10/5/10

Conversations with toddlers

We're working on encouraging Timothy to use "real" or "big boy" words. We're at a place right now where we're having a hard time understanding him which makes him really frustrated which turns his speech into mush. Last Thursday, I had stopped at Wal-Mart for groceries and there was something I had bought that Timothy wanted. So he starts with the verbal mush.... I stopped him and said "Timothy, do you want one?". He said "Ses" (with an "S", not the "Y" sound). Then, our conversation went like this:

Me: Timothy, say "I"
Timothy: I

Me: "Want"

Timothy: Want

Me: "One"

Timothy: Two

I chuckled and said "No, Timothy. Listen to Mommy's words. 'I want one'". Can you say "I"?

Timothy: I

Me: "Want"

Timothy: Want

Me: "One"

Timothy: Two

Me: "Not quite yet, Timothy. Let's try again. Can you say "I"?"

Timothy: I

Me: "Want"

Timothy: Want

Me: "One"

Timothy, with a very confused look on his face, looks at me and says in a questioning tone, "Three?".

At least I know he can count....

9/15/10

Back to school

...is going great!

Nathan's first day of 6th grade
(last year of middle school -- yikes!)
He's recently joined the band, playing percussion.

Caleb's first day of 1st grade
His standard expression....

Elizabeth's first day of 1st grade
Our not-so-little bundle of HiGh EnErGy!

John's first day of kindergarten
I think he's going to be a math whiz (seriously)!

And because they couldn't be left out....

Timothy enjoying a popsicle

Lydia@ 18 months old

8/7/10

Picture updates

Promised a birthday post after my last post. However, I couldn't get to our back pictures! Sorry, Nathan! He had a great 11th birthday, though (not that anyone was missing the post I promised....)!

Here's some really overdue pictures! First up, in May, Caleb was awarded the student of the month (at least I think it was "month" & not like quarter or something....). This is him with his principal, Mr. Seckel. Unless you ask John....then it's his "president" and his name is "Mr Cycle". Too cute! We're sad to see Mr. Seckel retire!!
On Mother's Day, we celebrated John & Elizabeth's birthdays at Jonathan's parents house. Here's some of the cousins together (cousin Kaylee in the middle).
John's reaction to seeing his new bike.
And Elizabeth's reaction to seeing hers.

In June, Nathan was awarded an academic excellence award. Kinda like honor roll. The lady off the far left is his principal, Mrs. Thomas-Manning. The gentleman handing him his certificate is his assistant principal Dr. Jones.
And last but not least, we took the kids to the Columbus Museum of Art during the Columbus Arts Festival. We went right when they opened so as to minimize the crowds. That was an excellent idea! A large part of the Chihuly art exhibit....
The picture of my monkeys that's now at the top of the blog almost got us kicked out of the exhibit. We were in a "no flashes" zone & didn't know it. :)

If you follow me on Facebook, I'm also uploading a new album of pictures from the Stevens Family Reunion. Enjoy!

7/27/10

Updates!

Don't seem to be blogging much these days, thanks to Facebook and Twitter. So here's an update of what's going on. Tomorrow, another birthday post is coming!!

Jonathan has been working his you-know-what off. They just completed a major project at work so hopefully he can get back to his "regular" job now. Not that his regular job is any less stressful.... I know he'd appreciate your prayers as he strives to get his work done and still be with his family.

Nathan is enjoying his summer break but is anxious for school to start (he gets that honestly!). He rec'd his standardized ("achievement") test scores in the mail recently and tested "accelerated" in all 3 subjects. Way to go, Nathan!

Caleb is trying to enjoy summer. He's struggled with allergies this spring and today, finally visited an allergist. This is the first time he's been tested. He tested allergic to grass, weeds, several types of trees, cats, dogs, and dust mites. We're considering going with allergy shots but are adding a 4th allergy medication in the meantime.

Elizabeth is also suffering from allergies but much, much milder than Caleb. She was recently at the doctor for a chronic cough because of allergies and has gained 14 pounds in 1 year!! She now weighs exactly the same thing Caleb does, 54 pounds! She's so stinkin' excited about going to school with her lunch box!

John is excited about starting school! He's about 7 pounds behind Caleb & Elizabeth but is within an inch or 2 of both of them in height. He did great at his 5 year well-check and came in the size of an average 6 1/2 year old boy! Sheesh!

Timothy is 2 and that about sums it up! He's a monkey, let me tell you! Unfortunately, he likes fighting with his siblings.... He's still doing great in speech therapy, though!

Lydia, last but not least, is going to be an allergy sufferer, too, I'm afraid. She's actually got us concerned. She's tiny -- nearly 17 months old and barely 19 pounds, yet she doesn't walk or stand consistently. She's been evaluated by a physical therapist and is having some x-rays done of her legs and will be starting weekly physical therapy on 8/10. The x-rays are to determine whether or not there's a significant difference in the lengths of the bones of her legs or not. When you stretch her out, there appears to be a fair amount of difference between her leg lengths but we need a more accurate measurement. She's also going for allergy testing on 8/16. It was difficult enough to take Caleb for testing -- I can't imagine what it'll be like to put this tiny baby through that. *sniff, sniff*

It's been a busy summer for us and we can't believe it's almost time to go back to school! Yes, we're going to put the kids in public school again this year. What we felt was not working for us as far as homeschooling goes still isn't "fixed", for a lack of a better word, so we feel this truly is the best for them. They had a great year in school & loved it which makes things a lot easier. Nathan especially loved it and has begged us to not homeschool him again. Preteens are a whole new world for me. I haven't decided if I like it or not (although I realize it doesn't really matter....). Hope you all are doing well!

5/18/10

Six

There's no way I could have imagined how our life was going to change on this day 6 years ago. We were so happy to have a baby girl after having 2 boys. But, boy, oh boy, has she been a handful! Still, we wouldn't trade her for anything! And today, we're especially happy to be celebrating her 6th birthday!Going home from the hospital in one of my dresses from 1977!July 4, 2004/ 2 months oldMay 2005/1 yearSpring 2006/2 yearsEaster 2007/3 years old4 years oldEaster 2009/5 years
Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!!

5/16/10

Every now & then it hits me...

...just how similar & yet different my boys look! Here they are all at around 2 years old....

5/5/10

Five

Five-Five-O-Five
(5-5-05)In NICU, a few days oldJust learning to stand2 years3 years4 yearsHappy Birthday, baby boy!!