Caterpillar Days

I've spent a lot of timely lately thinking about how much I dread the fall and the start of first grade.  Probably too much time!  And as a teacher, I shouldn't feel this way, but I HATE the idea that Brian will spend more time at school than with me. 

I have decided that these days...the last few days of summer, are our caterpillar days.  The lazy days of doing whatever we want...or nothing at all, before he becomes a little butterfly and he must spread his wings and fly.  Without me.

I know he NEEDS to do this.  I know I need to let him.  But it's so, so sad.  And I will miss him so much.  So will Lilah.

Sometimes I just want to fold him into my mama bear cocoon and keep him safe and protected and with me.

He learned to pump on his own the other day.  See?  Flying away...

 

Stats

Brian's 6 year stats--
Height--4'0.5' (94th percentile)
Weight--52 lbs (87 percentile)

Lilah's 3 year stats--
Height--3'2.25'' (82nd percentile)
Weight--36 lbs 8 oz (92nd percentile)

Photographs courtesy of Cynthia Shoettker Photography.

Happy Third Birthday, Baby Girl

Dear Lilah,

You would not approve of the title of this blog.  Or maybe you would.  It seems I am the only one who can get away with still calling you baby these days.  You, my dear, are a force to be reckoned with.  When I was pregnant with you and people would ask me if I wanted a boy or a girl, I would say, "I don't care, I want a CALM child."  (Your brother maaayyyyy have been a bit wild.  Or feral.  Whatever you prefer.)  Well...I didn't get that.  Ha!  But I wouldn't trade your spunky, take no prisoners, LOOK AT ME approach to life for anything.  (Most days...)

You are seriously so much fun though, my sweet girl!  You love to play babies and kitchen.  You were soooo excited to put your babies in your new baby car seat and front carrier today!  You ask me frequently if I want to play "two mommies" with you.  In fact you ask me frequently to play with you period.  You love to play pretend with anyone who will join you.  Including your brother, which is great because most of the time he's happy to play along.  It's so BEYOND cute to hear the two of you interact and play together.  I bet you don't realize it, but I often stop what I'm doing just to listen to the two of you together.  You are so blessed to have such a wonderful big brother!  I know you won't always feel that way, but I hope you do mostly.

Your newest and most common form of play is putting pretty much anything you can find (even if it's not yours...ahem...) into a bag or purse and carrying it around with you.  I have asked several girl moms if you need therapy for this habit, but apparently it's a normal girl behavior that you may never outgrow.  Awesome!

You continue to impress with both your expressive and receptive language skills.  You can write your name...mostly, that H presents a bit of trouble sometimes.  You know all of your colors, most of your shapes when it suits you and quite a few of your letters.  You are smart and you know it!

You will begin preschool officially in the fall.  For you, it won't be a huge change since you spent a great deal of your time with the preschool classes last school year, but I am excited to see how you will grow when you are officially a part of a class.  I know you will enjoy yourself and I am sure you will have no trouble making friends.  It's what you do!

You still eat like a champ, although some days you just don't eat much at all.  I know this is common at your age, so I try not to let it bother me.  Your favorites are probably scrambled eggs, nuts/peanut butter, and of course grapes.  You eat so many grapes right now it's ridiculous! 

You still love to be read to and to look at books which I love of course!  You love music and you love to sing and make up silly songs with your brother.  You love to laugh and sometimes get a little silly trying to make your brother laugh, or laughing at him.  I love that too.

You, Miss Lilah are one of our greatest blessings.  We love you so, so very much and are grateful to get to stand in the shadows of your spotlight.  We know you will continue to shine bright and for that we are so very proud of you. 

Happy THIRD Birthday, baby girl!

Love,
Mommy

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Schoettker Photography

Tiny Dancer

Okay, I'm not gonna lie.  I have been looking forward to this since the day I found out Lilah was a girl.  I always said I wouldn't push her to be girly if she wasn't BUT boy did I get more girly than I ever could have bargained for.  She's 100% girly girl.   I mean, she isn't afraid of bugs, or dirt...she likes both, but she also loves pink and purple, dresses, "lipstick" (lip gloss), babies, etc. etc. 

And?! 

She begged to take dance classes!  Which as I might have mentioned I have dreamed about since she was 20 weeks in utero!  She is still really, really young, but she's also pretty mature for her age, so I contacted my old dance studio (still the same owner!) and found out that they offer a month long summer class so you can try it out.  Last week was the first class! 

Lilah LOVED it!  First of all, we had to go buy dance shoes the week before class started.  She confidently walked into the store and announced, "I need dancing shoes!"  The excited saleswoman doted over her as we tried them on.  The day of her first class she was completely excited!  We got her dance bag ready, put on her leotard and headed to the studio.  Again, she's really, really young-the youngest in the class, and she's with a group of kiddos where all but one have taken year round dance before, but she really enjoyed herself!  I'm still not convinced we're ready for year round.  We will have to see how the next three weeks go, and then find out what the pace of  year round looks like.  I am hoping it's a bit slower!  But she did love it and she asks everyday if she can go back.