Happy Birthday Shayna!!! and Much, Much More!

Shayna had a wonderful, double (shared with her friend Maryn) birthday party complete with indoor jumpy house, blowup twin slides, balls all over, and a bubble machine.  It was quite a magical time for all the little ones there in fact.

Jumping with Addison and a ball-boat of girls.

Breaking bubbles and blowing out candles.

Super fast sliding and special guests our Pittsburgh Grandparents Gerry and Judy.

Shayna continues to be her spunky self even though we continue to be sick and get ear infections (Shayna had her fifth (1st with tubes) and Elijah his first last week).  We've had 5-6 colds running though the family and one stomach bug so it's been a rough winter.  However, her labs were AWESOME last month; the best they've been since the beginning of last August.  They were so good, we were given our first 4 week reprieve since last April!  She got ear tubes put in the Monday Grandpa Michael was here (one of the many reasons I flew him out) and they have made a world of difference.  The spunky, fun, mischievous Shayna replaced the winey, clingy Shayna once all the pressure was relieved.  She did get the one ear infection last week but it had been almost 5 weeks since the last one when we'd been going 1.5-2 weeks between infections since December 11th.  We'll do labs next on Monday and will see her pediatrician Thursday to get all her three-year-old statistics and for him to tell us how wonderful she is (something we have yet to tire of hearing).

Shayna loves to show her independence by doing many tasks on her own.  She's learning how to put on her own socks and shoes, she loves it when we ask her to take her dishes to the sink after eating or help put things on the table for dinner, she will even redo things that we absentmindedly do for her like hanging her coat up.

Elijah WORSHIPS his sister.  Nahum and I get big smiles but he's just beside himself with joy whenever Shayna shows up.  It's amazing the abuse he takes and keeps on laughing.  Shayna's favorite game is "knock the baby down" which he willingly follows her into my room to play.  As long as both kids are laughing and there are no odd thunks, I let them be.  His current favorite game is "empty all unlocked cabinets" which means pots, pans, and tupperware all over the kitchen, and sometimes the house.  It would be "throw anything I can in the toilet or just try to climb in myself" if Nahum and I weren't so well trained at keeping those shut after the first couple mishaps.

He's at an age now where little things he does remind me of little things that Shayna used to do, stacking bowls, playing in the shower, putting things in containers then taking them out.  It's fun to see the similarities and differences and the little reminders of Baby Shayna.  He's starting to mimic some of my sign language too.  He says "all done" or "more".  He's also enjoying learning to use a spoon and fork.  I hand him the spoon or fork with food on it, he puts it neatly (most of the time) in his mouth, once the food is removed he holds it out for me to take and fill up again.

Nahum is at a conference in Charlottesville, VA starting today and he'll be home late Tuesday only to go again the following Sunday to Berkeley then Chicago to give talks.  He's just finished several hectic weeks of work by submitting 5 proposals last Friday and finalizing the hiring committee's decision (he's the head of the committee).  It looks like we'll see another astrophysicist at Virginia Tech next year!

I'm plugging along.  Waiting to be finished being sick and taking care of sick kids so I can get back to real workouts and fitness goals.  My mom Melinda gets into town next Saturday.  I'm hoping I'll be well enough then to kick start my spring training while she's here to help with the kids.  I'm loving all the hard work I did last November in the garden watching all the beautiful crocuses bloom and anticipating all the snow drops, daffodils, tulips, and irises plus all the trees I've planted over the last three years.  It could be a glorious spring.

 Feb 20: our first real snow of the season.  Shayna thought it was great! Elijah wanted to go back inside.

Feb 21: I have two kitchen helper now as Elijah loves to see what's going on (and "help") these days too.