Summer - 5 Months Old

Sweet Summer Grace turned five months early this week.  She learned all sorts of new tricks this month and continues to be a complete joy.  My favorite is her laugh!  She has a deep chuckle that she lets out on rare occasion these days.  The only person she will laugh in response to is....you guessed it - her big brother.  She's is absolutely smitten with him.  She watches him intently and when he finally pays some attention to her she gives him a huge gummy grin.  Last Friday she let out a big laugh when he was jumping off his step stool and rolling around on the ground.  I tried to imitate the trick...but no laughs for mom.  Only Marshall.

At five months, Summer Grace is:

• Sleeping a little better.  We are down to 2 (sometimes 3) wakings/ night.  Not ideal, but manageable for now.  Goes to bed at 7 and starts her day around 7 am.
• Has rolled over once on her own.  Doesn't seem like she is very interested in doing it again. 
• Has started rice cereal.  She really loves fruit mixed in with it.  We have tried sweet potatoes (yum), apples (yum), pears (ummm, ok) and squash (yuck).  We are doing one meal a day right now and she is nursing 5x/day and once or twice at night.
• Continues to be a laid back baby.  She usually naps once/day in the car or on-the-go. 
• Smiles at everyone.
• Has a few teeth coming in, we think. 
• Growing, growing, growing!

The Best of Christmas 2011

The blog train is totally off track...I'm all out of order with posts. Didn't want to miss a quick recap of our Christmas though! Our Christmas is always pretty special. We are able to spend Christmas Eve with the Kirchner side and Christmas Day with the Dawson side because everyone lives so close to us. Christmas morning is reserved for our little family unit of four. Amazing how each year gets more magical. I'll let the photos do the talking this time.

Pre-Christmas with our Buddies, Charlotte and Max.

 

Christmas Eve

Helping with the tradition...homemade pizza on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Morning

Christmas Day

Cousin dog pile on Uncle Curt

Officially pictured-out!

  

Marshall is 3

Dear Little Buddy,

You turned three yesterday.  I couldn't help myself from pulling out your baby photo book and looking back at old videos.  How can it be that you are growing up so quickly?  You have become such a young boy this year.  You are happiest when you are entrenched in some sort of project with one on one attention from someone you love - whether that be in the garage with dad or at the kitchen table making art with mom.  You are full of your own coined phrases and words that I know we will miss hearing someday.  Your "L's" still come out as a "w" and it is just too cute for words. 

You are caring, loving, and oh-so-lovable.  You sleep pretty well these days...but in recent months you've managed to sneak into our bed in the middle of the night several times/week.  I'm pretty sure it is because you know you can get a good snuggle without having it interrupted by someone else's needs.  We rarely turn you away because, shhhh, don't tell anyone - but we like it! 

It has been a big year for you, especially when you became a big brother.  You adjusted better than we could have hoped.  You love to help bathe your sister and help us take care of her.  You are the first to comment on a new outfit or hair bow she is wearing with an "Aaawwwww! She looks so cute!"  Of course, you are not a fan of having to share attention with her ALL the time.  You'll often order dad to "put her back in mommy's arms".  Your quest for independence continues to challenge us everyday.  I guess it is just part of being a three year old.  When you have upset us, you sheepishly ask, "Are you happy?"  We know you just want to make us proud.

Your favorite place to be is right here at home.  You sometimes beg to stay in your pj's and "just play toys".   That makes us smile.  We have to imagine you love to be at home so much because we have made it a happy and loving place for you. 

You started pre-school this week.  You are the youngest kid in the class because we started you in the middle of the school year in the 3 year old class.  I'm not worried though, you are smart way beyond your years.  You speak like you are a five year old and love learning new things.  You have a memory that is so good that worries us!  We can't get away with any mistakes on our part.   Most people can't believe you are only three!

Marshall Barry, our sweet first-born, you made me a Mommy and your dad a Daddy.  You came into this world and flipped ours upside-down in the best ways imaginable.  We learn and grow and celebrate with you every day.  You will never know how much we love you...until you have one of your own, of course.  Happy 3rd Birthday!

Testing out his new balance bike...er, "motorcycle"

Marshall's 1st Day of Preschool

It is very quiet in our house this morning.  I just got back from dropping off my baby boy at his very first day of preschool.  Gulp!   

I'm proud to report that the drop-off was smooth and drama free.  We have been building this day up for some time now.  New shoes, special uniform, new book bag, Buzz lunch box, the list goes one.  Knowing how Marshall needs some time to warm-up to new things, I had made the point to take him to the school a few times at the end of the year for a visit in hopes that it would feel familiar when his first day came along.  It appears to have worked!  I gave him a choice of having me walk him into the school or going through the car pool lane.  Big boy chose the car pool drop off.  Wow!  

He jumped out of the car and started explaining to the teachers that his school supplies where in the extra bag I sent.   I blew him a big kiss and then promptly bolted out of the parking lot before the tears started flowing. 

Such a bittersweet day.  I'm so proud of him and excited for all that is to come...and amazed at how fast my sweet baby has grown into a big boy.  I can hardly wait to pick him up and hear all about it....fingers crossed for a great first day!