Adios 3rd grade!

Our best girl has officially completed the third grade!  She has had a memorable year and was a trooper during the mid year move.  Onward to FOURTH grade {how can that be?!}

Emma is 9-and-a-half

Our Emma girl is 9-and-a-half!  Truth be told, I'm soooo not ready for the upcoming double digits!  She now weighs 95 pounds and stands over 4.5 feet tall.  She wears mostly size 12 clothes and women's size 7 shoe {it won't be long before we can share!}  

 

She enjoys riding her bike, playing softball, Barbies and board games.  She is overly competitive, is a talented artist and collects TY stuffed animals. 

 

She is a wonderful big sister and is very helpful with Hudson.  However, she often enjoys quiet/alone time (I certainly don't blame her!)

She often creates short movies on the ipad and gets very creative!  She gives relaxing foot rubs but requires payment :)

She has a great sense of humor and loves learning new jokes!  She finds the fun in life and makes those around her happy :)

 

She and Jarrod enjoyed the Father/Daughter dance in February.  She looked beautiful and they had a wonderful evening!  :) 

 

 

 Of course we had to be in style cheering Owen's team on this Spring!   

 

She has really enjoyed taking piano lessons this school year!  She has learned a lot about rhythm, hand/eye coordination and reading notes.  On Mother's Day she wrapped up the year with a patriotic recital and played 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'  and 'You're a Grand Old Flag'.  She recently started teaching Owen how to play :)

She really is growing up right before our eyes.  We love her to pieces!

 



Hudson at 15 months

Hudson is 15 months!  He weighs 20 pounds 8 ounces and measures just under 27 inches long.  His head circumference is 18.25".  He is small but follows his own growth chart beautifully.  He is still in mostly size 12 months but has started wearing some 18 months outfits.   He still wears size 4 diapers.  He has ten teeth total {6 full and 4 peeking!}

He has discovered his legs and feet and often examines them thoroughly!

PT is still once a week and is going very well.  Jaylon is very encouraging and has lots of ideas to build his strength and endurance!  He will also start OT soon.

This is the way we bird bath at the hotel!  Perfect fit :)

He still enjoys eating!  He eats small pieces of whatever we are having.  For breakfast he often has mini pancakes and fruit.  He recently tried donut holes and is quite a fan :)  His favorite snacks are Cheerios, cheese cubes and watermelon.  He does so well self feeding.  He drinks approximately 20 ounces of whole milk each day and is still working on the sippy cup.  He refuses to drink cold milk!

He still wakes up a couple times during the night and will occasionally take a solid nap after lunch.  He doesn't want his hands under the cover but does prefer to tuck them in when cuddling on my chest.  He now prefers to sleep on his tummy.

He decided to check himself out in the mirror while I shopped one day!

 

We have had quite a pacifier dilemma!  His favorite is the Wubbanub but he has chomped through THREE of them.  Unfortunately they are pricey so we cannot continue to replace them!  Below is my attempt at trying to interest him in a different kind.  It didn't last long!  Fortunately he isn't near as attached to them as his siblings once were and can actually fall asleep without one.  However, they definitely offer comfort so it's nice to keep one nearby. 

 

He loves swinging and thinks it's funny to feel the wind in his hair! 

Our Kindergarten graduate

Owen graduated from Kindergarten!!  He was lucky to have two wonderful teachers this year and learned to read, write and to be a good friend.  He never skipped a beat during the mid year transition and embraced his new school beautifully!

 

 

Woodway Class of 2028 

 

 

Mr Pena shook each graduate's hand as their name was called to walk across the stage.



The adorable graduates performed several songs, including "We're off to 1st grade"! 

So proud of our Owen :)

 

"The days pass slowly but the years fly by."

 

 

We look forward to the many adventures of first grade this Fall!

Hudson at 14 months

Hudson is 14 months!  He weighs 19 pounds 11 ounces and measures 26.75 inches long.  He is still in size 12 month clothes and size 4 diapers.

 

 

His is very interested in grabbing glasses off of our faces!  He is quite quick and sneaky about it!  Here he has his own plastic pair :)

 

 

 We have spent a lot of time outdoors recently enjoying the beautiful weather!

 

Every other Wednesday we take lunch to the big kids at school!  They like to show him to their friends and he likes to steal bites of their food :) 

 

The remote control is one of his favorite "toys" and he often changes the channel!

   

Who knew breakfast could be so exhausting?!  He now has 6 pearly whites {4 bottom & 2 top} and has started grinding them. He also has a random left top molar peeking through.  His teeth are so sharp that he bit right through his favorite {giraffe} Wubbanub one night!  We replaced it with a duck Wubbanub.  This month he tried Cheerios, pita bread and cranberry juice.  He enjoys meal time and is always eager to try whatever we are having.  We started giving him a plate and a fork.  He would prefer to drop the plate on the floor!

 

It is now a regular thing for him to sit in the shopping cart.  He thinks he is "Mr Cool" and always flirts with those who pass by!  We found the striped pillow at IKEA for $5 and it has been great!  We also often use it for high chairs to give him a little extra support.



This month he was molded for new leg braces.  His sweet chunky legs have grown!



 

 

He has spent many recent evenings at the ball field cheering on the Dodgers and Divas!

 

PT is going well.  Jaylon showed him how to get from laying on his back to a sitting position.  It's going to take some time, work and strength but he really wants to sit up like a big boy!  She also puts him in a 'crawling' position which he often becomes frustrated with.  She is impressed with the progress he is making!  He recently rolled from a push up position to his back for the first time!  

 

Kindergarten trip to the zoo!

After several days of thunderstorms the sun finally came out just in time for the Kindergarten field trip to the Cameron Park Zoo!  Of course half the fun is just riding the bus!

 

 I had a great time as chaperone to this cute bunch :)

 

 

Hudson enjoyed the view from his stroller and loved being with all the kids!  He giggled at all of their silly antics.  Owen was so proud to have him there!

 

The teachers provided each group with a fun scavenger hunt.  They had to find and take note of animals that fly, eat meat, had a tail, etc.  They really enjoyed that challenge!



The weather was perfect and most of the animals were out and about.

 



The elephant exhibit was one of their favorites!

The kiddos were well behaved and enjoyed learning all about the animals.  They asked lots of great questions!

A highlight of the zoo is always sliding with the otters!

 

Sweet brothers :)

 

Owen is six-and-a-half!

Owen is officially six-and-a-half!  He is energetic, comical, fast, ornery, smart, playful and as clever as they come!  He keeps us laughing with his stories and wit.  He weighs 51 pounds.  He wears size 6/7 clothing and size 1 shoes.  

 

 

He enjoys playing Xbox, baseball and "school" with his sister & about a hundred stuffed animals.  His favorite foods include fettuccine, Ramen noodles, Nutrigrain bars, chicken nuggets and Pediasure.  He is still a very selective eater.  He eats a Drumstick ice cream every single night at Big Daddy & Lita's (good source of calcium, I suppose!)

 

  

 He has survived 100+ days of Kindergarten!  He is an excellent student and enjoys school days.  He is a socialite and has adjusted well to the mid year school move.  He has made lots of new friends and has even brought home a couple of love notes in his backpack!  :)  His reading skills literally took off after Christmas and he recently tested at an end of year first grade level.  He is focusing on handwriting and is showing great improvement.

 

On storybook character day at Woodway Elementary there was no question what he would be!  Pete the Cat, of course!  :) 

He is a wonderful big brother and takes great care of Hudson!  He always wants "the brothers" to lay down and watch TV together after school.  He loves making him laugh but doesn't want anything to do with the diaper changing or bottle duty responsibility!

He has recently developed a close bond with his beloved Build-a-Bear, "Bearemy".  He begged us to retrieve him from storage and has visited B-a-B store several times for wardrobe updates.  He even rides to school with us and occupies Owen's car seat during the day :)  Owen is very creative and detail oriented.  He will often spend an extended period of time on an activity such as a puzzle, project or play dough. 

 

Owen sleep walks and talks fairly regularly but never remembers doing so.  He usually ends up in bed with us at some point during the night.  He likes to sleep surrounded by all of his stuffed friends :)

 

We love our middle little and are super thankful that God entrusted us as his parents.  We pray that he continues to grow into the young man God created him to be!