Hutch Marshall - 15 months

We have a walker!!! Just like someone else I know, he took his sweet time about it, and it was kicking a soccer ball and pushing the door button at church that really incited him to walk. Whatever floats your boat, dude. He still spends some of his time crawling and loses his balance somewhat frequently, but the boy is upright. He's very proud of his new skill, too.

And the talking. In preparation for his 15 month appointment this morning, I tried to count all the words he says ... somewhere in the vicinity of 30-35. His sweet sister was saying twice that many words at his age, so I have to remind myself that average is 4-6 words at this point. He's a smarty. With a very large head (82nd percentile). The rest of him remains little ... 12th in height and 30th in weight, after making up the weight he lost while sick over the past 6 weeks. 

He loves making animal noises, singing, imitating his sister and trying to say anything we say. Hummus is pretty much his favorite thing on the planet. He loves to make us laugh - just today at the doctor's office he was playing peek-a-boo with the sanitary paper on the table, as well as pretending to blow his nose on it and laughing at himself. I'm so thankful he's finally feeling better and acting more like himself. Pneumonia was followed by another virus, a clogged tube/ear infection, a viral throat infection and Roseola. Momma's done with winter.

Just don't ask about the sleeping. There have been a few blessed nights where he's staying in his crib all night, albeit with a few rocking sessions added in. Someday?

Weight:  21 pounds
Length: 26.5 inches

New things:

• WALKING! Some mamas never want their babies to start walking, which I totally get, but I am all about the added mobility. He was already such a climber, so he was getting into everything anyway. Walking next to him, holding his little hand, going at snail speed, just makes me feel happy. 
• Kicking the soccer or any ball. Just like sister.
• Some of my new favorite words are "huma" for hummus, "butta" for belly button and button, "nack" for snack (a la his sister), "pas" for paci, "up" in reference to being picked up, and woah. When this guy is tired and says "night night?" usually while pointing at his paci or a blankie ... I just melt. He always points at his bookshelf for a story before he goes to bed.
• Asking for a kiss by smacking his lips at you. This is also how he currently blows kisses. 
• Doing everything sister does, including flipping off the couch. Which almost always results in tears. 
• Obsessing about light switches. The only one he can really reach is on a brick pillar behind the couch. He spends a lot of time turning it on and off. Someone else used to do the same thing at this age. 
• Saying a few more animal noises. When we walked into the doctor's office today, he immediately pointed at pictures of the elephant and giraffe and made horse noises ... so there's that. 
• Really listening to us when we ask him to do, or not do, something. And occasionally actually doing what we say. I'm amazed at his capacity to understand us.
• Singing some of the songs from music class - favorites are a section that goes "lalalala" and another "wee wee wee." He also loves a song on a VBS CD in my car that sounds like it says "uh oh" - as soon as he hears it he starts singing "uh oh, uh oh, uh oh." This boy LOVES music.

Likes: 

• Music class. Now that he's walking, he likes to go all around the room, saying hi to everyone and getting in their personal space. He loves the teacher and loves the music. 
• Meeting and greeting. Anyone and everyone. Pretty girls in particular. I looked at Jordan the other day and said it's really a shame our children are both such wall flowers. 
• Going to the park or being outside. 
• Playing in the snow. Eating the snow. 
• Hummus and peanut butter remain his favorites. 
• Patting Jordan and me. So sweet. 
• Church and school. He's slowly transitioning to the 1-year-old room at school now that he can walk.
• Buttons, as in the kind that make noise or do something.

 

Dislikes:

• Being patient. Or being hungry. The two usually go hand in hand.
• Not immediately going somewhere when he yells "bye?!?"
• Not being held. Or being held when he wants to get down.

Addie Mae - 3 1/2

Half birthdays are a big deal when you have an August birthday. Addie's school celebrates "unbirthdays" for those that have summer or holiday birthdays, and celebrate we did! We made Valentine M&M cookie bars for a combo half birthday/Valentine's Day treat. And at home, you better believe we did candles and singing, too. She kept asking where her party and her presents were!

She loved preparing for Valentine's Day with decorations at home, making cookies and getting her Valentines ready for friends.

We had a great "conference" with her teacher, who said she wished she had a class full of Addies (I think my parents heard something similar about me ... :)) She is such a good listener, focuses so well at school and wants to do everything just right. But she also gets into a little trouble every now and then, so I'm glad she feels comfortable there and lets her true colors fly! She likes to be the leader and does a fair amount of bossing to her classmates, but apparently always in a nice way. She is so confident, and has even recited the weekly verse in chapel in front of all the 3s, 4s and 5s. I'm so proud of her I could just burst.

We are fairly certain she'll remain at Warm World next year for the 3-day preK program. I just can't imagine my baby, who will have just turned 4, going to all-day, every-day preK at the elementary school. She has flourished so much at Warm World, and I love that environment for her. And selfishly, I'm not ready to give her up every day. Plenty of time for that. And then after next year remains to be seen ... we have the options of a transitional kindergarten at Warm World, preK in Deer Creek, or kindergarten at either Warm World or Deer Creek. And yes I'm already obsessing about all of it.

After being really healthy for a long stretch, the last two weeks have been rough. She and brother both had a virus, that resulted in pneumonia for him and an ear infection/ramped up asthma for her. We experienced what I would call her first asthma attack, at night of course. Thankfully the rescue inhaler did its job and she was able to get some rest. This week has been marked by being up most of the night, coughing and vomiting, which is what started our whole asthma journey. Yuck.


Weight: 31 pounds
Length: 36.5 inches

 New things:

• Spelling words she sees everywhere ... on food boxes, in magazines or books, on signs. She's pretty amazing.
• Cutting. Thankfully just paper, but she's really into it right now.
• Writing her name on everything. She mastered writing her name a few months ago, but now she wants to put it everywhere.
• Going to music class once a week with brother. She's the oldest one in the class, and some of the other little ones just love her. 
• Getting ready to start soccer in a few weeks!
• Asking and talking about her school verse every week, and reciting from memory in chapel a few times.
• Lots more skills in gymnastics. They have been going to the "big" gym, working on the big beams, practicing cartwheels and handstands. All very preliminary, foundational type stuff right now, but she loves it. And she loves to practice at home, and make us all pay attention and practice, too.
• Helping Lola with her "school." Lola has been going to obedience classes, and Addie likes to see what she's learned when we come home and give some instruction of her own. Imagine.

Likes:

• Reading books. Or having them read to her. She can recite a lot from memory, or just makes up words to go with the pictures. She loves to read to her bubs. Some of her favorites are Pete the Cat and Fancy Nancy.
• Going to the zoo. She is obsessed with two animals in particular who have both lost limbs - the female jaguar and a baby chimpanzee. We have to go see them both and talk about them every time. We got the chance to talk to a zoo keeper at length about the jaguar last weekend, and she was completely amazed. She loves feeding the giraffes and seeing the new baby elephant, too.
• Going to eat at restaurants. We took her to Hideaway (Hideaway Pizza, as she always calls it) for her half birthday, then a few days later, on conference day, we had a little date to Unpluggits and Panera, then a few days later on Valentine's Day we took her to Saturn Grill. Her mind was blown. It's the little things!
• Going to the park.
• Riding her scooter, which she's getting really good at. She can ride it all the way to and from the park. Sometimes, instead of stopping, she just abandons ship, but she's doing great.
• Baking and cooking.
• Gymnastics. She loves her coach and all her little friends. I can't wait for her recital in May.
• Talking about Izzy and what she's doing in heaven. Be still my heart.
• Helping brother learn to walk. She's forever, at his LOUD insistence, helping him walk all around the house. And he only wants her. 
• Sleeping in our bed. I think when brother started sleeping with us more, she decided she needed to as well. We usually rearrange, so we haven't had them both at the same time, but regardless, we need a bigger bed!
• Making up songs and playing lots of pretend, imaginative games.
• Playing with her doll house. 
• Hula hooping.
• Her new 101 Dalmatians movie from Pawpaw, and a new flannel quilt made by Grammie. She was so ecstatic about the quilt, recognized that my mom had made it and has slept with it every night since. We've also watched the new movie about 101 times.

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Dislikes:

• Brother getting what she deems is more attention than her. 
• Not being the leader or being in charge.
• Staying home. She, and brother, like to be out and about.

Hutch Marshall - 14 months

Walking? That's for wienies. This guy takes a few steps every day, usually to his sister, stands alone, even going from sitting/lying on the floor to standing, without the help of people or objects to facilitate him ... but that walking thing is still out of the question. He will go up to Addie and grunt and pull on her hands until she walks him all around the house. And he'll walk holding just one of our fingers ... I guess, like everything, he'll do it when he's ready!

Perhaps he's not walking because he is focused on his TALKING. All the time. Although, he will not, under any circumstance, say a word when you ask him to. 

He is so hilarious and loves to be the center of attention. He loves to make us laugh, and that giggle of his is contagious. He does not care for it when his mommy or daddy is holding sister and he asks LOUDLY to be held, too. 

The rough part of the past month has been pneumonia for the little guy. Which probably sounds worse than it was. After a long weekend of a yucky virus and very high fever, we went back to the doctor for that diagnosis, an antibiotic shot and oral antibiotics. The worst parts were some scary wheezing, very high fever and a normally very active baby (read: no snuggling unless it's bedtime) who laid on me for the better part of a week. So very thankful he is well.

The sleeping. Oh the sleeping. It's not good. This guy is probably just never going to sleep. Or walk. 

Weight:  21 pounds
Length: 26.5 inches

New things:

• Going to music class once a week. He especially loves dancing to all the music and the fun instruments ... I think the egg shakers and bells are his favorites. And watching his sister. He follows her and imitates her at every move.
• The talking. "Push" and "ball" still remain near and dear to his heart. Another favorite is "whee," which means he wants to go to the park or go in the wagon. He sits at the back door poking his head out the cat door and calls for "whee" "whee" (he can see the wagon from that perch.) He also loves to yell (in a distressed voice) "bye bye bye" which means he wants to go somewhere, anywhere. So like his sister. He also yells it when we are anywhere else and he's ready to come home, i.e. gymnastics with sister, school, etc. He yells it really loudly whenever we go to the doctor. He calls for Pawpaw constantly. When he sees Grammie, he says "Pawpaw?" He's started asking for "book" when he wants one read. He started saying please, not surprisingly because I bribed him with food. Be still my heart when that baby says "peas peas." Yes, you can have anything you want. He also says play, bubble, bath, night night ... and I'm sure a lot of other things I can't decipher. He's always, always talking, or grunting and looking at me like "why do you not understand what I'm saying, lady???" 
• More sleeping in our bed. Whatever.
• Sliding semi by himself at the park. "Wheeeeee!"
• Telling what the puppy says. Most animals say "woof woof" now. He's not particularly interested in what any of the rest of them might say.
• Following directions more and more. When he wants to of course.
• Real shoes. He did NOT care for the shoe shopping experience, but he's got two whole pair. That are supposed to facilitate walking ....
• Just having the paci at nap and night time, although pneumonia really messed that up. We're still trying to transition back.

 

 

 

Likes: 

• Ba and Yaya, aka Mia and Lola. He asks Lola to lick him by looking at her and smacking his lips/tongue and holding out his hand. When she obliges he thinks it's hilarious. He also loves to feed her from his chair.
• His blankies and lovies. We spent a lot of time snuggled up when he was sick, and he just runs his fingers along his soft blankies. 
• Patting or looking at doors and saying bye. Still loves to open and close doors constantly.
• Going to the library. He says play!!! He especially loved a recent class with the parachute, but he was not amused when a bajillion balls were placed on the parachute, to pop up and down, and not given to him. 
• Turning on the TV. With the remote. Which means he has figured out how to turn on the cable box and TV. That's like 4 buttons in a sequence. 
• Going to the park. Riding in the wagon or stroller. While yelling wheeeeeee! Playing in the back yard is usually an acceptable alternative. He loves the little slide/jungle gym, as long as sister will play, too.
• Going to the zoo. He loves to point at all the animals.
• Sister. She's his number one. The way he hugs her and looks at her like she hung the moon ... makes me teary.
• He also loves to bug, pinch, hit and poke her. 
• Playing peekaboo.
• Peanut butter and hummus. He'd prefer all meals consist of these two items. He's finally come around to avocado, sweet potatoes and bananas remain favorites, and he recently ate the heck out of some kale chips. While Addie never really had a sweet tooth, this guy sure does. He gets excited when he sees pictures of cupcakes, muffins or cookies. He's definitely mine.
• And snacks in general. When he gets to school or church, he immediately points at the little table and says BITE.
• He also really seems to love church and school, perhaps because they give him lots of snacks!! He always reaches for his teachers. Just on Sundays, he's recently moved to the 1-year-old room, but when passing by the nursery, he saw his teacher and reached and reacher for her until she (quickly!) came to grab him. So thankful they love our little guy like their own. Perhaps someday he'll really move out of the nursery, but for now, I'm content for them to keep him :)
• Pushing everything. Microwave buttons. The buttons on Addie's doll house. Buttons on his cars or toys. Elevator buttons. Buttons on my keys. The buttons at church to open the doors ... if there's a button, he's pushing it.
• Music of all kinds. He does not discriminate. T Swift is still at the top of his list.
• Books, particularly those that have noises or things to touch.

 

Dislikes:

• Hearing the word no. He immediately cries.
• Sleeping in his bed, or at all really.
• Going to the doctor. Immediate crying and yelling BYE!
• Having to wait for a meal or snack, you know, for like 30 seconds.

Addison Mae - 3 years, 5 months

My best girl. Who has taught me about unconditional love ... and completely wears me out. I have no idea how we will survive her teenage years!

Addie loves Christmas and was so disappointed when it was over, although she asked nearly every day why I hadn't taken down the decorations since the holiday was over ... We had so much fun baking, looking at Christmas lights, going to and hosting holiday parties, watching Christmas movies, etc etc. We hosted several of her friends for a Christmas crafting day, and my sweet girl just loved it. If she could craft every second of her life, she would. She loved seeing where Coco her elf would show up every morning and what kind of mischief he'd get into. Her favorites were when he wrapped the tree in TP and took a bath in marshmallows.

She asked Santa for an Elsa doll and M&Ms, both of which she received. A big surprise was a doll house, which she is just over the moon about. As well as her first Barbie doll (from brother) along with a dog that poops. Yes, poops.

Addie still loves school, and I'm surprised her head didn't explode when she was out for three weeks. She was thrilled to go back. But she did love that her daddy was home for nearly two weeks. Getting back into our normal routine has been ... challenging.


Weight: 31 pounds
Length: 36.5 inches

 New things:

• I'm amazed at her letter recognition and her ability to tell you what words start with by sounding them out. She can recognize some words, really just based on what letter they start with
• Telling the Christmas story in its entirety. And singing all Christmas songs. And reciting Twas the Night Before Christmas.
• More and more imaginative play. She loves to play with her babies, doll house, etc. but she also loves to make up games and stories to play out.
• Being a sheep in our church's Christmas Eve nativity play. She was one of the tiniest ones up there, and clearly nervous as she twirled and/or chewed her hair the whole time (although she still won't admit it) but she did so great. Listened well and played an excellent sheep. Afterward she was delighted to tell me, "Mommy, that nice angel let me touch the baby Jesus" (which was a doll in case that makes you nervous)
• Understanding helping others. Over Christmas we talked a lot about our Christmas Grace families (for whom we purchased toys and clothes that she helped pick out) and families for whom we purchased holiday dinner. I hope this is helping her begin to understand what it means to follow Jesus, and what he asks us to do. A lot of days, I feel like a failure as a mother. But if I can impart this one lesson, I'll have done my job.

Likes:

• Lots of game playing. New favorites include Go Fish and Old Maid.
• Gymnastics, where she is moving up into the "big" gym for part of her class. She is younger than her classmates, and while she may have some of my un-athletic, un-coordinated genes, she sure is tenacious
• She's ecstatic about starting soccer this spring. Updates soon.
• Going to restaurants.
• Spending the night with Grammie and Pawpaw.
• Making cookies.
• Her bounce house. While the temps have been below freezing, she's asked every day if we can set it up. Warm weather please hurry ...
• Chasing Lola and playing with her. Those two really love each other.
• Talking about heaven - who and what will be there.
• Reading books and going to the library. She loves picking out books for brother, too.
• Singing and dancing.

 

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Dislikes:

• Time out. And being told what to do or not to do.
• Having to wait her turn to talk or play with a toy ... or really anything.
• Not being able to play outside due to cold weather.
• Brother messing with her things.
• When school is out.
• When Daddy has to go to work

Hutch Marshall - 13 months

This guy has my whole heart. Which is quite evident in the fact that I still love him and delight in his sweet smile after he's kept me up all night. Nearly every night.

We had a magical time celebrating his birthday and Christmas. He loved going to the library on his birthday (and the whole class sang to him!). Sister was determined to blow out candles for him at every meal. We had grandparents and presents that evening. He was ecstatic about his new instrument set from us, complete with drum and several "shakey shakes." He loved getting in and out of his new chair. Other favorites were a track and singing cars, a riding airplane and a fire station. All of which are popular because they make LOTS of noise!

Hutch's birthday party was so fun - a rock star theme complete with hanging records, chocolate covered pretzel "drum sticks" (God bless my dear husband for spending LOTS of time preparing those with me), guitar and star sugar cookies, blow-up guitars and microphones, a guitar decorating station, a drum smash cake ... and a puking sister. Poor Addie started throwing up literally minutes before the party. She was just crushed. Hutch mostly enjoyed the party but was a little overwhelmed by everything. He is not at all interested in cake.

Baby boy loved going to Edmond Fine Arts to see Santa again and watch sister do crafts. He also loved going to see the Yukon lights display. And chewing on and pulling on ornaments on his own tree. He was so fun and flexible throughout Christmas Eve and Day celebrating with all his people. He loved his tractor from Santa, and upon seeing Puffs in each stocking he opened, he demanded them being opened and ate about half of each container. He also loved his soft Woody doll from sister (the boy loves rocking and hugging babies ... so we thought he needed his own!). However, I think his favorite Christmas surprises were sister's dollhouse (especially all the noises and buttons) and car, and singing Elsa doll.

He continues to amaze us with his vocabulary, and is slowly coming around to the idea of walking. To be honest, I can't decide whether I want him to walk or not! Another big change over the past month is that he's no longer nursing. I may have cried about it. A lot. He was only nursing first thing in the morning and at night, and in preparation for being out of town this past weekend, I cut back to once a day just after Christmas. A few days later, he refused to nurse. And that was that. But, he's been much more snuggly with me since and putting him down for bed is still sweet and wonderful. Unfortunately, all that waking up in the night has not diminished ...

Weight:  20 pounds
Length: 26.5 inches

New things:

• A few small steps. All of which have been to his sister. He LOVES when she holds his hands and helps him walk, and he loves when she rides on the Y bike and he can push her around. He's standing on his own constantly, even standing up all by himself without anything to facilitate.
• More and more and more words. I can't possibly remember them all. However, the one word he says CONSTANTLY is "push." Which is hilarious to me, and I remember his sister saying it to. Basically it means he wants to push any and all buttons, particularly if they are on his toys and make noise. But also relates to his noise machine, the microwave, remotes, phones ... and on and on and on. He calls Lola "Yaya" (and loves to YELL for her) and has said light and book. He is also obsessed with the word ball, a la sister, and says ball to anything that resembles one - peas, grapes, blueberries, beans, etc etc.
• No more nursing. Tears for mama. But I am glad that he made the decision himself and that weaning was so easy.
• Sleeping in our bed ... I know, I know. Who knew I'd WANT babies who slept in my bed?! Addie slept in our bed constantly at this age because it was the only way we could get any sleep. And we found ourselves wishing he would, too! Better than no sleep! He's done it a few times when he wakes around 4 (normal wake time ... ugh!)
• Eating more foods. Peanut butter and eggs are a huge hit with this guy. All carbs are his favorite. He eats so much... I am terrified of what this will look like when he's a teenager.
• No more reflux medicine. This may be why sleep sucks. We have been determined to get him off it because of the severe long-term side effects it can have. We tried once before ... and it was SO awful. So far ... it doesn't suck all the time. And Jordan is totally onboard with my crunchy method of using EO on him instead.

 

 

 

Likes: 

• Music and noises are top of the list. Including all his fabulous new toys that make lots of noise/
• Books and reading. Thank goodness. With Addie, I read 100 books to her every day since the day she came home. Let's just say Baby #2 didn't get quite as much time devoted to reading ... but now that he's not distracted by nursing at bedtime, he points to his bookshelf and asks (but grunting or saying "bo") for one. Let me be quite clear that to hold his attention a book must have some sort of interaction - things to touch or noises to make.
• Cars. It's amazing to me how boys instinctively know what to do with cars.
• But I'm proud that he also loves babies and dolls and dollhouses. He'll be a great daddy someday <3
• Calling for his 4-legged siblings. Loudly. "Baaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!! Yaaaayaaaaa!!!!"
• Pushing all buttons. Especially when we don't want him to, like the remote, phones, cable box, etc. He loves to do this to annoy his sister especially.
• Doors. Y'all he's obsessed. Maybe he will make doors in his future? Or test them? Who knows.
• Giving kisses and hugs when asked. Although sometimes instead of presenting his (open) mouth, he just gives his forehead.
• Putting all manner of things in and out of containers. This actually is a huge bonus in cleaning up. If you can catch him before he starts pulling things out again.
• Annoying sister in general by getting into her stuff, poking and pinching her, and especially getting into her easel.
• But he also loves sister best. He LOVES to hug her and snuggle her. When he sees her face in the morning or after a nap, it's like Christmas.
• Snacks. Another favorite new word is BITE. And sometimes MORE. All said loudly. He grunts a lot and points to his high chair.

 

Dislikes:

• Sleeping. I don't even know. Apparently Jordan and I will sleep when we're 50
• Being told no
• Being patient
• Being refused a snack