Well-checks

We took Sawyer and Chloe to their three-year and fifteen-month well-checks today. It works out really well when we're able to take them together and Lorne comes with me. Chloe was up first. She is 24 pounds, 9 ounces, and is in the 75th percentile. She is 31 1/2 inches long which is the 90th percentile. Sawyer was 24 pounds and also 31 1/2 inches at fifteen months. I guess Chloe's length puts her in the 90th percentile since she's female.

Sawyer weighs 34 pounds which is the 50th percentile and is 38 1/2 inches tall which is the 75th percentile. I'm pretty sure this is the first time he has been out of the 50th percentile for his height. Even Dr. Darrow commented that he is getting taller.

I didn't have too many questions this time. I was wondering if I should give Chloe some kind of vitamins. I was giving her Polyvisol in her oatmeal cereal each morning, but stopped once she stopped the cereal. Dr. Darrow said that she is probably getting plenty of vitamins from all of the fresh fruits and veggies she eats.

I also wondered if I could switch Sawyer to 2% or even skim milk. She said that should be fine, so I'm going to do that as soon as possible. I think that he would have more of an appetite if he wasn't drinking such a caloric beverage with his meals. I guess we'll see how it goes.

Dr. Darrow also recommended that we get Sawyer in to see a dentist now that he is three. It's something that I've thought of from time to time, so I guess we'll do that. We got a list of recommended offices so I guess I'll start there.

Happy Third Birthday Sophia!

We were invited to celebrate Sophia's third birthday last night. Jeremy's parents were in town for a visit so they were there too. The kids had lots of fun! They played in the swimming pool and the sprinkler in the backyard. Then there's the excitement of playing with all of the different toys at Sophia's and Presea's house.

We had a very tasty supper of barbecued pork, beans, potato salad, fruit, and the kids had homemade macaroni and cheese and hot dogs. Then there was the cake and ice cream...yum!

It took a little while for them to get acclimated.

The pool was full of grass when all was said and done because Chloe kept getting out and getting back in...fun, fun!


Sawyer started out blowing bubbles, but that quickly turned into spitting the water.

Presea wondered where everyone went when the other kids went to play in the sprinkler.

Presea was way too busy playing to worry about opening gifts.

Chloe joined in on the fun.

We got Sophia a game for her Leapster and this princess dress. She was so excited!

Sophia's Pablo cake.

I Know, I Know

It has been a month since I have been on Aggiefamily. I hope that I made up for it by adding some new pictures and posts. I also have the third and second installments of "Ten MORE Things Mommy Loves About Sawyer and Chloe," respectively. I love to write those because it gives me a chance to reflect on the past year and it always reminds me just how much I love our little munchkins. I have a bad habit of losing sight of the big picture sometimes.

Mark is usually the one who keeps me on my toes about blogging. He's slacked off since he was been back in the States. He came for a visit last week and after spending his first full day with us I asked him if he could tell me when I should have blogged. I don't think that he had an answer! We keep pretty busy around here!

Sawyer is taking swim lessons at Oak Point Center in Plano and it's a big deal because he's in the water without me for the first time. Chloe and I watch from upstairs due to fire code rules. He definitely did the best today as far as actually staying in the water instead of sitting on the top step. There are nine classes in all so I know that he will get more and more comfortable.

Here are a few pictures from his first day. Keep in mind that I'm on the second floor taking pictures through a window, so they're not all that great, but you get the gist:

Hanging on for dear life!

I'm pretty sure he's pointing to the stairs.

I can only imagine the ear full this poor lifeguard is getting.

He's also taking a four week class at Oak Point for two hours each Tuesday called Learning Tree ABCs. Miss Linda is the teacher and he has taken classes from her before so it's going really well. He calls it his school and I bought him a Cars lunchkit and everything. That reminds me that I need to get a picture of him with his lunchkit. He is so excited to choose his snack and his juice each time.

I actually enrolled him in two more Miss Linda classes so he will have one class a week for the entire summer. I'm hoping to have him potty trained by the fall so that he can take the five hour class. We're trying to get him ready for ten hours per week of preschool in the fall of 2009.

Everyone keeps telling me that I'll have more time for myself once Sawyer is in preschool. I'm a stay-at-home mom, but I currently have about ten unread magazines, fifty e-mails, two cross-stitch projects, and at least a gazillion books to read. How is it that I "stay-at-home" but still can't seem to find the time to do these things? Oh wait, I can answer that. It's because they're things that don't do with my kids' welfare. If they were they would have been done yesterday and as closely to perfect as possible. It seems that the things that are enjoyable to me are always put on the back burner. That's why I get so behind on my blogging. I spend my "free time" working out, doing dishes, laundry, or I must admit, taking the occasional nap. I'm trying to do that more often since I'm taking three 5:30 am classes at the gym these days. That and I keep thinking Sawyer's naping days are numbered so I need to cash in on that quiet time while I still can.

Let me pause my whining a moment to talk about my weekend. Denise and I went to see Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts on Saturday. It was so much fun! I swear I didn't know what to do with myself without a diaper bag! I thought that thing was permanently attached I swear! I think that concert gave each of us a much-needed break. We took some pictures with my phone, but I have no idea how to retrieve them. I'll have to get back to you on that.

Speaking of phones, I'll close with this cute picture of my little Buggy:

Chloe had a phone to each ear when I grabbed the camera, but I think it still made a really cute picture.

Ten MORE Things Mommy Loves About Chloe Kathryn

10. The way she smiles and beams from her crib when she sees me, arms outstretched.

9. The way she toddles around, trying her best to keep up with Sawyer.

8. The way she plays peek-a-boo behind her hat or her hands.

7. The way she sounds when she thinks she's speaking, but it sounds like, "Uhhhhhhhhhh."

6. The way she snuggles her head on my shoulder while we quietly rock in her darkened room.

5. The way she gets excited and starts making noises when she sees grapes or a banana (OK, food in general).

4. The way she hurries to get away with things she knows she isn't supposed to be doing (i.e., surfing on the picnic table).

3. The way she always wakes up so happy and full of light.

2. The way she pulls out all her ponytails and bows.

1. The way she touches my heart. My special daughter whom I will love forever and ever.

Chloe is Fifteen Months Old!

Chloe Bug is fifteen months old but don't tell her that! She is already having fits and throwing things when she doesn't get her way, so I'm wondering how she will be when she's fifteen YEARS old! Lord help us all!

I remember when Sawyer was climbing and into everything and everyone would tell me, "That's just boys." What they should have said is, "That's just boys...and Chloe!" Someone needs to tell this little girl that she isn't grown up just yet. She is climbing and being a little daredevil and is about to give me a nervous breakdown. I've always heard that grandchildren are a parent's retribution for the way their children acted. If that's true I must have been quite a handful! She definitely keeps me on my toes!

Speaking of toes, she can show us her toes, belly button, and hair. I've been trying to get a picture of her looking at her belly button but haven't quite been able to yet. I'm going to keep trying because it's just so darn cute!

She turned up her nose at sweet potatoes last week. I've been baking at least two per week since she was about nine months old, so I'm guessing I've burned her out. She is also slowing down on avocados. She is on a Gerber Graduates Yogurt bites kick right now and they're so gross! I guess not to a toddler, though. I really try to provide fresh fruits and veggies for our kids so that they're not only exposed to processed foods. I want them to have an extended palate and I think that they do for the most part.

I wish that I would take more time to sign with her during mealtimes because I think that she would be pretty receptive. I'm lucky to get everyone's food ready, much less sign to Chloe along the way. I do them when I remember, so I'm trying not to beat myself up when I forget. She has added the signs for hot and dog (Rosie) so that's pretty cool. Other than that she is pretty much just doing her high pitched noise when she wants something and we do process of elimination. That's pretty par for the course with a second born I'm pretty sure.

She is enjoying this same farm animal lift-the-flap book as Sawyer. I will make the noise of the farm animal as she lifts the flap and she tries her darnedest to mimic me and it's very cute. She mimics quite a bit these days, actually. I figure that she thinks she sounds like us when actually it doesn't sound like much at all. All we can tell is that she is making different sounds from just a few weeks ago, if that makes any sense at all!

She is still taking her pacifier. Every week (if not every day) I tell myself that we're going to get rid of it and somehow it never happens. She only has it at bedtime, naptime, church, and occasionally in the car, so I don't think it will be that tough to say sayonara. I think church will be the toughest because it's what keeps her quiet.

We did WaterBabies this month and she had so much fun! Denise and Presea did them with us. I think that she will really enjoy the water. It took her a while to get used to floating on her back, but she even did great with that after a few days. The lifeguard allowed them to choose a toy each class. I think her favorite part was throwing it and then "swimming" to it. She has quite an arm! She wasn't too sure about jumping in the water which was really surprising considering she's always trying to take a nosedive off the couch, picnic table, or sandbox at a moment's notice. I guess doing it when it's okay isn't nearly as much fun. She's not very happy about sitting in the stroller while Sawyer is going to his swim lessons this week. I really think she recognizes the pool and wants to be in the water..too funny!

I don't think I've ever captured this smile. It's pretty cute!

Her serious pose.

She's really enjoying "reading" lift-the-flap books right now.

We went for haircuts on Thursday so they're looking a little scalped.

Ten MORE Things Mommy Loves About Sawyer Blake

10. The way he still rubs George's tattered and frayed ears on his cheek and wants to drag him everywhere.

9. The way he will still say, "I want to hold you" when he is tired or afraid, even though he has gotten older.

8. The way he sings "Row, Row Your Boat," at the top of his lungs.

7. The way he challenges me daily because he knows he is loved.

6. The way he still wants to watch Caillou.

5. The way he thinks any water is holy water and crosses himself.

4. The way he changes words and phrases: "binoculators," "trisook," "someping," "Miss Aneese" (Denise), "golf plugs," "bwanans" (bananas),"do me a favorite," "Sipleps," (Sixlets), "fishing rob," "what it doos?" "park" (part), "Bandin" (Band-Aid),and all candy is still "out of his stocking" even though it's June.

3. The way he loves Band-Aids and needs one for every little scratch.

2. The way he wants to choose everything and do it all his way.

1. The way he will always be my firstborn. My amazing son whom I cherish so dearly.

Splashin' Around

Kristy wanted to return a book she had loaned from me so we met she and her girls Caroline and Cate in Rockwall for lunch at On the Border and then went to play at the splash park. The kids had so much fun! I told Kristy that next time we could just skip the restaurant and have a picnic at the park under the trees. That way they would have even longer to play in the water.

Chloe and Caroline. I had a tough time getting pictures of Sawyer and Cate. It must be a preschooler thing!

Chloe kept getting to this sprinkler right as the water was leaving to go to another outlet.

Chloe had a blast playing in the water.

Chloe kept trying to catch the water. She does the same thing in the bathtub.

My little boy wanted to play with the water gun the entire time...pardon me while I act shocked!

Sawyer jumped at the chance to torture Chloe with another medium.

Sawyer is Three Years Old!

Three years, gosh, it feels like three minutes! Our little man celebrated his birthday a little differently this year. His actual birthday was pretty anticlimactic since Lorne was out of town and Chloe started WaterBabies that evening. The good thing is that he's only three so he really has no idea of his actual birthday.

I'm used to summarizing Chloe on a monthly basis which is difficult enough, but I will try to wrap up this last year for Sawyer:

I am amazed on a daily basis at how well he is speaking and conversing. He seems to just pick up on most of it. It's not a matter of us working on it directly. I will say we have to really work on "Yes, Ma'am and No, ma'am." That is taking FOREVER to sink in for some reason, but he's pretty good about please, thank you, and asking, "May I?"

He doesn't meet a stranger. (I wonder who he gets that from?) The boy doesn't forget a thing either. He is great at telling me that we're near Weight Watchers even though we're not going there that day and I haven't mentioned anything about that particular place, for example. He's like my own little TomTom.

We continue to work on colors, numbers, and the alphabet. He seemed to catch on to learning his colors when Lorne started equating them to Sesame Street characters. "Elmo is red" seems to work better than, "What color is a fire engine?" He'll have days when he wants to count everything and that's cool too.

We've started playing a few games. He got Candy Land, Go Fish, Uno, and Chutes and Ladders for his birthday. I haven't been around enough young children to be able to gauge his attention span, but we do all right I think.

We don't have the potty training down yet and I'm starting to get a little anxious. I'm looking around at friends' kids who are in training pants and/or completely trained and are making much more progress. I just feel like I have had way too many psychology classes to try and pressure him into potty training. Ol' Freud coined the phrase anal retentive for a reason! :) I'm really wanting to make some progress this summer since the weather is warm and he will be wearing fewer clothes.

He loves to be outside and go to the park and feed the ducks. He loves his trains and very rarely will he play with a toy in the manner in which it was intended. I just tell myself that is a sign of a great imagination and creativity and let him run with whatever he is wanting to do.

We're still dealing with him pushing Chloe and trying to get that negative attention. We just try and give him as much attention as we possibly can and add those red X's to his Reward Board when that doesn't work. He seems to be mean to her on a daily basis, but the other day he introduced her as "my Cully" and all of that was forgotten, at least for a moment.

He has definite opinions these days. He wants to choose his snacks, clothes, jammies, plate and cup color, which books to read; I could go on and on. I know that all of these are signs of independence, but boy, they can try a momma's patience!

Sawyer loves Thomas the Tank Engine!

They grow so quickly you'd think we could see it happening.

Please note the Band-Aid. We go through lots of Band-Aids around here. Anyone needing ideas for Christmas...

Aggieland Bound

Tracy graduated from Foster High School on Saturday, June 7th. We had every intention of attending, but things don't always go as planned when there are children involved, as I am slowly learning.

Sawyer woke up Friday morning and I noticed that the top of one of his legs had a few red spots, but I just thought it was a bug bite of some kind and didn't think anything else about it. I got busy packing and cleaning and getting ready to leave town. Later that morning he got into some water outside and took off his shorts. I noticed that the tops of both legs and all around his waist were broken out in tiny red bumps. I called the peds office and of course they couldn't see us until 2:00 because it was lunchtime by this time.

We were planning to get Lorne from work at 3:30, but I finished loading the car and we got him at 1:30. We had Rosie and even some fish with us, so it was quite a trip. We saw Michele, one of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, who said it looked like a classic drug reaction. He was on Omnicef for an ear infection at the time. She gave him a script for Augmentin, some Benadryl, some Orapred, and a partridge in a pear tree, and we hit the road. It was about 3:45 by the time we were leaving so we weren't really late, even with the detour to the peds office.

The trip down was pretty uneventful and Sawyer even got some rest which was nice. Jamie called Saturday morning and said Jordan was sick so we decided not to leave the kids there during the graduation which was our initial plan. We had decided that I would just go with Mom and Lorne and the kids would come to the party at Tammy's afterwards. Then Sawyer came in from playing outside. He had another rash, this time on his left calf, and it didn't look like the one from yesterday which had faded considerably. I start freaking out, calling doctor's offices in Bay City, which are all closed since it is Saturday morning. I called the peds office in Plano and the nurse recommended that I get it looked at since it is so tough to diagnose rashes over the phone. We found an Urgent Care office in Lake Jackson. THREE HOURS LATER they tell us that it is just a continuation of the same reaction and to just wait it out. I am so upset because I have missed Tracy's graduation which is the whole reason we were even down in the first place. I was just wanting to drive back to Wylie at that point, but I went ahead and went to the party in Sugar Land for a few hours and I'm really glad that I did. I wanted to at least see Tracy and give her a hug on her big day.

On a side note, I took Sawyer to see Dr. Darrow on Monday when we got back home and she took him off the Augmentin. She said that if the rash was gone by Thursday it probably is a cyclosporin allergy. It was gone by then, but he is still having occasional flareups. We go for a well-check on the 30th so I guess we'll see what she says then.

Everyone could tell it was going to be an Aggie party as soon as they walked in the door.

I thought this was the cutest way to showcase Tracy's life.

I was so glad that I got to see Tracy!

Everything always tastes better off Mimi's plate.

Kayla and Aunt Kelly

Tammy is definitely the best hostess ever!

Sawyer's Third Birthday, Take Two

We had another celebration for Sawyer today, much like we did for Chloe's birthday. I headed back to Kroger and bought a little cake which he decimated. We did it early because Lorne is going to California for work for three days next week and won't be here on Sawyer's actual birthday. We're going out of town this weekend for Tracy's graduation so we decided to do it tonight. Chloe's WaterBabies also start Monday evening, so we probably wouldn't have been able to do anything Monday. The great thing is Sawyer's three and won't know the difference one way or the other!

I saved the majority of his presents to open today instead of at his party. It worked out really well because he could take his time opening them and not have to rush off and do something else like he would if it were at his party. I was really excited for him to finally have the easel because Santa brought it at Christmas, but they already had so much stuff that we put it away for a few months. I feel like I've been moving that box from room to room since December!

Here's the cake before Sawyer commenced his destruction.

The birthday boy, smiling painfully as his mother tortures him with taking pictures.

I told ya he enjoyed it!

Chloe wasn't feeling the love for the cake for some reason.

She did, however, enjoy the easel.

Sawyer's loot.

The easel was a big hit!

I got Sawyer the WordWhammer to work on letter recognition. Leap Frog makes great toys!