Sunday, October 26, 2014

10/26/2014- 22 months and counting...

We've officially reached the stage where I say "they are almost 2" or "they'll be two at Christmas" instead of referencing them by months.  Which just confirms the fact that they are just growing up too fast.  

22 months old, and we have reached the point in time where we only hit the pediatricians office every 6 months.... So I have no clue about height and weight...  Suffice to say that Catherine and Mac can reach up and take things off the edge of the counter, and paisley is a lil bit behind them,  

Mac is solidly in 18 month clothing and can even wear a 24 month outfit here and there...  Although he is quite lean, so shorts and pants need to be skinny waisted or they drop easily.  His favorite word has transitioned from dog to ball, although he still likes them both.  He has perfected "no" recently, and uses it the most frequently.  His primary desire in life is to run around the house totally naked, although he can be convinced to get dressed if we are going outside.  He tries to make a squirmy break for it every time his diaper is being changed.  Upon returning inside, he requests all of his clothing off...  Shoes, then socks, then pants, then shirt, and will tolerate a "we are keeping your diaper on" in this instance.   His fascination with water continues, as he recently has learned how to stand up on the toilet and turn on the sink... Guess who has their water turned off in the bathroom now?  We have a lil step stool and they all enjoy using it to climb up and wash their hands in the kitchen, and Mac never fails to fuss when it is his turn to dry,  

When frustrated he's quick to swipe at the girls, using mostly feet, hands, and a touch of hair pulling to assert his independence.  

His favorite spot is the red chair in the living room, and he views it at his, often pushing mommy out and defending it as his spot when the girls try to share.  He's a sweetie at home, but loves to cut his eyes or give the stink eye to strangers.  Every evening he starts a game of running where he stands by the kitchen door and "imitates" the counting of 1, 2, 3... Although his current imitation is holding up both index fingers and shouting.  He has also started trying to jump....  Usually this involves him standing on top of a book paisley has left on the floor, and bending knees before taking a "big hop" off, which was more of a two footed big step.  He loves to "stomp like a dinosaur" and growls whenever he sees an appropriate animal.  

He has discovered his sisters and stalling at nap time...  Throwing his lovies into paisleys bed over and over.... Ending when mommy moved her bed across the room during today's nap.  I am currently just thankful that they haven't figured out how to climb out of the crib!  

In addition to all his impish behavior, he has started randomly coming up and giving my legs big cuddles.  Delightful.  He spontaneously started doing the animal sounds as I sang "old macdonald" in the car the other day.  And his "moo" is my favorite.

 Enjoying his love of ketchup

Helping mommy clean the counter using his new step stool 
Having a hummus snack in his big red throne.
Chattanooga children's museum showing off his ducktail...
Playing at the park 
Painting
Mastering the art of the faucet 



Paisley is a mental image of a tiny little thing walking so fast her tushy wiggles.  On her biggest day, she is wearing 12 month clothes.   She's very busy and is such a helper.  She has an internal desire for order...  Need her things to be together... All the spoons, all the crayons, etc...  And needs reminders that things can be split up.  She generally is okay with this, unless her brother and sister have been antagonizing her all morning,  

She is in love with books right now, especially "2 crazy pigs".   She is attempting to repeat 90 percent of things, and will have a babbling inflections of phrases.  "I'm coming" tends to be one her most common blurred phrases.  She likes to debate often, and attempts to throw a fit by laying her head down on the floor.  However, most of the time, she can be pulled out of it with a "really, paisley?" And she will look up and smile.  

 She primarily uses her teeth for frustration,  and then puts herself into the "No no chair" while waggling her finger... (Which makes me wonder if this particular idea is actually working or funny to her).  

Her sleeping has gotten much better (finally!) and most nights she does a minimum of 8:30-5:00.  If she gets up before 5:30, she will generally go back to bed in our bed with a little cuddling.. But if it's after 6, she's usually up for the day.  (While her brother and sister sleep til at least 7, if not 8 or 8:30).

She still feels the most like a baby, loving cuddling and being carried.  Content to just hang out, 

Attempting to style macs hair
Silly mommy selfie 
Chattanooga children museum
The "musical petting zoo" at the hermitage festival in Nashville
At the playground 



She hung on a similar, higher bar for 20 seconds the other day!




Catherine is the tallest and skinniest of the 3.  Most 18 months pants are the right length (some too short), but all of them are too big in the waist.  She still sees Nancy, her PT once a week but has been making some amazing progress and gets more coordinated every day.  

She's the most sensitive immune system, catching colds more frequently than the other two, but is also a bulldog out and about figuring out things that are tricky, and climbing everywhere, even when it's a new challenge.  She gets nervous with unsteady surfaces, ledges, wiggly bridges but wants to do it so much that she will either sit and scoot or crawl across.  She loves to go down the biggest of the slides, and takes them with great speed.  She appears delicate, but is quite resilient most days.  

She's the most interested in fashion.... Picking specific shoes, clothes, etc... She's the most attached to her monkey, and wants it with her most of the time, and especially whenever she's upset.  If she drops it in the car, she gets super upset and I usually end up pulling over go retrieve it.  

She's the best at identifying body parts and people.  And once a game has been established, immediately tries it out, or replicates what happened the previous time.  Her favorite things are whatever someone else has... Or the iPhone/iPad which she needs to hold versus leave on the floor for everyone to share.  

She continues to be my best sleeper, and if she were an only child, I would feel very well rested :)

 That grandpa is so funny 
Running with scarves at music class
Grandma and Catherine at the children's museum 

We've had a busy few months.  Most recently, grandma McGuire came down for a few weeks, and then grandpa for a week, finishing up by accompanying me up to Nashville to celebrate Graunt graces birthday.   

They spent hours at the port mills mall and rode their first, perfectly sized, carousel.

In addition hit the hermitage fest for some pumpkin painting...



Paisley gave us a super hard time the night I was heading back, so Darren ended up meeting me in Chattanooga to make the second leg less daunting.  Darren's been on the road a lot these days, so we try to make the most of life when he's home, and the kids love to talk to him on FaceTime. 


FaceTime with dada 

They get very excited whenever brother Zachary spends some time with them...  And although, he's at work, they kept waiting at his door (the back door of the house which leads to our basement, and his room)



I think that Catherine is going to be a lefty, and the other two righties...  We have a bedtime oatmeal snack every night, and their spoon use seems to remain the same.


They're going to be bumblebees this year, and dressed up to attend a fundraiser for the Elaine Clarke center, the daycare I work at (and they attend) on Thursday mornings. 


And finally, I made it into a picture (although in reality. It was grandpas request as the hug the Hogglets photos have gotten more difficult!)

Take care, and I hope everyone has a happy and healthy holiday season.  If you're in Atlanta, we will be celebrating at our house on December 26th...  Two years!  It's just a few weeks away.































Monday, July 28, 2014

7/27/2014- 19 months old



As I type up this post, the kids are out playing in the field at their grandparents farm.  Darren and I survived their first international flight yesterday, and night one of time change...  It wasn't the magical "they slept the whole time" we were hoping for, but they were happy and entertaining, and even slept for a few hours...  We are here for plenty of time, and I'm assuming they'll adjust to the time change just in time to go home.

Mac - is wearing mostly 12 months clothes, and a size 4 shoe.  He's getting close to 18 month sizes, especially for anything one piece because he is so long.  His hair continues to have a little tuft at the back, and I refuse to cut his "duck tail" until the rest starts to grow in.   He's lean compare to most, but feels solid compared to his sisters.

He has twelve teeth, but the final two are still cutting.... Molars are a whole different game in their ability to last weeks as both sides cut on a different schedule.  His favorite items remains tall and slender or rolling... Sticks, straws, balls, and anything on wheels.  He has a strong throw, and decent aim.  He has a beautiful gesture for where with both hands palms up.  He's consistent with his sounds for dog, woof, and hot.  Although hot can also be ice.   He atttempts to blow on his food, and is on par with Catherine for using forks and spoons.  

He knows when he is being naughty, and has a definite naughty face.  This, however, does not prevent him from repetitively doing anything when told "no".  Occasionally, while looking straight at you.  He loves to play chase and tag his sisters... But isn't quite aware of his strength, often two handed pushing them to tag. 

He is Momma's boy, and prefers me to anyone, especially for consoling and cuddling.  He's also the least helpful when being held, a large lump on your hip.  He likes a good bounce move when he's dancing, and has a twinkle in his eye for most of the day.  When asking for milk, or a drink, he will come over and smack his lips. He's generally a good sleeper, but if he wakes up at the wrong time, he will cry until he gets back to sleep...  Generally this means a cuddle.  

He fancies himself an engineer.  He has learned how to pull out the power cord on the vacuum and push the button to retract it quickly.  He's the first to figure out a toy that has buttons or switches.  He loves to sit on the couches and chairs, and when someone vacates the red chair in the front room, he makes a quick approach and steals their seat and smiles.  He also figured out side table drawers, so earrings, coins, and other ditched objects have all been moved. 

Stealing the red chair 
Breaking into the nightstand
Solo cups..
Driving with aunt Jackie

Cookies on bellbanks patio


Paisley has an impish energy about her, and often walks away while giggling to herself.  She checks to see if you're looking before sneaking to try whatever...  When she gets ahold of mommas phone (contraband equipment) she runs and hides because she knows she's about to get it taken away.  She loves to be held, and remains the baby of the group.   In an effort for sanity, I delayed sleep training until after we get back from England.  She still wakes up for 1-2 bottles at night, while her brother and sister sleep through.  

She waves often, and is the most comfortable being passed person to person, although she will make you work for a smile or cuddle.  She is the most hesitant in new environments, sitting and looking around to see what is happening, and then eventually engaging....  The opposite of home, where she rules the roost.   She loves to sit and read books, especially if they are tiny in size.

She was the first with 12 teeth, and yet, can still fill into 6 month clothes if she needs.  
Most of the time she's somewhere in the 9-12 month clothes. Although the pants can be a bit long.  She loves to pick out shoes, and has a specific pair of blue polka dot espadrilles that have her heart.  (Although no tred, so momma doesn't let her wear them out much).  She's also quite okay with just one shoe on and one shoe off.  

She loves to pass out food, as you tell her to take a cookie or anything else to pass around.  Darren had her on the plane, and was amused as she attempted to swipe on the monitor,  

Walking with bear 
Titanic impersanation
Toddlercize





Catherine is long and lanky, and occasionally awkward.   However, she is persistent and active, and does not let coordination impact her desire and ability. She led the pack on chair climbing, but still struggles with "coming down"...  While her brother and sister flip on their bellies and slide down.  Her index finger is her magic wand, and she waves it about as well as tastes new things.  She has definite sounds for monkey (buh-bee), but is sometimes generalized for help.  She consistently waves and says  "buh buh" for bye bye.  She will attempt hot, baby, and dog when appropriate.  

She's excellent at following instructions and will grab and take things around the house on command.  She uses the more sign often, mostly for food. She is the best eater of the group with a varied palate and good taste for vegetables.   And she wins on quantity for most meals.   

She loves her monkey, and prefers to have it with her 90 percent of the time.  When upset, she needs to be cuddled with her monkey and her thumb.  Paisley and Mac know that she needs it when upset, and will go grab it and bring to her.  She has little curls over her ears, and gets so excited about me coming home that she cries if I don't immediately hold her.  

She cut her 7th tooth yesterday.  And is in 12 month clothes for anything that involves height.  Her beanpole stature makes a 6 month short just the right size...   She has a saucy side, especially when the words "Catherine, come here" have been uttered.... Taking off running in the opposite direction.  Recently, while on the walking trail, she turned around to wave hi in the midst of walking away... 
Cuddling grandpa 
Toddlercize
Back end
Yoga
Tractor driving 








All three have taken to giving kisses... But Catherine is the most generous, especially when she doesn't want to go to bed.  They all give full lips and a "mmmm" noise, sometimes on command, and sometimes self initiated.

They drink from straw cups most of the time, and Catherine can also blow out.  I've still got them on yummy milk, a dairy free recipe that tastes like cake batter and they seem to enjoy it.  

We've joined the YMCA which is less that five minutes from home, and they really enjoy their toddlercize class. So far, the pool is a two person minimum activity.  Even with a graded entry and splash pad, they eventually all make a run for the deep end.  The continue to spend 3 afternoons with Cristiana and Thursday morning at the Elaine Clarke center while mommy is working. 

Waiting in line for baby clock with grandpa

Waiting for our flight 
Baby wrestling 

Playing with Zachary
Bouncy castle with cousins Sophie and Olivia 

Life continues to move quickly by, and I constantly remind myself to sit and play vs worry about all the things around the house that need to be done.  It means our life is messier than I'd like, but our babies are doing amazing things... So it balances out with the important stuff benefitting.  

Hoping you are all well. 
Julie