1st days.....2012

 First day of preschool....3s class

1st day of preschool, jr. (like a mom's day out)

 

1st week of ballet (3-5 yr old class)

Fall is almost upon us and with fall comes the start of new things. New town, new schools. (Oh, and I still have to do a summer post...) We had to wait until after Labor Day for school to start this year. Some of us were clearly more anxious than others. I love that I can just drop my girl off and she takes to new surroundings like a fish in water. Her new best bud is a girl with the same name, so she is now called A "M.." If I had been quicker, I could have had them implement her middle name. Sigh. Well, she likes being called A "M" and now wants to be called that around the house!

I swore up and down that I would never send EH to school until he was 3 or so, but when the preschool announced their new preschool for 18mo and up, I jumped. We were the first ones signed up. I was so proud of EH today....he didn't even shed a tear. I think we successfully acclimated him to the new school room and teacher. These girls sure missed their little man today, though! EH also had two new firsts tonight at the playground: petting a dog voluntarily (and not being scared) and sliding down the slide without me even watching. My baby.....no, my *baby* is growing up. NO!!!!!!!!!! I just want to bottle his sweetness up, hug it tight, and never let it out.

We have also started ballet lessons. Hilarious for 3 year olds. But, she is learning. The first week she hated it. Mostly because she didn't know what to do, where to put her feet, etc. She is an observer like her daddy and prefers to "check things out" before attempting them. Second week she loved it and today was rated "Fantastic." She has the best leaps in the class...running like on the field though, not on a stage. So funny! You can see the intensity on her face as she tries each new arm movement or foot movement. Such a precious sight she is.

EH 18mo stats

EH had his final visit at our current pediatrician. She was fabulous and I am bummed we have to change. She told me I was a great mommy and she loved taking care of us. She probably says that to everyone, but it made me feel good at the time. Our first pediatrician NEVER commented on my motherhood and that was during a very difficult post-partum period. Obviously, I don't do well with transitions and I do do well with praise. :)

EH is growing into his brain and remains at 19.25 inches (80%). 
His weight is 28 pounds (75%), 5 lbs behind his sister...and his height is 33 inches (70%).
Seems he is just your average boy now and not so gigantesque. After her question and answer session with me, she concluded several times how some of his skills are in the 24-month range. Well, of course, due to his little teacher (AK) and his big teacher (me)! We are to work on "pointing" and "walking stairs holding hands." Though, several of these things he does, I just *never* think about them. Really, who does....so textbook! ha ha

In the meantime, I'm enjoying doing some household projects. Several people have tried to get me to join Pinterest, so some day I just might. But, for now, this are my personal "pinterests!"

 Dress-up....such a popular thing for young ladies these days....I don't ever remember dressing up as a child, except for Halloween....Well, over the course of these 3 years, we have inherited a bunch of dresses, gloves, hats, and beads and added to that running collection. Previously we were keeping all the stuff in my college footlocker. It's lid proved "dangerous" to the man of the house and so I researched alternate solutions using stuff we already had in the house. Voila! Bookcase to store shoes and accessories and existent closet space for dresses, wings and things. And it is teaching her how to hang things on hangers!!

 The next three pictures are inspirational ideas for my "travel themed" guest room! My college roommate gave me this lamp when she moved. It used to have a glass table and stand, but those met with tragedy at some point. Here I purchased a Parisian mini shade and recovered the base with a felt-like piece of scrapbook paper and some hot glue.

 I have a serious postcard collection. A few years ago, my husband gave me a postcard book and several years later I finally finished alphabetizing and organizing the best of the best. That still left many (and I mean MANY) left over....and my best friends still send me cards when they travel. Here I made a collage (well, not an official collage) of some beautiful scenes. I covered a bulletin board with some wrapping paper (the color of sky and water) and attached the cards. It will hang on the wall over the bookcase below.

Here I used a bookcase to display some of our travel books and travel souvenirs. I've learned to place books in different positions for visual interest.

July 4

 Happy July 4th in our patriotic gear!

 Art project with Mama

Art project with Mama

44-months

Since AK has been a bit slighted in the previous posts, I decided to post a few pics of our little beauty for her 44-month bday. She is growing up into a little lady, though we are still working very hard on tantrums and good behavior. She is very curious about all things, has a HUGE imagination, and is very loving of her little brother. She loves dress-up, dolls, puzzles, going outside, and above all else, I think....crafting! That includes anything...paint, crayons, glue, glitter...you name it, she loves it. And of course, EVERY day is a birthday in this house!

 6/29

 "princess" hair after a recent haircut

 6/30

 May before her school program

with her BFF Caleb from school

18 months today

EH is 18 months today. A bundle of love and joy. He has lots of words....long surpassed his sister with 50 words, probably at about 16.5 months or so. (That was my goal, since she had 50 @18 mo...I want him to be a communicative male. :) ) My current favorite expression of his is: "Bopple, bees" which means "Apple, please." So cute. I think the apples help him with teething. He is now only short 4 teeth. He walks, runs, climbs and gets into everything. It is hilarious. While AK made us (and still does) stay one step ahead, I think we need to be two steps ahead with him (and usually aren't). He loves trucks and points them out now, though if they are loud he scurries to hide. He has a lovey for sure..."Puppy" given to him by grandma at birth....last night we were searching for him at bedtime. He has his hiding places...the play kitchen microwave, baskets, the toy airplane, the vents....fortunately, we know where most of them are and can find missing toys in those places!
EH is always good-natured, learning to be polite, and so, so, so sweet. He loves his Sissy and follows her every where she goes, but we've noticed he's learning to enjoy being by himself now, too. I think his number one favorite activity (after the necessary eating, of course) is bed-time wrestling with AK. They get so riled up it is crazy! He also loves to play outside, loves his shoes, and loves to read.

So for his 1.5 birthday, we went and ate cupcakes:

 

June

Finally. Just about caught up-to-date....June for us included a move, a trip South, and a very short vacation. Here are the photos:

 EH getting into trouble!

 With our Auntie Barbara

 First day of vacation

 Apple cider popsicle

 Doin' some learnin'

 Park time

 PB and J MESS!

 Practicing this swinging bridge

 Beach day

 First time feet in the sand

 First time hands in sand

 I think he liked it :)

 Gettin' busy

 Sand castles

 First time feet in water...cold!

 My new favorite picture

 Arts and crafts at a children's museum

Another popsicle...this one got eaten and did not land on the floor!

May

We were struck with tragedy in May with the death of J's mom. 

These pictures are a bit out of order.

 We've found the Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics. Here is EH with the ice cream truck he helped build.

EH and Katie playing sand table at a friend's birthday party

 Pre-funeral playing with Aunt Betty Ann

 Post-funeral lunch with Daddy

 The Hunter relatives

 EH's first trip to Grandpa (and now Grandma) Angel's cemetery plot

The "Merote" (as AK calls it), one of EH's favorite toys

Brother and sister before Sister's School Program

Lunch on AK's last day at school