Some important things...

Oh my. Posts are few and far between because this life is BUSY! I wish I had more energy to write. I wish I had more time to write. I think of things to write about almost daily. But...husband in law school, a 4 year old, an 8 month old, and of course it would help if I had my own computer...excuses, yes, but good ones. So I write when I can, and I wish it was more.
So...some important things:

1. Evie cut her first tooth! And it was hard for everyone. She was so cranky these past few weeks. But now she's happy. Until the next tooth. The front bottom right tooth has arrived. I can't believe it. This does indicate that time is truly flying by.

2. Evie is up on all fours! She spends a lot of time of her tummy excitedly moving her arms and legs in and out...much like a pollywog swimming. But in the past few days, she's done a few push-ups with tummy off the floor and then up on her knees. Crawling is next!

3. Amelia decided, on what seemed to be the last weekend of summer, to swim. I mean really swim. Goggles on, held her breath, went all the way under and paddled...until she was swimming almost half-way across the width of the pool. Just like everything else in her life, she just decided that it was time. She was ready. And now she swims. It was awesome. A really proud moment.

4. Amelia has an exaggeration number. 120

5. Evie is falling asleep on her own these days. She welcomes her bed and I am so grateful. Maybe it really is a little easier the second time around?

6. Amelia and I have started reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I actually have the book series from my childhood. She LOVES listening to them. Her first chapter books. I have to admit...I love the influence these little girls and the way they lived are having on her already.

7. Evie LOVES herself some puffs. I mean she can eat some puffs. She's currently 75/25 as to what she actually gets in her mouth and what ends up elsewhere...floor, under her butt, stuck to her cheek...

8. Amelia attended her pre-school open-house tonight. Excited for year 2 of pre-school! Ford and I laughed at how much different it feels this year....for all of us it seems. We were all a little nervous at last year's open-house. This year? No chance. She acted like the senior of the school.

9. Life is busy and full and hectic and at times stressful and going by much too fast. And I love my girls.

Birthdays and Stuff

Girlie update:
Evie is hilarious, and still rolly. She is not crawling yet, but she rolls everywhere! All around the room. She discovered the magazines under the coffee table and enjoys pulling them down. She even rolls toward me to try to get to me when I am far from her. She's still a mama's girl, though she and her daddy have been getting reacquainted these past few weeks he has been on break. Her new favorite thing is to shake her head "no." Though she seems to do it for fun most of the time, there are moments when she does use this new skill at the appropriate times. She LOVES her big sister. Amelia has taught her how to scream. Which is fun. They scream back and forth to each other and then they both crack up laughing. Evie gets so excited...she gets her little hands and feet turning and turning and her pretty eyes get huge when Amelia comes near her and then Amelia proceeds with taunting her and making fun noises 2 cm away from her face. They love to be close to each other..to play or to snuggle. Evie grabs Amelia's hair and tries to pull her close so she can eat her nose.
She is eating solids...which she hated at first. But we are working on it and she's learned to enjoy quite a few things. I continue to introduce her to new foods regularly. So far she's had cereal, sweet potatoes, squash, beans, pears, prunes, apples, and peas. Loves the fruit of course.
She continues to dodge taking real naps during the day. True cat-napper. My goal has been to change this sleep behavior before school starts. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone were on some sort of schedule??? That would be a dream. Getting her to fall asleep on her own continues to be a challenge. She is literally exactly like her big sister was at this age. Which tells me their behaviors in the sleep arena must have more to do with me, and the patterns I've helped established, than I thought. It's difficult to listen to my babies scream. I just hate it. Period. But I've been working it out and she seems to be getting the idea...the idea that going to sleep in one's own crib when one is so extremely exhausted, is not actually torture.
She gets cuter everyday. And more fun. And it's all going way too fast..

Speaking of...Amelia turned 4 a week and a half ago. So exciting and so unbelievable. We have been so busy with birthdays and then a family trip Up North, I have not had the time to post recently about all of the exciting things going on. Shame on me, as this blog does serve as a bit of a baby book/journal. But as I look back and read this someday, i'll be reminded about how crazy exhausted I was at the end of each day...because let's face it, having kids is exhausting...only in the best way that a person can be exhausted of course.
And you know what else is exhausting but totally fun? Birthdays. Amelia had 4 celebrations, 4 cakes and lots of gifts from friends and family. She got a guitar this year. She told Ford the night she opened it..."Dad, I have a great idea...instead of getting up tomorrow and watching kid shows, let's have a jam session." He couldn't have been happier.
Sure enough, first thing the next morning she ran to his side of the bed, tapped him firmly and whispered loudly..."Dad! It's time to jam!" :)


And now, another Amelia story:

Last night while putting Amelia to bed, she asked if she could rock with me. We don't do this very often anymore, for a few reasons...I do miss it, and I was happy to oblige. As we were rocking, we were discussing the events of the day, namely her 4 year well visit at the pediatrician's office. She was not too thrilled with being at the doctor's office, (at all).

Me: Just think Amelia, you won't have to go back to the doctor for a check up for a whole year...you'll be five! You'll be so big then.
Amelia: Yes, so big you won't even be able to hold me.
Me: Oh yes I will! What you have to understand is no matter how big you get, you'll always be my baby...so I will always hold you.
Amelia: Even when I'm 19???
Me: Of course.
Amelia: Even when I'm YOUR age?
Me: Even when you're my age, I'll still hold you.
Amelia: Welllll...how about when I'm your age, I'll hold YOU.
Me: Aw, you would hold ME?
Amelia: Welll, actually...how about we just hold each other?

Me fighting back tears: "I'd like that."

It has been quite some time since I've posted. There are a few reasons for that...but mostly it's just been very a busy summer with a 3.75 year old and a 7 month old in tow! Evie is growing leaps and bounds before my very eyes. She is a healthy, happy girl and has the sweetest personality. She had her 6 month appointment a few weeks ago and is in the 90th percentile in height (26.5), weight (17 lbs 8 oz) and head circumference (43.7 cm). Ninety percent across the board...she's perfect! She still has a reputation for having the cutest rolls around but in my opinion she is actually trimming up a bit. :) She is getting stronger and in the past few weeks has been sitting up by herself. She has discovered the art of mobility by rolling all around the room...just waiting for her to take off crawling soon. She has been a bit clingy to mama...but it only takes her a few minutes and she eventually warms up to everyone. She LOVES her sister...she thinks she's pretty hilarious most of the time, other times, after she gets over the shock or being bombarded with hugs and loud crazy noises, she just watches her every move. They are already becoming good friends. One of my favorite things...watching their relationship grow.
She has started eating solids but it has been a slow go in that department. She absolutely did NOT care for rice cereal or oat cereal for that matter. I have since introduced sweet potato, squash, avocado and peas. She loves the sweet potatoes but can take or leave the others. Ford seems to have the magic touch with feedings, as she does much better for him.
Naps continue to be a challenge. She does not seem to have a regular sleep schedule during the day. So we work on it.
As she grows and her personality develops, I find myself laughing at her most of the day. She is sweet and funny and super snuggly...she is truly a gift and I can hardly remember what our lives were like without her. Our Evie.

Cheeky

Doing some growing...

Evie update. She had 2 pokes yesterday. Poor bugger...but she only cried for 10 seconds...then it was done. Ford says he thinks she's going to be a tough cookie. We shall see. She is growing at an alarming rate and is still sporting some beautiful rolls. She is sturdier and stronger and seems to enjoy tummy time a little more. She giggles every time she rolls to her tummy and looks about like, "look what I just did" and she thinks it's big stuff when she is stood up on her little/big legs..giggles in delight every time. She is showing more and more personality everyday. She'll be a sweet one...that's my prediction. We shall see.

She is still exclusively breast-fed although she is beginning to show interest in what we are eating...so sad as she watches the fork go from the plate to the mouth...or as she reaches out with flailing arms and wild drool spilling from her little pink lips while watching Amelia eat an ice-cream cone. Think I might start her on some rice cereal soon...though she doesn't need any extra calories. :) She sleeps like a champion at night...usually all night long which is so great for everyone involved. Naps are a bit tougher. When Evie shows signs of tiredness, we have become accustomed to saying..."time for Evie's 10 minute nap." She's a cat-napper all the way. When she does pull out a long 2 hour nap, we all celebrate. Guess I'd rather have her sleep all night than sleep all day...if I had to choose. She is cute as pie and sweet as punch. I find myself calling her Sweet Evie, especially when we are alone together and all is quiet, and she smiles up at me with a look of contentedness and sometimes she even lets out a sweet little sigh...almost like she's saying, "there's no place I'd rather be, mama."

Ford is working at a law-firm in Grand Rapids this summer. Which means he does not get home at night until close to bed-time. Dinner time is a bummer because I have found that when I am alone with both girls, cooking a large meal for everyone is tough. I'm starting to get the hang of it but Evie is still so needy and completing any project is difficult. So, I find myself scrambling to get Amelia a healthy meal before she begins to melt-down from hunger. Sadly, she often eats it alone at the table while I am cooking, feeding Evie, or trying to put her down for one of her many cat-naps. Amelia does not complain about this. Even when I am asking her for the hundredth time that day to please be quiet. Tonight I got her dinner ready then went in the other room to feed Evie and put her down. When I came out a bit later, Amelia was finished eating and was putting her plate up on the counter without being told. I felt sorry I had missed her dinner time and that she had to eat alone. I picked her up and gave her a huge hug. She felt so heavy and big...long arms and legs...kid...no more toddler. I said to her..."When did you get so big? Stop growing okay? Can't you just stay little forever?" She very seriously placed her soft hands on my cheeks, tilted her head and said, "but Mom, I just can't stay little forever." I replied, "But why not?" Again, very seriously she answered, "Because I have to be a grown-up." Me again, "But why do you have to be a grown up?" Without hesitation she responded, "Because Mom, I have to be a mom...and have my children."

I got a bit of a lump in my throat. As if she knows that her life is a journey, and that growing up is inevitable and amazingly, she already can't wait to meet her own babies.

Last Day of School

On her way to school

All done!

Big girl is 5 months!

Big day today. Last day of the first year of preschool. So hard to believe that a whole school year is behind us. I cannot express how grateful we are to have found such a wonderful and unique preschool for Amelia to attend. The experience was nothing short of amazing for Amelia...and her parents.

One of the primary intentions of the teachers at ONS is to allow our children the freedom to discover the world on his/her terms and at his/her own pace. Our daily rhythm is slowed such that the children are afforded the necessary time to see projects through. They are stimulated and enthralled by "provocations" which draw out natural curiosity and creativity. Although academics are not presented as "subjects," the children discover that to successfully convey ideas, many different "languages" must be incorporated into their daily work---painting, drawing, verbal language, photography, reading and writing plus countless more.

It was amazing to witness first hand this amazing approach to early childhood education and to watch Amelia flourish and thrive in such an environment. The use of nature as another teacher has opened up a world of wonder and has fostered a relationship with the environment that I am confident, and thankful, will stay with her always. Weekly visits from "specials' teachers in dance/creative movement, music, art, as well as visits from a naturalist spur great conversations between Amelia, Ford and I about what she did and learned at school each day...and already at 3 1/2 she is teaching her parents a few things.
She has made some great friendships and learned about what it means to be part of a community as well as part of a family outside of her own. Attending ONS has allowed her the opportunity to think outside her own little box, away from mom and dad, and through different experiences that have happened to her...good and bad...allowed to her the opportunity to problem solve and cope away from the comforts of home. That alone has given her a new sense of confidence. All of these things...invaluable.
Amelia is sounding out and reading words, writing all of her letters and loves to count...to 100 I might add. Learning has been anything but a chore...and she initiates most of it. We are so happy to have Amelia at ONS again next year..her pre-kindergarten year...and can't wait to see what amazing discoveries she makes about life, learning, nature, and herself.
So proud of you, Amelia!