Wordless Wednesday

5

Good golly, Cora!  You're 5!  You're school-aged?!  Inconceivable!

What's new, Coco-loco?

I'm not sure exactly your height or weight, but you are around 36 pounds and 38 inches.  Like your sister, you're a skinny little pickle.  You accidentally put on a pair of Sissy's shorts the other day (sized 18 months), and if they hadn't been scandalously short, you could have worn them quite comfortably.  Is it wrong for me to be jealous of your amazing metabolism?

You are supremely excited about school.  You have told everyone that you will be in kindergarten and that your school is Classical Conversations.  I hope this enthusiasm conveys when we actually start school in a couple of months.  Academically, you are definitely ready.  You know all your letters and have the sounds down pretty well.  You get a little confused with /y/ and /w/, but most others are down pat.  You can count to 39 without help.  You need a little bit of assistance remembering what comes after the 9s, but if I remind you, you will count all the way to 100.  You can create an AB pattern, and you notice other patterns as well.  We will work on more complex ones this year.  You definitely have a solid foundation to build upon.  My only concern is how you will take to the structure we will have to implement.  We are both accustomed to doing what we want, when we want.  Having school every day will be an adjustment for all of us.  

Your motor skills are progressing.  You can write your name, and you can draw pictures.  You love to draw people, rainbows and the sun.  You still have some difficulty gripping the writing implement, and therefore, your penmanship is a bit wobbly so to speak.  But, it is definitely getting better.

You are a social butterfly.  I'm convinced that you have never met a stranger.  You love other kids and adults alike.  Just yesterday, you informed a random parent at church, "My birthday is tomorrow, and I'm going to be 5 years old."  Much to your daddy's dismay, you adore one of the neighborhood boys.  He's a few years older than you - I'm guessing he's 8 or 10.  And, in your oh-so dramatic fashion, you informed me today that you really miss Morgan.  I'm pretty sure your father will need one of these in the next 10 years or so.

You still love dinosaurs although you have branched out in your interests.  They range all over: princesses, animals, the food guide pyramid, planets, sports (currently baseball and basketball), Spanish, music, and on and on.  Speaking of music, you share your dad's proclivity for techno.  I'm sure it warmed Daddy's heart the other day when you asked if he could play some more Deadmau5.  

You still tend to be a very picky eater.  We have been much more diligent about making sure you try the food that is given to you.  After all, this mama is not a short order cook.  You have discovered that you do in fact like some more things.  Your new foods are tortellini with peas, hot dogs, carrots, and cereal with milk.  

You continue to take gymnastics.  Recently, though, you told me that you wanted to take ballet class.  Your gymnastics ends in August, so after swim lessons, you will get to choose whether you will take a dance class or continue gymnastics.

You are an amazing big sister.  You are incredibly sweet to Carys, and you absolutely adore little Jackson.  You love to make him laugh and smile, and he returns the affection in spades.  You are a blessing to them and to us.  We love you and are so proud of our crazy girl!

2 1/2

Carys!  You're 2  1/2!  Everyone tells new parents how quickly time flies when you have your first kid. What they don't tell you is that it speeds up exponentially for your second!

What's new, little pickle?

You are still a tiny little thing.  I'm not sure of your exact height or weight, but you wear 18 month clothes comfortably.  I'm guessing you're around 23 lbs and 32 inches.  We will find out for sure at your well check in a couple of weeks.  

Despite your size (or maybe because of it), you are a feisty little thing.  Once you get an idea in your mind, you are not deterred by anything - including logic and reason.  This includes surprising feats of daring.  It seems that you must learn the hard way that not all furniture is a suitable jumping off point.  You consistently have bruises, but that does not deter you.  I love your ability to get right back on that horse, so to speak.

You have become quite the conversationalist.  I was pretty sure you were going to be the strong silent type, but it turns out you were just holding back on us.  You have the cutest little voice.  Very tiny and high pitched unless you are angry. Then, your voice is not so tiny!  Your conversations crack me up.  You mostly speak to me about food.  It goes something like this:

(Me in the kitchen trying to sneak a snack without you knowing)

Carys: What dat, mama?  Whatchoo put in your mouf?

Me:  (sighs and names said food)

Carys:  I wanna twy dat!

You see, I was trained by your pickier sister and am unaccustomed to having to share!  You do enjoy trying new things.  You love carrots and cucumbers. You love strawberries, blueberries, bananas and yogurt.  And, you'll eat most anything I cook for dinner especially if it is on my plate.  You could have the exact same thing on your plate, and yet you insist on eating mine.  I should start putting my food on your plate!

Speaking of your elocution, you have quite an extensive vocabulary, and you are able to speak in long and complex sentences.  You still struggle a bit with your articulation, and therefore, we sometimes have to ask you to repeat yourself many times.  Thankfully, I am told that the sounds that you are struggling with are totally normal for your age.  

You love to sing.  You warmed my heart the other day when I heard you singing a Casting Crowns song over the baby monitor.  I love when you and Sister sing together.  It won't be long before you will be in the children's choir, too.  

You adore your big sister.  I'm not sure how your going to handle it next week when Sister is at VBS all morning.  You've really only been apart from her once, and you spent most of those couple hours asking, "Where's Shisher (sister)?"  It was so sweet and so heartbreaking all at the same time!  You gave her the biggest, sweetest hug when she got back home.  

You're mostly ambivalent toward your little brother.  You have, however, taken to mothering Perdita and the other animals and babies.  (And, yes, you are still totally in love with that little pup.)  I can no longer keep diapers on the changing table because you will take them to put on all your animals.  You love to give a bottle and to feed the babies.  It's very cute.  

We just love your sweet and complex personality.  I can't wait to see how you grow and change over the next six months!

Two

Little buddy is two months old...

Shut up!

I know!

I can hardly believe it, myself!

We have ourselves in a nice little routine at this point, so even though the days can sometimes seem tough, the weeks rapidly slip by.  What's new Baby Jack?

You are my chunky little thing.  You have gained another almost two pounds since your last weight check.  You are up to 11 lbs, 8 oz (40th percentile).  You are 3 lbs, 9 oz over your birth weight.  You are 21 inches (5th percentile).  This cracks me up because on paper, it would seem that you are a chunk.  But, you are still quite a skinny little guy. No adorable chunky rolls for me to squeeze, yet.  Your head measures 41 cm (95th percentile).   Giant brains!

You are a social butterfly.  You have been cooing and giggling for quite some time.  You love to talk to people, and you have the sweetest little smile.  I love when you give me your open mouthed grin and show off your dimples.  You love to have a conversation right after you eat.  You will smile and coo at me as if I am your absolute favorite person in the world.  (I'm pretty sure I am!)

You hold your head up very well.  You really like to look around and see what's going on.  You do love to be held up by my shoulder.  But, you also love to lay across my arm while I hold you.  You're just a sweet little cuddle bug.

So far, you are pretty laid back.  You have your little routine that you like to stick with, but you are content to hang out in the sling if we're out and about.  In fact, the sling has become my best friend since usually, you will fall asleep pretty quick once you are snuggled within it.  (Forgive the picture; It's harder than I thought to take a selfie with a DSLR while wearing a baby in a sling.  Little man was just on the verge of getting seriously irritated with me!)

You survived your first trip to the beach.  This sums up your enthusiasm for it.  You slept through the pool; You slept through the beach; You slept through the aquarium.  But when you weren't sleeping, you were cuddling with your grandparents.  I don't think you minded missing out on the attractions.

I guess that sums it up!  You are our sweet little buddy.  We can't wait to see how you grow and change over the next month!