January Update

Ethan is a sweet, chubby, little guy.  He isn't rolling often or sitting unsupported yet.  He likes the jump-a-roo, bumbo seat, and play mat.  He loves his pacifier and playing with/trying to eat his feet.  He's sleeping pretty well at night.  Usually from 7:30 pm until about 6 am, when I feed him and he'll go back to sleep until 8:00 or so.  There's often a period of crying during the night but he'll fall back asleep on his own most of the time.  Ethan is still a horrible napper.  He usually has three 20-minute naps each day, but often two of those are in the car.  Ethan has been eating rice cereal, avocado and/or banana at supper each night for the past few days.  I think he likes it.  He dives toward the spoon, but he's still figuring out the swallowing and what exactly he's supposed to do with his tongue.  It's a big mess and James and Claire get a kick out of it.  I think Ethan's new favorite person is James.  Claire can sometimes get too close with smothering him with hugs.  James has started showing more interest and enjoys getting Ethan to make little sounds.  Ethan just lights up when he sees James.  When Ethan is getting dressed or changed, James brings over a stool so he can stand up and see him.  Ethan does great being left in the childcare at church.  He takes a bottle easily as well.  He is just such a sweet little addition to our family that I already can hardly remember what it was like before Ethan!

James is a stinker.  He's strong and strong-willed.  He's also a goof-ball--making silly faces, changing the words to songs to be funny (a recent favorite of his is singing "Mr. Peanut" in place of "Mr. Grinch"), and laughing loud and hard when something is funny.  He's very verbal and forms very complex sentences (one example from today "Mommy, can you find other shoe like black one on this foot?").  He tends to clam up around other people though, so not many have heard just how well he can talk.  James loves playing with Claire, dinosaurs, cars, making things fly in the air, jumping, getting held/rocked, puzzles, and singing.  James likes to be out and about and does will playing at the childcare at church.  He is beginning to understand and play a few board games.  James is a much better eater and will finally eat some vegetables...well with the promise of yogurt or something similar.  James doesn't nap very often anymore but really should and is cranky in the afternoons.  Actually he's still very cranky in the afternoons regardless of whether of not he napped.  The past two weeks have had some rough nights for James.  We finally figured out that he was scared of a blanket and some toys in the corner of his room because he thought that they were Brooks.  This fixed the problem for a day or two, but he's still waking up screaming and calling to be held.  I'm not sure if it's bad dreams or what.  Thankfully he's pretty quickly comforted and will go back to sleep easily. 

James is always on board to play pretend with Claire, no matter how silly her scenario might be.  They spent a good chunk of time playing a game last week that involved snow pants, a monster (Brooks), and magnet letters.  I wasn't really sure what they were doing, but they had fun together.  They have also been playing "hotel" ever since our trip to Michigan.  They move couch cushions around and get their blankets and talk about sleeping in hotel beds.  James was trying to replicate this game while Claire was at preschool one day, but I guess it just wasn't the same.  He finally looked at me and said "Go get Cwa-er?"  It was sweet to see him wanting his sister.  They also have bonded over a tv show, "Super Why" that they watch when James gets his breathing treatments.  They like to sing the songs together and pretend to be the characters. 

Claire is full of imagination and loves to dress up.  We never know what she's going to be wearing at any given time.  Almost everyday for quiet alone time in her room, she just wants to play with her clothes--real and dress up.  Claire also enjoys her magnet dress up dolls, blocks, and reading books.  Claire has finally started to show some interest in reading and writing.  She can write a few letters now and likes to try sounding out words--even though she still needs a lot of help to figure out the words.  Claire loves preschool.  Her best little preschool friend has a birthday party last weekend.  It was princess themed and Claire had fun dressing up.  The friend has a 16 year old brother who was so sweet to dress as prince charming, greet the princesses at the door, and take a picture with them.  Claire loves ballet class and looks forward to it all week.  I am very curious to see their little recital in May--should be a hoot!

In some ways January was a tough month.  It's always difficult to come down from the excitement and fun of Christmas.  Matt traveled every week in January, except for the week when we returned from Michigan.  Some snow and extreme cold led to cancelled school and other activities.  I was glad for new Christmas toys and some creative ideas from the internet to keep everyone entertained and happy indoors.  We are trying to get outside whenever possible.  A few days have been nice enough for backyard play.  Today, I took all three to the zoo for the first time by myself.  It was tiring, but we practically had the place to ourselves and got to see some animals really well.  Claire has some adjusting to do when it comes to her new role of walking since James and Ethan fill up the double stroller.  Matt continues to work hard around the house as we slowly make it our own.