Boy Oh Boyers

Well, I'm sure you've noticed 2012 hasn't had any pictures of the day yet. Want to know what we're up to? Here's a quick rundown.

We got home from our 2+ week Christmas road trip (which covered almost 2,000 miles) barely clinging to sanity, and the very next day I (Kristy) started back to work for spring semester 2012, my first real time in the office since going on maternity leave. Tom started working part-time to stay home with the kids some afternoons. Both of us are finding never a dull moment in our professional lives!

Alder started the same Spanish immersion preschool that Rowan goes to. They both go in the mornings, and Rowan stays a few afternoons too while Alder comes home. Tom is home with Alder some afternoons, and Kristy is home with him the other afternoons. Alder has taken to preschool like a duck to water. He loves the other kids, sleeps well there all swaddled up in his dedicated little crib, eats like a champ, and smiles at his teachers. It's really a great feeling to know that for a few hours each day he's in a loving and very stimulating environment where he's starting to learn a second language already. Rowan is still thriving there too, working on reading and writing and having lots of fun (with the occasional mischief)! I don't think he's going to be the kind of child like his dad (never ever in trouble), maybe a little more like his mom (I didn't get into any serious trouble, but I was a bit of a chatterbox...imagine that...and sometimes got my "name on the board" for it)!

At home, the boys have such a great relationship. Rowan loves to help with Alder anytime we ask (I don't think he has ever turned down a "would you like to...." when it involved an opportunity to be a big brother). I love to see them snuggle up on the couch together, to hear Rowan talking to Alder in the back of the car when we go someplace, and to see Alder try to mimic Rowan in the bathtub. Wow, what a huge blessing these little guys are!

Well, I'm out of time for now. Off to work!

Our little guy has been with us for three months now, and it's amazing how quickly the time has gone. We've had so much fun getting to know him so far, and it's awesome to see his little personality emerge more and more each day.

Nearly two weeks ago I woke up on a Sunday morning violently sick; ended up in urgent care with an IV and several bags of fluids/medicine just to be able to drink some water. Days went by that I was sick, and Rowan came down with it too but he got better much more quickly. Upon hearing of our distress, Gram made an unplanned trip up to see us. When she was heading back home, we realized that she would be coming back in about 9 days because I have to make a business trip to Washington, D.C. and Gram will help out Tom with the kids. So, with me still on the mend from my sickness, Gram convinced me to let Rowan come to Georgia with her! (Of course we gave him the option of staying home and having regular everyday fun, but he can't pass up fun on the farm!) They will be home in a couple of days and it couldn't come a moment too soon. Tom and I miss Rowan a lot, but Alder misses him a lot too! Rowan is excellent entertainment for Alder. In this picture, Rowan was finishing up his shower, I was trying to get ready for work, and Alder started fussing. So Rowan sat down and started singing the ABC's to Alder, who laughed and laughed! What a great pair of brothers those two are.