Kissy, kissy

The family has been sick. It started with Jason/Joshua and then Mira got it. She has just been a runny mess and crying in spurts. I think that she is getting a little bit better. Today she didn't ooze quite as much but she was still unhappy.

Mira is pulling up consistently at the couch and chair and Jason even saw her let go for a few seconds and stand on her own. She isn't cruising...yet. She is such a mover and shaker that I don't imagine it will be long. She has also added 'kisses' to her repretoire of tricks. She makes a little smacking 'pwch' in your direction. Very cute.

Joshua is doing better and better in school. Today he received a note from his teacher that he played nicely with the other children in his class. He learned the letter 'B' on Tuesday and the shape, 'circle' today. He turned in his first 'homework' assignment a coloring sheet of a bumble bee. It is fun to see him so excited and happy and proud.

growth spurt

Joshua needed new shoes for school so we stopped at the outlets to try and find some. Our first stop was Stride Rite where we measured Joshua's foot. Now keep in mind that the shoes he is currently wearing are 7.5/8... His foot was a size 9.5!! I imagine his toes have been pretty squished. No wonder his shoes were getting harder to put on. So we got a size 10 velcro sneakers and he is all set for school. We'll have to see if any of the other hand me downs will fit him. He is about 40" tall now (I think) I need to remeasure his height, too!

So I guess for his birthday he could use a few pairs of socks :-)

Back to the usual routine

I love the beach. Returning home to our usual routine is always hard. It is so fun to get up and walk on the beach in the morning, come home for breakfast, swim and sit until lunch, eat, nap, play, eat, walk on the beach in the evening. Nothing to do but relax. We returned home on Sunday evening. I left Monday open so that I could do the mountain of laundry and unpacking that always follows our trip.

Saturday and Sunday were perfect beach days. Joshua got comfortable running up to the water and then running up the beach as a wave came in. Jason did carry him out past the breaking waves to float for a little while on Sunday but that was not his favorite. Mira had no problems with the sand so keeping her out of it was the problem. We took the stroller right on to the beach as well as a blanket for her to crawl on. Saturday afternoon my family joined us in swimming and dinner. It was fun to have all the little ones playing in the waves AND to get to float around with the adults. We made tacos and pina coladas to top the evening off.

Joshua had preschool today. He learned the letter A and that there is a difference between upper and lower case letters. He is still reciting Mary had a little lamb and Hickory Dickory Dock from the first couple of classes but he likes to combine them. He is very interested in the hamsters and frogs that they have in the classroom. He likes snack time. He is still very hesitant about participating in circle time but I hope he will warm up to it. Meeting friends and working on his 'shyness' were the two big reasons why I signed him up for preschool.

Mira is all over the place. She is sitting up and pulling up regularly. Because of all her new skills she is starting into a bit of separation anxiety. So, I am not able to plop her in the living room with toys right now. She just crawls right over to the kitchen to find me. Then she fusses at the step until I go get her or she figures out how to crawl up it, which she has done once or twice now. She says 'Ma Ma' with a bit more conviction that she is actually speaking to me and will have a 'conversation' with you if you speaka her language.

At the beach

We've been enjoying our time at the beach in spite it being cooler than usual and overcast. It is supposed to rain soon but this evening is our going out night and we are planning to shop so it won't be a big deal.

Joshua finally got in the water right before we headed back to the beach house today. He had been keeping a good distance up to that point. Jason and I were happy to seehim getting wet and he had a big smile too.

Mira's second front tooth popped through yesterday. There is a photo that makes it look like she has her top teeth, too, but that is not the case. I imagine they aren't too far off. I uploaded a bunch of photos and I'll add more soon. Surf's Up, Dude!!

Surprise!

We are preparing for our annual beach trek. I plopped Mira in the living room, which is baby proofed and ran out to the car to unload one more bag. When I came back in she was STANDING at the big chair, holding on of course. But, what a surprise! Joshua did this at 6 mos and I thought that was early. Mira has been crawling for a month now so I thought she wouldn't need to walk or stand early but I guess I was wrong :-( So, Mira is just under 7 months and following in Joshua's foot steps. Her 2nd tooth is right under the surface, I can see it but it hasn't cut through yet, probably today or tomorrow it will.

Joshua had his 3rd day of school today and learned "Hickory, dickory, dock" and the number 1. He did not have any problems going into the classroom although several of the other children did. He liked that they celebrated one of his classmates birthdays with cupcakes and milk. He said is was 'HIS' birthday. Oh well, only one more month. He recited the poem and showed me his picture of a mouse and a clock on the way home. Right before naptime he told me I was his best friend ever. It was great. In spite of the frustrating defiance that comes with a toddler because he is trying to be so independent, I love his brain and all the things he comes up with these days.

First Day of School, Birthday & Anniversary

Joshua had his first day of preschool last week. The first day the parent's were to stay and the class was reduced to 1.5 hours. Joshua did better than I had expected and was eager to get into the class and play. He did not stand up for circle time but I expected that, too. The second day the parents dropped kids off and stayed in a nearby room. All the kids seemed to do well (no tears!). I imagine that play went well again but I don't know how circle time went because I couldn't see in. They learned "Mary had a little lamb" and made a little lamb. This week class will be 2 hours and then next week will be 2.5. Joshua remembers his teacher's name and says that he is meeting new friends if you ask him about school.

Mira is working on tooth #2 and she and Josh both had a little cold. So, she has not been sleeping well. The last couple of nights have been better. She is really crawling well now and just about to make it over the step between our family room and kitchen.

Our 7th Anniversary was last Tuesday. Mom and Dad came out for that and watched the little ones while Jason and I had a much needed night out! We really have to do that more often. Then Thursday was my birthday. I spent it out with our friends Christine, Yanna & Val (and our babies of course!) and Jason had dinner waiting when I returned. On Saturday, the family came out for playtime and lunch. We tried to go to a children's art festival but it was outdoors and Hannah (the tropical storm) interrupted that. We had a lot of fun anyway watching the kids play in the underwear out in the rain.

First Tooth!

Mira cut her first tooth today! It is her bottom left one in the front. She is really on the move crawling and is also pulling up, almost sitting up, almost crawling up the step into the kitchen. Watch out, here she comes!!

Joshua is cracking us up with the silly things he says like when he repeats (from Incredibles) 'I am Incredaboy!... You are not affiliated with me.' or while reading a magazine, 'Uh Oh' What is wrong Joshua? 'This is not good.' What happened Joshua? 'I ripped a page...' He starts Pre-school for 3 yr olds tomorrow and we are very excited. He is thinking he will get to ride an elevator and eat candy like he did at Vacation Bible School but unfortunately that will not be the case. I think he will enjoy it though.

Happy Labor Day!