Amanda, Age 4

I started this post nearly a month ago so I better just post it before I decide to skip it...

Amanda had her four year check-up this week, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to make good on my promise to do a special birthday post for her.  Never mind that its two and a half months late.  You see, it's so hard to know where to even start with this girl.  There is something very special about her. I can't really even put my finger on it or explain, but here's trying...

She truly is like a little ray of light where ever she goes. She is compassionate, considerate and sensitive.  She is discerning and witty.  I joke about it, but I really could see a future for her in the judicial system.  She seeks justice for others (not herself) in all her dealings and, like her daddy, is a very good arguer on the fly.  She has a good memory and makes valid points.

She is very enthusiastic about life. She loves life. She fiercely loves her brother and sister and even at this tender age would do just about anything for them.  Every night she says Mom, may you please lay down with me for a little bit?  Then I will ask her what her favorite part of the day was and she will invariably say Being with you and being with Daddy.

She is dramatic. She is happy. She is pouty.  We have an unspoken motto in our house that "if Amanda ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".  We never know what we are getting with her.  For instance, I will be three quarters of the way up the stairs to put something away or change the baby and she starts loudly crying from the bottom of the stairs.  Mom, I wanted to hold your hand!  And even though I didn't know she wanted to come up stairs or even knew she knew I was going, this will send her into a mood for a good little while.

Amanda loves her Bear.  She's had him since she was three weeks old and they've formed a sweet friendship.  Bear is who she goes running to when she's upset...he always seems to understand.  She loves to suck on the ribbon tied around his neck or stick it in her nose...or both.  When no one else in the family seems to love her (which happens on a somewhat regular basis) Bear always does.

She can often be heard in her room singing and playing make-believe with her barbies. She likes to twirl. She likes to change her clothes about three times a day.

She also likes to copy what her sister is wearing.  She is very strong and independent, yet cares very deeply about what her sister thinks of her and how she measures up.

She is such a good sharer.  If she has one of something, she'll give you half without even thinking about it.  Every time we go to the nursing home we visit a lady who has a stash of candy.  Without fail, she always asks if she can take one for her daddy.

Amanda has a gift with people.  I know I talk about it quite a bit but its very remarkable to us.  It really is...well...a gift.  She is disarmingly cute and friendly and inquisitive.  Its unexpected for someone her age and catches people off guard.  She can turn the sourest face into a smile within seconds and be fully engaged in a conversation in less than a minute. 

My most recent example of this is from BJs two days ago.  We were checking out and she and Aiden were sitting in the front of the carriage, facing the lady waiting behind us.  Before I knew what was happening, Amanda was asking her about the patch on her eye.  What happened?  Does it hurt?  Does it make her sad?

The lady was a good sport and answered all the questions.  Once I was finished paying, we stayed and talked to her for a while as she recounted her blessings of a miraculous recovery from a drunk driver hitting her 20 years ago.  Though she is mostly recovered, her prosthetic eye gives her trouble every couple years.  Sadly, I would have passed this lady by with barely a glance, but that's just not Amanda's way and I love that about her.  I'm watching and learning, too!

Oh, and for her wellness check-up...she is 36 lbs, 50th percentile for weight and 20th for height.  I'd like to say that she took her three shots like a trooper, but actually she screamed and I had to pin her down.  After it was over and she'd calmed down, I asked her if she'd like to go get some ice-cream.  With her lower lip out she said, no, I just want to do something special with Daddy...like go to CEC.  I made a call to the office and thankfully Shaun had a half hour break, so we stopped in to see him and recount our tales. :)
 
She is the firecracker in our house and we all love her dearly.

Toothfairy and Other Nonsense

A couple nights ago Aiden and I were picking blocks up off the floor when I found one of Trot's puppy teeth.  Mercifully, he is loosing those sharp little things that have ripped holes in nearly all of Amanda's shirts around the waist, nevermind our skin.

I showed the girls and they could not guess what it was, but finally after blatant hints, they did.  Amanda asked her dad, Daddy, if I put Trot's tooth under my pillow will I get money?  Ha!  I wondered where she got this from because we have not entered the loosing-teeth stage in this house yet.  The answer?  Super Why.  TV...nice.

When it came time for bed, Amanda was actually horrified at the thought of having the tooth under her pillow, but Avery wanted to.  In the morning, much to her surprise and astonishment, there was a dog biscuit under her pillow.  She came down wide-eyed and shocked and said, Mom!  The tooth fairy left me a bone!  Apparently Super Why does a good job talking about the tooth fairy because she didn't question if I'd left it.  Is that odd for a mature five year-old?  I guess I'll have to be more careful what they watch.  :) Anyway, Shaun and I got a good laugh out of it.

Speaking of good laughs, this just cracks me up.  I think its especially funny because it reminds me of Amanda's nonsense talk.  Sometimes, most often when she's tired, she will start spouting off completely random, out-of-context things that, strung together, have absolutely no meaning.

Big Boy Bed

Aiden has reached another milestone...sigh.  

Over the weekend, Shaun took the crib down.  THE crib... that one that has steadfastly held my three children while they have slept over these past five years.  The crib that has scratches and teeth marks, dings and dents.  It was new 30 years ago, used by my two brother-in-laws, followed by many foster children and has been well used since.

I have to be honest and say that its been a little heart breaking that he is big enough to be on to new and better things.

Why did you move a 19 month-old to bed...its so soon, you might say.  Well, we moved Avery to a bed at that age because Amanda had graduated from the cradle next to my bed and we needed a place to put her.  We moved Amanda at that age as well because she had learned to climb out of the crib and I thought it'd be safer for her to climb out of a bed.  With both girls, there was never a fight, never a question.  We put them to bed for night or naps and they stayed there, from the beginning.  It went so smoothly, that I decided to move Aiden at the same age.  You know....if it ain't broke....

Sure enough, he settled right in and has not questioned it.  In fact, he is quite pleased with himself that he is in a big boy bed.  He says "big boy bed" but all that is clear is "bed".

The first morning he woke, we heard him knocking at the door.  He was holding the monitor calling Momma and Daddy alternately.

His room also serves as our guest room, so he gets a double bed.  Such a little guy in a big bed.

Its been hard to let go of one of the last real baby things.   The blow has been softened however by the time we have spent snuggling in his new bed.  I am able to sit with him and read stories or lay down and hug him for a few minutes and I definitely was NOT able to do that in the crib.

These are bad pictures but they go with a funny story.  The girls have always asked if they can go get Aiden when they hear him talking or singing in the monitor.  They used to go sit with him and read books or jump.  Then one day, all three of came down, much to my surprise.  The girls had somehow gotten him out and I hadn't heard a thing.  They did it the next day and the next day.  Once, I went in to video tape it because I couldn't imagine how they were doing it but I had to stop midway...I just couldn't watch.

Much later I did manage to capture some of it.  Still not sure how it all worked, but they did it consistently and I never once heard Aiden cry or grunt or anything.

My heart swells with love and memories when I see this face.  Don't grow so fast, Roo!

 Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Mark 13:35-37

Snow No More

When I let the dog out this morning it immediately struck me.  Something looks different.  Strange.  Oh! I can see the ground.  Grass, as such.  The overnight rain and mild temps went to work!  Oh the thrill!  Never mind that there is water in the basement and flood warnings throughout the state and more snow in the forecast...we are just going to take out our rain boots and make the best of it.  

As Avery says fairly often,  C'mon Spring...you didn't see your shadow.  Hurry up!  

Same path in January...

Sidewalks are clear, too!

And...buds on the trees!  It won't be long now!

But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign LORD; 

   in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death. 

Psalm 141:8

Project 365, Week 10

We've arrived at March!  Spring is in the air, despite the snow still on the ground.  I will believe in faith as Amanda does when praying over dinner.  Thank you got for this beautiful day and for the food and for the ice-cream and for the popcorn....Ha!

February 27

Shaun and his two brothers play on the same basketball team so their sister Sarah and her family came out to watch the last regular season game.  That meant all the cousins were together, which obviously calls for a picture!

Earlier, the girls were playing "camping".

February 28

A rainy day but stopped later in the afternoon, so we went out to play.  Two cousins came for a sleepover and the girls all had a fabulous time. 

March 1

The next morning they huddled by the fire watching Little Bear while I made breakfast.

 Shaun went in to work late so he got to meet his newest nephew for the first time.

Little Wyatt had gotten so big since we'd seen him last.  He was all smiles and my three kids were clamoring to hold him.

 This was also the first time the swings have been used since October?  November?  A little tricky pushing on top of a snow mound, but we figured it out.

 March 2
Aiden loves his baby and really know how to care for him/her pretty well.

 March 3
I don't usually take pictures when we go to the nursing home just in case it makes someone feel uncomfortable (that and I'm trying to keep Aiden out of the bathrooms or candy dishes or from turning off oxygen machines...which he almost managed this day) but this was too cute.  First Amanda got on this lady's lap and I pushed them around for a ride then Amanda was doing doughnuts with her.  They were both giggling and having a grand time.

I'm thankful for the relationships we've built with the residents who are of sound mind and have a memory that can remember us from week to week.  There are a few the kids call Grandma so and so and we even love seeing the great staff, too.

 March 4
Such a treat to have Shaun around more.

 I think I've out-smarted a one-year old.  I bought these to try on Aiden and he fell for it and seems to like them.  Amanda declares they taste like fish food and, believe me, she would know.

 March 5
All three kids have been on a baby kick.  Buckle up for safety!

 As we were walking into the library, I stopped dead in my tracks.  Green!  Life! Soon-to-be flowers!!  Glory be!

 I'll be linking up with Sara this week, if she makes it through her weekend! :)

BFFs

I'm so thankful that Avery and Amanda have each other.  Because they are only 17 months apart, they have much in common.  Its not too much of a stretch to say they spend every waking moment together.  They seem to take turns "leading" or deciding what to play and somehow they make it work with very little fighting or arguing. 

Many days I will hear them saying "Best Friends Forever".  This can mean anything from I love you to lets wear the same thing to come upstairs with me and lots more.  Its also said when one is not being particularly cooperative and the other will say BFF as a reminder to "stick with the program".

They share a room and even still, about a quarter of the time, I find them in Avery's bed together...its very sweet. 

My prayer is that they will always find a best friend in each other...I have found a sister is such a gift in life.

Say of your brothers, ‘My people,’ and of your sisters, ‘My loved one'

Hosea 2:1

Scripture Memory #5

March 1!!  I get so excited when the calendar turns to March...it means the worst of the winter is over and amidst the rain, snowstorms and cold weather we are still bound to have, there will be beautiful, sunny days scattered in.  There is such hope in that!


This month I'm going with the suggested verse.  I like it, it is short and powerful and will allow me to play catch-up with the two February ones that I don't know solidly yet.  

Judges 5:21b  (NIV) March on, my soul; be strong!

So, what's your verse this week/month?