Jumpin...

Sorry for the Silence

I thought we'd be busy after having a second child. I thought the busy days would be when we were going without sleep and making bottles and managing a four year old.

I was wrong. The busy days are now.

So I'm sorry for the silence, and I have about 327 blog posts to put up, and I will get to it. Until I can get pictures downloaded, here is a list of the most recent one-liners from The Boy:

-We were shopping at Walmart and he was trying to pick out a toy. Kyle was taking him up and down the toy aisles to pick something out, saying “Well here’s a spider man thing, what about a Hot Wheels? Here’s a monster truck...” The Boy mentioned that it was a hard decision. Kyle said I know Buddy, but we have to pick out something... finally The Boy says, “Screw it. I’ll just get Hot Wheels.”

-I stopped at a market and got fresh strawberries and was telling him that a farmer in Indiana grew them. I asked him what he thought. He chewed for a second and said, “They just taste ordinary.”

-He was telling me they were learning about Johnny Appleseed. I said, that sounds cool, what did he do? The Boy says, “He grew apples. What do you THINK he did?”

-After giving His Brother solid food, he snacks on Cheerios every now and then. The Boy asked what they were and if he could have one. I said sure and he said, “Dad, you can have one too. Don’t worry, you won’t turn into a baby if you eat them.”

-When leaving the house in the mornings I make sure all of the lights are off before we leave the door and he goes, “Don’t worry, I’ve turned on my night vision.”

-I asked him what he had for lunch and he said, “Meatloaf, Beatloaf.” (From Christmas Story)

-We arrived somewhere, pulled in and he goes, “We’re here, kids.”

-He’s struggling with sitting still through church, which is easily understood when you’re almost five. I had His Brother in his seat and once church was over, The Boy turns to me and points to His Brother and says, “Church is over, can I irritate him now?”

-One morning we were running very late. I mean, we’re hustling to get out the door, I’m hollering at him to find his shoes, I’m digging around for car keys. Finally I said, okay let’s go, and he backs up, holds his hand out to the front door and says, “Ladies FIRST.”

-We took a trip to Brown County and went to the state park. I had His Brother in the stroller and he dropped his toy. I brushed it off and handed it back to him and The Boy says, “Aren’t you going to rinse that off?”

-They have a project at school where if they read five books, they get a free kids meal. He said, “If I read five books, I get a kids meal at Raviolis.” (Fazolis)

-Every now and then I bring him a prize from work. A piece of candy or something from the vending machine. I forgot one day and he goes, “I am so APPOINTED at you.”

-He was darting through the house without any clothes on and Kyle said, “I see your booty!” he goes, “Don’t any body be getting any funny ideas!!!”

-He’s a real bear to get up in the mornings. Finally I got him up and he’s moseying into the bathroom, eyes barely open, eyebrows furrowed. He looks at me and goes, “Why you gotta be so bossy at me?!?”

-His Brother is at that age where he rolls all over and is hard to change and dress. I keep telling him no, no no Dylan, Dylan no no... and The Boy says, “Dylan, Santa’s watching you.”

Update on us:

The Boy: Lost FOUR teeth, getting ready to turn five, excited for Christmas, loves things that make noise like Star Wars and cars that crash.

His Brother: Has six teeth, hollers Momma, Da Da, Uh Oh, and if you say, “How does a clock go?” he clicks his mouth. Crawling and trying to lift his knees to get around faster.

So that’s the latest. More “older” postings to come.

Our first nephew!

Catey Noel Costlow is a big sister! Meet:

Holden James Costlow
born September 26, 2009
7 pounds, 14 ounces, 20 inches


Our first nephew and The Boy and His Brother's only BOY Cousin! Congrats to Heather, Mark and Catey. Holden is a cutie and we are so glad everyone is doing well. Holden, we have lots of Thomas Trains and hot wheel cars to play with at our house!

*note: to our knowledge, Holden was not named after James Bartlett, our fish.

*note: total time from water breaking to birth was four hours. As a result, I will no longer be speaking to Heather Costlow, as my births take about four days. Heather, it was nice knowing you.

And to compare, here's Catey's newborn picture.

A Note from His Brother

To our blog readers:

Normally I don’t get a chance to write on the blog. My mom hogs it and is always at the computer. Between her and The Boy wanting to get on that thing, I very rarely get a chance to get my thoughts down. Well, that and I can’t type. Or spell.

Or speak, really, but still.

Let me just say, I am sorry to report that my first posting on this blog will be that of disappointment in you, my readers.

You’ve read on this blog the trials and tribulations of this family... their time in Chicago, my impending arrival and my first smile. You’ve heard the funny things The Boy has said and what it is like to live in our home. As such, I would expect you all to, well... I guess the word is “like” us, as you come to the blog voluntarily, so you must care enough about me and The Boy to see what we are up to.

How is it, then, that you could hold out on me? Hold out valuable information that would change my life? My world? But, as good as this information is, I will let my disappointment fade, as I enjoy this newfound bliss.

I am speaking of food.

REAL food.

Not made by Gerber or those folks at Similac. I’m talking the real deal. The same stuff The Boy eats. And I KNOW it’s the same stuff The Boy eats. I’ve seen him and wondered for months what he was doing.

This, my friends, is a little piece of heaven. I was first introduced to it on Friday, and since then, I express my joy with kicks of my feet and waving my arms frantically in the air, as...well, I don’t know how to do anything else.

But this, this REAL food, is where its at. Down with peas and carrots and that “dinner” they call “Turkey and Rice.” Are you kidding me? This is the STUFF.

I’m a bit concerned because the first time I was exposed to it, I inadvertently made a real mess. I was hoping the adult units would cut me some slack because it was (a) my first time, and (b) I am still working on my small motor skills. So I tried to deny the situation. In the end, I accepted it, and luckily, I have been forgiven, as I was also introduced to toast this morning. So it appears I have redeemed myself. See the attached video.

And you, our readers... if there is anything else out there that I should know about, please let me know, okay? Or, maybe I should ask The Boy. He seems to have it all figured out.

James update

James has been transferred to a rehabilitation unit for occupational therapy. He appears to be doing well. Thanks for all of the candelight vigils and red ribbons posted all around the neighborhood in hopes of good health for him. Looks like he's going to pull through.

Crime Scene

At approximately 1800 on Friday, August 28, Witness #1 discovered the following crime scene:




The victim has been identified as James Bartlett, 2 weeks, Avon.


One suspect has been identified:




Officers responded to a break-in in progress later to discover an attempted break-in and homicide. Paw prints on the counter and floor confirmed the suspects. Upon arrival of the emergency medical team, the victim was originally to be transported into a plastic baggie, where he was going to be returned to Petsmart for our refund of $2.99. Emergency Medical crew were surprised when, upon the attempt of scooping the victim up with a plastic cup, the victim exhibited signs of life by squirming and scaring the crap out the response crew, The Boy and His Brother. The victim has been transported and placed in ICU with a critical prognosis.

These suspects are considered to be armed and dangerous and should not be apprehended.

State Fair 2009

I have been dreading posting this because it just bores me to tears. I mean I love the fair, I really do... but the spouse has an agenda of stuff I really could care less about. But, that's okay, it's all about compromises. I keep thinking to myself, I gotta get that state fair post up on the blog. Now really, if I don’t post it, what difference will it make? Someone will call me and go, what about the fair? Did you go? We haven't seen it on the blog. No, I only have four readers and no one is going to question the blog. And as I said, it's my blog and you're not the boss of me. I put too much pressure on myself sometimes. Anyway, yes, of course we went to the fair. I’m sure you can check the archives for the State Fair post of 2008 where I looked at 42 quilts and a tractor parade and the guy who was desperately trying to sell fried veggies. Well, we did it again this year, and yes, we did win a Spiderman before it was all said and done.

As we’re going into the building he says, “OK Em... FINE... we can go look at the quilts if you want to...” all with a giddy grin on his face. It’s like watching paint dry, folks. One quilt, 87 quilts, they all look the same to me. He’s trying to get The Boy into it. He’s not buying it. There were games to be played and rides to be ridden and junk food to be had. The Boy knows this.

Then I realize I need pictures for the blog and I said, "Now stand next to Aunt Edna's quilt so I can get a picture for her..."

His Brother did this. I was jealous. Looking at quilts does that to you.

BSU Class of 2024 - another year closer!

$20 got us this, and saved us all from a massive argument:

THEN he had to tell His Brother he won a Spiderman.


Until next year. I can’t wait to see the quilts.