I missed the monthly update for June. This isn't a big deal for the big kids, but Daniel has certainly changed a lot since I last wrote about him! Daniel began to socially smile at a very young age, perhaps 4 weeks? At first it seemed like a coincidence but then it became certain that he lights up when someone makes eye contact and smiles and talks to him. He also tries to talk back with sweet little noises. (Ethan often asks, "Dat cute bebe noise?") Dr. Alli was very impressed with how advanced these little social skills are when she saw him for his two month checkup.
Daniel sleeps in his own room now during the night. For about the last three weeks, he's been giving one 7-8 hour stretch of sleep at night, usually beginning around 8 pm. When he does wake, he goes back down easily. Daniel has a few cat naps during the day either in his carseat or the bouncy seat. He takes one long afternoon nap in the rock-n-sleep in our bedroom while James has quiet play time in Daniel's room. Daniel likes his pacifier and soothes easily. He is generally very content. We are swaddling him at night. He enjoys his playmat and looking at toys. At one month, Daniel weighed 11 pounds, 7 ounces (80th percentile) and measured 22 inches (75th percentile). At two months, Daniel weighed 14 pounds, 13 ounces (80th percentile) and measured 23.5 inches (50th percentile). Daniel has outgrown most of his 3 month clothes and moved into the 3-6 month size and size 2 diapers.
The big kids adore Daniel, a little too much at times. Ethan still usually calls him "Bebe" even though he knows his name. Ethan loves to give Daniel kisses, completely unprompted. He doesn't do this to anyone else. James likes to look at Daniel and watch him and laugh and talk to him. Claire loves to hold him and asks to often. She has also learned that she can sing to him and calm him down. They all know how to give him a pacifier. They have all learned how to treat him kindly for the most part. The only problem occurs when more than one of them is trying to get his attention. They fight over who gets to be in the place where Daniel is looking.
Ethan has progressed a lot verbally this summer. He speaks more words than I could begin to count and is becoming much easier to understand. He throws a lot of tantrums, but I guess that is to be expected now that he's turned two! His new response to everything I ask of him is "Idon'twantto." Ethan has mastered his colors in the past few months and we're working on letter recognition. He still LOVES books and assumes that anytime I sit down it is for the purpose of reading to him. "Read dis book!" is heard all day long. A long book of Mother Goose nursery rhymes has been a favorite of his lately. Ethan loves to sing and carries a tune quite well, even if you can't always understand the words.
Ethan had fun at the beach, seeming to equally enjoy the sand and the ocean. He gained a lot of confidence in the pool wearing his float. Now he will even jump in from standing on the side by himeself. He always looks a little surprised about going under water for a split second but it doesn't upset him. His only problem is that he can't always make forward progress and will end up stuck in one spot treading water. Luckily Claire and James have learned to hold a noodle out and pull him over to the edge. I was actually able to take all four kids to the neighborhood pool by myself last week since everyone had practice swimming on our trip.
Ethan sleeps about 11 hours each night and naps about 90 minutes every afternoon. He does well sharing a room with James. He is a more picky eater now. We've decided he's old enough to implement the "You must finish ____ before you can get more ____" rule that James and Claire follow. Ethan understands but does not like this new policy. Ethan is wearing mostly 2T clothes and size 5 diapers. At his two year checkup, Ethan weighed 31 pounds, 3 ounces (85th percentile) and measured 34 inches (50th percentile).
James is starting to mellow out a bit. He doesn't whine and cry and fight us as much these days. He still conveniently feels randoms pains (including heart, eye, elbow, shoulder, teeth, thumb...) when it's time to do something he doesn't want to, but I no longer hear "my tummy hurts" as often as before. James is shy in new situations and around new people but he can be downright goofy when he's comfortable in an environment. We had several kind friends bring us meals in the weeks following Daniel's birth. James learned that he could get a big laugh from a visitor if he ran to put on a particular blue "poofy" dress from Claire's closet and come downstairs dancing. James gets very excited to talk sometimes and almost has to stop and catch his breath while trying to get the words out.
James preferred the sand over the ocean on our trip. He would go out in the ocean with Matt or myself and had fun but he was very tense and held on tightly the whole time. He too gained confidence in the pool. He won't jump in or get his face wet but he will swim all over in his life vest. James started showing interest in reading, so he's started reading his first easy library book. He is doing so well and catching on very quickly.
James plays alone during Ethan's nap every afternoon. He likes the LeapReader, cars, and dinosaurs/animals. James also loves to be read to. He has enjoyed his little summer camps at preschool and will be attending three days a week this fall. He is wearing size 3T.
Claire is only days away from starting Kindergarten. I'm really not worried. She's going to do great. I will miss having her around though. She and James have been big buddies, playing very well together. James is old enough to really get into a pretend play scenario and have fun with her. All last week the playroom was a park. In the pool they are mermaids (James is always King Triton from the Little Mermaid...so he's a merman I guess?). They will play for long stretches together.
Getting Claire to read at night is still frustrating but she's doing much better. I've started reading "Little House on the Prairie" to her, a book that my mom read to me. She listens well and is full of questions. When we started the book, I was trying to explain the timing of the story and she asked "So this happened right after the Bible?" Claire sleeps about 11 hours each night and plays well during quiet time. Her favorite toys are Barbies, magnet dolls, Polly Pocket, and LeapReader. Claire eats fruits and vegetables well but resists casseroles and meats. She is wearing size 6 clothes.
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