Number 5!

Lily welcomed tooth number 5 sometime last week. It was on the bottom left, right next to one of her first front bottom teeth. Her vocabulary is expanding, altho we are the ones who understand it. I have been able to pull her bangs up into a tiny hair rubber band, which has been helpful in keeping them out of her eyes. She has begun shaking her head up and down in order to answer yes to something. Very funny to watch, it's as if her bottom jaw is in control instead of her head.

Austin is coming along in preschool. He can write most letters and numbers w/o to many problems. He can say most of his address (working on the zip code). The phone number is still a work in progress.

Justin, is, well, still Justin. Altho he is completely potty trained, including naps and night time. However, he has pooped in a friends back yard and our back yard. Maybe he thinks he's part puppy?

#3 and #4

I'm a little behind (shocking, I know!). Lily got tooth #3 (front top right) a little over a week ago, and then tooth #4 two days ago (front top left). She is very facially expressive. She tries to repeat a lot of things. She tries to keep up with the boys. She hits me several times on the legs when I tell her "No, I can't pick you up right now." She is starting to get into 'real' trouble. Gone are the days of many many warnings, stern voices, and light taps on the hands or behind.

Austin is still practicing writing his letters and numbers most days. He likes getting a silly band for his hard efforts.

Justin is still, well, Justin. And he only cares about a silly band for a minute. Gummy bears tho, that's an entirely different story. I think they have helped us potty train him. He does GREAt at home, goes almost all the time by himself, and still no diapers at night or nap. The problem still remains that he doesn't know how to ask someone to go...like at church where that ability is necessary.

Potty training update....'No, Mommy'.....name

Justin has been in underwear and shorts this week. He does just fine getting them down (if he'll let go of his Buzz toy), he just has trouble getting them back up correctly, if at all :) He goes whenever he wants w/o being asked (altho I still ask), no pooh accidents, and he is still keeping a diaper dry during nap time and night time. He is still using the potty chair at home and at church. He will use a regular toilet when we are away from home. Next week we'll work on one of two things: either he learns how to open the bathroom door, or he learns to tell me he has to go so that I can open the door for him. Maybe then we can ditch the potty chair. All in all I think he is doing great. Harder than Austin, but better than I expected.


Lily started saying 'No', which was quickly followed by 'Mommy'. Not 2 words I would have chosen to be understandable together, and in that order.

Austin can spell his first name if you ask him. We are working on putting it on paper. He is very eager to learn, but is just as eager to give up when he doesn't get it right the first time.

Happy 4th of July AND Happy Potty Training!!

Happy belated 4th of July!!















AND....Happy Potty Training!
Things are going well with Justin. He has been in underwear during the day for the past 2 days and stayed dry all day today (Tuesday) until evening right before bath/bed when he poo'd in them. I am so proud of him! During his 2 naps he also kept the diaper dry.


AND, Austin is doing well practicing his letters and spelling his name.

Very exciting!!

I hope the excitement and enthusiasm continue tomorrow, and for many days to come. I decided to spend as much of this week as I could potty training Justin. Wasn't real sure what to expect. It went GREAT! He only used the kitchen floor 2x to potty, but used the potty chair to potty 6x, and 2x to poo. The last time he pottied in the potty chair was at bedtime after he had been in the pool for a couple of hours and then in the bath. Not bad! We have had a 3 Muskateers bar in the kitchen, up high where he could see it, for months, for when he decided he was ready to start going on the potty. He finally got it today, and was very proud of himself.

Things I forgot about Lily: She knows where her nose is. She will clean, with a wet wipe, her feet or face or diaper if you tell her too. She was 21.6# and 30" at her 1 year well-check. She can get off the couch by herself, which means she thinks she can get off of the bed and down the stairs too, which she CAN'T! She will hug and kiss on request, usually. She thinks her brothers are a riot, usually.

Austin has been able to write an 'A' for quite awhile, and for some time now has been doing an 'i' and 'n'(which looks like an 'm'). So, we have been working on the other letters, putting them in the right order, and recognizing them. It's a work in progress. He is such a big help. He loves to help cook or clean (altho he doesn't get to do much cooking since I hate messes).

They all love the pool, mostly Austin.

A little late...

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY LILY, our July 4th baby!


Outfit #1 provided by the Steven's Clan.









Outfit #2 supplied by Grandma Paula.











The only pic of her w/her brownie flag cake and candle. Too many people to mess with a visit to the high chair.












Great-Grandma Sue made a beautiful brownie flag-cake.











Grandma Barbie made 2 great dessert pizzas.












Her very first doll baby, given to her by Grandma Paula.











She is easily amused by Uncle Josh and her new toy puppy from Grandpa Fritz and Grandma barbie.


She has been walking consistently for a month. She has been trying to run the past week or so, I suppose to keep up with the boys. Her new word is 'Uh-oh." Any 'B' word is fairly common: baby, bubby, balloon, bear. She says puppy, and "hi" to everyone and everything. She can tell you that puppies, bears, kittys, and pretty much everything, growles. She is very expressive, which makes for some drama. She looks more like a girl now with longer hair. She eats pretty much anything. She saw her first movie at a theatre today, as did the boys. It was Toy Story 3. She didn't much care, but the boys loved it, especially Justin.

Lily's tooth to teeth and step to steps.

In the past 3 weeks Lily has gone from a step or two to six or more. She also went from 1 tooth to 2 teeth, and soon a 3rd will be in full view.



Various pics....

Grandpa Fritz 'the Snowbird" has returned from Florida.












Austin's 4th b-day a few weeks ago.











Lily sooo exhausted she fell asleep in her jumpy chair. If you know Lily, this seems almost impossible!










My little "helper".












First day this year in the pool. They had a blast. Lily was able to get in and out herself. Pretty good for never having been in it before.