Baby Burkes

Spring Break by the Food

2011-04-22T08:57:00.003-04:00

I can't say all the meals this spring break have been healthy, but I've been having fun in the morning making a new breakfast foods for the kids and myself. Breakfast is the easiest for me because that is when I have the energy to make it. Dinner may be chicken nuggets if the kids are lucky ;) Anyhow, I thought I'd write down what I made so that we have ideas in the future. The ingredients I usually always have in my house.

Anyhow our meal plan for this weeks breakfast included:
Monday - Omelets - make it your way
Tuesday - Oatmeal with cereal, milk and some flax-seed
Wednesday - Cereal smoothies - strawberry, Greek yogurt, flax-seed and ground fiber cereal
Thursday - crepes with strawberries and raspberry/rhubarb syrup
Friday - egg salad open face with avocado and tomato

Children Update

2011-04-14T09:54:00.003-04:00

Leah is 3 1/2 years old, talking constantly, and dancing everywhere. As I type this she is chasing our cat Casper around the house, one of her favorite pass times these days. She is a true gem to have around the house all day long, so I'll miss her when she starts school in the fall.

Zachary is 6 years old. He is brilliant as ever. He just received his 3 quarter report card and as always shines in class. His teacher said that he is a "role model" for the other students. Wow, I can't believe my Zachary who torments his sister and eggs on his brother is a role model. He is also taking Tae Kwon Do with his brother Avery. They are both going to be testing for the blue belt tomorrow and going to an all day tournament on Saturday.

Avery is doing great in 1st grade. It took him a while to warm up to this year and all the work they have to do in school, but by 2nd quarter he learned. He resists homework at night, but he does it and that is all we can expect from a 7 year old. He is reading fluently now and really enjoys the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. He is on number 5 now!

Pictures to come :)
-Sara

Zooligths 2010

2010-12-18T22:13:00.004-05:00

Tonight we took the family to see the Zoolights at the National Zoo. If you are a member of FONZ they send you a current schedule of events and we happen to be members. Eli thought it would be great to spend a day in Washington and he was spot on. Albeit we were quite the tired group and barely made it to our final destination, but we enjoyed our visit. Here are some highlights from the Zoo.

A Day in DC

2010-12-18T19:25:00.004-05:00

We started our day with a good healthy and big breakfast at the Marriott by the Zoo. We felt like Kings with the buffet choices and wounded up sampling pretty much everything, yum! After breakfast we took the Metro to the Mall. Our first destination of the day was the Air and Space Museum. As Brambletonians we are fortunate to live by the Air and Space Udvar Hazy Center and have visited a number of times, but we had to show the kids the original. They pointed out stuff they remembered from The Night at the Museum 2. They also had fun with the hands on kid center, even I relearned :).

After our fast trip through Air and Space we went to the National Gallery of Art. Surprisingly the kids actually enjoyed looking at the paintings. The exhibition was surrealism, but who wouldn't find that interesting?

We had to have lunch at the cafe in the National Gallery of Art. Eli and I both remember as kids walking on the people mover with the tiny lights all around and then entering the underground cafe with the fountain above. So fun! The kids equally enjoyed it.

One more stop, the National Botanical Gardens. Every Christmas there is a spectacular display of buildings and trains tracks built from twigs and other organic materials. It is amazing and always a treat to see!

It's Been Awhile

2010-05-04T20:54:00.003-04:00

5 minute update.

Avery is reading reading reading! He also can count, add, and will be learning to subtract very soon. Spring is soccer and summer is swimming. He'll be joining to Betta swim team this summer. We are very excited about his accomplishments this year.

Zachary is doing so well in school. He absorbs all information around him. We joke about how he knows everything because he always says "I know" to everything we try to tell him. He is a true middle child with bullying from Avery and Leah. Zach is also playing soccer and will be swimming on the Betta team as well.

Leah is my little princess. She loves to dress up in her princess costumes. When she isn't around her brother she'll talk and talk, but it isn't always understandable. Just yesterday she has shown favoritism towards her brothers. She wanted to go down the slide with Avery, not Zachary. She is with Zachary about 3 hours more a day, so she wants her Avery time sometimes.

The kids couldn't be happier and I feel blessed to have three darling little beings.

Maine Trip - Thursday

2009-08-05T14:17:00.002-04:00

Leah Strolling

2009-06-25T07:32:00.002-04:00

So, if you were to ask me "what is Leah's favorite thing to do?," I'd say number 1 is Mommy taking her in the stroller, and then number 2 is Leah taking her friends in her new stroller. We recently bought Leah this stroller and she is testing its limits everyday. Today she has crammed Mini Mouse, a sippy cup, a baby doll, and two stuffed kittens in the pink stroller. Not only that, but I think this stroller already has a couple of miles on it.

Leah's 18 Months

2009-05-28T17:26:00.005-04:00

Our baby is turning into a toddler, she is exactly 18 months today. This change doesn't happen overnight, so she's still a baby in many ways, but the toddler is erupting. I guess the biggest event in her life right now is her use of the potty. She knows what to do on it and is still learning, but we are very proud of her poops and pees.

Leah has also taken up singing and dancing. She loves to sing "Happy Birthday," we're not sure why she sings it, but it is very cute when she does. Every day the words get more and more clearer.

Listening is one of Leah's strong skills. When it's time to get shoes in the morning for school, she is the first to get her shoes on (she has some little croc like shoes that she can put on herself). She'll even get the boys' shoes and hand them to the boys. At bed time, she wants her toothbrush and will brush her teeth. Leah also knows a little sign language, so understanding her is pretty easy. She's got the pointer finger and the word "no" down.

Another new development for Leah is running, well she sort of skips around the house keeping up with the boys and chasing the cats.

Most of the time it is fun to have this growing toddler in our house and our first girl, so there are some differences in her development. One change is early tantrums. Even though they are more funny than anything else, we are trying hard to ignore these outburst.

She is in the second year of life, which means terrible 2's. The pediatrician said that she is fully capable of understanding time outs. So far, we give time outs when Leah hits. Oh yes, she is a big hitter and she thinks it is hilarious.

All in all we have a delightful firecracker and we are having so much fun with her. The boys love her and truly show their empathy. Zachary was upset when she got shots at the doctors. Avery couldn't stop wailing when Leah fell on the bunk bed and was bleeding. I'm in love with all our beautiful and sensitive kids.

Leah's stats are as follows:
weight: 21 lbs 9 oz
height: 30 1/2 inches

Sunset Cruise

2009-04-18T20:17:00.001-04:00

Noodle floating with Leah.
Leah loves to put stuff on her head.
Here's an easy way to get toasted. Go on a sunset cruise where they keep serving you all you can drink rum punch.

Today was fabulous and we are sad that it is our last day at the resort. We spent the day at the pool and the beach. Eli and I got to spend the evening sans kids on a sunset cruise and dinner out. The cruise was fun. There was a captain and his mate who served drinks and hors d'oeuvres, shrimp, veggies, meatballs, cheese. The scenery was beautiful with islands all around.

While we were out, our kids took a nap. Nani took GG and Sam to the pool to play bingo. They had dinner and watched a movie. Even Leah watched the movie straight through and ate popcorn like the rest of the kids. When she is around older girls she likes to emulate them. She sat next to GG and copied her every move down to eating one kernal at a time versus slamming as much as she can fit in her mouth.

Megan's Bay

2009-04-17T17:40:00.000-04:00

I have to say that this is the best beach I've ever been to. It is clear and calm, warm, and perfect for a young family. There are even lifeguards on duty. To top it off, it was a short drive from the resort to here. Also, there was no cruise ships in today, so hardly anyone was there. Gorgeous!

Shopping

2009-04-16T05:23:00.000-04:00

These guys were everywhere. The highlight of our trip, my favorite, iguanas.
We're shopping for jewelery. We actually we're on a scavenger hunt looking for the free stuff, and when I say we, I mean Mom and I. The kids enjoyed the stop for ice cream though.
Is there wind in there?

We went shopping today after going to the pool this morning. My parents bought me a ring, which is an early birthday present. Thank you Mom and Dad. The prices on jewelery were great. Everything else, normal or higher than usual. The taxi drivers kept yelling at us again. They wanted to take us back to our cruise ships. Although, I don't feel too bad, because my swim aerobics instructor, who is a St. Thomas native, says she gets nagged by the taxi drivers too.

After shopping, my parents go on a Sunset Cruise, remember free cruise for listening to the time share spiel. We take the kids to the pool for some drinks (for Eli and I) and rum bingo. Yeah! I won, some guava Cruzan rum. Our neighbors, gave us beer. They're leaving the next day, so they are trying to get rid of it. Fun Fun Fun...

Visiting St. John

2009-04-15T16:47:00.004-04:00

This is how the car ferry loads the cars on the boat. Every car goes up in reverse because it isn't a through ferry. It takes about 30 minutes to load everyone aboard and another 20 minutes to cross the ocean, 10 to unload. Not too bad for going to another island.
There is St. Johns.
Well today was an "I did that" kind of day. We went to St. Johns, but it wasn't the greatest times. When we got off the ferry we went the wrong way to get to the beach we were headed to. We wounded going up very steep hills that are rental could barely climb only to realize that we were going in the complete wrong direction. We wanted beach, not Mountain ;). It was a pretty drive, anyhow.

So, we got to the beach and we have no drinks for the adults. Eli waits in line to get drinks. Everyone else goes to sit down for our lunch. The kids are hungry and eat and drink, we brought juice boxes for the kids. Eli was taking a long time and we're all hungry so my parents eat too and I nibble hoping to eat lunch with Eli. Dad checks on Eli who says to go to the other side to pick out a place. Dad doesn't really communicate that, so we put lotion on the kids, meanwhile Eli finally gets bottled water and starts to look for us. We finish up and go see why it is taking Eli so long. He isn't there, but the beach isn't too big, so we find him walking toward us. Of course, he is not hungry, so no lunch.

As soon as we get to the beach and the kids get in the water, Sam throws sand in Avery's eyes. He is very sensitive when it comes to his eyes. So, poor Avery cried for 20 or 30 minutes because his eyes hurt. We finally get him to nap on the beach. Eli fell asleep with Avery. Leah played in the sand because the surf was too harsh. Zachary, on the other hand, had a blast just laying in the surf, letting the waves take him in and out.

We are going to rethink going to St. Johns next year. It wasn't really worth waiting 2 hours by Ferry when half the family was miserable. But, we can say, we've been to St. Johns :).

Our New Home

2009-04-14T10:39:00.000-04:00

Here it is, Frenchman's Cove at the Marriott. As you can see they are still building it. Plans say it will be done in 2012. They are going to have a kids play ground and an adult only swim area. All rooms have beach views. The room that we got is only on the top floors and there are 13 total when the Cove is completed. The picture is taking from the Hotel at Frechman's Reef. Also as owners we can use the Hotel pool and beach, which we haven't done yet. There are many restaurants, an Adventure Center for many planned activities, as well as a Kidz Club, which the kids have enjoyed painting, making plaster sand art and much more. When Leah is older we can put the kids in their day care for half or full day or bring a babysitter along, anyone?
At Frenchman's Reef waiting to go to dinner.
At Coco Joe's.
Zach-a-boo.

Today we hung out at the pool and beach area again. At 3 we had our time share talk for a free Sunset Cruise. Eli and I never talked to each other about a time share before going in, we just listened and both thought it would be a good time to buy. We have a habit of buying things very quickly... like our houses. We've always had a good outcome, so we thought, why not, and we are having such a good time here. So, we bought a 3 bedroom and it is our home 1/52 of the year, yeah! Not that I have to legitimize our purchase, but everyone we talked to thought it was a good purchase and the place to be. So, we are very excited about our new home. We also have a long list of potential inhabitants... :)

After our long meeting, (we esentially were buying a property, so we had to sign numerous documents) we went to Coco Joe's at the Reef. The kids were tired and not very hungry because they had a ton of soda and snacks at the office, but we still pushed through dinner, another long wait. We also had a bad smell near us that they finally took care of after we moved our table further from it and could see something on the ground making the foul smell. The food was very good, but we were kind of put off by the smell and the service. We're going to be making our own meals for the rest of the stay at the Cove.

Rum Punch Night

2009-04-13T22:05:00.001-04:00

My mom and dad cheering to free rum and an awesome place.
Little Leah with a glazed over look. I think she had some rum.
I have to say that having a Rum Punch Night at the resort was one draw for Eli and me when it came to buying our time share. I was about to think we didn't get anything for free. But, with rum comes loss of inhibitions, which means your more likely to buy the stuff that the marketers had come to sell. Eli and I were smart and left our wallets behind. My parents on the other hand got sucked in.

Besides the shopping, we had a great time. The kids went down the slide for the second time today. We all went to the beach again. We enjoyed the hot tub. We wore out the kids by dinner time and they were having a hard time keeping their heads up. We just ate at the restaurant at the pool, which is good food, slow service, but we're on "island time."

Monday in St. Thomas

2009-04-13T10:36:00.000-04:00

We're having a great time. We spent all day at the pool and beach right outside our resort room. Leah even got her naps in by taking one on me by the pool.

We learn quickly that we need to buy groceries or we'll spend a small fortune at restaurants and the hotel shop. So, Eli and I brave town by Taxi. First stop, the local K-Mart. Gallon of milk, $6.59. A box of cereal, $5. Everything is about a dollar more than at home. We also shop at the Four Seasons grocery store. Not much on selection, but we get some questionable deli meat, apples and browning bananas. I thought the food would be better here, oh well, no big deal. The restaurant food is really good though.

As for getting a Taxi back, we called the company back. There were men at the K-Mart calling Taxis for people. He got angry when we told him we called one on our own.

We also decided to rent a car because the Taxis charge per person. With 9 people it would be crazy not to rent a car. We rent a minivan that sits 8, which I'll hold Leah. It will be here tomorrow.

Arriving in St. Thomas

2009-04-12T09:42:00.004-04:00

We arrive an hour earlier than expected. But, we are all ready to be at the hotel and get our suits on. The kids are hot in those long pants. We left in 35 degree weather and arrived in 80 degree weather. Yeah, we're here!
Now we are waiting to go see the pool and beach. No swimming yet. We arrived to early so our room isn't ready.
Here's the pool area and the beach is in front of that. The pool is huge. There is also a water slide in the far right corner.

Trip to Clark Elioak's Farm

2009-04-12T03:35:00.009-04:00

All the cousins, except Leah. Zachary, Avery, Madison, Gabrielle, Genevieve, and Samuel.
All the cousins in a teacup enjoying a snack. We had to get them all ice cream shortly after. Too much running around!
Leah watching a free range chicken.
Thursday I went to Ellicott City, MD, to visit my mom, sister, and nieces and nephew. After enjoying some lunch, we went to Clark Elioak's farm. They bring and renovate old Enchanted Forest structures and put them on the grounds for kids to play on and look at. There is also the petting zoo too. At the end of the trip we even got to witness the birth of a goat. The goat in the picture is 2 days old.

Too Cute times 3

2009-04-01T13:45:00.004-04:00

The cats have found a perch they love, the baby changing table. Leah saw them sitting there and wanted to pet them, so I lifted her up. She's pretty good with them, but the cats can only tolerate so much fur pulling. Casper leaves in that case, on the other hand, Daphne fights back just enough to make Leah stop for a second. We have been very fortunate that the cats have not bit or clawed the kids yet.

Leah is on to her new thing now as I type. She climes the high chair to get on the kitchen table. Best be going.

Pictures

2009-03-25T09:13:00.007-04:00

Leah holding Daphne. Daphne is considerably lighter than Casper weighing in at 6.5 lbs, while Casper is a solid 8 lbs. Anyhow, Leah can hold "Daffy."
Silly kids. They love to push each other around in this cart. This morning Leah was upset because she was not involved in the action.
Another favorite activity of Leah's, reading books! We do encourage book reading in our household. In fact, we loaned out 26 books from the Library yesterday, which may only last us a week.
In preparation for our St. Thomas trip, I got these hello kitty sunglasses for Miss Leah. She looks like she is posing for the paparazzi, my little Hollywood star!

Eli's Brewing

2009-03-25T09:03:00.004-04:00

Sung to the tune of Three Dog Night's "Eli's Coming" - "Eeeeeli's Breeeeewing."

I don't know if it is for the love of beer or for the love of scientific experimentation, probably the former, Eli has brewed a batch of homebrew. He started about 3 weeks ago and coined his first batch "Eli Amber". We sampled throughout the process and had our first finished bottle a couple of days ago. It wasn't fully carbonated yet, but it was quite tasty. Eli is already thinking about what kind to make for another batch.
Here he is pouring beer from the bucket to the bottles. He does it this way to avoid getting sediment in the bottles. He could make Vegemite if he wanted to.
Now he is capping the bottles. He bottled 51 beers; just over 5 gallons worth. Ask how he enjoyed his first brew and he'll say it was fun, but time consuming, and sanitizing all the equipment was a pain in the butt.

Zachary and Leah Updates

2009-03-05T17:39:00.008-05:00

Today Zachary and Leah went to the doctor for their standard check-ups. Leah is 29 3/4 inches tall and weighs 20 lbs, she is 30% and 22% respectively. Zachary on the other hand is in the 50% for height and weight, which are 34 lbs and 39 1/4 inches. Oh, and they got 7 shots between them, 3 for Leah and 4 for Zachary.

Okay, now to the interesting part of our day. Both Leah and Zachary were being checked out in the same room by the same doctor. Zachary was checked out first, the doctor did the normal ears, nose, throat, groin area, etc. She looked in his left ear, right ear, and found something white in there. She thought maybe it was a bit of ear wax as she was looking, and then looked more closely with the magnifying glass and said it looked like a shell. Anyhow, she finished with Zachary and Leah's checkup before trying to fish it out.

A second doctor came in to try to help pry out the shell. No luck. Zachary was struggling too much and the shell was too deep. So she called an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor to set up an appointment. We went to the ENT several hours later, and sure enough, when the nurse looked in his ear she thought it was a shell, tiny and pearly white. She even had me look at it. Yup, a white shell in his ear.

We moved to another room where the kids got to watch Sponge Bob while we waited. The doctor came in and looked in the ear and agreed it was a shell. Now the fun part, the assistant came in and gave Zachary Valium. He can't swallow pills so she was going to dissolve it in water, but apparently it tastes pretty disgusting, so I suggested juice. She found some bright orange V8 splash, yum! It took him two Dixie cups full of juice to get that Valium down. 15 minutes later he was good and loopy and the doctor came in with two assistants to hold him down and take out the shell that has probably been there since Pawley's last June.

The doctor took long tweezers and put them in Zach's ear and pulled; meanwhile Zachary was struggling and turning beet red. Suddenly he took out a shell like a magician pulling a coin from Zach's ear. Not a piece, but a whole shell. The assistant helped us get Zachary into the car for the ride home. He was so drugged up he couldn't walk straight and he was a little chatter box on the ride home.

As you can see, the shell is on the right of the penny.

Some Pictures

2009-03-03T13:42:00.003-05:00

Avery, Leah, and Zachary. I gave the little devils hair cuts with the new clipper set Eli got me. It paid for itself in one sitting.
When did my baby turn into a little girl?

It has been an unusually busy February. Most weekends were spent going to birthday parties, and celebrating Zachary's birthday, which seemed to go on for weeks.

Some updates of the kids. First off, Avery, is continuing to surprise me. His knowledge of the world is growing by leaps and bounds. He also can sound out words. He is a little unsure of himself, but we know he can do it. His teacher will send home books that the students put together and he can read the books cover to cover, some of it memorized, but the rest sounding out. I'm excited about this development, but Avery rather play video games, then read books right now.

Zachary is doing very well in school. I thought Avery was my artist, but Zachary seems to be enjoying art more right now. Maybe it is an age thing. He is also starting to read a little. He can sound out all his letters and spell a couple of words. Avery is definitely leading and teaching his brother some of these skills.

Leah, as you can imagine, is blossoming into a little girl. She follows everything we do. Just yesterday, she opened the door to the trash can and threw away trash. How did she even know it was trash? She has three distinct words. Mommy, Daddy, and Daphne. It's really funny that she says Daphne and she knows which cat is Daphne. I give Leah cat treats and she will say "Daphne" and throw the treats at just Daphne and ignores Casper.

More to come. Leah has her 15 month doctor appointment on Thursday and Zachary has his 4 year. I'll post some stats.

Getting Ready for Valentines Day

2009-02-06T09:07:00.004-05:00

The boys, with my help, made valentines for their class friends.

Bus Song Video

2009-02-05T11:59:00.000-05:00

Bus Project Culmination

2009-02-05T09:35:00.005-05:00

Every month Avery's JK class has a new project. January was about Transportation. They had a field trip to the Transportation Office in Leesburg where the buses get clean and sleep for the night. The kids asked tons of questions and learned so much about school buses. In class they built a replica of a school bus with huge card board boxes. Day after day Avery would get into the car and tell me a little more about the bus building. "Mommy today we made orangy yellow paint to paint the school bus." Well I guess that explained the color on his clothes. One morning his assistant teacher loaded Avery into the car and was proud to tell me that Avery thought the bus was lacking a grill on the bus, so they made one to put on the front. I have to admit, I was proud of him too. He has also mastered reading Emergency Exit.

Yesterday was the culmination of the "Transportation Project." The parents were invited to view what the children had created. They also had story boards of how they learned about buses. After Avery showed me all that he did, he got to eat a bus cookie that one of the parents made. It was a fun morning.

Snow

2009-02-05T09:30:00.004-05:00

We got snow twice in January. Of course nothing to write home about, but we did get some pictures of the kids in their snow suits, which is always cute. Leah is pictured during the first snowstorm.
The boys got to play with dad and some neighbors during the second one. Eli made a massive fort, which in retrospect he thinks he should have made a circular fort. But, nonetheless it was fun. The boys played for hours.

Visiting Granny

2009-02-01T10:49:00.002-05:00

We went up to Ohio this past weekend to visit Eli's father's mother, Granny. We also got to meet one of the newest additions to the Burke clan, Maggie, who was very cute. Leah didn't mind that I was holding her either.

We were fortunate to be able to spend several hours with Granny, which she in turn enjoyed watching Leah play and shake her tic tacs. We were also very grateful that Barbara, Grandma, watched the boys while we were in Ohio. We got some good eats at Bob Evans and Dick's Pizza, which had a sauerkraut topping, yum. Some home cooked food as well. Not bad for a couple of days.

In the picture it is Granny, Sara, Maggie, Leah and Leanne.

Best Present Ever

2009-01-15T10:19:00.001-05:00

Here is a video of when the kids first saw the kittens. I was expecting more excitement, but it is cute.

Leah Wahes Her Hair

2009-01-15T08:58:00.001-05:00

I know, kind of strange to see a 13 month old wash her hair with no prompting. I had to share. Enjoy.

Toy Car Fun

2009-01-14T21:23:00.003-05:00

Before Leah could walk, she liked to be pushed around on her vehicle. This is one way the boys found to do it. Enjoy.

Christmas Eve Eve Present

2008-12-23T21:14:00.000-05:00

This is our Casper.
And little Daphne.
They love to sleep on each other.

We arrived at the grandparents today and the kids got their Christmas gifts in advanced, 2 kittens. They are so adorable and the kids love their gifts and all the cat toys that came with them. Casper and Daphne are so cute, cuddly and friendly. We are so blessed to have these rascals in our home. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa.

Before Christmas 2008

2008-12-22T20:35:00.001-05:00

Eli and I go to Eli's company holiday party at the Spy Museum in Washington DC. It was awesome because we had the whole museum to ourselves and after the tour we had a private dinner with all you can eat and drink. The kids were literally next door, so that I could nurse Leah after the party and not have to worry about driving home. Plus, we went to the National American Museum earlier in the day. The next morning we went out to breakfast in DC with the kids and then we checked out and went home. We had our friends Christmas party later that day. So, a busy weekend, but loads of fun.
Avery and Zachary had their holiday parties the week before Christmas. Zachary's class had a couple of treats for their celebration. However, Avery's class the parents got a little out of hand and there was at least a treat (cake, candy, brownies) from each student. I brought in mini cupcakes and only about 5 got eaten. Some parents just get very excited about these events ;P Anyhow, their classes also had a song they sang and a little class project during it. The kids also handed out presents to the parents (so cute) and the teachers gave the kids presents. The parents gave the teachers gifts as well. It was really a very sweet treat and the teachers are great, I appreciate them so much.

Over the weekend we went to my parents to enjoy a Hanukkah celebration. We got to exchange gifts with my family and see the kids cousins and my siblings.

Leah Walks

2008-12-13T03:50:00.003-05:00

While we were giving the boys a bath last night, Eli and I were impressed to see Leah standing and then walking. We knew she could do it, but she was very unsure of herself. If she knew she was standing, she'd sit down. So, I wasn't surprised when she took her first step, she did the same thing, at first. Then, as she realized she could walk she took more steps and took about 5 total before falling down. Walking back and forth between Mommy and Daddy was a fun game for her. She certainly found it very amusing and so did Avery and Zachary when the saw her walk too. We all got a good laugh in and much applause. Unfortunately no video because Miss Leah has severe diaper rash and she was naked during her first steps. We'll be sure to capture this skill soon.

Leah's One Year Stats

2008-12-01T10:37:00.001-05:00

12 months of Leah. Here it is, a look back at her at each month. Enjoy.
Well it has been a year. Can you believe it? Leah started out in this world at 19 inches and 7 and a half pounds. Today she is 28 1/2 inches and 18 lbs 13 ounces. She's grown a lot over the year. Happy Birthday Leah!

UVA vs. VT

2008-11-29T22:22:00.000-05:00

Leah started throwing up at around 12:30 am. She'd wake up only to puke again. She did nurse at around 5, but just threw it all up over me and the bed. To top it all off, we weren't even home, we were at my parents house. We stayed to watch the football game and we thought maybe Leah would be better, but she got sick again at 1pm. So, I washed everything while we watched Virginia Tech beat UVA. My parents weren't too happy, but Eli and I sure were. We left shortly after the game. To make sure Leah didn't throw up on herself in the car, we borrowed towels and the one in the picture had a convenient hole to put Leah's head through. Don't worry, she just had it on long enough for us to get a picture, then she took it off.

Leah at One and Candy Day

2008-11-28T20:53:00.001-05:00

Leah is 1 today. We can't believe our daughter is one. Anyhow, today we went to Barbara's (aka Grandma) brother's house and made candy. This was our second time making the sweet hard candy, which is a tradition in Barbara's family. It took 6 hours to make what seemed about 20 lbs of candy. Grandma made Leah a birthday cake, which she unfortunately never got to blow the candles out for because she was asleep, but she did get to eat some later. After candy making we went to my parents to celebrate again. She got to blow out a candle on a cherry pie. However, since it was our second Thanksgiving, we didn't eat any pie, we were all too full. Leah was zonked and fell asleep early. We should have known she was sick then, but that's another story.

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-27T22:11:00.000-05:00

Turkey, Stuffing, green beans, and cranberry sauce are just a few of the ingredients for a good Thanksgiving. For our Thanksgiving we added Grandma and Grandpa in West Virginia and had a wonderful Thanksgiving. In the morning we took pictures of the family by the Potomac. Then we had our meal at 2. After that we had a much needed walk on Terrapin Neck and enjoyed the beautiful day. Then we sampled Eli and Grandma's freshly baked apple pie. Leah got a really cool birthday gift from the grandparents. The Dora Rider not only entertained her, but the boys as well. After they pushed her around the house, Leah pushed them around the house. Needless to say, we had a very pleasant and fun Thanksgiving. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa.

Birthday Party and Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T12:54:00.003-05:00

The cousins at my brother's house.

Eli and the kids at Avery's Thanksgiving in his classroom.
Okay, so it's been a while. Well, we've been pretty busy with Thanksgiving celebrations in the boys classrooms and traveling to PA for Brian and Nene's birthday party. We've also had birthday parties every weekend since Avery's birthday. So, if we aren't having fun, we are shopping for gifts. Okay, so that's fun too.

We're off to celebrate Thanksgiving in good old WV. We look forward to making candy and celebrating Leah's 1st birthday. Hopefully I'll post those pictures by next week. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Story of Nutmeg

2008-11-04T19:30:00.004-05:00

One day in January 1997, Eli and I went to a pet store in West Virginia. We met this wonderfully friendly cat. She reminded me of a cat I had at home named Spicy and I thought for sure she was meant for me. Later that day I went home without that cat and found out that my cat Spicy was suffering from a stroke and would be put down the next day. I called up Eli and told him that I was sure that cat we met was meant for me, it was destiny. Sure enough, I had convinced him to get the cat and as a tribute to Spicy, he thought of the name Nutmeg. She was a perfect cat, a little crazy at times, hence the tail being amputated, but nevertheless a great friendly cat. She immediately inherited a brother named Pi from Eli's family. They grew to be friends. We lost Pi in Oct of 2002. Early on, we discovered she had a form of Feline Leukemia that was not fatal, but gave her a continuous cold, but she never stopped purring. Even to this day she purred. Eli took her this evening to be put down from the cancer in her jaw that we found 4 months ago. We said our goodbyes and she surely will be missed, especially by me. She was a very special cat.

Halloween

2008-10-31T19:14:00.001-04:00

Halloween is our most celebrated holiday in our household. We had two Halloween parades, we visited the Air and Space museum, we went to the ASI Halloween party, and went around the block trick or treating. We also had Avery's Halloween birthday party twice. I almost forgot the two pumpkin farms we visited. Busy month for us Burkes.

Avery Turns Five

2008-10-09T10:36:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday Avery! Our big boy just got a little big bigger. Eli and I have been looking at each other and wondering what happened to the last five years.

Avery loves school, for the play time of course, but I think he is also learning by osmosis. He can write all his letters, and will write words if you force him to sit still and do it. Pushing him to do anything is a struggle; if you can trick him into thinking it is a game he will participate whole-heartedly.

Avery's favorite TV show / licensed character is Scooby Doo. He loves his nightly bedtime story, and pays very good attention despite distractions from Zach and Leah. He enjoys anything on the computer, or his Leapster game player. He has good eye / foot co-ordination and can dribble the soccer ball around. He's also speedy on his feet and in the pool, so we may try swim team in a year or two.

Before I forget, his favorite color is pink. Eli got him a Red Power Ranger costume and he was upset that it wasn't pink for a couple of days. I can't wait to see if it's still his favorite color in ten years...

On his birthday Eli took a half day. Per Avery's request we went to Chick-Fil-A and let them play in the gerbil maze for an hour. Back at home we had presents and video games, and then Eli surprised us with tickets to the Big Apple Circus. Then on Saturday we had a party for "older" kids, and on Sunday we had family over. The cake and cupcakes were commissioned from our friend Heidi.

2008-10-06T13:45:00.000-04:00

Leah in her Tinkerbell costume.

10 Months in Hats

2008-10-01T16:12:00.010-04:00

Yesterday, as Eli worked late and the boys took a bath, I played dress-up with Leah and every hat I could lay my hands on. She was not happy and tried really hard to get them off her head. Of course once they were off, she would try to put them back on, but doesn't have the coordination to get them on right. She will also try to put clothes on, but usually winds up dragging them over the top. Eli takes those opportunities to play peek-a-boo, so I guess it's possible she does it on purpose.

A Quiet House at 3pm

2008-09-26T15:06:00.003-04:00

What do you do when it's 3pm and the house is quiet, the baby asleep, your boys out of town for the weekend? Well, you do what I'm doing, you blog all about it.

Eli took Avery and Zachary to Bryan's family cottage this weekend for what they called a "mancation". I don't know how long it will last since it is looking pretty gloomy outside and I'm sure the kids will be moaning about what to do. They will have Logan and Kaylee to play with, and all the Wii game time they can stomach, so it may come down to how long Eli and Bryan can hold out.

I'm going to try not to waste the whole weekend goofing around on the internet. There is so much to do to get ready for fall and cold weather: organize the house, switch out bedding and warmer clothes, etc. I'm not excited and motivated, but it needs to be done and there won't be any better time.

Photo Fun

2008-09-22T17:52:00.007-04:00

Leah was playing with the pumpkins that I put in the foyer and I thought it'd be fun to take a couple of pictures. It turned out that all she wanted to do was destroy my display and knock the pumpkins down and play with the fabric. Zachary tried to help by holding her hostage, but she wouldn't have that either.

Then I thought maybe I could take some pictures of her in the dining room using the new drapes as a backdrop. That didn't work either; all she wanted to do was play with the sheers. The results turned out cute, but in a different way than I expected.

Avery and Zachary Start School Again

2008-09-15T14:34:00.004-04:00

Avery and Zachary started their second year of preschool last week. Avery was very enthusiastic about going; Zachary a little less so. Last year he had some problems with one of the other kids in his class, and we think the negative emotions carried over. By his second day he was feeling better about it.

Avery is coming up on five and loves learning. This summer we worked on spelling and he kept up with his ABCs and 123s. But the skill he improved the most was his swimming. He had had such a dramatic change from May to September, and can swim fast and deep for as long as his breath lasts. When we go to my parent's house he loves to jump off the diving board and swim to the side.

Zachary is three and a half, knows his ABCs and 123s and can even spell a few words. Yesterday he spelled his name, which shocked us because normally he spells Avery's and says it is his name or he will say Z and a whole bunch of different letters and say it is his name. In fact, one of the boys' favorite game is to say a bunch of letters and ask me what they spell or what they mean. We can't understand why it's so hilarious. Zach's swimming has improved but he doesn't have the same confidence or buoyancy as Avery. He can push off walls and keep his head above water, but he doesn't kick his legs out behind him so he doesn't have any lateral movement.

This week I have back-to-school nights to learn what the boys will be doing in their classes and meet their teachers.

Steady Growth for Leah

2008-08-31T11:27:00.005-04:00

Leah has hit nine months and had her latest checkup. The doctor says she is having steady, healthy growth. Her new stats are:
Height: 27.25 inches (50%)
Weight: 18 lbs 3 oz (50%)

Her personality has become pronounced. She is a happy happy girl. I probably sound like a broken record saying that all the time, but the difference re the boys is pronounced. Or, Eli and I have really just lost our minds; melted away under the stress of parenting.

But back to Leah: she can be mischievous, but smiles wide when caught. She throws little tantrums when something is taken away, but they are short lived and she can be distracted out of them. Eli says he hopes that never stops or we will be in trouble when she's a teenager.

Leah can also speak. She pretty distinctly says maaamaaamaaamaaamaa when she wants me or sees me, and says daaadaaaadaaadaaaadaa when Eli gets home from work, or enters or leaves the room.

At the end of our trip to San Francisco we realized she had cut her fifth tooth. That makes four out of five that came when we were traveling or on vacation. Thanks girlie!

Seth and Rob Wedding Aftermath

2008-08-25T10:46:00.003-04:00

After the wedding Dad took us to the Waterfront Restaurant. We sat right on the water with an amazing view of the bay and Treasure Island. The food was incredible, and we polished off several bottles of really good wine along with it.

We finished up with a leisurely stroll back along the waterfront towards Fisherman's Wharf, stopping at Pier 39 to check out the Sea Lion colony living there. The smell was... a stench, really. It was like being surrounded by a thousand cans of rancid sardines.

Seth and Rob Get Married (again)

2008-08-25T10:32:00.001-04:00

I mentioned in an earlier entry that we went to San Francisco to visit Nora. Our desire to visit dovetailed nicely with Seth and Rob's desire to get legally married. (For future readers, same-sex marriage was and is still illegal in most states; we hope that will change some day soon. And while I'm at it, please let Barak Obama get elected in November!)

So on Monday morning we all trooped over to City Hall. Seth and Rob had an appointment to fill out the paperwork, and then we waited for about a half hour. They were married by the city commissioner who told us he liked to do a couple of weddings each month to be a part of the joy.

The strangest part of the whole experience was running into Richard and Joan Blumberg. Eli grew up seeing them in Maine every year at Hiram Blake Camp. And then we randomly bumped into them 3000 miles away. They were visiting City Hall because their daughter had recently been married there as well.

A Walking Tour of San Francisco

2008-08-24T13:41:00.004-04:00

Nora told us at the outset that San Francisco was a walking town. She was not kidding. We started the morning with a walk to her place, just over a mile from our hotel. We went through Chinatown, which I enjoyed. Yes I know it's all tourist trash and gee-gaws, but I liked it.

After we had a chance to check out her apartment, we walked across town (uuuuuuup, then dowwwwwwwwn) to one of Nora's favorite brunch spots, Perry's. After eating we started back, ducking into boutiques, then decided to shift course and walk to Ghirardelli Square by Fisherman's Wharf. At the time we figured we might take the trolley car back, but when we saw the hour long line Eli convinced me we could walk back to our hotel.

Now technically, he was right. It was not THAT far; we had walked a route that would look like a figure eight from above, and the return to the hotel would connect it up perfectly. But after already walking something like 5 or 6 miles, neither of us was prepared. It was a long slow walk. Oh and did I mention we were pushing Leah in the stroller? :-)

There was a silver lining. We got to look down Lombardi street from the top, and we had some amazing views of Alcatraz and the city. And when we finally got back, the hotel hot tub opened its arms wide and gave us a warm wet hug (as did the beers we picked up at a licquor store about a block away).

Going to San Francisco?

2008-08-23T13:14:00.003-04:00

On our way to San Francisco... or are we? Our initial flight was repeatedly delayed for a total of six hours. Yes, six hours in Dulles airport, when we could have been at home relaxing, or napping. And when we did finally take off, it was to spend 5 more hours on the plane. We were at our wits end from entertaining Leah in a filthy airport lounge with just a few toys from our carry-on.

The bright spot in the experience was that we flew in first class, thanks to some frequent flyer award tickets Eli managed to score. The tasty meal, desert, snacks, and free booze helped take the edge off once we got into the air.

Getting Ready to Fly

2008-08-22T14:23:00.005-04:00

We are getting ready again for another trip, this time to San Francisco. Nora has been there for two years and will be returning to the East Coast soon. Like the Nashville trip we are leaving Avery and Zachary behind, for several reasons. It's expensive, we aren't planning any kid-friendly activities, and honestly we need some alone time. They will be staying with Martin and Barbara who have a full slate of activities planned to keep them busy.

Since Leah is coming along to San Francisco with us, and we will be on the plane for more than five hours, I spent some time creating a new baby toy for her. It is a buckyball shaped ball with ribbons pulled through the holes. The ribbons are all different colors, textures, and widths. I let her play with it for a few minutes to verify that it would hold her interest, and then put it away for the flight.

Meanwhile, she is in love with our books. She crawls over to the rotating bookshelf at full speed and pulls them off the shelf to look at and gum with her teeth. She still tears and crumples the pages sometimes, but not nearly as much as she was.

Reinstating Nap Time

2008-08-18T17:05:00.003-04:00

Lately I am at my wits ends with Avery and Zach in the afternoon. All day long they get steadily more wound up, and by mid-afternoon they are bickering constantly, or pestering me, or chasing the cat, etc. I am officially re-instating nap time. Or at least quiet time. Avery stopped napping around three and half, and Zach stopped napping at two (yes, at the same time). It was a tough way to end my pregnancy, and it has been tougher since then.

Today, Zachary was insanely tired today at 4pm. We were doing a project with stickers and he was having a tantrum over literally 1000 stickers. So, I had it! I told them they had to stay in their beds for at least 30 minutes, being quiet. 15 minutes later, they were both asleep. I had 30 glorious minutes all to myself until Leah woke up!

Eli and I figure that once school starts the boys should be more tired in the afternoon, and thus more likely to take a nap. And if not, then they will just have quiet time to give me a short break.

Hiking and Peach Picking

2008-08-16T12:43:00.004-04:00

This weekend Eli planned a day doing outdoorsy activities. We drove west to Skymeadow State Park and had a picnic lunch, and then went on a hike with the Nordfelts. It wasn't quite two miles, but it was hot and sunny and the climb was steeper than expected (for an "easy" trail), so the kids got worn out. Zachary needed carrying, and Avery wanted to be carried, almost half of the uphill climb. The downhill part was through shaded woods; everyone wished we had gone the reverse way around.

After hiking we went to an nearby peach orchard to pick our own peaches. We picked ourselves a peck, and ate something like 12 or 15 more while picking. They were SO good right off the tree. After peaches we picked a pint of blackberries and raspberries. Eli had Leah in the carrier and fed her blackberries as he picked. When we were done he joked that they might charge us for another pint after seeing her juice stained mouth.

A Burke Wedding in Nashville

2008-08-09T10:51:00.003-04:00

This weekend we went to Nashville, TN for another Burke wedding. This one was for Eli's cousin Ellen and her fiance Brandon Schneider. We left Avery and Zachary with my parents, flew to Nashville on Friday morning, then drove north with Eli's parents to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky.

At the park we took a two hour walking tour of Mammoth Cave. It was a fascinating experience. Eli wore Leah in her Baby Bjorn carrier for the whole tour. He had a little trouble when we went through some sections that required you to hunch down or bend over, but other than that it went spectacularly well. She was calm and alert for parts, slept for others, and I even nursed her, twice! Eli thought it was the funniest thing that I nursed her 700 feet below the ground.

Saturday morning we toured a full size replica of the Parthenon which was built during one of the World's Fairs. In the afternoon we drove to Murfreesboro for the ceremony, and then came back to our hotel, the Marriott at Vanderbilt University, for the reception. Leah was passed around among the family, and with no kids to keep an eye on, I danced until I could barely stand up.

On Sunday, everyone we knew went home, but we stayed for a last day to experience more of Nashville. We went to the Tennessee State Museum, the Frist Museum, Centennial Park, and the Belmont Mansion. It was relaxing, although we walked all over the place and wore our already tired feet out even more.

Lobster Picnic Day

2008-07-30T18:05:00.002-04:00

We had gorgeous weather for the Lobster Picnic at the sanctuary (and unfortunately the last sunny weather for the rest of the week). It was hot and everyone pigged out. The boys were very curious to try my lobster, but chickened out when it came to eating any. I think Eli's dislike of seafood is unintentionally rubbing off on them. He doesn't ever badmouth it, but he doesn't help "set an example".

After the picnic we drove over to Ellsworth to visit the L.L. Bean factory outlet and bought new backpacks for school. We also stopped at the Grasshopper shop for t-shirts and other assorted purchases. It's a great store for browsing and impulse purchases.

Pebble Beach Memories

2008-07-29T18:12:00.000-04:00

Ames Cove Beach

2008-07-28T11:00:00.000-04:00

Leah and I have been catching naps in the morning in here. I feel so much more rested than I do at home, and I even get a chance to read a little. Eli usually takes the boys exploring around the camp or over to Betsy and Ed's cottage to play with Evan and Will. The weather has been perfect, warm but not hot like it was last year.

Several times this year we went to Ames Cove, a few minutes drive from camp. The walk down through the pine forest is beautiful and alien at the same time. The beach feels hidden from the rest of the world; so peaceful and almost always deserted.

We took the kids' fishing poles so they could play cast while Eli and I collected rocks. Leah crawled around when we let her, usually getting all sandy and necessetating a dip in the cold water. She didn't complain much about the temperature so Eli has high hopes that she inherited his Polar Bear gene.

On our last day we took one last trip over to Ames but mis-timed the tide and arrived an hour after low tide. It was drizzly and overcast, and the whole cove was filled with a dense fog. Eli said it gave him a pleasant melancholy funk that was appropriate for the last day of vacation.

Picking Blueberries on Blueberry Hill

2008-07-27T10:34:00.000-04:00

Today before lunch we all walked up Blueberry Hill and picked about three cups of blueberries. I love the tiny sweet blueberries that grow in Maine, and this year there was a bumper crop. I had Leah riding in the carrier, and she ate about every 5th berry I picked.

Avery and Zachary remembered picking blueberries from last year and were super excited to do it again. They went straight to work when we got to the top. Most went in their mouths, but they surprised us both with the number that made it into their measuring cups and then into the communal pot. Afterwards, Zach wanted to make blueberry pie. Maybe next year we will bring the necessary ingredients.

Lunch was late but worth the wait. Everything tastes better when you are tired and hungry and have that warm glow that comes from enjoying the world. We had pesto and cold cut sandwiches and cheese and crackers and pickles and blueberries. Leah's rice cereal missed a connecting flight so she ate the same stuff we did. I know there is a schedule for introducing new foods, but she does so well with everything that we don't pay it much mind.

Hiram Blake Camp 2008

2008-07-26T17:14:00.003-04:00

This year we broke our Maine drive up over three days. We drove to my parent's house on Thursday after getting the car all packed. Our gifts to them: a bag of fresh CSA produce and Nutmeg ktty.

On Friday we drove to a hotel in Andover, Massachusetts. There, Eli took us to "The Museum of Printing" which was mildly interesting, but mostly just for Eli. :-) After dinner we swam at the hotel pool, an activity that is getting more fun as the kids learn to swim (hotel pools don't usually have a shallow end).

On Saturday we had our usual stop in Freeport, ME. The outlet stores are the same as they are everywhere else, but something in Eli's brain shuts off when we go on vacation. He temporarily ceases to be quite as much of a cheapskate. Our best find was predictably at the last store we went to, the toy store. The kids found "pop tubes"; simple plastic tubes with accordion pleats that could bend and expand like a giant version of a bendy straw. These somehow managed to amuse them for the entire rest of the car ride and for all week long.

I Love Our Backyard

2008-07-22T16:16:00.006-04:00

Lately Leah has had a more consistent nap schedule. This is great for planning, but has its ripple effects. One of her naps is in the afternoon, which interferes with our afternoon pool visits. When this happens we turn to the backyard for water fun.

The backyard faces east and we get afternoon shade from the house. That means Avery and Zachary can play with the water table and the sprinklers and I don't need to apply sunblock. Today they were content for more than 45 minutes, the baby got an awesome nap, and I got to relax on the lounger with a magazine.

New Parenting Skills

2008-07-17T09:25:00.006-04:00

Eli bought a book recently called "The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child". Among other things it stresses how, in the long term, punishment is an ineffective tool for changing a child's behavior.

This book argues that the most effective way to mold kids' behavior is to praise them when they behave the way you want. For example, if your kids fight all the time, you need to make an effort to point it out when they are sharing, cooperating, playing quietly. And that doesn't mean saying "Why can't you play nicely all the time?!", it means saying something like, "Wow I really love it when you guys play so nicely!"

So we have been trying to be positive and praise the kids when they are being good. Eli has noticed that Avery gets a huge proud grin on his face when we tell him how well he is behaving (for example: when they get dressed in the morning and put their clothes in the hamper).

It may be the placebo effect, but I feel like it is paying off. It seems like we are yelling at the boys less, and they are behaving better. And really, the worst that could come of it is that we pay closer attention to our children.

Bathing the Babes

2008-07-10T18:43:00.004-04:00

When Avery and Zach take a bath I usually start it out with just an inch or two of water. I put Leah in and let her splash around a couple of minutes. Then I wash her, take her out, and fill up the tub for Avery and Zachary.

Leah loves bath time like you wouldn't believe. Any water at all, in fact. Yesterday I was washing some stains off the back porch. Leah was sitting nearby and when I poured the water onto the porch she crawled over and went nuts splashing it around. She got soaked of course, but she had so much fun I couldn't stop her.

Mojitos, Pesto, Blueberry Juice, and Grilled Endive

2008-07-06T13:33:00.003-04:00

This year we are trying a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. It's like a farm share or a food co-op. Each week we will pick up a big bag of vegetables, herbs, and a bundle of flowers. It should interesting coming up with ways to use ingredients that are outside our vegetable "comfort zone".

This Wednesday we received our first share. We got a huge bundle of mint, so Eli figured out how to muddle it and made Mojitos for the 4th of July. They were really good, though it was easy to end up with bits of mint all over your teeth. We also got a big bundle of basil so I made yummy pesto.

Last night we tried to cook curly endive, which is quite bitter. Eli tried brushing it with oil and grilling-- that had mixed results Some parts were crispy and delicious, but others just tasted burned. I sauteed some with sweet yellow onion and garlic and thought it was quite good.

On Friday morning we had Swiss chard and endive omelets. We still have some yellow squash, garlic scapes, cabbage, and more endive. So far I've enjoyed the variety and had fun finding different things to make. Tomorrow we're going to try sweet and sour cabbage soup with flank steak.

One last note: berry season is in full swing at Costco. After coming home with 4 lbs of berries we had blueberry milk, smoothies, and I boiled half of them down to a syrup to add to various dishes. This was a technique from a cookbook I've been trying on how to sneak healthy ingredients into food that kids will actually enjoy eating.

Leah Starts Crawling

2008-07-05T12:41:00.006-04:00

Leah started crawling for 100%-no-fooling-real yesterday. She moves in a straight line and log rolls to redirect herself where she wants to go. She isn't fast yet, but it's enough that I now have to be concerned about what is on the floor in the room all around her. We will have to start on the boys about the importance of picking up their small toys and Legos.

Avery and Zachary Fly Up

2008-07-01T10:56:00.003-04:00

In Golden Pond School parlance, "Fly Up" is pretty much the same as "graduate". I think they use the alternate term because it can be easily explained to the children. The boys each got a cap and a pin during a short ceremony, followed by refreshments and goodbye hugs with the teachers.

I had mixed emotions about the boys being out of school. I'm really happy that I don't have to drive them back and forth twice a day, but sad that I won't have alternating alone time with each of them. So far we have been busy and tired; summer is great for going to the park and meeting up with friends, and I have managed to go to the grocery store a few times with all three kids.

In the morning we usually hang out at home so Leah can nap and I can work on the never-ending piles of laundry, clean up after breakfast, and occasionally write on the blog. After lunch we go to the pool or to the park. Home for dinner and to meet Eli, then back to the pool or out for a walk or to play in the driveway. Tiring, but far preferable to being cooped up with Avery and Zachary bickering all day.

Leah Hits Seven Months

2008-07-01T10:25:00.006-04:00

At seven months, Leah is still working on trying to crawl. She pushes up on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth, sometimes getting a few inches forward but just as often moving backward. She doesn't get far, which is good for me because I can leave her in the family room while I cook and clean up in the kitchen.

She is also working on pulling up. She hasn't quite made it all the way, but if we stand her up, especially against a toy or the sofa with toys on it, she will stay up playing for a minute or two. The excitement of watching her brothers hasn't worn off either. Now she tries to get their attention by screaming at them. For every time the two of them are annoying, there is another time where they help out by keeping Leah entertained.

Food-wise, Leah is eating more solids. She loves Cheerios and still isn't a big fan of bananas, but I put some on her tray most mornings because they keep her occupied (easy to push around, hard to pick up). I love that she can feed herself now because it is very time consuming to feed Leah, feed myself, and feed the boys. It is not uncommon for the boys to eat separately for breakfast and lunch, though we nearly always make it a point to sit down together for dinner.

Nutmeg Kitty

2008-06-25T09:00:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I took Nutmeg to the vet because her chin and jaw seemed swollen. The vet took an x-ray and found what appears to be a cancerous growth on her jaw bone. The vet thinks she has maybe six more months, possibly much less, until she is unable to eat. We are going to give her a course of antibiotics on the very small off chance that it is an infection, rather than a tumor, but the vet cautioned us not to get our hopes up.

Nutmeg has been part of our family for almost 12 years, since before our marriage, even before we graduated from Virginia Tech. She was a sister to Pi, Eli's big old goofy gray tabby who passed away October of 2002.

The thing we will always remember about Nutmeg is how amazing she has been with the kids. For as long as Avery has been able to crawl he has been chasing after her, grabbing her, petting her, and holding her. As rough as he was, and as much as she hated being held d

We have many wonderful, funny, loving, snot-filled memories of Nutmeg. I know she isn't gone yet, but I intend to make her as comfortable as possible for the last of her days with us. Nutmeg, we love you.

The SUV of Pack'n Plays

2008-06-11T11:10:00.003-04:00

With the boys old enough to stay on the beach for a couple of hours, we worried about what we would do with Leah. She didn't like wearing hats, and was just barely old enough to wear sunscreen, so we didn't want to slather her up too thickly.

Fortunately, we had seen a neighbor's "Pack'n Play Sport" earlier in the spring. It did not have a standard mattress, or any cloth components. Instead, it had a padded waterproof bottom, a vented dome to cover the top, and unfolded from a cylindrical bundle into a large octagon. It had been discontinued, but Eli was able to find one, new in the box, on Craigslist.

So we dragged our new Pack'n Play out to the beach every day. For some reason it never worked out as a place for naps; even when sleepy, the act of putting Leah down inside always woke her up. But she was usually content to play inside for 15-20 minutes at a time. And it worked out great for Leah's second cousin Cora (3 months) who did take a number of naps inside while out on the beach.

Leah Eats Sand at the Beach

2008-06-11T11:00:00.003-04:00

I said at the outset of this trip that Leah would probably stuff her face with sand. Shocker: my prediction was spot on! When I put her down in the surf she was immediately excited by the waves and went crazy splashing at the water. When she does that Eli says she looks like a bird flapping her wings (it's the exact same thing that she does in the bath and at the pool).

After a minute or two she slowed down and noticed the brown oatmeal-looking stuff all around her. She reached down and felt the texture with her fingers. Then she grabbed a fistful and squeezed it out. And then, in a blink, she lifted her hand to her face, stuck out her tongue and gave it a lick.

I'm not sure what things, in a baby's mind, are not good to put in your mouth. Certainly sand does not fall into that category; Leah began to grab fistfuls and cram them into her mouth. At this point I had to put a stop to it. Dr. Eileen assured us it wasn't really harmful, but "not harmful" is not the same as "good for you". And besides.. sandy diapers are no fun to clean up.

Flying the Dragon Kite

2008-06-11T10:51:00.002-04:00

We bought a dragon kite at Costco last spring. The kids have been wanting to try it out since the day we brought it home. We assured them that we'd fly it at the beach where there is plenty of wind and no trees.

Today was the day. Eli reeled the kite out and it took off like an arrow. Avery and Zach really wanted to hold on to it, but the wind was a little too strong for them. Zachary was being tugged along and could barely keep his grip, even with Eli taking up some of the slack. After that, we decided it would be for adults only. They enjoyed watching it fly for a little while longer, but eventually their interest waned.

Swimming with Cousins

2008-06-10T15:14:00.004-04:00

Avery and Zachary love playing at the beach with their second cousins, Ryan and Brianna. Ryan is 12 and Brianna is 14, so we felt comfortable allowing them to watch the kids while they played. Not that we left the beach or anything, but we could at least tone down the parental radar.

Dinner at the Fish House

2008-06-08T14:49:00.003-04:00

After a full day at the beach we went to the The Litchfield Fish House for dinner. The fish they cook up is always superb, and Eli was able to treat everyone because his boss gave him a "dinner on the company" as a bonus.

Pawley's Island 2007

2008-06-07T12:55:00.004-04:00

This year we changed our pre-beach routine up a bit. We drove to Raleigh, North Carolina and met up with some old friends: Jeremy, Emily, and their new daughter Harper. After lunch we continued on to Cait and Cullen's house in Cary. Cait cooked us dinner and we spent the night in their guest room.

Saturday morning we drove the rest of the way to Pawley's. We were the first to arrive so it fell to us to pick up groceries and cook a meal for the family. After eating, everyone went for twilight walk to the pier. The water was so warm it was impossible to keep our feet out of the surf.

This year, to accommodate the expanding family, Martin upgraded to a bigger beach house. It's right on the beach, has a huge dining area, internet access, and five bedrooms. We had no trouble packing in our brood, Martin and Barbara, Cait and Cullen, and Nora and Andrew. The porch isn't quite as nice as the one at Back of the Moon, but everyone agreed it wasn't worth going back.

Packing for Five

2008-06-04T13:01:00.005-04:00

Every year, packing to go on car trips becomes more difficult and time consuming. This year's beach trip was problematic because we needed to have baby gear for Leah, toys for everyone, beach gear, and clothing for five. Eli bought a roof top carrier because we are no longer able to collapse a row of seats for inside storage (Leah takes up one middle seat, and we left the other open so I could sit next to her as needed).

The kids have been looking forward to the beach for weeks now. We told them we would be leaving after: Avery's school, Zachary's school, soccer, a birthday party, Avery's school and finally Zachary's school. Explaining the passage of time is not easy, but this strange system is better than just saying "soon", and they get the general idea of the time scale.

Leah Turns 1/2

2008-05-30T16:01:00.008-04:00

The six month stats:
Height: 25 3/4 inches (50%)
Weight: 16 lbs 10 oz (50%)

Leah is at that stage where she is puffed up like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Her rolls have rolls, and it is really cute. (I promise, future Leah, it's not a bad thing!) The truth is, she is perfectly proportioned and exactly where she needs to be. For comparison, Avery was 27 inches and 18 lbs, Zachary was 26 1/4 inches and 18.5 lbs.

At 6 months, Leah has officially transformed from infant to baby. She has changed so much since her birth when she could sleep for the entire day. Now she spends the majority of her time awake and exploring the world around her (mostly, by putting every single thing she can pick up into her mouth).

The last month has been eventful. While in Asheville for Cait and Cullen's wedding, Leah got her first two teeth, the bottom middle ones. She now sits up very well and is eats many different foods. She has no problem trying new foods, but seems to prefer savory over sweet. She has started to push up into a crawling position, can roll around, and can scooch forward to reach toys out of arm's length.

The Strange Tale of the Glowing Shirt

2008-05-21T11:29:00.005-04:00

Today, Avery was wearing a shirt with a glow-in-the-dark scull and crossbones (Halloween outfits are pretty much a year-round affair). For some reason he decided to go into the dark garage, perhaps because he thought it was time to get ready for school.

While in the garage he realized that his shirt was glowing. He came running back inside, told Zachary, and they both went back into the garage. They came in and out a couple of times, and then after a while I noticed that they had been gone for at least five minutes.

I opened the garage door and called their names and heard their voices, all muffled. "Where can they be?" I thought. "Behind the car? Under the car?" So I flipped on the light, and they were *in* the car, door closed, seat belts buckled, talking to each other and admiring Avery's glowing shirt. Neither of them can get unbuckled yet without assistance, but they did not want me to release them.

So, I gave them some chocolate milk, opened the car door and inside garage door, and now I'm sitting inside, enjoying the peace and quiet, and wondering if glow-in-the-dark shirts and dark garages are a legitimate parenting technique.

Mother's Day at Golden Pond

2008-05-15T11:44:00.003-04:00

This is how Avery describes me:
My Mommy is 10 years old.
She weighs 100 lbs and is 6 feet tall.

And this is how Zachary describes me:
My Mommy is 3.
She is as tall as Daddy.

Two flattering portraits, but they are in for disappointment when they are older and realize that I'm almost a foot shorter than Daddy.

More interesting insight from Avery:
"Mommy's job is to clean-up, but at her job she plays with us."
"She doesn't work, Daddy does."
"Mommy likes to sleep when she is home alone."
"Salad is Mommy's favorite food."
"Mommy likes doing dishes." (this is 100% false!)
"Ellen" and "Ellen's song" are my favorite TV show and song.
Avery finished on a strong note: it makes me happy to hug and kiss him, and he likes it when I hug and kiss him.

In Avery's class he painted my nails and gave me a back massage with a toy car. We made a hand print painting together and had a snack with tea. In Zachary's class we played with blocks, had tea and cookies, and also made a hand print painting together.

The Biltmore Estate and Wedding Reception

2008-05-10T19:02:00.002-04:00

We spent Saturday morning at the Biltmore Estate. It is the self-described biggest privately owned residence in the United States; it has 255 rooms. As we drove up to the house in a shuttle bus, the kids started exclaiming, "A castle! Look at the castle!" much to the merriment of the other passengers on the bus.

It took us about 2 hours to tour the public portions of this enormous house. One common comment people had was about how the bathrooms were so plain compared to the rest of the ornate rooms. Eli was taken with the relative modernity: built in the 1880s, it nevertheless had modern accouterments like electrical lighting, running water, central heat, elevators, intercoms, and an indoor swimming pool. This is one house everyone should see.

At 5pm was the big reception. The party we've been waiting for for the last 7 years (hehehe... kidding). Caitlin and Cullen were actually married in February, but this was their big celebratory shindig and we were happy to be there with them.

Friday in Asheville

2008-05-09T10:40:00.006-04:00

Today we got up, ate breakfast on the hotel's club lounge, swam, and then drove up the Blue Ridge Parkway to go hiking. Cait and Cullen had picked out a trail called Graveyard Fields, a fairly easy trail that went 1.5 miles out and back. The kids did as well as can be expected. Avery walked most of the 3 miles, and Zach walked about half of it. At the halfway point we stopped at a waterfall to cool our feet and relax for 15-20 minutes.

After the hike, and an hour's drive back to civilization, we went to Rosetta's Kithchen for lunch. It was an an all vegan restaurant, but they managed to create some amazing meals. The boys had cheese-less "macaroni and cheese" that was amazingly similar to its dairy-laden inspiration.

In the evening we had a big family dinner. We got to see Granny, whose health has been on the decline, as well as all of the Burke relatives who were able to make it, and also some of Eli's Mom's family (Aunt Sharon, Aunt Cathy, Uncle Alan, and cousin Emily).

Chimney Rock

2008-05-08T11:17:00.003-04:00

After a morning swim and continental breakfast we drove to Chimney Rock State Park, about 25 miles from Asheville. Once we got up into the hills the road was very twisty, and we were stuck behind a slow bus almost the whole way. That made Eli grouchy, but the scenery was so amazing he was hard pressed to keep his bad attitude.

The centerpiece of the park, which has been open for more than 100 years, is the iconic granite outcrop that rises up into the sky. From the top (which can be reached by staircase, or by an elevator shaft blasted into the mountain more than 50 years ago) one can see for more than 75 miles on a clear day. We rode the elevator to the top, and then had a grand old scramble getting back down on the network of staircases that crisscross the mountain.

Driving To Asheville

2008-05-07T11:04:00.002-04:00

This morning we packed up the car and drove to Asheville, NC, where Cait and Cullen were having their wedding reception. We stopped along the way at a scenic overlook in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a long trip, through sometimes torrential rain, but we did finally arrive at 4:30. Once Eli got the car unloaded we drove to the nearby Botanical Gardens and had a leisurely walk.

Afterwards we went to dinner at the Tupelo Honey Cafe, which had a delicious all-organic menu. Even the kid's meals were something special, with items like sweet potato pancakes and grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches (both our boys chose the PB&B, and boy did they taste good). Asheville has a diverse and liberal population, and its eateries reflected that reality. Nearly everything that wasn't fast food was organic, sustainable, free-range, all-natural, etc.

Leah Eating Pears

2008-05-01T14:07:00.002-04:00

Golden Pond's Spring Sing

2008-05-01T10:48:00.002-04:00

Kid Comparison: Five Months Old

2008-04-29T10:17:00.006-04:00

All three kids had the same fine blond hair, blue eyes, and chubby cheeks. Since Leah's clothing is decidedly pinker than the boys', I made all of the photos black and white.

Leah at the Five Month Mark

2008-04-28T13:02:00.004-04:00

At five months Leah is getting to be a handful. Sometimes she wants to be held, and sometimes she wants to be down, and she is more than ready to let me know that whatever I'm doing is wrong. I'm almost ready to say that she has learned to be willful, which bodes ill because we have 12 more years until she is a teenager.

She is showing no signs of sleeping through the night. I put her down at 8pm and it is normal for her to wake up 10, 2, 4 and 6am. I attribute it to the breast feeding (which I would never give up). Eli likes to think that is partly due to some quirk of genetic makeup common to all three kids.

Leah has a trick that she has learned, or that we have taught each other. We used to do it with the boys when they were crying: cupping or patting fingers against their open mouths to make a "baa baa baa baa" sound. Leah will do it with us even when she isn't crying. In fact, it normally makes her coo and start to talk.

Leah is also walking now. Ok, not really walking, but she scoots around in her walker quite well. We started her in it 3 or 4 weeks ago and she has already gotten the hang of it. Like all kids, first she only moved backwards. Then she learned to go sideways, and now she can cruising forward. It is adorable when she tries to follow her brothers around the house because she can't get on and off the carpets. I love this stage because I can pop her in the walker while I cook dinner or prepare lunch for Avery and Zach.

Cutie Pie Leah

2008-04-13T17:08:00.007-04:00

Here are some cuuuute pictures of Leah hanging out on her tummy. Now that she is older, she prefers to lay on her tummy rather than on her back. She is even able to push herself forward a little bit. She doesn't roll over much, but can do so when sufficiently motivated. And, we now have to buckle her in her car seat because she has started arching her back now and inching forward until she falls out.

Soccer Class

2008-04-13T16:29:00.007-04:00

This spring the boys are playing in a tot soccer league. It is every Saturday at 11:30am for the next two months. They are in the same class, which is nice because we won't have to split up, and we won't have to devote half the day to soccer. At this age there are no games or scrimmages, just activities and drills to build up their skills and get them comfortable with the ball.

Last week was the first class of the season. The first thing we noticed was that soccer is serious business in Loudoun County. The field where we met had at least 12 teams (of various ages and skill levels) practicing every hour, starting at 8:30 and running until some time in the afternoon. And this was just one local elementary school.

It is entertaining to watch the kids, and to watch their coach cajole them into participating. They do warm-up exercises, running exercises, kicking drills, and ball-control drills. For the kids it all seems like playing games, but you can see that they are picking up the foundation of the skills necessary to play a real game of soccer.

The only downside was picking up a little sunburn. Even little Leah got some on her arms and head. I don't know why it didn't occur to me that we could get a burn in the middle of April. I guess in my mind I only equate "hot sun" with "sun burn".

A Perfect Saturday Morning

2008-04-05T09:14:00.005-04:00

This morning I woke up at 8:30am. Leah was next to me, looking into my eyes, but for once she was not pulling my hair or climbing all over me. Then Eli came into the room and offered to take the baby and make breakfast. Then Avery came in, gave me 100 kisses, sang me a song, and hugged me. When I finally made it downstairs, I was greeted by sunshine and spring weather. Could the morning be any more perfect?

Visiting the Baltimore Aquarium

2008-04-04T10:21:00.006-04:00

Last weekend Eli surprised me with an overnight trip to Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The plan was to drive up, go to the Baltimore Aquarium, spend the night, and then drive to Brian and Maggie's house in Pennsylvania for Madison's 5th birthday.

Everyone enjoyed the field trip, but it was very tiring. Eli and I had to carry Leah through the aquarium because strollers weren't allowed. We lasted for about an hour an a half, and by then the kids were pretty much done as well. Zachary's favorite part was the giant pool where the manta rays live. As we climbed up each floor he would go to the center and look down at the pool on the bottom floor.

We had a very comfortable night at the Marriott Inner Harbor. The beds were luscious, and the boys stayed asleep through Leah's feedings. In the morning we gorged at the buffet breakfast, and then drove up to Wernersville. Once again, Leah was the star of the party. Now that all of the cousins are getting older, the "baby fatigue" has worn off and everyone wants to get some cuddle time.

Leah at Four Months

2008-04-01T10:21:00.003-04:00

Weight: 14 lbs 14 oz (60%)
Height: 24 1/2 inches (60%)

Leah had rice cereal for the first time today. I didn't expect the reaction she had. Usually babies jerk back and spit out food when they are first learning to eat, but she just rolled it around with her tongue and then swallowed.

Eli got to do the "first meal" honors, which is fair considering I've been feeding her for four straight months. He made sure she was wearing her VT bib from Aunt Nora for this big moment. So, rice cereal for a month, then we'll start adding new items: mashed carrots, potatoes, green beans, apple sauce... Yum!

Being fed ;)

Kid Update

2008-03-13T08:56:00.006-04:00

Leah keeps on getting bigger. I have officially moved her out of all 3 to 6 month clothing and into 6 to 9 month clothes. My memory of the boys is that they grew in spurts, whereas Leah seems to steadily grow larger every day. At this age she is just a little bigger than the two of them were.

Leah has been grabbing at our arms while she is sitting in our laps. However so cute, her little tiny nails scratch our arms, so we get little cuts all over are hands and arms from her. She kneads like a cat.

Avery and Zachary had Father's Day celebrations at school this week. Each class had different father-child activities. Avery shaved Eli with shaving cream and a popsicle stick, they played a mini-golf game, and had ice cream and cupcakes. In Zachary's class they served breakfast, made picture frames, and explored the classroom together.

Eli was off from work for three days last week because he caught the flu. It was awful. He barely ate and spent most of his time sleeping, or at least trying to sleep through the coughing fits. He wasn't allowed to touch the baby and is still being very careful to wash his hands frequently around the rest of us.

Leah at Three Months

2008-02-29T09:23:00.001-05:00

Leah didn't have a three month checkup so I'm going to guesstimate her stats. She weighs about 14 lbs and is probably 24 1/2 inches. She's almost outgrown her 3-6 month clothing and I've already moved her into some 6 to 9 month clothing where she fits comfortably. We switched her over to size 2 diapers from 1-2 diapers yesterday.

Leah has hit some major milestones in just the last couple of days. She started pushing herself along the ground when she is on her stomach. She can move a couple of inches at a time, but she tires quickly. Her legs are very strong and she can stand by herself as long as you have a fingers for her to balance on. She can sit up briefly, but again her balance is not so good. She has rolled over from her back to stomach in my bed.

Emotionally she is still an exceptionally happy baby. She loves to talk. She coos forever and when there is a break we can ask her a question and then she'll continue talking to you again. She loves to watch her brothers, recognizes them, and smiles when they come into her view. Her alertness means that Avery and Zachary love to interact with her now. There is so much gratification from getting a baby to smile at you. She loves songs and being bounced; we can always get a giggle out of her from doing the "Ladies Ride" song.

Zachary Turns Three

2008-02-18T09:40:00.003-05:00

We had two birthday parties for Zachary. On Saturday we had the family over. Brian and Maggie couldn't make it because the girls were sick, but everyone else was able to come and celebrate.

On Sunday we went to Chuck E Cheese and met up with some close friends for Zach's actual birthday. I planned this party in a week, so it was fairly small. It was nice not to have to worry about cleaning the house again. Jill made a very cool cake inspired by the They Might Be Giants album "Here Come the ABCs". Zachary loves their kid-centric music and one of his gifts was their new album "Here Come the 123s". I think I already know all the new songs by heart, and fortunately that's a good thing, not a complaint. The songs are very catchy and fun to listen to and sing.

Going through a Rough Phase

2008-02-06T14:12:00.002-05:00

As the boys realize I have less time to pay attention to them, they have been starting to act out a little more. It has been trying and tiring. Two days ago Zachary threw a tantrum for a half hour because I wouldn't give him a treat until he ate his lunch. I was getting ready to pick up Avery, so all I could do was bundle him into the car, where he continued to scream and fuss.

When I started driving down the driveway, he stopped and announced, "I change my mind, I'll eat my sandwich." Oops... too little, too late. That set him off again, and he screamed in the car until he fell asleep. Then when we got back, Avery had a tantrum when I said he couldn't play on the computer. He cried and screamed for an hour and then for another half hour or so when Eli got home.

Yesterday, I put Avery in a time out and when he got out I asked him why he was in time out. He said "Because I was being obnoxious." I think Eli's vocabulary is rubbing off on him :) We are working through these issues, but it is exhausting. Warm weather will be nice so I can get these guys outside to use up some energy.

Leah is my bright spot, my darling princess. She is such a calm and happy baby; I can sit her in the swing or lay her on her play mat for 15 minutes at a time with no trouble. She likes to stare at a black and white spotted cow my cousin Beth gave her. She smiles and coos at it, and I like to think that she is talking to it. The other day she even giggled for the first time as I was taking her out of the bathtub.

Leah's Stats at Eight Weeks

2008-01-28T13:35:00.001-05:00

Leah went to her eight week checkup today. She got 4 shots and 1 oral vaccination. She did not like the shots and she screamed a lot more than I remember the boys crying. If it isn't obvious from all the photos, she is still doing well, growing and developing right on schedule.

Her latest stats:
Weight 11 lbs; 50%
Height 22 3/4 inches; 75%

Kid Comparison: One Month Old

2008-01-17T15:22:00.002-05:00

Kid Comparison: First Bath

2008-01-17T15:13:00.003-05:00

There is no denying that our kids have a certain... visual similarity. Here are photos of each one taken during their first bath.

All My Children

2008-01-16T11:30:00.001-05:00

Leah slept for seven straight hours last Thursday night, and for five straight hours the other night, but has not duplicated either feat since. I would be happy to settle for anything more than four hours with any kind of regularity.

On Friday, Avery decided he was going to make the cat beautiful. He painted Nutmeg with purple glitter. She had it all over her from head to tail and is still tearing fur off to get rid of the glitter, poor thing.

On Monday, when Zachary and I were going to pick Avery up from school, Zach heard a commercial for Snowshoe, West Virginia on the radio. He said to me, "Grandma and Grandpa live in West-Ginia." My bright boy isn't even three yet, but he is certainly paying attention to what he hears around him.

Eyes Wide Open

2008-01-16T11:25:00.002-05:00

I realized after looking back at some of my recent blog posts that most of our pictures of Leah were taken with her asleep. It's understandable, since she was always either nursing, burping, or sleeping again. But lately she is awake and studying the world around her, so I was able to take some new photos where her eyes are open.