It's Hard to Let Go

Baby Faith has talked all summer about going to school. She has talked about learning to read, being dropped off, being the boss and many other wonderful things. Even the first couple of pictures show my Faithie excited and ready for school. Grace has also been looking forward to school- we dropped off school supplies last week and met their teachers and they were both seemingly ready to start school.

So imagine our surprise when we get to the school and first go to drop off Gracie. She put her arms tightly around me, buried her face against me and began to cry. She whispered that she didn't know anyone, then didn't want to let go. The principal walked by and asked if she could help- I told her Grace was just a little bit nervous. She found a girl from Grace's class and that girl introduced herself and walked Grace back into class. Grace said she would be alright, but still looked uneasy as Ryan and I walked around the corner to Faith's classroom.

At the doorway of the Kindergarten classroom, Faith suddenly stopped. She said she didn't want to go in. I assured her that yes, she did- kindergarten was going to be a lot of fun. Her teacher greeted her and said how pretty she looked and Faith still wouldn't let go of my hand. She kept whispering that she did not want me to leave and more specifically, she did not want us to leave her there. She said, "please, mama, I don't want to go to school". I promised her she would have fun, pried my fingers out of hers and left with Ryan.

Let me tell you, that the significance of my girls having a hard time letting go, while I was working to let go was not lost on me.

After school, we were there before the bell rang. Grace looked lost when I walked into her classroom, but the teacher said she had a good day and Grace did earn two school dollars. Grace said recess was hard because she didn't have anyone to talk to, but that she liked music and Chapel. Faith said she got hit and slapped and kicked (her teacher assured us this is not true) and that no one likes her. After much talking, we convinced them to give it another try today. It didn't go much better with Faith today as she told me she wasn't ready for school. She said, "please take me with you".

So, I sit now and write this, wondering how the second day is going, remembering back to many times when I was new at school. I'm wondering if they had to eat alone, if they had anyone to run and play with at recess and if anyone wanted to be their partner for team projects. Wishing that I could be there with them and make some of the other kids see how great they are and how lucky they would be to have my girls as friends.

Andrew- 10 Months

It is hard to believe, but Andy is only 2 months from his first birthday. He is getting so big and learning so much. In the last month, he has learned how to get completely to a sitting position from lying down, has learned to wave "hi", has learned to pull himself up in his crib, and has learned to clap. He really likes it if you cheer for him and clap with him when he claps his hands. He also is really crawling- getting around really fast, and getting into almost everything. He pulls the trash can down at work and eats staples and paper off of the floor, so as you can see, he now has to be in the "baby jail" while we are at work. He is such a good boy...he spends a lot of time talking to the phone book in my office, but still won't help with any office work. Andy is just about finished with baby food. He really likes meatloaf and carrots, but categorically hates rice. In some of the more exciting news of the past month, he has just about stopped spitting up. He will still do it every once in awhile, just to make sure we are paying attention. I am including the picture of his hands just for fun- his daddy wants to know where his wrists are?

Andrew's 1st Haircut

As you can see from the "before" picture, Andrew's hair has become a little bit unruly, including the unfortunate tail at the base of his skull. We are very fortunate to be good friends with Miss Lynnse, the best hairstylist EVER! She came to our house to cut Andy's hair last night. It started off fine, then Andrew became increasingly agitated as Lynnse would not let him have the comb or the scissors she was using. However, she worked her magic and the end result is a cute boy that now is even more handsome (if that was even possible). And yes, for those wondering, he is having a snack while he has his hair cut. Thank you Miss Lynnse!

A Boy and His Bottle

I was packing up to get ready to leave work, and glanced over into the pack-n-play and noticed Andy had gone to sleep, cuddling his bottle. Andrew loves his bottle- he will often drink the bottle, then proceed to talk to it and pick it up and ultimately hold it as he falls asleep. There have been several times I have gone into his room and his lovey and toys are to the side and he is sound asleep, holding his bottle. It is hard to tell from this picture, but lately he has been sucking the bottle so hard the nipple gets flattened. I wonder why we continue to buy him toys when he loves a $4 bottle so much.

9 Months

I have been trying to get a bunch of pictures ready to view, but am having quite a bit of trouble with the photo-editing program. So, here are a few for now, and this weekend I will get serious about editing all of the pictures from Grace's birthday, our vacation and 4th of July for you all to see.

In the meantime, I wanted to update you on little Andrew...although little probably isn't the best term for him- he is a solid boy! We love all of the rolls, or as I prefer to call them "muscles". As you can tell in his fisherman shot from 4th of July, his muscle shirt shows all of the muscles on his arms. Andy is getting around a lot now...he can do an "army crawl" to whatever he wants on the floor, and has discovered the fun that is Oreo. Oreo remains as patient as ever, as you can tell from the picture. Andrew is starting on table foods now, but most often abuses the privilege of fun table foods by cramming too much in his mouth at once and then gagging on the food. His sisters still love him and can make him smile and laugh- we still have to take turns sitting by him in the car. He was supposed to have stopped spitting up today (9 months is the magic month for Struck babies), but threw up on me as we were leaving the house this morning. Andy is still so good at work...he talks to a phone book and the pack and play, but still won't help with the bulletin or with Stats. He is so happy and so much fun to be with.

8 Months

Another month is already gone...Andy is 8 months today. He is babbling a lot more now and can now fully sit up and roll over both ways (why do baby milestones at this age sound a lot like dog tricks?). He loves, loves, loves his Jumperoo- which is noisy and sometimes annoys his sisters. He had a doctor visit this month and the doctor says Andrew has plenty of pounds...is over 20 lbs, putting him in the 75th percentile for weight and the 8oth for height- all of that to say he is a big boy. He still loves a bath and his toothbrush. He is very ticklish almost all over and loves attention from his sisters. He is still our most easygoing baby- sometimes we have to tell ourselves to pick him up and cuddle him because he is so happy to just watch everything go on around him. He is very handsome, as you can see- girls already can't keep themselves away- the picture below is his friend Sophie giving him a kiss. Andrew is so sweet and I stand amazed at the gift he is to our family.

Grace is 8

Hard to believe, but my brown-eyed girl is 8 today. It feels like I looked away for one second and she is half way to being able to drive.

Grace loves everything to do with art and is good at spelling. She is a terrific swimmer- she can do the breast stroke, side stroke, freestyle and butterfly. She likes most kinds of music, but is partial to the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana. In a clear demonstration of unconditional love, and love being deaf and blind, she loves to hear me sing- especially old 60's tunes. Grace is certainly not her mother's daughter when it comes to food- she likes plain vanilla ice cream, no butter on her waffles or toast, nothing spicy and can take or leave cheese. She is so good with her brother, and loves her sister, even if sometimes showing her love for Faith comes in the form of pestering and teasing.

Grace has always been a tremendous blessing for me- she is the gift God sent that I most certainly did not deserve. She gave both Ryan and I purpose and direction, and a reason to want to do well.