April Update

Even though it's already halfway through April, there has been nothing to quell the madness of March. The weather is every bit as temperamental as March and there is just so much going on...and we still seem to need to lug around all our winter gear. Argh!

I don't have a lot to post but I wanted to jot down a few things I've been collecting in my head, cute things that the kids are saying or doing.

Kate:
She's finding her voice and it's LOUD. She can quietly keep herself occupied but when she wants to be heard, her voice hits a level of shrill that I have yet to experience with the other two kids. This mainly comes out when she sees food. If she is sitting in her high chair and there is food on the table, she wants everyone on the block to know that she wants the food NOW. She is our eater. She eats and eats and eats. Where she puts it, no one knows. She's still a featherweight.

She also likes to climb. Cora was a specialist in this department too. Kate especially likes to climb IN things. She is very content to sit in a tub of toys or a crate. I think, especially, she likes going in and out.

Pay no mind to the socks and sandals; focus on the cheesy grin.

Cora:
One of my very favorite things is eavesdrop on Cora's pretend play. I hear all sorts of side-splitting things. I wish I could remember them all. Here's a sample.
-"I'm not adorable. I'm a Power Ranger!" This was a response by her Power Ranger action figure to the Barbie.
-"My elbows are cold." She informed me after I dressed her in a short sleeved shirt one day.
-Telling her the story of the Three Bears, I asked is she knew the name of the girl who was walking through the forest, and she confidently said she did. Then continued, "Is it me?"
-As I type, I hear, "Evil Girla Power!" from the next room, along with squeals of delight as she is chasing her brother. Girla is one of Cora's signature words, (just meaning girl, as you would expect).

 Living Room sailing adventure

Reed:
I am in awe that my baby boy will be going to Kindergarten in the fall. I can't believe that he's starting to sound out words and do basic math. He is so creative, a great builder and artist. He's a tall kid too. Sometimes I think he seems older than he is, but I also cling to the immature things about him that remain. I don't correct him when he mispronounces things, like lellow (yellow), and uses self-invented words like his signature bescept (essentially meaning except.) Maybe that's doing him a disservice, but I'm pretty sure he won't be using these words for long. I'm also cherishing the hugs, kisses, and cuddles. I'm also guessing that won't be cool for too much longer. Sniff, sniff.

March Madness

I feel like this month has been a complete blur. Runny noses, cabin fever, hectic schedules, school events... just a lot of this and that. But the good news is that we made it to Spring Break. It certainly hasn't felt like it, especially as we passed through 17 inches of snow to get to my parents' house for a few days away. Despite the weather, we still had a great time. We visited with my parents and got to meet up with my brother and my sister and her family for dinner one night. Granny even watched the kids one night so that Bob and I could see the movie Oz at the Globe Theater. Hooray for a little date!

Anyway, here is a little update on the kids. They are just so crazy. It's fun to see Kate jumping into the mix and getting silly with Reed and Cora. She just thinks they are the greatest. Reed has always been interested in Kate, but Cora didn't seem quite as interested until recently. As Kate becomes more and more responsive, Cora realizes that she is a great audience. Cora loves to get Kate laughing.

Kate is a crazy little early walker. She very, very rare crawls now. She has the funniest quick pivot turn. Just watching her walk around can make you laugh sometimes. Her appetite these days is also enormous. She loves to eat. Below is a picture of her after she ate some spinach lasagna. Yeah, she loved it.

Reed has seriously been into building pillow and blanket structures. Sometimes it's a fort, sometimes a rocketship, a nest, a boat, a house...really the possibilities are endless and he's trying for as many variations as possible. And loving it.

Cora is my mischievous one. I am always panic-stricken when she is too quiet and I don't immediately see her. She is usually up to no good. On this particular day, she found a dry-erase marker and decided to "paint" her fingernails. Beautiful. This girl also can tell you a thing or two. She may be a storyteller like her P-pa one day. Like tomorrow. You never know what she may tell you.

Some days I feel like I may lose my mind, chasing after a 10-month old walker, tripping over pillows and blankets, and being bombarded with Cora's shananigans, but once they are sleeping soundly each night, it is easier to look back on the craziness with fresh eyes and snicker at the unique individuals that we are raising.

Kate At Ten Months

Walking continues to be Kate's new obsession. It's amazing how much she has improved over the last two weeks. I am still kind of shocked at times when I see her walk into a room from another room. In my mind, it just shouldn't be happening yet. What also cracks me up about Kate is that she also likes to bend down and pick up the heaviest thing she can find and walk with it. She seriously will walk across the room carrying a bin of blocks. I joke that she is training for the Baby Ironman.

Here's a video from last week.

I'm guessing that it has to do with the extra energy that she is burning by walking, but this girl has been eating like a horse lately. Some nights she eats more that Reed and Cora...combined. She loves table food! She's really been loving cooked broccoli, carrots, potatoes, peas, pasta, and yogurt.

I guess it's making her a little tired too. This photo was from today. We played at the library this morning until noon and then came home and ate lunch. I guess I should have left the lunch dishes and put her straight down for her nap. I certainly wasn't fast enough.

Oma's Birthday!

There are lots of milestone birthdays-1, 13, 16, 18, 21, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90- but after 90, it seems like every year is a milestone year. Thankfully, Bob and I have had several grandparents make it to their 90s. Several weeks back we had a little health scare with Oma, but after a little time in the hospital and with physical therapy, she back to her old self. And if you asked her, she would particularly emphasize the OLD.

On Sunday, we were happy to celebrate Oma's 93rd Birthday with the whole family. I do feel blessed that our kids get to know their "old grandma," as Cora lovingly calls her.

Now let's have some cake!

Kate at 9 Months

This post is a little late, partly because Kate's nine month checkup with the pediatrician was a little past her nine month "birthday" and partly due to sick kids and later a visit from my parents. 

It is amazing to see Kate changing so quickly. Frightening, really. The biggest thing is that she's starting to walk. It started with a one or two steps one day. I denied it completely. A couple days later she took four baby steps. I joked with Bob that I actually thought I saw her walking. The next day she walked about 5 feet. With each day, her confidence grows. 

Here, I'll say it, she is walking at 9 1/2 months. Reed walked at 11 3/4 months and Cora at 11 1/2 months. When they started walking, it pretty much took over immediately as their full time mode of movement. Kate is starting earlier and more gradually. Below is a video of her typical way of getting around. She either pulls up on something or sometimes stands up on her own in the middle of the room, she'll walk a bit, and then she will drop down to a crawl, either because she has lost her balance or wants to go faster.

This morning Reed told us that he doesn't like that Kate is walking. When we inquired why he felt that way, he said it was scary. I know, Reed, I know. Okay, he is actually afraid she is going to fall down, and I fear that my baby is slipping away to toddlerhood.  She is still so tiny that it's hard to believe. I think when Reed was her age, I think I would have said, I can't believe that he is so big. I don't know if I have a different perspective on this since I have a huge 4 1/2 year old sitting next to her or what.

Anyway, here are her stats from her checkup: Height: 30" (95%), Weight: 16 lbs, 13 ozs. (25%). Long and lean.

Kate is also really getting into babbling. Mama and Dada are her favorites (or perhaps ours, so we notice it.)  She seems to babble on like she having a big conversation. I don't know if this is an indication that she's going to be a big talker like Cora. With Cora, sometimes it seems like she physically can't NOT talk. She'll tell you that she is not talking (when clearly she is talking to tell you so.)

Kate continues to be a good, easy-going baby. She is sleeping better, no longer waking up around 2 am, though she still has an early wake up around 5 am. I have a house of early rising children. *sigh*

I see so much change coming in the next few months. I also can't wait to get back outside to play. I think Kate will have a whole new appreciation for the park this spring.

Happy Valentines Day!

We have the three sweetest Valentines in our house this year! We love them to pieces, today and every day! We had a great time preparing for Valentines Day. Reed especially loved making Valentine cards this year for his friends and classmates. His writing is improving so much and it really fun to see him write not only his name on the cards but also all his friends' names too. Our kiddos are going up so quickly!

Here is a little video of Cora and Reed, exhibiting their typical sibling relationship. Are we loving each now or fighting? Cora is so funny. I feel like one of these days before we know it she is probably going to be chasing some poor boy down, tackling him, and planting a big kiss... and it won't be her big brother.

Cracked Tooth

Over the weekend, Cora was horsing around with Kate, and they both fell over. I, of course, ran to the crying baby. After I had calmed down Kate, Cora was still carrying on. I had to do a double-take when she told me she hit her mouth. I couldn't believe she had chipped her front tooth!

I thought we were going to need to make an emergency run to the dentist, but it stopped bothering her and I know there's nothing that they will do since it's just a baby tooth.  I'm trying not to freak out about this. In the larger scheme of things, I know it is truly trivial. I just think of Cora's smile, how it consumes her face and the thought of a broken front tooth makes me cringe. It's total vanity and I know it. On the bright side, it is just a baby tooth, thankfully, and in a matter of time I'm sure I won't even notice it anymore.



The new cheesy smile