Truthfully it has been so long since I have had a spare moment to sit down and blog that I temporarily forgot my password and login. And, just as it is whenever there is a lapse in blog content, there is so much to catch up on. However, I have decided to start from here and move forward and when I have time (laugh, cough, snort) I will fill in the blanks. This has been my first "break" where I feel like I don't have to clean, try to quickly run to the grocery store without kiddos or trying to get work done our business plan/idea and I plan to use every minute of this hour soaking in the coffee shop smell. Because of this I would highly suggest getting a cup of coffee yourself to enjoy while you read this (or, if you're a mama like me...reheat the darn thing for the 5th time).
Where the kids are today:
LUKAH:
~As I write I am also scouring Pinterest for ideas on 1st birthdays. FIRST BIRTHDAYS?! It has almost been a complete year since Lukah joined our family. He has brought so much happiness and filled a void we didn't even know existed. He is such a ham, constantly smiling and bringing such de
light to everyone around him.
~He is crawling proficiently, standing up on everything, and cruising the furniture. He is still extremely wobbly so I am sure that walking is still at least a month off.
~Lukah has a few words that he knows: Mama, Dada, Uh oh (though not necessarily in correct usage) And understands of lots of words: ball, doggie, up and how to make his lips make funny noises.
~Lukah loves to look at the pictures in books and hear short words and animal noises. He tries to turn the pages too quickly to actually read a story of substance (even short, short stories).
~Lukah is taking 2 naps a day: 9-10:30 and 1:30-3. He hasn't consistently slept through the night since he was 4 months old and wakes anywhere from 0-3 times a night. Tired mama. When combined with either (or both) of the brothers waking this makes for a very, very tired mama. I should have taken stock in coffee.
~Lukah has 6 teeth and is working on 2 more. 2 on the bottom, and 4 on top.
~Lukah had his first haircut yesterday. I had to trim the wispy sides that were beginning to make him float away. He lost his "hawk" a month or so ago.
~Lukah melts his Daddy's heart and makes it hard for Ryan to go to work when he crawls over to him and puts his arms up to be picked up each morning when Ryan wakes up.
KAI:
~Kai still has the best laugh. You can't help but smile when you hear him laugh.
~Kai has recently been extremely trying. However, with the help of my most recent read "Parenting with Love and Logic" this has gotten so much better. He still has such a strong will and is still challenging, but I have realized more and more that I do not need to own his problems. My realization in this has helped thwart many outbursts too because of how I have changed many of my responses.
~Kai wants desperately to be like his older brother. At 4 years old this posses a challenge as he isn't in the same spot emotionally, and is an entire head plus smaller, but his desire is there. As a result, he is very agile, very coordinated, and very intelligent. He will sit and work on his kindergarten workbook for 30 min with very little help other than reading the directions to him. He can count to 30 unassisted. He can do 100 piece puzzles (that have identifying features). He has number recognition and many of the letters.
~Despite the trying times, Kai is such a love. He is so sweet to his little brother and has really stepped in to fill the shoes of a big brother. He insists on giving Lukah kisses before every nap and bedtime.
~He loves to cuddle.
~Kai is painfully shy around adults he doesn't know. Especially if he is without the security blanket his older brother provides. He'll talk in a baby talk at first, and usually try to show off in one way or another. I often have to prompt him to talk and usually by saying the opposite. e.g. If we went to park and a grownup asks what we did that day he usually responds with silence until I say "We went to the zoo" and he'll say "No, we did not. We went to the park."
~I am seeing Kai's love language as Quality Time. This kid soaks it up. And it's amazing when he feels that tank is full how much more emotional regulation he has. Even sitting and watching tv together he wants to make sure you're completely invested in watching with him...laughing together, seeing the same funny parts, or scary parts. No multi tasking around this kid.
~Kai loves his mommy and usually prefers me over anyone else.
~Kai says some of the cutest expressions. "I have a flipper" when he means he has a flapper on his finger. Or, "Daddy learned me how to do that" when talking about something Ryan taught him.
~Kai has recently started doing chores and has surprised me with how well he can do them. He loves to empty the dishwasher and feels very grown up when he is finished.
~Kai has only had to have his inhaler 2 times since we said goodbye to our dog, Boulder. It was a sad day saying goodbye to him, but it was also for the best...not just for Kai, but also for my sanity.
KADYN:
~Kadyn will be entering 1st grade in just a few short weeks. You want to talk about feeling old? I can't believe I have a 1st grader. We're keeping our fingers crossed that his first grade teacher is as good of a fit as his kindergarten teacher was. He grew by leaps and bounds under her leadership. He was labeled a leader in the class (was often asked to help his peers that were struggling), was told he possesses great quality traits (won several awards for them), and learned to read (his reading ability blows me away!).
~Kadyn did a mountain biking camp this summer and his ability has sky rocketed. His confidence on the bike has improved as well. Both boys did ski lessons this winter and excelled at that as well. It's been interesting as a parent offering sports for them to try. And mostly, whatever Kadyn wants to do, Kai wants to do too...and same goes for what he doesn't want to do. Kadyn really doesn't have any interest in your typical sports: soccer, football, t-ball, lacrosse. He has stuck with biking, skiing, swimming. A dad of a peer of Kadyn's said "at least it's sports that will stick with him forever not end as soon as he is done with high school." That perspective has helped immensely and it is so true.
~Kadyn has lost his 2 bottom front teeth. There was something that was triggered inside of me when he lost his first tooth...something about permanence and becoming a
boy; it
was almost more of a big deal than him starting kindergarten. Of course the tooth fairy came but not without episode (he woke up mid transfer and was very upset as to why he didn't have his tooth under the pillow or any money...it worked itself out fortunately).
~I know that our days are numbered as far as holidays are concerned. He has started having a very logic based brain and questioning many things. This breaks a mamas heart and I can only hope we have at least this last Christmas of magic.
~This boy is an incredible big brother. He is best of friends and worst of enemies to Kai, but at the end of the day, despite whatever happened between them, they cuddle in to his top bunk and Kadyn will read Kai stories by head lamp. (Swoon) And to Lukah? Kadyn carts him everywhere. The first thing he asks in the morning is when Lukah will be up. And he is constantly scooping him up to play together. I love catching the 3 of them together. The brotherly bond is strong here.
~Kadyn is our first born and possesses many of the first born traits with strong will, stubborn, and desire to be right. Despite his attentive attitude and great qualities at school, I wish I could say he had them all at home too. He saves his anger and frustration for home. At least he feels safe, and secure in his environment at home to release some of those emotions. But it can be extremely draining. I always thought that it was difficult when they were younger but at least then I had the ability to scoop them up and put them in time out...Kadyn is strong. I can no longer "force" him to a timeout if he doesn't go willingly. At 60+ lbs and the height of an 8 year old he often out powers me. I have a feeling he will tower over me all too soon.
~Kadyn has recently started taking an interest in all things Daddy. When is Daddy coming home? Why does Daddy need to work so much? Will Daddy take me mountain biking? Can I go on a special date with Daddy? This turnaround from all things mommy has been great for Ryan. I can only imagine that this will only increase as he (all 3) gets older.
~I believe Kadyn's love language is gift giving and physical touch. He loves to give and receive gifts (but please, please do not read that as give him more gifts!!). He is also constantly touching, hanging, tickling, wanting to wrestle...you name it, it is completely opposite of me and something I have had to really work on.
Phew. If you made it through that post (if anyone even still checks this blog!) I commend you. You're now all caught up on my kiddos. At some point I'll catch up on Ryan and myself...but let's me honest, that's not why anyone reads this blog :)
