Author: sara

Here is Abby before ballet today:

She is doing so well. She follows along, listens to the teacher so well. She is so brave going across the floor by herself- not shy or scared at all. All the other moms are amazed she’s only 2. She the youngest in the class but does so well.

Andrew is on the move- all over the house- he can climb all the way to the 2nd floor at my parent’s house. I’m exhausted keeping up with him. He doesn’t want to be held. He squirms out of my arms to get to the ground. He can crawl so fast! He is a sweetie- so friendly. He smiles at strangers and charms them by smiling and tipping his head back or to the side. He can also do one arm up with his finger pointed just like his sister.

Andrew is an eater- he is serious about his food. He thinks it’s work, he concentrates on the task at hand. He loves mash potatoes and avocado and carbs of course- crackers, bread. He likes bananas, scrambled eggs, pancakes, strawberries. When he’s ready for more he yells. I’m trying to teach him baby sign language- the sign for more like I did with Abby.

Abigail loves the Signing Time videos. She loves learning all the signs.

Here’s our current routine- morning activities- monday ballet, Tuesday/ Thursday preschool, Wednesday preschool with Alexandra and Skye, Friday playgroup. After our morning activities we eat lunch, nap. When Abigail wakes up she watches a video and then has snack. Then we go for our walk around the neighborhood, then while I make dinner, she goes outside to help my dad work. If he rakes, she rakes, if he shovels, she shovels. It’s hilarious watching them together. They always listen to Meme’s favorite song- Owl City. Then it’s dinner at 6pm, bath at 7pm, bed at 8pm. And then it all starts again at 7 am the next day. 🙂 Abigail loves our routine!

I am finally having time to read to her before bed. There are nights when I put Andrew to bed first and then can take my time putting Abigail to bed. Before I had to put her to bed while Andrew was fussing in my arms- that was hard.

We brush her teeth- we sing Baby Bear from Sesame Street’s song- “Up Down up down you ‘ll have the cleanest teeth in town, …” She takes her fluoride. Then we curl up in her bed and read the latest library books. Then I tell her a story about her of course. She likes to pick which one. Tonight she wanted a story about preschool. Then I tuck her in for the night. (Most nights that is followed by her running out her room for 30 minutes. Then she finally stays in and talks herself to sleep. )

I love going with them to the library. We used to go to storytime on Tuesdays and we’ll start again in June. After storytimes, then we go to pick out books and videos. Sometimes we sit and read a few. Then we go to the cafe and eat a snack- bagel or muffin. She loves returning the books and help checking them out. She also loves helping to pay for parking and holding our ticket. I always feel so rich going home with all those books, CDs and DVDs. We always check out about 30 things! I love having all the new books to read together. Kyle loves reading them to her too. I keep a big bag of them in our bedroom and he pulls them out to read to Abigail.

They are truly exhausting but cute as heck!

I like to journal and I just ran into an old quote of Abby’s that I journaled in my online journal- “mommy you are my best” (3/4/10) It made me want to cry. I needed to read that today.

Another quote of hers – today she said, “I texted Teacher Phyllis an email on the computer.” It’s so funny to hear them copy us. I guess she has picked up the word texting from me and Kyle.

Pa left today. Abby cried the whole way home from the airport. She wanted to go on the plan with him! She loves her Pa so much. We were walking home this afternoon on our walk and she asked “Where’s Pa?” I told her he went home and she said “I love Pa”

They have a special bond those two. Thank goodness he’s coming back late July. Here are some pictures with Pa-   

Aperatif Time with Pa-

1. Abby is in preschool! She loves it. She had a little separation anxiety for a few days and still does when I say goodbye. But she has an amazing teacher who makes her feel very much at home at school. Abigail also brings Little Duck with her to make her feel better. She carries him everywhere.

Abby at preschool-she’s looking for eggs with her teacher and classmates-

2. Andrew is crawling , pulling up. He gets around quickly- goes room to room.

3. Andrew can say “Dada” and “ba” for ball. He said “ba” for the first time today for my dad. No “Mama” yet- very different from Abby who said Mama first.

4. Andrew is into Abby’s toys more now which doesn’t make her happy. She takes them from him right away and he’s too young to care yet. That will come:)

5. Andrew is sleeping through the night ! Alleluia! It started last month.

6. Abigail has started dance class. She is so happy. She does really well following along and listening to the teacher. Grandpapa (Pa to Abigail ) and I got to watch her first class and Andrew of course! Here she is in class:

7. We have a new afternoon routine that includes going for a walk to the park in Meme’s neighborhood. Here’s Abby with Lil Duck at the “park”. (Meme has convinced Abby it’s a park- it’s really a median with a garden)

8. Andrew started eating people food / finger food at 8 months. He learned so quickly. He loves food- pretty much all food. Some of his favorites are mashed potatoes, cheerios. He likes avocado, fruit, sweet potatoes, cranberries, bread, graham crackers. Here he is eating eggs. He likes them scrambled.

He is my little sweetie bear. He is such a good baby, so happy. He’s so good natured.

Abigail is my energizer bunny. She loves life and just eats it up. We went to church family fun night and they had folk dancing. She had a ball. She is so uninhibited trying all the moves. She has an incredible memory. She’ll bring up stuff we did about a year ago. It’s amazing.

Abigail’s first dance class was today. She did beautifully listening to the teacher and following along. I am so proud of her. Plus she had a blast. She kept coming over to give me a hug and big kiss every once in a while! The moms got to stay in the class today. Grandpapa was there too.

She was ready for a snack after class so we headed to Sweet Life of course with Pa. She had her first eclair and that is her new favorite treat I think. We are becoming regulars there. The cashier is starting to recognize us!

She is passed out from our long day right now. Andrew unfortunately is on a nap strike unless it’s in Momma’s arms since Thursday. He is sleeping wonderfully at night. Everyone is so much happier.

We had a great Easter weekend. Cousins Nathaniel and Isabella came to visit. Abigail loved egg hunting. She now opens the eggs immediately after finding them to see what’s inside.

Here is what the latest is with the kiddos- Abigail has decided she will only wear skirts. She refuses to wear pants. She looks so cute all dressed up everyday.

Abby is in preschool. She had a little separation anxiety the last class. She was crying for an hour after I left. But today she just had a quick cry after I left, recovered and had a blast. The teacher said it’s like she’s been there all year. I’m worried she’s a little too comfortable- she sounds like she was being the class clown during circle time- laying down, saying it was nap time, talking , making the other kids laugh. Poor teacher. I’ve been there. Kyle has promised her a princess doll if she is good for circle time. I will let you know her report at the end of the week:) I said I would never use bribery with my kids. It’s amazing how many times I’ve eaten my words after becoming a parent.

Andrew is growing up- pulling up on things, crawling like a big boy. He was crawling all over the house tonight from room to room! He eats people food, finger foods, no more pureed baby food. He is so happy eating by himself. He just goes to town chowing down. He ate quesadillas for dinner. He loves cheerios and eggs.

The house is coming along- we are ripping up the carpets, preping for putting in the new floors. We have to put a fan in the attic and then get an air test after the floors are put in. Dare I say there may be an end in sight!

   

Every night before dinner we say the child’s prayer- “Thank you for the food we eat…” I always add to the end that we are thankful for something that happened that day- i.e. “Thank you for Daddy coming home early.” Abigail has started to add her own things to the end of prayer. The day Grandpapa arrived she added “And thank you for Pa.” The other day she had asked the name of the flowers that were blooming outside and then at prayer she added “thanks for the magnolias blooming”   

Abby was hilarious tonight. My dad let her watch some ice skating performance he had taped during the Olympics. Abby was watching the girls perform and then trying to imitate their tricks along with them. She was doing jumps, leg lifts. She put on quite a performance for me, Pa, Bawbaw and Meme.

Kyle got her a tea set today- she is thrilled having tea parties. She put a party on for me and Pa today in Pa’s room. She was pouring us all tea and then washing the dishes after. She is obsessed with water- playing with it, filling up containers with it. I have found her in the midst of making many water messes around the house the past few months. I try to keep containers in high places!

   

Damage this week:

Monday- broke CD player in car- she is obsessed with sticking stuff inside things- she stuck two quarters in CD player

Thursday- colored with permanent marker all over the room- wall, bed, desks, wooden window frame, another desk

I hate the 2’s and people say when they’re three it’s even worse! I will not make it alive to that stage.

Here’s our little baby Jesus:

Andrew had his first starring role last night as baby Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Kyle, Sara , Abby and Andrew