Long overdue

So things have been very busy to say the least. Preschool is a smashing success - it was going so well after 3 weeks that we had to add a day. You'd think this would leave me a great deal of free time but...so far we have been through two rounds of illness on top of the work it takes just to get them and everything ready to go each morning. They do love it though and we are really grateful for that. It also gives me the opportunity to spend some time alone with Hank.

A couple of weeks ago we had Charlie and Jack's big carnival birthday party. I think they really enjoyed it. I lost my camera in early September so I haven't been able to take as many pictures lately. I will post some soon though, just need to save the ones that family took.

At the 3 year check-up Jack weighed 41.5 lbs (99th percentile) and was 38.75 inches (80th percentile). Charlie weighed 36 lbs (87th percentile) and was 39.75 inches (93rd percentile). They are big kids. Jack wears size 11.5 shoes which the shoe store chart says is a 5 year-old size.

Hank just passed the 6 month mark. Still just 2 teeth but 4 more to come in any day. He can sit on his own but only if you put him there, roll both ways, transfer toys from hand to hand. Figured out yesterday that multiple rolls will move you across a room. Desperately wants to crawl. He is also big. At his check-up he weighed 22 lbs 5.5 oz (97th percentile) and was 28 inches (90th percentile). Most people guess that he's close to a year old. He can still wear a few 9 month things but mostly is in 12 months now. He continues to be one of the happiest babies I've ever been around. For those of you who know about the "offices" at our house, the bouncing has begun. He is working hard on several new skills and I'll try to keep things up to date as they happen.

The first day

Went a little too well. They both went straight in and began playing without so much as even looking back. I had to tear them away from their toys to tell them I was leaving - they went right back to the toys. At pick up time they both looked up, saw me and went right back to what they were doing again. They both reported having lots of fun and liking the slide. Charlie tells me Jack cried a little at rest time. Ms. Diane tells me Charlie did too. Neither ate very much or slept at all. Both took a nap as soon as we got home. They want to know if we can go back tomorrow. (Mommy managed to make it back to the car before crying just a little and did not throw up even though she wanted to.)

A tooth

After days just below the surface, Hank's first tooth has finally poked through. The second seems to be right behind it. So far it is very hard to see as he mostly keeps his tongue over it but I'll try to get a picture later.

3 little movers and shakers

It finally happened this morning - after lots of hard work and trying, Hank rolled from his back to front and back again. He never could figure out how to get his trailing arm out from underneath him (which is probably why he went back again) despite several attempts. He had a big smile on his face when he did it like he knew he had finally accomplished his goal. Now that he is on the move too I'll have to dust off those eyes in the back of my head. The picture above was taken a week or so ago on our most recent beach trip.

THE LIST

Back by popular demand is the list. Once again you can click on each item to see a picture/description. This one was a little more fun to make as, for the first time, they have actually asked for a couple of the things on it.

Slideshow of our summer so far

The fog is lifting

The overall confusion and exhaustion that is life with a newborn (and 2 toddlers) is beginning to settle out and I'm starting to feel like we have a normal life again. Lots of fun things have happened in the almost 3 months (really, where does the time go?) since Hank made his entrance. Here's a quick list:

• Saw Thomas the Tank Engine in Chattanooga
• Flew on a plane to the beach
• Mastered swimming in life-jackets
• Played at the water park
• Drove Uncle Brown's boat
• Rode a camel at the zoo (Mommy got to ride twice)
• Learned all the states and their capitals

Despite a baby who is just now starting to have a "schedule" and wants to eat 6-7 times a day we've managed to stay very busy. Having a summer baby has been a mixed blessing. It's great to be able to get out without too much worry over the germs etc you get in the winter but a little hard when J & C just want to be outside all the time and Hank can't really tolerate too much heat.



We spend about 3 days a week at Grandmomma's pool and meet up with the great-aunts and cousin Coen for weekly play dates. I bought the boys a US map puzzle to take to the beach and they have worked on it non-stop until they know all the states by site and can say their capitals. Charlie is officially potty trained, Jack is not. Preschool is less than 2 months away so we'll be giving it another go next week.



They've started to like Hank. Jack gives him hugs and kisses, Charlie tries to stop him from crying by gently patting his little hand or trying to hand him his binky. Yesterday Jack sang twinkle-twinkle for him when he was upset. He is so close to rolling over. He'll spend 10 minutes or so working on it then get really mad and pitch a fit. It looks like he is going to do the same funny folding-in-half type move that Charlie did to go from front to back.