Lately

Usually my blog posts are centered around a specific event, like a birthday, a holiday, or a trip somewhere, but I always mean to write a few posts now and then about everyday things.  These are the things that I will likely forget down the road, and the point of this blog when I started it was to do a diary of sorts of the kids' everyday lives.  I think these are the posts that I will look back on and love to read when the kids are grown and out of the house.  

So what are they up to lately?

Carter

Carter LOVES preschool.  He always asks if it's a school day and seems to be fairly bummed when it's the weekend.  Lately he loves math, we're constantly adding and subtracting things around the house.  Hopefully he has his Dad's brain for math (I don't remember ever wanting to do math problems so he's already one step ahead of me).  He also loves reading, we often do our learn-to-read books before bed and he's getting really good at them, he also loves his TAG system for reading.  While we're on the school subject, we decided that he will be doing "young 5's" for school next year.  This is basically the level between preschool and kindergarten.  Since he turns 5 at the end of the summer, he would have either been the youngest or oldest in his class, so it was a tough decision for us.  After much thought we decided to go with young 5's and wait a year for kindergarten.   He will go to his future elementary school for this program, so we are happy that will be used to the school and teachers by the time he goes to kindergarten.

Carter still thinks eating is the biggest waste of time.  He's slower than time and it definitely tries our patience to watch him eat.  This is probably our biggest battle with him.  We've tried timers, good and bad reinforcement, and everything else we can think of to speed up meal time.  He just doesn't seem the least bit interested.  I suppose there are much worse things to battle with your child about.  If I had a nickle for every time I've said "chew and swallow Carter..." 

Carter is our sensitive child.  He's incredibly loving, I can't go out of his sight for more than a few minutes without him giving me a kiss and a hug.  I love this about him.  He's my snuggler.  And yes, kind of a "mama's boy" if you will.  But I love that he wants me near him all the time because I know it won't last forever.  Don't worry, I vow to never smother him when he's 16 years old and I won't be taking him to prom or let him live in my basement when he's 25, he's still only 4 so I think I'm allowed a little more babying time.  Dave thinks he won't be tough, but he will, he's got a pretty tough sister that will shape him up.

 Carter is also our engineer/handyman-in-training.  His brain is constantly trying to figure out how everything works and how he can take it apart and put it back together.  The other day I went into the playroom to find him taking out the batteries to every electronic toy we own.  These weren't the easy-to-get-at batteries either, he had a screw driver and was taking the backs off things.  He told me he was switching around the batteries because some of the toys weren't working.  His knowledge of tools and his ability to use them (real tools, not just his play stuff) is amazing to me.  This of course comes from having a dad who can fix or build anything in his sleep, but it also seems to be a knack he has. 

Mia

Hard to believe Mia will be TWO soon!  It seems like she was just born.  Mia is talking up a storm lately.  She is putting together words and saying more sentences every day.  We love "chatting" with her even though some of her talk is still gibberish.  Her favorite thing lately is talking on the phone.  She thinks every phone call is Grandma (pronounced "Ema") and she demands to talk with her every time.   

She still takes a monster nap in the afternoon which we appreciate SO much.  I think back to Carter and his 45 minute naps and it makes her 2-3 hour naps even better.  She also goes to bed like it's her job, never a peep out of her, just blows me some kisses and is asleep before I can get downstairs.  Thank you Mia!

Mia is our take charge, daring child.  No apparent fear of heights, speed or anything dangerous.  She flips off the couch, tackles the dogs, or sits on top of her brother if she feels like it.  She's very spunky and we love her spirit and no-fear attitude (although sometimes I wish she could tone it down a little).  She's already had her share of scrapes and bruises, and two fat lips about a month ago.  She seems pretty tough, not much phases her.

Mia's favorite toys right now are her baby dolls.  We have to make sure all FOUR babies are with us all the time lately.  We have to bring them downstairs when we are playing and upstairs when she goes to bed.  She also wants to bring them with us in the car (which we avoid due to fear of leaving them someplace plus we don't have car seat room for four more).  These babies are part of the family lately, we have to kiss all of them when we're putting her to bed and they all need to watch TV with us if we're all watching something.  It's definitely interesting when we can't find one or more of the babies!

 

Despite their differences, Carter and Mia are two peas in a pod.  We love how much they love each other and genuinely want to spend time together.  We are so lucky to have such great kids!