Turning 5

It's happening again. Another milestone in my child's life. MJ turns 5 tomorrow. I guess it seems a bigger deal than 4, not that each birthday isn't special, but this year she's in school and this age signifies that time when kids take that next step. She's very excited too, of course. She gets to take treats to school today. She picked out sugar cookies with bright pink frosting and sprinkles. What fun!

As I reflect on the last five years, it's so hard to believe how much has happened. She was born on a Friday. I remember going in for an appointment after my due date and my doctor asked, "Are you ready to have a baby?" and with that, I took a little pill to start contractions. And later that evening, a beautiful baby girl was handed to us. Our gift from God to love and protect and laugh with and cry over. I was looking at pictures of her when she was three the other day, and I can hardly remember what she was like then. I'm so thankful I have the pictures though. I look at her now and how much she's growing, changing, turning into a little lady and not a child. These days are fleeting and I just pray I take the time to enjoy them.

Tea Party

Last Saturday, MJ and I attended a Bible study tea party with our friends. The book we used is called Just Mom and Me Having Tea. It's designed for ages 6-9, but we were able to adapt it to work for us. The kids had a great time playing together. They played, we studied some verses, ate lunch, had a related craft, then they played some more. I am looking forward to when both girls are older, and we can do more of these kinds of things. 

Emma update

Hi all, 

Just a note to update you on what Emma's been up to. She continues to enjoy her speech lessons, most of it is play-based, but she is also asked to imitate sounds and words. Yesterday I asked her therapist about speech apraxia, which I had seen online. It's more of a motor function disorder and differs from a speech delay. She said the thought had crossed her mind that Emma may be expressing signs of it, but she is still pretty young to be able to complete a full diagnosis. She suggested I look at www.apraxia-kids.org. It is very informative. Basically, if she does have it, it would involve more intensive speech therapy with more focus on forming sounds and words. Emma is quit verbal, speaks in rhythmic sentences and pauses to wait for a response. But, most of what she is saying is unclear to us. Also, her cognitive development is very near normal. She understands everything we say and ask her to do. We are so glad she is getting help now, whether apraxia is fully determined or not. She is an extremely happy girl and is such a joy for us. We pray that through continued outside help and our work at home, we can help her communicate with everyone better. We are trying to get her to make basic sounds, as well as incorporate more signs to help her communicate. She says Mommy and Daddy very clearly. I think she also calls Mackenzie mama or nanie. She has picked up don't, no and mine. What great words-typical for a two-year-old, I guess! :) She tries very hard to talk and wants us to understand her so badly. She was saying more, then we started saying please, so she combined the words and says mease. She always says it with so much passion and is quite proud of herself. I can't help but be proud of her too. 

On another note, the potty training seems to be going well. She is telling me when she has to go more often and we're having fewer wet pull-ups during the day. We have incorporated a potty chart and she gets a sticker each time she goes in the toilet. Call it positive reinforcement or bribery, whatever. It seems to be helping. We're staying pretty flexible though, knowing she's still young. But, we want to encourage her. 

The other day, I was getting ready in the bathroom and Emma came up to the doorway and knocked on the frame and said, "Knock, knock!" Then, I'd say come in, and she'd come in and knock on something else. Then, she'd leave and do the same thing over and over again. She got the biggest kick out of it. MJ tries to tell knock jokes plus she knows to know on closed doors before entering. Emma must have picked it up from her. 

Also, at speech yesterday she kept going back and forth to the playroom to get things to play with. First, she brought a baby, then she went back for a pillow. She put them up in the rocking chair and was trying to arrange them just perfectly. Then, she decided she needed a blanket, so back she went. Keep in mind, she runs everywhere she goes. It was quite comically watching this go on. She was concentrating very hard on trying to get the baby and herself positioned right and lying in the chair. Then, she decided to move to the playroom so we went and there and she continued to play babies. It's neat to see what she does and plays when MJ's not around. She's quite independent too. One of the things we're working is getting her to let us help her with things. She would rather do it herself and get frustrated then ask for help. We're trying to help her find a balance between being able to do things on her own and knowing when she needs help. 

That's our little Emma. Always a firecracker. She keeps us hoppin'. And we wouldn't want her any other way. 

Our little ballerina

Mackenzie started ballet last week and is really enjoying it. Her Aunt Michelle is teaching the class of 4-6 year olds. She got a new pink leotard and pink ballet slippers. After her first class, she was showing me the positions she learned. Emma decided to ham it up for the camera. Then, she wanted to be a ballerina too. MJ offered to let Emma wear her old Princess leotard. Emma started dancing around the room. Earlier in the day when Carla came to pick MJ up for class, Emma was so upset she didn't get to go too. We stayed for her speech lesson. She just hates being left. When we drop MJ off at preschool, her eyes get all big when she sees all the kids and toys. It makes me a little sad that she can't get down and play because I know she'd have so much fun. 

What are we up to?

It seems like we haven't been doing anything too exciting, but our days and busy and for the most part enjoyable. The other night, the fun was in the playroom as Emma was giving her monkey a ride on the horse. She also thought Josh needed to wear her hat. It was fun watching the girls get so much enjoyment from trying to ride the rocking horse as fast as they could.

First day of preschool

Well, I knew this day would come, and while it's wonderful and exciting, it also was a day that gave my heart pangs. My Mackenzie started preschool. And she loves it. Absolutely loves it. I knew she would and I'm so glad, but as I watched her meet her teacher, find her cubby, be introduced to new friends and begin playing dollhouse without a care that I was even there, I felt a few tears well up in my eyes. I am so glad she had a great day, but it's the mom in me that sees how she's growing up so fast that felt a little emotional that first morning. She's talked about preschool everyday since and wishes she could go every day. She's was even bummed it was the weekend and she'd have to wait four days to go back. She told me she met some new friends, listened to her teacher, practiced letters and sounds and learned how to spell "can." Their first project was making a couple of books to read. I love seeing how her face lights up when she tells me about her day. I can't believe how I have been so incredibly blessed with this little girl. She is such a delight. And while I'm sure I'll have many more teary moments as I watch her go from childhood through the stages of growing up, I am going to enjoy all the memories she's making. I realize each day is such a beautiful journey, a blessing that we can not take for granted and must live it to its fullest potential. I'm so glad I have both my girls to remind me of that and to keep me "living in the moment." 

Even though it probably didn't get past 60 degrees on Monday, the girls still enjoyed one last time on the beach when the sun came out. MJ was cooking, preparing a pork tenderloin with a spicy rub. She pretended she had her own cooking show and narrated the whole thing for me. After her nap, Emma came down to the beach to pack her pockets with whatever she could find! 

Fun in the Sun

Saturday was a the perfect day for playing on the beach, in the water and building sandcastles. Emma liked riding the whale on the beach, but later she hopped on in the water while I helped her keep her balance and pulled her through the water. MJ rode the whale too. She kept jumping through the water and going under the dock shouting, "I set the world record!" (I think she was thinking of all the world records set at the Olympics.) Josh helped the girls build a sandcastle after lunch. They thought that was pretty cool. 

Labor Day weekend

Last Friday, we headed up to McCall to stay at the cabin for the weekend. As soon as we arrived, the girls headed down to the beach. Emma just walked right out in the water like it was no big deal; thus, the wet clothes in the pictures. We got out the sand toys and they had a great time cooking up a storm before dinner. Saturday was a beautiful day and we spent practically the whole day outside. It rained that evening and Sunday and Monday were rather cold (50 degrees compared to 80 degrees on Saturday). Jared and Stephanie met us up there so we still had plenty of fun, playing cards, watching movies and football, and walking through the shops in town. It was a fun, relaxing and much needed weekend away. 

Hi heifers!

A couple weeks ago Josh moved the bred heifers to the pasture next to our house. Emma is fascinated with and I think the feeling is mutual. They have wandered up to the fence several times to see what's going on. Or maybe it's the green grass that appeals to them. Anyway, the other night I looked out to see Emma standing by the playhouse talking to all of them. She probably stood there about 10 minutes. Josh went out to see what she thought.