Happy Last Year 2010
Happy Holidays!
Family and Friends,
I checked, the law says I have until January 31st to get all the paperwork for 2010 sent, so this is not yet late (amendment: Okay so I am late)! We also took credit for Molly’s birth announcement as close enough to the holidays to count. But, I still love the opportunity to write about what has happened to us over the past year. And really, it is more for us than it is for you guys...we are forgetting more and more as we add members to our family. So without further delay, I give you 2010 with the Chapman’s (in no particular order).
Forgoing all advice from our friends and family, we started the year 1 month pregnant and excitedly awaiting another addition to our family. Really, it was an exciting time for us. There was much to do:
Remind Katy that it will be all worth it Prepare Caden for moving slightly to the left of the center of the Universe Remind Katy that it is okay, it will be worth it Find a way to shoe horn another life into our home already bursting at the seams Really, honey, it will be worth it Work up a huge frenzy among our family about the prospect of a new baby Holding Katy’s hair, tell her it will all be over soon Pick a name, BUT not until we know the gender! Take a few pre-baby, Caden spoiling vacations Rejoice as Katy acknowledges that it will all be worth it...at least until the morning
Caden took command of the naming conundrum and gender anticipation by announcing to us that he was having a little sister and her name would be Molly somewhere around the 12th week. It was of course of no surprise to him, or Katy, or many others that it was in-fact a little girl. Only dad was surprised (pleasantly) by this news. So let the pink clothes and cute accessory orgy begin! It seemed like overnight that Caden’s room went from all boy (planes, trains and automobiles), to all girl (butterflies, flowers, and pink), the office downstairs went to a cluttered place of business to the most fun room in the house for Caden, and the laundry room was cut in half in the basement to make room for the new micro-office. Lots to do to make room for a 7 pound baby (see all the work here). But for all that chaos and expense and work, August 11th came about and Molly introduced herself to the world. And boy did she make sure everyone was paying attention. Caden was a laid back baby...Karma dictates that we don’t get that kind of luck again. Molly was a handful; from colic, to acid reflux, sleepless nights and strong will, she changed the arc of our life like none other. We haven’t fully recovered from those first months yet. But like I told Katy all those times, it has been so worth it.
And then there is Caden. What a year it has been for our boy. We say the terrible two’s go by and turn into the three’s. Whoever coined the phrase about terrible twos must have given up there kid before they turned three. Cause three makes two look like a dream. But it really isn’t that bad. This age is only a little rough because his personality is developing and he is learning how to work with mom and dad. As it turns out, every time Caden gets mommy or daddy upset, he considers it a win (according to the pediatrician)...I am not sure what quarter we are in, but Caden has a healthy lead. Some highlights for our boy this year (again, no particular order): School, mobility, vocabulary and stage presence. In September, Caden started going to school. Twice a week for 2.5 hours each day. This was quite the test, for everyone. Mommy and daddy were watching their first born take his first steps without us right there. It was the right time, but it sure didn’t feel like it. And for Caden, it was a real test. He is a very social boy, but he never has really been on his own with a bunch of new people (i.e., no daycare). And the first day was a true testament to his mind set about strangers...it was a nightmare. He screamed his head off when we started walking out that door after dropping him off. The teachers were holding him tight as he reached out for us crying and yelling for us to take him with us. It sucked. It sucked a lot. Mom and dad’s hearts were ripped out of our chest as we left our shattered child behind telling ourselves this was for the best. For two and a half hours we waited at home staring at the phone waiting for a call that we have to come pick him up. But the call didn’t come and we rushed back to the school to find Caden still whimpering but calm. He was SO happy to see us and he said, “I was crying for you to come back...it took a really long time.”. We got the feeling he thought we actually abandoned him. Anyway, this sort of thing continued for each subsequent school day for awhile. But now, he loves school, he has friends, he has a crush on his teachers, and he looks forward to going every day.
As for mobility, of course he was already walking, but now he has got other implements to move him faster...lots of them: A scooter: Three wheels of terror. He tears along the neighborhood with this thing leaving anyone following in his dust A Strider bike: This is a two wheeler bike without pedals. After he master that, he will go right to a big boy bike without training wheels. A plasma car: awesome device that requires only steering to propel itself. And skis: Caden took up skiing in December. He loves it. And he is pretty good at it.
Of course the vocabulary and stage presence are obvious. There is nothing Caden doesn’t say and nothing he won’t try (except any kind of food). He sings, dances and comes up with sayings out of no where. I don’t know where he learns to string words together like he does. I think he would beat my SAT verbal score already. There is so much to say about Caden. And we did a pretty great job documenting things this last year on this web site, so feel free to browse. But bottom line. He is our little boy and he is an amazing big brother.
As for mommy and daddy, well obviously everything we did revolved around the kids. Jon is still working at Surrey Satellite. It has been an amazing experience to work at small company in the aerospace industry. There is less certainty in the future and no telling what will happen the next day, which is part of the excitement. But Jon has traveled to the UK multiple times and had a few other trips that would never have happen with a bigger company. Katy’s big news is that she quit her job in real estate to spend her time with the kids. This was a big decision on all our parts, but it was the right choice for our family. Of course being a full time mom is much harder than any other career ever could be, but it is what Katy is really good at. Not sure if it will stay this way forever, but for now, it works.
And of course, travel. We love travel and we did a lot of it in 2010. The crowning achievement was a month long stay in England in February. The whole family came over with dad for a long business trip. It was a lot of fun as you can see here. And it looks like something similar will happen in 2011, except for much longer this time.
There is so much more to say which is why I am glad we have this blog to keep track of everything. There have been many ups and downs this past year adjusting to our new life, but it is all good. We hope this letter finds you well and we hope to hear from all of you soon and often.
All our love, Jon, Katy, Caden and Molly
I checked, the law says I have until January 31st to get all the paperwork for 2010 sent, so this is not yet late (amendment: Okay so I am late)! We also took credit for Molly’s birth announcement as close enough to the holidays to count. But, I still love the opportunity to write about what has happened to us over the past year. And really, it is more for us than it is for you guys...we are forgetting more and more as we add members to our family. So without further delay, I give you 2010 with the Chapman’s (in no particular order).
Forgoing all advice from our friends and family, we started the year 1 month pregnant and excitedly awaiting another addition to our family. Really, it was an exciting time for us. There was much to do:
1)Remind Katy that it will be all worth it
2)Prepare Caden for moving slightly to the left of the center of the Universe
3)Remind Katy that it is okay, it will be worth it
4)Find a way to shoe horn another life into our home already bursting at the seams
5)Really, honey, it will be worth it
6)Work up a huge frenzy among our family about the prospect of a new baby
7)Holding Katy’s hair, tell her it will all be over soon
8)Pick a name, BUT not until we know the gender!
9)Take a few pre-baby, Caden spoiling vacations
10) Rejoice as Katy acknowledges that it will all be worth it...at least until the morning
Caden took command of the naming conundrum and gender anticipation by announcing to us that he was having a little sister and her name would be Molly somewhere around the 12th week. It was of course of no surprise to him, or Katy, or many others that it was in-fact a little girl. Only dad was surprised (pleasantly) by this news. So let the pink clothes and cute accessory orgy begin! It seemed like overnight that Caden’s room went from all boy (planes, trains and automobiles), to all girl (butterflies, flowers, and pink), the office downstairs went to a cluttered place of business to the most fun room in the house for Caden, and the laundry room was cut in half in the basement to make room for the new micro-office. Lots to do to make room for a 7 pound baby (see all the work here). But for all that chaos and expense and work, August 11th came about and Molly introduced herself to the world. And boy did she make sure everyone was paying attention. Caden was a laid back baby...Karma dictates that we don’t get that kind of luck again. Molly was a handful; from colic, to acid reflux, sleepless nights and strong will, she changed the arc of our life like none other. We haven’t fully recovered from those first months yet. But like I told Katy all those times, it has been so worth it.
And then there is Caden. What a year it has been for our boy. We say the terrible two’s go by and turn into the three’s. Whoever coined the phrase about terrible twos must have given up there kid before they turned three. Cause three makes two look like a dream. But it really isn’t that bad. This age is only a little rough because his personality is developing and he is learning how to work with mom and dad. As it turns out, every time Caden gets mommy or daddy upset, he considers it a win (according to the pediatrician)...I am not sure what quarter we are in, but Caden has a healthy lead. Some highlights for our boy this year (again, no particular order): School, mobility, vocabulary and stage presence. In September, Caden started going to school. Twice a week for 2.5 hours each day. This was quite the test, for everyone. Mommy and daddy were watching their first born take his first steps without us right there. It was the right time, but it sure didn’t feel like it. And for Caden, it was a real test. He is a very social boy, but he never has really been on his own with a bunch of new people (i.e., no daycare). And the first day was a true testament to his mind set about strangers...it was a nightmare. He screamed his head off when we started walking out that door after dropping him off. The teachers were holding him tight as he reached out for us crying and yelling for us to take him with us. It sucked. It sucked a lot. Mom and dad’s hearts were ripped out of our chest as we left our shattered child behind telling ourselves this was for the best. For two and a half hours we waited at home staring at the phone waiting for a call that we have to come pick him up. But the call didn’t come and we rushed back to the school to find Caden still whimpering but calm. He was SO happy to see us and he said, “I was crying for you to come back...it took a really long time.”. We got the feeling he thought we actually abandoned him. Anyway, this sort of thing continued for each subsequent school day for awhile. But now, he loves school, he has friends, he has a crush on his teachers, and he looks forward to going every day.
1)A scooter: Three wheels of terror. He tears along the neighborhood with this thing leaving anyone following in his dust
2) A Strider bike: This is a two wheeler bike without pedals. After he master that, he will go right to a big boy bike without training wheels.
3)A plasma car: awesome device that requires only steering to propel itself.
4)And skis: Caden took up skiing in December. He loves it. And he is pretty good at it.
Of course the vocabulary and stage presence are obvious. There is nothing Caden doesn’t say and nothing he won’t try (except any kind of food). He sings, dances and comes up with sayings out of no where. I don’t know where he learns to string words together like he does. I think he would beat my SAT verbal score already. There is so much to say about Caden. And we did a pretty great job documenting things this last year on this web site, so feel free to browse. But bottom line. He is our little boy and he is an amazing big brother.
As for mommy and daddy, well obviously everything we did revolved around the kids. Jon is still working at Surrey Satellite. It has been an amazing experience to work at small company in the aerospace industry. There is less certainty in the future and no telling what will happen the next day, which is part of the excitement. But Jon has traveled to the UK multiple times and had a few other trips that would never have happen with a bigger company. Katy’s big news is that she quit her job in real estate to spend her time with the kids. This was a big decision on all our parts, but it was the right choice for our family. Of course being a full time mom is much harder than any other career ever could be, but it is what Katy is really good at. Not sure if it will stay this way forever, but for now, it works.
And of course, travel. We love travel and we did a lot of it in 2010. The crowning achievement was a month long stay in England in February. The whole family came over with dad for a long business trip. It was a lot of fun as you can see here. And it looks like something similar will happen in 2011, except for much longer this time.
There is so much more to say which is why I am glad we have this blog to keep track of everything. There have been many ups and downs this past year adjusting to our new life, but it is all good. We hope this letter finds you well and we hope to hear from all of you soon and often.