The Kate Box

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Stats and More

Graham had his 6 month check-up this morning, and he's a healthy little guy. He is weighing in at 19 pounds 2 ounces and is around the 70th percentile in both height and weight. His head is his biggest measurement, and he's around the 85th there. He was a champ through his shots this morning, and we also had to discuss some skin issues with the Doc. He is possibly sensitive to metal, so we are going to do some "at home" tests. Regardless, we are going full throttle into the world of sensitive skin products. We have already done it to some degree, but now we are bathing solely in Dove Sensitive body wash, using Free & Clear detergents and fabric softeners, and trying out different moisturizers for some slight eczema and other areas. Reese has sensitive skin, so this isn't too surprising. Great appointment as a whole, and so thankful Daddy joins us when he can. Like today.

Some big changes are coming Reese's way soon. Her big girl bed is finally painted and in our possession, and now we just have to purchase the mattress and box springs. That's on our to-do list for tonight. New sheets and blankets are in the laundry now. I'm excited; I just hope Reese is, too. She loves her crib, but I expect the transition to go fairly smoothly. I'll report on it otherwise. I've also been stocking up on panties, getting advice from friends, and reading the 3 Day Potty Training E-Book in preparation for training to take place sometime in the next couple of months. I want to be sure she is comfortable in her bed before we do the potty. But she's ready for the potty...and I am, too. I honestly don't mind diapers, but I think it's time.

This past weekend was spent on our annual lake trip, and the weather is always the same. This year was no exception; we had snow on our way up to Lake of the Ozarks Thursday, rainy and cold weather for the weekend, and snow on our way down Sunday. It's always chilly and rainy, and we don't mind it one bit. We rent a big lake house with lots of friends, eat a lot, soak in the hot tub, go shopping at the outlet mall, talk and catch up as some friends drove in from nashville for the weekend, and just relax. This year we took a babysitter, and I was the first to say that she was not needed. I said this before the trip, and now I will be the first to admit she was awesome. An extra set of eyes, somebody who facilitated play with the kids, and she was so helpful when I was trying to get our pack n plays, sound machines, etc. set up--Wes wasn't there yet. I rallied a few others to workout with me on Friday morning, and we had our own Zumba class on Saturday evening (one of the ladies is a great Zumba instructor). I stayed up way later than normal, and I'm trying to catch up on sleep this week. I love these friends so much, and words just can't describe how much I cherish each one. Cliche I know, but so so true.

Here are some (53 I think) pictures of life these past couple of weeks...

Reese marching in to Mothers Day Out a couple of weeks ago.

Daylight Savings Time had nothing on this guy. Didn't phase him one bit. I have early risers.

Park dates have begun! Despite the freezing temps the past few days, I think we are close to having park dates every week! Woohoo!!!

Bed head.

My two sleepy cuties.

More park dates!

And again! Crystal Bridges Trail date with friends. GORGEOUS weather.

Irresistible.

Stella leading the way.

Campbell leading the way.

Little friends.

We often tend to go out our own pace.

Weekend crepe and square play.

We have a new love of making homemade smoothies. So so good.

Harper turned TWO!

Graham and Charlie. Future best friends for sure.

Showing off one of her new Matilda Jane pieces to Brother. The box arrived, and she wanted to model it all.

Packed in tight on our way to the lake!

Come on warm weather! We have new sandals and everything!

Reunited with Emma!

Father and Son watching March Madness.

Snowy lake.

Jammies all day!

Jammies, crayons, and shades.

The two littlest bonding.

Reese just plopped herself right down in between Kennedy and Graham. And then she proceeded to squeeze them and tell them how sweet and cute they were.

The big kids ready for the Easter Egg Hunt.

I love a sleeping bottoms up picture.

the drive home.

Saturday Night Dinner.

Lunch break in Springfield on our way home.

I had kept her in Jammies thinking we weren't going to stop, it was FREEZING and snowing outside, and this was the warmest thing she had...and then we decided to stop for lunch. And guess what shoes were on the top in her bag?! Ha.

Reese performed her own check up on Graham yesterday, so today's actual appointment was really only a formality. Our own Doctor Reese.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Reese 2.5

Eight days later...Reese is two and a half. September is and forever will be a BIG month in our house. Graham's Birthday, Reese's Birthday, Wes' Birthday. Football season. School getting under way. Busy, but I look forward to September so much already. There is so much to celebrate.

Reese's personality and little character has developed so much in the last six months. She has gone from speaking in 2-3 word phrases to carrying on full conversations. We can reason with her very well, and she's proven to be obedient and compassionate. Reese is quite the ham, and she's also content to observe. As I type, she's watching Veggie Tales next to me on the couch with her proper posture, ankles crossed, and totally engaged.

When Reese wakes up in the mornings, she starts singing. And talking. and pretending. Her first song she began to sing on her own was Wheels on the Bus last summer, but she quickly acquired new favorites including Jesus Loves Me, the ABC's, Trust and Obey, God is so Good, Away in a Manger, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and the list literally goes on and on and on. While shopping in the bread aisle at the grocery store last week, Reese was singing Old MacDonald and Farmer in the Dell when several other shoppers began to laugh and encourage her to keep going. I quickly responded with "She'll be singing 'til she goes to sleep tonight."

Not only does she sing, but she talks and talks and talks. Although her main pronouns are still mostly mixed up, that doesn't slow her down one bit. She makes herself clear by mentioning the person's name after the pronoun in case I didn't catch what she was trying to communicate. She also has associations really well. Mention an event, a person, etc. and she will tell you whatever is associated with that. Oh, and one of my favorite quirky communication traits of Reese's is the way she says what she expects someone else to say to her. "Hey, Reese." "You have such a pretty dress." "Thank you, Reese." These are just a FEW examples of this, and I love it. I started to correct a few words months ago only to witness them correcting themselves before I knew it. Therefore, I make sure to communicate correctly to her, but I'm not going to correct her. It's going to happen, and then I'll miss how she says words. "nilk" just turned to "milk" and my heart sunk a bit.

The fabulous world of pretend has entered our home. I find Reese carrying on conversations with her baby dolls, stuffed animals, and herself. They aren't too elaborate, but pretend is beginning, and it's awesome.

The saying "Obey all the way, right away, and with a happy heart" is one I like to follow. Reese does really well with obeying, but we struggle with the happy heart part. Some days it's wonderful and self control makes an appearance, but most days her heart is on her sleeve. She's a dramatic toddler, and her fair share of tears have been shed.

Reese loves hard and laughs loud. She gives the best hugs, snuggles a lot, and she sympathizes with anyone who appears to be in pain or sad. Especially people in books or shows. "Oh, I'm sorry, George." She likes to hold Graham's hand, and she's grabbing mine right now. LOVE her.

Reese can make Graham laugh out loud, and she does the same to most people around her. This girl is funny. She loves making funny faces, silly sounds, and picking out my shoes. She loves to dance, walk with her eyes closed (yikes!), and carry her "guys" around the house with her. These guys are her lovie, blanket, kitty cat, kangaroo, and baby doll.

She's extremely persistent (you must acknowledge what she is saying), she loves help, she loves her friends, and she asks for hair bows on a daily basis. She loves stickers, iPad games, princesses, legos, matching games, and puzzles. She asks for honey bear sandwiches (PB, Honey, and Jelly), yogurt, smoothies, cereal, cheddar bunnies, and chocolate milk.

It's been such a blessing to watch this little girl grow. I love her with all of my heart, and I find myself just staring at her in amazement. She's got a head full of curls and a heart full of love and kindness. She still adores books and learning, and I so look forward to the second half of her third year.

Halloween 2012.

Mothers Day Out. October 2012.

Halloween 2012.

November 2012. Crystal Bridges trails.

December 2012. Christmas card pics. And an odd warm day.

Oh. October again.

Ham. December 2012.

December 26, 2012. Conway.

December 2012.

Throwback to 1987. Two and a half year old momma and Moppy. See any resemblances?

We said good-bye to the pacifiers at the very beginning of 2013. Here she is drawing a picture for the Paci Fairy.

Laughing with daddy February 2013.

Like mother, like daughter and son.

Debuting her new red shoes. February 2013.

Funny Faces. February 2013.

Crystal Bridges. February 2013.

Spring is coming. And friends are plentiful. Bentonville Square, March 2013.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Graham 0.5

Mandy, I stole your post title idea. Hope you don't mind.

Graham is SIX months old. That's half of a year, folks. I was just telling some friends at the park on Friday that the day he was born feels like yesterday and at the same time feels like 10 years have passed. I am so thankful that we have made it to the SIX month mark. It's a day to look back at the first six months of Graham's life and remember the sleepy weeks, the pacing the hallway evenings, the middle of the night feedings, the first smiles, the first laughs, and it's a day to thank God for Graham's health and the joy he has brought to our little family. Little Graham is so much fun, and he makes us all smile every day.

Graham has been waking up around 6:30, and sometimes I get him to sleep until 7. He nurses, eats breakfast, and then plays until about 8 when he goes down for his morning nap. (The timing may change with DST that just started this morning.) He eats again around 10 and then either takes a mid-day nap if we stay home, or he gets toted around while we make our outings for the day. Depending on whether it's an at home day or an errand day, he naps again at 1 or 2ish. What's interesting is that we are out and about, at BSF, or on a different schedule with MDO most days, so the mid-day nap isn't very common. He sometimes falls asleep in the car during our errands. He always nurses again around 1 and then again around 4 after his nap. He stays up until dinner around 5:30, and then he either watches a Baby Einstein/Praise Baby or takes a bath before books, breastfeeding, and bed at 6:30. Note: He does wake between 3-5am some mornings, but he just needs a simple re-insert of the paci.

Graham loves the Jumperoo, practicing sitting (he can go several seconds on his own, but he definitely needs support), watching Reese, rolling both ways with his own interesting techniques, grabbing everything, and trying to figure out how to put the paci in himself. this has happened a few times, and it will be a glorious day when he reaches for one in his crib and gets it in on his own. Graham is WAY better at self-soothing than Reese was, but I still look forward to this skill. He's overall a super laid-back happy baby, and I am so thankful.

We had a great month full of Moppy and Poppy visits while Daddy was away skiing and on a business trip, play dates with friends, and a few encounters with spring-like weather. Here are some pictures to recap the past month.