Annie-15 months!

 Well, I'm a month behind. I kept thinking I'd get better photos, but everyone is so ready for bed at the end of the day that is just doesn't happen! The lighting is terrible on these and her hair is wet, but oh well! I need to make Saturday morning my picture taking time instead I guess-if we can stay in town on the weekends! Anyway, here is Annie's 15 month update. I had it all written on time, so at least there's that!

Steven and I agreed the other day that it seems like Annie is really developing her own personality the past few weeks. She is coming into her own even more, and we are enjoying it. Sometimes she gets forgotten (not really, but you know what I mean) because big bro is so vocal and active. It is neat for us to see a glimpse of who she is going to be. This month has been a really fun one with her. See below for a few highlights.

-She had her 15 month check-up and all was great. She is not walking yet, but I said I was not concerned. I see her making mobility progress, she's just on her own schedule. We are suppose to help her practice (which she doesn't love), and just return for her 18 mo check up. She weighs 22 lbs (35%) and was 30.5 inches long (50%). She was a trooper with her 2 shots. So thankful for a healthy, growing girl!

-Annie has had a huge transition month with me going back to school. She has done better than I could have hoped, and I'm so thankful. She is in nursery while I teach from 7:30-12:30, and she loves it! She gets SO much attention (one day it's just her, one day it's her and one other, and on the busiest days, it's just 3-5 total). She gets to go over and visit Henry's class most days and he also gets to go see her and will request to eat lunch with her which they let him do. So sweet!

-She is also down to one nap a day which is another big transition for her! She was leaning that way anyway, and with the school schedule it just made since to go ahead and switch to one a day. She's done great with that as well. She falls asleep in the car on the way home and generally takes a 3 hour nap (sometimes more!). She wakes up so happy. She has really become a rock star sleeper in so many ways. She just lays down and puts herself to sleep so easily. Henry was easy, but we still gave him more attention than we do her with the sleep routine. She sleeps a solid 11-12 hour night, too, and when she wakes up from both nap and in the morning half the time I don't know it because she's so happy in there just rolling around and talking, etc. She really is easy in the sleep department. 

-She is becoming such a talker and tries to say so may words. Among these are...hot! (she will touch things then pull her hand away and say "hot!" even if it's not really and if she hears us say "hot" about something, she immediately repeats it over and over, ball (usually not just said once-it's more like-ball, ball, ball!!), baby (evidently loves to hold baby dolls in nursery and points to all the pictures of babies and says "baby!"-sounds a lot like bubba right now), diaper, oosh! for shoes (obsessed with them right now!), poopoo (she's not telling me when she does or anything, but she just repeats it when we say it, or she will volunteer the word when I'm changing a diaper), uh-uh (like as in "no"), Aunt Mae (mat mah), eat (deet!), water (wahwah). I know there are more, but those are the new ones I can think of right now. The doc asked if she can say 2-5 words, so I think we are good:) Everyone at school talks about what a good talker she is. Even if you can't understand what she's saying, she will give you a sentence in her language all the time. Lots of expression and passion! She's gotten really good at her animal noises-pig, dog, cat, horse, cow, sheep, etc. Will repeat "roar" for lion or bear. So cute!:)

-Speaking of mobility, she has been doing some new things this month. She is pulling up to her feet all the time (onto the fireplace, sofa, in crib, in tub, end table if there's something on it she wants. She just not much of a risk taker which I think is part of the reason she's a little behind (which I am kind of enjoying to be honest). I still kind of have to do a double take when I see her in standing position, though, even though she's so old! She was standing at the play kitchen reaching for its top cabinet at school the other day when I walked in and she just looked so big! She lets us hold her hands and she will take steps that way for a short distance, but she isn't too interested in much more right now. I know we should work with her, but I am fighting my desire to keep her "easy" right now!

-She's so interested in the things around her and I often catch her looking up in the sky and pointing to the birds, moon, trees, airplane, etc that she sees. I think I say this every month, but she still just loves music and is so responsive when she hears it. She has her own dance moves that just crack us up.

-She knows lots her her body parts now....hair, ears, belly, toes/feet along with all the ones she knew before...eyes, mouth, etc. I love to quiz her on these:)

-I've noticed some new play this month-she loves to put on/take off lids to anything. It will entertain her for a LONG time. She also likes to line things up (like the pool stacking cups we have outside). It's so amazing to see them try to gain order at such a young age. I guess it is innate in some! She's obsessed with straps and immediately grabs the straps to the high chair, buggy, or push car (which she adores btw along with the buggy-as soon as we get out at the grocery store she is begging and leaning to get into the cart!) and pulls them around herself and tried to connect the buckle. Guess she wants to be safe!:)

-Bath time is still a favorite and she is totally wild! She loves to be on her belly and kick like a crazy girl.  She throws a fit when we take her out no matter how long or short it's been!:)

-She is not a fan of loud noises or anything that might seem threatening. She immediately bails on whatever it is she's doing and makes a bee line straight for mama. I remember this happening around the same time with her bubba.

I know there's more, but I must stop at some point! Precious girl, Annie, we love you so! You are such a blessing to our family.

Henry is 3 and a Half!

As of August 26, our precious boy is 3 and a half. How can it be?! It is amazing the changes that can occur in just 6 months in a child's life. Everyday is fun and new. I have just kept up with some very random things over these past months that I'll write so I can remember this phase of his life. Sweet memories!

-Still so incredibly loving. Tells me "Mommy, I love you" ALL.THE. TIME! I probably hear it  50 times a day right now, especially in the car. He's really sweet in that way and wants to "snuggle" and be together.
-He always notices when I look different than my normal "mom" self-like if I'm wearing jewelry or have my toes painted, he always sees it right away and talks about it-Oh! Mommy! I like your necklace!-he is always so sweet when I'm trying stuff on in the dressing room and he's with me, too. He will tell me things look good, etc. It's really sweet coming from a three year old, even if it's not true!:)
-He loves to imitate Steven and goes through phases of copying everything he does. He wants to tuck his shirt in and wear a belt and tall socks like Daddy (the work version). He loves to ride on the mower with Steven and they have a special routine at night where Steven twirls him around like crazy while they sing "This is the song that never ends". They also love to swim together, play golf (in the yard) together, and go to the doughnut shop together on Saturday mornings. They have a great relationship.
-While they do have their moments, overall Henry is a very sweet big brother. He talks so sweetly to Annie and explains things to her and teaches her things in his own words. He wants her to be safe and always tells me if she's not buckled, if she has something that seems dangerous, etc. He thinks she's cute and after she's done something sometimes, he will say, "Awe, look at Annie, Mommy. She's so cute" The very first thing he ALWAYS prays to God at night is "Thank you for Annie".
-A couple of months ago they were playing together in the playroom and I was listening in. I heard him say, "Ouch, Annie!" but I waited to see how it would play out. A minute later, I heard him say in a serious tone, "Mommy's not going to like it that you're hurting me!" It was so cute.
-Henry had a big transition this month with starting preK at my school. They are learning so much, and he loves it!I love that he is not only learning his "academics" more, but he is also learning Bible verses and about different character traits-so cute to her him say big words like initiative and enthusiastic! And he can generally tell me what they mean, too! He has a different job everyday (calendar/math/snack helper are some). His teachers are precious and he love his classmates (all of these change daily). Among his friends are Eli, John Lane, Ellis, Anily, Zoe, Sarah Elizabeth, Abby...and many more. Needless to say, he is really enjoying school.
-He can spell his name (orally), trace his name pretty well, write H to start his name, has full capital letter recognition and most lower case, can count to...maybe 30. Most of these things he knew pre-preK (ha), so I'm excited to see what he will be adding next! I know they are doing letter sounds because I her him saying them.
-Henry is generally a positive little guy, and he goes through phases of what we call "super positive" times where nothing's in his way so to speak. He will say stuff like, "Let's just sit here and chill out. This is a great day. We are just enjoying our pool!" and stuff like that. We get the biggest kick out of it. This is just one example of many.
-He is so interested in God and Jesus and all things spiritual. We have SO many conversations about this stuff. It is great and challenges us! He often times asks questions that really makes us think! He will especially want to know about Heaven, where God is, and how big/strong God is.
--He is into paraphrasing books and will "read" a story to us (from memory). Loves "Caps for Sale" and "Oliver"
--He still adores music and is in 3 yr old choir at church now. He adored vbs this summer and the CD that went along with is has been well loved. He loves to dance and has his own signature moves.
-We had a scare the last day in May at our pool with Henry, but since then he has made AMAZING strides. At the end of the summer, he is officially an independent swimmer. He can swim the length of our pool without any help as well as jump off the diving board and swim to the ladder and get himself out independently. He treads water and comes up for breaths on his own. He is truly like a little fish. He would rather be under the water than on top! He took one week of lessons in June (hosted at our pool), which got him good exposure, but he really learned by us just using our pool daily and pushing him a little each day to do more. While I would never just walk off and leave him, it is nice to know that he is capable of getting to the edge without help when he needs to. He was leaning over playing in the water the other day, and he toppled in accidentally. We say with our own eyes that he could compose himself enough in that situation to swim to the stairs and get out independently-fully clothed! Again, he's made amazing strides for just 3.5! 
-He's had many firsts in the past 6 months-his first time bowling (oh.my.word-he was beside himself over this!!), first play (Peter Pan), he's played his first board games-Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land (which he calls Candy Castle)-he's a fan!, this is random, but he is finally eating jelly! He had rejected it up until we got some homemade from a neighbor this summer! In general, he is eating better than I thought ever would. He still is not a huge fruit or veggie eater, but at least he will consume a decent amount of food to survive now!
-He's so ticklish, all you have to do is mention it and he starts laughing. We have a lot of fun with this:)
-Still takes a 2 or so hour nap every afternoon. There are maybe 1-2 times per week where he just rests in his bed and doesn't sleep, but overall he still really needs it.
-A few random quotes: "I need something!! (from bed)", "What can I screw?!! (at the top of his lungs at home with screwdriver in hand), "We forgot to say I love you!" (as we were leaving a friends house), GASP "I didn't know that!!", "Mommy, are you perfect?", "Do you know the whistling woods? They're so, so scary!", "The Bible is too Holy Spirit for me" and so many more! He keeps us laughing everyday with his comments.

Henry, you are a bundle of energy and joy, and we are so happy you're ours! We love you, son.