Tuesday, May 31, 2016

School's OUT for Summer!

Last Day of School
The 2015-2016 school year has come to a close! Summer is here for the kids. Last week was their last week. Grace ended on Tuesday and William ended on Wednesday. They both had a wonderful year and grew so much from August till May. If you don't believe me, look at these before and after shots from the year!
First Day -- Last Day
First Day -- Last Day

I can't believe how small Grace was in August! She looks like such a baby and now looks like a little girl. This spring in particular she seems to have grown the most. And William looks like a second grader here! He's huge! So mature looking and he's grown a lot this spring too. He wants to know everything about letters and reading. Two smart cookies! I'm proud of everything you both did this year!

Grace breaking it down before school

Last day picture

Class party

Your future is bright ;)

Friends from class

Mrs. Langholz

Grace's favorites: Brynn and Mrs. Kest

 William also had a fun end of the year party. Me and another mom organized the party.

The big man!

He was excited for the mini beach ball

Food and treats for the class

Signing bags for the teachers

Shell necklaces for the craft

William LOVED his shell necklace haha!

Theo and William

Mrs. Herman and William

Mrs. Massengale and William (Jack photobomb)
Both William and Grace loved their classes and their teachers. William is going on to PRE-KINDERGARTEN in the fall (waterworks time!) and Grace will be in 3 day 3's. Clare will still be home :) Next year is a big year since we will figure out where William will go for kindergarten. I want him to stay at this school forever... it's been so much fun to watch them grow and enjoy being little.

Thankfully we aren't gone for too long. Summer camp started today at school! 2 weeks of fun summer activities with their favorite teachers and friends.

Great job you two! We're proud of you!

Clare tries to crawl



Here is video from today of Clare trying to reach a toy in William's room. The beginning of her trying to crawl! Watch out world!

Clare is 5 Months!

5 months old
Clare is 5 months! I can't stop saying it. How are we here already? Maybe with summer arriving and the kids being out of school we will experience life in more slo-mo fashion than fast forward... here's hoping. Back to Clare though. She's 5 months! She's a doll. Such a sweet little peanut. Very content and very quiet. She really doesn't make a peep unless she's ready for bedtime or a feeding. She loves when people talk to her and she goes from a curious look to a big smile. Her favorite persons to watch are William and Grace. When I walk downstairs in the morning, William is usually right behind me and Clare will start smiling huge and giggling - for no reason. She just loves to watch both of them. Grace really enjoys talking to Clare, singing to her and making funny noises, which Clare just eats up. You can see her watching them and know she's wishing she could run with them.

I love this age when babies begin to interact more and develop a routine. They still sleep a lot, but are very interested in everything around them. Clare is grabbing at food, hair, any object now. She loves sitting in her exersaucer and playing with all the different toys attached to it. I think she prefers the view sitting up as well. More to see instead of laying on the ground. I've put her in the Bumbo seat and was surprised she could sit up in it. She's so long and lean there isn't enough girth for her to sit upright yet.

In the two days since she turned 5 months she is beginning to hit some milestones like wanting to crawl! She is scooting and getting up on all fours. For the past couple weeks she manages to go from one end of the crib to the other and turns 180 degrees. It's part army crawl, part rolling. She wants to move.

And then in her bath she sat up somewhat. She's still very hunched over, but she held herself like that for a couple minutes then she wants to fall onto her stomach.

I think she may start crawling before she is sitting up! We are in trouble when the crawling is in full effect because we have so many tiny toys all over the place. Legos and doll clothing and magnets... I think William and Grace's favorite toys are all very tiny. And clearly the house is not picked up at all times. I told William today that we need to be careful with the tiny toys once Clare can crawl and during his "rest time" he cleaned his entire room because he didn't want Clare to put anything in her mouth! It was super sweet. He said he put most of his toys under his bed because Clare hasn't learned to crawl under his bed yet haha!

A lot of fun this month and I'm looking forward to the next month. We may have a crawler by her 6 month post!


Clare 1 month

Month 1!
Clare is 1 month old! She is actually 5 months old now, but I'm going back to finish up these monthly posts! The first month (and the next four) flew by. Clare has been a great baby!  

Big brother climbing into 1 month shoot
Here are some of her 1 month highlights!
  • Clare likes to be held, but is okay going into her crib too. It's too loud around our house for her to snooze downstairs in the swing.
  • Clare is a tiny little thing and she needs some coaxing to eat longer. Her usual eating lasts around 20-25 minutes.
  • She had her first bath and no tears. We're getting into the bedtime routine to start getting those long stretches at night! 
  • Visited her brother at school when we had his class birthday party - all the kids wanted to touch her uh oh! 
  • We had several illnesses over the first month... stomach bug, pink eye, colds, and thankfully none for Clare! Healthy little lady!
  • She likes to hold her head up and doesn't mind practicing her tummy time.
  • Isn't into a pacifier, but will use it if you hold it for her. As soon as you let it go then she pops it out. 
  • Has been a good sleeper doing the normal 3-4 hours at night time. She takes naps during the day easily too. 
  • She likes to be cozy and have a blanket wrapped around her. I've started swaddling her with a velcro swaddle at night time. 
Basically she eats and sleeps, eats and sleeps. Every day she is more alert and her smiles are starting to develop. At her 1 month appointment she looked so happy (prior to shots). Her life consists of chasing William and Grace around -- and I don't imagine that will stop anytime soon! They definitely love her and don't mind her tagging along. Next post! 2 months update! But not before some pictures from the past month below...


First bath


Snoozing in the swing

Cozy on the couch


Older sis!




Laying around with mommy


Big baby yawns! Tiresome being a newborn


Relaxing with Daddy and Grace

William drew a picture of our family of 5 on a boat ha!

Lazy nights at home


Wants to practice her tummy time


Encouragement from big bro and sis


William likes to hold Clare


Clare's first school visit


Germ central in William's class - all his friends want to meet Clare


Watching the fire in the fireplace


Sleepy smiles


Love catching these smiles


Playmat time


Park time with William and Grace


She's tiny, but she's strong!


Loves to be snuggled up in a blanket


Naps on Dad


First cousin party

Right before Clare pooped and Grace said get her off of me!


More lazy nights at home


So alert


Waiting on the doctor


Grace's class made a sign for Clare


Newborn photos


Cuddled up snoozing


Cuddled up in a blanket


Bright colors


Long and lean


More smiles