September 2014 Update

In September, we enjoyed the last few warm days of summer.  Through our CSA we got a lot of tomatoes and a pumpkin.  So I made lots of pasta sauce, tomato sauce, and salsa to freeze for alter.  I also made some pumpkin puree which has been used for muffins and cookies and lots of yumminess!

Alethea has been going to preschool each Monday and we are often out of leftovers and the morning just isn’t friendly for breakfast.  So we have been enjoying grabbing a bite to eat on the way.  One week we went to Krispy Kreme and the kiddos loved their donuts as well as the balloons that came with them.  We also enjoyed some muffins and bagels from Panera.  Eventually I will remember to make something over the weekend, but we have enjoyed the fun resulting from my lack of planning.

This month we went on our last trip out to the lake house during the boating season.  We were blessed enough to have not only my parents there with us but also our good friends the Manahans.  The kiddos had so much fun with Emerson and we enjoyed lots of great conversation and fun games with Lauren and Mike.  We also all ate way too much yummy food including homemade goodies as well as goodies from the local Amish bakery.  We also enjoyed a couple fun trips out on the boat, even if they were a bit on the chilly side.

We also had the opportunity to walk with friends from church in honor of their son beating Leukemia.  It was fun to join with many friends from church and support the Leukemia and Lymphoma society.  I also was able to host my second Thirty-One party thanks to my sister-in-law.  It was so successful that she got a ton of great freebies and discounts and so did I!  I love all my new bags!

 One last campfire for the season

Alethea and I had the chance to go with friends from church to Disney Princesses and Heroes on Ice.  We even got to go to Wild Eggs beforehand to celebrate one of Alethea’s friend’s birthdays.  Alethea had so much fun on her princess day and she even got to dress up like a princess for the day (thanks to Mamaw).  It was a super fun getting a Mommy and me day with Alethea! Ben and Declan had some man time while we were gone too.

Princesses!

Now for the update on the kiddos.  Alethea is getting smarter every day and it is so much fun to watch her excitement for learning.  She is now able to write her name while either copying or verbally being told the letters to write.  It is not uncommon for her to ask how to write something or someone’s name so that she can write it down.  She can write most of her alphabet.  Crayons are her preferred writing tool, probably because that makes it easier for her to use than a pencil.  She does still love using markers and pencils, but they are just harder to write with.  She is very interested in the world around her and always asking questions.  Sometimes it drives me crazy, but I am thankful for her curiosity and I know it will serve her well.  She also absolutely loves preschool.  She gets so excited every time we tell her she has preschool. J  This month we also got our first mommy and me jamberry nails and she loves them.  She even asked to wear flip flops with her pants and sweater because she wanted to show them off, lol.

The biggest downfall we face lately is her attitude.  Thankfully she is mostly on good behavior when we are out and about or when she is in other’s care.  However, for us she is very challenging of our authority.  I know it is a stage, but it is definitely a hard one many days when it feels like every interaction is a battle (sometimes even when I am giving her what she wants, lol).  Often this is compounded by our other struggle, NAPS!  She is very streaky with naps lately.  She will nap for an entire week and then take an entire week.  It is totally unpredictable and sometimes drives me crazy because she is so much less whiney/hard to manage in the evenings when she naps!

Declan is still our happy little man.  He is testing his limits to see what he can/can’t do physically and with regards to his behavior.  We do a lot of redirecting, but thankfully (other than being exhausting sometimes with his persistence) we know it is all a part of the learning.  He had his 15 month appointment this month and he is 31.5 inches and 24.5lbs.  According to stats he has chunked up a bit, though I don’t really notice it in pics so it must be well spread.   A big milestone is that he weaned from his evening nursing this month.  I have bible study once a week and pumping was not replenishing the stock.  So rather than have him mad on a night when Ben didn’t have a bottle to feed, we just opted to wean after he took his last bottle.  He never even requested to nurse when we dropped so I think he was ready.   He also gained 2 new teeth this month so his total is up to 7 (4 on top and 3 on bottom).

 He has become a big fan of hugs and kisses.  It is not uncommon for him to run up to any of the three of us and give us a big hug and (as Alethea says) a wet kiss.  He is definitely a lover.  Speaking of Alethea, he wants to be around her whenever he can.  I love that they can play together so well most of the time.  It is not uncommon for them to disappear to Alethea’s room for a while to play together.  So sweet!  Now that Alethea is in preschool one day a week, Declan and I get some one-on-one time while she is gone and we have had fun with that time.  For him to get time by himself with Ben or I is rare, so I am thankful for the time preschool allows for. 

Solo shopping while Alethea is at school

He doesn't even watch the shows often, but he loves to be on the couch with her

artist!

Our biggest bummer for Declan continues to be fevers without any other symptoms.  He had another bout of fevers early in the month.  We visited the doc and after two rounds of cbc tests the doc isn’t worried about anything.  He thinks that fevers must just be the way he fights off viruses.  We will still watch for fever syndrome by tracking his fevers, but nothing in his tests show any signs yet thankfully.  He has also been struggling with intermittent sores on his little boy parts and so we are constantly treating him with medicated cream. L  We think this may be part of the reason that he has taken a liking to waking up in the middle of the night requesting a diaper change about 3-4 times a week.  We are onto a new cream so we are hopeful he will find some permanent relief soon!

September was a busy month, but thankfully it was a great month!