The Shank Family Blog

My boys are getting so big!

2009-09-28T09:09:00.014-07:00

Boy, they're a handful!!! This was after my birthday cake-
Simon definitely had his share on his face!

Lukas enjoying his blanket from Grandma Miller! Thanks again, Mom, for making this.

Gotta love the Bumbo

It is way past time to post some pictures! I can't believe how big my guys are getting and how much fun we're having this fall. Simon has become such an amazing big brother and is always ready to help and play with Lukas by showing him toys. Lukas is always ready with an "ah-goo" and a quick smile. It's also amazing to me that already, at 5 months, he ADORES his big brother. He watches Simon play and genuinely seems thrilled with his brother.

His acid reflux has also become much more manageable. I'm not sure if he's growing out of it or if it's the change we've made to him now taking formula after 5 months of fighting with nursing. He is overall happier and a huge eater and doesn't spend as many hours crying or screaming from reflux. That alone makes me so happy, although I mourn not being able to nurse anymore... I guess my big guy was just ready to move on!

As for Simon, we're laughing our heads off at some of the things Simon says these days... such as "Fish no drive trucks, fish no have hands" or when we say "Simon, when you're a bigger boy you can go to camp for a week, or go to school, etc...." He replies by saying, "I'm a bigger boy now"! So true, but I'm not ready for him to go to camp just yet (or school for that matter)!

Also- we had a very successful day (today) with potty training- so wish us continued success! I'll keep ya posted!

Makin' pizza! He loves making his own and eating a "Simon sized pizza". He's such a good helper in the kitchen and loves helping me unpack groceries after shopping.

Who ya lookin' at?!

Life these days...

2009-07-24T10:55:00.001-07:00

I don't know where the last few weeks have gone. I do know though, that every time I intend to post- something comes up. So, I'll do a quick summary of some highlights of the last weeks.

1) We attended a Celtic Woman concert the end of June to celebrate our 9th year anniversary. It was an incredible getaway. 3 hours free of any responsibilities was the first remembrance of life without kids that I've had in a year! The music was great and the venue at Red Rocks was awesome. This was the perfect date. Thanks Brad and Jessica, for taking the kids!

2) Hardwood floors are halfway done. It took us 3 weeks but we plodded along and finished 800 sq. feet. of space. We did our master bedroom and our family room and then decided we'll complete the rest (800 more sq. ft.) at a later date. We are, however, doing some light demo in our Master Bedroom and will be repainting it and redesigning it. Check back in a few weeks for some pics!

3) Family came to visit us early July and we had 3 full days of fun, cooking, picnicking and resting. Janet and Karin even made 5 lasagna and chicken enchilada dishes for us to freeze so I've got some easy meals coming. Lukas and Simon also got lots of cuddle time in with Grammy so we feel very lucky to have had them visit.

4) Lukas was diagnosed with Acid Reflux. This isn't a highlight- but at least gives me insight as to why feedings have been so hard. The medication that he's been on (Zantac) works better some days than others. We're still taking this one day at a time and are sad that he's in pain and is so fussy so often. His cuteness and his charming smiles help to make up for it though... Pray for us in this area and pray that he grows out of this stage soon....Acid Reflux can take 6 months to grow out of, so I need lots of prayer!

5) We went camping in Frisco last weekend with Brad and Jessica and had a great time. We intended to stay 2 nights, but left early on the second day b/c we wanted to have good camping memories and feared the second night would tamper with that. If you're friends with Perry on Facebook, definitely check out the pics of Simon playing in the dirt. He looked like a character from Lord of the Flies!

6) Lots of family time. We've been working on the house a lot- but have also had a lot of family time which I don't take for granted. It's been phenomenal to have Perry around this summer and have help while I get used to 2 kids.

7) A highlight for me personally is the idea I've developed for a design blog which will allow me an outlet for all my ideas and inspirations. Keep posted for the link and all the ideas that have been churning around in my head the last months....

Life is good- yes it's busy and many times, exhausting, but I feel blessed and enriched by my kids and husband. So- we'll keep plodding along!

Happy Father's Day, Perry.

2009-06-22T11:22:00.005-07:00

Why I love Daddy (more or less in Simon's words):
-He plays with me.
-He shares the computer with me.
-He's fun
-He makes cookies with me!

I agree! And on to some of the many reasons why I've got the best husband and father to my kids:
-We balance each other out
-He listens to me and supports me unfailingly
-He makes me laugh
-He loves us and would do anything for our family of four!

We went to the Cherry Creek Reservoir for Father's Day and had a blast.
Enjoying the marina and shoreline. Simon spent the entire time throwing rocks into the water.
It's become a tradition to enjoy a fresh strawberry pie on Father's day.
Simon wanted (but didn't get) two pieces!

Busy Days

2009-06-22T10:02:00.016-07:00

Where does all my time in a day go? I start most days by making a list of what I'd like to accomplish. My list usually consists of something like this..

-Normal household chores like dishes or laundry or paying bills
-Then, since I'm a creative person, I like to throw in a little project on the side such as, 'send out remaining birth announcements' or 'transfer flowers into flower pots'.
- I might even try to do something extra such as 'hem shorts' or 'pack up boxes to be donated'.
-Apparently I need to include 'sleep' and 'eat' because it seems these don't always happen.
-And then there's the ever present home improvement section that includes major items like 'door framing in our bedroom' and 'hardwood floors'. All of which we're doing b/c we're cheap and don't want to pay anyone to do the work!

I'm learning to be patient, when, at the end of the day my plants are drying out and left unplanted, I'm still running around in unhemmed shorts and Simon still hasn't had the bath he so desperately needs. I have to remind myself (sometimes hourly) that right now my day consists of about 10 hours of nursing, pumping, and bottle feeding. It's driving me quite crazy, I believe.

And yet, these are the memoirs of any mom out there and that alone, brings me consolation. So in the meantime, despite the home improvements (hardwood floors being installed)and projects left undone (so many I can't even list), I'm determined to enjoy each day and what it brings.

So, here are some pics- mostly to prove to myself that we still are having fun, in the midst all the busy days.
P.S- Thanks so much to all of you who responded to my plea for comments. You've me encouraged me in my blogging quest!

Lukas is a big boy- 9 lbs, 8oz. and looking very much like his daddy!
Gotta love Rice Crispie Treats!
Gotta love the nightcaps- Mudslides and the bottle of milk!
The occasional stroll- fresh air does wonders!

Family Pictures

2009-06-22T09:53:00.005-07:00

Lukas has been home for 2 weeks!

2009-05-30T12:57:00.009-07:00

My head is swimming from sleep exhaustion- but it's all worth it, because Lukas is home and we're all together as a family. It's been a pretty easy transition, thanks to many friends who have brought us meals and visited me to keep me sane with adult interaction! Simon has even handled it very well and is very affectionate towards Lukas, although he runs to me with a worried expression when Lukas cries loudly. He also thinks Lukas sounds like a sheep b/c he makes so many little grunts and grumbles.

Perry has also been a huge help despite pulling crazy hours with these finals weeks. He's been up most nights until 1am or later, in order to get his work done. We feel like roommates- seeing each other in passing, but know it will be much more calm this Wednesday once he's done with his DU Spring Quarter. Bring it on!

We're also looking forward to summer (starting June 10) where we can finally slow down and enjoy family time. Enjoy the pics!

Also- if you have a chance- leave a comment so I know that we've got people reading this. With our Facebook accounts and photos posted there, I'm tempted to not use the blog unless I know we've got readers. Not to guilt you into posting a comment, but I'd love to know that this blog is worth my time or I'm likely not to do it.... Any one want to encourage me in blogging?

Daddy cuddle time

Mom and her boys! I LOVE it!

I think this watermelon is bigger than Simon!

First bath at home.

Lukas is 6 lbs!!!!

2009-05-15T07:15:00.010-07:00

Our little guy is getting so big. Yesterday he weighed in at 6 lbs and today gained 2 more ounces! We couldn't be more thrilled with his steady weight gain and the prospect of him coming home by Monday, May 18! We spoke with our doc yesterday and requested that the gavage tube be removed and asked if he could, in turn, be bottle fed for every meal. So far, he's done fabulously with the change and is eating like a champ and nursing for me twice a day.

If this continues, we'll all be at home very soon! Please pray for continued success with taking a bottle every time and continued weight gain while in the hospital.

Weighing in at 6 lbs, 2 oz. Yeah!
4 days worth of milk- also weighing in at 6 lbs! HA HA! This really is very crazy, to be making 6 oz. at every feeding/pumping. All I can say is that Lukas better get VERY hungry VERY soon! Actually, this will store nicely in the deep freeze and be backup milk for us. I'd also like to donate some of it for other NICU babies who aren't able to get
milk from their mommas.

Fun at the Zoo

2009-05-12T08:47:00.005-07:00

Last Monday I needed to feel like life was somewhat normal so I planned a trip to the zoo after our visit to the hospital. My mom realized she hadn't been to the zoo for at least 20 years, so it was long overdue! We had a great time and Simon tried his first bite of cotton candy. At first he didn't think he liked it- it's like cotton afterall, but shortly caught on to the craze and now asks for it daily. HA HA!

Our Family of Four

2009-05-12T08:34:00.004-07:00

I thought I'd take advantage of a free moment and try to update you all as to what's happening with Lukas. He's what they call a "grower" and has no issues except that he's too "immature" to bottle feed for every meal- which is 8 times a day. For the past two days though he has been able to finish the whole bottle 6 out of 8 feedings, so he's getting better at it. I just wish they would let me take bring him home b/c I sometimes feel that the nurses are too busy and gavage him (use the tube to put the milk into his tummy) instead of taking the time to bottle feed him.

He's also gaining weight well and is 5 lbs. 14 oz.- so he'll easily be 6 lbs when he finally comes home.....maybe this weekend.... I can only hope! Although I'll be exhausted in a different way, when he comes home, it sure will simplify my life in terms of not having to line up childcare for Simon and I won't have to be leaving the house to get to the hospital- navigating through rush hour traffic. All this is taking it's toll on me. Luckily, friends from MOPS are helping with food and childcare- a huge help since Perry has class 3 nights a week and is stressed with finals right now.

Crazy times for sure! We've got the strength to take it one day at a time right now, but also know that we'll be ready for June 10 when Perry is finished with his DU spring quarter and his school year. Then we can have some much needed family time! YEAH!

All in all though, we feel so fortunate for how everything has worked out, despite Lukas' early arrival. He's a real trooper and is strong and healthy- thank God. Also- my mom was a lifesaver and got on the train as soon as Lukas was born and was able to help with Simon for two weeks. It was wonderful to not have to worry about him at all AND know that my mom was taking charge of the house as she finished up some projects I hadn't been able to get to! Thanks again, Mom! Words cannot express our gratitude for all your love and work!

Simon loves to draw

2009-03-06T21:40:00.006-07:00

We've been collecting some of Simon's drawing from the past months. Eventually I'd like to frame some of them- because he's such a great artist. I thought I'd share some of our favorites...

He has been drawing cars since January- this one has "a tail".
He brought this one to me this morning on his Magnadoodle
and told me it was a "Chicken and Cookie"! Love it!

Simon calls this one "Fish" but it looks like one of them is
a car. The other drawings do look like fish though.

House Pictures

2009-02-27T08:26:00.010-07:00

So far, everything has continued to run smoothly and closing on the house is set for March 17! The inspection went well and nothing alarming stood out. Of course, there are a lot of cosmetic upgrades we'll want to do, but all in all, we feel very confident about this purchase and are excited to be moving in within 3 weeks. I wanted to post some 'Before' pictures- so that eventually when we get around to the 'After' shots you'll be able to see some of the fun changes. Some of the renovations, like hardwood flooring, the updated kitchen and stair balusters/ handrails and removing the popcorn ceilings won't happen for another year, but I've become better at being patient. HA HA! I'm sure Perry would beg to differ....

Entry Way- lots of 80's pine goin' on......
We'll eventually widen the kitchen doorway, update the cabinets w/ 42"ers, install new countertops and enlarge the peninsula so it seats 2-3 comfortably.

The family room- directly off of the kitchen peninsula. This will be a perfect place for kiddos to play, while I've got view of them from the kitchen. We love the beams and the fireplace but will need to update the wood treatment on the beams, relocate the track lighting and add a "punch" to the fireplace. Perhaps a larger framed mantle, glass tile and slate hearth would be fun! In the meantime, my mom has generously agreed to donate her time and is willing to paint the fireplace white; that will be a perfect update for now.

Formal Living and Dining room. I want to install some funky modern wallcovering on the accent wall (only if it's washable vinyl b/c of kiddos) and use this as a dining space, extra kids' play area and possibly a small office/design studio... if ever time allows, that is....

Master Bedroom- I'm not loving the mirrors on Perry's closet! But am thrilled there's a walk in closet and master bathroom. I'm not sure we'll know what to do with so much space!

Anyway- this is a quick tour of our home. I'm excited to make renovations as time and budget allows, but need to be realistic as I'm unable to do many projects right now. Lucky for us, my mom is coming to "save the day" and wants to work on some painting projects while here. It will feel like home before we know it and I'm looking forward to hanging out with mom while she generously gives of her time and helps with moving. Moms are the BEST!

Housing Update

2009-02-18T09:40:00.003-07:00

It feels like a long time that we've been waiting to hear about the house. Our 8 day wait turned up with good news yesterday afternoon when we finally heard that the seller's bank approved the selling price and set a closing date for March 17. So if all goes as planned, moving day would be Saturday, March 21st. Anyone want to help?

As for the next steps for Perry and I- we need to get final confirmation from our lender, meet with the house inspector this Saturday and secure our home owners insurance- all of which should be pretty easy. I still won't feel like this all is actually going to happen though until we've got the house keys in hand, but I know that's normal.

For now though, I'll start some preliminary packing and organizing and maybe even look at paint samples...

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T19:35:00.002-07:00

Valentine's-Hallmark style would tell us this day is about spending money on loved ones and wining and dining the day away. In contrast, our Valentine's Day started out with Simon waking us at 6:15- so much for sleeping in on a Saturday! We didn't eat breakfast in bed but still enjoyed our crepes with whipped cream, bananas, nutella and strawberries.

The highlight of my day came next when I went shopping all by myself and realized I haven't left the house without Simon in tow for a month- it was wonderful to be on my own! I got some more maternity clothes at Arc Thrift and was happy to find a pair of jeans that aren't maternity but still fit me. I also splurged on two club chairs for $18 that I'll reupholster and will hopefully go in our new house.... one day soon.

Our afternoon entertainment combined grocery shopping and loading up on free samples at CostCo. Tacky, but fun AND I crossed a bunch off my grocery list! Score!

Lastly, our Valentine's meal this evening was not the romantic candle lit dining I'd hoped for, but was kid friendly Baked Ziti , with Perry doing the dishes afterwards. Now, while Perry is putting Simon to bed, I'm reflecting on how our lives have changed with the addition of a family and I feel such gratitude for so many blessings. The hallmark Valentine's focus has certainly shifted from amorous hearts/chocolates/gifts to seeing gifts in the little things- Simon's sweet voice waking us up and saying "Mommy, Daddy, all done sleeping", a much needed break where I could shop undisturbed, a somewhat calm meal where Simon ate his ziti without too much drama and an awesome husband who pitches in around the house. More importantly I feel such gratitude for a family to love and grow with. In my book that includes immediate family, extended family and friends!

So on this day, I'm so thankful for all my friends and family who have surrounded us during the last years. You've been there through the ups and downs- though it sounds so cliche, it's true! On this day and all others, I'm thankful for your friendship in our lives and we love ya lots! Happy Valentine's day to you!

Could this be our new home????

2009-02-09T11:48:00.007-07:00

Could we actually have our own home- rather than moving every year? The last few years of our lives have been very transitional and are getting increasingly difficult to bear with a 2 year old and one on the way. As Perry and I made the decision to continue his PhD- we felt it only made sense to bite the bullet and purchase a house, since we will be here longterm (at least 5 years).

So the quest for a house began a few weeks ago. With this being a "buyer's market" and low interest rates, it would behoove us to get serious about it now, rather than this fall after the our little guy has arrived and is a few months old.... Are we totally crazy?

With this decision, came a slew of questions... such as, should we buy close to Perry's work where we can get a 1980's larger house for our money OR should be buy between work and school where the houses may have more character and are older and cuter, but smaller? The more we looked, the more we realized that I can make any house look awesome, I can't however, create a larger space on a little floorplan, add a garage and provide the space we need with a 2 bedroom house (which is all we could afford in the more affluent area closer to Perry's university). This is all assuming that the neighborhood we purchase in is promising, safe and prosperous, for resale value, of course...

We stumbled upon this one and imagined our happy family in it, so put a bid on it about 10 days ago. We bid significantly less than the asking price, ended up being second in line for the house and were outbid. Our realtor told us it was a "long shot" and "not to count on this one". So we looked at other houses, but compared everything we saw to this one. Well, Saturday afternoon our realtor called us, sounding very shocked and said it fell through with the first bidders- if we were serious about it, the sellers would lower the asking price by $10,000 b/c they absolutely need to get rid of it NOW or it will be foreclosed upon.

We jumped at the chance- although still very shocked ourselves. It's now a short sale- which means if everything clears w/ the inspection and with our closing costs/downpayment, we could move in March 7th! Less than a month! Freak out!

There are still a few items that need to fall into place, such as the inspection, but it's become a very real possibility. I'll keep you posted. Hopefully this isn't a roller coaster ride b/c I'm not sure my pregant emotions can handle such turmoil, but we'll go with the flow and follow God's lead. If this all really does happen, I'll be thrilled to redesign this place on a shoe string budget and will be sure to send before and after photos b/c this 80's house needs some updates!

Winter Fun

2009-02-04T10:20:00.014-07:00

We made this Simon-sized snowman a few weeks ago. I think Simon was thrilled to have a snow buddy and daily kept an eye on him from the warmth of the living room. As it melted, Simon called him "Broken Eyes Snowman".

Passing the time- trying to find entertainment inside the house. It was all fun until he bumped his head, of course.

Baby Bump

2009-02-04T10:02:00.007-07:00

We're happy to be past the half-way point and feel the baby move so often. I am surprised, however, that sleeping at night is already uncomfortable, because I'm not that large yet! The snoogle pillow that Perry got me helps quite a bit, but takes up most of the bed and then its impossible to roll over without a huge production. Oh well- it's all getting me ready for sleepness nights in 4 months!

As for other stuff- we're moving along into February, but have had a sick household for about 13 days now. Perry has been sick off and on and now has a horrible sinus infection and has been off work for 3 days. I guess Simon and I are lucky to have only the normal winter sniffles. Yuck!

Christmas Pictures- Only a Month Late!!!

2009-01-27T15:16:00.006-07:00

Our Tudor Style gingerbread house. The last time we attempted such a feat was 10 years ago when we were engaged. Why has it taken so long to make another one? I'd like it to become a yearly tradition. Next year, let's do a contest! Anyone want to join?

Simon called it a "cookie house" and thought the chimney tasted the best.

Singing Christmas carols with cousins. It was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes.

Eating supper at the big kids' table. Simon was so proud of this milestone and ate extra mashed potatoes & ham to prove what a big kid he is!

Boys, Boys, Boys!!!

2009-01-27T08:10:00.001-07:00

I know, I know... I've already told you all that we're having a boy- but I wanted to include it in our blog as well. I'm super excited to know the gender and be able to plan for him. Yet, last night when Perry and Simon were being "crazy boys" and playing rough and tumble, the realization hit me, "I'm going to be so outnumbered- YIKES!" Ha ha! This will be fun... Also, it's fun to be looking pregnant now, rather than just chubby. I'll have to include pictures next time I've got the chance.

As for "nesting" and gathering everything together for this wee one, it should be pretty easy since we already have Simon's outgrown clothes. I also reworked the bassinet that my friend, Jessica gave me, so it's boy appropriate and found baby boy bedding on sale at Target (b/c Simon's was gender neutral).

Also- a VERY sweet moment to share with you- b/c boys are so sweet. Last night, well past Simon's bedtime, we were watching TV and could hear Simon singing himself back to sleep. Apparently he had gotten up to drink his water and then was taking care of the situation himself... We could hear him singing- to the tune of 'Twinkle, Twinkle'.. "Maggie, Maggie, Mommy, Mommy, Daddy, Daddy, hum, hum, hum" and variations of this. Then the part that really cracked me up was "Broken Eyes... Snowman", because he was reliving the snowman we made that melted and had "broken eyes" when they fell off. Too funny!

Playing Catch-Up Since Summer!!!

2008-11-30T18:41:00.004-07:00

Where has the time gone? It's the age old question all moms w/ little ones ask- "how can the days go so slowly and the weeks/months/years fly by?" Blogspot has not been my friend b/c it's a constant reminder of something else I need to get caught up w/ since our move in August. However, I'm trying to see the triumphs rather than the shortfalls around the house and the office is finally unpacked enough to do some blogging again. So here goes! Here are some pictures from early fall. Enjoy!

Fun w/ finger painting. The mess we make is worth it- we have such a great time!

Swimming at our favorite indoor pool. There was a 30 foot slide w/ lots of curly turns. Simon squealed w/ delight and hung on to mom or dad. This is a pic of the swan slide.

Train ride at the zoo. It was still warm and sunny so we went often.

A nearby park & a large pile of leaves. Simon loved "crashing" into the piles of leaves.

Just my size!!!

Simon vs. the Trumpet

2008-06-19T17:17:00.001-07:00

Family Photo

2008-06-17T09:58:00.002-07:00

Why is it so hard to get a family photo taken? I've been trying since Christmas to get a decent shot of all of us! Perhaps it's because all participants (Simon) won't look at a camera in the distance just because we tell him to or because we're seldom "dressed up" in what I'd deem photo worthy clothes. Anyway, mission accomplished. Much thanks to my mom who captured Simon's attention long enough to get a picture. Way to go, Grandma!

We finally got a sandbox!

2008-05-31T09:05:00.002-07:00

Sandbox on Craigslist.....................$15
Sand toys.....................Free w/ sandbox
150 lbs of sand..........................$9.23
Precious hrs. spent playing in sandbox.....Priceless

Simon at the Zoo

2008-05-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

Flixster - Share Movies

Spooning with Simon

2008-05-06T07:31:00.001-07:00

Look-A-Like

2008-05-02T15:49:00.001-07:00

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Roots - Free family history

Fun Day at the Park

2008-04-28T19:54:00.009-07:00

Yesterday started off with Simon playing outside with his car in his jammies. "Broooommm brooom", as Simon would say!

Then we had a great walk around Wash Park and made sure to stop for a snack, geese and a piggy back ride. We're loving the spring days and are anxious for more of them as May Day approaches!

The Things I Do For Fun!!!

2008-04-20T13:36:00.003-07:00

I am becoming a shameless dumpster diver. The idea of getting something for free and making something out of it thrills me. So- this was my most recent adventure. I thought I'd share the before and after pictures.

Anyway- I found the 60's record player down our alley and begged Perry help me carry it to our house. (He was dubious that I could make something out of a broken record player). Then Perry dismantled the record player and took out all the guts. I went dumpster diving again and found 3/4" plywood being thrown out that would serve as shelves and put our handheld jigsaw to use.

After buying veneer strips and a new pine top (less than $20 in supplies) I painted several coats of paint, distressed the wood and coated it with poly. Too fun! Of course, if I had the right tools
(table saw) I could do this so much more efficiently, but love the idea that this cost around $20 and 8 hrs labor later is an awesome "Pottery Barn-ish" storage credenza.

I intended to sell this for $150 on Craigslist, but don't want to part with it now. I think I'll get rid of the credenza we've got now and take this instead. Too funny, huh!

Elephants, Birds and Bears- Oh my!!!

2008-02-23T11:52:00.004-07:00

We went to the zoo a few weeks ago with Perry's Martin side of the family, and had an absolute blast. The day was warm enough that many of the animals were in their outside cages, wandering around and acting much like predators. I have to wonder if the concrete wall and ravine is enough to keep them from joining us on the spectator side! Yow!

Anyway- we especially enjoyed the rainforest, where Simon meticulously pointed at all of the birds flitting about. We also enjoyed the elephants, rhino and hippopotamus, although Simon wasn't as thrilled and clung to our necks for fear of getting too close to them. We'll definitely have to go back again.

Simon's 14 month pictures

2008-01-20T11:21:00.002-07:00

We finally took the time to get Simon's year pictures taken- the only problem is that by that time, he was 14 months old and had passed his 1st year birthday. Nevertheless, we're thrilled and think the pictures captured his amazing, adorable personality. We thank God every day for him.

Also- stay posted for more blogs, I'm hoping to reclaim parts of my life that I lost while consumed at my previous job.

ROAR!!

2007-10-31T10:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks for making Simon his Halloween outfit, Miriam!

Peek-A-Boo

2007-10-12T16:15:00.000-07:00

Where's Mommy?

Going Mobile

2007-10-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

The rest of the world is mobile. Now, so is Simon!

Stay at Home Dad

2007-08-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

These past few weeks have been interesting to say the least. While Becca is working hard during the day, barely finding time to break for lunch, I'm wandering around our tiny apartment picking up toys and puree-ing food for Simon eating my lunch anytime in between 11:00 and 2:00. The role reversal was quite of abrupt even though we had months to prepare for the inevitable. One day, Becca was at home sewing curtains and feeding Simon whenever he was hungry, and then the next she was dressed in a pant suit and dashing out the door briefcase in hand. (Actually, it was a a discreetly packaged breastpump)
I don't really have a lot of free time. At least not a lot of time to myself. Simon takes naps two or three times a day, but I'm usually washing dishes or laundry, making the bed, or other domestic duties. When he's awake, we enjoy playing with blocks, stuffed bears, Maggie, etc. We go for walks in Wash Park or on campus occasionally too. It's great to be able to stay at home rather than have someone else watch him. Becca already feels like she's missing most of his life, but at least she has me to tell her what Simon did during the day.
My school will be starting very soon, less than a week and a half. I was able to sign up for 3 classes which I believe will be a big enough load. DU works on the quarter system which is 10 weeks of class, 1 week of exams. I went by the bookstore to pick up my textbooks and walked out the door with a stack of ten books. I don't know that I've ever read a book a week. Actually, there was one summer when I joined the book club at my library at the age of 13. I think I read every Hardy Boy book available during that summer. That must have been more than a book a week.
I am looking forward to having some academic motivation and mental work. I don't want to atrophy! It will be interesting to find out how much work I will have and when I'll find the time to do it.

9 months later

2007-08-27T07:31:00.000-07:00

Simon is 9 months old! Remembering his very humble beginning, it's amazing to see how far he has come. He is now sitting up on his own and plays vigorously with his toys. He's eating solids three times a day and loves everything he's tried so far (except for the first time he had peas). We are expecting him to crawl any day and his limited mobility is beginning to annoy him. He sees something just out of reach and stretches out until it seems he might fall forward. Just before he does, he leans back into his sitting pose, observes the situation, and tries again. He loves paying attention to small details. Yesterday, I watched him pinch at a french knot on a baby blanket about the size of a lentil for about 10 minutes. That is the stay at home dad equivilant to watching paint dry, but I think he was entertained. Also, Simon woke up from a nap the other day with his second tooth. I don't know how he can be so productive during sleep!

It's About Time!

2007-08-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. It's about time that we updated our blog. We have been so busy with moving and unpacking that we just haven't had the time. Besides, I think you wouldn't like to see pictures of us elbow deep in the cardboard liquor boxes we used for moving. I think our new neighbors suspect that we might have a drinking problem. Actually our neighbors are very nice. Two of them are nurses and one of them works for the archdiocese of Denver.
Our apartment is set off of the street and has a feeling of being completely separate from the rest of the neighborhood. We have a small backyard and great landscaping, although it looks a bit overgrown. We are very lucky not to have to mow the lawn or do any of the landscaping. It's all taken care of by the property management!
Becca has been busy with the job search while I gear up for school on Sept. 10th. She has had several good leads that have led to interviews and is anxiously waiting for this part of her summer to be finished. I received a letter from DU this week with information on orientation and registration. I had been planning on taking 3 classes a quarter and finishing the degree in 1.5 years. Now that I look at the classes offered and the money I'll be spending for school, it's tempting to take more classes since it'll be cheaper. It's really hard to fight the temptation to take a FULL load of six classes because in the end I would be able to save $16,000. But with Simon under my care, I feel that 4 classes may be a more attainable goal. This will allow me to continue directing the Mile High Community Band, which is a lot of fun and also pays decent.
The next several days, we'll put some pictures of our new apartment, our camping trip to Kenosha Pass, and OF COURSE new pictures of our adorable little Simon. Here's a recent one of that cute guy!

We're moving!

2007-07-05T20:35:00.000-07:00

I found this blog entry from a couple of weeks ago. Apparently, I pushed save as draft instead of publish so it was stored on my google account instead of being on the blog. Ooops!

'Becca and I have decided that it will be in our family's best interest to move closer to my school, The University of Denver. It hasn't been an easy decision and it had been hanging over us for several months now. We initially didn't mention the possibility of our move to many people, but now that it's definite, it's out in the open.
The part that made the decision so difficult is that it came down to one thing. Would we rather have more time or more money. With our current home, which is a parsonage, we are in charge of the maintenance and facilities for the entire church property. It has been very nice being able to live in a large ranch home with a big back yard and near by park. It's also been nice to meander to church minutes before it starts rather than drive 30 minutes which was what we were doing while living in Brighton.
Conversely, living close to church means that you are on call to take care of any problems that might arise. From public disturbance issues to sprinkler malfunctions to kids making out in the parking lot, we've dealt with a lot. It also entails setting aside time to mow in the summer, shovel snow in the winter and cleaning year round. None of these things are really that stressful or annoying, but they do all take extra time from our schedules. Since having Simon, we have found our family time to be more precious.
We have signed a lease starting July 1st and will slowly move into our new extremely small apartment with a great location two blocks from DU. There will probably be one day of heavy lifting, a large yard sale, and a lot of boxes full of our junk that will need to find a neat and organized place in our new apartment. We will be without internet service for a little bit of time, but will post a picture of the move once we are moved.'

7th Anniversary Bash!

2007-06-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday (6/24) was our 7th anniversary. So much time has passed since our nuptuals. We looked at our pictures from the wedding and couldn't believe how young we looked. How could we at age 23 know what we were getting into? God has been good and knew what he was doing when he brought us together.
This weekend we went to Tammy and Paul's cabin with Brad, Jessica, Marika and Nathan and had a little bit of time to reflect on our marriage. Marika asked what years were the best and which were the worst. We both agreed that this past year has been the best, despite Simon's early arrival into our lives and the stress that that caused. The worst year was 3 years ago with the culmination of the heartbreak of losing our dog Jackie to a hit and run, Becca going back to school, multiple minor car accidents and expenses, having to take on extra jobs (paper routes) to be able to pay our bills, and me trying to find a steady contract job with a school district in a new town with no connections. Whew! That stresses me out just thinking about it.
Even through these years of ups and downs, I can truly say that the best part of our relationship is that it grows stronger every year. Sure there are times when Becca wants to strangle me because I didn't pick up my socks, but the bond and closeness that we have has intensified every year since we said "I Do". Now with the addition of Simon to our family, we have someone to include in that bond. Our love is wonderful. Truly. Madly. Deeply.

My Band

2007-06-21T21:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, so they're not really MY band. I just serve as their artistic director and conductor. They are the Mile High Community Band. I have been directing this crew for about three years now. Man time flies! We aren't into the huge concerts or really showy events. We are more about the educational part of learning to play an instrument. Most of the people have been playing their instrument for a couple of years. Some more, some less. One thing we all have in common is that we enjoy getting togehter to play. We have a Beginning band, Intermediate band, Jazz band and Concert band.
At the end of May, we played for the Colfax Marathon which was organized for it's second year to raise grant monies for Colorado childrens organizations. By Jazz band from school joined us for this hot sunny Sunday. We played some great music to run (or walk) by; I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Eye of The Tiger, Mission Impossible (I know. How cruel.) and an upbeat Lady Madonna.
I really enjoy directing this group. Right now we've been playing at Red Rocks Community College for the summer since our normal spot, Lincoln HS, is having some renovations completed.

Rock-A-Bye Simon

2007-06-20T06:11:00.000-07:00

It's time for Becca and I to study best practices for getting a baby to sleep through the night. It's true, we like to spend time with our little guy and usually enjoy every second of it. Although, at 3:00am when my eyes feel glued shut, we both try to pretend that we don't hear his pathetic whimpering cry. That lasts about 5 minutes.
The baby manual that came with Simon says that when he is 6 months old it's time to try getting him on a schedule. The big question is, do we go with his birthdate or his corrected gestational age? He seems to still be a little too young but then again, we don't want to miss the brief window of opportunity between too young and strong willed.
We were lent the book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by our friends Rachel and Shawn who recently went through this stage with their son Owen. We would like to have Simon sleeping through the night a little more often with only a couple of long naps instead of sporadic 30 min. naps whenever. And it would really be nice to just put him into the crib and have him nod off. Right now, I cradle Simon wrapped in a blanket and bounce around until he is lulled to sleep. It looks like a combination of jogging in place and Riverdance.
We'll seee how this next stage goes. With Becca on the trail of several good job opportunities, I'm sure it won't be long before she is snatched up by an design firm and I'll be on my own for 8+ hours a day. Yikes, and to think I voluntarily signed up for this!

They look like ME!

2007-06-16T21:49:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd have a little fun playing this game. I checked with Tom Cruises site and he has a picture of me floating around his head too. I think we might be related.

Four Generations

2007-06-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

While we were in Virginia, the Shank family got together for a scrumptious meal at Red Lobster. A Sunday lunch outing was a tradition for my family at least once every month or so, and it would usually be Red Lobster because it was a favorite of my Grandfather Sam's. Since Grandaddy's passing last year, I had not been to Red Lobster with the family.It was nice to have the familiar setting for good food and company.
One of the pictures from my childhood that stands out the most doesn't even have me in it. It was a picture taken of Karin, my sister, when she was a baby with our great grandparents. I don't know if there was a picture of me too, but I imagine that there wasn't the opportunity before they passed away.
We were very fortunate that my grandmother, Katherine, joined us for lunch. She has been living in an assisted living home since last year and seems to be doing OK with the adjustment. It must be really hard to move from a house on a hilltop with trees, cows and geese to look at, to a small one bedroom apartment where your neighbors share a wall with you.
In her arms, Simon looked huge! We were able to snap a few pictures of four gennerations before our food came on Sunday. It's a picture of me, my dad, Great Grandmother Katherine, and Simon.

1000 page views!

2007-06-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to remark that there have been 1000 page views! Of course we understand that about half of those are due to both sets of Simon's grandparents being technologically astute. Well, maybe not Grandpa Dave.
Becca and I have so much fun writing the entries and uploading pictures of our gorgeous boy and other things. We are glad you choose to read them and stay informed on what is going on in our lives. Right now we are about a week behind, since there is a lot to tell of our adventures in Virginia. Please continue to read and enjoy.

Recovered Lost Pics

2007-06-12T08:37:00.000-07:00

When we arrived home from our trip to the east coast, we were eager to upload the pictures from the beach of Simon. When we linked our camera to our laptop, we found that half of our pictures were missing! Including pictures of Simon sitting in front of a ceramic sand crab. After a brief moment of panic, we remembered that we viewed the pictures at Shank's Bakery before we left and downloaded copies for G-ma and G-pa Shank. So we uploaded the best ones onto the Picasa photo album in the 6-7 month pictures. Take a look!

Wedding Bells

2007-06-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

The trip to Virginia was not only a time to meet up with family and friends, it was also a time to celebrate the love between Becca's brother Brad and his Doctor/Lover/Wife Jessica.
We started off the celebration by participating in the first ever Yodler 5K. It was actually less of a race and more of a time to walk through the beautiful back country of Rockingham County and catch up with family. We introduced Simon for the first time to his cousins, aunts and uncles.
The morning of the wedding, the ladies had tea and wore funny Amish hats while the boys went golfing at the B-water chip and putt. The highlight for me was watching Brad try to use his 9-iron with his pants at his ankles. Not the kind of thing you would want to try at a posh club, which Bridgewater is not.
After a quick rehearsal that went smoothly, Brad and Jessica and their entourage drove out route 33 to a Universalist church for the rehearsal dinner. (sidenote: directions were given universalist style, feel free to find your own path and directions, everyone will eat at the same table in the end)
The actual wedding was a perfect blend of Brad and Jessica's personalities. Jessica walked down the isle to the sound of a Coldplay song by The String Quartet. It was a very eloquent and well put together ceremony. The reception that followed was at Melrose Caverns, a lodge in the rolling countryside about 10 minutes from the Presbyterian Church. It is usually used for college parties and other events where a keg is involved. Needless to say, it needed a thorough scrubbing the week before to get it up to wedding standards. It was beautiful! They transformed the dusty lodge into an enchanting escape.
The next morning, Brad and Jessica opened gifts in front of family, and drove off to their honeymoon in South Carolina.

Trip to VA

2007-06-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

On Thursday of last week, our family packed up and jumped on a plane to Virginia for Becca's brother's wedding, a family vacation and viisiting with local family and friends. Becca and I were very anxious with Simon being a first time flyer. We researched what we could do to keep Simon from screaming for 3 1/2 hours and found that really besides drugging him there was no option but feeding him and keeping him content. Which is exactly what we (Becca) did. In between feedings and deep slumbers, Simon made friends of the people around us by exchanging big grins and a few giggles.

Simon is 6 months old!!!

2007-05-16T14:17:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Simon is 6 months old already. Days, weeks and months are definitely flying by. On Mother's Day we went to a nearby photographer and decided to give professional pictures a try. He did great although he wasn't nearly as smiley with the photographers than he is with us. We were really smooth sailing though, until we decided to take a "nudey" picture on a bed of blue roses. As soon as we set him down, he cried, from the shock of the scratchy imitation roses on his tummy and we decided these pictures weren't going to work. The photographer picked him up and he thanked her by peeing on her. You'll have to check out his 6-7 month folder for the other 3 poses. He's quite the little man. It was a great way to celebrate Mother's Day. I'm so blessed to have such a sweet boy.

Solids...Sort of

2007-05-12T20:16:00.001-07:00

Playing around with rice cereal mixed with Mom's milk was Simon's highlight of the day. As you can see in the picture, not a lot of real eating was done, although the bowl of cereal emptied somehow. With further examination, we noticed the bib seemed to absorb most of the sloppy mess, which I guess is it's intended purpose. We also had fun with some pureed peas. They smelled a little funny, but Simon kicked and smiled really big in between bites. After supper, Simon got a much deserved bath and retired to his crib with a big tummy.

May Playdate

2007-05-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

Today was a special day! I stayed home from school so that I could get my yearly doctor check-up and get my teeth looked at by our dentist. Although, that wasn't what was so special. We were able to look after little man Owen while his parents were away with work stuff. At first it was CRAZY! Simon was crying because he was hungry, and Owen wanted to be held. And all the while, Maggie (our Jack Russel Terrier), was circling excitedly trying to sniff up all the new smells that came with Owen. Luckily, I was getting my 10 year old tartar scaped off my a woman that was mad at her husband for not doing the dishes last night. I still think I had the better of the two options. By the time I got back, Becca had magically put both boys to sleep and was working at cleaning the kitchen and making lunch. Incredible! When the boys woke up, of course I was there to play with them and keep them occupied so that Becca could sneak off to the dentist for the same routine.

Career Changes

2007-04-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

OToday I handed in my resignation letter to the school district where I work. It has been a tough decision for Becca and I to make, but we have finally agreed that I will be staying at home with Simon. Soon she will be starting to look for a design job and I will be trying to teach Simon how to take a bottle again. We both look forward to this next chapter in our lives, although it will most likely be a tough transition. I have really grown to like my job and position at my school. The kids have been doing great and have invested a lot into learning to play their instruments. I know I can be replaced fairly easily, but the relationships I have with many of my students cannot be. These relationships are what will make it the hardest for me to move on.
In addition to all of this change, I have also been accepted into graduate studies at DU (University of Denver). When Becca and I started talking about the possibility of my staying home, I started looking at various schools in the area that would accommodate my academic needs as well as my stay-at-home-dad schedule. I'm pleased that DU has both an outstanding program as well as adaptable schedule of evening classes. I received my acceptance letter last week which also announced that I was awarded the Deans Scholarship! I will be studying Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in aesthetic education and technology. I'm very excited about the wide variety of classes that I can take. And will soon be swamped with reading materials and papers to write. I can't wait!
Becca has been busy readying her updated resume and preparing to get her name out in the design world. She is looking for a very specific type of job, so it'll be nice to have my summer teacher pay while she looks. Meanwhile, she'll teach me all of her little tricks to manage Simon and the house while keeping her sanity.

2007-04-17T10:28:00.001-07:00

Last weekend was my school production of Oliver! Being one of my childhood favorite musicals, Oliver! was a delight to put on. The kids were great and demonstrated that even with a younger cast and crew, excellence could be acheived. I really enjoyed working with a pit orchestra, something I have always been wanting to do, and was amazed at how dedicated my kids were with rehearsals and the performances. But, although we had a great time, it is also a releif to have finished. My back and arms were sore with having to conduct students on a stage about two feet higher than me. And the long rehearsal and extended time at school wore me out. It's nice to have most of my afternoons back to spend with Becca and Simon."

New Simon Pics

2007-04-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

Flickr Slideshow

Happy Engagement

2007-04-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

Our friends Nathan and Marika announced their engagement last weekend. How exciting! We have known Marika for years (since college) and Nathan since...well, Marika started dating him. They are a great couple and we are very happy for them. Marika has a website with all of her wedding planning ideas and pictures. Here's the site http://www.marikanolt.blogspot.com/

Good Eatin'

2007-04-07T20:06:00.000-07:00

From Web Album

When Miriam and Dave and Brad were out visiting last time, we went to one of our favorite places to eat downtown. It was introduced to us by my parents who gave us a gift certificate to eat there for our birthdays several years back. It's quite the experience! The place is called Rodizios and it's a brazillian meatfest. When you sit down at your table, 'Gauchos' with sashes tied around their waists bring you skewers of meat and vegetables until you give them the signal that you are full. Here are some pictures from our experience.

Sunny Sunday

2007-04-04T17:56:00.001-07:00

One of our favorite pastimes nowadays includes a stroller, 65 degree days, our four legged walking companion and a scenic backdrop. This picture is from last Sunday (3/24) after we walked around our favorite Sloan Lake located near Edgewater, CO. We enjoyed a picnic lunch and our first 80 degree day!"