Conversations with Isaiah 06.003

Not really a conversation but I wanted to share....

Conversations with Isaiah 06.002

Isaiah: Moooom, stop singing! PLEASE stop singing.

Me: That wasn't very nice.

Isaiah: I said please!

Conversations with Isaiah 06.001

Mom, I don't like the way the new cat litter smells. It smells like butts and trees.

Esther @ 3 Months

With babies, every month is a big one. Its hard to remember everything that's changed in the last 30-ish days! Pictures taken just a short while ago already show someone so different. That being said...it seems like Esther has changed quite a bit since mid-January!

Esther sure has grown! Since Christmas she's gone up TWO SIZES! She's now in size 2 diapers and some 6-9 month clothes (this depends on the brand). Her hospital nickname (Little Bit) is slowly falling out of use. She certainly has come a long way from just over 6 pounds!

She's got her bobble head pretty well under control at this point and is starting to work on sitting up. I have to admit I rarely lay her down so she has made no progress toward rolling over. In my defense...between two rambunctious dogs and two crazy brothers I feel much better having her in a chair or propped on the pillow thing. I have recognized this as a potential problem (the not rolling over part) and am starting to give her more time on her back/stomach.

The boys still love their sister, though you can tell the novelty is wearing off. They no longer ask to hold her multiple times a day. Since she now weighs half as much as Micah, its probably good he doesn't try it. They can interact with her a bit more, though. She especially seems to like us singing to her and the boys get a kick out of that.

We've definitely had some rough days lately. Like don't-put-me-down-or-I-will-scream days. I'm inclined to think teeth are coming (drooling, fussy, etc) but really can't get a good look in her mouth. Besides, I don't know how many times I chalked rough patches with Micah up to teeth, only to be wrong.

I think the best things are our "conversations". Esther loves to make little baby noises and tries to copy me when I'm making faces at her. She is just so stinking cute! The boys will get in on it too and repeat some of her 'goo's back at her.

And oh dear the grabbing has started! It is super cute to see her grab a toy and work on getting it to her mouth, but Esther's already gotten a good grip on my hair a few times. Next will be the glasses!

That's all I can come up with for now. Like I said, Esther has changed a lot...I'm sure I missed some!

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?