For this post, I am reaching back to how this blog originated- as a timeline for the kids of their milestones and achievements and a way to share with friends and family the many funny things they say and do. I started this blog knowing a baby book isn't something I would be successful at maintaining through the early years. (I'm more of a store it all in a BIG box and once they're teenagers, pull it all out and create one all at once.) It's days like this, a Friday late afternoon, waiting for the work whistle to blow that I can sit at my computer and blog about what has been happening in my children's lives recently. So if you are in it for the pictures, please pardon me as I write a short novel to catch up my online journal on their personal growth.
Since Ella just turned 2, I will start with her.
I will never forget the hard time a friend gave me when she heard I took Avery for his wellness checkup on his actual birthday which meant, well, you know... SHOTS!! To avoid the criticism, I scheduled Ella's 2 yr checkup the day AFTER her birthday and wouldn't you know, NO shots this time. I give up! Ha, ha. Dr. Hilliard's assessment was great. Previously she was hovering just at or above the 50th percentile for height, weight and head circumference. She dropped down to 25th percentile for weight (28 lbs) and is between 50-65% for height at 33 inches. Prediction - if Kiki is right, Ella will be 5'-6" as an adult. (Has anyone else heard that the age 2 stats are magic numbers? Supposedly, at the age of 2, if you multiply their height times 2, that will be his/her height as an adult.) Guess we will find out in 16-18 more years! Back to the appt - I sought some advice on how to ditch the binkie but for every suggestion she made I had a nod followed by a "tried that" or "ya, didn't work so well." I explained that Wade tried to send her to daycare without a pacifier shortly after she turned 1 but the ladies at daycare were always weary by days end, asking where's her paci? Apparently she was stealing them from the other kids mouths, causing quite the scene! I don't think it's a positive sign when the pediatrician starts laughing at your story, followed by a wow, you have quite the diva on your hands. She says Ella has attitude and yes, she does. Keeping in mind during our conversation Ella was having a minor tantrum, throwing anything she could find on the floor of the patient room. She said to either go cold turkey which would mean a very stressful 2 weeks or wait till she gets a little older to negotiate with her. Before we left, she read my cue and told Ella "No more binkies! You're a big girl!" We left shortly after, Ella with binkie in mouth... sigh. However on Thursday, Aunt Shelly was watching both kiddos at our house and Ella started saying No More Binkie, No More Binkie and gave them to Shelly. My, the start of a breakthrough? Monday they both started back to daycare and Ella graduated to the 24-30 month room, Suite 300, and they have a no pacifier rule! How convenient. That solves the toddler showdowns as far as stealing binkies goes. She's done pretty well, at least it still shows naps on her daily report even though I can't imagine how they are getting her to sleep without it, so we will leave well enough alone. Wade says that as soon as he picks her up she says Binkie, Binkie. I made it into the neighborhood before she asked me but needless to say we are still allowing the binkie at ni-nite time. That will be a battle for another time...
Now, onto Avery. I usually read to him every night before bed and my next purchase is going to be a small voice recorder so I can record the conversations we have at night. His imagination is out of control and he loves to tell me how things work, like a rudder on a boat, or every detail about what happened at school that day. He's very detailed in his descriptions and best of all, he turns on the charm and just melts me, purposely I'm sure, with the "I love you's", "you're the best mom", "I'm going to live with you forever and become a police." Sounds silly right?? So where did this I want to live with you forever business originate? At the start of summer camp he came home one day and started asking all kinds of questions about marriage, why daddy and I are married and if he has to get married. There is a girl, Abbie, who is 9 years old that I assume educated Avery on this subject and there have been many conversations since that usually end with him in tears, saying he doesn't ever want to get married because he doesn't want to live in a different house. He has asked to marry me which has now transferred to his little sister, Ella. I can hear the chuckles and Arkansas jokes right now, but for Avery this is quite traumatic! It was a Monday evening, we're all out front and I'm pulling weeds in the planter bed... Avery asks if he can marry Ella and tired of this conversation, I simply said, you would have to ask her and she would have to say yes. (Some of you may know where this is headed...) So I swear, without ever mentioning the get down on one knee, he walked over to Ella and bent down for what appeared to be a bended knee proposal and asked her to marry him. Ella, who's favorite word is (you guessed it) No, she yelled, No, No! He proceeded to ask again and she walked away saying her favorite word. And then come the tears from Avery! It was a shocking and hysterical moment; a great story to embarrass him when he's a teenager!
Thankfully the subject of marriage hasn't come up again the past few days. He is enjoying being back at daycare with his friends, especially Brandon and Alex. As soon as he gets home it's either playing his DS or the retro Nintendo games from daddy's youth. I am amazed at how much he knows about these games in such a short amount of time. (He's only had the DS since April) And his hand eye coordination is better than my own, sad but true! I like watching him play it - he's so intense and then he starts with his tongue, twisting it over and over again. That will be a video worth posting... stay tuned.
We're enjoying every last day that the kids spend together at daycare. 2 more weeks before Avery starts kinder and Ella will probably remain where she is for now until they open another daycare closer to home. I don't think Avery has any idea what kindergarten is about and I have a feeling that whatever reaction he has will be extreme. Either he's going to be so excited he won't even miss me as he runs into the classroom or I will be running after him as he tries to escape the school as fast as he can. Ella will miss seeing her brother roaming the halls at daycare. I hear that they like to let him come to her room and play for a few minutes or if she's upset they will get him to cheer her up. I am thankful that they have such a special bond.
What an awesome morning. Avery was all smiles on his 1st day of Big Boy school and we are ever so thankful that he's excited to be at kinder. We got to school early, greeted by camera crews in the parking lot and throughout the school. In the cafeteria the local newspaper interviewed Avery and took lots of pictures so we'll be looking for him in tomorrow's San Antonio Express news. We were able to walk with him from the cafeteria to his classroom and left him with a thumbs up. Ah, I haven't cried yet with the emphasis on yet. Now it's counting down the hours till I get to pick him up and hear all about his 1st day. To all the parents sharing in today's exciting new experience, hope your day was just as good. Kids are awesome!!
