Getting Closer

This isn't a really good picture but I felt compelled to take it at the time since it was such a momentous occasion. The other day I was able to take a shower while Caroline and Kate played together. It was miraculous. They are really starting to interact together on a regular basis and it's very cute. For the most part Caroline entertains Kate as she does here with her pig imitation.


Since Dora had a show about becoming a big sister Caroline is now very proud of the fact that she, like Dora, is a big sister. Everywhere we go Caroline points out her sister to everyone we come into contact with.
I'm really loving their blossoming relationship.

Tricycles Are Out

The hottest thing at the ballpark this past spring were these little three wheeled scooters. All the little girls had them. They came in two flavors, Princess Disney and Dora. Caroline loved those little girls' scooters. She even tried to steal one by hiding it behind a bush. So when we saw the Dora variety on clearance we had to snag it for her. She loves it.She seems to be getting the hang of it too. They better watch out at the ballpark!

Flow-da

I think I'm suffering from post vacation blues. We spent last week in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Which is where Jonah was born and where I still have family. We drove there this time. We took two days driving there and two days back. Driving that far with a toddler and baby is no picnic but once we were there we had an awesome time.

Of course we spent some time at the beach.
We picked up my niece Caice in Virginia on the way down. She and Jonah act just like brother and sister.
We arrived on Kate's six month birthday. Happy half birthday Katie!
Caroline and Kate preferred the pool so we spent a lot of time there.
Hardworking dad got a lot of time to relax. Just in time for father's day!
Of course we had to play a game of putt putt.
We got dressed up and went out to eat.And that was about it. Beach, pool, family, fun, and food. What else do you need? It was fantastic and I want it back!!!

Late Bloomer

Making sure my kids are good readers has always been a priority to me. I was an avid reader growing up and want to pass my love of books onto my kids. Plus it seems like a no brainer to me that you have to be a good reader to be successful in anything. So from the time Jonah was born I read to him faithfully every single day. If he couldn't sit still I would read to him while he played and he would eventually come around (this tip's for you Liz). After he turned a year old I would read to him every single night at bedtime. So when he was in the first grade and turned 7 and still couldn't read I became extremely concerned. He loved books and he loved for me to read to him but he just didn't seem to "get it." I became really afraid he had some sort of reading/learning disorder, especially since I have a brother who was diagnosed with dyslexia.

I then requested a meeting with the reading specialist at Jonah's school. She told me that learning to read is a milestone that usually occurrs when a child is between 4-8 years old and that some kids just get it later. She assured me that the kids who learn to read later can end up on the same level as the kids who learn to read earlier. Just as kids who learn to walk later will eventually begin running with their peers. I was pretty surprised by this. I always thought that the more I read to him the earlier he would begin to read. She suggested that I keep reading to Jonah and that he would eventually get it. Well she was right. The next year in second grade Jonah got it and began reading at his grade level.

This past year Jonah really began to love reading and just devour books. He even read the entire Harry Potter series. At his school they have a reading counts program where they earn points for the books that they read by passing a comprehension test for each book. The kids earn charms for every 50 points that they earn. Jonah ended up finishing in first place for the fourth grade and in third place for the entire school! I am so proud of him!!!! I am also absolutely amazed when I think back to first grade and how much trouble he had "getting it." As a parent this whole experience was such a huge lesson about not freaking out when a milestone is delayed and supporting and encouraging my child. Good job Jonah!

Jonah with his 400 point charm.

My Turn

When I started watching Samantha I realized very quickly that Caroline wanted to do all the things that the baby got to do. She wanted her turn in the baby stuff. I guess they seemed like little amusement rides to her. For the most part I didn't mind unless I was about to put the baby into something and Caroline would swoop out of no where and plop down. That got old quickly. Also sometimes she would get a little too rough. I went through three bouncer seats while I watched Samantha because of Caroline. The one I have now has a 45 lb weight limit so I hope it lasts through Kate. And then sometimes Caroline wouldn't even wait for the baby to vacate before she would hop aboard. Of course this could get downright dangerous so I would watch her like a hawk.

Samantha enjoying her bumbo seat.
Caroline enjoying Samantha's bumbo seat.
Caroline loves the baby swing. I've had to ban her from it since Kate was born. She's just too big.
Now she has to try out Samantha's car seat.
Caroline! You have to wait until the baby is out first. (No one was hurt in the taking of these pictures.)

First Sam.
Now Kate.

Updates

Poor Flash had to have surgery this week. I noticed a very small bare spot in his fur that he kept biting and licking. David took him to the vet and the bare spot turned out to be a skin tumor. Apparently these are fairly common in dogs. Well we had it removed the next day (For a price of course. Vet = $$$). We won't know what it was exactly, if it was malignant, until next week. Flash is a real trooper and doing very well. We feel so sorry for the poor guy. He'll get his stitches removed in two weeks.On the lighter side Jonah had his very first pimple! I've been saying that I feel like Jonah is entering puberty. I don't know a more glaring sign of puberty than a pimple. Right on the front of his nose too. You can't even hardly see it though because of his freckles. He says that he now loves his freckles. I've always loved his freckles. (This announcement was posted with his permission.)

Five Years?!

This past Memorial Day was our five year anniversary of living in this house together. I still can't really believe that I quit my job, packed up everything I owned, and moved with my small son three states away from our home and family, especially as a single mom. That was one of the scariest decisions I have ever made. But also one of the best decisions I have ever made. I can't imagine life now without David. He made our little family so much more complete. I managed to dig up some pictures from that first year together, from before we went digital.

David taught Jonah how to ride a bike.Jonah's first day of Kindergarten. Wasn't he so little and cute?!
Jonah met his new cuzins.
Jonah and David clowning around. It's funny. Everything back then was boys against girl. They always wanted to gang up on me. I showed them! Girls out number boys now. (Boy I hated that carpet!)We did a whole lot of painting. Some rooms even ended up getting painted twice. Like this one, thank goodness.Jonah started his baseball career.
This is just a really cute photo of Jonah at Halloween. David makes the holidays, and everything really, a lot more fun.Happy anniversary to us! Five years went by so quickly. I'm very excited about where the next five years will take us.

It's a Miracle!

Whenever I figure out how to do something myself on the computer I am absolutely amazed. I'm a real moron when it comes to computers. Also I get insanely frustrated easily and just give up. I guess I get computer rage. I've been trying to figure out how to download pictures from my cell phone onto the computer for months with no success. Lately I realized that the pictures application on our laptop which has Windows Vista is much more user friendly so I thought I would try to download pictures from my cell phone one more time. The laptop pretty much walked me through the whole process step by step and was incredibly easy. I am so thrilled!!!

The pictures that I have on my phone can be broken down into several categories. The first category are pictures that I send David while he's at work, just to show him what we are up to.

Like visiting the library.Or having lunch with bubby.The second category of pictures on my cell phone would be pictures from last summer when I couldn't find my camera.

Caroline had her very first haircut.Jonah's cub scout pack cleaning up a creek in Veteran's Park. (It was nasty!) Jonah is the one second from the left waving.Caroline being a diva.
Third are pictures of Samantha that I would send to her parents over the phone when I babysat her and also while I couldn't find my camera.

Sammi was such a cute, happy baby.
Sam and Caroline had so much fun together.Last are pictures of Kate. These are either pictures I sent to people or I took just because my camera wasn't around.

First recorded smile.I do love her big dark eyes. They're such a novelty after having two with blue eyes.
There were a lot more photos on my phone. Too many to post now. I'll have to save them for future entries.

Uh Oh

Today I got a glimpse of the future...


...and in about 15 years I think David and I are in big trouble.

Five Months?!

Kate turned five months this past week. I can't even believe it! I know from experience that the first year goes by so fast. I think the lack of sleep makes the days a blur at times and helps you lose track of time. I try to treasure every moment with baby Kate but I'm already getting sad that my little baby is growing up so quickly. She's such an absolute joy!Practicing with the sippy cup.
ALWAYS smiling.
Caroline still loves her too, which is good. And hasn't accidentally killed her, which is also good. I love this photo of the two of them.

Bubby Love

One of the other parents from Jonah's baseball team was kind enough to email this photo to me. Caroline loves to sit with her bubby during the team meetings that follow each game. She adores him. He does tease her and sometimes he plays a little too rough but overall I think he's a much better older sibling than I was. I guess that big brother class we took him to paid off.

Just In Time for Spring

Yay! David's new rain barrel was delivered yesterday. Our county has a new rain barrel program that started this past winter. It was so popular that David was put on a waiting list. Well his name finally came up and after weeks of waiting and many phone calls his barrel was finally delivered. If you don't know, a rain barrel is used to store rain water to water your lawn, garden, and plants. It has a spigot that you can connect your water hose directly to it. Our county has awesome recycling and conservation programs that I think should be nation wide.

Wait a minute. Was there something else delivered too?

Aaaaaaaaaa! Let me out!

Sisters

I really hope that our girls grow up to be close. Having two brothers and no sisters myself I'm not really sure as their mom how I can encourage their relationship. My friend Kellie says that she thinks it's important not to show favoritism. I think that can be true for brothers too. Any other suggestions from the sisters out there?