30 before 30

We made this list together and promptly realized we don't have much time. Dan is already less than a year away! Eeek! So we added a few big ones we can check off to give ourselves a jump start :) 1. Become parents 2. Finish house training the dogs 3. Teach the boys how to fish Summer 2013 4. Implement a laundry day 5. Work out regularly (at least 3 times a week) 6. Become doctors 7. Budget, check twice a month (and stick to it) 8. Family dinners. All at the same time. No TV. 9. Napa Valley wine trip 10. Build a snow fort with the boys 11. Date each other regularly, at least once in Minneapolis 12. Send e-mails to our kiddos regularly 13. Family gratitude journal 14. Have a family movie night 15. Join a church 16. Join a gym 17. Open a retirement account, and set up direct deposit 18. Run a 10K 19. Refinish a piece of furniture 20. Sing a karaoke duet 21. Take a photography editing class 22. Read “The Story” 23. Become a mentor 24. Become a mentee 25. Learn how to Zumba 26. Have professional family photos taken 27. Organize family photos- all 50,000+ of them! 28. Go to coffee drive through and pay for the order behind 29. Buy our dream house 30. Learn to find joy in the mundane every day life moments (In progress...)

We've got a screamer!

I figure biannual posts are better than none- so here goes nothing! Dubs: Baby Will is a huge screamer. No one believes me when I say this because in public and when he is around lots of people (like at gabu's house) he is happy as can be. But bring him home to normal life and he yells like no one's business. I can't believe how different two boys with the same mama and dada can be! Will is much less of a talker than Keaton was but very much more physically coordinated. He can crawl in and out of the bathtub and up on to the bed, balance to put shoes and socks on, and climb stairs without using the railing at 16 months! His words are still limited to (using quite a bit of imagination) "salsa" "gotcha" "mama" "dada" "papa" (whispered, always) "seh" for yes and "na" for no. He said "kehkeh" the other day for his big brother. He was sick for a couple days this week and it was just heartbreaking to hold him as he moaned and not be able to do much of anything! It was our first real fever in the house and hope it doesn't get spread around or ever come back! Keke: Keaton loves his little brother as long as he isn't stealing his Rusteze Lighting McQueen race car aka "Rusteze" aka "Rookie" aka "Lightning TheQueen." Keaton is growing like a weed- he is getting so tall. The pants I bought for him in the fall are high waters now and I tried to buy them big! Keaton is a sweet sweet boy- I want to give examples of just what I mean but there are too many to list. I can just tell he is going to have a very big heart. Dan and Jenna: We are crazy crazy busy. It's like life just keeps getting more out of control. I look back and wonder how we've even made it through but somehow we always do- less gracefully than I'd like, but whatever. Becoming doctors and have 2 kids is not small feat- I wouldn't recommend doing it all at once, either. Now we are adding a big move into the mix and we're feeling on the edge of insanity. We try to enjoy each moment we catch a breathe but in reality we're looking forward to a day when life is a little less hectic. I'm starting to wonder if that day will ever come- we'll see! Anyway, time to hit the hay so hopefully something I wrote here proves memorable when my one reader (myself) looks back on it someday! :)

Hello again, blog

It's been about a year since our last update so we figured it was time to write for our family's memories. When I was pregnant with Will many people told me the first year would be a blur with kiddos 22 months apart and I will blame my absence on that. It has been a blur- and went incredibly fast. Here is what the family is up to: Keaton is a talking fool. He speaks in full sentences all the time and seems to be capable of thinking through relatively complex things. The other day while we were chatting on the way to daycare he asked me very thoughtfully "Mommy, who AM I?" I didn't quite know how to answer a question that wasn't more like "Where are we going?" or "Why can't I have more fun fruits?" It was a welcomed surprise but I am sure I didn't answer perfectly. I'm sure there will be a next time. He is a very very sweet boy with beautiful curly hair. He is carefree and sweet and I love that he calls everyone his friends. His loves include stroller rides (in the double jogger), watching Disney movies, playing trains and cars, and make eating constantly. He eats so much I wonder if I am facilitating some sort of disorder :) We just try to make it healthy and between him and Will spend over $100/week!!! Geesh! He asks to listen to Veggie Tales music in the car, he corrects you when you say "oh my gosh" by saying "we don't say that," he makes up jingles for everything (ex: "we gotta jump") and plays some amazing make believe. Of course we are entering a very independent stage where he is constantly pushing the limit and starting to talk back to mom and dad. I don't love that so much. We are learning the best ways to discipline and how to teach him where he fits in with our family. Will is getting out of that little baby stage. This makes me extremely sad. He may be my last little baby :( He stopped nursing just before a year and now we are trying to make sure he drinks enough whole milk since he is still so little. I like him being little, though. He has a different personality than Keaton did at this age- a lot more cuddly and mommy-loving. In fact I hold him a large part of the day, at least while he is not eating (which he also does for a large part of the day). He says "momma," "dadda," and "dog." He has a hilarious walk which he started about a month ago but just recently began doing more full-time. He loves playing hide and seek and always knows where to find Keaton. He is easier than Keaton was in a few ways- he's a better sleeper (8-8ish, with two naps) and he doesn't eat everything off the floor he can find. He also doesn't puke nearly as much which means a lot less laundry :) He has a sweet little personality that I cannot wait to keep learning about! Anyway, I just wanted to write a little so we can remember this time in our lives. It is CRAZY around here- from sun up to sun down. We rarely have time when Dan and I can sit and talk. We usually get home from work around 6, make a mad rush for dinner, clean up, bath time, play time, reading, and bed time. Then do our chores around the house and go to bed ourselves. We are looking forward to Dan working less than his usual 80-100 hours a week and having weekends off at his real job. We can see the light at the end of this 7 year tunnel!!!

Honduras Medical Mission

We are excited to share with you of an opportunity that we have been preparing and planning for from the time we first met. Our earliest conversations as boyfriend and girlfriend were centered around a common desire to use our training and abilities for foreign medical missions. Now, more than ten years later, we have our first opportunity to travel to Honduras and provide medical care to the underserved in early August. We are traveling as a couple, not as part of a group, and working in The Good Samaritan Clinic of Predisan in Catacamas, Honduras. Predisan is a Christian organization that provides the only healthcare available to 7,800 people in the Olancho mountain region of the country. We will be serving in internal medicine and optometry and plan to help about 500 of those people in the week we are there. We believe strongly in the mission of Predisan and are thrilled to be able to be a part of it. We are dedicated to going on this trip and covering any necessary expenses that arise, but we welcome you to partner with us in this ministry. We appreciate any and all financial contributions to our trip. God has been so good to us in the past few years of studying and preparing for our professional careers. He has now blessed us with this incredible opportunity. We are thrilled to share our experience with you when we return and welcome your prayers and support. READ MORE ABOUT PREDISAN HERE: http://predisan.org/

Welcome Baby Will!

Baby Will is here! He arrived on Monday, September 12 at 12:08 am- 8 lbs, 2 oz, 20 in and absolutely perfect in every way. It was a looooong time coming (as I'm sure every new mother feels about the 9 months of waiting) but we are so thankful he is here!

Night #1
It all officially started on Friday night just before midnight. Dan and I had gone on a fabulous "last hurrah" date night- filled with dinner at our favorite Franco restaurant (escargot and seafood bouillabaisse...mmmmhhh), a long walk around Lafayette park, and dessert at the Melting Pot. That night I started having more contractions- they weren't super painful but were coming 2-3 minutes apart. After 4 hours if these I decided to go into the hospital. I left Dan sleeping at home with Keaton because I wasn't sure if this was the real thing- and it turned out not to be. I spent a long night being monitored with perfect-looking contractions that just making any progress...and there was no room in Labor and Delivery... Bummer. Night one of no sleep.

Night #2
Saturday night was spent with irregular contractions and I couldn't sleep at all. Night two with no sleep. Not a good way to welcome a newborn. Sunday morning I went back in and was admitted to labor and delivery. At this time I found out the contractions had been doing something (thankfully) and I was at a 3/4. At noon I started on a small dose of pitocin to strengthen the contractions which definitely worked. My, those contractions were intense! I spent from noon to 6 just hoping for some progress and at 6 I was at 7 cm. Time for the epidural!

Night #3
The epidural was immediate relief and I was able to rest- but not for long. My blood pressure dropped to 70s/50s and I felt TERRIBLE. Baby wasn't liking that either, so they stopped the piton, pumped me full of IV fluids and I swelled up like a...9 month pregnant swollen lady. I hadn't had any swelling the entire pregnancy so I guess I deserved a little bit :) The fluids did the trick and baby was doing better and my contractions were still coming naturally (without pitocin.) Yay! Now it was time to wait and watch big ole contractions on the monitor. I kept the dose on the epidural low and still had quite a bit of pain- but after all labor isn't supposed to be tooooo easy :) Dan and I took some time to watch TV which included everything about the 10th anniversary of 9/11. I had told myself having a baby on 9/11 was no big deal but after all the television I started hoping labor would continue past midnight so our baby could have a happier birthday. Around 11:45 I could tell it was time to push and the nurse started prepping the room. My contractions were coupling for some odd reason so I only pushed for the first one of each double. At 12:08 am "Baby Will" made his grand appearance and all was right with the world. He screamed louder than I thought possible for a newborn. I cried my eyes out I was so full of joy. Dan tried to calm him and he grabbed on to his pointer finger with a super tight grip. We were so caught up in the moment we forgot to take pictures! We did grab this one, though:



The next morning the sunrise out our post partum room was amazing. It was a moment I will always remember- gazing at William's profile with the sun rising as a backdrop.





Keaton and Gabu and Papa Kryder came to visit the next morning. Keaton brought "Baby Will" a music box giraffe stuffed animal and baby got Keaton a Big Brother book and a Thomas the Tank engine ("Captain").




Keaton's reaction when he first met Will. "Get up, baby!!!"

Ahhhhh.... It's been so long!

Even as I nervously prepare for the craziness that lies ahead raising 2 kiddos under 2, I have to admit these last few months have been nutso, too! Up until last week I have been working full time on internships for optometry school. Dan is his usual very busy, and Keaton is growing and changing a ton every day. Pregnancy exhaustion has been 10x worse with the combination. However, I have got to get some things written down about our summer and Keaton's latest...

Here are some photos from our MInnesota vacation visiting "Papa" and "Gabu"

Learning to fish with grandma


Daily nap with grandpa


The gorgeous lake through a fisheye lens


Dan conquering the wakeboard


I learned to knit and made two newborn hats for my at home amatuer photoshoot



Swimming in the lake


At a shower for Laura and Drew


Very pregnant


Keaton with his beautiful curls


Keaton's latests

Loves Thomas "Humbee" the Tank Engine- One day he just came home and started playing with trains and asking to watch Thomas on TV.
Counts to 10, but 5 consistently. Loves counting stairs and fingers and toes.
Sings the ABCs (mostly) and knows most letters. He LOVES letters and pointing them out everywhere we go.
Uses the potty sparingly. Potty training isn't something we've really tackled yet with a new baby expected soon.
Says full sentences and refers to himself as Keke. "Keke get down." "Humbee go boom."
Loves to have people kiss his booboos.
Enjoyed many many "pops" (freezer treats) during vacation in MN.
Answers "who's the president?" with an enthusiastic "Ohhhhh BAMA"
Follows simple instructions like "go get that and bring it to..." and "forwards, backwards, stop, go, run, walk, kiss, hug"
Points to "baby" and kisses him in mommy's tummy.
Navigates grandma's IPhone- especially loves to play Crash Kart

Going Private- NOT

Scratch that. Remember in grade school when kids would purposely say something untrue and then pull out an annoying tone and scream "NOT." ANNNNNYway... making a blog private is way too much work for me and my three readers. Haha. So, nevermind. We're staying public, folks!

In other news... check out my new "ticker" at the top of the page- over 17 weeks along already! In about a week we'll hopefully find out pink or blue. I'm sooooooo excited!

Baby Book

I recently remembered that I have a baby book for Keaton SOMEWHERE that I updated about a year ago. I cannot believe I have failed to keep it up. My only hope is that between this blog and memory I can fill in the details once I have the time to even find it. Life has been super crazy around here between Dan working ALL the time and me studying for a 14-hour-long boards test I have to pass in order to pay off my student loans. We call it a good day if everyone is fed before 8 pm and we get more than 5 hours of sleep!

Even with life in a whirlwind, Keaton manages to capture all of our thought and attention- he is just changing so much each day! He just stands and looks at us and talks without stopping for minutes- I can tell he thinks we understand but we don't! He has added a lot more words to his vocabulary- my favorite being "tank you." He points and names cars, cows, balls, books, mama, dada, gramma, papa, dogs, crackers, cookies, and babas. It's amazing to be able to communicate with him- especially when he follows directions like "bring it here" and "kiss/hug." Interesting toys he loves include jars of vaseline (which we finally taped closed), remote controls/cell phones, and cans of Coke. Weird favorite foods are lemons, canned green beans, canned peas/carrots and lima beans, jello, unsweetened iced tea, and anything he can "dip." My favorite new tricks he's learned is how to "pretend" to smell flowers in books and make the dogs slurping noises when he holds up his bottle or sippy cup for them. So funny! His oldie-but-goodie favorites are balls of any kind. He shoots baskets in our living room, kicks and throws, and has started to try and catch balls- a few times successfully!

About a month ago Mickey Mouse Magic Show came to St. Louis and Dan took Keaton (Mickey is his favorite). Also, Keaton recently returned from a guys trip with daddy to visit papa Steve in Palm Springs. From what I hear he had a blast playing in the pool in his muscle man suit and taking multiple daily trips to the park. Thanks for the fun week, Dad!


Monologue

With his tub of Vaseline :)


Mickey Mouse Magic


Dipping french fries at In and Out (don't judge- this junk food is rare! :o)


Swimming with daddy


Swimming with papa


Park time- check out the view!



Baby Update: Bean K (due September) is about the size of a lime- measuring over 2 inches!!! It's amazing such a little being can cause so much harm :) Those who see me daily know how incredibly sick and tired I am- much worse than my experience with Keaton. At least I am finally taking my nausea medication prn (only a few times a week) so I must be feeling somewhat better. I have no one to complain to because I tell Dan how exhausted I am and then feel guilty because he works 35 hours straight without food or sleep. Wow, am I ever glad I didn't go to medical school!!! Anyway, as first trimester comes to a close I am starting to get more and more excited about meeting this little bean. After boards my mission is going to be to find out where he or she is going to sleep in our 2 bedroom house!!!

Keaton's going to hate this in 15 years

Freeze!

We want to just freeze Keaton where he is right now. He is so so so much fun. He makes us laugh about every other second and is learning so much. We took him to the park today (without a camera, unfortunately) and he learned how to scoot himself to the edge of the slide and plunge down. He waved at all the little kids (and they were not near as friendly). Then he ran around the uneven terrain holding sticks and leaves and grass and "singing" at the top of his lungs. We think he had fun. He learns a few new words a day- which is just crazy! Aside from the general "mama" "dada" "papa" "nana" he started saying "book" and "ball" and signing "more please." It's just amazing to me what a little sponge he is. Then came the different syllables like "cookie" "cracker" and his latest: "purple." He says "dog" "goose" and "duck" along with frequent "uh ohs." The other night I was singing to him before bed and after every song I would pause and he clapped for me and then promptly signed "more." He also has just about every type of food can/jar/box memorized and signs "more" and points to them all day long. He is a HUGE eater. We're talking a whole can of green beans as a side dish. We're hoping his remaining at 50-60% for weight gives us the OK to feed him until he stops. He is still a boys boy and prefers dada and papa (grandpa) over the girls. I'm trying not to take it too personal. He LOVES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and we have had to start refusing as he learned to ask for it by bringing us the remote and signing "more please." Not good! He also loves to read, so I guess it balances out a bit :) He scoots back into our lap and brings us books to read to him. Such a lover, he gives abundant hugs and kisses on command :)

I guess that's all for now. It is much harder to keep up with a toddler's new happenings than it was a baby's. I'm sure I am missing a bunch in my above spewing of words, but I wanted to get a few of his activities down so we remember his amazing stage!

Maui

Swimming with turtles

Dan saying "hi" to Keaton

Whale watching from the shore

On our way to Molokini to snorkel

Our Very Hungry Caterpillar is ONE!

Keaton had the greatest weekend celebrating his first birthday with family and friends. My (Jenna) parents and sister came into town for the party (and for my mom to share her birthday with Keaton- a new family tradition). We went for walks in the wagon and hung around the house preparing for the big party. On Saturday night both of our families and a bunch of close friends joined up to celebrate Keaton for a very hungry caterpillar themed birthday party in honor of one of Keaton's favorite books. It was such a blast! Instead of being exhausted and crabby at 8:30 after all the partying, Keaton was WOUND UP playing with all of his new presents and giggling up a storm. What fun! Thanks to everyone who came and made his day special! We are so so blessed with amazing family and friends!

Playing with one of his favorite gifts- A Mickey Mouse card that sings "Hot Dog"


Opening his first present- A Tiger Xylophone!


Wagon Rides are a new fun activity


The Very Hungry Caterpillar party details







Birthday Boy


Birthday Bum


More pictures and 1 year stats to come!

KL Playtime

Apple Picking!

I've got good news and bad news

Well, not really. I just feel like life has been a little up and down lately. So, this post is all about highs and lows...

Lows

I am doing poorly in a class at school. Nothing extremely bad, just frustrating. I feel like I sacrifice a lot to study and it's not paying off. Bummer.

Getting out of the house every morning STINKS. Some days it's Keaton's crying while I shower. Other days it when he plays in the toilet if I forget to shut the lid. Kiddos cause those once a month bad mornings to become one a month good mornings. Their worth it, though :)

Being away from Keaton during the day. This links to a high, though, that his grammy is an amazing nanny :)

The combination of our three, unchangeable life choices cause high stress: Baby + Resident Daddy + Optometry School Mommy

Keaton has been sick for about a month- and has had to do a few terrible tests at a specialist's office. Sorry for the vagueness of this one, but we're just hoping he is ok!

Highs

We picked out pumpkins last weekend as a family and it is finally starting to cool down around St. Louis.

Dan is on a rotation doing more shift work (ie he gets off within an hour of when he tells me he will be home- YAY!

I have great friends- all of them understand me and make me laugh and help me make it through weekends of heavy studying. Love them!

Both Dan and I love our job choices.

I have the most patient and kind husband in the world, the cutest and funniest little baby, and the greatest parents, sisters, in-laws, and in law siblings.