Christmas 2009

How did I miss posting Christmas?! I have had these photos in "draft" for a few weeks now and looking back on them gives me good memories of the quiet and relaxing Christmas we had. It may have been our last quiet one for many years and I'm so glad that it was a perfect one. When Tristan came out of his room in the morning he came running to me and gave me a big hug like any good like son should. I loved that he thought of me first and the pile of presents second. Actually, he went from me to a toy he had for months and then on to the presents. We took a while and made our way through the paper and bags until Eddie came over for Christmas morning casserole. The babies let me even eat some and keep it down, what a nice present from them! After a relaxing morning we went to Jen and Jeff Benson's for lunch where Tristan was a hit. He walked into a house he had never been to and made himself right at home with all the people he has never met in his life. Being the only little kid, all the adults there loved playing with him and he was on his very best behavior. I love it when he makes me look good, but any mom knows it could have gone either way! For dinner we went to the Haas's and I was so sad that I didn't bring Tristan's Christmas pj's with me. He and Audry would have been SO cute together in their matching outfits. It was nice to sit and relax and I am so glad the holidays are over. The tree went out the day after and all the new toys have found homes.

Do you see what I see?

Two days before Christmas, Neil and I went to the doctor to see an ultra sound of our new baby. Boy were we surprised when there turned out to be TWO babies!! As the doctor was focused on the first baby, I saw to the bottom left two little feet dancing around. My heart stopped and then I started to laugh. I don't think I stopped laughing for about a day. Both babies are measuring perfectly and look great with nice strong heart beats. I wish someone had been taping Neil and I in that room watching the babies dance around like crazy. We were happy, shocked, excited, and to be honest a little scared. A few days have past now and we have gone through all the emotions. We have come back to reality and feel very blessed. I will be happy to see the first trimester end in another week and a half because I have been very sick and very tired. I think these little ones are going to sneak up on us faster than we can imagine. We are doing all we can to start to get ready. Time for the bigger car and a move from an apartment to a house. The search is on. We will do all the hard work on the out side, little ones, you just grow strong and healthy.

Zoo Lights

Tonight we went to zoo lights after seeing how excited Tristan was with the lights at the mall the other night. We had no idea we would all have such a great time. The lights were beautiful and the music was great. I have to admit I got a little choked up with all the holiday cheer tonight. Tristan was SO thrilled with all the light animals. He greeted each one with a wave and a hello, and was sure to wave and say good-bye to each one. A few he almost forgot, but a quick back track later just for a good-bye and nobody was left out. T and I took a train ride and made whistle noises the whole way which I'm sure the people behind us loved. We kept up with the little guy for the most part as he ran from one animal to the next stopping along the way when some good music hit him and he would dance in the middle of the path and get everyone laughing. We had some bad pizza and a wonderful pudding parfait that I might have to make at home this weekend. I wish we could go do it all over again. Maybe we will go again in January if we have another night that isn't too cold. Thankfully it warmed up for a few nights and there was no snow. We were warm and safe to run. These adventures are SO much better when we get to see them through Tristan's eyes. He would just stare at the lights and whisper "WOW," and that makes everything wonderful. As we were leaving and he was riding on Neil's shoulders, I looked up at the smile plastered on his face. It was as if he was so happy that he didn't know how to stop smiling the biggest smile even if he wanted to. T fell asleep on the way home, so I took him straight to his room to change him for bed. I was half way through changing him when he woke up, sat up, smiled at me, and then rolled onto his belly and fell asleep on the changing table with a HUGE smile on his little face. I wish I could make him that happy everyday!!

He knows it, but just won't say it...

Last night Tristan was not feeling well. I was at work all night, so by the time I got home both Neil and Tristan needed a break. T snuggled into a tight little ball on my chest and we watched a little tv. Out of no where, he untucked his little arm, pointed at my shoulder, and without even looking up said, "Mama." He's holding out on me by not calling me mom all the time, but man it made last night warm my heart in a way that wouldn't have if he called me mom all the time. He must have thought I deserved it for knowing how to cuddle him when he feels icky. It was a long night of cuddles and he was ever so nice to share his cold with me. I wonder if he will come in and cuddle me tonight when I feel icky?

The First Gift of Christmas

Tristan's first gift of Christmas arrived in the mail today for Neannie. Like any good grandma, she didn't make him wait for the 25th to start enjoying the present. He is having a great time with it and it seems like a good toy to keep him focused for a bit

My Little Star

The other day I was singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Tristan because he likes it, and all of the sudden he started singing with me. I could not believe it! It was really cute and a HUGE surprise because the kid does not even call me mom. We are finding out in the last week or so that he understands SO MUCH more than we think. He may not be saying things to us, but he is taking it all in.

I Hope This Works

In an effort to plan ahead and try to minimize the damage Tristan does to the Christmas tree this year I came up with an idea I hope will work like magic. Knowing my son as I do, if I made the tree totally off limits that would become his obsession and in turn would make me say "no" far too many times in one day. So... I found an extension cord where the only piece of it available to Tristan is one big red button that you can turn the lights on and off with. As parents we must pick out battles. If I can keep my ornaments in one piece and the real tree standing tall then I really don't care if the lights get turned on and off every now and then. We hooked it up tonight and T seemed to take to it pretty well. I think his only complaint would be that he can't carry the button around the room.

Getting the Tree

We picked out our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving and had a fun time running around the lot. We went to the same place we have gone for the last 5 Christmases because they have the most beautiful trees and I can pick one out in under 4 minutes. After we picked it out, the tree man was nice enough to make the tree dance around a bit for Tristan and he thought that was very funny. After Tristan had the tree secured on top of the car, it was time to head home and let the real fun begin.

He's The Man With All The Toys

We past another mile stone this evening... Tristan's first Santa picture. Since we are not going to be celebrating Santa in the traditional way, I figured I would never wait in line and make a big deal out of sitting on his lap. We went to the mall tonight to let T burn off some energy and as we walked past Santa we noticed there was NO LINE. I figured it was now or never so we went for it. Santa sang songs to Tristan while he sat on his lap and I think he would have stayed with him for a while because he was so content. The elves were very nice and held him while he was waiting to see Santa. I was glad we got a good picture because we were all working hard to make him smile. Through our yelling and making noises and funny faces he just gave us the look in the picture like we were idiots. I knew the exact moment we were embarrassing him when he raised one eyebrow just like my mom does. Too funny!

Tristan and I had fun the other day playing around with the camera. He got sick right after that and it was not until today that I was loading pictures onto the computer and stumbled across these. It was just the smile I needed to see after a few days of fever and crankiness. In these pictures I had flipped the screen around so he could see himself while I took pictures. He started making these funny faces and had both of us laughing really hard.

Oh, the things they learn

This morning I am trying to decided if it would be a messier future if Tristan learned to climb out of his crib or learned to undress himself in his crib. Well, I guess it does not really matter what I think because Tristan chose for himself today. Neil walked into his room to find him naked and running around his crib as happy as can be. Free as a bird! Thankfully this little birdie didn't leave any droppings behind, but that morning surprise can't be too far in our future. Guess I better look into some different pjs because I bought him almost exclusively one style of really great ones. Maybe I will just install a padlock at the top of them...

Pumpkin Face

Tonight we carved a pumpkin for the first time in years. This year was so much fun going to the pumpkin patch and picking our perfect pumpkin, but as Halloween was quickly approaching I feared it would be another year that our little orange friend remained faceless. Neil did all the heavy scooping while Tristan flung strings of pumpkin goo in Cooper's face, and Cooper ate as much as he could (which could be really gross in the middle of the night tonight). We had to call it quits when T started to slip in the goo and he went off to the bath while I mopped the floor. As I type, Neil in true great dad fashion is carving the face of Mickey Mouse in our pumpkin while Tristan is fast asleep. I can't wait for him to see it in the morning!

Table For One

I had a lovely date with myself tonight. I went to the movies and saw a comedy that was not funny and a bit blasphemous. I followed that up with a nice dinner of salad and wine at CPK paired a good book (The Shack). Somewhere in the middle of dinner, I was so into my book that I tuned everything else out. When I "came to" for a drink of wine, I noticed that it was quiet in my corner of the restaurant. I thought everyone had left while I was in my own world, but actually the tables had all turned over. I was surrounded by people who probably looked at me and felt bad for me that I was by myself. There were people from all stages in life: a family of five, a mother and teenage daughter, and a couple in thier fifties. They did all have one thing in common... nobody was talking. I waited a few minutes to see if I had just caught them in a lull, but I hadn't. The silence at my table was the only comfortable one in the place. I made a little vow in my head to try to enjoy my times with my family as we grow. I hope we laugh and talk more than we sit and stare.

Pablo Conway- Rose Period

I took Tristan to his first art class today. I went with high hopes of bringing home a Rothko-like painting for my wall. Maybe I set the bar a little high, but I still LOVED watching him go!! The first activity was a class mural and T did really well. This was the first time he ever painted with a brush and when I dipped it in the paint and showed him how to drag it on the paper you could see the excitement start brewing! The picture of the painting is the section where he painted. He didn't paint the orange or pink, but the rest of it was all him. He was SO proud of himself. After story and snack there was another project to do. The kids were to make a ladybug out of different pieces. I let T do most of the work himself as I fetched him the pieces. He was happy and I was impressed. As we were leaving the room I saw, to my surprise, these PERFECT ladybugs being carried out. All the spots evenly spaced and beautiful antennas right on the top of the head. Two things came to mind:

1- I'm proud to have a son who does art in the style of Picasso and not Thomas Kinkade
2- These are all the moms that will be up until 2am doing science projects in 10 years

I was glad that I was there to see the sparkle in his eyes when he first dragged that brush across the paper, and I can't wait to see all the beautiful colors in his future!!

DON'T "say cheese"

Last weekend we did a little family photo shoot with a wonderful photographer, Morgan Trinker. There were no sqeaky toys, fake backdrops, or crying babies in the neighboring cubical. It was fun, easy, and totally relaxed. Because it was so smooth and we just hung out while she took photos with little direction, I had no idea how they would turn out. Well, I got the photos today and it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about them! I am beyond happy that we have captured how happy we are right now with our lives in these photos that we will have forever. I am truly blessed and I can't wait to see what life has coming our way! I think we will see more family pictures by Morgan in the future... she is SO talented and I am blown away!! I just wish she didn't live in Salt Lake City...

Come on Moms... give me a smile!!

Today at group therapy, I mean MOPS, I didn't say what I wanted to. I actually didn't say much at all, so I thought I would say it here. It was one big "woe is me" fest that I did not quite know how to participate in even if I had wanted to. I looked at these moms who had children young and old and they were still hung up on the disappointment that came with the birth and beginning of their relationship with their kids. I just want my kids to know that I like being a mom and not just a mom but their mom, well, just Tristan so far.

I thought I would hear horrible birth stories where mothers and/or babies almost died, but what I actually heard were stories not unlike my own. My one experience so far was scary and went not as planned. It was hard, I could not push hard enough or long enough to get Tristan out so they had to assist. Instead of being sad and feeling like a failure, I choose to look at it a different way. This was the first of MANY times in Tristan's life that God will tell me, "it's not always about you... this is between Tristan and I, and I know what is best." I'm thankful that I get to be a part of my kids life and that I have been entrusted to guide them for the first part of their life. I wanted to speak up today and say, "I love being a mom! It's hard, but did any of us really think it was going to be easy? It's going to go fast, so laugh a little more." I didn't say any of that because, well, I just didn't. I think the only people that need to know that I am/was happy are my kids!!!

Surprise!

These days I try to multi task as much as possible, but sometimes that backfires on me. Yesterday, I put Sesame Street on and went to get in the shower. I closed my eyes to shampoo and rinse my hair, and when I opened them again Tristan had ever so quietly climbed into the tub, the little monkey! I was really surprised! Fully clothed, he looked up at me and started laughing thinking he was the funniest thing, which of course he was. He walked closer to the water and put his head down for me to wash his hair. I didn't, but I did let him play in the water for a bit... why not, he was already wet. I guess I will have to shower during nap time from now on.

Sharing

Tristan shared for the first time today! There was a shy little boy at Gymboree that wanted to help T and I throw balls into a big bucket but just could not pull himself away from his mom. I would hold a ball out for him and he would come over to quickly throw it in the bucket and run back to his mom. Well, Tristan must have been watching because after a few times, Tristan picked up a ball and took it over and handed it to Julian. He did this three times...it was SO CUTE! I must have looked like an idiot praising him like crazy with the hopes that this sharing thing would stick. Good job, Tristan!

Did you want something?

I taught Tristan to sign words to me and then I forgot to watch. I was in Starbucks picking up a coffee today and T was in his stroller.
The woman behind the counter said, "what does that mean?"
Me: "oh, that means please. He knows a few words- help, please, eat, all done."
Starbucks lady: "and what is that?"
Me: "Sometimes he puts a few together. That's Eat please, but you don't really want to eat do you?" And then I turned around to get my coffee.
Starbucks Lady: "I think he might want a banana"
As a look and now actually pay attention to my son, he is practically jumping out of his stroller pointing and staring down the bananas on the counter while continuously signing 'eat please, eat please, eat please!'
Thank you Starbucks lady for helping me be a better mom...

Sick Day

Tristan is in heaven today during my misery. I woke up this morning with a stomach bug and have the energy to do NOTHING. So far we have shared a bowl of pretzels and a box of Mac and Cheese. If Tristan doesn't take a nap soon I fear he might go into a tv coma from the amount of Sesame Street and Little Einsteins we have watched today. I am so glad T got a new toy last night, a toy dinosaur you put balls in and it lights up and goes through tunnels and stuff, it is keeping him amused for a long time. He must know something is up because every so often he will stop what he is doing and come give me a hug. What a sweet boy!

Lions, and tigers, and doggies? Oh my...

Tristan and I went to the zoo today with our friends Kendra and Blake. We decided instead of seeing as many animals as possible, we would put the boys down and let them see what they could see. Our motto, "if we only see 4 animals it was still a good day." Well, we saw 5 so it was a GREAT day! Tristan would walk up to where the animals were and just stand there looking around. You could tell the instant he saw the animals because he would gasp, point, and yell, "doggie, doggie!" Yes, today we saw 5 "doggies" in the forms of buffalo, elephants, monkeys, penguins, and leopards. We stood at the elephant doggies for a while and made thier noise and used our arms for trunks. He did not really like the Merry-Go-Round, but loved the train. He even learned to pump his arm and say "Choo Choo", well kind of. It actually sounds more like Ta Ta, but I'll take it!

I don't know who is having more fun?!

Ever since Tristan was able to move and play and actually look at and enjoy activities, we have been trying everything we can. I don't know who is having more fun with all this stuff Tristan or Neil and I. Judging by tonight, I am pretty sure it's Neil and I. We went to a really fun rec center called the Apex. It has lots of activities, but we focused mostly on the "pool" tonight. I say "pool" because there is a pool but there is also a lazy river, huge kids play area, gigantic hot tub, and two water slides. Neil actually took Tristan down the one with the tube...twice!! He LOVED it! Neil and I had so much fun we kept handing T off and running up the stairs to go down the slides again. But of course we went there because "Tristan would like it." Tristan was all over the kid area in places that should have scared him, under waterfalls that should have made him fear water for life and he giggled and laughed and could not get enough! Who's kid is this? I am thankful that he is so brave and hope he never loses that. I also hope that by the time we get to our last kid we don't turn into yelling, unhappy, lame parents and still have more fun than the kids at all these events. I never thought I would be the mom who is right in there with them, always thought I would holding the snacks and take pictures from the sideline. To tell you the truth...this way is A LOT MORE FUN!

Mom who?

Today was a great day. We went to the children's museum and played in the "big kid" room while it was not too crowded. I chased Tristan all through the squirrel tunnels. The funniest part was when we would be crawling around in there and Tristan would be laughing and having a great time with me, and then the big kids would come through...

He would abandon me like he didn't know who I was and do EVERYTHING they did. If they touched a light, he touched a light. If they went to the rabbit hole, he went to the rabbit hole. As soon as they were gone it was all about mom again. It didn't hurt my feelings too much, but I did feel like kind of an idiot sitting in the dark tunnels when he wasn't playing with me. One kid actually asked me, "who are you hiding from?"

It was a nice hot night, so we got popsicles while we played on the playground and then took a Trolly ride down the river. I think we will all sleep well tonight!

You have a baby...in a bar

I had so much fun tonight! After a long weekend at work I needed some T time, so Tristan and I went on a date. He took me to a bar called D-Note for a dance party. It was great!! They played all "kid friendly" but no kid music and turned the lights on to the stage where the bands usually play. They put kids instruments up there and let them go wild. What a great idea... I can't believe I have not heard of more places doing this. I kept saying to myself, "I can't believe I am hanging out with my kid in a bar?" Tristan was a hit and had everyone laughing. He danced for a half hour straight on stage and then went over to this red couch in the corner, climbed up, sat in the middle and I swear I heard him sigh. My friend Kendra and Tristan's best friend Blake went with us. We decided to go every Sunday we can because it's like Gymboree with a glass of wine!

I wish I was a better actress

Tonight during bath time, Tristan learned that if he filled his little cup with water and threw it over his head it was great fun to watch the water splash all over the shower wall. It was really cute and he did twenty straight minutes of power squats bending to get water. It was truly enough to make any trainer proud of their student. The problem came when he accidentally threw it out of the tub and onto mommy. I laughed so hard which just made him laugh really hard and do it again. I tried so hard to genuinely laugh when he splashed in the tub or against the walls, but he knew the difference when he hit me and I would laugh pretty hard. Why am I not a better actress? He was not buying it for a moment. By the end he was grunting like Monica Seles and shaking to stand up again. The dog got a bath, I got a bath, and the bathroom floor got washed. I pulled the plug and draged a kid screaming from the tub. It was fun, but I'm afraid he is going to wake up with leg cramps! After a little leg massage and a bottle (which he has not had at night in a long time) he was down for the count. Sweet dreams my little stud muffin!

How do you baby proof this?

Before I had a child I thought to baby proof you needed two things.

1- the word "No"

2- the baby proofing isle at Babies R Us

Man was I wrong. I don't even know how to protect my little one some days anymore except to follow behind him all day. He will do great for about a week and then all in one day he will be half pulling plugs out and reaching to touch them. While I recover from my minor heart attack of that event, I turn around to find him on the table!!! Today is seems every time I turn my back he is on the table. I don't know how he does it so fast!

I don't know what to do with the dishwasher? If we lock it closed he runs it all the time and if we leave it unlocked, well the picture speaks for itself. We tried some "baby proof locks" but it seems Tristan had already read the manual on those and had it undone in less than 15 seconds. I keep waiting for this stage to pass, but I don't think it ends until they leave the house. It just changes what you are proofing. First it's crib rails and electrical sockets, then it's matches and scissors. The final stage before leaving the nest is their bedroom window, your liquor cabinet and your keys. I'm just going to hide it all now so I don't have to worry about it again! Now if I can just figure out how to "Tristan Proof" my dinning room table...

All things Conway?

If you are reading this then let's get one thing straight. There's the right way, the wrong way, and the Conway! I don't promise to always be witty or even to spell this correctly. I am not too worried about my grammar but am very worried about losing the little lovely stories about my family. If you know me, then you know I have the worst memory so I must compensate by writing. I thought I might give this modern journal thing a try.

Pretty much what All Things Conway is about is everything that I think is funny, interesting, sweet, and worth remembering about my family's day to day life. I write this with full knowledge that no one else may find it remotely interesting, besides my mother, but I'm doing it anyways.

For example: Since I became pregnant two years ago, I have been reading a book called Snuggle Puppy first to my belly and then to my son, Tristan. Today it all paid off! All through the book you end up telling your little one how much you love them with some kisses and hugs mixed in. Today my 15 month old looked up and gave me the first kiss... my heart is melting again as I type this! My sister told me a year ago to just wait until they run up to you and give you a big bear hug because it's the best. Well, my time has arrived and it's everything she said it would be and so much more!!!!

It's moments like these that I will forget if I don't write them, so here they are...