4 & 2 Year Pictures

We had the boys pictures taken this weekend with CC, our photographer that gives you a 1/2 hour photo shoot and then gives you the CD of pictures to print how you want for only $35! I think we got a few good ones...I'm just a little bummed because the boys look washed out in their white shirts with the white background but I think I'm going to order them in Sepia so maybe it will look better with the color contrast. Did you notice that both boys have battle marks on their faces, I guess it will be difficult with boys to get pictures without scrapes, cuts or bruises!

Luke's 2 Year Check Up

Well, he did it, he finally showed some growth and gain at his 2 year check up! Although in our hearts we knew that he had turned a corner with his eating, I was still very curious to see how much he truly weighed! Luke weighed in at 26 lbs which is the 25th %-tile...up from the 2nd %-tile just 6 months ago! He was in the 40th %-tile for height so his proportions are great!

It is amazing to me that on his first birthday we were at Children's Memorial discussing a possible feeding tube to his 2nd birthday where he ate Olive Garden and loved his cake! It is such a relief to have that worry out of our minds. Now, if we could get him to drop the attitude, hitting and biting, we'd be great!

4 Year Check-Up

We had Chase's 4 year check up this morning and it went well, no shots! He weighed 38.6 lbs (71st %-tile) and was 42.75 in. tall (92nd %tile). She said everything looks good and I was able to answer "yes" to all of the milestone questions, whew! I did talk to her about his bed wetting at night and basically she said since Blake and I were both bed wetters, he is bound to be and not to worry, or make a big deal about it. She said that we'd talk further in a year.

We also discussed his out of the blue pickiness about certain foods and the fact there have been several evenings in the past few months that he has gone to bed with no dinner because, "I don't like this!" She said to stick to our guns and if what we serve isn't what he wants to eat, that's okay, but don't go out of the way to make him something that he wants. If I make something that I know he likes and he chooses not to eat it, he is out of luck! It's amazing how much he has changed in 4 short years!

Strep Throat

I feel like the entire month of March has been somewhat of a wash due to all of the sickness that we've had going on. Although the flu was short lived with all of us, we all seemed to have it at different times so it felt that there was constant cleaning going on the house. Now, out of the blue, Chase turns up with strep throat. I have no idea where he picked that up and we had 2 rough nights before visiting the doctor, boy do I wish we had gone sooner! I have to say, he was a great trooper, not too much whining or crying, but there is nothing worse than seeing your child and knowing you can't do anything to make them feel better. The antibiotics have kicked in so he is feeling better, I just can't stop wondering, who is going to get this next!

Chase's 4th Birthday, take 2

Opening presents the morning after
Excited about his Star Wars/Lego shirt

Our celebration at home

Hoping that his wish was granted!

Well, the boys made it through the flu and I thought that I had escaped but I'm home today, almost a week later with it! Although the birthday was interupted, Chase immediately asked for his presents when he woke up the next day. He was thrilled with his Star Wars guy, something that he has been talking about for weeks.

I feel like he has grown up so much from his 3rd birthday to his 4th. We went through a difficult time with Chase when we moved, a lot of tantrums and horrible bedtime behavior. He seems to have grown up a lot since then. He asks deeper thinking questions, at times will let me know specific details about his day, is working on mastering writing his name, has developed a deep love and patience for his little brother, and is just so much more independent with a lot of things. We can't wait to experience his 4th year of life with him!

Birthday at Preschool

The class singing "Happy Birthday"

Working hard on his painting

On Chase's birthday, before he got sick, Blake was able to spend the day with him at school. Blake said it was fun watching him interact with kids that we don't know. Blake was able to read a book to the class, play with the kids and Chase did great with him there. Great memories were made for both of them!

Birthday Blues

I was hoping to post some wonderful birthday pictures tonight from Chase's very special golden birthday but unfortunately, the flu bug has hit our house. Luke got sick Tuesday evening and today both Blake and Chase went down for the count as well. I'm sure by tomorrow evening he may be up for opening some presents but tonight he was just miserable. It is VERY disappointing and sad not to enjoy cake and presents but we will, just when everyone can keep down what they take in. I'm hoping that I'm not next and that I will have cheerful pictures to post from the belated birthday celebration :(