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.

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!

Micah had his 4th birthday!

That's right! I am a mother of a 4-year-old! Micah is funny, sneaky, wild, active, considerate, and smart. He has also been known to unleash a monster of a temper at times, but we are working on that. We are actually also working on preparing Micah for Kindergarten. The school district in Clever has a waiting list for Preschool, and the daycare in town has an expensive Preschool program. So, he is being schooled at home until next year. We are teaching him how to recognize numbers and letters (not just say them,) his name, shapes, and how to use scissors. He'll also need to be able to completely go to the bathroom on his own, which he has done lots of times. Now, for our sleep's sake, he also needs to learn how to do that at night, too! As is normal, he's afraid of the dark, and yet, it's funny how he will walk all the way to our bedroom (on the opposite side of the house from his bedroom) to have company while he is using the potty. He can stand right outside his door, turn his head 90 degrees to the right, and there is the bathroom! Like I said, it's funny.

Micah had his birthday on Sunday, the 18th. He received a pair of Lighting McQueen pajamas, a race track, a booster seat for the car (he no longer needs a car seat!), a toy monster truck, and a Handy Manny plush toy. We ate over at Grandma and Papa's for a birthday dinner, and the dessert was a race car birthday cake. He loved it! He said that he had a happy birthday, so I'm glad about that. Every mother wants their child to have an awesome birthday.

Devon's Stats

Our little miracle is doing amazingly! Last week, she had her 4 month appointment, and here are her current stats:

Weight: 12 lbs.
Length: 25 in.
Head Circumference: 15.25 in.
Overall: She is developing well. For her length, she is actually in the 75th percentile! Great news considering she was born 7 weeks early! She is a little behind on some of her motor skills, but with preemies that is to be expected or at least accepted more. My favorite discovery lately has been her random smiles. She is too precious!

Is Paige a "Terrible Two" Toddler?

Nah. She's not terrible, but she can scream really high and loud if something doesn't go her way.

Paige is now a two-year-old! Her birthday is on June 27th, but we celebrated it the week before so the whole Crosby family could have a party. She received two books, a bubble wand, a pair of pajamas, a swimsuit, a baby doll, and her absolute favorite, a Perry the Platypus plush toy. Her (and Micah's) favorite cartoon is Phineas and Ferb. She lights up every time we turn it on. Perry is with her every night. :)

Paige had her doctor's appointment today. Stats are below:

Height: 33.5 inches
Weight: 26.2 lbs.
Overall: She is doing great! She says more words and phrases every few days. She LOVES the dirt. She likes to climb on me when I am nursing Devon. Chris and I wonder if she will be a tomboy, especially since Micah is the older sibling and plays with her.

Speaking of Micah, he finds rude actions to be funny. Like spitting or not listening to me. Yes, he'll laugh when he spits at me or laugh and run away when I'm trying to talk to him. Ugh. Today, he got a lollipop from his aunt and uncle. But, I told him he couldn't eat it until after lunch. He went to his Papa and asked if he could eat it. Papa came to me to ask, and I said, "No, not until after lunch." The matter is settled, right? We are driving home after Paige's appointment when I hear a crunching sound.

"Micah, are you eating that lollipop?" Nothing.

"Micah, are you eating that lollipop?" Nothing.

With more feeling, "Micah, are you eating that lollipop?"

"Yes..."

I pull the car over, take the lollipop away from him, and say, "You are not getting anymore of this lollipop, because you did not listen!" Of course, he is upset. I know, because later on down the road, he yells, "Mom, Phineas and Ferb, now!" (He means he wants to listen to the soundtrack.) Um...excuse me?

"No, not until you ask nicely."

Sigh... "May I please have Phineas and Ferb, please?" (He always says "please" twice.)

"Yes, you may. Thank you for asking nicely." Sigh... Will they always be like this?

The Latest on Devon

Devon is a whopping 11 lbs. 4 oz. and about 22 inches long. The young women at Mutual last night were laughing over her chubby leg rolls. (I was recently called to be the Beehive Adviser. And I just realized how weird that must sound to someone not Mormon.) Devon's cheeks are getting pretty chubby as well. It's amazing to see how much she's grown already, but she still has a long way to go. What a trooper!

Devon is a very pleasant baby. She cries only when she wants to be fed or be held. She can hold up her head when she lies down on her stomach, and she also sleeps through the night (right now). Although it seems I have more interactions with Micah and Paige, I do try to read to her when I feed her and hold her when we play outside. She's fun for me.

Balancing 3 kids, a husband, and a house is a lot of work. Plus, I'm trying to give myself more "me" time by picking up old hobbies or working out. Or blogging for that matter. It's a process figuring it all out, but I feel like I'm slowly getting there. I hope I do, because something like that is important to me.

Some Accidents Don't Just Happen

A few days ago, Micah told me after going to the bathroom that he peed on our cat. Ooo-kay, I thought, Maybe he's just making up a story like he sometimes does. A few minutes later, I find our cat, Joey, wet. Now I'm thinking, Well, maybe Micah just poured water on him. Later in the day, I found a huge section of Micah's comforter wet. I pushed the bed away from the wall to find a drip line. Finally, I take further measures and smell the bed. Sure enough, it was pee.

"Micah Adam Crosby! Did you pee on the cat?"

"Yes..."

"You are in so much trouble!"

After putting the comforter in the washer and cleaning the cat the best I knew how, I talked to Chris later that day and told him the frustrating story. He agreed Micah should have been in big trouble, but he also said,

"You have to admit, it is kind of funny."

I smiled and said, "Yeah, it is."