City by the Bay

We had some visitors last weekend! Jake's parents, his sister Hollie and her husband Matt, his sister Rachele and her boyfriend Scott, and his grandma flew in from Texas and Utah to spend the weekend with us. On Friday we went stayed local, went to lunch and then to our beach and the tidepools. On Saturday we went into the city, and saw some sites. We went to Fishermans Wharf, Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, and drove down Lombard street. That night we met up with Jake's Uncle Rick and his daughters and son-in-law and went to dinner for some fresh seafood in Half Moon Bay. Sunday we took some pictures, which was nice, because we hardly ever take pictures of the whole family. The new pictures on the right are from the photo session, and I've posted a few more below. It was a super fun weekend, we had such a great time with everyone. We were so sad when everyone had to leave on Monday!

Lots of pictures below, captions on top of the picture.

Laraine and Randy, overlooking Devil's Slide. It was cold this weekend!

Rachele with a starfish at the tidepools:

Jake and Grandma Beaman, at the tidepools:

View near our house. I live in the most beautiful place in the world!

The newlyweds! Hollie and Matt getting their sketch done:

The lovebirds, Rachele and Scott, with Alcatraz behind them:

Me and my boys, Alcatraz behind us:

At Ghirardelli Square, after some yummy hot chocolate. Check out Micah, with his lips puckered, trying to get to that bottle! Keep your eye on the prize, buddy!

Micah and Grandma. He was so happy to have someone always available to hold him!

Our fam, in front of the Hyde Cable Cars.
From the photo shoot:

Me and the Bean:Thank you Beamans, for coming to visit! We had so much fun, and hope they'll come again soon. Our house is always open to anyone who wants to come for a visit!

Thanksgiving 2009

This year for Thanksgiving, we traveled down to Southern California to spend the holiday with my sister Susie and her family. It was an awesome trip, not only because every single member of my family was there, but because in a lot of ways it felt like we were going home. We love it here in our new place, but we still miss So Cal, and our family and friends there. While we were there, it felt like we were coming home after a long trip, and it was hard to go back to our real home once the weekend was over.

It was a crazy day, like usual. Susie has a great yard for all the kids to run around and play in. I think I saw Wyatt for 5 minutes total the whole time we were there. He was so excited to play with "the kids" but mostly to see his best friend/worst enemy/cousin Sheldon. He hasn't stopped asking about him since we left. When we get in the car now, he asks "see Shelly?" Its cute, but kind of sad. There are FOURTEEN cousins now, which means the adults are outnumbered. Yikes.

We tried to get some family pictures, but some people were sick, some people were late, so here is what we ended up with. Not our finest work.

[This Hart family picture has been removed at the repeated request of the author's sister]

Look for the rest of the pictures on AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com.

I AM THANKFUL to have spent Thanksgiving with the people I love most. I AM THANKFUL for my family. I AM THANKFUL for a loving husband who works hard at everything he does, my sweet and beautiful children, and for my job as a stay-at-home mom. I AM THANKFUL for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and for a Heavenly Father who looks after me and my family. I AM THANKFUL for prayer, for the Priesthood, and the blessings of the temple. I AM THANKFUL for my education, and for opportunities I have to learn and grow. I AM THANKFUL for my health and the health of my family. I AM THANKFUL for friends and family and all the many ways we have to stay in touch. I love my life and I AM THANKFUL for it!

"Well, of course he can talk! Can't everybody?"

He can talk! Wyatt is finally starting to speak. He has been saying words for some time now, but over the last month or so, his language has really taken off. I had been really concerned because his doctor told me he was "delayed," when we went in for his last check up. Of course when I talk to other people about it, they would say something like "Oh, trust me, soon you'll be wishing he didn't talk!" Which seems like a strange thing to say to someone. People said the same thing to me about him being mobile, and I can tell you, I have never once thought, "I wish Wyatt couldn't walk." Mobility and communication are not abilities I want taken from my child.

Anyway, just over the last month or so, he speaks in sentences (not full or complete, but he gets his message across), mimics EVERYTHING we say (sometimes not so good, sometimes hilarious), and sings entire songs. I'm still Wyatt-to-English interpreter for the rest of the world, but he has made huge strides. He loves to sing "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" and "Monkeys Jumping on the Bed." He says "I pretend______" when he plays with his toys, and "I scared of______" when he encounters anything he doesn't want to do. I think its funny when he picks things up from nursery and says them at home. For example, he runs around the house shouting "stop it!" and puts his hand up whenever he gets ticked. Mostly Lucy gets the hand, but the shower curtain, his toys, and I have also been at the receiving end. He spends a great deal of the day asking politely "baby leave?" Sorry kiddo, baby is here to stay. I guess he figures it doesn't hurt to ask. He'll be a good salesman someday.

It has made both of our lives so much easier. We (he) are having far fewer meltdowns these days. He genuinely seems happier now. And life is just plain more fun, now that we can interact and talk about the world. We went to Santa Cruz last weekend, and he was having such a great time talking about the "sea wyons, and the boot, and the pewican." He continually impresses me with his vocabulary. I'm always asking "where did you learn that word?"

He is such a great little kid, happy and smiling, always up for an adventure. He's so fun to be around. He has such an easy, pleasant personality. I mean, he is still hyper and naughty and prone to tantrums...he is a two year old, after all. Its so fun having the two kids now. They are so different and unique and I love them for that. Before I had Micah, I didn't understand how I could love another kid in the same way I love Wyatt. I thought, well I love this, this and this about Wyatt, and if my other kids don't have these same traits, how can I love them as much as I love him? I've now come to realize that I love each of them more because of the ways they are different. I am so lucky to have these guys!

Thanksgiving post will be up later. I didn't take any pictures (typical), and I am waiting for my dad to send me pictures of our family. When he does, the post will follow. We had a great time, and we hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!




Wyatt eating breakfast and laughing, reason unknown:

Oh My Micah (A Love Story)

I'm feeling like a boring blogger lately. Not much of relevance going on here. No job changes, childbirths, moves, death, destruction, or famine to report. Which means I'll talk about the boys. Actually, just Micah. Micah had his 4 month check up today. 14 pounds, 25 1/2 inches. Getting skinnier. I had high hopes for him, starting off so average, but it looks like he is heading in the same direction as his brother. Tall. Skinny. XL head.

I'm just starting to get to know Micah. I was talking to another new mom the other day, explaining our family's situation over the last year, and how we ended up here, and it got me thinking. I was kind of in a daze until just a few weeks ago. Right after Micah was born, the crazy hormones and recovery from delivery had me weepy, depressed, and overwhelmed. Just as that started to subside, Jake was transferred here, I became a single mom again, and Micah started his 3 month tour of Scream-Fest 2009. Colicky babies have a way of sucking the life out of everyone within earshot. I think I cried as much as Micah. And then we had to move. And the weepy, depressed and overwhelmed continued. I was barely keeping it together. You know how in swimming, when you have to hold a brick over your head and tread water for 10 minutes? I felt like that, only someone kept adding bricks to my load. And the water I was swimming in was the Sea of Depression and Anxiety. I felt like at any moment my legs were going to give out and I was going to get sucked in. I didn't particularly want to add post-partum depression to my list of Crap I Don't Want To Deal With Right Now, But I Have To Anyway, so I kept fighting to keep my head above the water. Fortunately (or unfortunately), I didn't even realize how down I was until a few weeks after the colic magically disappeared, I got my husband back, and my fog lifted. I'm not going to beat myself up for not being fully present during that time. I did the best I could. Suffice it to say, we're all feeling better now, and I am finally getting to know my son. And I have to tell you, he is delightful! What a charmer! I just can't get enough of this cutie pie!

His looks have really changed since he was born. He looks like me! Well, parts of me anyway. What an ego trip! I love it. His favorite thing is to stare at me. And stare. And stare and stare and stare, until I look at him, and then he breaks out a huge grin. And a laugh. I'm telling you, I feel like a rockstar when I am in his presence. I am the MOST fascinating person in the world to him. He can't get enough of me. My favorite time of day is in the morning, after he wakes up and nurses, and before Wyatt wakes up. We just hang out in my bed, flirting and laughing and smiling at each other. I'm always tired (NOT a morning person), but I love having that time with him. It totally makes the months of crying (mine) and screaming (his) worth it.

In addition to being perfectly adorable, he is very strong. This kid is going to be walking a month from now. Okay, of course not, but he is very strong. And determined. He rolls all over the place, stands every chance he gets. He is ticklish, and has such a silly belly laugh. I know this is turning into an obnoxious proud mama post. I'm sorry. Its not like he has turned out to be an easy baby, far from it. He is still a challenge. But his sweetness and cuddliness are shining through now, and I'm finally in a place where I can enjoy him. So indulge me while I brag and gush.

I'm so thankful for my little Micah Bean. I love that kid so much it hurts. I can't get enough of him. We had a rough start, but I wouldn't trade a minute. He is the perfect addition to our family. I love you Micah!

And the winner is...

Lillian! Your prize...

Thanks everyone else for playing. Jake was Space Ghost for Halloween. At his work everyone was calling him "Yellow Batman." Um, close enough, I guess.

Heather MHM, you and Kurt think alike. He suggested that Wyatt be mini-Jimmy for Halloween. Next year, when I get my act together, I am totally making them matching Jimmy Neutron costumes.

Heather OD, your comment cracked me up. Thank you.

Aaaaargh, Baby!

Halloween 2009 consisted of me taking the boys to Jake's work on Friday for their Halloween party, taking the party bus to the ward Halloween party and trunk-or-treat, and then pooping out on actual Halloween, during which we ate pizza and Wyatt slept. We got one group of trick-or-treaters, who got handfuls of candy from me. It wasn't really so much generosity on my part, its just that I don't like the sour AirHeads, and I feel bad throwing out perfectly good candy. We didn't take Wyatt out because our neighborhood is not really a good trick-or-treating neighborhood, and we didn't want to drive out and find one that is. Bad parents.

Micah was a pumpkin (look familiar? Wyatt was the same thing in '07), and Wyatt was a pirate. Not my first choice, but it turned out cute. I totally forgot about Halloween costumes until like, Wednesday, so we rushed out to find something, only to find...nothing. This costume was almost literally the only thing on the shelves. Except for Star Wars stuff, but honestly, I've never watched Star Wars, so I didn't even know what it was all supposed to be. Anyway, the guy who rang us up gave us this big lecture "Absolutely no refunds, exchanges, complaining, litigating, etc., etc.," and I didn't really listen, because I was just happy to have SOMETHING to dress up Wyatt in. Except then I got home and realized the pants, pirate symbol, belt, and something else, I can't remember now, sword maybe?, were not in the bag. Fantastic. I pay a ridiculous amount of money for this crap cheap costume, and half of it is missing. So the next day I went to the fabric store and got material. But my sewing machine is broken. To sum up the rest, I made Wyatt's pants with hemming tape, velcro and staples. My domestic abilities are bringing you to your knees, no? From far away, it looked good, but if you got within 10 feet, there were weird puckers, fabric bits sticking out, and lots of fraying. I was so worried his pants were going to split in half every time he took a step or sat down. I had to follow very close behind to keep disaster at bay. I'm sure everyone just thought I was a very protective mother.

The kids were a big hit at Jake's work. The patients and the staff loved seeing them. We scored lots of candy and kisses (Jake said I did a good job at hiding my panic every time someone grabbed a face, hand, or foot for a kiss. Actually he said there was terror in my eyes. I thought I did a good job at hiding it, guess not).

Wyatt has been hopped up on sugar and acting like a terrorist all weekend. Candy is almost gone, and then hopefully normal behavior will resume.

Pictures:

I will send you ten dollars if you can guess who Jake is dressed up as. I won't, actually, but try to guess anyway.

This was taken on the roof of Jake's facility. Nice view, eh?

Drumroll Please!

You asked for it...and I have to give the people what they want...

Our elevator! It sounds a lot cooler than it actually is. I guess the guy who built this house had a friend who was in a wheelchair, and he got a free elevator from somewhere (apparently there are free elevators in circulation?), so he put it in this house. Of course. My favorite part is the "in case of emergency, use stairs" sign. And there is a phone jack. In case you get stuck and need to call the fire department.

These were taken from my iphone, so that explains the quality. I can't figure out how to get video from my camcorder onto my computer (I've been told its quite simple, but no one has offered to give me a tutorial yet!).

Weird lighting is a theme throughout the house. One example:

Our family room, dining room, kitchen:

Don't judge. We're still unpacking and arranging.

We have an empty living room downstairs, so I want to get new seating for upstairs and move this stuff downstairs. That will be awhile though, we need an influx of cash-o-la. In the meantime, our downstairs sits empty, thus, no pictures.