Wilson, My Five Year Old

Wilson, WONDERFUL. INSIGHTFUL. LOVING. SPIRITED. OPINIONATED. NOVEL.

Even though you turned 5 in February, it is still hard for me to believe that you are actually five years old. (I think I will say this every year for the rest of your life.) You are such a sweet child. Tender and kind. Compassionate and full of energy. Imaginitve and curious. Confident, yet shy.

What a fantastic stage of development you are in...

I find so much pleasure helping you understand more about the world around you. From studying the chemistry of a rippening banana and your bouancy in water, to learning how to jump off your bike while it is still moving. You love experiements, investigating, and success.

My two five year olds.

With this stage's joys also comes moments of struggle. You are fragile and "tuff" and I am learning that somedays your moods can be completely unpredicable (in reality they are alot more predicable than I give them credit). This is mostly because you are overwhelmed, worried, frightened, or tired and you have difficulty maintaining/reclaiming your coping skills when you are neurologically stressed. There have been days when I think I am doing something wrong, but  in reality I am doing my best and love you with all I am (I think parent guilt just comes with parenting :/ ). Your PK teacher put it best when she said, "Honey, I've been doing this a LONG time and let me tell you EVERY preschooler is a walking time bomb! Wilson is great and will be just fine." I will never forget that statement and promise to share it with you when you are parenting your own children...50 years from now. ;)

                                       I really think I should thank you on most days.

At your five year well check your stats were: 4'1" and 54 pounds. (You weighed 56.6 on our scales today.) You wear a shoe size 2 and clothing size 7.

You are a strong swimmer but are starting to tire from lessons twice a week. You would much rather swim underwater and dive for rings than practice your side breaths and breast stroke. Your strongest stroke is the breast stroke.

You love to ride your bike and have been indepent from training wheels since this past November, but it hasn't been until last month (April) that you have become ADDICTED to riding. As soon as we are home you get on your bike. After dinner... you hop on your bike. Before school (if there is time) you hop. on. your. bike.

I recently told you about a youth triatholon in Bellinghman and you became very excitied about it and asked if you could participate in it. You want to compete in the "Ironman" as you called it and were disappointed (and I think are still in denial) when you found out the entry age is 6, not five.

You love watching American Idol with me and like Phillip Phillips (so do I). We bought a couple of his performance songs on iTunes and you "rock out" to them often. You love to dance and listen to music. I mean LOVE it! You get on the PC/iPad/iPhone and play music any chance you get.

You sleep through the night without underjams now.

You are beginning to read. You still love books and being read too. You pay attention to the details (color of the cars, landscape, etc) in photographs in books and link together the information when we read series stories.

Your drawing skills are improving.  I will have to post the pictures of your assignment for school soon. You made me so pround!

You are excited about kindergarten and moving (you hope we move to FL, but we don't think it is a possibility). I am nervous about both and pray that the tranistion goes smoothly, as you are not, typically, a quick tranisitioner.

Your favorite "kid shows" are: The Wild Kratts (you ask me almost daily if it is 4 yet, which is the time it comes on), Sid the Science Kid, and Word World. We watch The Cat in the Hat too and Dinosaur Train but the others are your favorites. Your total screen time is, on average, 1 hour a day. I try to have 2 days a week with no screen time and there are days that we definitely watch more (read: it is raining...AGAIN, or long car rides). The funny thing is, that most times I put the TV on so that I can get some chores/blogging done but I end up sitting down and watching the shows with you...

You love going to PBSkids.org and abcmouse.com and can do it without help (not TOO excited about this one). Needless to say, your new found internet skills have resulted in some new rules and strategies in the house regarding technology. In fact, you are grounded from the computer this week because you went on AFTER you asked permission and I told you NO.

You like to tell jokes: riddles (Why is the bad basketball team always hot...), knock knocks (who's there? Orange you glad... is your go-to line).

You are quick to be thankful. Almost everyday you tell me you are thankful for your family and since my surgery, in April ,you tell me you are thankful I am feeling better.

 (we fixed the spelling before we gave it to him) 

You ask me, often, for a brother and when I asked you why you want a brother you responded with, "because I already have a sister!" We tell you we hope to, someday, but plan to adopt him. (I have been researching adoption and praying for several years now and I feel very called to do this. I see my family complete with a child from Africa.) You are very comfortable and open to the idea because you have four friends who are adopted. Your closest, Caleb, from Thailand. When we talked about eating Thai with his family (and explaining that is were Caleb was born) you thoughtfully and geninunely asked if we could find an Ethopian restaunt to eat at...

Speaking of Caleb, when it was his birthday and we were buying him gifts you made it a point to choose gifts specific to him. You picked out dinosaur legos (it was a dino party) and made sure his gift bag was orange, which is his favorite color. (Your favorite is still green.) I love how much you care for your friends and how much you pay attetnion to their interests and personalities.

I love you... so very much! I thank the Lord daily for you and your sister. For all you teach me, for all you will do, and for all you have done.

everyday. always. and forever. xoxoxox  Mom
p.s. I am posting this before I proof read so please forgive me... If I don't hit publish today I might not do it...

Eleanor Lynn, My Two Year Old...

This post was originally started on 2-16-12 and completely on 2-22-12.

I can't believe you are two (26 months to be exact) and yet there are days I can't believe you are only two. Having two children has been the best thing I have ever done and yet it is also one of the most challenging things I have done. I think that is a good thing. Life is about growing and learning and I have to say that raising you and your brother is proving to be the most enriching thing I have done. There are moments when simply seeing you and Wilson play together my heart wants to implode with joy.

However, there are also times when I feel that I could actually burst... into tears of frustration! (Today has been a rather challenging day for us. In fact, you guys have just about forced me over the edge. Which is why I have chosen to reflect on your little life and encouraged you and your brother to play independently... It is also why I ordered pizza and the salmon in the fridge is most likely going to go bad. So far, reflecting has helped me... And since you are not yelling (at the moment) it must be helping you two as well. Thank. God.) That was a rather long insert. For fear that I have gotten too off topic let me just end the paragraph with this sentence: I am confident that my grateful and joyful tears out way the frustrated ones.

                                                                                  Yes... you are asleep.
Back to my reflections... I have not documented your life and development as much as I had hoped and for that I am sorry. I hope that you know/remember that it is not because I love you less. Rather it is because (what everyone says is true)... it is just harder/busier with a family of four (or maybe it would be more appropriate to say it is just more full). (side note: How people do it with more children amazes me?! I am not quite there yet.).

So... we are busy and living completely FULL lives. And I love almost every single second.  From running to Wilson's school then your gymnastics, to watching you and Wilson at swimming lessons (last week was your first time in a class without me and you did wonderfully- tear), to walking the dogs (you and the dogs deserve a whole post. you are great with them.) and traveling to see family and friends.

You are a little munchkin. When I compare your size to your brother's size when he was your age you're itty bitty. At your Two Year Well Check you weighed  25.10 pounds and measured 34.5 inches tall and when you look at your height-to-weight ratio it puts you in roughly the 30%ile.

You eat like at bird and then like a lioness. One day you can put away a scrambled eggs like it is your job and the next you forfeit breakfast all together. For the most part you will eat anything (you actually tried and ate a few bites of curry last week) it just depends on if it is your eating day or not.

Like your brother, your memory is frightening. You are a keen observer paying attention to WAY more than we realize. For instance, the last time we flew you were watching everyone in the security line and took your shoes off and sat them on the belt before I could tell you that you didn't need to take them off (12 and under can now keep them on). You even walked through the metal detector independently.

Your little voice is so cute and your language is SO. much. fun. (and pretty amazing too!) It is so hard to believe that your little 25 pound self can say the things you do. Just last week when we were in Costco you saw a dress and loudly said, "that is AWESOME!" Just a few minutes later, as you were "helping" me push the cart, I told you something (for the life of me I can't remember) and you responded with, "are you kidding me... you're kidding me?!" I really wish I remembered what I'd said to you to prompt it. All I know is we were in the book/movie section and you were very impressed with the selection. Recently, as in the past 6 weeks or so, you have replaced momma with mom.  It makes me a tad sad but the way you say it is so cute and matter-of-fact. You chase everyone including Buckeye around the house and yell, "I tag you!" You also make the gruff little voice that is almost like a growl that is absolutely hilarious.

You are a fantastic dancer, for a 2 year old, (I'm sure you get those skills from me.) and love pop music. You try and count to ten and it usually sounds like this: "one, twoeeeee, four, five, eight, nine, ten."

You ADORE your brother and will go anywhere with him. I feel like you are one of the luckiest kids in the world to have him as your brother too. He takes care of you and is always looking out for you. Not to say that you don't have your "sibling moments" but really you get along fantastically. This morning when you played together you two had some of the cutest conversations. You would repeat what your brother said and then finish your sentence with a little "yeah. okay." As I type this you are pushing strollers around the house with stuffed animals and he is encouraging you to follow. "Oops." I just heard you say, "I cwash!" "You  otay, bud?" "You crwaaash?... oh, a big one! Your bear have ouwee?"

Speaking of "ouwees" when you are hurt you call the little boo boo ice pack "boo boo happy" because it is Elmo and you refer to Elmo as "happy".

You love to read books and color. Your favorite colors seems to be purple and pink and you correctly identify orange, red, purple, pink, white, blue, and yellow (you mix up your green and blue).

You are super independent!! (read: character trait that will likely kill your parents while you are growing up but enhance your life as an adult.) Many things you MUST do yourself and everything else you have an idea as to how it should be done. You just want to be a big girl...

You hate socks (I think it is sensory thing) and you wear your shoes on the wrong feet. Hey, as long as you are putting them on I don't care if you look like a duck.

You like to help in the kitchen and can push your "helping chair" just about anywhere.

You are very confident too and will go up to ANY dog, no matter the size, and set them straight with: "NO bark!", "Sit/Lay down." or "Knock it off!"  (Good grief?! What have I created?!) You also try to lead Buckeye (and Jake too) around the house. You are either "takin' a walk" or locking them in the bedrooms. When you put them in a room you point with your finger, say "stay right dere!" and then shut the door.

You still love to brush your teeth and have FINALLY allowed me to brush them with out much challenge. What made brushing your teeth more enjoyable was me allowing you to brush first, then telling you that I needed to check your teeth for whatever we had to eat. (e.g. pancakes, broccoli, etc.) (Boy, am I glad I firgured that one out!!)

Over the past few months you have transitioned into a new stage (read: best birth control imaginable). You are either the easiest child in the world to raise or  you are the most challenging. You are LOUD! Not when you talk but when you SCREAM (forget crying). In reality that is nothing new for you, as people have commented on your volume since you were 6 months old. When you get mad you just. get. LOUD. and there is no middle ground. (And whatever you do?? DO. NOT. make eye contact with said screaming child. It only makes it worse.)

"dat Norwa and my super cake!" 

Typically there is a reason for your outbursts and many times we figure it out (sometimes after the fact) and you calm down and express to us what is wrong, but DAMN...When we don't, it is brutal!! Like when your brother and I flew home from Ohio and you had a 20-30 screaming session at the back of the plane. You were terrible. flapping. swinging, falling to the ground. screaming so loud that I wished I had packed ear plugs for the entire plane. kicking your feet at everything... It was just horrible. What is almost hilarious is that before the flight (and the first 2 hours in the air) everyone was commenting about how cute you were and that you were such a sweet confident traveler. I finally had to let you be and make no eye contact with you what-so-ever. My ears were popping a bit and I really think that your ears were bothering you too as you seemed to stop having a fit after we went through a little bit of turbulence, but STILL I wish that I you would have allowed me to help you... (After the flight random people came up to me (in the terminal) and asked me what was wrong with you. Plenty others gave me dirty looks and thankfully a couple people smiled and gave me look a reassurance.)

You were a super easy kiddo to get to sleep. (I could set you in your crib and you would play, then you'd fall asleep, and often you would sleep through the night.) But this past November everything changed... You started climbing out of your crib so we had to convert it into a toddler bed and move it downstairs with Wilson for three months. Downstairs because you are not ready to have your own bathroom (we found you playing in the sink a few evenings) and with Wils because we had your Papaw here visiting us for a few months. Plus, you gave up your pacifier. Thankfully, since we have gotten back from our trips and you have your own space again you are sleeping much better...In fact, just a few nights ago I read you a book and then you read on your own and went to sleep with out any help. Sure, you talked for about 30 minutes or so but when I went to check on you after my shower you were all tucked in a sound asleep.

You are starting to potty train and I can't believe it!! When I bought underwear for you today, I almost cried. I mean, you are not a baby anymore. :( . Many times after you have a BM you will declare, "I'm poopy" and sometimes you bring us the diaper. (sweet. right? kidding. more like eww.) Yesterday you went most the day without a diaper and used your little potty successful.

You are something else, Ms Nora and I love you bunches!! Always, forever, no matter what.
Mom (Feel free to call me Momma again.)

18 Months

Nora Lynn turned 18 months on June 20th, the day we left for sunny Florida. It is hard to believe that she is that old but at the same time she acts like such a big girl and is full of so much personality that it is hard to believe she is only 18 months...

photo: taken at our hotel, the night before our flight. 

It took the hotel 3 hours to deliver a pack-n-play

 so the kids enjoyed some time in the big bed together

Her 18 months stats: 

22.5 pounds (only 5 pounds heavier than she was a year ago) 25 %ile

33 inches tall, 85%ile

her height-to-weight ratio puts her at in the 10th %ile range. 

Her current vocabulary is pretty large. (I will try to document all her current words later.) She is speaking in some simple 2 phrase utterances and gaining new words every day. Thanks to our trip back East she has her grandparents names down- Babe, Pop, Gramma, Cici. She even has their animals names mastered- Sparky Key-Cat, Mollie, Blue, Kate, and Tink.

Don't feel bad for her. 

She soon grabbed Sparky by the tail and picked him up by the head. 

In Florida she started improving her diplomatic skills with baby Charlie. As we heard, "No charwee, no!", on more than one occasion.

She is VERY independent and knows what she wants.

the face seen when she doesn't GET what she wants... 

She loves her brother and will follow him anywhere.

She likes to "try" and dress herself and can often be found with underwear and/or random shirts around her neck. She is still in the "pull everything out and make as many messes as possible" phase and loves to clean out my closest. She loves brushing her teeth buts HATES for you to help her. She'll shower 3 times a day if you let her. She likes books, dinosaurs,  trucks, water and baby dolls. She tries to sing (her attempt to sing the new Lady Gaga song, the edge,  is hilarious) and loves dancing to music. She has now discovered my alarm clock, which means I never know the time in my room. She has even figured out the music and changed the channel from country to pop. What can I say, the girl likes Gaga and Justin Bieber. 

She has no fear of the water (jumping in and going under with pride).

Wearing Daddy's goggles and telling him where to go

She still loves to climb and wants to sit in her own chair just like everyone else. 

We love you baby girl! You are spunky and fun and I love every second! 

Just Shy of 16 months

Here’s a glimpse of Nora, just shy of 16 months.

What she is saying:  She is a jabberer (is that a word?).  She talks non-stop!! Of course you can’t understand everything that she says but her intonation is perfect, making her jibber-jabber seem like true adult conversation.

“mama”

“dada”

“buba”

“baby”

“hi”

“moo”

“baa”

car (“cawr”)- she sounds like she is from Boston

fish (“ish”)

more (“mo”)

no (“no”)

“yeah”

brush teeth (“ush eeth”)

down (“dow”)

up (“upa”)

off (“ff”)

nose (“ose”)

cracker (“cacka”)

tree (“tee”)- she really emphasizes her EEE- and it is absolutely adorable!

all done (“aw don”)

“nana” -she uses this word for banana and to communicate that she is hungry or wants to nurse

“otto” –is what she says when she drops anything and also what she calls her pacifier. If you ask her where her paci or pacifier is she replies with “ottO” and shows you it, or points to where ever it is.

juice (“uice”)

water (“yaya”)

ball (“ba”)

“go”- she likes to help feed Buckeye and tells him “GOOOO” after she puts food in his bowl

apple (“apple”)

here go (“ear go”)

thank you (“ank you”)

help (“elp”)

ouch (“ouwi “)

“hat”

sock (“seck”)

“boo” – as in, peek-a-boo

"berry"
book (“booook”- sometimes she leaves off her “k”)

“hisssss” -she loves making a snake sound…

“mm MM mm” -and making car sounds too!

“ahhhrrrr”- she loves Wilson's dinosaur and imitating its sounds

she also makes a horse sound that I don’t know how to express but if you heard it you would know what I am talking about

*from the looks of this, it appears I need to work on initial consonants with her.

What she likes to eat/drink:

pancakes! (Oh my goodness, does she like pancakes?!)

yogurt

scrambled eggs

sweet potatoes

hotdogs (Oh my goodness, does she like hotdogs?!)

avocados

turkey

Dave’s Killer Bread (AKA crack bread)

oranges

blueberries

blackberries

raspberries

strawberries (maybe I should have just said BERRIES!)

peanut butter crackers

bananas

apples

peppers

tomatoes

black olives

cheese

mashed potatoes

spaghetti

momma’s milk (yeap. We are still nursing. Three times a day -- breakfast, dinner, and bedtime. I thought we would be done by now but she doesn’t seem to be ready. I know the benefits for her and me, so I am going with it. Plus, she does NOT like cow’s milk. At. All. )

water (she really loves water, especially when it is given to her with a straw)

any fruit juice (diluted with water)

What she is doing now:

climbing on everything!

walking all over and thinking about running

looking at/reading books

climbing on, feeding, and chasing the dogs

waving hello and good-bye

feeding herself with a spoon

throwing EVERYTHING, especially food when she is “aw don” (this stage drives me CRAZZZY!)

playing “high-low” with her Papaw

carrying her little horse purse on her shoulder

wearing my bras (out of the laundry) around her neck—this is crazy to me. Wilson NEVER did this.

pushing her stroller around the house

playing with cars (she pushes them around the house and says, “mmm MMM mmm”) and her brother's dinosaur, Spike

brushing her teeth (the girl is OBSESSED with brushing her teeth. She walks around the house saying “ush eeth. ush eeth!” We even have a decoy brush in Chris’ drawer so she won’t get to ours—who knows where she will take them—yuck!)

opening and closing the doors (this is new but now that she can reach –on her little tippy toes, none-the-less—she is in and out of all the rooms)

knocking on doors or windows to get your attention

pointing to where she would like you to take her

requesting you(usually just “mama”) to pick her “up” or asking you to “elp”
giving kisses with a big wet, "muah!"
declaring dinner is good with, "mmm MMM!"

Her stats:

weight  = 21 pounds

height =

What she is wearing:

12 mth, 18 mth and (a couple) 24 month

shoe size 4.5

  

Nora is almost a YEAR

Oh my goodness. It is so hard to believe that our sweet baby Nora will be one in two weeks. It is scary how fast this past year has gone by... Flat. Out. Scary. If my life keeps passing at this rate I will be 90 next week...

Nora is a doll and full of personality. Right now she verbalizes about 8 words and I am sure by her birthday she will add another one.. or two. She is beginning to express interest in books and pictures, and is starting to prefer some toys over others (her baby doll and anything her brother is playing with). She loves to go on walks and is still easily comforted by the Ergo. She is one tough cookie as not much makes her cry (not even falling face first in the tub). She loves the dogs, especially Buckeye. (can you blame her?) She is laid back and goes with the flow. So far the only thing I can say that Nora doesn't like is... sleeping on a train.

What she is saying:

• ah daw (all done)
• mama
• mah (more, she uses this word while either signing more of clapping to request more food)
• nana (means she is hungry/banana)
• bubba (Wilson)
• dada
• duh (dogs)
• ot-o
• dishhh (fish)

What she is signing:

• hi/bye
• more
• yey! (claps)
• all done

Some fun things she does:

• climbing on everything, including on and off of Wilson's little chair
• she stands all. the. time. and everywhere (her latest trick is to stand in the tub and clap with glee)
• feeds the dogs from her chair by either throwing food down (while saying ot-o) or by sticking her hand out for them 
• shakes her head yes or no when you ask her things- sometimes she is right too 
• points to where she wants to go or what she wants
• extends her index finger to yours to say hello (this is her and her Daddy's favorite game)
• she still curls up her nose and inhales with force when she is eating 
• she looks for you to tell her no when she does something she knows she shouldn't do (like touch a light, dog bowl, or crawl up the stairs) and once you tell her no... she grins, shakes her head, squeals, and goes for it any way
• she plays bashful 
• she lets out a little laugh when she finds delight in an activity or with a toy

What she eats, with her 8 little teeth:

• I am still nursing her regularlly and don't know when we will begin the weaning process. 
• anything and everything: avocados, rice, chili, burger, ALL fruit, spaghetti, etc. (although this weekend she turned away clam chowder)
• her favorite food seems to be blueberry pancakes and whole blueberries

How much she sleeps:

Well, she doesn't sleep through the night right now, but she does usually sleep for 6-8 hours. Most days her start time is between 8-8:30. Her sleep is effected by traveling and every time we go somewhere she ends up needing to be re-trained. So, I have given up the hopes until after our trip to Hawaii. She naps well. She takes  a minimum of one 2 hour nap a day. When the schedule allows though she takes two naps. To put her to sleep is a piece of cake. You hand her an extra paci and cover her up. If she fusses she is usually not ready. When she is ready she starts singing her sleepy song and goes right to sleep. 

** Photo credit: Courtney Bowlden Photography

Nine Months

Nora Lynn is nine months today. It is hard to believe that she is already nine months old. It really does seem like yesterday that she was a newborn.

When other people describe Nora there are two sentences that I usually hear. The first, she is such an easy baby. The second, she is SOOO LOUD! I would say that everyone is right. She is both.

She only cries if something is hurting or she is tired. She continues to be easy to soothe and is very content going with the flow. And as far as her volume is concerned... The girl has lungs like no other. I haven't needed a monitor since she was... You know, I don't know if I ever needed one?  

She is full of expressions and spends most of her day wrinkling her little nose at us.

She has four bottom teethe and is feeding herself (not with utensils-- just those chunky fingers) which means the dogs are on clean up patrol. There is not a food that she has turned away yet. Seriously... she loves to eat EVERYTHING! Here are some of her regular foods: avocados, blueberries, breads, spaghetti, chicken, turkey, bananas, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, and peaches.

 

She is also waving, clapping, pulling herself up to stand (on absolutely everything- the dogs included), climbing in the dishwasher, opening cabinets, cruising on the furniture, eating leaves (not something we are encouraging), babbling, understands "no", and is sleeping through the night (waking at 5am to nurse and then sleeping until 7:30-8).

She knows her name and is starting to respond to her nicknames as well. We love you Nora Lynn, Miss Eleanor, "L", Nor, Stink Pot, Chunky Monkey.

You and Wilson are the greatest gifts I could ever receive.

All photos were taken today. 

And she is off...

and into EVERYTHING! As of last night, our little girl's crawling skills have progressed to the next level. She is crawling EVERYWHERE. She was just "flop crawling", as I call it, from one place to another and only moving in a radius of about ten feet. But now! Now she is going from room to room, traditional style.

This morning she has pulled things off of shelves. She has pulled up onto the drawers in the kitchen and the stools. She has climbed on dogs. And she has found...

the DOG BOWL.

How fast they grow up.