Lucas: Ten Months Old

10 Months (September 10) and into EVERYTHING!!

Apple Harvest Day

28th Annual Apple Harvest Day

25,000 people in our little city... Good times.

Katie and Andrew were very excited to drive the garbage truck.  

Weird kids... :)

Making peanut butter and bagel bird feeders

Katie's goopy finished product

Lucas' first petting zoo experience

Wee Andrew!

Yeah Katie!

Andrew got to the top. It was tough for him and he was tired after. 

What an accomplishment!

Wee

Lucas: Eight Months Old

I seem to be getting later and later with these posts... Cant imagine why :)

Lucas turned Eight Months Old on July 10th.  Here are some of the things he is up to:

• Goes to bed promptly between 9:00-9:30. He likes to sleep mostly on his side.  And, with mommy in the big bed!
• Still no sleeping for long stretches. A good night is when he wakes twice - midnight for binky and around 3 or 4 am for a feeding.  A bad night is when he wakes 6 or more times for 'who knows why!!!'
• He eats two meals a day and is enjoying a lot of new finger foods like grilled cheese, cherries, mac and cheese, wheat toast, rice, pancakes, and Meat House turkey and steak tips
• Can use pincher grasp to pick up small pieces of food and feed self
• Says Da Da
• Can put a toy down and pick up another
• Reaches toward person when they go to pick him up
• Started rolling back and forth and skooching on top of head and heels to get places
• Up on all four's rocking back and forth (ready to crawl???!!!)
• First trip to Boston (July 5th) and went to the aquarium and the Duck Boat Tour
• First fireworks (July 4th - did not like them)
• First boat ride on Sabago Lake (July 8th)
• First amusement ride - Saratoga Springs Carousel - June 26th. Loved it!

First Fourth of July

First Carousel Ride

 In Sabago Lake

Batter Up!

Last year Katie played tee ball.  Her first team sport and it was a challenge to say the least.  There were tears at at least the first 3 games and all the other games she was attached at the hip to her friend, Jillian.  (Thank god for Jillian!) 

When sign ups rolled around for this year, we asked both kids if they wanted to sign up. We knew Andrew did. That was all he talked about for an entire year - "next  year I am going to play tee bal" He told EVERYONE.  To our surprise, Katie did too.  She had the choice of coach pitched co-ed baseball or coach pitched all-girl softball.  She wanted baseball.  As she simply stated, "I like to play with boys."  We know...

What a differece a year can make. Katie hit the field with enthusiasm and confidence.  She looked forward to going to each game and loved hitting the pictches.  Perhaps the tears were due to the fact that we had only been back in the United States about 1 week before she had her first game. Perhaps it was maturity or self confidence. Who knows.  All we know is she did GREAT!

Andrew could not wait for his first game.  Little does he know he missed the first game...had a baby shower out of town.  Whoops.... Anyway, what he doesnt know wont hurt him...right?  He did great.  He is a great hitter and by the last few games was hitting coach pitched balls.  He didnt want the tee the entire season but rules are rules.  He learned about outfield postions and how to throw and catch better.  He was a great team player and looks forward to next years coach pitched baseball!

 My favorite picture of Andrew. The helmet was too big.
He cant see where he is running.

 Andrew waiting to bat

 His trophy. 

 Katie is a fast little runner. Track star maybe?

 She got to play catcher the last game She was very excited!

 Her trophy.

Lucas: Seven Months

It has been another rough month of bad nights.  It seems Lucas has fallen into a pattern of waking nearly almost every hour. For example, he goes to bed between 8:30-9:00pm and wakes at 10, 11, 12, 2 and 4.  At 4am I typically bring him into bed with me and (not surprisingly) he goes right to sleep cuddling on my arm.  Needless to say, been an exhausting month!

On a good note, he is a very social and happy boy during the day.  He takes consistent naps and is predictable about being hungry and tired. He still loves to watch Katie and Andrew play and is starting to interact more and more with them. If he can reach either of them from where he is sitting/lying, he grabs their arm/leg and makes this happy roaring noise.  He is playing with them!

He spends time on the floor every day with toys around him.

Boppy pillow there just in case he decides to be all done & throws himself backwards....

like so...

 At the pool playground - big sister pushing Lucas

 At a different playground with Katie and Andrew and friends

 Loves tummy time now and skooches around 

Hanging with his sis and bro watching Saturday morning cartoons

Took a tub in the sink this month. Just so much easier 

than bending down & worrying about him falling backwards.

Lucas is getting more and more difficult to photograph. Everything is in his mouth!

 yum

The best shot!

What he is up to this month:

• Can anticipate games. Starts laughing before you tickle him or get to the wee wee wee toe
• Loves to play "How Big is Lucas? - So big!"
• Loves Noble Duke of York game. Giggles with go up and down
• Learned to skreech Very Loudly to get your attention
• Opens mouth every time to eat his fruit and oatmeal
• Has had a couple finger foods besides puffs - watermelon, cheese, bread
• Can pick up cereal puffs but cant get them in his mouth yet
• Loves when Andrew talks in his silly baby voice.  Lucas cracks up!
• Loves exersaucer. Does not like swing.
• Plays on tummy very well with toys - piano, music cube, Leapfrog learning table top
• Plays while sitting very well - tool bench, electronic musical farm, soft toys
• Waves arms very excitedly when sees you coming to pick him up. 
• Tries to reach for me, but not quite
• Mastered sitting between May 20-June 5
• LOVES to splash in the tub and pool
• Ear infection diagnosed Monday June 11th

Happy Half Birthday KATIE ~ 6 1/2 yrs old

Katie turned 6 1/2 June 9th.  Hard to believe she is so close to SEVEN years old.  

To celebrate we had brownies with vanilla ice cream and one small present.  Katie loved her laser bug catcher.  She spied it months ago at the store and one of her friends brought one to school so she was SUPER excited to get one of her own!  Katie loves collecting bugs.  She has for years and years!  

Our little scientist.

Katie 6 1/2 June 9, 2012

Watch Out First Grade, Here comes KATIE

Katie completed Kindergarten on Thursday, June 7th.  She had a great year! We met with her teacher a week before and she told us that Katie is excellent at math, has a lot of friends and has grown so much during the year. She is ready for first grade!  

At the start of the year Katie was much more timid.  It was a struggle for her to get out of the car at drop off.  By the end of the year, she kissed me/Ned, bounced out of the car and off she went!  

At the start of the year, Katie was reading, but at the end of the year she was ready chapter books!

Katie learned to add, subtract and tell time this year!

Katie loves science and learned a lot at her after school activity - Coyote Club. She learned about animal habitats, plants and roots that are safe to eat, identifying bugs and plants, building fires and so forth. She also learned about the life cycle of ladybugs and bug parts. 

At the start of the year, Katie was 37 lbs and 41 inches.  At the end of the year, she was 39.5 lbs ad 43 inches. She literally grew!

Kindergarten Graduation (called End of Year celebration) was very nice.  The children wore their "Sunday best" and went on stage to receive an individual award. Katie got the Award for her Hardworking and Self Disciplined Attitude.  She also received a Bible.  They children sang a song and recited a poem called "Growing" (below).

 Katie sitting next to Dillon and Aidan

 Katie on stage

 One of the three kindergarten classes

 Katie accepting her award from the Dean of Academics

 Katie getting her Bible from her teacher, Mrs James

 Flowers for the graduate!

 Grammy and Grumps at Graduation. They were so proud!

 Family minus Lucas who was napping in the stroller

      Katie June 7, 2012 - graduation                    Katie August 31, 2011-  first day of school              

(hit full screen to view better, Katie is on the right in green gingham dress)

"Growing"

When I started kindergarten

I couldn't have felt smaller

But I've been growing, growing - 

And not just growing taller!

I've learned to read and learned to write

I've learned my numbers too

And there are many other things

That I have learned to do

Kindergarten's over now

But I am not afraid

Because I know I'm ready

To enter the first grade!