the night: dog, baby, pre-schooler, daddy, and mommy. John and Christopher were both asleep by 8:30, and not up until 6:45. Tony was home by 9. I didn't wake up to pee or have insomnia or have Tony's snoring or mask wake me up.

That is a bloody miracle.

I have just been smiling all morning thinking about it!

Now that it's happened once, I know it might happen again. My hope has been restored!