Beautiful Rainy Fall!

It's official! The gray, rainy days that make Seattle the official Eeyore cliche have come to stay. But like every true Seattlite knows those gloomy days are often speckled with a handful of stop-in-your tracks beautiful ones. Like Yesterday- November 17th! High of 59, bright blue sky, warm breezes dancing with golden leaves, tank top clad teens, and of course happy toddlers running around at our latest find "Turtle Park". Where even the most spirited of children were sharing toys, offering hugs, and listening to parents due to such a fine, fine day! Our best day this month hands-down! Kai turned 8 months to boot!! Perfect!!!

Since we last blogged, the weeks have slid full force into each other! I blinked and two months passed! Mostly because it seems we have been sick for that long! Just enjoying a lovely game of pass the cold and round again with our whole family!!! It's fun you should try it!!! Just make sure you have your vitamins, humidifiers, and nurse hotline ready at hand!

In the midst of all the sniffles came some awesome benchmarks for us Bellers. First on the brag post: Mr. Kai! He is seriously on the fast track to catching up with his big bro! He started scooting at 6months and full blown crawling at 7months. Now he is even pushing himself up to sit and pulling himself up to stand! He LOVES standing at the train table and playing cars with Jake. He knows he is SO cool. It's stinking cute! He has grown two teeth: bottom. Which we heard in Thai means he will be logical, reasonable, and determined. Hmmmm. Kai has started eating puffed rice, cheerios, and pizza crust. He is so good at picking up those little snacks with his big baby hands! Kai also has turned into quite the jokester! He loves to share his binky-JUST KIDDING! He can laugh for hours with that one! He is really into wrestling with Dadda and Jake! It's a little scary watching an infant go full speed towards wrestle-mania and hang with the crowd! And lately he has been really into beats. He is constantly tapping his hand on the wood floor, tapping his foot on the counter, stopping to listen to music, and rocking back and forth anytime a toy makes music!!! It's good to know another son has rhythm!

We have quite the talker on the Jake front! He has officially stepped into the "Word World"! Seriously, it couldn't have come soon enough! With Kai's new found voice.. and it's a good STRONG one.... we are happy to say goodbye to the extreme tantrums of a frustrated misunderstood toddler. In his place a more confident, opinionated almost two and a halfer has arrived. Phrases like " I would like a binky mama please", " Good morning Kai! I love you!",and "Sneaky, sneaky" gladly fill our ears! He has also grown like a little bean. He is now in 3T and size 8 shoes! Not sure when that happened! As if parenthood isn't emotional enough, the nostalgia of the light speed pace both our boys are growing at is deafening! I really just can't stop and simmer in it's wonder enough! So sad, so beautiful, so intense, so wonderful an experience! I just want to bottle every moment but I know my hard drive is only so big. I wonder what memories will stick and which will be forgotten? Hopefully, this blog will help preserve those un-stored moments!

Whoa, got a little sappy there. Must have been the raging fire, table wine, and Ahmad Jamal floating in our ears. Where was I? Oh yes... Jakestir!!!

So we were at Turtle Park playing in the sandbox and I had my first super proud warm fuzzy moment with my extremely spirited toddler. He stopped mid-fishing adventure frozen by the sound of a young girl's cries. "Momma booboo!". " Yes Jake that little girl fell and got a booboo. We need to play carefully. But she will be okay!" "Be back one minute." With that he took off across the park at full speed to the little girl. My heart stopped as pictures of him tackling her down in a huge WWF hug came flashing in my head. But weighed down by Kai in the front pack I couldn't quite make it for interaction facilitation. Yet, to my utter surprise and joy, Jake oh so gently and with such sincere empathy, gave this girl his best hug, kiss, and reassurance "it's okay!". I stood there shocked by the show that ended in applause and comments from every mom/nanny at the park! It was as if all the work in the past year regarding social/physical interaction finally paid off even if only for one moment! It was so rewarding and gratifying and above all hopeful that yes this toddler will learn and grow into a young boy! And probably make a good boyfriend and husband in the future, as suggested by one of the moms!

Speaking of good husbands, Eric is hanging strong! Proving yes you can do it all! He is thriving at Speakeasy and still actually loves his gig! Yeah! He keeps me and the boys happy with tons of quality time. We had a great stroll downtown by the lake and even saw an Eagle just hanging out at a tree. Now every time we go down there, Jake sees an eagle. Really? "Momma an Eagle! Fly. Tree". I am trying to stay full of grace and positive energy in my "season". I got pulled into a girls night out to a concert at the Showbox in Seattle. I saw Matt Nathanson who hands down is the funniest musician I have ever seen live! Mostly though, we are just super excited to head back to Michigan to enjoy Eric's family, see our little Seattle cousins tie the knot, and introduce Sir Kai to the whole fam! Not to mention, enjoy some Frankemuth fare! Umm-umm fried chicken!

With that, have a fantastic Thanksgiving everyone! Be merry, eat till your buttons pop, and remember the meaning of this holiday! Give thanks to all that you have in your life especially your health and your loved ones! Spread the joy! And know we love you and are extremely thankful you have touched our lives!

Cheers! The Bellers

Halloween night! A monkey, a tootsie pop, and a cozy fire!

Can you tell they're brothers?

Our Third Annual Peps Halloween Party! Wow!

Smiling Monkey. Sitting Panda.

Jungle warfare!

Msu vs UofM. Yeah that's right! In your face Wolverine Fans!

Another hallmark moment at the Wigwam!

A trio of hot boys by the fire!

Wait a second.... wrong chairs you two! How did you do that?

Pizza night at Zeeks after Wednesday Farmers Market in Kirkland.

One Lucky Kid. One Lucky Family!

The Eagle Video

Dedicated to Big Poppa Ron!!!

So as you can tell by our lack of posts, we have been quite busy/preoccupied here at the Wigwam. I mean juggling two kids should really be excuse enough, but in the fast paced-high tech world of today...."No SOUP for YOU"! I am sending out our big Beller apology to all those who patiently waited for pics and stories of our growing fam. And to those of you who chose to use some sneaky great grandma blackmail, your work has paid off.

Now. Let's see... Where did we leave off? Kai was born. Jake adapted. I learned how to be a mom for two little boys. Eric worked on his patience. And that took about three months. Kai grew like a cha-cha-chia pet at an exponential pace staying in the 95% in all areas. The doctor actually pulled me aside at his 4month visit and whispered "Now looking at the boys' charts, Kai is going to be a big boy! I mean not to scare you but, he is going to be quite a bit bigger than his big brother." Then, I thought of his Grandpa Ron and I choked a little. Not ready for that one or size 13 shoes!

Jake became obsessed with walks through the woods and picking blackberries, which he calls "black-blueberries" and "Walka". It's cute! Eric did softball all summer and is now if fallball. I have been trying to be a better friend and going on more girl nights and "book club" meetings. Kai went through a growth spurt and just got weaned. It's always so emotional for me to go through this act of separation. I had a rough week there. Luckily some Mexican food, dark chocolate, coffee, and port eased my discomfort!

Kai started eating real food and seems to like everything. He might be my little chef after all! He even loves carrots which I thought were to be banned in our household after his big brother almost made himself vomit every time he tasted them (see video in archives)! So far Kai loves: bananas, apples, pears, peas, sweet potatoes, carrots and avocado. I am making his food and this time it seems so much easier. Especially, with our killer market down the street every Wednesday. We have made a tradition of going down getting our bag of kettle corn, perusing, getting veg/fruit, going to Zeeks for slices of za and heading to the park where we munch down on corn and za ( our two fam favorites) and run off all that sugar! It has been so beautiful here lately and it just makes for a wonderful evening! Kai has even taken to riding in swings and going down slides! He is getting so cute and just like doc said BIG! He wants to do, watch, and grab everything his brother is doing/playing with! They are such brothers already!

The wigwam has been a little crazy lately, with Emma getting ready for school and leaving THIS WEEKEND, my brother and his friend Ben moving to Seattle (recruits #8 and 9), my mom went and came back from Michigan for a month to bond with my grandpa who is slowly winding down (please keep him and his comfort in your prayers), Katie got into a new AWESOME apartment, and we are rearranging living space to get Kai into his own room and my parents their own non-kid toy space. All of this splashed across a sensitive two year old's reality lead to some crazy behaviors the worst of which has been biting! I didn't really realize the impact on Jake, though I thoroughly felt it myself! If you look at my hands, you'd notice I fell off the wagon and became a serious nail biter again. If you look at my skin, you'd notice the giant patches of psoriasis growing all over. And If you look at the ground or ask Jake what's on his binky, you'd notice that "Mama's Hair" is falling out WAY TOO MUCH! Throw in some super sleepless nights and yeah you could say I am feeling the stress. I am not sure why I though Jake would breeze through!

But I did. And when Miss Terri called the Saturday before school started Monday to say that finally an opening at her Montessori became available, despite all of our efforts and finally conceding to no availability, we joyfully panicked to get Jake ready for school in two days. He just seemed to need a little more kid interaction and more focused direction than I have to offer. You know that ex-teacher, mommy of two guilt set in and I though this was just what he needed. I was skeptical without prepping him at all but sink-or swim right? For those of you who have dropped off your child at school for the first time or into any non-relatives care for a short while, you understand that feeling you get. If not, it feels kinda like getting on an international flight knowing you forgot something really really important. It's too late to go back and who knows how you will deal with what lies ahead. All you can do is wait out this very long flight and maybe have some wine while you do! So there I was on my journey to somewhere tropical when Miss Terri called to say Jake had bit someone and needed to be picked up. Tragic!!! My heart broke open into so many emotions. And after a week and a half of trying it out, we all decided in order to keep his experience of school positive we should wait a few months till his communication and basic conflict resolution blossoms. Again bittersweet! And so we have hunkered down into sensitive parenting and have noticed our big, confident, physical, aggressive two year old is just.... two years old and still needs so much more nurturing! It's amazing how things happen just the way they are supposed to happen, but usually in the most crazy manner!

When life gets too crazy, Buddha Eric reminds me that this is my life lesson and I need to face my challenges head on or they will find their way back to me and usually the wave is more forceful the next time. He has really been my rock through all this transition and I thank God daily for throwing Eric my way! We have grown to become a strong supportive team and it is a great foundation to stand upon! Thank you babe for being all that I need and then some!

Well, I need to get some sleep before the night of wakings begins! I will try my hardest to send some goodies your way sooner than later! Sorry for the random info above, but hoped it helped give you a snapshot of your reality. We love and miss you all! Always in need of love, support, laughter, and prayers! Update your blogs too!!! Enjoy the show and until next time...

Big,Big Love,

Kai, Jake, Maria, and Eric


In front of Lake Erie at our cottage for the Fourth of July weekend!
The boys in there designated swings at our local Everest Park.

Eating corn and hanging out at an art fair in Kirkland.

The Oreo episode while camping (see videos in the archive)! Too Funny!

Kai taking his first nap outside at the beach! Thanks for lending us this cool porta-tent Rainee!

Another beautiful sunset off the porch here at the Wigwam!

Our good friends from San Fran came in for a perfect brunch! What an awesome family photo!! We miss you Andrew, Tilly, and Eliza! Come back soon!
Mimi (who Jake talks about everyday!) Rainee, and Eugene!
Bob and Jinnah, proud parents of Jake's BIG boy friend Finn and sis Mathilde! Our old beloved neighbors!
Laura and Greg... always smiley!
Big boy Finn and Jake playing catch... like big boys! Thank you Finn for coming over and in one moment shaking Jake out of his "baby" phase in order to hang tough with you!

Jake with his BFF Ranen. This is the boardwalk by Katie's new pad. It's an awesome run free zone! They are so fun to watch together! Jake and Ranen share a bday and Kai and Elias (Ranen's little bro) share almost bdays! So we all have a lot in common!

Jake's official first day of school photo. He was so excited and cool about it all!
Jake and Uncle Kenrick playing football out back!
Kai with his plume of hair in the tub!

Here is Jake with his "Peeps" on our newly installed Wednesday Field Trip Club outing to the zoo. We had so much fun as you can see! Elephants, orangutans, and giraffes OH MY!
The back of Quinn, Gus, Jake, Aidan, and Lucy ham it out on the only hippo we saw that day.
Jake posing in crouching froggy before hopping off to school! Unexpected and cute!
Okay print this one off folks! Super duper cute first day of school photo!!! Tears!

Here we are at our Sunday Family Picnic by our house! We had so much fun eating outside, even with all the bees, and laying around under the trees. We all really enjoyed ourselves!
Aaaahhh Kai you are getting so big and stinkin cute!
Jake wanted to take this photo. He is obsessed with taking pics now.. maybe a budding photographer? Here we are hamming it up!

Le Fin! Love you guys!