Tickle Daddy!

April Odds & Ends

Today marks the second anniversary of the happiest day of my life. And in all honesty, I'm not sure it can ever be topped. Two years ago today we found out our dream of becoming parents was finally coming true. It was a wonderful day with happy phone calls and tears of joy. It was also the day I met my nephew, Joshua (who was born the night before) which just added one more layer of happiness. I have had a lot of especially happy days (the boys' birthday, our wedding) and I imagine I'll have more ... but this one was simply the best.

As the weather has finally warmed up (even if only sporatically), we have finally been able to get in a little T-ball with the boys and let me tell you, they are naturals! The bats are a little heavy yet but I think they'll gain their strength fast. We have also devised a working fence for now closing off the area behind our porch and garage (thanks Brenda!) that so far, has been working wonderfully.

We have been doing a wheat, egg, nut-free diet for the past few weeks and it has only been working OK so far. We probably should be excluding dairy too but we don't know for sure that they are allergic as they didn't draw enough blood to test (grr!). Tyler looks good and he hasn't had any break outs like he used to since (he'd start itching his eyes and get all puffy / hivey during or right after meals) we've started but I can't say that he's stopped itching. Sam has had a rough go of it the past few weeks. In fact, he's been a mess. His knees have been raw, his skin feels like sandpaper, and all around just not good. We had him on an antiboitic that helped a little but now that it's done, it's starting to come back. It's very frustrating to be trying so hard but not getting results. Unfortunately, I know the drill which I'm sure isn't exactly helping my attitude about the whole situation.

On the whole, the boys are doing very well. We are trying very hard to teach them words (still a little slow in that area). Sam has a new tooth but Ty has been stuck at 6 for months. We're graduating to 24mth sizes. Sam's hair is probably due for a cut, Ty's is finally starting to come in. They both love their mommy a little too much sometimes but since the same can be said for mommy, I guess I can't hold it against them.

Wagons, Spring, and Bowling

We got a new wagon for Christmas this past year and were finally able to use it this week! (Next up: The T-Ball set!) Daddy put it together and man, is it a smooth ride! I think they're really going to love it this year. We are so excited to go play outside and ecstatic about the warmer weather (as evidenced by these lovely crocuses blooming!). It's a lot of work to take the boys outside and I'm always a half second away from a skinned chin, but they just can't get enough of it.

We also got to try bowling this week as we celebrated our cousin Jeff's 11th birthday with some fun and festivities at the Hudsonville Lanes. They were both a little frustrated at why they couldn't play with all the balls on the racks... they just looked so fun! We tried to get them to roll them back and forth, but picking them up is just much more fun. Tyler lifted an 8 pounder off the ground before we diverted attention to simply running around the alley (I sensed impending doom for a toe or finger). We had a lot of fun celebrating!

The Boys

The boys had their 15 month check up this week and they are doing great. Tyler is 27lbs, 33.5in (so 90% for weight, 95% for height). Sam is 23lbs, 33in (so 40% for weight, 90% for height). The are growing and progressing as they should. Our only issue is the allergies... and there are a lot of them. We're still gearing up to start the wheat-free, egg-free, peanut-free (and more) diet so we're not quite knee-deep yet, but I'm already stressing. I've already been there and done that for me and it is just so much work (plus feeding in general with 1 year olds is tough anyway). Granted, things have progessed thanks to the popularity of gluten-free diets but I'm still not looking forward to it. And there are no guarantees that this will do the trick to help their skin either. If you could tell me that in one year if I'm vigilant, they will be all better, I'd do it 100% in a heartbeat... but it just doesn't work that way. Argh.

On a different note, Sam finally has another tooth! They both are becoming expert climbers and can be found standing on top of the dining room table if you don't keep an eye on them. We also have started to wear the 24month clothes -- check out our new jeans and stripe shirts! They aren't saying too many words yet but I think they know a lot of what we are saying. I ask Sam to get his coat, and he immediately goes and gets it. Oh and they magically have been doing much better at naps and nighttime lately. We put them down and they barely cry. It's amazing! They are growing up!

Spring Cleaning?

It was GORGEOUS outside this week! Sunshine, almost 70, dry pavement = kids outside! The only problem is that Sam and Ty tend to like to go in opposite directions ... and with the corner lot (= lots of roads), it's a little dangerous. We were outside for about an hour on Wednesday and when we got inside, it was nap time for all three of us. I was exhausted! Oh how I wish for a backyard with even a little confinement! Which got me thinking ... which lead to calling a realtor. Now, before I get ahead of myself, we have been sort of thinking about moving but at this point, it is still in the sort of stage. On the other hand, the boys aren't getting any smaller or slower and summer will be here soon. We are certainly realistic about the housing market and maybe a few years ago, we could have feasibly sold for $20,000 more ... but I guess the idea is the house we would buy would also be in the same position.

This whole idea is a lot more than I'm ready for at the moment. I shouldn't be quite so blown away, considering we've already been discussing this... but I am. I don't know if it's the idea of leaving the house we have called home for the last 7+ years, of leaving the "Ploeg" family house, of moving with toddlers, of having the house ready on demand for visitors, or of cleaning and purging the junk that has me so unsettled... but I am. On top of that, the realtor we talked to strongly suggested we hop to it if we want to hit the spring selling season. Argh. Standing in the need of prayer ...

March Madness

It's March! There has been a lot to celebrate lately! My really good friend Susan got married March 5 (and it was a fabulous wedding), my nephew Noah got baptised and my bro-in-law, Doug, turned 40 on the 13th, and my dad turns ... is it 59?... tomorrow! Somebody pull out a Celebration cake!

The madness at 2234 continues; nothing earth shattering but lots of climbing, talking, running, throwing, crying, and snuggling. Samuel and Tyler keep me hopping, always guessing. Yesterday, they decided they LOVE pork BBQ (and while I realize Tim Raredon is probably not my main blog follower, but yes, it was Sweet Baby Ray's) ... I would have never guessed. They would also do summersaults for fruit snacks... but I saw that one coming. Still no new teeth (we're stuck at 6 each) and no real words (other than ball, mama, dada, baba), but they definitely have a lot to say. Ty's hair / fuzz is really starting to come in and Sam is growing a mullet. Sam loves his new "big boy" shoes (non-Robeez); Ty refuses to move an inch in them. They are both getting allergy tested this week and we have their 15 month (a little late) check up next week. They broke the "T" key on our laptop. Sam is getting more clingy with Mama, Ty is starting to loosen his vice grip. They love to laugh.

March madness if in full force at the Ploeg's (and I'm not even talking about the tournament!)!

The Lawrence Welk Show

Oh Lawrence, how we love your show!