Overdue Update! AUGUST - OCTOBER '09
Wow, so I'm sorely out of date here and have been meaning to get back and update this but with Jasper on the move my free time has dwindled. * So I'm going to try to get an update of August through October right now and I'll come back, hopefully this weekend, and round out November. Then I'll be back on track! Right?! (Am I ever really on track! LOL)
* AUGUST 2009 *
This was a fun month for us. Since it was the end of summer break for Jordan and Jade we spent a lot of time at Six Flags, especially the water park. Jasper is just now getting into the water and he likes to sit by the water that squirts out of the ground. He tries to grab it with his hands and 'catch' it. He can't understand why it isn't in his hand when he opens it up. Very funny to watch. Jordan and Jade are big enough to go down the big slides on their own now and so they bravely climb all the way up to the top and come down wide-eyed but full of giggles. Jordan wanted to try the Tony Hawk Half-pipe but he got to the top and kept letting people go in front of him... after about 20 minutes of us waiting for him he finally came back down the stairs. Maybe next year!
We also took the kids to the National Aquarium. We decided to get a year pass so we can go back. Jordan and Jade both enjoyed that. It has levels of fish and fish facts, a dolphin show (which wasn't so great compared to Japan's but still great for the kids), sharks and so forth.
We also enjoyed being up at the Harbor and had fun walking around that area. My only complaint was that I couldn't bring the stroller in (which they didn't mention ahead of time) and so I had to tote Jasper in the sling. (Thankfully I'd brought that with me!)
I also completed a new skirt, with matching arm and leg bands for Jade. It's just her style (skulls and flames on it!) and she was so excited. I let her wear it to church... call me a heathen :) I also made her some 'fluffs' (as she calls them) on the bottom of some of her shorts.
Jasper likes to sit in his exer-saucer and play. He especially likes being able to see down and out of our banister as people come and go up and down the stairs. Jordan and Jade are still very good to play with him. Jordan will often pick him up and help him 'stand.' Jasper is starting to reach for him when he's in the room. They look so much alike it is crazy... I'm starting to be grateful that Jordan's baby pictures are all on film so that I can tell them apart.
I took the kids to th National Zoo and we had fun seeing the animals. It was the birthday for one of the elephants and so they got to see it eating "cake." Jade likes elephants but I think the favorite of this trip were the Panda bears who were playing (licking) honey off these crates.
The kids really liked watching them and seeing their big tongues. I think that made the day for them both.
We also took a trip to an outdoor sculpture garden that has a paved path where the kids could ride their scooters. So we loaded the scooters and safety gear into the car and headed out there for a fun day. We walked around the grounds and looked at the art and also hunted for the hidden artwork that was placed around the grounds. It was really fun for the kids.
They were also having a chalk art contest and so the kids each created their own peice of art. The theme was "Wild Things." After that we headed indoors and they did another search and find on the artwork inside while I fed Jasper. I'm glad the kids like art so much because I really enjoy art and art museums.
We also gave in and finally let Jade get a pet... two to be exact... two little mice. She named them Princess and Leah. (Obviously she still loves Star Wars!) It was fun to get them and see her excited face. She loves them already... but NOTE TO ALL PARENTS OUT THERE --- JUST SAY NO to mice! Find something else... really, honestly... they STINK like you would NOT BELIEVE!! Jade's going to have to really keep up on the cage or else I'm going to get rid of them... and yes, I am that mean. (Sadly) I won't keep a pet if I have to keep up on the cage or have to smell it! We'll see how long this lasts.
I made a cloth book of the Three Little Pigs for Jasper. He loves it. He giggles when we read it to him and he'll dig it out of his toys to play with it. He also likes to eat. (Can't you see how starved my child is, all in between his rolls!) His favorite things right now are Rice Crispy Cereal and Cherrios. Jordan and Jade like to watch him eat. They are so fascinated by him. I love that they are so involved and curious. It's great for me as a parent to have them excited and interested in Jasper instead of annoyed by him!
Jordan and Jade started school this month too... Jade is in 1st grade now and Jordan is in 5th. This is the last time they'll ever be in the same school together. They are such good friends that I think next year will be challenging for us when they have to go to different schools. They ride the bus together and the bus driver lets the sit together even though Jade isn't supose to sit with the 5th graders. They were so upset the first day of school because they were separated by grades that they asked the bus driver if she could please let them be together anyway. The driver allowed it so we'll see if it works out. I've enjoyed having the kids back at school becasue it gives me some time to get things done although Jasper now requires more attention because he doesn't have them here playing with him... so that job falls to me.
The kids are into making "eraser" wars. They like to draw on their eraser caps and erasers and turn them into people and bad guys, cars, helicopters, etc. They set the up and make games with them. I totally don't get it! Haha, but it is fun to watch them.
Jordan earned a few of his Webelos pins and so he's excited because he's getting things knocked out toward his badge and Arrow of Light. Jasper is started to roll balls to us. He likes to try to catch them and then waves his arms to try to get them to move away from him. Jasper hit 7 months this month. I can't believe it.
Jasper's milestones this month:
8/5/09 His second tooth cut through the gums the first week of the month. 8/9/09 He also started twisting around when he was in a sitting position. 8/13/09 He figured out how to pull up on toys and in his crib. (Yikes!) So he now can reach a lot of things that were out of his grasp before. (This is where my time starts to become less free...) 8/17/09 Jasper started scooting across the floor on his bum to get some books that were set down. 8/28/09 He crawls backwards and by 8/30 he is crawling backwards INTO a sitting position.
I am still working on the book project I've been a part of since March. (My friend approached me and asked me to help her and another gal on a book they are writing. Since then I've been helping them with research, compilation, editing, design, etc. The book will hopefully launch around the first part of the year. (Jan/Feb 2010 hopefully!) I'm excited about the book and can't wait until it's together so I can actually start talking about it more directly. I've already been implimenting the things I've been learning from it with the kids and it is really neat to see how it has helped them.
* SEPTEMBER 2009 *
This month was another 100 mph month. Where has the year gone!? We took a little time to adjust to having school again. That was a little rough for Jordan, with his AS. He needed a little more TLC then normal and we've had a bit of an adjustment trying to understand his teachers. I was hoping our 504 Plan would have made it a bit easier this year but I think we really lucked out with his teacher last year as she was exceptional!
9/19/09 we took the kids to a corn maze that had just opened for the Halloween season. It was fun to go there. The kids really liked it. The maze was pretty good, lots of deadends and a few misleading paths... the kids had to find 4 stickers in it to get a pumpkin at the end. They liked that.
After the maze they got their faces painted and then picked out a pumpkin. We even got one for Jaz. Jeramis bought me some Chrysanthemums. (I love Chrysanthemums!) Then we went to lunch. It made for a really nice day.
Jasper likes to play with sunbeams as they stream into the house. He tries to catch and eat them. He also rarely sits on his bum. He has this little way he sits with one leg tucked under and the other one out... it is like he's ready to launch himself off on a run or something. It's funny. He's reaching for everything.
He likes to crawl into the kitchen and he's always underfoot now.
Jade has her first loose tooth. She's excited. She always wants us to wiggle it for her. (Jeramis thinks that's yucky... I think it's funny and am willing to do it for her because it makes her really excited to show off how much it wiggles.)
The kids have been enjoying the warm weather that's lingering. We've really had a great set. We had a lot of rain this year but September is giving us some sunny days at least. They like to go out and draw pictures with chalk, play ball and frisbee in the yard and run around out front. I like it because they are getting out their energy. My sister and her family moved out here at the end of September. We've been enjoying having them here. Jasper is now 8 months old.. 3/4 of a year have passed!!
Jasper's milestones for September:
9/7/09 He crawls 2 sets forward for the first time before crawling backward again. 9/7/09 He pulls to a standing position in the living room. 9/25/09 He officially crawls all over, forward, and now doesn't want to hold still. 9/25/09 He also pulls up on the coffee table and walks around the entire perimeter. I can no longer leave my laptop or books on the table! (I need my office set up!) Jaz does combo's of rolls, crawls (forward and backward) and pulling up. We have to baby proof the upstairs immediately.
I've run out of time to organize all the photos so they're kind of smattered at the end. Will be back to update for November! ENJOY!!
* AUGUST 2009 *
This was a fun month for us. Since it was the end of summer break for Jordan and Jade we spent a lot of time at Six Flags, especially the water park. Jasper is just now getting into the water and he likes to sit by the water that squirts out of the ground. He tries to grab it with his hands and 'catch' it. He can't understand why it isn't in his hand when he opens it up. Very funny to watch. Jordan and Jade are big enough to go down the big slides on their own now and so they bravely climb all the way up to the top and come down wide-eyed but full of giggles. Jordan wanted to try the Tony Hawk Half-pipe but he got to the top and kept letting people go in front of him... after about 20 minutes of us waiting for him he finally came back down the stairs. Maybe next year!
We also took the kids to the National Aquarium. We decided to get a year pass so we can go back. Jordan and Jade both enjoyed that. It has levels of fish and fish facts, a dolphin show (which wasn't so great compared to Japan's but still great for the kids), sharks and so forth.
We also enjoyed being up at the Harbor and had fun walking around that area. My only complaint was that I couldn't bring the stroller in (which they didn't mention ahead of time) and so I had to tote Jasper in the sling. (Thankfully I'd brought that with me!)
I also completed a new skirt, with matching arm and leg bands for Jade. It's just her style (skulls and flames on it!) and she was so excited. I let her wear it to church... call me a heathen :) I also made her some 'fluffs' (as she calls them) on the bottom of some of her shorts.
Jasper likes to sit in his exer-saucer and play. He especially likes being able to see down and out of our banister as people come and go up and down the stairs. Jordan and Jade are still very good to play with him. Jordan will often pick him up and help him 'stand.' Jasper is starting to reach for him when he's in the room. They look so much alike it is crazy... I'm starting to be grateful that Jordan's baby pictures are all on film so that I can tell them apart.
I took the kids to th National Zoo and we had fun seeing the animals. It was the birthday for one of the elephants and so they got to see it eating "cake." Jade likes elephants but I think the favorite of this trip were the Panda bears who were playing (licking) honey off these crates.
The kids really liked watching them and seeing their big tongues. I think that made the day for them both.
We also took a trip to an outdoor sculpture garden that has a paved path where the kids could ride their scooters. So we loaded the scooters and safety gear into the car and headed out there for a fun day. We walked around the grounds and looked at the art and also hunted for the hidden artwork that was placed around the grounds. It was really fun for the kids.
They were also having a chalk art contest and so the kids each created their own peice of art. The theme was "Wild Things." After that we headed indoors and they did another search and find on the artwork inside while I fed Jasper. I'm glad the kids like art so much because I really enjoy art and art museums.
We also gave in and finally let Jade get a pet... two to be exact... two little mice. She named them Princess and Leah. (Obviously she still loves Star Wars!) It was fun to get them and see her excited face. She loves them already... but NOTE TO ALL PARENTS OUT THERE --- JUST SAY NO to mice! Find something else... really, honestly... they STINK like you would NOT BELIEVE!! Jade's going to have to really keep up on the cage or else I'm going to get rid of them... and yes, I am that mean. (Sadly) I won't keep a pet if I have to keep up on the cage or have to smell it! We'll see how long this lasts.
I made a cloth book of the Three Little Pigs for Jasper. He loves it. He giggles when we read it to him and he'll dig it out of his toys to play with it. He also likes to eat. (Can't you see how starved my child is, all in between his rolls!) His favorite things right now are Rice Crispy Cereal and Cherrios. Jordan and Jade like to watch him eat. They are so fascinated by him. I love that they are so involved and curious. It's great for me as a parent to have them excited and interested in Jasper instead of annoyed by him!
Jordan and Jade started school this month too... Jade is in 1st grade now and Jordan is in 5th. This is the last time they'll ever be in the same school together. They are such good friends that I think next year will be challenging for us when they have to go to different schools. They ride the bus together and the bus driver lets the sit together even though Jade isn't supose to sit with the 5th graders. They were so upset the first day of school because they were separated by grades that they asked the bus driver if she could please let them be together anyway. The driver allowed it so we'll see if it works out. I've enjoyed having the kids back at school becasue it gives me some time to get things done although Jasper now requires more attention because he doesn't have them here playing with him... so that job falls to me.
The kids are into making "eraser" wars. They like to draw on their eraser caps and erasers and turn them into people and bad guys, cars, helicopters, etc. They set the up and make games with them. I totally don't get it! Haha, but it is fun to watch them.
Jordan earned a few of his Webelos pins and so he's excited because he's getting things knocked out toward his badge and Arrow of Light. Jasper is started to roll balls to us. He likes to try to catch them and then waves his arms to try to get them to move away from him. Jasper hit 7 months this month. I can't believe it.
Jasper's milestones this month:
8/5/09 His second tooth cut through the gums the first week of the month. 8/9/09 He also started twisting around when he was in a sitting position. 8/13/09 He figured out how to pull up on toys and in his crib. (Yikes!) So he now can reach a lot of things that were out of his grasp before. (This is where my time starts to become less free...) 8/17/09 Jasper started scooting across the floor on his bum to get some books that were set down. 8/28/09 He crawls backwards and by 8/30 he is crawling backwards INTO a sitting position.
I am still working on the book project I've been a part of since March. (My friend approached me and asked me to help her and another gal on a book they are writing. Since then I've been helping them with research, compilation, editing, design, etc. The book will hopefully launch around the first part of the year. (Jan/Feb 2010 hopefully!) I'm excited about the book and can't wait until it's together so I can actually start talking about it more directly. I've already been implimenting the things I've been learning from it with the kids and it is really neat to see how it has helped them.
* SEPTEMBER 2009 *
This month was another 100 mph month. Where has the year gone!? We took a little time to adjust to having school again. That was a little rough for Jordan, with his AS. He needed a little more TLC then normal and we've had a bit of an adjustment trying to understand his teachers. I was hoping our 504 Plan would have made it a bit easier this year but I think we really lucked out with his teacher last year as she was exceptional!
9/19/09 we took the kids to a corn maze that had just opened for the Halloween season. It was fun to go there. The kids really liked it. The maze was pretty good, lots of deadends and a few misleading paths... the kids had to find 4 stickers in it to get a pumpkin at the end. They liked that.
After the maze they got their faces painted and then picked out a pumpkin. We even got one for Jaz. Jeramis bought me some Chrysanthemums. (I love Chrysanthemums!) Then we went to lunch. It made for a really nice day.
Jasper likes to play with sunbeams as they stream into the house. He tries to catch and eat them. He also rarely sits on his bum. He has this little way he sits with one leg tucked under and the other one out... it is like he's ready to launch himself off on a run or something. It's funny. He's reaching for everything.
He likes to crawl into the kitchen and he's always underfoot now.
Jade has her first loose tooth. She's excited. She always wants us to wiggle it for her. (Jeramis thinks that's yucky... I think it's funny and am willing to do it for her because it makes her really excited to show off how much it wiggles.)
The kids have been enjoying the warm weather that's lingering. We've really had a great set. We had a lot of rain this year but September is giving us some sunny days at least. They like to go out and draw pictures with chalk, play ball and frisbee in the yard and run around out front. I like it because they are getting out their energy. My sister and her family moved out here at the end of September. We've been enjoying having them here. Jasper is now 8 months old.. 3/4 of a year have passed!!
Jasper's milestones for September:
9/7/09 He crawls 2 sets forward for the first time before crawling backward again. 9/7/09 He pulls to a standing position in the living room. 9/25/09 He officially crawls all over, forward, and now doesn't want to hold still. 9/25/09 He also pulls up on the coffee table and walks around the entire perimeter. I can no longer leave my laptop or books on the table! (I need my office set up!) Jaz does combo's of rolls, crawls (forward and backward) and pulling up. We have to baby proof the upstairs immediately.
* OCTOBER 2009 *
October was a nice month. We've been busy but enjoying this mild weather and beautiful days. Jasper is growing by leaps and bounds. He's really starting to communicate and starting to show his anger when he doesn't get what he wants. He's already so spoiled! haha. The beginning of the month was really busy, helping out my sister and family as they got oriented with the area, unpacked, etc.
We took them into DC one day and did the 'sites,' which was fun for the kids. Jasper's hair is really growing and changing. It's starting to curl a lot more now. When he sweats it makes little ringlets in the back and around the front of his head. It's funny because it sticks up when he wakes up. He's really expressive too and makes a lot of noise. He said his first word 10/01/09 he said, "mama" and reached for me. I didn't believe it at first but he kept crawling around to me and saying it and Jordan and Jade kept telling me to listen to him because he was really saying "MaMa." So I did and when I heard it and picked him up he kissed me!! I was so happy I almost cried. Mama was quickly followed by other words. He said Dada 10/21, "Hiiiiii" sometime around mid-month. 10/15/09 he said 'byebye' and he started saying, Bru Bru (for Jordan) and Dayday (for Jade) 10/23/09. He would say the names as he was looking at or for one of us and when we'd come into his view or pick him up he'd get really excited. He also would say "HI" to people as they'd walk by him or come up the stairs. 10/30/09 Jaz clapped for the first time. He was so proud of himself he kept doing it. He also flaps his arms (a lot like Jordan used to) and we joke that he's going to 'fly' away. On 10/30 he also stood without support for 10 seconds before plopping on his bum. (We had to stand him up and let go but he can hold himself up.)
Jade's first tooth fell out 10/15. She was so excited! She was visited by the Tooth Fairy and she was so thrilled to get some cash for her tooth.
The kids are ready for Halloween, I wasn't. It snuck up on me. I was making the costumes for everyone this year so I've been busy. Jordan is a Hunter and Jade is a Druid. Jaz is going to be Max from Where The Wild Things Are. I made him a wolf suit and a crown. We carved pumpkins and were ready by the 30th!
We didn't do much decorating, much to the consternation of the children. They made me promise that we'd definitely decorate for Christmas.
Jaz has been making this "O" face for a few months now and it is just so funny. We've been trying to make sure we capture it on film a few times before he stops doing it. * I've still been plugging away with the book, trying to meet deadlines while keeping up with the kids and the house.
I've run out of time to organize all the photos so they're kind of smattered at the end. Will be back to update for November! ENJOY!!
posted by Kristi McFadden at
2:39 PM
1 Comments:
I always love reading your blog! Your kids are all beautiful. I'm glad you included a pic of you this time too! That outdoor art place where the kids can ride scooters and draw with chalk sounds really cool.
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