Well, it's certainly been an eventful March. I keep thinking I'm going to get my pictures transferred to our new computer -- the delay in posting is the apparently fruitless hope that I would have a moment's time to accomplish that (massive) task! It would be nice to have all my pictures in one place when making blog posts . . . Maybe this weekend??
Anyway, you're not really reading this for my excuses, are you? Well, let's see. The Tuesday before Callie's birthday, February 25th, Nolan took the most steps he had ever taken. That evidently gave him the nerve he needed to continue his walking and over the past month it has become his primary mode of transportation.
He's pretty proud of himself really, and announces his presence as he goes from room to room. That's the really big news, of course. Other than that, Nolan is quite the character. He's very set in his ways and wants things done in specific order and times. For instance, our mornings don't go quite as smoothly on Fridays because Nolan is used to Daddy waking him up and Daddy has to go into work early on Fridays. So we have a little extra drama while trying to get dressed and brush our teeth. He's very good-natured as long as things are going as he thinks they should. :) He's still being very ornery about talking. He gets a very mischievous look whenever you ask him to say something and he just says, "Dada". The other day, he fell down and started crying and even slipped up and cried out "Mama!" as he reached for me. The look on his face was like "Oh no! I've said it and now she knows I can!" and he immediately switched back to "Dada!" He's also been my hardest to "discipline". The other two, especially Callie, were quick to accept "No, no!" as final at this age. Nolan will just give a contrary smirk if you tell him not to do something. It takes a more physical move and distract or move and block objects for him to get something through his head! Sometimes even move and confine, which he does not like at all. So we butt heads a lot, but slowly and surely, we're making some progress as he sees I'm not going to give in and let him climb on top of the stove, pull out all the dishes from the lower cupboards, etc . . .
Gabriel is still struggling at times with his social skills, though I think a lot of it is just the age he's at. He's very sensitive at times and doesn't understand when someone is mean or takes something from him. I'm still working on helping him to understand, that no matter what someone else does, we don't retaliate in kind. We're improving though, I count the small victories! Gabe is also doing very well with pre-school stuff. I can't wait to officially start some schooling with him, I think he's going to really like it and excel at most of it as well. (Except for coloring, he doesn't really enjoy that at all!)
He's got quite the imagination and loves dressing up every day. He sings all the time. He's also hard to follow in a conversation. He's a little random in his topics. It seems like we can start off talking about the birds outside, the next thing I know, we're discussing shoes and Monsters Inc. and I have no idea how we got there! It's interesting and occasionally frustrating if I'm trying to get an answer for something, but mostly interesting! He's also very intrigued by words and their meanings. If you say something he doesn't know, he doesn't just go on, he stops and asks you what something means.
Well, of course, our big event for the month of March was Callie's birthday party. She had a friend's party on Saturday and a family party on Sunday. The theme she picked for her 6th party was Hello Kitty.
We had a craft, games, lunch, cake and ice cream for eight 5 & 6 year old girls, but in the end, they mainly wanted to play dress up and hide and seek. I believe everyone had a pretty good time, at least judging by the lack of people running to the door when the parents arrived at the end. It was the largest party we had attempted for the kids, so I was grateful for all the help Philip gave, especially since I still wasn't necessarily feeling the best.
The family party was a little smaller, especially since I didn't have to make lunch for everyone. I think it's probably for the best that we just have one larger party and one smaller and once the friends party gets bigger, the family party gets smaller. I don't think every kid needs two huge birthday parties every year, do you?!? (typed sarcastically!) We had lunch at the restaurant of Callie's choice, which was Pizza Hut this year. We all came back to the farm for cake and ice cream and, of course, presents!
Other than that, Callie's been advancing well with her schooling and her piano lessons. We're on spring break this week so the kids are enjoying being together a little bit more, though I think Callie is torn because she's also ready to go back to school. I'll relish that feeling while it lasts, because I know there will probably come a day where she's not so eager to be in school.
We will be starting the last 9 weeks of school when she goes back -- it really feels like this year has flown by and dragged on all at the same time. The winter was so hard because of all the snow and cold temperatures. I'm looking forward to the day of just putting shoes on the kids to go to school, instead of boots, hats, gloves, and coats. Anyway, it's nearly time to start thinking about Gabe's preschool and Callie in 1st grade! Oh my!
Of course, about the time Callie starts first grade, we'll have Baby Booker #4 in the mix as well. Tomorrow is the ultrasound where we will hopefully find out the gender should Baby B cooperate with us!
So that's the update. We're still here! I hope you and yours have had a pleasant March and beginning of Spring.
God bless you as you finish up your week!
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