Winter Fun

Winter came early so we enjoyed the fun. (The little black thing is a mouse running through the snow--eeks!)

Can't you just wrap him up?

Josh loves to play in wrapping paper. What a wonderful present!

Evaluations

Mik had speech evaluations and we had a parent-teacher conference this week. We are sort of thrown for loop. The speech therapist says she cannot say some certain sounds. She is still in the range for her age group but st the lower end but some of the basics are difficult.

Then we go to the pt conference and Miss Sue tells us that she cannot id letters or numbers and other kids her age are fine with that. She also cannot write her name. I'm not sure if this and her stubborness or if she is really struggling. She really fought with us to identify numbers but once we were looking at her advent calender she counted to 15 (in Spanish) and we had no idea she could do that.

On one hand, I want to be concerned. On the other hand, she is only 4. Isn't that what you are supposed to be learning in kindergarten? Who knows

Good Dinner

For a typical rushed dinner, tonight was pretty good. Josh was laughing at everything we did. Dan did a Tarzan impression and Josh tried to imitate him---pounding his chest and yelling 'ahhh'. Then he practiced shutting his eyes and cracking up. Finally, he put his bib over his head and just cracked himself up. Then, all he had to do was to look at Mik and her antics and he laughed so much.

Life is good

Communication

Joshie is getting pretty good at communicating. I was amazed he 'told' me a few things he needed today. He wanted his bottle and led me to the kitchen and pointed to it.

Then, we were putting together shelves and he 'helped' us and loved sitting in it when it was on its side. He then was having a fun time jumping in and out and I would catch him on the way out. I left the room and he started his grunting to bring me back to the room to play with him some more.

WE had a good Halloween. Mik was supposed to be Mulan and had dressed up as her several times and then when it came to go trick or treating, she said she wanted Cinderella instead. So, CInderella she was. I think her favorite part was the glow sticks. They had an attachment on them that made them earrings and she loved it. She wore them to church today and she looked so grown up with these big hoop earrings.


Josh had a good time sitting in the wago being pulled around. He was Mushu the dragon and for trick or treating was a puppy. He didn't know what he was missing so he didn't get to eat the candy-I did what I could to help get rid of it for him. HA!

Teacher's comment's from school:

Oct 29: Josh concentrated on books for 20 min. Wow, what an attention span
It has been a pleasure getting to know Josh over the past two days. I am honored to serve your family. Miss Megan

Oct 30: We got outside this morning...Josh pointed out the garbage truck passing and said 'truck'

Dad: Mikayla, we don't yell at people in our house.

Mikayla: Yes, we do.

Dad: Mommy doesn't yell at daddy. Daddy doesn't yell at mommy.

Mikayla: But, Oma yells at Pappa!

Heard in the kitchen this morning: Joshie got his buggers on my butt!

(only in our house!)

Who is that?

Now Josh has added to his question and will actually say who is that? when pointing at a person.

He did the funniest thing when pointing at a Noah figurine. He at first said what's that--I told him Noah, Boat, animals, etc. Then he said Who is that? I said Noah. He then said PAPA! Yes, I guess I see the resemblence.

Josh's Hugs

Josh will walk up to you with his arms out to give you a hug.  As he gets right by you he will turn around and then back into you.  I guess he is used to sitting on our laps for hugs.

What's That?

Josh has learned a new phrase, well, actually his first phrase: What's That? (whatdat) It's funny--because he is continuously asking that--well, I guess I would too if I could finally get some answers.

ENJOY!

Mik is our little hostess, she must get that from Oma. If I give her a plate of any kind of food, she will walk around the room asking if anyone would like some. If they do choose to partake, she will then say "Enjoy!" in her sweet little voice.

We went outside to have our moon festival celebration. I shouldn't be surprised that she was serving her momma and daddy the mooncakes. She also entertained us with song and dance. We ended the evening with a stirring rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. She said she had so much fun tonight. We did too, little one!

Disney

This will probably come in multiple groupings as I remember things. What can I say? It was magical! Mikayla got a button that said it was her birthday and she let everyone know--in addition all cast members kept wishing her birthday. She was able to meet all her favorite princess, and even some princes.

What a magical day for Mikayla. She keeps saying she will quit throwing fits when she is 4 and she definitely had a '4' day today. Daddy took her to her first parade. I think she was a little confused because she thought she was going to Disney but that is not for 2 more days.

But, she 'made' her first dish today. She took carrots and ranch dressing and mixed them up with water. She served them with dinner and when she served them she exclaimed 'enjoy.'

She decorated mamma's hair with barrettes after dinner and said I was being have for her. When we asked her if she wanted to do people's hair when she grew up, she said no, she wanted to be a baseball player. (where in the world did that come from?!?)

Then of course she was very kissy with daddy all day. It was cute but borderline incestuous.

Father's Day

We went to the Giles to see Kung Fu Panda--Josh's first movie theater experience. He actually did pretty good. I think I walked around with him for about 10-15 minutes but the rest of the time he sat on my lap or stood by me. I was hoping he would fall asleep but it was too loud. He's looking a lot better now.

First sickness: Well, we waited 9 months and have had no sicknesses (how did that happen?) But, Josh finally got something: Pink Eye and an Ear Infection. He looks so awful but ha has been pretty good natured about everything. Of course, it starts in the same week that he started daycare! Now, we are hoping that it is just him and the rest of us stay OK>

Mikayla to Daddy: I want to marry you daddy, once you’re little.

June

Mikayla: Thank you Daddy, you are very sweet! This is said in the most syruppy voice their has ever been.

She can be such a charmer when she wants to be.

Joshy is walking step by step now (nine months!!!). He is such a good-natured little boy, but he is so curious and wants to go up, up, up!

He's growing up so quickly

I can feel Josh's first tooth coming through--finally at over 8 months old!

He also took a step or two without holding on to anything--YOWSA!

And, Oma thinks he said Ba ba when playing with a ball.

My little baby is growing up-I'm not ready for that to happen so quickly

Parent Teacher Conference

We met with Miss Marsha for a parent-teacher conference. Most of the information she gave us does not surprise us--it describes Mikayla to a T.

Mikayla loves to cut and Miss Marsha is impressed by that. She showed us some of the examples of cutting that Mikayla does.

They are spending a lot of time on the alphabet. Mikayla could recognize 6 capital letters and 2 small letters. I have noticed she has been interested in this and is asking what the letters are when I read her stories. She couldn't put the sounds of the letters together yet but this is something we have just been working on. She also doesn't recognize numbers yet but is working on it.

Mother's Day

This is what it is to be a Mother. Seeing Josh or Mikayla in a room and the only person in the room who they want is you. No one else will do.

8 months and no teeth yet! Every day I expect to see one from my drooling, diaper rash baby and none keep coming.

Mikayla practicing for her dance recital. This will be interesting.

May

Josh is walking when holding on to things and will remain steady on his feet for a few minutes at a time. He is starting to be a mommy's boy but maybe that is because he knows where the next mealtime is coming from. He likes doing his zeeberts and loves laughing at his sister.

Mikayla is always cracking us up. She loves her friends. At Sunday School (or as daddy claims she calls Special Sauce) she loves going to see Uncle Dave, Mr. Keiser, and of course Miss Gracie (her very special older best friend) She loves going to Mandarin class and playing with Sarah, the Mias, Evangeline, and Ellie (and of course seeing Mr. Craig afterwards) At school, she thinks Miss Marsha and Miss Melloy (Melanie)

She is enjoying spring and picking dandelions to give as bouquets to her special friends.
Daddy had a campout with Nicholas and Mikayla got a special treat and was able to sleep with Mommy. She was telling Daddy about it and he asked what the special occasion was and she said it was because she didn't whine.

Learning New THings

J has advanced so much in such a short time. He is not even 7 months old and he seems ready to run. In the last week, he just started to stand but now he will do that all day. He pulls himself up and amuses himself by standing all day. Just last week we were amazed by his army crawling and this week he is upright. Sometimes he gets a little frustrated because he doesn't know what to do when he gets there.

A week ago, we had to start put things on the coffee table to keep out of his reach because he was army crawling everywhere and keep out of his reach--now he can get everything on there by pulling himself up and reaching.

He also started clapping. It's funny--he looks like one of those old fashioned monkeys that claps as he hits one hand with the other.

Maybe we noticed more this week because Mik was gone. She went to spend a week with Grandma and Grandpa in their 'shopping cart.' It was so quiet around here.
Oh, we missed her so much! One night she called and she started every sentence with Mommy,... or Daddy,.... She kept saying 'I miss you!' Oh, we missed her too.

Easter

Mik and I were reading the Easter story and she got to the page that Jesus was alive.

Mik: Jesus is Alive! Woo Hoo!! (Yes, he is)

Sometimes it seems that Mik thinks church is one big party. She loves to dance in front of the congregation during the contemporary people and see all her friends. But, once in a while it seems like she actually learns something. She was playing the other night and she wanted to play that she was baptizing me. She had a bowl and was using pretend water to baptize me. She said this was for God.

Then, we were reading about Easter and she was asking where Jesus and God were. She knew that Jesus should go on the cross.

On another church note, I have pondered if she is ready for communion. She asks if she can have it but I'm not sure if it is just so she can have a snack. I'm almost thinking she could understand the significance if she went through the training. I know she's young for it but at the same time she can comprehend some things and I think she would absorb part of the training. We'll have to see how this progresses.

Teaching Siblings

Mik told someone today that she was a big sister and she was going to teach her brother: to talk, to sing, and to eat cereal!

Mik gets a daily report from school--most often it isn't anything monumental--more often it tells us how long (or little) she napped. Every once in a while it has a funny comment. Today's:
Mik told me she learned a lot in her Mandarin classes but forgot it.

How typical!

M loves her friends, just it seems that she is often attracted to 8 year old boys. It is very scary how she loves to flirt with them. YIKKES!!! What will be seeing when she is 13 and they are 18?

Every night she has a routine--she always wants a few more minutes at bed. She loves to delay things. Ohhh--how I want to have more time to spend more time with both my kids!

My favorite thing she says: You're my very best friend. Although this changes all the time, my heart feels good when she wants to claim me as her very best friend. Actually, it makes me feel good when she claims anyone--it makes me feel that she is happy.

My heart feels sad!

Mikayla's new saying. She also says you make my heart happy. Hopefully we have more happy than sad days.

J-6 months

He is army crawling everywhere. Watch out!! He is enjoying all his new foods. I mostly mix in the fruits or veggies with his rice-so he just devours everything.

He hast started doing the 'raspberries' and will amuse himself and those around him for a while doing it over and over again. He and everyone around him, usually ends up wet. The doctor and nurse thought he was hilarious when he was doing it at his appointment.

J-5 Months

He is rolling around like crazy. He is reaching for things so it is time for Mik to pick up her stuff off the floor-whatever she doesn't pickup he will take care of for her.

He started eating 'solids' a few weeks ago and seems to enjoy everything he eats but not rice cereal. He will reach for it but make funny faces after getting it. He likes carrots, peaches, and squash.

He can sit for a little bit--

dargeb==garbage--As in racoons eat dargeb

strowl--straw

Mik: Oma, You have a big butt

Oma: Mik, That is not very nice.

Mik: You are right Oma--You have a big tushie

M asks who buy things for her. When I tell her: she often responds, You are so sweet!

She often tells me she was a baby in China. She is now going to NiHao class. I felt so bad the first day she didn't want to sit with the the other girls-she wanted to stay with me. I think this is because it had previously been a mommy/daughter class and wasn't at the same location. She actually told me she was scared. I stayed for a while offered a bribe (candy) and then she was fine. Because she is usually so outgoing, I sometimes forget she is really just a little girl and there are plenty of things out there that scare her.

In Sunday School, Mr. Keiser was telling the class how mommy and daddy's get their kids baptized. She asked him where his mommy and daddy were. He said they had passed away. Her comment to him was that she would share her mommy and daddy with him.
AWWW!

Because of her infatuation with her bunnies, we started calling each other bunny this weekend. This may not last but I was momma bunny, she was Mikayla bunny, etc. It was sort of funny.

This year can be summed up in one word, our wonderful addition to our family this year: Joshua!

Joshua has been a great baby. He was 10 and a half pounds when he was born and has continued to grow at a speedy rate! Mikayla and he are on the opposite ends of the size spectrum—she is in the 5^th percentile and he is in the over 95^th percentile. He is a good natured baby who loves to sleep and eat. At almost 4 months old, we love seeing his smile and his ‘singing’ and laughing.

Mikayla has been a wonderful big sister. She looks for her baby when he is not around. She has really grown up but still likes to pretend she is mommy and daddy’s baby girl. She really enjoys dancing and runs to the front of the church to dance when her daddy’s rock band is playing. She has thoroughly enjoyed her dance and gymnastics lessons and became a water mermaid through all her swimming this summer. Most of all, she is definitely our little princess.

Merry Christmas!

Dan, Dawn, Mikayla, and Josh