our angels

stadium seating

sleep...

I thought we had moved past the sleep challenges. All the kids are pretty good sleepers (once they go to sleep) and don't require much intervention during the night. Of course sickness being a major exception. But, consistent, uninterrupted sleep is still a dream for me. 

I'm not sure what it is, but lately (for at least a month), Oscar had been waking up around 4am and lets out a small cry, 2 seconds maybe.  Long enough and loud enough to wake me, and that's it. He goes back to sleep. I don't. D doesn't even flinch. 

I don't know if it's because he has almost all of his molars coming in (seriously???) or if he's peeing or if he just has a sleep cycle and that's when he wakes and goes back to sleep. 

I do know that I rarely go back to sleep since I've gotten a good number of hours, but not quite enough.  I also know this won't last forever. That's a good thing. I don't think it's good for my body...

fun communication

S - talks with her left hand. She loves to wave it around and hold it out like a waiter holding a tray for emphasis when she talks. When she explains to me what happened or how the world works. Which is all the time.  I love it. 

R - talks to himself. He is so imaginative and tells his imaginary stories to himself as he's playing. Yesterday, it was making up a story using his dinosaur vitamins as the main characters. Complete with sound effects.  The whole world around him could disappear and he wouldn't know it. I love being able to watch and he doesn't notice or care. 

O - he doesn't really need words to get his point across. We generally hear him loud and clear. But, he's starting to try to form words here and there. He has also taken a sudden liking to books and reading and we're loving sitting with him and exploring the world books open up. 

clever rafa

Yesterday, we enjoyed the glorious weather outside. I was hanging out on the porch with the kids. Just before going inside to change clothes, D told Rafa not to slam the gate shut because it could break. Sylvia and I were chatting or who knows what. This conversation ensued.  R: Mommy, can you please go sit on the stairs? 

Me: why do you want me to sit on the stairs?

R: Mommy, can you please go sit on the stairs? 

Me: I would like to keep playing with Sylvia. 

R: Can you please sit way over there? (Pointing far away on the porch banister) 

[Clearly, something is up.]

Me: Why do you want me to sit over there?

R: (with simple logic and no sense of doing anything wrong, just giving the explanation that was requested) I want you to sit so you can't see what I'm doing. 

Me: Rafa!  (surpressing a chuckle)  The rule doesn't change just because I can't see you. You still can't do what Mommy or Papi ask you not to do. 

R: Can you please go inside?

Oscar update

Oscar had his 15-month checkup a few months late...  So, it's really a 17-month checkup.  He did great, didn't even flinch for the first shot.  Second one made him cry a little, but a little milk put a quick end to it.  Another tough kid.

His height is 33" (79%), weight is 24 lbs. (54%) and head is 18.5" (44%).

Growing normally, healthy, all good.

He has had lots of ear fluid that doesn't seem to want to clear, so we were instructed to be more diligent about saline spraying and we're trying to always have a humidifier in his room when he sleeps.  Hopefully those two things will help.  He hasn't had the requisite number of ear infections to require tubes, but since he's also not totally on top of his game as far as words are concerned, the doc is keeping a closer eye on things.  I wasn't worried since the twins were a little slow on language development, too, and that CLEARLY hasn't been a problem.  But, the doc wants us to work on it.  It feels like in response he's having more interest in trying out new words.  I might just be imagining it, though, to be able to defend why he shouldn't get tubes...

The kid loves life.  Giggles and laughs and seeks adventures and fun.  He's also super active.  Even moreso than Sylvia.  He has a little more attitude (3rd child syndrome, I believe) and definitely knows what he wants.  Fortunately, he's pretty good about napping and nighttime, though, so at least we don't have to battle one.  Yet. 

weather

It's been cold. And rainy. At least for us (I know my northern friends want to hear nothing about it).  Bundling up 3 kiddos is not a walk in the park. But, the kids love hats and gloves and umbrellas and we're making the most of it. 

They were so happy to have their own umbrella. 

Ok, so this is just dress up in our pjs at home, but she's so stinking adorable!