This month we've enjoyed playing in the snow, having fires in the fireplace and baking cookies, watching the SuperBowl, a trip to the Perot Museum with friends, finally getting the weather to cooperate (mostly) with family pictures, a trip to the Dallas Auto Show, a new bed for Sam, and of course, Noah's 3rd birthday, which included some time with Grandpa David, Grandma Pat and cousin Maddie from Ohio! It's been a whirlwind of a month, especially since it's so short already, so I'll do my best to document what I can here.
Noah turned THREE this month and he seems to be "three going on thirty" or maybe even older than that. He has entered that fabulous stage of toddler-hood/preschool age where the things he says are just priceless. Daily I am either amused, puzzled, or just incredibly tickled by what he says. Here are a few examples I posted on facebook this month:
From 2/6/2014:
My son has developed a new tactic. Any time he realizes he's getting in trouble he stops what he's doing, goes to a corner or a rug and sits down and tells me, "I'm in time out, mommy. Time out is for when we aren't following directions. It's when we don't listen."
Sounds great, right? Like my own self-regulating child. It's never that easy...
Clearly he understands *why* we use time out, but he doesn't fully grasp the concept. For example, last night he put himself in time out and told me that he 1st, didn't need to put away his toys "...Because I'm in time out, mommy. I can't put them away, I'm in time out." 2nd, "Mommy, I can't brush my teeth or get out of my clothes, I'm in time out now." And then 3rd, he couldn't put his clothes in the hamper because he was "in time out."
Still trying to figure out a work-around here. The kid is smart, but I'm still convinced that I'm smarter....for a while
2/9/2014:
For bedtime, I was really impressed that Noah was able to recite part of the Lord's prayer. It was even sweeter when he turned to me and said "Jesus loves you, mommy!"
Of course, the oh-so-sweet moment was cut short by my laughter at Matt's face when the conversation after that went like this:
Me: awww, what about Noah, does Jesus love Noah?
Noah : uhh, yes!!
me: what about daddy? Does Jesus love daddy?
Noah: uhh, no.
Me: what?!!
Noah: Jesus loves mommy, Jesus loves Noah, and Jesus likes daddy!
2/25/2014:
Me: what's your full name, Noah?
Noah: Noah Matthew King!
Me: what's daddy's full name, Noah?
Noah: James Matthew King!
Me: very good!
Noah's Grandpa David: Actually, I think it's "James Matthew King, PhD."
Noah: uhh, no. It's James Matthew King Daddy!
That kid knows which title is *really* the important one
Sweet Samantha doesn't talk nearly as much as her loquacious brother, but continues to make every effort to keep up with him. She loves to chase him around the house as one of them pushes the metal Tonka dump truck and the other pushes "the cart" a small v-tech walker-type toy. It's very noisy, but it's definitely one of their favorite games. She also continues to enjoy mimicking her brother, which can be a problem at meal time when she feels like she is done as soon as he is, even though she's clearly still hungry. And while she's not there yet, we are continuing to work on new words all the time. She loves to read and dance and will gladly make gestures or signs to communicate what she wants to do.
Both kiddos had pediatrician appointments this month: a 3 year for Noah and an 18 month for Sam! Both were doing very well, other than the fact that all of Sam's activity meant she had only gained 1 pound in the three months since her last check-up! Dr. Ezekiel wasn't too worried, though, because developmentally everything was on track and Sam is still growing taller despite her lack of chubbiness. I guess that's what happens when you pray that your kids get a good metabolism.
We baked a *lot* of cookies this month. Noah's favorite are chocolate chip so we've been baking up a lot of them during these cold, cold days. It shows, because my hand mixer attachments finally called it quits. Needless to say, we put baking any more cookies on hold for a while :/
Sam, helping me bake some cookies. She responded by bringing out some of the cookies from the play food. She was *really* proud of herself :)
Superbowl Sunday!!! Here's the spread we had at my parents' house....delicious!
Watching the "game" (if you can even call it that. Peyton let me down.)
The younger guys were busy building train tracks
while Sam just wanted to play foose-ball.
Snow Days!
Here's a pic of Sam all dressed and ready for the snow
She's telling me "Haaa" for "hat" in this picture :)
Snow!
The Childers brought over some musical instruments for the kids to play with. There was a lot of excitement from the kids....the parents' were less sure about how great this was. Of course, he's so stinkin' cute playing that harmonica it's hard to be bothered.
Speaking of cute faces, here's the *epic* pouty face we got from Sam one morning after telling her she wasn't allowed to scream at the table.
Bedtime around here: chaos! (not really, but they do love to play after they've had their bath)
The inherent differences between a boy and a girl. Without any sort of encouragement and the same toys available to both of them...
Sam chooses to accessorize. Note the multiple necklaces, "bracelets" and her asking me to put her boots on.
Meanwhile, Noah pretends he is at a construction site "pushing the dirt and rocks with the bulldozers and diggers, mommy!" and constructing a train track.
My little bookworms :)
Enjoying time with the Childers family:
The Dallas Auto Show:
Spending time at the park with Grandpa David and cousin Maddie, who came from Ohio to visit for Noah's birthday
Sweet Sam (plus Noah) on the first night in her new bed. It was all smiles until I made Noah go to his own bed. Then I heard some crying and her kicking the door in protest :/
No worries, though, later I found them both passed out on the floor. Noah outside his door, and Sam just inside hers.
The next night was better -- no tears, and when I went to check on her it appears she had accepted her new bed :)
