I'll start with Oliver. Developmentally he's getting taller every day. Though he doesn't look like it, he's quite heavy. My guess is that he's closing in on 50 pounds. He still eats very well, but is more picky now that he's learned from other children that it's an option to not like certain foods. Sleep-wise he does great at night, but does not like to nap. At daycare he usually gets to go to the Kindergarten room during nap time so that his energy is spent in good ways, not getting in trouble for not laying still. At home we can usually coax him into laying down for about an hour. Within that time if he falls asleep, he'll nap for about 2 hours.
Socially, Oliver has lots of friends at preschool and tells us about them all of the time. He tends to be a follower, so we have lots of conversations about choosing friends who make good choices.
Academically Oliver seems to pick up on things quickly. He knows most of this letters and a few letter sounds. He loves to read and usually tells the story of the book very well by using the pictures. I'm not planning to push him too hard because I can tell that his interest level in reading is definitely there. His strength is definitely math; he can count to 30 (though he skips 15) and adds and subtracts pretty well within 5.
Emotionally he's a very loving boy. Oliver easily gets his feelings hurt and wants to be liked. He is learning how to be a big brother and letting it bother him less and less when Graham messes up something he is working on. Oliver can almost always be found hugging or kissing one of us when he's at home. He's a sweet fella for sure!
Spiritually, Oliver is learning more and more about Jesus. He talks about how he lives in his heart. And when he's hurt he prays for God to "fix it" for him. Recently when we were reading the story of David and Goliath he was amazed with how God helped David defeat such a big giant. It's also amazing how we can relate things that happen at school, such as making good choices, to God's grace and mercy. I've been talking to Oliver a lot lately about how he's a good boy who makes bad choices, not a bad boy. We talk about how we need Jesus to save us because we make bad choices all the time. I'm also learning so much from my sweet boy!
Mr. Graham. It's a different ball-game with him than with Oliver. Developmentally Graham is a great eater, and I often refer to him as a bottomless pit. Just the other day I had to explain what that phrase meant to Oliver. Graham is also a great sleeper. He usually goes from 7 pm to 7 am, then takes a 2-3 hour nap around noon. The only time he wakes up in the middle of the night if he loses his pacifier or has a cold. Graham goes for his 15 month check-up on Friday so we'll know exact measurements then, but I'm guessing that he's closing in on 3 feet and 30 pounds.
Graham never sits still. He just started walking within the last month and his skills continue to improve every day. I am waiting because I think the moment when he starts running will be here very soon. Just in the last week he's figured out how to go up stairs as well. He's actually pretty quick about it too!
Socially Graham talks our ears off. Some of the words he says clearly include "more" (which also sounds like "mom" and "milk"), "ball", "snack", "down", "I dropped it", and "all done" to name a few. He loves following Oliver around to figure out what he's doing. His favorite toy right now seems to be Mr. Potato Head; he tries to figure out how to get the pieces in and out of the holes for quite a while before giving up.
Academically Graham also loves books. He especially loves going to get them and bringing them to me. He won't sit still very long to read them, though he loves sitting in my lap. Emotionally Graham is definitely the baby of the family. We are starting to realize that he thinks he can do whatever he wants to get his way. Just this afternoon he pitched a royal fit because he wanted some chocolate chip cookies. When he finishes eating he knocks all of his food in the floor (Wilson never complains!). He's definitely got a busy personality and stubborn attitude. We are having to start telling him no, and I have a feeling his first experiences with Time Out will be coming soon.
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