Friday, August 20, 2010

They're still growing!

Yesterday, I had a WIC appointment to re-certify Micah and Paige. WIC updates their records by measuring the kids every 6 months. Here are their stats:

Micah
Height: 40 3/4 in.
Weight: 35 lbs. 10 oz.


Paige
Height: 34 1/2 in.
Weight: 26 lbs. 3 oz.

For both of them, their height is about average and their weight is a little below average. There you have it. Healthy kids.

Micah has become quite the chatterbox in the presence of family and friends. It's a challenge to be patient with that sometimes, especially when he constantly asks "Why?". I thought for awhile he was past that stage but apparently not. I'm glad, though, that he is so inquisitive. Encouraging him to ask questions will help him develop a love of learning.

Paige is quickly learning new words. In the book If You Give a Moose a Muffin, she can point and tell me all the things in the scenery the moose makes for his puppet show. She loves to sing "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam," and she'll sing the alphabet song with Micah in the store. If you listen carefully enough, you can catch her even counting to ten. Today, she saw me play "This Little Piggy" with Devon's toes, and afterward, she tried to do it as well. I have to admit, that made me giggle.

Devon turned over from her back to her stomach for the first time today! It was so good to see her learning. I often wonder how Devon will develop, because she was a preemie. But, she seems to be doing alright. Overall, things are going great with the kids.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Sleeping

For about a week, Paige has been sleeping in her new bed, a toddler bed. As is usual, she loves to get out of bed and walk around. Comparing frustrations, I feel as though I get less upset with Paige than I did with Micah in the crib-to-bed transfer. Either I'm becoming more patient or Paige is just easier to deal with. Maybe neither. Maybe I've just found a better way of teaching Paige about using the bed. In any case, it's going pretty well. Some nights are better than others, but that is to be expected.

Continuing on the subject of sleep, Micah is officially not required to take naps. A few weeks ago, I was having a hard time getting him to take his naps. Since then, I figured he is at that age where he really doesn't need to nap anymore. So, instead of sleeping after lunch, (after I put the other two kids down) I give Micah Classroom Time. For half an hour, I teach him things he should learn prior to enrolling in Kindergarten. One day, it's numbers. The next day, letters. Another day, shapes, etc. After that, he is allowed to play quietly in his room while I (try) to get stuff done. The past couple of days, however, he has snuggled in bed of his own free choice and slept. I try not to let him sleep for too long, though, or it will not be easy for him to bed down at night. If he does decide to take a nap (of which I do not object,) he gets Classroom Time after. Pretty soon, we will buy some safety scissors and have him practice cutting paper. Ooo, scary!