Kate and BC Blog (and the kids, too)

more birthday pics

2008-05-18T21:16:00.000-05:00

boys+trains=hours of entertainment
and painting projects are always good too

James turns 4!

2008-05-18T21:14:00.000-05:00

We celebrated James's 4th birthday in April. Thanks everyone for making the day so special for us !

Spring has sprung

2008-04-29T14:37:00.003-05:00

James, Lucy and I spent a delightful few hours at the Lucas boys birthday party last weekend. Sadly, James was a bit out of sorts... and spent the next 3 days home sick with a fever :(

Christmas in Kansas City

2007-12-26T09:31:00.001-05:00

Rockin' the Carols, Norfolk-style

2007-12-20T14:23:00.000-05:00

I just ran into these four Santas, strolling through downtown Norfolk and playing "Jolly Old St. Nicolas." I suspect they only keep playing because their lips are frozen to their horns.

James with the flu

2007-12-20T14:03:00.000-05:00

Poor kid was feeling miserable, but I dragged him out of the house anyway. You can see from this photo how much he appreciated it.

You never know....

2007-10-03T14:45:00.001-05:00

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!I saw that photo of Clara and James on the beach, and my imagination just started working. Take a moment to watch (and laugh, I hope).

Neptune Festival

2007-10-01T11:49:00.000-05:00

Kate got together with Stacy and the girls, Clara and Elena, again last weekend, this time at the Neptune Festival.

Finally we got some photos of Lucy, too. Thanks, Stacy. Without you we'd have no pictures of our family.

A train, a train!

2007-10-01T11:46:00.000-05:00

James and I got together with his daycare friends Clara and Elena and we went to a model train show (Thanks for the tip, Stacy!)

Here's James taking good care of Elena...

Independence Day

2007-07-18T15:15:00.000-05:00

July 4th was the last year that my parents hosted there annual party and reading of the Declaration of Independence. After roughly 28 years of hosting a gathering and reading on some scale (4 to 200+ people, depending on the year), they decided to scale back for a family only gathering. Which will be nice and certainly less chaotic, but I'll miss all the hoopla. Mom promises will still have a fruit flag (an American flag made of watermelon, pineapple stars, and blueberries) and ham biscuits, and a reading of course.

This year, Lucy was 13 days old and I was voluntarily sequested in a side room to cut down on germ exposure and any requests to "pass the baby." Lucy slept almost the entire time. James ran around in the yard, as usual :)

Feet on the wall

2007-07-18T15:06:00.000-05:00

On Lucy's 2-week birthday, we went back to the Midwifery Center for a "check-up" and she got her footprints on the wall there.

The Stork Came to Fairfax Ave!

2007-07-18T15:02:00.000-05:00

The stork man came to our house to welcome Lucy. Here we are on her 7th day, complete with James's naked dance after we took the requisite family picture. Yes, he decided it was a fine evening to strip and run down the block (and back... many times). Not sure if our neighbors were amused or embarrassed. We laughed. And we got a video for his rehearsal dinner. ha ha ha

Lucy at home

2007-07-18T14:54:00.000-05:00

Time sure flies when you're on maternity leave! Lucy has been a doll, but I haven't had much time to post these pictures... sorry! These are from the week 2 at home. Note James the affectionate big brother snuggling in. :)

The Lucy Gallery

2007-07-01T12:18:00.000-05:00

For anyone interested in getting prints, here's the Lucy gallery at the Kodak website.

stupid internet

2007-06-28T15:05:00.001-05:00

So, every afternoon our lovely internet connection goes down for a few hours. BC blames the hot weather. I blame Cox. But whatever, it's inevitably during James's nap and so the perfect time to be online and not be asked if we can play some 'puter games as James calls it. Computer games with James were a fun distraction in the winter when it was too cold or messy to play outside, but he gets kind of obsessed and won't stop. So we stopped with him, at least during waking hours.

My point is that finally I can post some more Lucy pictures I see four green lights on the modem so I'm good to go. But I'm still calling Cox to complain.

On an unrelated note, we received a call from a survey company last night. I love surveys, and always answer them. I particularly like phone surveys, because they tend to be about general consumer habits, many of which I don't share and so I feel like I'm skewing the data. Hee hee. Last night's survey was about TV view habits (of which I have NONE). But the first question they asked was "do you or anyone in your household work for a local TV, radio, advertising or media company?" To which I had to answer, yes. And that was the end of the survey for me. And I was so so looking forward to telling them that I watch 0 hours of TV a week and get my news from the newspaper, NPR and the internet. Oh well. Next time.

Not to be crass...

2007-06-28T10:23:00.000-05:00

For those that asked for ideas:

The Silver Rattle registry: http://thesilverrattle.com/display_registry_products.php?registry_id=100007
Pottery Barn Kids registry: http://www.potterybarnkids.com/registry/guestsignin.cfm?regid=1856853
books
Skip Hop bottle drying rack http://littlefolks.stores.yahoo.net/skhopspbodrr2.html
Personalized Big Brother and Little Sister Onesie set http://pixieandtheprince.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=BigBrotherandLittleSiblingGiftSet
fun bibs http://www.abcmoon.com/infantbibs.html & http://www.specialtybaby.com/bibs.html

About that water birth...

2007-06-24T10:53:00.000-05:00

Let me just say first how excited I am that Lucy shares a birthday with both her great-aunt Karen and her future pal Lizzie, just one year older. And the Summer Solstice. Although we were hoping for Flag Day, I think the day when the sun reaches its zenith is more appropriate. Soar high, Lucy!

So about the hot tub delivery, let me just say that I never planned nor anticipated nor hoped for a water birth. All I hoped for was as natural and unmedicated of a labor as was safe and possible. BC and I watched a video about a home birth with a hot tub when we prepared for James's arrival as part of our Bradley classes, but that was "too much" for me. I like the hospital. I like the ibuprofen I'm taking. I like the nurses and the immunizations for Lucy and the fetal monitoring. I LOVE the midwives and our doula Nancy. I am lucky that having a labor and delivery in water was an option for me. And I hope that Bon Secours doesn't close the Midwifery Center - that would be a travesty for Hampton Roads and for so many families.

FINALLY!

2007-06-23T21:17:00.000-05:00

Lazy Lucy finally launched on Thursday, June 21 at 3:22 pm. She was 8 lbs, 0 oz and 21 1/4 inches long. Right into a hot tub at the [fabulous] Midwifery Center in Norfolk. She's beautiful and perfect and we're going to spend the next few weeks just staring at her. James brought her a truck.

Lazy Lucy, Come Out and Play!

2007-06-20T20:20:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I'm now a full week post-date. Yes, folks, 41 weeks and counting. But I got the thumbs-up from my the ultrasound today and my visit with one of the midwives, so we're on for another week before they talk about inducing.
The good news, little miss Lucy is indeed still a girl (I had my paranoid doubts - I guess I can wash all those cute baby girl clothes with tags still on them), and is estimated to be between 8.5 and 9 lbs. I saw her toes and fingers, 4 chambers of the heart, 2 kidneys, and even some hair on the head. Pretty cool.
If only she would come out and play... she apparently is rather comfortable in my large and lopsided belly. I, on the other hand, am not so comfortable. I'm definitely waddling (or lumbering) and moving slower, especially up and down the stairs. We're ready for her. James is asking when she's coming, and when we're going to the hospital :) I wish I knew!

The end of an era

2007-06-08T12:14:00.000-05:00

Next week James starts preschool at Ghent Montessori and Deanna gets a few months off.

Lucy is due on Wednesday. Kate's about to take a long break from work.

It's an exciting time.

Yesterday we went out for pizza and took a walk around Ghent. He's a pic of Kate (looking ready to have a baby) and James (in a tree).

2007-06-07T21:21:00.000-05:00

June update

2007-06-07T09:41:00.000-05:00

AHHH June is here - full of sunshine, berry picking, and new AC for our house. (Thanks to Homer & Jon for loaning us the window units temporarily!)

Baby Lucy is due to arrive in just under a week. As of this morning, I am 2cm dilated, 50% effaced, and the baby is at -0- station. I'm ready, just waiting on the baby to want to come out. The midwife graciously offered to strip my membranes this morning, but I said "no thanks, I want to go to Harborfest this weekend." I have priorities... this is (probably) the last weekend with just the 3 Wilsons, and I'd like to play. There are tall ships to see, pirates, and a VIP tent to check out. And lots of walking and water for me. And I really want to take James to Montessori for his first day on Monday.

James has stars in/on his eyes

2007-06-07T09:40:00.000-05:00

"This is my happy face"

Memorial Day at the Beach

2007-06-07T09:39:00.001-05:00

Family and perfect weather - what a great weekend!

Abby and James playing ring-around-the rosy.

April-May update

2007-06-07T09:28:00.000-05:00

OK - admittedly BC and I have been very behind in keeping this up to date. But we have legitimate excuses! We had a lovely family celebration of James's 3rd birthday. Unfortunately his big partay was cancelled for some sad family news, but he didn't really notice. Still had yummy cake and presents to open. And then he got to see his "cousins by the dozens" when we gathered in MA.

After 8 months of "slumming it" at my parents' home (it was like a really long vacation), BELFOR finally finished reparing our house from the damage caused by Tropical Depression Ernesto, circa Labor Day 2006. And so we moved back in at the end of April - hooray!!!

May brought more house-tweaks, getting James settled into his new big boy room and bed, and... drum roll please... potty training. Halleluiah.

Easter Blizzard

2007-04-17T13:57:00.000-05:00

Well, it wasn't exactly a blizzard, but we did have snow for about 2 hours, and James made the most of it.

Trip to Houston

2007-04-17T13:47:00.000-05:00

Thanks, Dad, for the fun trip to Houston. We all had a great time.

Another day at Mount Trashmore

2007-03-26T08:39:00.000-05:00

Hey, it may seem like no more than a giant pile of trash with grass on it, but it's our local mountain and so we go there to do things like fly kites and run down hills.

In the car, I tried to explain to James why it's called Mt. Trashmore. "People from all over brought their garbage here until it was a pile bigger than a hundred houses. And then they put dirt on top an planted grass seed and now it looks like a mountain."

I wasn't sure if he was getting it, but later when we were climbing it he said, "Where's the garbage? Is it inside?"

"Yes, James. It's inside." Cool.

What it must feel like to fly

2007-03-05T09:03:00.001-05:00

James in the Morning

2007-03-05T08:51:00.000-05:00

Doesn't every 2 year old read the paper while he eats his breakfast?

Baby Registry

2007-03-04T21:02:00.000-05:00

Looking for gift/shower ideas for baby girl Wilson due in June? Ponder no more...

Stroller: see the babies r us list below
stroller accessories: http://littlefolks.stores.yahoo.net/jopaorandcup.html

Registries

Things we like :)

books
Robeez
Skip Hop bottle drying rack http://littlefolks.stores.yahoo.net/skhopspbodrr2.html
GR8X swaddling wrap http://littlefolks.stores.yahoo.net/grswwr1.html
Personalized Big Brother and Little Sister Onesie set http://pixieandtheprince.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=BigBrotherandLittleSiblingGiftSet
fun bibs http://www.abcmoon.com/infantbibs.html & http://www.specialtybaby.com/bibs.html

But please, we're begging, no stuffed animals... the shelves are full!

thanks for thinking of us!

Virtuality

2007-02-08T11:13:00.000-05:00

Here's me (at work):

And here's Kate:

Everyone needs a South Park proxy. They're easy to make at: http://www.sp-studio.de/

Elena's First Birthday

2007-01-09T10:14:00.000-05:00

James spends two days a week with a wonderful pair of girls--Clara and Elena. We visited with them this weekend to celebrate Elena's first birthday. Cupcakes were consumed.
Elena opens her card

Clara savors a cupcake

James decorates - part 2

2007-01-02T11:59:00.000-05:00

James thought decorating was great--his method involved taking pieces of hard candy and jamming them deep into the soft part of the cake, then covering them over with pieces of chocolate. I don't know if he was aware that the likely consequence of this system would be broken teeth and enraged relatives/friends.

James decorates - part 1

2007-01-02T11:58:00.000-05:00

We visited Bridgewater, MA for Christmas with my mom. On Christmas Eve we decorated this shockingly green tree-shaped cake.

James Rocks OUT

2006-12-18T10:53:00.000-05:00

Taken with my Treo phone camera back in September 2006. This kid's got skillz.

Defacing Wikipedia

2006-07-26T12:11:00.000-05:00

The wonderful online journal PopMatters has just published my story about the enduring value of Wikipedia under the title "Defacing Wikipedia." It's a light-hearted look at the temptation to vandalize. I'd like to thank Rob Horning at PopMatters for his patience and support as an editor.

More Buffalo Pics

2006-07-08T11:19:00.000-05:00

We also went to this crazy sculpture garden out in the middle of nowhere. And to the zoo, where James and Holden rode the train.

Happy Times in Buffalo

2006-07-08T11:12:00.000-05:00

Our visit to Buffalo for the 4th of July was wonderful. James got to meet his Great Grandmother, as well as many of his Great Aunts and Uncles, and of course, the "cousins dozens." Here are some photos from the weekend.

Sandbox

2006-04-28T08:38:00.000-05:00

See James standing in front of he new sandbox! Thanks Pa Joe for visiting and for helping with the sandbox project. More photos are available for downloading and printing at our Kodak Gallery

Second Birthday!

2006-04-28T08:33:00.000-05:00

James turned two on April 19, an event celebrated around the world and in our own home. The cake featured "Scoop" from Bob the Builder.

James was a blur all morning, running from room to room eating pretzels, strawberries, grapes, goldfish and anything else he could get his hands on. By the time we got to the cake he was so stuffed he blew chunks all over the floor. Of course, he carried on happily as if nothing had happened. And Louis ate the vomit. Good doggie.

Making sand castles

2006-04-18T15:04:00.000-05:00

Of course, smashing them seemed to be the big hit.

Cousin Jack's visit

2006-04-18T14:55:00.000-05:00

We spent a lovely afternoon visiting with Andrew, Andrea and Jack, James's older cousin by 6 months. They even shared shovels and trucks!

Scooping water

2006-04-18T14:54:00.000-05:00

Splish splash

2006-04-18T14:52:00.000-05:00

Rain boots rock!

James shows Abby how to eat yogurt

2006-03-10T10:45:00.000-05:00

We sneaked in a quick visit to Alexandria for Abby's naming ceremony in late January. The Abby Hofheimer Blog: Yogurt

Sunning on a rock

2006-03-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

James learns from the animals at the zoo and warms himself on a rock.

Uh-Oh Zoo!

2006-03-10T10:01:00.000-05:00

James went to the zoo 2 days in a row - lucky kid. Everytime Deanna would hold his hand so he wouldn't wander too far, he would get mad. He started saying "uh-oh" and sitting on the ground. Then he said "night night, seeping" and laid down on the concrete and told Deanna to go "night night," too!

Fort Boy

2006-03-02T11:33:00.000-05:00

Enjoying the scenery at Mt. Trashmore.

2006-03-02T11:19:00.000-05:00

The rays at the Virginia Aquarium were a big hit!

Move over, green Dig Dig

2006-02-13T10:54:00.000-05:00

There's a purple backhoe in town. James is learning all sort of new phrases, courtesy of Bob the Builder's friend Speedy Benny. Like "unreal banana peel" whatever that means.

My dad, the "born again hippie"

2006-01-30T14:23:00.000-05:00

http://www.vlta.org/

Shave and a Haircut

2006-01-23T09:49:00.000-05:00

For once, James sat still and allowed the barber to cut not just some of his hair, but all of it. He's checking himself out in the mirror, too.

Have you seen this toy?

2006-01-18T09:19:00.000-05:00

Dig-dig is missing! All units are currently searching for the missing comfort object, but so far we have not found him. We feared a meltdown, but James was content last night to sleep with his Bob the Builder action figure instead. Watch out Dig-dig! Even if we find you, it might be too late...

Christmas 2005

2006-01-16T14:13:00.000-05:00

Mom just sent this photo of Holden (my sister Rebecca's son) and James from Christmas in Massachussetts. If you look closely at the lower right corner you'll see Dig-dig. It was originally given to Holden, but James bonded with it immediately and we were able to arrange a swap so that James could keep it. Thank you, Holden!

Comfort Object

2006-01-16T13:05:00.000-05:00

It finally happened. After nearly two years without any kind of security blanket, James finally found something he can't live without. Here you see James asleep with his best friend "Dig-dig." For the past two days he has fallen asleep holding this thing and whispering to himself, "Dig a hole...."

Lady Killer

2006-01-16T13:03:00.000-05:00

This girl just climbed right into the car with James. I guess the question is, who's driving?

Eating mama's "sheer-rio"

2006-01-16T12:58:00.000-05:00

I thought it was cute that both James and Kate were wearing green and orange.

If you're in Kansas City...

2006-01-06T11:57:00.000-05:00

Make sure to check out our B-I-L Tyson Schroeder's newest exibition at The Brick.
http://listings.pitch.com/gyrobase/Events/Results?date=2006-01-07&category=&keyword=&maxperpage=10

More Tyson art: http://members.aol.com/acetylene9/dystopia.html

AND he's in a band, too: http://www.thezone.org/reviews/20011021_killpop_1_cd.html

Thankgiving at the beach

2006-01-01T21:31:00.000-05:00

We took family pictures over Thanksgiving weekend that Kate fully intended to use for holiday cards. But we didn't get to it. So thank you all for sending us cards with your family pictures, and here's on of ours - with Jessica, Robert, baby Abby, and us 3.

In the press...

2006-01-01T20:59:00.000-05:00

Sort of. On Dec. 26, Kate & James made the front page of The Daily Break section of The Virginian-Pilot, in an article about the new rabbi at the temple Ohef Sholom. We 3 had attended a "Tot Shabbat" morning service for kids, which James enjoyed. What's not to like about songs, challah and a 20 minute service? Plus they had markers, paper and dreidels to decorate.

Hanukkah 2005

2005-12-24T09:31:00.000-05:00

Check out the choo choo train menorah over Kate's shoulder. James was very excited. We decided to light all the candles rather than just the 1st night's.

James's new bike

2005-12-24T09:28:00.000-05:00

BC lends James a hand. Maybe by his 2nd birthday he can actually reach the pedals.

"Dig a hole!"

2005-12-24T09:26:00.000-05:00

James's newest sentence. He's truck - construction equipment obsessed.

James helps Jemma open a Hanukkah present

2005-12-24T09:24:00.000-05:00

Halloween 2005

2005-12-08T15:19:00.000-05:00

Another Halloween, another costume party. This year we roped our friends Rachel and Tim (aka The Black Eyed Peas) to join us at the 5th Annual Foley Halloween Party, complete with home-made ice luge in the backyard. Stoli Vanilla never tasted so good. For those of you scratching your head, BC & I are Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow. ha ha

Sept 05 with the Richmond girls

2005-12-06T12:49:00.000-05:00

James shows off his chair climbing skills with cousins Caroline & Julia at VB

2005-12-02T21:39:00.000-05:00

Here we are picking blueberries. We had to leave after James nearly devastated the crop.

2005-12-02T21:37:00.000-05:00

Kate and James in some little tiny town north of Boston. Note the cool shoes James is wearing.

2005-12-02T21:34:00.000-05:00

Kate and James on the shore of Lake Saint Claire

2005-12-02T21:32:00.000-05:00

James at the supermarket in Bridgewater, MA, driving a grocery cart for the first time.

My First Post

2005-12-02T20:56:00.000-05:00

I think this picture is funny because it makes James look like a perfect little dwarf who lives in a red house.