First Days of School

Matthew started back at school, in the Orange Room (4's) on Monday and we all got in the spirit!

Favorite stories: The Black Lagoon

Favorite colors: red and orange

Favorite toy: Raisin (his monkey)

Favorite game: Move and Groove

When I grow up, I want to be: a Brewers baseball player

Thea's turn came on Tuesday. She's in the Purple Room (3's). Red and blue = Purple Power!

Favorite stories: Curious George

Favorite colors: purple, pink and seafoam green

Favorite toys: bunnies and princesses

Favorite game: Tag! You're it!

When I grow up, I want to be: a princess

Favorite show: Curious George

Our Youngest is 1

A year in pictures, but not 365 of them.

August 22, 2015 

Sept 14, 2015

October 31, 2015

November 26, 2015

November 30, 2015

December 12, 2015

December 24, 2015

January 4, 2016

February 14, 2016
First Solids

March 18, 2016
He can sit!

April 6, 2016
Nathaniel's (and Matthew's and Thea's) first baseball game
Kids first game included the SF Giants just like Daddy and Papa's first games 

May 19, 2016
Sleeping, snuggly,cuddling his blanket, sucking his thumb, and starting to roll over,
You're welcome blog readers.

First wave (which was to himself) was on June 18, 2016 

June 30, 2016
Nathaniel loves to swing.  Matthew had just been across from him in
this wonderful double, face each other swing.

July 9, 2016

August 6, 2016
First birthday party at a park.  And there was cake.

Happiest of birthday wishes to our sweet, snuggly, super happy, calm and wonderful baby.  You are the cutest little peanut and your family simply adores you.

Bubbles

On this 100 degree day we BRIEFLY went outside to pop some bubbles, mainly to allow some quiet for Nathaniel to fall asleep and for mama to try to keep her eyes open. 

Princess Aurora and future astronaut/gardener/soccer and baseball player/fireman* Matthew and I headed outside, where joy and laughter were instantly found. 

And then my 4 year old stumped me with this question: "Why are bubbles always round?"**

*Matthew's list of what he will be when he grows up. I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting one or two professions.

**http://bubbles.org/html/questions/round.htm

Kids Quotes XXXI

Sitting outside eating ice cream...

Matthew: I remember when I was in your belly and my eyes were open.

Mommy: What'd you see?

Thea: Her boobs?

Matthew: No, food. 

Big Brother, Big Sister

Written by: E

I could have always described Matthew as sweet and compassionate, but he continues to amaze me as a big brother, son, and my helper. When I'm making dinner and Nathaniel starts to cry, Matthew will try to cheer him up by playing with him or giving him a toy. Matthew will sit and hold out his arms to hold Nathaniel to make it easier for me to get him milk or a snack. And he will yell for me when Peanut is crying because he is stuck under the TV stand because he rolled too far. 

Since birth it seems, people have most frequently described Thea as sweet. She adores Nathaniel. she'll hold Nathaniel's hand, sing to him, tell him how cute and loved he is and bring him toys. 

Thea feels safer and is more full of joy when Matthew is around. 

While 3 under 4 has given us challenges and serious exhaustion, we are hoping that these sweet friendships will last a lifetime and it will have all been more than worth it. 

Thea is 3!

On April 11th, our sweet Thea Bean turned 3.  She had a Frozen-themed birthday party with her friends from school and church, along with both of her extended families.  All of the children were smiling and laughing from start to finish - success!

Here are some pictures from the party:

On her actual birthday, we went to breakfast at a pancake restaurant and the staff there decided that before her pancakes (read: dessert) she should be presented with a red velvet cake with a candle! Hooray Thea! Hooray Sugar!

Here's our ice queen on her special day:

The week of her birthday she went to the dentist for her first cleaning and while it was not her favorite thing to do, she cooperated AND...stopping sucking her thumb (during the day and at night!!!). The tooth fairy brought her small goodies each night and after a couple of weeks - a doll! 

We also took her to the doctor for her wellness visit and here are her stats:

Height: 36.75 inches (38th %ile)
Weight: 31 pounds (51st %ile)

Healthy and growing well. 

More about Thea as a 3 year old:

Things she loves: all things sparkley (except for the sparkley socks I bought that I thought were a total shoe in*), playing pretend with her dolls and animals, baking, swimming, being particular about what she wears, hugs and being held, Floppy/milk/pillow/blanket
Things she's learning: cutting paper with scissors, independent swimming, how to be less demanding ;)
Favorite colors: pink, purple, mint green, and blue
New skills: opening doors
Summer plans: ballet, swimming, and Sunshine Kidz camp (with Matthew)

The days can be long, but the years sure are fast. We love you, Thea. 

*See what I did there? Shoe in. Socks. Socks go in shoes. 
 

Theolinda Older Kid

When I playfully asked Thea today what her name was she said, "Theolinda Older Kid."

This about sums up the last two weeks: she tells people she wants to be called Theolinda (her full name) and can't stop referring to herself as "an older kid." 

"I like asparagus now, cause my am an older kid now."

"My birthday is coming up and I'm gonna have a party, cause my am an older kid."

"I'm a big girl boy cause my am an older kid now."

Whelp, she is an older kid now. We have entered childhood by getting her a bike with training wheels. 

Nathaniel's First Haircut

Unlike his older siblings, Nathaniel was gifted at birth with a beautiful, full head of hair. 

Sadly, much of that hair has since fallen out, and what has remained has become an unseemly nightmare that isn't fooling anybody. Just like Papa. 

Thus, at only six months of age, it was haircut time. 

Before: 

"The Rat Tail"

"The Tsunami"

"The Cut" 

Mommy has been cutting hair for years, people. No worries about that baby and those scissors. 

And...after:

Nathaniel's First Foods

Nathaniel's Valentine's Day gift was rice cereal. Because Matthew fed Thea her first bite, Thea fed Nathaniel. 

He didn't love it. Oatmeal cereal was not his favorite either. Sweet potatoes on the other hand? 

The fact that it's ALL over his face says it all. Next up, green beans. 

Fingers No More

It was in October that Matthew stopped sucking his fingers during the day. That was HUGE and took about a week!* Since then, he has still been sucking his fingers at night. Barely, but nonetheless, they are still popping in. Until tonight. My plan was to help him stop in 2 weeks, just before his next dentist appointment (figured that could be good encouragement and an understandable reminder to him). But tonight, completely on his own, the habit that began when he was four months old (old enough to take that pacifier out and get to the good stuff) ended. Just. Like. That. 

Above: Matthew sucking his beloved fingers at four months of age. This is also when he met Raisin, his monkey. At the age of 2, he added the pinkey. 

Above: Matthew drawing a picture yesterday (a house with a door and 3 stick figure people). 

*What helped him stop? He had to wash his hands every time he put his fingers in his mouth. 

Fluke?

Nathaniel rolled from his stomach to his back while "napping" at church today. Was this a fluke or the hitting of a milestone? Time will tell. 

As you can see, Nathaniel was not super excited about this, in fact, he was a bit confused and scared. Mike and I on the other hand were very happy! First roll was in God's house = awesome. 

Swimming Lessons Have Begun!

Matthew and Thea just started their first round of swimming lessons. Matthew took a park district class that included singing songs and chasing ducks, but we thought it was time for them to learn this life skill. 

Thea tends to be apprehensive and overwhelmed by big places and new people but she got in line behind Matthew and went running to her spot as if she'd been there a thousand times. She LOVES the water and was so happy during her first class. She had two teachers, including the manager who said she did "amazing" for her first class. 

Matthew loved his swimming class as well, asking how many more sleeps till his next one just an hour after the class had ended. He was chatty throughout class and showed his teacher his swim wristband several times. Matthew is a hater of water on his head and does not like splashing but when it came time to jump in the water he took me by complete surprise saying, "CANNON BALL!" jumping in and completely under. He came up with a smile and swam back to the wall.