Updates

I haven't actually posted a lot lately, just pictures of our adventures.
Just wanted to give a little update on the how the kids are being home for 8 going on 9 months now.

Haven
Haven loves her Daddy. Life is all about Daddy. She even says "My Daddy" when she asks about him. She also will let me know many times during the day that "my daddy" would let her do what I won't let her do.
Life with her has gotten better. We still have our challenges of her pushing the limits daily, but not all day long. She will tell me she will follow the rules and smile her cheeky smile and low and behold sometimes she actually does it!
She still loves her books and one of her new favorites is her magnadoodle. But she wants us to draw on it for her and holds it while we do. She is getting better at puzzles. Actually puzzles that you connect the pieces not just kiddie puzzles.
She loves Tenley and goes out of her way to show her affection for her. She loves Stuart as well, but he can't be trusted with a child in his face, so we have to remind them not to bother poor Stuart.

Haven has decided that she doesn't need naps. So every day it is a battle to get her to nap. Her bed has to be pulled out from the wall away from Alec's bed or else she will bang on the wall or his bed and keep him awake. But even that doesn't always solve the problem, so she gets pulled out of bed alot and put in the play in pack in our room to at least "rest" during nap time.

We are still waiting for our nice weather to hit (don't get me started on how much it has rained here). When it is nice we are outside in the back yard playing as long as we can. Our sliding glass door has a lock at the top now, because the kids will go out when they want without Mom's approval or clothes, shoes, etc...

We go back to the ENT specialist in 3 weeks to see if she is going to need surgery done on her eardrum. I just want to get it over with. I do feel it is affecting her speech a little, so the sooner it is handled the better in my opinion.

Haven is starting to use the potty more and let us know she has to go. She is very good about doing that when she is in the bath. I have been reading a new book on potty training in a day and she hasn't hit all the "marks" to be potty trained yet. But probably within the next month we will be doing the all day potty training party.

We love our sweet girl so much, can't imagine life without her, but I do enjoy the quiet of nap time and I'm not ready to give that up yet:)


Alec
Our little man has changed so much. He is 25+#s now, wearing 24 month clothes at 17 months. Who would have ever thought that would happen...can't keep up with his feet, they are growing so fast. Every time I turn around his shoes do not fit any longer.

He loves his trucks and cars! Drives them up and down the hall all day. The dump truck and school bus are the best, because he can put objects to transport in them.
He still torments his sister by biting her. Now he says "bite you" when he is biting her. He is starting to be more difficult and spending alot more time in time out. He loves books, puzzles and rough housing with his Daddy.
He still isn't sleeping through the night. Since coming back from the beach it seems a little worse and he has ended up in the play and pack frequently. He likes to be near me, so it is right next to my side of the bed. He can touch me if he needs to and that has helped. Of course in the morning it is all about waking up Mommy. His favorite thing to do is pat my leg and tell me he wants breakfast or he is hungry.

We are still working on getting him off the bottle. I have cut him down to 4 a day from 8, yep he was drinking 8 a day. It is a security thing for him. He will now drink out of cups with straws, forget the sippy cups, they are for babies. His Doctor said I have til he is 2 if he needs it that long. I think I will try when Naing is gone out of town to cut off the bottle and see how successful I am. I tried before the trip to Texas and failed.

He is very good about telling us when he needs his diapers changed. He will tell you he is stinky or dirty, almost always. Sometimes he does point to his sister when I ask whose stinky, cuz he doesn't want to stop playing:) She is pointing to him at the same time. He is interested in Haven using the potty, but not ready to do it himself. He asks, then when you get ready to put him on the potty he says no and leaves...all in his own time. (But I do day dream of no diaper changes).

He has become a big fan of Tenley now and asks for her to come with him, where ever he goes.

The boy loves, loves, loves water. He can play in the tub or hose for hours. He will be chattering and his lips turning blue and he pitch a fit when you pull him away from the water. I can't wait for him to have his pool set up for the summer. He loves to get on his stomach and kick. I will be doing swim lessons when he turns 2 with him. He loves to run and loves rocks.

Alec is also my climber. UGH. Haven really doesn't put herself in harms way, she is cautious. Not Alec, he is always thinking of new things to climb on. His newest thing is he tries to stack the toys and climb on top of them. Some of the bigger push toys have been taken away for awhile.

He is a joy, funny, sweet and a little naughty all rolled into one boy. We love him so much. Part of me will miss our snuggle sessions when he finally sleeps through the night. That is our time together without any interruptions.