Convos with Behr - September 2015

Its hard to believe that Behr is already four and a half. This spring and summer have made me realize how hard it is to slow down and savor these moments. But the crazy is also just as fun. Behr and Hudson are at a great age of wresting and playing together, but what strikes me most is the conversations we have these days. If you were to spend an afternoon with Behr, you would likely hear him...

...count to a hundred at least twice and skip count by hundreds to one thousand. It has become such a frequent pastime, that I have joked that there are too many numbers between 1 and 100.

...say he will do that when he is older, like 100. When he is 100 he will have to shave his face, get his drivers license and after that his keys, have a girl friend, and wear boxers. He has quite a few milestones to hit when he reaches 100 years of age.

...talk to you about the Seattle Seahawks. Much to my disdain, he has abandoned the Philadelphia Eagles to call a different team his favorite. Behr will tell you he switched because the Eagles are loosers (he used to say lossers) and the Seahawks are winners. I will tell you it is the result of peer pressure from one of his older friends, an avid Seahawk fan.

...talk about his dog. He doesn't have one yet, but he is planning all the details.

...correct your or catch you in a contradiction. Behr hangs on each detail someone gives him and when they don't make perfect sense he is not afraid to call you out.

...tell you he can read. His goal this past year was to learn to read. He has spent months working hard at it and now can read quite a few sight words and word families. Just wait until next summer. I hope his love for reading continues!

...count to 100 at least one more time. It is after all, his favorite way to pass the time.

Past Convos with Behr

#convoswithBehr

Convos with Behr - April 2014

Recently, Behr and have been having hilarious conversations, some of which are documented on twitter under the hashtag #convoswithBehr. I've been wanting to documenting them, but never got around to actually writing things down until one day Behr would not let me get any work done. He kept asking questions, so I flipped the table. I had him pull up a chair and this was our little chat. Note: he made sure he could see the computer screen so he could check what I was typing, as if he could read it! Gosh, this kid keeps me on my toes!

Behr, can I interview you?
B: Yes, as long as I can be with you. I am not an elephant, I am a lion.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
B: I want to say Hoo-Rah! I want to get my own mail when I grow up. I want to get the mail for the interns too. I want to be tall. (good luck kiddo!)

B: Are you really tall?
Me: No, I'm kind of short, but I am supposed to be interviewing you.
B: I am not tall, I am little. I like asking questions. My teacher has big boys, they are older than me.

Where is your favorite place to go?
B: I like to go at Mom's Group (the moms bible study at our church).

Why?
B: Why I like it. I like Mom's Group. Stop saying why. I already asked that question.

What is your favorite food?
B: Pizza.

Really?
B Yeah. I like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and more raspberries too. And dark raspberries, and whiter raspberries too. All of them. And mac and cheeeese.

What is your favorite animal.
B: Lions and Tigers, because I am Behr,

When is your birthday?
B: January (Side note: he just learned this and talks about it almost every day. It is going to be a long year! He also recently told me he was going to be four "in a quick second!" Way to break a momma's heart little dude!)

What is your favorite color?
B: Blue and Orange

Why?
B: Blue and Orange, I already answered that.

(I am beginning to think he doesn't understand the question "why")

What's your favorite thing to do?
B: Paint with my fingers and hands.

What should we have for dinner?
Macaroni.

Behr: I like to ask (answer) some more questions. Keep asking Mom. Excuse me...
Me: What should I ask?
B: Some more questions.

What kind of books do you like to read?
B: Really, really bear (like the animal, not my name).

You like books about bears?
B: Yeah, the animals, not the mes. Huhya, huhya, huhya. Can we play the hippo game now?

What else do you want to say?
B: Happy Birthday! (again, he loves birthdays!)


What would you ask Behr, if given the opportunity to interview him?

Behr's First Day of School 2013

2012

2011

(it is crazy to see how much he has grown in the past year!)

also, it looks like Behr is growing basil from the top of his head, based on plant placement here.

When thinking about being home with both boys this year, it became clear that Behr would still need a bit of school. His personality soaks up information and experiences in a way that gives him even more energy. He is constantly looking for something new, asking questions and investigating. A slow week at home may work well for Hudson and for me, but it induces cabin fever in Behr. After looking around at options, and weighing our other activities, farm share pick up, moms bible study at church, we settled on a small class program, one morning a week. I was thrilled. Behr would get an outlet, I would spend time dedicated with Hudson, and both boys would still be with me most of the week.

Behr could not have been more excited to visit his school. He jumped right into the action during a beginning of the year open house where we saw his classroom and met his teachers. We counted down the first day of school for what felt like weeks. He talked about his lunch, needing to bring his back pack, books he was planning to read at school, and that he would have friends there. It made me hope for similar excitement and optimism for years to come. I pray that school is always a place that inspires Behr, somewhere he looks forward to spending time.

 

On Behr: Lunch Box // Back Pack // Shorts // Shoes 

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Behr is Two and a Half

 

There, I said it.

Two and a half.

This post has been in fits and starts, multiple drafts, never quite ready. Behr's half birthday snuck up on me in June (because it wasn't actually his half birthday) and full of new baby/post partum hormones, I thought the world was crashing. And then this past Friday, Behr's real half birth slipped by as we eased into a quiet family weekend. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary, just good old fashion fun. Someday I hope to have a half birthday tradition for our family. Who knows when that day will be.

Here I am procrastinating again. If I finally write and publish Behr's 2 1/2 year post, that means he is almost 3 and that is half way to 6 and only ten more years away from driving. Maybe the hormones are still a bit off... But in all seriousness, the past six months have proven to be incredibly exhilarating for Behr.

He became a big brother in April.

His vocabulary has exploded. He doesn't just talk in sentences, he monologues full paragraphs! Some phrases used more than others, such as: "I do it." "Don't leave..." he yelps as he runs to block the door at the slightest inclination they might be getting ready to stand. "Five." If you ask him how much milk he wants in his cereal, Behr says five. If you ask how many raisins he wants, he also says five. Somehow this word has become synonymous with "a lot" in Behr's mind. If he wants it or likes it, he asks for five.

Behr is also repeating anything we say, exactly as we say it. Consequently I am working on removing a few words from my vocabulary, most notably stupid and fart, as Behr now finds these words hilarious.

Behr concentrates. Some of Behr's favorite activities to concentrate on include building his train track, cracking eggs, frequently the entire carton if I am not paying mind, and cutting with scissors. When concentrating, if something doesn't go as planned, he lets out a quiet, "aw, man!"

"Fire trucks help people." I made the fateful mistake of explaining that we shouldn't cheer every time we see or hear a firetruck (although one could argue we should cheer for the firemen to succeed in their rescue) so now when we see or hear a fire truck, "am-blance," or race car, otherwise known as police car, we have to talk all about who they might be helping, which leads to praying for those people, and everyone else we might know, even the little boy we met at the park three weeks ago and haven't seen since. By the time we are through, we come upon another fire truck. Apparently they are quite active in our part of the city. Have you read the book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? Yes, that is the phase we are in.

Behr is getting longer and leaner by the day. His baby belly is quickly melting away. When he runs, I notice his shoulders are much farther from his earlobes than they were when he was a tiny squishy baby. Something about the distance his neck offers makes him look all grown up. \\ Side note: This is in the atrium of the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery. They have a water feature intended for kids to play in. Airconditioned water play, might be my favorite way to beat the heat! \\

There are so many more things Behr has learned over the past six months, but what I am most thankful for is our interactions. Behr and I have developed a harmony as we move about our day. It isn't always easy, but there are times we catch each other and just break down into giggles. In two and a half short years, this boy has grown to understand me in a way few other people do.

Behr 23/24 months.

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Little Days Pump It Up

Have you ever been to a bounce house? Or a kid's birthday party where they rent a moon bounce? We recently went to a birthday party that was all that and SO MUCH MORE. The party was held a Pump It Up, an indoor inflatable private party franchise. Does it get any better? Thirty kids 6 and under running around in controlled chaos, monitored primarily by high school students. As parents we hardly lifted a finger. It was a bit loud, but there were very few meltdowns. Best of all, the parents actually had real conversations because while we were in the same room as our children, they were fully entertained in a locked room. I never thought this sort of party would be my sort of thing, but now I am sold.

Do you see that face?

Pure joy.

Bring on the bounce house birthday parties.

Join the Little Days link up! 

Share a post of what makes the days with your children special. The goal of this link up is to encourage busy mommas to remember the little moments that outweigh the struggles and make it worth the adventure. 

 share #littledays and the love.

Little Days: Behr's First Carnival

While visiting family in Pennsylvania, we made a last minute decision to check out the local fare. Twenty-five dollars later, Mark and my dad, Popouli, were carrying neon tickets of fun. At first, Behr was skeptical, but quickly realized he was having fun and the center of everyone's attention. How many 2 year olds get followed around by a five person entourage at the local fair? You could say Behr is a popular guy. Hudson on the other hand, slept through the entire experience.

I never realized how bizarre the fair is and how expensive! My sister and I thanked my parents again, profusely for taking us to so many of the area fairs while we were growing up. We can only imagine the chaos of two parents corralling the four of us, not to mention the cost. I also didn't realize that the carnival games are extra money, not paid for by tickets. This nearly put us over the age when a rubber ducky game was denied. Thank goodness for diversions.

And thank goodness for grandparents who helped make this experience special for Behr (and free for us)!

Little Days of Pizza Making

We have started a mini Friday tradition in our house, making pizza with Behr. He loves to cook so much these days, we are trying to constantly think of ways he can be at the help without actually touching the oven or stove. Behr gets so excited. The second we walk in the door, he is pulling the chair over to the counter. The more steps Behr can be involved in, the better.

Do you cook with your kids? 

What are your favorite things to make together?

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Little Days is a link up where moms can encourage each other in the little things that make parenthood so precious. Life doesn't have to be full of big moments, and it isn't only the "big" that deserves to be recorded. 

Here we share the ins and outs of our kids lives. We hope you join in the fun.

Little Days: Hammering Away

Yesterday you got a peek at our nursery + big boy room progress. The main attraction is Behr's big boy bed. We made this bed exciting from the very beginning. As soon as the box arrived in the mail, we pointed it out to Behr and told him we would wait to open it until Dad returned from a work trip. When the mattress arrived, we let the fun begin. Behr helped each step of the way from deciding where in our house the boxes should wait, to opening the boxes, to cleaning up the packing materials and finally assembling the bed with Dad. Behr even got out his trusty tool box (a gift from his best friend Bella) to hammer along side Dad. It was quite the process, but the excitement remained high and I think contributed greatly to the success of the bed so far.

These two have been enjoying the best story time together since the bed was put together. I couldn't be more excited for these precious little moments each evening.

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Little Days is a weekly post series geared towards capturing our children and their stories. I hope that this series becomes a way to continue to encourage one another to enjoy the small moments. 

Don't forget to share the love with the person who linked up before you 

and spread the word #littledays.

  Disclaimer: Compensated links may be used in this post.

Behr's Big Boy Bed

Some of you may know, we live in a very tiny apartment in DC. This room that was converted to Behr's bedroom originally began as my closet. (and unfortunately, it gets no natural light, so the pictures are always horrendous, please forgive me!) For the past few months we have been plotting and planning and researching how to make this closet work for two.

Some of my top concerns:
+ Having access to the changing table/dresser combo for the baby during Behr's long afternoon nap.+
+ Making sure the space felt dedicated to Behr, as he is the one getting shuffled about.
+ Finding furniture that fit well.

Some things we learned:
+ Ikea toddler beds and cribs are actually larger than the standard US toddler bed/crib.
+ There was no way I was also going to fit my rocking chair in this room.
+ The length of Behr's crib is about the width of a standard crib mattress! I had no idea there was such a huge size difference. (which translated into the toddler bed being much bigger than I anticipated)

Solutions:
+ Move the changing table into our bedroom - which you get a peek of here.
+ Purchase the smallest aesthetically pleasing toddler bed we could find, the DaVinci Modena in white.
+ Use as many existing items we had.

The room isn't finished yet. We still need to hang art and picture ledges for Behr's growing library. But he happily drags all of our guests into see "Behr's Big Bed!" The most important items are crossed off the list. Behr successfully transitioned to his new bed and we now have a happy place for both of our boys to sleep.

Note: For all the moms out there, let me revel in this for a few days before you warn me about a toddler and an infant sharing a room. I am in denial of the possibilities of sleep regression.

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Affection

an old photo, but one of my favorites.

Dear Behr,

You love well. You have a gift at greeting people and lighting up a room. You announce your arrival with hellos to everyone in the room, even by name when you can. You greet new people with a huge smile in even your shyest moments. I hope that my hurry never impacts this character in you. Keep loving people well. It will take you places in life, and continually bless those in your life.

You are affectionate. I have said on this blog before that you get real close to your Dad and me, grab our faces, and lay a smooch on us that rivals none other. But boy, when you decide to love on your baby brother, it is the sweetest thing I have ever seen.

In just a few short weeks, we will become a family of four. Your brother will enter our life and no doubt be greeted by you with great joy. I cannot wait to see you love on each other. But even more than that, I am excited to cherish pouring my undivided love on you. I want to help you understand that no matter what changes when your brother arrives, your Dad and I will always love you fully. Even when we have to share our attention and snuggles, our love for you will be complete.

We want to help you get excited about your brother. We have big, big boy plans for you. A big boy bed, saying farewell to your "ba-ba," and maybe even potty training. Somedays you seem so ready for all of these changes and other days, you curl up in my arms and remind me that you are still so very young.

Behr, we are praying for you daily. Praying for your gentle heart, your affection for others. But we are also praying for all of the changes coming your way. You will have the incredible honor of being a big brother just like your Dad. But we both know that it can be hard. We are praying that as your parents we continue to help you foster your character and that you and your brother can be the best of friends.

Love,
momma

p.s. you are 25 months today! when do we stop counting months? I don't remember when we stopped counting weeks. And soon it will only be years. You are growing much too fast and the arrival of your baby brother will only add to this awareness.

Little Days: Morning Light

The sun rising in the distance, streaks of sunlight peeking through the curtains. Nothing beats gorgeous morning light, especially on Saturdays. On Saturdays, morning light is the best. Over the weekend, Behr was being especially playful and fortunately we had the camera nearby. He totally posed this way and that, grabbing his feet, looking out the window, and calling for my attention when he had an idea! This kid, he melts my heart.

Once I started reviewing and editing these photos, they reminded me of a similar morning mini photo session. How has he changed so much in six short months? And have you seen his camera obsession on instagram lately? (username: thescribblepad)

those hands and feet,

love them.

Now, I would love to see what you and your kids have been up to! 

Join the link up below to share your Little Days.

Little Days: Bowling

Welcome to Little Days, a weekly post series geared towards capturing our children and their stories. I hope that this series becomes a way to continue to encourage one another to enjoy the small moments and also a record that we can easily look back upon to see the often overlooked moments of childhood. 

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For Behr's second birthday, we gave him a bowling set. As excited as he is to knock the pins over, he hasn't quite figured out the goal of the sport. Instead of using a bowling ball, he becomes a barreling Behr. I couldn't get Behr to roll the ball for a single picture since we first revealed the surprise. 

Fortunately, we did capture the reveal on video:

Behr's Birthday Bowling from Shannon Schreiber on Vimeo.

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Behr's Second Birthday Party (both of them!)

Behr actually had two birthday parties this year! Because most of our friends and family are split between PA and DC, we decided to have smaller parties in both locations. We had a blast and took way too many pictures. Instead of a never ending post, here is the quick collage version of the two events:

Pennsylvania:

Washington, DC:

Some of the pictures are so small you can hardly see them! But I promise we had a blast. And Behr could not be more excited to be TWO! As an extrovert, he thoroughly enjoyed the company and was ecstatic opening gifts, especially when he opened duplo legos, his absolute favorite thing right now.

p.s. and it was a complete coincidence that Behr and I both wore the exact same thing at both parties.

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Twenty Three + Twenty Four Months

You are TWO!

Little Man, when did you become such a big boy? I can hardly believe my eyes at some of the things you do these days.

If you hear your dad or I making a ruckus in the kitchen, next thing we know you are beside us with a chair you dragged over, eager to help. Part of this is your interest in mimicking us these days, but I also think you truly enjoy doing what we are doing in the kitchen. You help prep dinner, unload the dishwasher, reload the dishwasher, and even insist on checking on the oven (if I remember to turn the light on) when things seem to be taking too long. When we were baking your birthday cupcakes, we had a conversation about the oven being dangerous/too hot. You tried to blow on the oven to cool it down. In moments like this, I appreciate your deductive reasoning, and often get stumped trying to better explain things to you.

You are also a fabulous greeter. You could spend a whole day on a city bench waving to people who pass, saying hi, and even asking them questions. You welcome your friends to daycare, and say hello to everyone who walks in the room. Recently in the morning when you finally manage to wake your Dad or I up, you greet us with an "oh, hey!" as if you casually noticed we were there and haven't spent the past hour trying to pry our eyelids open. We love these greetings.

Eye contact is huge right now. If you are trying to talk to us, but haven't received our full attention, you adjust our faces until our eyes lock. You are an incredible reminder of being present - taking one task at a time.

You favorite food right now is blackberries. We are going to end up in the poor house at the rate you eat them. You also love counting, playing with your legos, and boots. You want to wear your snow boots everywhere, but we have settled on your dress boots which make it easier for you to maneuver.

Behr, your baby brother will be coming soon and he is gonna rock our world. I look forward to continuing to snuggle with you, have massive giggle sessions, take just as many home videos and tickle you like crazy. Our fun is going to continue +1. The best part is, we are going to have even more excuses to go to Sweet Green for frozen yogurt and blackberry dates, like we did in the photos above!

The Greatest Show on Earth

Behr's second birthday is right around the corner. If I learned anything from his first birthday it is this: 1. Start planning right after Christmas and 2. Eat cake early. Don't wait until Behr is exhausted from all of the festivities and then expect him to perform. As grateful as I am for these lessons, they didn't help me figure out what to do this year. After racking my brain for potential ideas, under the sea, the jungle, red wagon, among others, I looked at what I had in my party supplies and started perusing pinterest. Some time in early November, I came across the chalkboard from a carnival themed wedding and finally settled on a circus theme!

I started pulling ideas from my own pinterest boards and all over the internet and this is what I came up with to get me started.

• If I Ran The Circus by Dr. Seuss provided my color foundation, and kept me from going crazy.
• Behr is obsessed with straws as well as milk and cookies. These yellow reusable straws will undoubtedly get use in our home for years to come. 
• Anna posted glitter garland and almost jumped in my car to drive to Boston just to see it in person. She gave me a few pointers that saved both time and money. I'll share more about those after the party. For you non-DIYers, you can also purchase the one featured here from etsy.
• Fun fonts! I love a good excuse to explore new fonts and make a new invitation design. You can order your own circus invitations from my etsy shop here.
• My original inspiration. Would you ever consider having a carnival wedding? It looks like a blast.
• I picked up these adorable red and white polka dot favor boxes at The Influence Conference Market in October, well before I had a theme in mind for Behr's birthday. But I couldn't pass them up. They might be perfect for animal crakers to go. 
• These rainbow skewers were one of the first items I ever pinned. I have been dying to use them for a party, so they will definitely be on the menu.

I find it incredibly helpful to create an idea board for any party, event, or project I am working on. It allows me to step back and refocus on my original plan, even if I decide to head another direction, knowing my initial inspiration is key. I cannot wait to share how this all comes together for Behr's party this weekend!

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Christmas Part Three: Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning 2012 from Shannon Schreiber on Vimeo.

Out of fear that you all will abandon my blog if I post another thousand pictures in a single day, I stayed up way to late making this video. I tried our Picasa's video maker instead of iMovie. I am not sure which I prefer. Picasa was easier to add photos in, but iMovie has better speed controls. Either way, it is finished, hallelujah!
Note: I will likely come back weeks from now and actually write about Christmas morning.

Twenty One + Twenty Two Months

Behr,

I could say this every day and week, but you are getting so big! You have a mouth full of teeth and a head so full of hair I finally had to chop off your curls. Fortunately there are a few still back there.

Along with getting big, you are also getting opinionated. Someone said something about the "twos," that I am just going to ignore, but you sure seem to have them already. One of your favorite words is "mine" and your dad jokes that he can't tell who says "no" more - you or me! Along with this new found independence (you can officially break out of our apartment) you are becoming a night owl, fighting sleep with all your might. Remarkably, you still wake up at the crack of dawn. I think it is secretly because you like to cuddle in bed with us in the morning.

It is getting colder out now, which means you never leave the house without your hat and jacket, even if the forecast is unexpectedly sunny. You love these two items and practice putting them on and taking them off. You are getting especially good at zipping things up. You also have an opinion about your clothes these days. You like to pick out your shirt and always wear your favorite shoes.

You are constantly eating and never want dinner. What is up with that? I can't get you to eat "dinner" no matter what time I feed it to you and how many snacks I have or haven't given you.

You are letting me take pictures of you again, but on your own terms. You strike poses for me which make your dad and I crack up. Behr, you are funny. You might be the funniest member of our little family and we are so grateful for that.

Most of all, you love to help. Even when it isn't actually helpful. You like to get out the dustpan and sweep the floor, you help clean up your toys each night, and put the pillows in the right spot on the couch. But some of your habits well... you unload the dishwasher when it is dirty, start it when it isn't full, and open it while its running. There is something about you and the dishwasher. You have always had an affinity, I just hope to continue to foster this love well into your teenage years. Fingers crossed!

In the mean time, we hope you keep making us laugh so hard it hurts, because those always end up being the best moments with you.

Love,
momma
(not to be confused with mo-mo,
your new word for monkey)

p.s. each day I am more certain that you are going to be a terrific big brother.

 

Nineteen + Twenty Months

Behr,

You have been growing and learning so much, it is difficult to keep up with you some times. These past two months have been wild and exciting with you. You climb to new heights, have less fear than ever before and get louder each day. Some themes have shown through this month:

You love animal noises. You make almost every sound in the animal kingdom and even try a flamingo sound when we read Polar Bear, Polar Bear. You lift your little leg and flap your "wings." We have roared on airplanes, quacked in restaurants, and generally make it easy for people to stare, and you love the attention!

If these months had a theme, it would be the beach (see more pictures here and here). You love the beach, despite initial apprehension, splashing in the water, throwing seashells like you are skipping rocks, filling up your pail and dumping it all back out again. And the calming ocean waves have lulled you into some of your sweetest, most tender naps, the ones where you still curl up on our laps and nuzzle your head into our necks. Thank you for these moments.

You rely on your new independence these days, being able to do most things without help. But in the same beat, you also will reach up to hold our hand.

Knocking things over has a new joy when you get to exclaim, "oh, no!" Block tower collapses, "oh, no!" Cup tips over, "oh, no!" Water splashes out of the bathtub, "oh, no!" It is your ticket to naughtiness, and you know it!

Behr, you have us jumping. We are constantly in ready mode, anticipating you next act, and we are loving every minute. We love you so much!

Love,
Momma and Dad

I am linking up to small style on Mama Loves Papa. 

Behr is wearing a Janie and Jack shirt with hand-me-down Gap swim trunks.

More pictures of Behr's outfit can be found here.