Well there was plenty going on during this month of Love! Samara had dance each week, got a sneak peek at her recital costumes and had a play date with one of the girls in her dance class and also class at school. Kalum got to have his first school Valentine's experience, choosing a candy and writing his name on the card for each kid. Jeff started in a men's mentor group through our church that will meet once a month throughout the year. He also jumped into plans for the Greenwood house that we purchased to remodel and rent and back into work on the Eagle house that we plan to sell by early summer. I continued on in my Foundations of Parenting class and found it so valuable, convicting at times, but a solid reminder on the long-term perspective of daily parenting decisions. I had two MOPS meetings, one with a craft and got to attend the THRIVE women's retreat at our church. Courtney and another friend from church were are my table. Though, cut short by one evening due to the snow/ice, it was refreshing and such a fun and knowledge-filled event! We had a family celebration night for selling the Memphis house - Bowling and Dairy Queen! The kids had a blast - check out the pictures!
- She was so proud of her Valentine's box with wrapping paper, pom-poms, ribbon bows and candy hearts glued on it. I drove her to school so she wouldn't have to risk it getting damaged on the bus ride.
- Feb 7th - She was still clearing her throat a lot, something we just have to call her out on sometimes if it is getting really distracting. This week I haven't heard her doing it as much, actually had stopped completely. But I noticed instead she is rolling her eyes back and forth and blinking When I asked her why she was doing it, she said because she just has to and her eyes feel like she has to. Hoping this is a phase, but it seems to have replaced the throat clearing habit.
- Feb 9th - First top tooth to come out, now there's a definite gap in her smile. it was really loose for weeks, but she was afraid to pull it out. Once she pulled it out, she was crying, but after she calmed down she said it didn't hurt at all. She got so hyped up prepping to pull it out. She said she was happy she could talk with no lisp even though tooth was gone!
- Spring kindergarten conference - doing well at school! Both teacher and student teacher love having her in class. She does her work, knows her sight words, is on some of the "wall of fame" categories. She has many friends in the class and always puts forth her best effort. Now that she was "secret student", she whispers to her teachers that so-and-so is doing really well and could be the next secret student. Like she's in the teacher's club to select one. ;) She's reading at a first grade level (on word recognition alone). They'll do more reading comprehension next year. Just supposed to keep working on site words so that she moves up the chart on reading level. Can write a sentence when dictated to her (phonetically spelled out of course) and draw a corresponding picture. Great handwriting for letters and numbers they said. She said favorite part of school was lunch, likes to play with Wesley and her teacher thinks she is awesome (spelled "osum"). She has lots of friends, I would describe her as confident but definitely sensitive to what others think.
- At her valentine party, she won the first game of number bingo. Looked at me beaming and said quietly, "I was the first secret student and now I'm the first one to win bingo!"
Kalum's Moments for the Month:
- After hearing about Groundhog Day, he wanted to know what the groundhog's prediction was. I found a video from that morning. He watched it all and when they announced he'd seen his shadow and that meant six more week so winter, he started all out bawling! "6 more weeks of winter?!?!?!" I had to explain that the groundhog wasn't really in control of the weather, it was just a fun tradition, show him the forecast over the next week includes temps in the 50s and after a few minutes he calmed down. Sheesh, was not expecting that! This boy REALLY loves riding his bike and wearing shorts!
- He was so pumped for Dad's night at preschool, where only he and Dad got to go! They made a valentine for Mommy with their picture on it and he ate a plateful of food there (after just having finished dinner at home). A fun, special night for him for sure.
- He was playing a toy guitar one day doing a show for Mommy. Was dancing, smiling, playing and bopping his eyebrows up and down with the music. Then he said, "Did you see my eyebrows? Kind of manly, huh?" Lol! The stuff kids say!
Wesson's Milestones/Month for the Month:
- Beginning of month - Thinks he can walk down stairs by holding onto the railing. Thankfully has only done this on our short set of stairs! He wants to grow up so fast to be like his siblings. I already catch him mimicking things Kalum does while playing at home. He can climb onto the couch at inside corner. He's so proud and stands up. Smiles a big smile then sits down as you get closer to him. He likes to look at the family pics on the wall. Makes distinct different sounds for Samara, Kalum and Daddy. Will not say Mommy yet!
- Favorite book is "Llama Llama Zippity Zoom" right now
- Mid-month - Says KaKa for Kalum, a version of a word starting with S for Samara, sounds more like sister. Finally started saying Mama and not just when mad or wanting to be picked up. Now says "words" or sounds for blanket, up, helpt and some others. Doesn't sign as much since he thinks he's talking and of course, we should understand him!
- Feb 21st - Has been crabby last few days and just realized why today...Two new teeth already in on the top and two bubbled sore spots on gums on the bottom. With some motrin at bedtime, he did much better.
- Said "Hi!". Waves both hands and said hi to people walking by outside and to Daddy when he got home.!
- Two word sentence! - Says "di-dee" for blanket. And just started saying "Go?", as in where did something go. So, one morning said, "di-dee...go?" He had left it in the room and didn't remember that.
- By end of month can identify parts of his body: ears, eyes, nose, forehead, chin, neck, belly button (favorite!) and hair
