3 year and 4 year growth update

Thought I'd abandoned this blog, hadn't you?

For Miss Clara:

At 3 years:

your child is 34 pounds, and that is
at the 79th percentile for weight.

your child is 37.25 inches, and that is
at the 54th percentile for height.

For Mr. Andrew:

At 4 years and 2 months:

your child is 45 pounds, and that is
at the 93rd percentile for weight.

your child is 43.5 inches, and that is
at the 94th percentile for height.

Kind Soul

Tonight I cried a little - nothing serious, just a hard, emotional day.

Andrew followed me into my bedroom and said, "I'm sorry, mama.  What can I do to make it better?"

I could hear the echo of my words in there - the compassion that I show to him when he is inexplicably upset was reflected back on me in waves.  I bathed in it.

I sniffed and said, "I could use a hug."

He said, "Can I hug you in the bed?  That would be good - to hug in the bed."

And he snuggled me gently in the fluffy duvet.

We're a true family - we hold each other up.  Unbelievably blessed.

Pants II

Andrew just went to his dresser to fetch his own pants.  Then with minimal help from me, he laid them out on the floor and put them on by himself.

I'm having a "he'll eventually be able to go to college" moment.

(Of course, the reason he needed to go fetch new pants at 4:30 in the afternoon was because he was too involved in play to bother going to the potty.  But you know.  Baby steps.)

He also performed his first Class III scramble up some awesome red rock (The Golden Pyramid) down at South Valley Park down the road here.  So he had a big day.

Incidentally, Clara made about 90% of this climb too - I just didn't feel comfortable with her on the summit pitch.  They both were incredible, and I see much rock climbing and hiking in our future.

Pants

Mama: I see that you must have gone potty. And you didn't put your pants back on.
Andrew: Yeah. Sometimes big boys put their pants back on. And sometimes they don't.

Seat belts

This story from our awesome nanny is too priceless not to share:

"I have been having an issue with Andrew staying in his chest strap. He has been continually unbuckling it, or screaming because his buckles "are too tight" (i.e. he cant wiggle out of them). I have been pretty frustrated with pulling the car over lalalalala, as much as we talk about how they are for safety and we must put them on, nothing was working.

"Today driving to Costco we passed a Morrison police officer and I had a bright idea. We circle back to where he was hanging out and pull behind the cruiser. I jump out as he is getting out of the car and ask for a favor. I tell him that I have an extremely bright toddler in the back seat resisting seatbelt safety. He was super nice and happy to help. As he approaches, Andrew instantly starts fiddling to re-snap his chest strap. Officer Mac told Andrew how important every part of his carseat was and that he needed to stay buckled and remind everyone in the car to buckle up for safety, He then check his seat and the "tightness" and told Andrew that it was the perfect tightness for safety. So now, Andrew is saying, "We have to stay buckled while the car is moving for safety just like Officer Mac said." He is also checking clara's seat and buckle the way Officer Mac did to make sure it is safe. And he is not getting out of his chest strap clip, sooo success!!!!"

Crazy Sleeper

With ear protection.  Who wouldn't sleep great?

In the (200yr old family heirloom) baby cradle

Love

Andrew said, "I love you, Mama" for the first time unprompted tonight. Then he said it like four times. I think I'm going to explode.

Nerd Parents

Overheard....
Travis: ...so, see, angle of incidence equals angle of reflection.
Andrew: Yeah!!!

July and August

After we got home from Ohio, our family officially started a paleo lifestyle by doing a Whole30.  The results were incredible and we never looked back.  We've had weight loss, less joint pain, more energy, less tummy trouble, less mental fog - it's so good!

The quiet summer travel season gave us some good times at home.

Andrew started to enjoy talking on the phone.  Here he's speaking to Uncle Devin.

Flying a rocket to outer space on a rainy summer evening

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site

Nana came to visit!

Then Grandma and Grandpa visited right after!

Grandma's toy horse

Happy 70th birthday, Grandpa!

"That cake was paleo?  I couldn't even tell!"

Sibs

Hail storm!

-ado

Andrew is looking at the map and saying 'Which one is Avo-cado?'.... I'm pretty sure he'll be looking in the kitchen for Color-ado later.

Friends!

Andrew: Clara and Mama are my friends!

Rain and yoga

Overheard this afternoon -

Mama: Listen! Can you hear the rain?
Andrew: Yes! It sounds like music.

Also we had our first successful family yoga session this evening (there have been several unsuccessful attempts).  Andrew and I did a sun salutation, a warrior II, and triangle pose on both sides.  The kid does a great triangle pose, let me tell you.  

Clara just wanted to walk underneath me during down dog.  

12 month and 2 year well-child stats

For Miss Clara, at 12 months:

your child is 20.0625 pounds, and that is
at the 29th percentile for weight.

your child is 28 inches, and that is
at the 13th percentile for height.

your child has a head circumference of 18.5 inches, and that is
at the 91th percentile for head circumference.

BWAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!  Awesome.

For Mr. Andrew, at 26 months:

your child is 31.0625 pounds, and that is
at the 77th percentile for weight.

your child is 35.75 inches, and that is
at the 66th percentile for height.

your child has a head circumference of 20 inches, and that is
at the 90th percentile for head circumference.

Andrew was such a big boy at the doctor today.  He peed in a cup like a pro.  He listened carefully to everything the doctor and nurses said and followed instructions very well.  And he barely even flinched when he got his shot.  No big deal at all!

I love my growing kids!

Overheard in the Kitchen

Mama: Look out for Clara.
Andrew: Oh!  I like Clara!

...and One More

When I got home from work today, Andrew was pulling the large wheeled cooler around the living room.

Mama: What do you have there, Andrew?

Andrew: Picnic suitcase.  [Pronounced "Nic-nic suitcase."]

Totally deadpan.  Cooler = picnic suitcase.  Well, of course.

Conversations with Andrew

Mama (to Maggie): I'll have to talk to Travis about it.
Andrew: Travis come back home?
Mama: Do you know who Travis is?  What is Travis's other name?
Andrew: Daddy!
Mama: That's right!  What's my name?
Andrew: Mama.
Mama: Very good.  What's my other name?
Andrew: Mommy.

~~~

Andrew (happening across my Juno coffee mug on the table): Oh, Juno!
Daddy: What's Juno, Andrew?
Andrew: Spacecraft!
Daddy: That's right!  Where is Juno going?
Andrew: The airport.

~~~

Mama: What have you got there, Andrew?
Andrew: Key.  Magic key.
Mama: What does it do?
Andrew (closes his fist and inserts key into it.  turns key. opens fist): Open! (closes fist) Closed!

Sleep, part II

"Andrew, did you want to read a story or do you want to go straight to bed?"

"Ummm... bed.  Bed, okay."

Hahahaha.  This is a boy who spent the entire day in the sunshine running up and down the driveway and refused to take a nap.

Two Years Old

Since Andrew's actual birthday occurred while we were in Norway, we packed a couple small toys for him and had a small celebration there, but we saved the big event for the weekend after.  Grandma and Grandpa were in town, so they got to visit.  Grandma's birthday is in a couple of weeks so we made it a joint celebration.

We decided to spread the present out over the course of the day, to give him time to play with and enjoy them before the next onslaught came.  Since his bout of stomach flu, he's been really into Cars the movie, particularly Tow Mater, the hillbilly tow truck.  As much as I'd like to stay away from kid's marketing and branding, I have to say that it's addictive when I know that he likes the character, to walk through the store and just load up on something I know he'll love.

Shopping for kids is altogether too much fun.

All of the presents and cards

Round 1:  From Nana and Papa - a small, easy-open, handmade backpack, and the "Inside Freight Train" book.   Also, a Mickey Mouse puzzle exactly like one that Mama had when she was a kid.  (Thank you, rummage sale.)

Andrew took a break to go to story time at the library with Grandma and Grandpa.  He received new birthday sunglasses for the occasion.  (The balloon was supposed to be for Grandma, but who can resist the request of "Balloon - Andrew hold it!"?)

We served cake and ice cream after lunch so that, if anything, the sugar rush would disturb nap time and not night sleep.

Round 2: Cars bedsheets and a large stuffed Tow Mater truck.  Also Cars underpants.  I am a total sucker.  But also - the lure of the bedsheets got him to take a nap that day, and he finally transitioned to wearing underpants (instead of going commando).  So whatever works.  Also, some books and a fun card from Uncle Devin and Aunt Kathleen.

Round 3: Some cute Alaska socks from Grandma and Grandpa.  More puzzles, books, and underwear.  And a sturdy backpack from Mom and Dad to take on plane trips.

It was a really fun day.  It's fun to see him so into opening gifts and enjoying the stuff so much.  I'm so proud of the little boy he is becoming - so sweet and funny and a good problem solver and very creative.  I can't believe how far we've come.  It feels like he's been in my life forever, but it also seems like no time at all.

Happy Birthday, Andrew.