Family Update

Wah-hoo!  Even with fairly limited computer access, I was able to post fairly regularly.  I doubt that it will keep up, but you never know!

For this one, I'm going to send you back to this post.  Not much has changed for family updates since then,

Letter to My Kids

Dear Charlie, Esme, and Henry,

This week we've all been a bit stir-crazy.   We've had to stay home most of the time due to Esme being sick.  I think we'll all be glad when the illness passes so we can go to the Discovery Center, the play area at the mall, and church.

Charlie, you are a Magnatile building addict.  Seriously, I have never seen you play with a toy multiple times a day for 22 days straight.  Perhaps you and I will explore some DIY lightbox plans.  I think you would really enjoy adding that element to your Magnatile play.  Over the past couple of weeks, you have also been a major helper in the kitchen, assisting the bread, pizza, soup, casseroles, and pretty much anything else.  You've also been a great example by teaching Esme the ropes around the kitchen.

Esme, you have been so sick, sweetie.  Runny nose, sneezes, coughs, watery eyes, and for a couple of days, quite fatigued.  Overall, you've been yourself - just slowed down a bit. You still take care of your babies, but are really content sitting in my lap watching movies like Frozen and Brave.  Also, you've been a bit of a sourpuss during meal prep time because you have been relegated to just watching instead of doing due to your extreme germiness.

Henry, your kicks and swipes have been more powerful these days.  Quarters must be getting cramped in there.  The doctor is still impressed that you are progressing right on track despite the little weight I have gained so far.  Keep it up little guy!

Love you forever,
     Mama

TBT: Air Batman

TBT to January 2014:  Batman shooting hoops at Nana's

Baby Prep: Distraction Tactics

Part of my baby prep plan is preparing distractions for Charlie and Esme to do while I feed Henry.  For each older sibling, I want to make two quiet/busy books and three quiet/busy boxes.  Specifically, I wanted to get one book done by the end of December (seasons), one book completed by the end of January (personalized), and one box per month assembled in February (art), March (Play-doh), and April (Kinetic Sand).

I did not get the first set of quiet books done in December.  Unfortunately, I left my bag that had my supplies in southern Illinois after our holiday visit.  Oops!  That means the books won't be done in January either.  So, I moved on to the boxes.  By the end of January I hope to have two boxes (art and Play-doh) complete instead of two books.

As of today, the art boxes are finished.  For these boxes, I purchased two storage boxes from the children's decor section at Target and filled them with the following:

• drawing paper
• construction paper
• colorful, blank yard sale dot stickers
• star stickers
• cuts of yarn
• foam shapes
• glue stick
• markers
• crayons
• art apron (Thanks for the cute aprons, Nana!)

So far, almost all the supplies for the Play-doh and Kinetic Sand boxes are gathered.  Here's what we've got that I need to parcel out among the four boxes:

• Play-doh Zoo Adventure Bucket (Target exclusive) that came with several items: 18 animal stamps, 4 cookie cutters, 3 half-mold sheets, 3 regular sized tubs of Play-doh, 10 medium sized tubs of Play-doh, 4 rollers, 6 roller cutters, 4 knives, 4 playmats, 1 pair of scissors, and one press
• Melissa & Doug Speck Seahorse Sand Ice Cream Set: 
  
• Lakeshore Bugs 3D Stampers:
  

I would still like to get another pair of Play-doh scissors, roller cutters that slide onto Play-doh rollers, and a press.  

Esme Update

Unless we have HUGE weekly progress that requires more narrative, these weekly update posts will be lists and photos.   Enjoy catching up with Esme!

• Esme is all about baby dolls.  The weird thing is that we never actively encouraged this.  Aaron and I have been intentional about not pushing certain toys on the kids.  "Don't you want to play with this baby doll instead of Thomas, Esme?"  Nope, we just don't do it.  While she does enjoy a rousing playtime with Thomas and Friends, her Shirley Temple baby, Stella baby, and pink baby get attention daily.
• She thinks Frozen is amazing.  Charlie got the DVD/Blu-Ray/Digital copy for Christmas, but Esme asks to watch "Anna" almost everyday.  During our drive home she started to interact with the movie, too. ("Uh-oh, Anna!" when Anna's hair turns white; blows raspberries when Hans is on the screen.)
• Right now, she's been sick. This is the fifth day of snot, sneezes, coughs, and low grade fevers.  She's also been waking every one to two hours at night and her naps have been short.  Poor thing.  Thankfully her thirst and appetite are fine.  She's getting more sluggish each day.