* F I V E *

Last month, Kyalo turned five.  Time for an update!

It is really hard to believe he's so grown up, on the brink of kindergarten, growing in independence (and defiance!), a lover of baseball {still}, books, ice cream, his sister, his cousins and life in general. He loves school, is super social, is eager to be a part of everything.  He is thoughtful and caring -- I hurt my back badly a few weeks ago and could barely move, one night he had woken up and asked me to tuck him back into bed.  As I hobbled in to help him, he said, "how's your back feeling, mama?"  He generally plays well with Malaikah, though as she has become more independent sharing has become harder for both of them.

This has been a good year for him.  He started a different school in the fall and it has been really wonderful, nurturing place for him.  They focus on play, on art, on books.  He regularly comes home with art projects -- so many that we covered the play room wall with them.

Two minutes after I took this picture, he took everything down 'to make room for new work'.  So, we're working on filling it back up before the end of the year.

He has grown so much this year.  At his well visit appointment I learned he'd grown 3 inches!  He's really lost his baby face and just looks all boy.  A good example of this is the photo below.  Both pictures were taken March 20th.  The one on the left in 2015, the right, 2016.  We started T-Ball again this month and one of the moms said, 'I feel like Kyalo has doubled in size!' That's a good way of putting it.

For his birthday, we had a handful of gifts (mostly art-related) for him, and a couple bags of his favorite pistachios.

Safe to say, he was pleased.

At his request, I made vanilla cupcakes with strawberry frosting.  

A random assortment of pics from the past few months:

 about to eat a mini dosa at an AMAZING Indian restaurant we discovered earlier this year.  Sadly, it is all the way in Portland so we don't get there too much.  He loved it.

In March we were in CA visiting my brother & his family.  This picture of Jack & Kyalo is one of my favorites.

As usual, we were in Essex for Easter....

 twins!

next Easter, there will be five!

In April we took a little farm class at a near by town -- Kyalo and some friends bottle fed baby goats, fed chickens, gathered eggs, planted seeds, brushed horses and mucked their stalls, and did some little science experiments each week (do YOU know how tell tell if an egg is fertilized or not? I didn't).  It was such a sweet time, watching the kids get fully engaged and engrossed in it.  And also, I bought a dozen eggs from this farm -- eggs Kyalo helped to gather -- and they may have been the best eggs I've had.

 first time riding a horse!  loved it.

Shallots!

One of his gifts was a little superhero set that he had to put together.  He wore it around a lot...

even needed it for feeding the goats!

and who better to use the second set he got than trusty Lion?

The first T-Ball game of the summer is this weekend (if it isn't rained out), and then the week after his final game Baby comes!  And then life will simultaneously come to a standstill and speed up. Other than T-Ball we don't have too many plans for him yet...but I do hope we have a fun summer ahead.

This was a good year, and the year ahead will only be better and more eventful. 

19 months

Malaikah turned 19 months on the 10th, and she is a joy and a spitfire and keeps us on our toes!

I really think she is fearless -- she loves climbing, slides (even climbing UP the slides), stairs etc.  She's working on walking down stairs and fell down our cement steps the other day.  While she cried, she was not particularly interested in my hugs and kisses and begged to be put down. Once down, off she marched to try again.

She has the sweetest smile, and a wave for everyone. Often she'll just wave her way through the grocery store. Ha!  The best, though, is when Dexter comes home from work. She gets SO excited and happy.  Squealing, clapping, waving, running to the door waving so she's right there when he walks in.  There's really got to be no better way for him to come home.

LOVES to be outside, and if I tell her to go get her shoes or coat (if she hasn't already done it voluntarily) she will start to clap.  

Thankfully, we've had nicer weather (just not today - SNOWING ALL DAY) lately so we've been able to be outside, digging, playing baseball (of course!) riding bikes.  She's got a pretty good handle on this bike that was Kyalo's.  She spends most of her time chasing Kyalo around while he bikes.  I am ready for spring to show up and stick around.

She still doesn't have any solid words.  Makes some funny noises for various animals sounds, but nothing immediately recognizable, says 'Pah-Pah' occasionally for Papa and has recently added 'unh uh' to her list of words.  So, she's got a solid grasp of NO.  Even still, she communicates well by pointing, or clapping when I ask her if she wants something.

Has one good long nap in the morning (which is when I crank out a lot of work for AMHF -- a part time gig I started back in February. If you don't know about it, check it out!), and is generally in bed between 6:30 & 7:00 every night.  Sometimes she gets cranky in the afternoons so I just put her in her crib for a little down time, and she usually comes out of that happy.  She always wakes up happy!

I've mentioned many times that she loves to read, and I always keep a stack of books in her crib. I thought it was so sweet, though, how she tucked this one ('Snuggle Puppy' by Sandra Boynton) under her arm.  Who needs stuffed animals?

On Wednesdays I've been going to a Eucharist service as a local Episcopal church for about a year.  This worked out perfectly because Dexter didn't work on Wednesdays so I could leave the kids.  He has started working now on Wednesdays, so I have to take Malaikah (Kyalo's in school).  Fortunately it is a small, intimate group who is very tolerable of children making messes and noises.  And the priest, Nancy, is great.  Didn't mind having Malaikah 'help' during communion.

We are just about two months away from adding a third to the mix here, and I find it unbelievable. Kyalo will be great -- he's hoping for a sister 'because I like girls' (which is different from what he says about the girls at school, but whatever), but I worry how Malaikah will transition to not being the baby or in the spotlight so much.

We are soaking in these days -- and I'm living in hope that she'll add a few more words between now and July 1!

18 months

It is almost 2 weeks since Malaikah turned 18 months.  These days are just flying by!

These pictures were actually taken pool-side at a hotel in CA where we were for a week in mid-March.  I'm happy to report we all survived (though, just barely) her first plane rides.

After getting back she had her 18 month check-up, and all is well.  Her doctor was pleased with everything she saw, and was not concerned at all that Malaikah still has no words -- 'Mom, mama, mum' being the only exception. She does nod her head vigorously for 'no' but that's it.  I was glad that the doc didn't seem worried.

The good news is she's had a big growth spurt -- all the way from 3rd percentile to 9th percentile! :)  She is now 30 1/4 inches tall, 22 lbs 8 ounces (50th percentile) and has a head circumference of 19 inches which is 94th percentile.  We don't go back again until September -- with a new baby in tow, which seems hard to believe -- for her two year check up.

Other things:

- she gave up nursing about two days before we went to California, which worked out nicely since Dexter and I went away, kid free, for a night.  (First time!  It was great!).  I'm a little bit sad about it, but 18 months is a good run, and of course I'll be starting up again soon.

- since she has no words, her strongest form of communication is screaming.  it is not charming, and I'm VERY ready for it to be over.  It seems to hit especially when I'm making dinner.

- she is definitely coming into her own--very independent, determined to do things herself/her way. She is a strong willed child, for sure, though interestingly, people often comment that she is so chill.

-- Loves books and music.  Whenever we play music she starts to bust a move.  Can't help but love it.

serious dancer

--  changing her diaper is a challenge of epic proportions--the squirming, screaming, fighting, running away.  I'm trying to decide if we should start potty training, but I don't think any of us are ready for that just yet.  Maybe this summer.

Even still, she's fun and loving and engaged in everything.  She'll wave at most people -- and runs for joy whenever Dexter comes home from work (or from a trip to the garage) -- she loves food and Kyalo might be her favorite person (except when he has something that she wants).  She brings us so much joy.

Here she is 'painting' with Kyalo's paints.  Don't worry - there's no real paint in there, just dried paints from Kyalo.  I'm not quite ready to let her loose with paints, and this kept her happy anyway, so that's OK.

My mom and Malaikah reading by the pool.  One of my favorite pictures.

Lastly,  I finally took a picture of the baby bump at 23 weeks.  It looks really small to me here, and I think I've popped out since then.  I think I'm 25 on Wednesday.  I see the doctor on Friday--3 months from when I'll probably schedule the C-Section.  Time to talk names!  This pregnancy has gone fast so far, and I have no complaints.  Just general tired-ness.  I've started having a little bit of acid reflux/heart burn lately which could mean I'm having a boy, or a baby with a lot of hair (or both?). I can't remember what the theory is.  I'm worried Malaikah isn't going to handle the big transition well. Time will tell!

Here's hoping I'm back with a bit of an update from CA and then Easter.  Before the next holiday hits!

17 months

Oh, hello.

I'm sad that I just can't seem to blog much these days.  Even doing these monthly posts seems a stretch, but I love them, and they serve as such a great reminder that I hate to completely give up.  Yet.

Life has been really busy.  Really good, just full.

Here's the surprising news...

2.10.2016

That's right, baby #3 is making an appearance at the end of June (via C-Section again).  The day Malaikah turned 17 months I had my big anatomy scan ultra sound -- a special trip to Portland for that -- and baby looks great.  Growing exactly as he/she should, has all legs and limbs and so on.  The one thing we discussed is that there's a small 'spot' on the heart which the doctor was not concerned about, but she said that it COULD (if I use Dr. Google) indicate Downs Syndrome.  Since all other features of the baby look normal she wasn't concerned - about Downs or about the health of the heart.  So I won't be, either.  I'm feeling grateful that I have had relatively no sickness - just exhaustion - and an easy pregnancy so far.

This Wednesday marks 20 weeks and I have taken exactly zero baby bump photos.  #thirdchild  :)

Now on to our Malaikah girl.  Oh, we love her....but she keeps us on our toes!  She has a STRONG personality.  For a little while if I told her 'no' to something she would throw herself on the floor and flail around sobbing.  Drama much?  That seems to be mostly behind us now, thankfully, but I won't be surprised if it shows up again at 4 or 14.

she couldn't really move.  but at least she looks cute.

She still has no words.  Just recently she started shaking her head 'no' so at least we have that as a form of communication.  If I offer her something she can -- emphatically -- tell me no.  

Earlier this month she had a 24-hour ish stomach bug and it really seems to have taken a lot out of her. It seemed she was on a food-strike for a week or more, even though the sickness had long since vacated her system.  I'm thankful that her appetite is returning, but wish I could convince her to eat veggies more.  Even when I sneak them into things she's on to me and spits them out!  She has no problem with fruits and anything carbohydrate.  So, she won't starve.  Oh, and she still nurses a little bit - once before bed and once when she wakes most days.

Continues to LOVE to read -- she has a big pile of books in her crib, and I will often find her reading after nap.  Or find her plopped in the bean bag chair reading.  She's always bringing us books to read.

 after nap

The only thing she likes more than reading is music and dancing.  Kyalo has a CD player in his room, and she will run to his room and stand and screech at it until I come and turn it on.  Then she'll happily dance and clap the whole way through.  This is my chance to get things done!

Malaikah loves to throw things.  She will throw all her diapers down the stairs -- thankfully Kyalo thinks it is fun to try to catch them at the bottom.  Or a ball around the house. Or food out of her high chair. 

A new development right now -- and one that I hope is very short lived -- is that she screeches, often for unknown reasons.  We have had a few long days where I've just not been able to figure out what she needed/wanted/if something was wrong.  Getting good sleep is definitely essential to the screeching being less.  I do hope that she has learned to say a few simple words by the time the baby comes (she will be just under 22 months!) to help us all know what's going on in that head of hers.

 this doll was a Christmas gift. I love watching her pick it up and cradle it, etc.  It is very sweet. Until she tosses it on the ground haphazardly.  

drawing with big bro.  She'll be an artist just like him! (and Papa)

a rare walk in the woods 

it was a few days late, but here she is smiling for 17 months 

And lastly, a little picture of Kyalo.  We were down in MA at the end of January, and so of course Kyalo and I headed to the local YMCA for their open gym time.  Usually he spends and hour or more running the trampoline track into the foam pit.  This trip he tried a bunch of new things, including the rope swing.  He loved it!  I tried to get him to do the balance beams, but they're pretty high, and after hopping on he said, "I'll do that when I'm five."  Good thing we're just a couple of months away!

16 months

Happy New Year.

Malaikah-girl is now 16 months and really coming into herself.  It is so fun to see her personality come out -- stronger and stronger every day.  She's going to keep us on our toes!  She seems to me to be fearless and adventurous, and definitely will stick up for herself.

She's just recently started saying "Mama" and while I'm not totally sure she really knows what she's saying, I'm claiming it.

She continues to love to read, only now she'll bring me a book, and sort of reverse into my lap to have me read to her.  Her attention for books is growing, too, so that exciting.  And, she still enjoys chewing on them.  No book is safe!

As I think you can see from these pictures, she is a happy baby, fairly easy going and easy to take places.  She is developing this little cackle of a laugh, which is mostly used when I am trying to get clothes on her and she runs away.  I'm not sure where she even figured this out, but she's mastering the art of hiding from me right when I need her.

Winter has finally shown up here in Maine, and the days are colder and we've gotten some snow. I don't really like the cold, so I stay inside.  But Dexter and I had a meeting a couple of weeks ago, so dropped the kids off at a friend's house.  She ventured outside with them.  Malaikah didn't seem to mind.

Malaikah has always loved music, and would bob to it when it came on.  Lately she's really started breaking out.  This video -- which is long, I'm sorry -- just really cracks me up.  Especially at the end when she tries to jump.  She's almost got it!  Maybe in the next month or two.

Since she doesn't talk yet, I think she gets easily frustrated and has entered into a screeching phase.  I don't really know what else to call it, so I just refer to it as a big screech.  It is. . . unpleasant. . .and happens all the time.  When Kyalo takes a toy from her, when she's hungry, just. . .whenever.  Looking forward to this stage ending.  Soon, I hope.

I've mentioned before that she likes to eat.  She really has an adult size appetite.  I give her dry cereal in the morning while I'm getting things ready, then two scrambled eggs, some fruit, water, etc.  When I told her doctor last month that she eats two eggs every day she was surprised.  With the exception of raw vegetables, I can really feed her just about anything.  Especially if it is a carb-bread, pasta, cookies, popcorn, whatever.  She'll happily take it off your hands.

Malaikah is delightful. I really love watching her explore the world around her, her books, her toys, other children.  I can't wait to see where she goes in life!

15 months

Here I am, finally getting around to the 15 month update, just in time for 16 months next week.  Life is busy, I guess.  But it is good.

Malaikah is a delight.  As she gets older, her personality is beginning to come out -- strong willed and independent for sure -- and she is just so fun to be with.  I really love watching her move from thing to thing throughout the day.  She was given a rocking musical lamb for her birthday in September and she LOVES it.  In the last month or so she has really figured it out: climbing on, rocking, and playing the music.  She spends a lot of each day there.  She seems brave, rocking furiously, standing up on the back, etc.  She continues to love books, her various toys, climbing stairs, and Kyalo.  In the last couple of months she has really loved brushing teeth, and if she sees one of us brushing ours, will run to the bathroom pointing to the shelf where the toothbrushes are.  I can often convince her to do things if I promise she can brush her teeth. (Not above bribery).  A new development this month is that she throws things all the time.  Especially from the top of the stairs.  I'm hoping that by summer we can train her to be Kyalo's personal pitcher.

We had a doctor's appointment earlier this month, the first since her 12 month.  She's doing well. Her doctor was very pleased.  She's growing, healthy, walking, etc.  With the exception of having zero words, is right on track.  I'm guessing she's going to be like Kyalo - one day just break out in full paragraphs. Even though she has no words, it is evident that she completely understands us.  We can ask her 'where is your water?' and off she'll trot to find it. Or, we'll ask her to bring us something, and she will.  So fun!

28 1/2 inches tall (roughly third percentile.  She'll be small but mighty!)

21 pounds 12 ounces - don't know the percentage, but she did gain a pound and a half in 3 months!  

A week before the doctor's appointment, Dexter noticed that two upper molars were coming in.  At the appointment, I noticed the two bottom molars were coming it.  It was such a surprise - she had no behavior change, no extra drooling, etc.  I guess she's tough!  She has about 12 or so teeth now which is still surprising to me.

Malaikah is a champion sleeper - bedtime is about 6:30 every night, and that's a dream.  I'm going to do my best to keep it at that until she leaves for college.  She might wake once to nurse (we're down to just before bed, and maybe once in the night) but then will sleep until 6:30 or 7.  12 hours?  Yes, I'll take it.  She seems to be giving up the morning nap, so we're still in that tricky transition time of figuring out the best time for one nap.  But she will usually sleep 1 1/2 -2 hours which is also pretty great.  

2015 was a great year for both Malaikah and Kyalo (I can't believe how much he seems to have grown up this year!) and can only hope and pray that 2016 is just as good, or better.

Happy New Year!

14 months

Last week Malaikah turned 14 months.  She is a full time walker now and I love watching her plod around the house, arms raised up for balance.  She has short little legs and a big round belly so it is really quite comical.  Another tooth popped in, and I'm happy to report that it didn't seem to bother her too much.  Still no words, just a lot of grunting and pointing.  She does understand me, though, so I know she's learning things.  It can be hard not having her speak, but I actually don't mind it too much.

There's our smile-y girl on the 14 month day.  She actually sat still enough for me to grab a quick photo.  A miracle!

Here's what we've been up to:

A trip to a nearby park and bike path last month allowed us to get outside and enjoy a beautiful fall day. Malaikah was able to swing for the first time in a long time and LOVED it.  After I took her out of it she walked back to it and sat under it.  Living in hope. That yellow vest was Kyalo's (and a hand-me-down from a friend) and one of my favorite things he wore.  Do you remember THIS?  That is still probably one of my all-time favorite days.  Kyalo and a stick!  He still loves them.  Anyway, it is fun to see her in something that he wore.

This year we kind of got into Halloween.  It helps to have costumes to borrow, or handed down.  And fun for Kyalo and Dexter to carve a Storm Trooper pumpkin.  Kyalo picked it out (he's totally obsessed with Star Wars right now since so many of his friends are) and was quite pleased with how it all turned out.

The day before Halloween someone asked Kyalo what he was going to be.  He told her, 'a Tyrannosaurus  Rex with really sharp teeth.'  I haven't the slightest idea where he came up with that, and had no plans on how to make it happen. Until that moment I didn't think he would even do a costume!  Thankfully a friend had a costume of her son's that she lent and Kyalo was thrilled.

loved it so much that he even wore it for breakfast the next day

 Oscar the Owl (they share a birthday!) and Malaikah at a little town Halloween event.

Storm Trooper ready to go

 all finished!

checking out his handiwork

I loved seeing Malaikah in that butterfly costume.  Wonder what we'll do next year!

Malaikah loves to read, and will often look at books a long time pointing at pictures. Lately she's started bringing me books to read and will sit in my lap kicking her legs and grinning. The other day I said, "let's go to your room and read X book" when we went into her room she grabbed that book.  I just re-read Kyalo's 14 month post and that's what he did around 14 months.  Fun!

books are always strewn about the house

She still loves to eat, but I'm seeing that she really favors carbs: bread, crackers, potato, pasta, cereal. Give her a vegetable and it ends up on the floor.  We're working on that.  She knows where the crackers are kept and is not shy about letting it be known when she wants one.

I've started a little mom's group for some friends from church.  We all have little babies so we have a lot to talk about.  Here they all are at a recent Story Time at Library.  Please note, Malaikah who is the biggest is the one sitting in the Bumbo.  She loves it!

Zadie, Malaikah, Greyson, Weston

pals

And she still absolutely adores Kyalo.  He makes her laugh like no other.  We're in a trickier phase right now because she's mobile and can get to his toys/things and destroy them so it isn't always smooth sailing.  Sharing is hard work!  But when they play well together it is the sweetest thing.  He loves nothing more than to make her laugh.

He's recently learned how to hop, I guess, and does it all the time now.  I love watching her, at the end, trying to do it too.  In time sweet girl, in time.

She still nurses a couple of times a day.  It is strange that it isn't around the clock like it was with Kyalo, but I don't mind.  I'm glad for the times she still does, and I love when she snuggles in with me after...otherwise, she's too busy exploring to bother snuggling.  

I can't wait to see what the next month brings.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.