Author Archives: steph

Reading

January 22, 2012

Cole began reading today! For quite some time he has known all his letters and his letter sounds; he’s even put nonsense letters together for us to sound out.  “We can sound out anything!” he says repeatedly.

Today, he was sitting with Daddy playing with his “letter blocks.”  Daddy began putting 3-letter words together and asked him what the word was.  S-I-T he sounded out, then said the sounds faster and faster.  Then “Sit!  Sit on the couch.  Sit on the chair!”  He not only put the sounds together smoothly in a word, but he recognized the word and naturally put it in a sentence.  Yeah!

Other words he read included: SAT, SIX, BAT, JAM

And we’re off!

January 4, 2012

Happy New Year! It’s an exciting time around our house – boys are growing and learning and busy, busy, busy. Here’s today –

Cole and Alex are both sick – sickest they’ve ever been. Alex has had croup since last Thursday (a week now) and has completely lost his voice. It’s so pitiful, watching him cry but not hearing any sound come out. I have to really watch him during the day. Quiet doesn’t mean good when you can’t make any noise! He’s had a fever, cough, and general yuckiness. Cole had a tough day today. High fever, terrible terrible cough, sinus pressure, etc. Poor boy – just wanted to snuggle with mom all day but can’t when little brother is around.

We had a babysitter tonight (Kristie Mahon), which was tough since they were both sick. Cole was desperate when we were leaving, asking for “I come too.” When I (mom) said good night to him, he cried. I kissed his hand and told him that he could keep that kiss with him until I got back. He put his hand up to his cheeck, paused for a minute, then said “no, Mommy just stay here.” I told him I needed to go, but Jesus is always here with him and he could talk to Jesus any time he wanted. He again said, “No Jesus, just Mommy.” Poor boy.

New Foods

Alex has now begun eating “real food” – here’s the progression (all of these are one item foods, mixed with breast milk or formula):

August 15: Oatmeal cereal
August 29: Rice cereal
August 31: Avocado
September 24: Carrots
{sometime between Sept 25 and Oct 10}: Zucchini, Peaches, Sweet Potatoes, Acorn Squash, Butternut Squash, Peas, Chic-peas, Bananas
October 10: Yams

August 2011

What a month it’s been! Cole is a precious, and precocious, 2 year old. Alex is a sociable, lovable 4 months now.

Highlights of the summer have included:

– trip to Oregon coast with Roger and Millie: Cole LOVED the water and surf, even though it was freezing cold!

– Daddy took his 1-month paternity leave so spent tons of time with the family

– trip to Victoria BC with Allan and Di

As for the kids:

– Cole is obsessed with puzzles. He does them all on his own and is now putting together puzzles of the US states, and world map puzzles (50+ pieces). He even knows many states and continents!

– Cole’s favorite word = NO! We knew this day would come, but sheesh- it gets really old. He is snuggly and lovey most of the time though.

– Cole loves looking at pictures and videos on the camera or phone. He watches his favorite ones repeatedly – repeating (mimicry) the people in them until he has them memorized

– Cole’s favorite foods at the moment: applesauce, greek yogurt, peanut butter, pears, macaroni and cheese.

– Cole’s favorite activities = watching VeggieTales (only on long car trips), puzzles, making cookies, climbing up (anything), jumping off (anything), bouncing on Trampoline (at GreatPlay), reading anything with The Cat in the Hat, STARBUCKS (which he yells at the top of his lungs whenever he sees a store), kicking the soccer ball.

– Cole LOVES his brother Alex. He hugs and kisses him all day long. As soon as they are in their car seats, Cole reaches over to hold Alex’s hand. When Alex cries, Cole calls “Mamma – Alex Milk!”

ALEX

– just found his toes!

– doesn’t sleep well at night: 2 hours max

– talks and talks and talks and talks!

– at 4 months old is wearing 9 month clothes

– LOVES his big brother Cole. Alex watches Cole, laughs at him, smiles and talks to him. When Cole is somewhere else in the house and Alex gets fussy – the cure is to bring him right up by Cole. Then he’s happy!

August 18, 2011 – First food!

This morning Alex had his first “meal” of real food. Although he is not quite yet 5 months, he is sleeping horribly and we thought maybe something heavy in the belly would help this a bit. After Mom pumped a bit, we mixed some powered oatmeal with the milk and gave him his first bites! He had a bit of confusion mechanically – (how do you open, suck, swallow all in the right sequence?!) – but he got it! He actually seemed to like it – that is, until the milk began to cool…that gave him some crazy faces! Fingers crossed that this leads to sleep!