nap time

Glorious nap time! Right now, the kids have been asleep, at the same time, for close to 2 hours. So I was actually getting bored and thought, “I should post something on vanderkwaak”. Harper doesn’t usually sleep this long or at the same time as his big sister. But right now, he has pneumonia and is drugged up on antibiotics and ibuprofen and he’s tired. It’s been a rough last 48 hours with fevers and crying and long nights. If his fever doesn’t break by tonight, we have to head back to the ER and we’ll take it from there.

Lots has been going on in our lives. I’ve finished the book Jess gave me for Christmas, “Animal Vegetable Miracle” and it has truly been inspiring for both of us. Since then, I’ve read about 8 organic gardening books from the library and am starting a trial on www.growveg.com to plan our (very) small backyard garden for the summer. Being home full time and having a garden will keep me and kids outdoors a lot this summer, something I’m really looking forward too. We’ve also signed up with our CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) for the summer for a half share, made some yogurt, brewed some beer, ordered cheesemaking supplies and are about to pick up a wine kit to make our own wine again. We’ve got so many jars for canning now as well and Reuben built a canning shelf in our basement. Southern Ontario is prime fruit and agriculture land and we are so blessed to live in a place with so many options for fresh pick your own fruit and vegetables. We’re really inspired to live and buy more and more locally. It takes more time and thought but we’re starting to build good habits.

Kids are doing well. Harper is 4 months old already and getting bigger. At his 4 month appt, the Dr wasn’t too happy with his weight – he has the same problem as Eden: he would rather self-soothe (by sucking his hands) than eat which then depletes my milk supply. He has to be swaddled if I want a successful meal for him. We took a visit to a lactation consultant again and have some strategies for improving his weight gain. His favourite toys are his hands but his feet are looking rather enticing lately. He no longer wants to be reclined but wants to sit up. He’s holding and grabbing and he laughs and smiles a lot (even when he’d not feeling well). He is really developing his own personality and feeling more like one of the family now to all of us and not just a “baby”.

Eden is getting more and more independent. She is such a joy to have around. She’s really been interested in time and dates lately – asking me what time it is, placing things in order “after nap time… after supper… tomorrow… today… yesterday”. She’s getting into weekly routines and always wonders when daddy gets to stay home with us. She is also really interested in reading and writing lately. She told me the spelling of her name today in the car and knows the letters of the alphabet and tells me them one by one when we’re reading books or completing her alphabet puzzle. She has always loved reading. Her favourite toys continue to be all her babies and stuffed animals. It’s dangerous to do laundry with her around as all of Harper’s clothes end up on her dolls. For a punishment earlier this week (for spitting out her food at supper time) I took away all her babies and dolls and animals for an entire morning. She would continue to remind me that after lunch, she would get them back. She had an emotional breakdown once as she really wanted to put a baby in Harper’s Bumbo. But then she put some blocks in there instead and pretended that was her baby. We’ll see if the punishment was successful next time she eats something she doesn’t like.

We’re nearing the end of our house projects which has been fun. We have a lot of small things to do but nothing major to occupy our (mostly Reuben’s) time and mental energy. So weekends have been really exciting and feel long and enjoyed by our whole family.

here’s some pics:
Eden doing puzzles with some friends:

Skyping with my brother and his wife who moved to Vancouver in January:

My brother coordinated the build of an outdoor ice rink in Grimsby – truly and inspiring project that brought his neighbourhood and community together. We went skating there for our February holiday “Family Day”:
Eden’s first time skating:



My brother and his wife (with my sister and her boyfriend behind):

I held Harper while everyone skated and then skated for awhile later:

One weekend after our biggest snowfall, we found a hill and went sledding. Here’s my best run down the hill:



Eden’s turn:


Reuben’s turn:


Reuben noticing a large bump right in front of him:

Reuben hurts his tailbone on the bump:

Well, by now both kids have woken up and my mom has arrived to spend some time with us so I shall be signing off for now!