It's September... already

[judyblume14]

Did everyone have a nice long weekend?

My big girl turns FOUR on Saturday. So, not only am I stunned at how quickly 2018 has flown by, but I'm baffled at how I've managed to get FOUR YEARS of parenting under my belt already.

And baby girl is counting and saying the alphabet. How does that even happen? My babies are growing up, which is so so bittersweet!

[peaseblossom55]

judyblume14 happy birthday to your oldest!!! Wow so smart! Emi knows the alphabet and numbers too it’s so great to see them learn!

[peaseblossom55]

E is doing good beginning to plan her second birthday already 😂 she is so fussy with food right now and we have begun to throw tantrums when we don’t get our way yay toddlers!!

[Lakes]

Happy belated birthday little judyblume14!

peaseblossom55 I was just looking at dd and thinking that she was officially a toddler. She’s put on some height and doesn’t have stick thin arms and legs anymore. It’s adorable and sad all at the same time. Where did my baby go?! 😭

We had a nice beach weekend. My kids are such water bugs/beach bums. It makes this lake girl happy. Ds made some improvements with his swimming skills this summer so that’s nice.

Mh is out of town this week so of course ds was up at 5:15. *grumbles* Today is a grandparent day though so it should go fast. They’re taking the kids shoe shopping. Ds starts preschool next week and I am SO excited.

[Lakes]

Dd was up at 4 today. 4! And didn’t really go back to sleep. A couple short 10 minute quiet stretches but overall, pretty constant. This obviously woke ds up. He was good about staying in his room and “reading” with his nightlight. But now everyone is grumpy due to lack of sleep. Judging from the state of her gums, it looks like teething is the culprit. But she kept yelling what sounded like “go away” so obviously it was a ghost. Especially since it was a stormy and I was home alone with the kids 👻

[carrots]

M cut three molars simultaneously over the last couple weeks and I’m so glad she’s finally past that. And that she now has more than 6 teeth haha. I’m traveling for work this week and so ready to get home this afternoon and squeeze my babies.

M is switching from calling me “mama” to “mommy” and it’s making me so sad. DS started this just after turning 2 and it broke my heart. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked that M is switching earlier since she hears DS but I had really hoped to stay mama to both of them for longer!

Oh man, that’s a tough end to your solo parenting week Lakes. Hope you get good naps out of both kids after such an early (and creepy) start! We got one last beach weekend in over Labor Day too and it was so nice. And my DS has made big strides swimming over the last couple weeks too! Mirror lives haha.

[Lakes]

carrots every once in awhile ds will call me “mother” with a slight accent. It sounds so old school and British and makes me laugh. The first few times I was all wtf? Then I realized he picked it up from the Land Before Time 😂

I’ve already requested to sleep in this weekend! I don’t mind the solo bedtimes but the mornings suck. It’s like they know I’m on my own and are ganging up on me. We just got back from a play date so they should nap well, I’m hoping to catch a catnap.

[peaseblossom55]

E already does mommy daddy most times. E has had one of her second molars popping through the past week. Luckily she has been fine not too crabby. She starts gymnastics tomorrow so I’m eager to see how she does with it.

[thelittleredm]

We are back from our cruise and it was AMAZING. Loved every part of it.... mostly lol

We are having to switch W back to his original daycare provider because the one he is currently with won't work with H's changing schedule anymore which is frustrating. I'll miss having W go out to all the fun places like he does currently but I do like this other provider better on a personal level. And MIL is out of town for the next two weeks and finding someone to drop W off at daycare one day each week is a huge headache.

[peaseblossom55]

Glad you had a great time!!! I want to do a cruise some time.

[peaseblossom55]

We had gymnastics again this morning and now knowing what it’s like she loved it. She was so happy and enjoying herself there.

[Lakes]

Ds starts preschool for real this week! I’m very excited. Last week they had weird half day orientations and parent days so it was hard to get into a new routine.

We had a great weekend at the shore. Hit up a fun and well done beerfest that was kid and dog friendly. Finally took the kids to the boardwalk for rides. Squeezed in some beach time this morning before coming home. September and October are so beautiful down there. I’m hoping to get at least one more weekend in if the weather cooperates and I can fit it in with my busy weekend schedules. The next two months are pretty booked already.

[Lakes]

I randomly got all excited for Christmas and started sifting through the kids book list I add to all year. Then I had an oh crap moment and realized I had to find extra things because dd’s birthday is so close to Christmas. I struggle with her list because of all the hand me down toys and she really doesn’t need anything but if I don’t put something on it, the grandparents will get something super obnoxious.

[judyblume14]

Lakes, for books, A is obsessed with The Pout Pout Fish, and the "I love you to the moon" special edition book with pull-tabs and flaps.
For toys - my 4yo, L, got the Leap Frog Scoop & Learn Ice cream cart for her birthday, and A won't leave it alone:

[carrots]

Lakes I actually have a bigger list for M this year compared to DS! She is obsessed with baby dolls right now so her list has a cradle and high chair. And I put rain boots and rain jacket on both kids lists. So I guess it’s still a pretty short list but I’m just glad to have something on it!

[thelittleredm]

judyblume14, That ice cream cart is TOO cute. Goodness gracious Lol I love it. We did most of our Christmas shopping for the boys while on the cruise but I definitely need to get some items on there for other family members to use. I'm not ready for Christmas this year >.<

[Lakes]

Dd (and ds) are loving the Hape Tea Set she got last year. This year I’m eyeing the Hape Waffle Maker for the play kitchen.

[peaseblossom55]

We got E a play kitchen and food for her birthday I still want to get her a growth chart for her room.

I have a few ideas for Christmas but I need to start donating toys she doesn’t use much anymore.