The Value in Silence

I don't get a lot of silence in my life. Maybe at nap time if both boys happen to go to sleep at the same time but really I go from work---noisy---it is always an adjustment for me to be in the high school hallways at the beginning of the year---to home---noisy---3 year old constant talking and baby babble drifting in the air at all times. Therefore, recently I have turned to two sanctuaries, Quaker Meeting and acupuncture, of silence. Really it is to refuel and have a few moments of time for myself to think and regroup.
Quaker meeting for me is place where I go to get answers that maybe are troubling me or just in need of being silent and still for an hour, a place of worship or meditation. And although acupuncture is a treatment for my pain with vulvar vestibulitis, which has been plaguing me since Aram came along, it is such a refreshing way to get a medical treatment to sit for an hour in silence focusing on myself and my healing process.

I did not realize that I was in need of such a thing-quiet time that is, until my mother pointed out that that is  why she went to Quaker Meeting at times when my sister and I were young girls. Silence, is never talked about as a need for the human body, but I have decided it is as necessary as sleep. So to new parents out there, make sure you find a time for your silence as well as your sleep.

5..4..3..2..1...blast off

help I am stuck under the desk...someone?..anyone?

Over the past week Aram has become mobile. Yep folks he is crawling...well really moving around the room by getting up on all fours then back down, scooting on stomach, and rolling. His confidence to be on all fours and reach for toys or just shift weight from back to front, lay down then sit up is very evident.  He can go across a room backwards in no time! I have to remember to peek over at him more often so that he does not back into the fire place or shut the top of the stairs baby gate. As soon as it looked like movement was in his near future, we packed up all J's small parts toys and put them in the his room in drawers that J has to clean up when done playing with upstairs.

What is really funny, is all the spots he finds himself stuck in...under the couch, under table, under computer desk [peek photo above].

All I can say is Jasper better get ready because I am sure once he learns to move forward at any rate he is going to be chasing and getting into everything that big brother has and does.

Update: Aram now is moving forward in a formal crawl technique. Peek his first moves below...

Can I get an Amen....Jump it up!

I have decided that a jumperoo is a must own for your little one. So what if it is too big for you place, and you stub your toes on it daily, it will bring hours of entertainment for your pre-crawler***. I mean even tonight as we were making dinner he jumped to music and was as happy as a monkey with a banana (J's statement as I was thinking out loud today) for a good 45 minutes. AMAZING!

The only time is sucks is when he poops and it gushes out the bottom ofhis leg or up to hair line up the back so timing is super important. Now that we know he pooping schedule (for the most part) we enjoy hours of hands free fun and even join in jumping with him sometimes too! J has fun jumping with his little bro too!  They play this game where Jasper says "Jump Jump Jump, stop!" and Aram just laughs and jumps and laughs and jumps some more.

Like I said A-MUST-HAVE parenting "tool".

***Sorry if this sounded like an add but it is all true.

BLAH BLAH BLAH

me and the boys

 A few weeks back our little man said his first word... drum roll please ...yep it was..."dada". Now some baby experts would claim that this was merely Aram forming comfortable sounds in his mouth except that it was followed by "mama" a few nights later when we really wanted me to come nurse him to back to sleep. And now if you ask him "where is dada," I swear he turns and looks at Olde. And today, I kid you not, he said "hi dada" when looking at Olde from across the room, . Oh sweetness to the ears to hear your baby say your name.

Photo shoot 2011

too cute for words...just enjoy the photos!

Pictures tell all on our travels to Cali for Christmas!

looking for dinosaur bones at the beach

getting grandpops love before bedtime

letter written to santa, cookies  and oranges on plate with milk...Oh boy, I can't wait!

Not sure which kid is enjoying this gift more...

Bruce helping to put together the new tool bench

I want the big gift...

Thank you Nana for the morning of sleeping in you gave us!

with Cousin Issac on the rocking horse

the Saladin family keeps growing! one by one...and more to come!

It is always good to see old friends!

and friends we have not seen in a long time!

jam sessions make the time go by quickly

my styling little boy at family photo day

A kidless night

You know how sometimes you don't realize what you need until you get it...well, I had one of those episodes happen this weekend.

It had been one of those days were all my parenting skills had been done used up on a very tiring 3 year old that was not happy nor compliant in any way and when he asked to go into the playland at Freddies I said yes. So when Olde suggested that I go out with adults, have a drink and watch the new Portlandia premier. I hemmed and hawed over it...making excuses why I shouldn't...I am tired. Who will watch the kids? I can't drink alcohol, so why go? But with a little encouragement from a very supportive hubby, I had childcare arranged (THANK YOU SO MUCH to our neighbors Patrick and Becky for the last minute babysitting) and danced off to be with hubby and friends at a late night date of fun! As I entered one of my new favorite bars in NE portland, Moon and Six Pence, our friends looked so surprised to see me that I decided right then and there that I needed to do this more often. We did not see the Portlandia episode--as Portlanders like it so much the Hollywood Theater was full by the time we got there---but I had a great time being an adult and drinking some good old high fructose corn syrup root beer.

Thank you friends for the good times!

it is never too late...

A few months back we sent this out to our fans. I thought maybe a copy for Aram's digital babybook would be a nice gesture and this way he can't say I never sent one out for the second baby....I did, just a little late but better than never, right?

a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Clause

In the past, this time of year has always been hard one for me...I am not sure why, but I always got really grouchy and even my own family and friends would call me bah-hum-bug and the Grinch, but this year Christmas took on a whole new meaning for me...I think it started when J ran up to Santa (check out how real he looks) and gave him a hug that would melt even the real Gring's heart...and then asked for play dough and only play dough (as he didn't want to be greedy---his words).  J was so excited about the whole thing I plum forgot to be grouchy I think. It will be such a blast when both boys are so into the whole magic in the air thing...
Anyways, been meaning to publish these for a couple of weeks...so is how my life goes in the two child fast lane [smiles to self].

so happy to meet him!

Merry Christmas! Ho Ho Ho

Thanks to Super Realty Group for doing the photos for FREE--take that Macy's $30 just to sit on his lap crap!---this was a 20 minute wait, that J did not even complain about, well worth it!!!!