Happy Thanksgiving!

It's almost Turkey Day. Lots to do, but I think we're all very excited. JM, of course, doesn't know what to expect, but Maggie has already chosen her outfits (yes, plural) and created the seating chart. On Thanksgiving, JM will meet Aunt Michelle, Uncle Trevor and cousins Natalie and Noah for the first time - should be a great day. We'll also spend some time with Big Pappy and Uncle Mike. Then, on Friday, lots of fun with the Layman cousins!

JM is a happy and energetic little boy. He loves singing, playing outside and in the basement. He jumps and climbs on anything and throws everything. We'll need to work on the latter, but I have to say the kid has a good arm :)

On the developmental front, we think JM may have fluid behind his eardrums, so we're headed to the ENT in early December. We'll see what they recommend. We'll start a bit of speech therapy regardless of the diagnosis. He's picking up a lot of new words but having some trouble with pronunciation. This could all be related to the eardrums, so hopefully we'll have a plan of action soon.

Daycare is going well, though there are still tears at drop off. His teachers report he is doing well, likes to participate and blows kisses to them. He talks about his teachers often, which is comforting to us. He has also been getting up very early, so occasionally he doesn't quite make it to nap time.

Even though we still haven't eaten all of the Halloween Candy yet (see above - Maggie as Princess Fiona from Shrek and JM as Lion; from our trip to Dutch Wonderland with friend Shira and her daughter, Maya), it's on to pumkin pie. It's that time of year, right?

Wishing you all the Happiest Thanksgiving!

Amy, Keith, Maggie and JM

ps - Congratulations to Shira, Mark and Maya on their recent referral!



Back to Work and Halloween

JM has been transitioning to day care since my return to work. He still cries at drop off he is now getting used to the routine, enjoying the songs, circle time and playground and is becoming close with one teacher and a few of the kids (he speaks of "Will" quite a bit). Keith and Grandma are also back in day care/bus pick-up routines (thanks Grandma!). For my part, I'm enjoying work and adult conversation and am slowly getting over the guilt associated with drop off.

We've been having lots of fun recently - trips to the pumpkin patch (see the "corn box" below) and Halloween of course. JM has a major sweet tooth. Which reminds me I'll have to make that dentist appointment soon.

Maggie was Nanny McPhee and JM was a lion. He didn't master "Trick or treat" but he did roar and say thank you.

Keith is running the New York marathon next week so we're all headed to the city to cheer him on. Should be a good weekend.

That's all for now - Thanksgiving here we come!

~Amy

Is it October already?

I can't believe we are well into fall, and the weather is finally feeling like summer has passed. We've been very busy keeping up with JM (and keeping him active) so I haven't posted in a while.

In the past few weeks we've had playdates with Adam and Rhea, trips to the parks, cousin Elllie's birthday party, an overnight with our friends at the shore in NJ (thanks Mark, Shira and Maya!), lots of tricycle riding, trips to Longwood Gardens with cousin Mason and more. We're all a bit tired but doing well.

I'll just add a few photos here as we have to run to the store before Maggie comes home on the bus! Beach photos courtesy of the Vergauwens (thanks!).

Love,
Keith, Amy, Maggie and JM

Getting into the groove

JM and I have our weekday routine down now:

Approx. 6 am - Wake up
Much to early for mom. I attempt to cuddle with him in the darkness/quiet (Maggie is usually still asleep). Sometimes he falls asleep again, sometimes not. Sometimes we resort to Elmo's World.

Get Dressed, Teethbrushing with Maggie, head downstairs to see Lucy
JM loves to brush his teeth. I will catch him a few times a day trying to do so in the kids' bathroom.

Breakfast, the first
JM usually has a vanilla yogurt, 1 scrambled egg, a banana and milk; Maggie sticks with cereal and fruit

Here comes the bus
We then walk with Maggie down the street to the bus stop. This happens after I convince JM to bypass his tricycle in the garage and jump into the stroller.

A short walk
After we see Maggie off and wave bye bye, we do a short loop around the neighborhood, during which time JM points out flowers, trees (a new word) and airplanes. Luckily the weather has been clear and we live near a small airport, so there have been lots of sightings.

Finally, bike time
It's now about 9 am and JM rejoices as pull into the driveway and he can hope on his bike,  blow bubbles, play with the stomp rocket (thanks Aunt Michelle!) or attempt Maggie's old skateboard.

Out and about
If we're going to leave the house, we have to do so now. If not, we'll have nap issues if he sleeps in the car. We've had a playdate with our friend Adam, gone to the park, library, grocery store, Target and Pete's Produce and other fun mornings. If we're out of the house or at home, JM is surely having a snack, or Breakfast the 2nd.

Back home, then, yes, eating again
With any luck, JM hasn't fallen asleep in the car. We then play for a few minutes and then he'll have lunch. He does like to eat! Tuna, PBJ, or leftovers usually do the trick.

Naptime!
It's an early nap here. Around noon we head upstairs. Last week Maggie didn't have school one day, so I let the kids play downstairs while I cleaned up the lunch dishes. JM fell asleep in our kids' egg-shaped chair. It was 12:15.

When it's just the two of us, we head upstairs and I try to convince JM that napping is a good thing. After a few minutes he usually complies. If, at this point I haven't fallen asleep (this has been known to happen) I'll sneak out and attempt to do a few chores. Or watch something on the DVR (which also has been known to happen)

Let's play, MORE! Oh wait, I need a snack first.
After nap JM usually starts looking around the house for his sister and yells "Maggie" everywhere. I try to explain that Maggie is still at school. Lucy is his backup, and he is usually happy to hug her, pull on her ears, etc. Then he walks over to his high chair and asks for yet more food. Tonight he climbed into his highchair himself. I have to keep an eye on him all the time.

More play, if we're lucky, outside. Then we head back to the bus stop for Maggie. They are always very excited to see each other.

4 p.m. - Dad will be home soon!
And thank God for that. The kids play, and usually have (yes, I know) a snack when Maggie gets home. I try to give something healthy I promise!

Keith comes home between 4 and 4:30 p.m. these days. I think I'm the happiest to see him of all!

Well this is probably more than you wanted to know! JM is learning new words each day and is very energetic. We're working on the typical toddler stuff ("please", songs, not throwing food off the high chair, tantrums, etc.) and it's great.

I'll try to post more soon!

1 month anniversary!

We met JM on August 2, 2010 and signed the paperwork which allowed us to care for him on August 3, 2010. So much has happened in just one month!

In that month, Maggie has also started first grade at a new school and lost tooth number 4 (the first from the upper deck)!

JM gets very excited when we meet Maggie at the bus in the afternoons.

He also loves all things water - bathtubs, swimming pools, fountains, and puddles. He's also a huge fan of jumping off and climbing on many things, which keeps us on our toes for sure.

He is taking to a new bike of sorts (see video). He also likes the playground, backyard swingset and sandbox and taking walks in the neighborhood. JM frequently spots airplanes at a distance - his eyesight must be great.

JM is an eating machine - eggs, yogurt, raisins (now a favorite), breakfast bars, and peanut butter, peanut butter, peanut butter!

It's only been a month but it's hard to remember a time without him. We can't wait for you call to meet our JM.

Last moments of summer

 

We're enjoying the last few days before Maggie starts first grade on Monday. Maggie has lost another tooth, this one the first on the upper row. We visited Grandma and Grandpa's house and did a little swimming, climbed on everything at the local playground and took a short trip to Longwood Gardens. 

JM loves to watch Keith, our neighbors, park landscapers, etc mow the grass. So he was excited to play with a mower at our friend Adam's house and at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Maggie is ready for school - her friend Sophia is in her class and on her bus, so that's making the transition to the new school pretty smooth. She's excited to buy her lunch in the cafeteria and ride the big bus. More photos of the first day of school later this week.

Getting back in toddler shape

We're starting to get back into toddler shape here - it's been a while since we've had a two year old running around the house (and driveway, and yard, and playing with the dog, and exploring everything.) It's exhausting and wonderful. 

JM is picking up some new words each day and some new songs. Though he is picking up new foods even faster. Luckily we discovered cantaloupe to add to his love of all proteins.

Maggie starts 1st grade on Monday. She's excited and we're thrilled that she'll have something of her own soon. I'm sure she'll run off the bus each day to see James though - right now she can't get enough of him. We'll have to remind her of this devotion in a few years!