Details I want to remember

Elizabeth: 3 years 3 months
Height: 86 percentile
Weight: 35 percentile

Mark: 19 months
Height: 35 percentile
Weight: 20 percentile

Words he says unprompted: (38)
Papa
Mama
Dada
Help
Shoe
Ball
ouch
ew
yaya
no
nose
eye
toes
elbow
wawa
cheese
cake
apple
orange juice
hotdog
uhoh
George
dog
yay
ice
soap
bye bye
choo choo
hot
cold
no way
kakaa
up
raarrr
okay
yay

Elizabeth's 1st day of preschool

Mark :: 18 months

This little guy...

sat through an attempted hair cut by Mommy and came out with a buzz
is teething his last two molars on the top and the bottom
is a good eater, but not as into veggies as his sister
has such a sweet tooth
does not like ketchup, ranch, or any other sauce

says a bunch of words that we can understand
babbles off a slew of conversations that we can't understand
shadows and copies his sister's every move
tells me when he needs his diaper changed :)
is often called daddy's twin

obsessed with reading books
is making huge physical strides
climbs the rock wall at the park, goes down the big slides, and runs so fast I always think he'll fall
has a tall and lean stature, but with more chub on his thighs than Elizabeth ever had, which I squeeze every chance I can get

is so very ticklish, especially around his neck
attends nursery at church with his sister
is such a good sleeper - 11 hours at night and a two hour naps both in the morning and afternoon
cries the biggest alligator tears I've ever seen
is about to become a big brother!

Summa lovin'

I'm in love with these photos even though they are from a few months ago.

Can't you just see the pure joy of summer in their sweet faces?!

Elizabeth :: age 3

Elizabeth said...

After I explained to Elizabeth that it was time to leave SLC and go back to Las Vegas, I told her she should give her cousin Taylor a hug goodbye. They had a big embrace. As we walked away, Elizabeth looked to the ground and with a solem voice said, "I will never forget her."

While driving home from the park before bed time...
E: Mark! Calm down, calm down! No more screaming. We have to use nice voices now.
Me: That's right. Thank you Elizabeth.
E: (While pointing and me, then Richard) No, I'm not talking to you or you.

After tucking Elizabeth into bed I had to got back into her room for something I forgot.
E: Why are you waking me up?
Me: It's okay sweetie, I just needed to get something.
E: But why did you wake me up?!
Me: Just go to sleep
E: Yes Mommy

E milestones

Sleeps all night in underwear, officially done with diapers

Very obedient. Helps unload dishwasher, clean up toys before bed, tuck herself in for nap.

Loves to wear swim suits and princess dresses around the house all day. I make her wear normal clothes when we go out but she changes back into them as soon as we walk in the door.

Still wont keep an elastic, bow, or anything in her hair. Loves to wear Chapstick or lipstick if allowed to. Likes to watch Tinkerbell movies in the iPad, loves to draw with markers or pens and paint with watercolors.

She's nice to Mark as long as he leaves her alone, which doesn't happen often. All he wants is to be with her following her every move. She is getting a little better at helping keep him safe like helping him get down from a chair or reach a toy up high. 

She has so much to say! Always talking about what she sees or hears, always asking questions. Gives us a play by play of everything she does. She will say the same over and over until she's responded to. She wants to verbally engage with everyone from the kid playing next to her in the sandbox to the employee at the supermarket.

Elizabeth age 3

Mark age 16 months

 

 

While Richard and I went on our Cruise, my parents took care of Elizabeth and Mark at their house for the week. I put together this information for them and wanted to remember it. It's a sample day for the kids and a few helpful ideas.

June 2013

7:00 AM:
Elizabeth wakes. I let her watch cartoons on the ipad which she knows how to use, until breakfast. I make her sit in the high chair.

7:30 AM:
Mark wakes. Both kids are very thirsty for water when then wake up.
Breakfast. Eating goes better when both kids are in high chairs, E is used to having to sit in it.

8:30 AM:
Play with toys. Get dressed. Change E into underwear and remind her to use the toilet. Mark usually has a poop before his morning nap.

9:00 AM:

Mark naps and Elizabeth has quiet time. (I'm trying to only let Mark have the binkie at sleep time)
She likes to color with crayons and washable markers, paint with water colors, play dough, play with toys, or watch to ipad. I make her sit in her high chair for all art to contain the mess.

10:45 AM:

Mark wakes up. Both kids are ready for a drink of water and a snack/lunch.
Then we usually have an outing or do something active to tire them out.

1:00 PM:

Both kids go down for a nap. Elizabeth wears a diaper to sleep in but underwear when awake.

2:30 PM:

Mark wakes up. He wants a drink and a snack. We play or read books quietly.

3:30 PM:
Elizabeth wakes up. She is a bit grumpy and needs a little cuddle or hug for a minute. She likes a drink.

Another outing, some ideas are the library, park, city creek play area, zoo with Barb, walks, backyard, run errands, splash pad park, etc.

6:00 PM:

Dinner. Playtime. One or both kids poop during this time.

7:00 PM:

Bedtime prep. Kids take a bath, brush Marks teeth, Cetaphil lotion on both kids. Diapers and pajamas on both. Say prayers together.

7:30 PM:

Mark to bed. Safety pin his binkie to his collar. He loves a song such as Twinkle Twinkle or I Am A Child of God while you hold him. Then I say goodnight and lay him down on his stomach, and drape his blanket on his back. Walk out. He usually goes right down, if he does cry he stops within a few minutes.

Elizabeth helps (with a lot of direction) clean up all of the toys and tidy up the house. After she helps she gets a small treat. Brush teeth. Read a book.

8:00 PM:

Elizabeth is in bed with her lovey and I sing her 2 songs. She often asks for a tissue and drink of water. Then I remind her of all of the fun things we did today and tell her about fun we'll have tomorrow. That helps her relax and hopefully stay in her bed. I try to remind her to go pee and poop throughout the day but she usually waits to poo in her diaper. I do still lock her door if she keeps getting out of bed.

EATING IDEAS:

*I give mark his own fork or spoon while I have another spoon that I feed him with simultaneously. He like to try and do it but it goes much better if I'm helping.

scrambled eggs
toast with butter or strawberry jam
green smoothie
cheerios with milk
oatmeal with a little apple juice
Pancakes with syrup and PB

vanilla yogurt

cheese

oranges, pears, grapes, bananas

mac and cheese

chili

grilled chicken

steamed broccoli

cheese ravioli

(Elizabeth also likes:)

baby carrots with ranch

tuna with pickles and red onion on wheat sandwich

PB and strawberry jam sandwich

apples

asparagus

cucumbers

Six Month Roundup

Hey friends,

After a long break from blogging, I've got some updates on our goings-on.  Lots of fun!

Emergency Appendectomy ~
I had this on April 13th while being 5 months pregnant. It was scary, terrible, but Richard took good care of me and our family took good care of the kids. Now I'm fine, baby is still fine, moving on. :)

*One funny thing is that Elizabeth will still ask me every few days or when she sees my stomach about my scars. It's darling and funny how concerned she is about my tummy since the Appendectomy.

E: Do you have owies on your tummy?
me: Yes, but they're getting better.
E: Oh. Do they hurt?
me: Not any more, I'm OK.
E: Oh. Why do they not heal?
me: They are scars, so it's takes a long time but then they'll heal.
E: Oh poor, poor Mommy!


Cruise ~
Richard and I went on a little baby moon vacation at the beginning of June. We booked it last minute but were so excited to have some time together sans kids before number three arrives. Richard drove Elizabeth and Mark to Salt Lake City to be cared for by my parents, Grandma and Grandpa Spencer. Then he drove back to Las Vegas, picked me up and we were off to depart from our port in California. The cruise was 5 days and 4 nights starting in LA with stops in Catalina and Ensenada. The destinations weren't amazing but that was just fine, since we chose this just to be together with lots of opportunities to eat, rest, and relax. It was perfect being so laid back with nothing to do but enjoy each other.

Of course we missed our kids so much, but it was good to know they were having a wonderful time with family. I was apart from them for a total of 8 days and I could not believe how much they had changed in that short amount of time!

Mark ~
He was more steady walking around, he could now run, and he looked so much older in his face! Grandma Bev also got him a hair cut, which he needed, and he looked like such a handsome little boy! That was his second hair cut. The first was when he was 6 months old and I buzzed all his hair off so it would grow back in evenly.

 Elizabeth ~
Her changes were more verbal than physically noticeable. The biggest shocker was that she now called me Mom instead of Mommy. I tried to remind her my name is Mommy, mostly because I wasn't ready for her to grow out of that, but the Mom title prevailed. Other little things that were funny. For example, while reading the story of Sleeping Beauty to her one night she described the evil fairy as "creepy". I started laughing and inquired where she learned that word. She casually said, "from Grandma Barb." This kid remembers everything she hears!

Cat ~
Since around the time of my birthday in May, I have been feeling so much better with this pregnancy. I was ten times as nauseated, ill, and tired as I was with either Elizabeth or Mark and this lasted until I was 18 weeks. Combine that with Richard would 100+ hours a week, living away from family and friends, and taking care of a 2 and 1 year old... it was so rough. I think I just barely made it.

But now I feel great! My energy is back, I'm no longer vomiting all day, life is good! I especially love the drive that I feel to clean and organize, my house has never looked so good. I'm tackling projects, making art, and even getting the dishes done. Basically I've taken on super woman qualities. :)

I feel our baby boy kicking non stop and I love it. Each movement comforts me, feeling him alive and thriving is wonderful. Now that I'm no longer sick I appreciate the blessing of being able to be pregnant with my child.

At the last ultrasound, the doctor saw a bright spot in one of the chambers of the baby's heart.

"Echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is a small bright spot seen in the baby’s heart on an ultrasound exam. This is thought to represent mineralization, or small deposits of calcium, in the muscle of the heart. An EIF in the fetal heart may indicate an increased chance of the baby having a chromosome problem, such as Down Syndrome. It does not affect the development of the baby or the function of the heart. If the baby has normal chromosomes, there would be no associated problems to be concerned about. No special treatment or tests are needed at delivery." -Wikipedia

My OB doctor scheduled me to see a high risk specialist, but the appointment was 4 weeks out. Richard and I went to the temple to pray for our baby boy and we also asked our families to fast with our baby's health in their thoughts. I felt comfort and peace throughout this entire time, what a blessing that was.

I had an ultrasound with a high risk specialist which found no other fetal findings that suggest a chromosome problem. The doctor did an extensive ultrasound and found the heart and everything else on the baby to appear healthy and normal. He said baby has less than 1% chance of having a chromosomal defect. 

The peace that I had felt even before this reassuring news was magnified and any slightest worry vanished.

I feel full of gratitude for this child growing inside me and I'm excited to welcome him into the world regardless of any capacities he may or may not have. He is my son and he is a child of God.

When Elizabeth came downstairs first thing this morning she had taken off her pj's and changed into a swimsuit and underneath she was wearing underwear instead of her diaper.

She then skipped up to me and said, "I'm wearing my swimsuit and underwear and I'm to pee in the toilet!" (Huge excited jump)

So, I guess Elizabeth is basically potty training herself. And this is day one.



Mark has taken one or two steps by himself in the last few weeks but today he really got it. He has been walking all over the place. He's clocked about 25 steps at a time. He's 14 months old.

Mark's 12th month!

Mark :: 11 months

He won't open his mouth to eat unless he has his scepter in hand. i.e. a whisk, wooden spoon, or something else equally appropriate. Once he's got it he's waving it around, smacking it on the highchair, and demanding orders in baby babble.

His two front teeth on the top have arrived! I was so happy to still be nursing to comfort him on those nights he was in too much pain. It calmed both of us down. :)

Climbing everywhere. Stairs, furniture, through the too small space under the coffee table, anything to offer a challenge. Good thing we anchored everything larger than a toaster. Come to think of it, I might do that too. :) (We had quite the scare with Elizabeth, more on that later.)

Likes to cross his feet, as shown above.

Is so giggly and ridiculously fun to tickle that the poor kid gets tortured into laughing attacks on a daily basis. He he, it's my favorite!

Fits perfectly into this vintage romper that I've been saving to put him in until month 11. Well done Marko.

Enjoys swinging at the park, chasing after his sister, and listening to me make up songs while I try to get his pajamas on.

Has eyes the color of mine but shaped like his Daddy's.

No longer has watering tear ducts but still has his strawberry birthmark (hemangioma) on the right ankle. In face it's larger now as it will grow proportionate to his size.

He's practicing drinking from a cup (while Mommy holds it) and also standing while holding onto something.

Bedtime couldn't be any easier at this point with him. I pop in the Binky, lay him down, walk out and close the door. He even sleeps through the night, although wakes up  at 6:00 AM. He's my alarm clock. :)

Mark :: 10 months

Hello separation anxiety! Wow, has to be held every waking moment. No toy or distraction will suffice, just mommy.

Crawling!!! All over the place and like an Army man.

Turns his wrist round and round all the time. Just like E did with her ankle when she was a baby.

Can eat his weight in Mac and cheese (which he slurps down whole) and sweet potato pie. 

Kicks his legs all the time, so happy and excited.

His arms swatting my hands away while nursing.

His favorite time of day is bath time with his sister. 

Not interested in purred food, only wants real good in tiny pieces that he then picks up and chews with his gums.

Has big eyeballs that exude (and evoke!) feelings of love.

Mark :: 9 months

Runs his fingers through his hair while nursing

Has a tiny blonde mustache 

Has the most kissable nape of the neck

Sees the iPhone and tries to scoot toward it

First teeth arrived! Two center bottom and fangs coming in on top 

Rolled off the bed and got a bonkers. Sorry buddy, Mommy is sorry.