first week

We all had a successful start to summer school: Jenna loved every minute, I didn't break down in tears, and I got her there on time every day!
I took a couple pictures of her first week:

breakfast on her first day of school :)

loving our sunny walks :)

She has to pick EVERY dandelion she sees! She tells me to close my eyes, then gives it to me "because she loves me". She is the sweetest little girl ever!

She has to balance on these beams every time we pass

So happy to see brother after three whole hours apart!

I've enjoyed our walks everyday more than I thought I would. I get uninterrupted time to chat with Jenna, and after we drop her off Liam enjoys the sights while I get quiet time with my thoughts.

This week has revealed at least one positive to full-day Kindergarten in the fall: Liam will get a decent nap. For now, I have to wake him up to go pick up Jenna on time. He's been happy about it so far, but I don't expect his good attitude to last forever!

Jenna's teacher stopped me after school on Friday to let me know she is a joy to have in class and is more than ready for Kindergarten. That's my girl!

9 months

Liam's 9 month stats:

 20 lbs. - 60th percentile

28 in. - 50th percentile
A perfect little boy! 

This past month Liam has been all about three things: clapping, cruising, and climbing!
And making this face:

It's his "I'm trying to be upset and not laugh at the same time" face.

...cracks me up every time!

This little boy is all over the place now! Nothing under 3 feet is safe!

checking out the book big sister is reading

He has just about mastered using his sippy cup, and he eats everything we give him. He's got a very healthy appetite, and he definitely eats more than Jenna at dinnertime!

He has 6 teeth now! The top four all came within a week, and since they're all poking out at different lengths he's got a little redneck smile! So funny!

Liam has an extremely over-protective mother, and her name is Jenna! She won't let him within 10 feet of the stairs, and watches him like a hawk so he won't fall while cruising along furniture. We're constantly telling her to let him do things himself, so he can learn! If she didn't go to school, he would never be able to get into any mischief!
She loves him so much and needs to be near him most of the time. Ever since we let her pick him up on her own, she has been carrying and dragging that boy all over the house with her (supervised, of course). 

 

Don't worry, he loves it! No one can make him laugh quite like his big sister :)

family update

It's been a pretty chill month for us. We've just been enjoying our family time before life gets busy again! But I figure I should post something between Liam's 8 and 9 month updates, so here's what's going on with us:

LIAM's top front four teeth seem to all be coming in at once! Two of them have cut through, but it looks like the other two aren't going to be far behind! Poor little guy got a fever for about 24 hours, but is otherwise handling it like a champ!

JENNA graduated from our little co-op preschool! I'm going to miss her so much when she goes to Kindergarten (especially since Maryland only offers full-day) but I've decided to be happy about it, because she's sooo excited!
Starting next week she gets to go to a 3 week half-day summer school program, so that will help us all adjust to the idea.

KALI got called as the choir accompanist, and it feels like it is consuming my life (in a good way...)! The challenge is finding time to practice; All I can say is thank heavens for Jenna, naptime, and an electric piano with volume control! I hadn't played at all since Liam was born; It feels good to play again!

PAUL used his skillz last week to build a cage for the kids' stuffed animals. I got the idea from pinterest, and love how it turned out!