4 Months

I love this grin!

Benjamin's naps are mostly routine.  He is easy to take out and about in the morning.  He will still sleep in his carseat, just not as long.  If he needs it, he is great at making up for sleep in the afternoon, sometimes sleeping a 2.5 hour nap in the afternoon.  He goes to bed around 7 - 7:30 after that feeding.  I get him up as we go to bed, around 10:15 or so, to feed him his last feeding of the day.  Until last week, he was waking me up consistently at 4:30.  4 days ago, he waited until 6. The last 2 days he has woken up 5:45/5:15.  Are we finally dancing toward sleeping until past 6?! 

3 years, 4 months Stats

 Anna-Kate at 3

Weight:  30 lb - 48%ile

Height:  38 in - 45%ile

Benjamin at 4 months

Weight:  14lb, 2oz - 30%ile

Height:  25in - 52%ile

Tuesday morning, I did Anna-Kate's 3 year old check up and Benjamin's 4 month check up at the same time.  It went really well.  Anna-Kate was super concerned about what bandaid Benjamin would get after his shots.  Benjamin handled his first shot great.  His second shot absolutely hurt his feelings, and he cried.  When Benjamin cried, Anna-Kate fell apart.  Her face fell, tears poured, and then she said, "Hold me mama."  I love her empathetic heart! especially when her brother is the recipient of her affection!  But, we may need to work on the logic of needing to comfort B first.

a Few Missed from 3 Months

We call "May" our December around here.  It is crazy!  Will's birthday, Anna-Kate's birthday, my dad's birthday, Mother's Day, school ending, ...  With all that going on, Benjamin didn't get much of the spotlight.  So, here is what he has been up to the last few weeks:

As the following pictures show, we have been working on gaining strength in order to sit in the bumbo.  When he is awake during dinner, he loves to sit in the bumbo at the table with us.

 His time in the exersaucer lasted only minutes

 and he definitely reserved his grin for when AK walked up!

 I love sleeping pictures!

and I love my little man!

Growing Up

Do you remember this sweet little 2 year old from September, holding her duck as we headed to the car on our way to our first morning of preschool?  

This mom had tears in her eyes as she brought this sweet big girl down the hallway to the car, leaving her preschool 2 year old class for the last time.  

 Love watching her with her friends!  

What a special friend in John-David, her preschool friend and church buddy!

One Errand Conquered

When 8:15 looks like this

then getting out becomes necessary, 

so you're 10:45 might look like this

 This was last Thursday.  I laughed as I was driving back toward home.  It takes me about 5 minutes to get in or out of the car.  The BJ's errand took me about 15 minutes.  Getting in and out took almost as long as the errand. 

But, breaking up the morning by getting out of the house = priceless!

PS  Target, WalMart, Harris Teeter, ...can you borrow some of these carts from BJ's.  I would get more done that way! Or, at least would have one less excuse to not doing errands!

Birthday Cake for a Princess

\

Happy Birthday to you!  Happy Birthday to you!

    

 Happy Birthday dear Anna-Kate!  Happy Birthday to you!

Last year was Elmo.  This year, Anna-Kate said pretty consistently she wanted a princess cake. Then, she pretty consistently she said she wanted Cinderella.  Hence, we bought a blonde doll cake-topper.  After planning a Cinderella cake, AK said she wanted an Elmo with chickens.  Then she wanted a fish, then a bird.  Anna-Kate, how about a princess cake?  Yeah, that would be great!  In the days prior to Saturday, Belle was the consistent princess of choice.  So, here is our blonde Belle!  

 

The Best Part of Waking Up

is Coffee in your Cup!

 I have posted before that a common quote in our house is, "when I get bigger, I will drink coffee too.  What  kind of coffee do I want?  Pink coffee!" 

 We walked downstairs and I had fixed her "pink coffee" already.  As I poured my and Will's coffee, I asked Anna-Kate what she saw.  "Pink coffee!  I get bigger!"  She had the proudest smile on her face.

 Anna-Kate joined her mommy and daddy on the couch for some morning coffee.  What a treat!

**  "pink coffee" is milk with Hershey's Strawberry syrup mixed in.  There was no child overly-caffeinated in the making of this post.**

my dear Anna-Kate

our princess one week before her birthday!

Three years ago today I was afraid I would be pregnant forever.  You made us wait 6 days beyond your due date before we could meet you.  You are worth the wait!  Not every moment has been easy, but every moment is one I wouldn't trade.  

I can not believe that our girl is turning 3.  This third year of your life has been amazing to watch.  You have grown up so much this year!  You started preschool.  Your teachers have only kind words to speak about you.  They brag most of all about your empathy for others.  I am so proud to know others see your kind heart.  You were potty-trained this year (mostly, not at night/nap).  That has been one of our main struggles this year, but apparently that is normal.  Your gross motor skills have improved so much.  You are still so cautious but you have really started exploring more without your mom or dad right beside you; loving playgrounds and climbing the stairs on your own.  

Reading books remains at the top of the list of your favorite things to do!  You would have me read book after book to you if I could.  I l.o.v.e listening to you "read" books.  You have lots of our books memorized, but I also love hearing your imagination come through as you read the books that you don't have memorized.

You also love art.  Second to reading is coloring at home, painting at school.  I love how proud you are when you show me your newest creation.  In the last few weeks you have started coloring in the lines.  In the last 2 months, you have started drawing people.  Your dad and I say often how fun it has been to watch the evolution of art through your eyes and can't wait to see how it continues to evolve.  

We welcomed Benjamin to our family, and you have been an amazing big sister.  Lately he lights up the moment you look at him, which makes you more interested in talking to him.  You were never rough with him and didn't deal too much with jealousy.  You absolutely can not stand it when he cries; you want me to take care of him immediately.  

You make us laugh with your, "when I was a ___" statements.  Like, "when I was a penguin, I slide on the ice too!"  We love listening to you when you tell a story.  We are so proud when we see you walk into your preschool room.  We find you so cute when we watch you run around the room and say "I do my exercise."  We find it frustrating when you wait to go to the bathroom 2 hours past when you need to.  We love that you will eat such a great variety of food  (even if you are picky about when you choose to eat it).  

You are smart.  beautiful.  funny.  expressive.  kind.  cautious.  

Your dad and I believe God gave us you in His perfect time and we have been grateful for you in our lives ever since.  We can't wait to see what this next year brings!

But, first, we are excited to spend this weekend celebrating you!

May 2011

October 2011

January 2012

March 2012

Muffins with Moms

Today at preschool, Anna-Kate's class hosted Muffins with Moms.  They prepared a song to perform right as we got there.  Then we shared a snack.  They had made presents for us.  It was such a sweet time with my little preschooler.  I get so proud of her, as I watch her do things with her classmates.  And, I love when her classmates' parents tell me that their child talks about Anna-Kate at home.  I am just so proud of my little girl!

Dedication

Dedicating Benjamin at Providence on Sunday morning, Mothers Day

"Do you come to place this child in the strong, loving, secure arms of your eternal Father, entrusting your child both to His care and His service?"

 We do.  (an excerpt from the responsive reading)

 The Jesus Storybook Bible, 

the Bible given to Benjamin from the church

Some family shots after church

 

 and a new favorite (yes, that is my long boy in a 6-9 months outfit!)

Look who is...

...crawling!

 That of course means I hear, "Mom, she is getting my tower!" or something similar quite often.  Uummm, Anna-Kate, Natalie is crawling but I promise she can not reach your tower.  Anna-Kate stood there threw her entire morning cartoon to guard her block tower from our new crawling Natalie!