Isaiah @ 6 Years!

Stats
47 lbs, 6 oz (55%)
44 3/4" (30%)

Another year has come and gone and I can hardly believe it! My big big guy is SIX!

Obviously the biggest thing this year has been starting kindergarten. I guess it doesn't seem so big when he's gone to daycare and preschool but this is the real deal now. I started him late (it ended up being October) because I wanted to try homeschooling first. It didn't work, unfortunately. Too much else going on and I completely ignored the social aspect which is a big deal to Isaiah. I assumed we could start that up after Esther was born, but Isaiah started talking about missing his friends and wanting to go to school long before that. So, I enrolled him in the nearby Catholic school. He LOVES it! His teacher always tells me how great he is and she loves having him in class. So I guess waiting didn't hurt anything. And, he hasn't had any trouble despite baby, divorce, police visits, etc!

He is SO smart! I've always known he was smart but its so great to see him doing so well. He's reading I don't even know how far above grade level (the first grade books that come home are easier than the ones he reads to me). His awesome teacher has him doing enrichment work to challenge him....he's even done some 3 digit addition work. They also have him going to an enrichment class once a week where another teacher works with things that challenge him a bit more.

For his birthday this year Isaiah decided he didn't want a Build A Bear, which we've done the past 3 or 4 years. I was sad that he had outgrown that tradition already, but he really doesn't need more stuffed animals. Instead, we went to the Lego store and he picked a new set to build. But he wanted to go to Fritz's for dinner again!

I can tell he's getting so much more independent. He basically taught himself to ride his bike without training wheels (because a pregnant mommy couldn't run with him very well). He can get his own breakfast, entertain himself during nap time, is figuring out the phone on his own (a bit more complicated than when I was little). And doing a million other things I can't think of now.

And Isaiah is the BEST big brother. He loves his siblings so much, you can tell by the way he treats them. He can wrestle with Micah and snuggle Esther. He is full of gentle kisses and sweet hugs and truly gets upset when he accidentally hurts either sibling. And he is a huge help to me. More than I can ever give him credit for!

He is also still my snuggler. I feel so awful that I don't give him as much affection as he seems to want but, with 2 smaller siblings needing help I just get touched-out sometimes!

At his checkup, he was down to the 30th percentile for height! After always being so high on the curves, I guess he's slowing down. His pediatrician also heard that heart murmur again. Its been heard on and off since birth and always makes me nervous when it's brought up. Since he already had an ultrasound on his heart 2 years ago, the doctor is going to take another listen in a couple months and we will go from there. If she hears it again we will have another visit with the cardiologist. If its gone, no worries (until it crops up again).

So, that's the big stuff on my big boy for now.

I love you, Isaiah!

Conversations with Isaiah 05.012

I had Esther's socks off for a bit this morning...

Isaiah: Awwww....look at her cute little toes! They're so tiny! You could just cut them off with scissors!

Conversations with Isaiah 05.011

Isaiah: Did you know they have other "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" books? We were reading one at school called "If You Give a Pig a Pancake"
Me: Yeah? What do you give a pig with his pancakes?
Isaiah: I don't remember. Maybe....bacon?

Esther @ 2 Months (and Other News)

Stats

12 lbs, 5 oz (50%)

22 3/4" (35%)

Another month has flown by! I know the holidays provided a lot of distraction as well as the "other stuff" I will mention in a bit.

Month two was pretty big for Esther. First Christmas! First New Year! It sure is odd having such a tiny baby for the holidays since the boys were born at the opposite end of the year. Christmas Eve was rough because she fussed most of the evening after Mass. Thankfully, she made up for that by sleeping in her chair most of Christmas day.

The boys are still in love with their sister! We have had some hard times listening but there hasn't been anything negative directed at Esther. Even Micah has done an amazing job when I was expecting lots of trouble from him. Isaiah, of course, is an awesome big brother!

Esther started smiling around six weeks and that has now progressed to full on open mouth, arm waving, feet kicking excitement when she sees me. I love it! She's also grown like a weed lately. In size 1 diapers and wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes. We kind of skipped over the 0-3 size, though some will fit her. She even outgrew the little crocheted hats we got from the hospital! :(

The past week or so has been rough. She still naps pretty well for the majority of the morning which lets me catch up on stuff (and shower!). Evenings, though? Must. Be. Held. I'm so grateful I got that sling! I can mostly make dinner with that, except when I'm using the stove...that makes me nervous! The worst part was bathtime for the boys because she would get herself so worked up until she just screaaaamed! Then it took forever to get her to sleep with having to do bed time and such. The past few nights I've put her in the tub with the boys which is super crowded, but no screaming baby!

Esther is also getting better control of her giant bobble head! It seems like she's holding it up better and longer every day. I will be super excited when she has it controlled a bit better and can sit at the table while we're eating (instead of in my lap).

In Other News...

Since we didn't have enough going on, I started potty training Micah. He got it in 2 days (minus the pooping part)! I was so proud! Unfortunately, we've had some regression which is frustrating (especially when we're out running errands). I hate to admit it, but I've lost my temper and yelled a few times. I regrouped and calmed down about it and he's doing better again. He's even staying dry at naptime and overnight! Except pooping. WHY is that so hard for boys?!?

Last thing...Jeremy moved out at the end of December. Due to his cheating, lying and stealing, we will be getting divorced. I have 5 million things I want to say about that, but 99% of them aren't nice...and once I get started it will take a while to get all that out.

Comparing...

Esther	Micah	Isaiah
12 lbs, 5 oz (50%)	12 lbs (92%)	14 lbs, 14 oz (78%)
22 3/4" (35%)	21 3/8" (60%)	23 3/4" (69%)