Sixteen Months!

Katelyn, you are 16 months old today! You are such a sweet addition to our family. You make us laugh daily. Sometimes I catch myself just sitting and staring at you. I just love to watch you learn and see your many different expressions. Here's a little about you these days:

You have started walking more and more without having to be encouraged. Although you still crawl if you want to go fast, and you still walk on your knees quite a bit too.

You can stand up (without pulling up) but you don't realize it yet. But on the fireplace, you "pull up" on the 3" ledge, so I'm pretty sure you could do it on the floor if you tried.

You are also trying to talk more. I can't make out much of it, but you say the same sounds for the same thing often. Here's what I've got: mama (mama, anything you want), dada, baba (brother, baby, paci, and shoe), yucky, uh oh, yum, diaper, woof woof, ooh ooh ah ah (monkey ), mmm ba (meow), grrr (bear, lion), baaaaaaa (sheep), and out (as in outside).

You are still making all sorts of messes. And your favorite is still the bathroom cabinets.

You love to throw tantrums. And you would prefer if mommy would just hold you all the time.You LOVE your blankie.

When you hear music, you either clap your hands, slap your knees, or bang on the floor as if it was a drum.

You are STILL taking that bedtime bottle (by no fault of your own by any means).

You love to sleep.

You love when daddy comes home from work.

You love play doh and crayons.You love pizza with ranch dressing and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!

You have 12 teeth, but all 4 of those sharp pointy ones are well on their way.

You love to hand mommy a book and climb into my lap. LOVE it!

Happy 16 months Katelyn!

Today's Headlines

1. Despite the recent (constant) sibling rivalry around here, Collin and Katelyn DO love each other.2. Apparently, 4 is the new 2. We are having some slight behavior issues with our sweet Collin. Everything is "NO" or at least some sort of argument.3. Ranch dressing might just be the next best hair conditioner.

It's been a little while since our last update. Unfortunately, we've been in "sickland" again this past week. Poor Collin was down and out for another week with a yucky tummy bug. So far, no one else has gotten it, and we're hoping it stays that way. I also got a lesser version that lasted a good 24 hours. But it came with a high fever, so I pretty much couldn't even get out of the bed. Let me start by saying I wish there were more pictures of Collin in this post, but this is the face I get anytime I get the camera out. I think he's still having a bit of a hard time due to his complete lack of nutrients over the week. He's been so dramatic and emotional too. Hope it passes soon.When we haven't been inside spraying lysol or washing sheets, we've been outside enjoying this great weather. So much that I keep asking myself, "what am I forgetting to do?" It's been great. I am halfway through a book, since I get to read while the kids do this:Looking for the birds

She thinks her brother is crazy.

Now, don't be too fooled. It's a book about sensory integration. But one I've been wanting to read for a while.

And on another subject, Katelyn's hair is driving me crazy. I love that it's growing. But the front is getting so long. She's doing a little better with bows, but not enough to keep her hair out of her eyes. So we tried this.It's a little Cindy Lou Who-ish, but it works.

And she's been climbing more and more...Hoping for a healthy week!

Wordless Wednesday

Play. Learn. Create.

So Collin has been quite the little creator lately. Saturday, Mike took him somewhere great. Home Depot. The first Saturday of every month they have free kids workshops. This was his first time and he LOVED it. He made and raced a race car. Hammer and nails included. He's got Home Depot stickers on his calendar to tell him when he gets to go again. And he even got a cute little apron that he has been wearing around the house since.I wish I had thought to take a picture of the painting he made for Mimi and Auntie Joy, because it was quite impressive. But I did get a picture of the alphabet that he wrote all by himself (without copying the letters) for the first time. I didn't even realize he could do this. (Please ignore the dirty placemat!)Mimi and Auntie Joy also brought him some modeling clay today. Here is his first creation that he made for me. I'm not sure what it is, but it's pretty neat if you ask me. I think he said something about a train.And here's his caterpillar he made next.What will we he come up with tomorrow?

Shots, sensory-isms, shopping, and serious MESSES!

That's what the past 2 days have been all about. Yesterday was Katelyn's 15 month checkup. She checked out pretty good. Her pediatrician was excited that she has started taking steps and saying a few words. Her ears looked GREAT! And her anemia was resolved. She was 22 lbs 7 oz (25-50th %ile) and 30 1/2" tall (also 25-50th %ile). Her head circumference was 49.6 cm (97th + %ile). We have to start working on her being able to point to her body parts and of course giving up that bedtime bottle, but other than that she's on track. Worst part of the visit? Nope, not the shots. Think back to the worst part of her ear tube surgery...that darn pulse oximeter they (tried) to put on her toe. She sat there fairly calmly as the nice lab lady pricked her toe and squeezed (and squeezed and squeezed) until she had enough to do her iron test. But if that wasn't a temper tantrum when she tried to put gauze and a bandaid on the toe, then I don't want to see one. Same thing with the bandaids put on her legs after the shots. What (another) sensory mess!!

So today, we went to the mall since it was raining and we needed to get out of the house. Collin loves to ride the train (and have Chick fil a for lunch), and Katelyn really needed some crocs (I use this term the way lots of people use Coke for a variety of brownish colored soft drinks). (I thought we were ok without them, but I just love being able to slip them on before we go to play outside. And I REALLY love that I can just wash them in the sink when they're dirty. Her little tennis shoes we bought a few weeks ago are already ruined. Mainly because she crawled with them on. On cement.) I got a small glimpse of my future with a daughter while we were at the mall. It's a good thing we were shopping for crocs today, because we were NOT leaving the mall without some!! Another total temper tantrum when she saw the hot pink ones hanging on the rack and I didn't hand them to her RIGHT AWAY! What can I say, the girl loves her shoes.Not only is she a mess, but she knows how to make them! I mean she is into EVERYTHING! Pantry, tupperware, laundry, drawers, book basket, cabinets, bags...I could go on and on. I really don't remember this stage with Collin. I think because he is a little OCD like me. Everything has its place. Katelyn does not have this trait. It's constantly a disaster around here, because she is always dragging things out. Not even to play with them. Just to take them out. Wednesday, she did something really impressive though. She was dragging things out of my work bag. I had purchased 2 boxes of girl scout cookies at work that day. In less than 1 minute (no joke), she had opened the (unopened) box, pulled the sleeve of thin mints out, and opened the package. Like I've said before, the girl knows (and usually gets) what she wants.And speaking of messes, she sometimes wants to feed herself these days.At least she likes to clean too. Give her a wipe and she's busy for hours (okay, maybe 15 minutes).I find it fitting that she was wearing her Cinderella jammies this night.

Today was good.

Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. ~Dr. Suess

Not only was it Dr. Suess' birthday, it was my sweet, sweet niece Campbell's 2nd birthday! Happy Birthday Cam Cam!! We are all looking forward to celebrating with you!

Since the flu is gone, I got to go to work today and the kids got to go to school. I sometimes feel sad that Collin only goes to school one day a week and misses out on some of the fun things his classmates who are there all week get to do. Like yesterday, when they made green eggs and ham. I mean, really. He would have loved that. I sometimes worry they have a hard time being at school only once a week (making friends, adjusting, etc.). Well, today WAS good. Katelyn had a substitute teacher (whom she had never met before) and did not shed a tear when I left. Her teacher said she had a great day. When I picked Collin up today, his teacher told me that he was a very "well behaved child" and that we were "doing a great job with him at home". I didn't ask, she just told. Sweetest. words. ever. Especially since he really hasn't been a "well behaved child" at home the past few days. I guess they are doing just fine. I will continue to savor each and every moment I have with them guilt free!

As we were leaving school, Collin saw another child leaving with a super cool "Cat in the Hat" hat. I decided since he missed "green eggs and ham day" that we should make a hat after dinner. It's not perfect, but he loves it and that's all that matters. Hope you all read to your child(ren) today! (Collin picked One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish and Green Eggs and Ham).