My Loo Turned 4!

It's hard to believe that it's been two weeks since my Loo turned 4 (and that I am just able to sit down - sort of - and blog about it!).  So first, my note to my Jacob on his 4th birthday:

My Sweet Jacob Liam!  It's hard to believe that 4 years ago you came into this big world and made it a whole lot brighter.  What a little man you have turned into over the past year.  You are hell bent on being a big boy and hanging with Riley's friends.  It's no secret that you're not an easy kid but what you lack in flexibility, sleep and an even temperament, you make up for in empathy, compassion and overall kindheartedness.  You are always the first to run to someone who is upset to see if they are ok and see how you can help.  When you are sad, you easily and openly express your feelings.  You are sensitive and easily get your feelings hurt, especially if scolded my someone you love.  You are my cuddler and love to snuggle.  But at the same time you are all boy, you love Darth Vadar, light sabers, fire trucks, and all things boy.

In the past year, I have seen you open up and become a social little butterfly.  You have a tight core group of buddies that you love to hang with and openly approach other children to play, something that you would have never done a year ago.  But at the same time, you feel odd and overwhelmed being the center of attention.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy, may you always remain the sweet, compassionate, boys boy that you are and may your 4th year bring lots of love, happiness and FUN!  I love you forever and ever and ever again my little buddy!

To celebrate we had a super fun birthday party at Build-A-Bear Workshop, they did a great job and we are now proud owners of a Kylo Ren Star Wars Bear!

On Jacob's actual birthday we let him pick his day since it was a Saturday!  We opened some presents, then went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks.  While at the movie theater, we ran into a Droid!  So fun!  Then we hit Menchie's before having dinner at home (Jacob's request) and ice cream cake!

Jacob also had a great 4 year well check!  He's measuring in the 65th percentile on weight and the 55th on height.  And is the picture of health!  He even got 3 vaccines and did not shed one tear, he let out a little ow on the third one but didn't cry or meltdown!  All he wanted was a pair of Dr exam gloves so he could play Dr at home!  How old does he look at his checkup!

And In Jacob's News

Lots going on with my little man too...

let's see, he moved into the pre-school room.  He thinks he's hot stuff now.  Seriously, he walks around with an air of confidence not typically found in Jacob and when we ask him how he knows something he says "I bigged now, I in pwe-school."  I hope his little toddler accent never goes away, ok, I hope it does eventually because that'd be awkward in Middle and High School but I love his little toddler voice.

 

 

We also got Jacob to give up his much beloved "ba" (pacifier).  It was a rough first week but after 5 or 6 days he stopped asking for it, he's still not sleeping great but it is getting better.  As a reward, he got a trip to Build A Bear (two pacifiers are in there) and a big boy bed which he's been wanting for a long time!

 



And, finally, Jacob got asked to join his old basketball coach's new program at the YMCA.  So we drove up to Danville for 2 months for him to play, he was by far the youngest on the team but his coach is moving back to the Dublin program and told us to sign him up for the 4-5 year old class.  Jacob love basketball!

Happy 6th Birthday Riley!

Wow, they say the days are long and the years are short and I certainly feel that this year.  How can our Riley be 6 years old today!  It's hard to believe but it's true, it's been 6 years since you entered this world 4 weeks early, as always with your own agenda (which I am still trying to figure out!)  I've said it year after year but from day one you've been my hero and my teacher.  This year was no exception.  In your 5th year you were faced with many more obstacles and milestones.

In February, you had pretty extensive surgery to correct your left clubfoot.  When I was breaking apart inside about you having surgery, you faced it with an admirable sense of bravery and stoicism.  You are definitely aged well beyond your years.  You have faced life's challenge - your clubfeet - with  bravery and pure acceptance.  When I was upset about having to send you into surgery, you were calm and collected and excited to move to the next chapter of your life free of casts and AFOs.  You went into the OR with a smile and a few hours after surgery we were in the play room and doing silly selfies from your hospital bed.  You light up a room with your beautiful smile and everyone who comes in contact with you is happier because they have known you.  You have a way of bringing joy to all around you.

In March, when your friend's dad passed away suddenly, you wanted to buy her a Care Bear to cheer her up.  You were still recovering from surgery yourself, just about a week post-op but you insisted that a Cheer Bear would make her feel better and when we went to visit her, you took off with your little walker, playing with her like nothing was different about her and brought a little bit of happiness to her for a few hours.  You have a strong, compassionate, undiscriminating heart.  I see it day in and day out but how you helped your friend that day was beyond admirable, especially as you were recovering yourself.

June 1st brought graduation from kindercare and starting "camp" at the EDCC at your elementary school.  You were nervous at first but by the third or fourth week we would walk to Peet's and you would see countless kids that you knew.  "oh that's Lauren, Chloe, Sydney" you would say like you had known them your whole life, "They're stringrays," you'd finish.  That meant they were in 2nd grade or above and they all came flocking to give you hugs.  By mid-summer, the EDCC teachers had told us how you were on your way to ruling the school.  Our little Riley, leading the way!

In August, you started kindergarten and you didn't miss a beat.  You jumped right in with an extreme love of school and learning. You love writers workshop and you love math.  In fact, just before winter break your teacher told me that you are the top girl in your class for math.  You love to whizz through math problems, do addition in the car and have an overall love for learning.  I love watching you have such excitement over education and going to school. 

And in November, about 9 months post-op, you had been released from your AFO and Dr Hoffinger said there would be no more casts, surgeries, or AFOs in your future.  I will never forget the happy look on your face.  It's been a long 5 1/2 years as we traveled the clubfoot journey but no one will ever be quite equipped to travel it like you were.  My darling, you did this all on your own, I was just there to guide you, but I remember the days of your night night shoes where you insisted on putting them on yourself, when you finally graduated from them and you argued with me for days about having to wear them and Dr Bossyman said you had to despite my best efforts to convince you that he said you could stop, facing your first set of casts when you relapsed, getting calls from your teacher asking if it was ok for you to be running and sliding and jumping in your casts, trying to walk just a few days after you surgery, seeing your foot for the first time after surgery, and of course the countless extra stinky feet you put in Dr H's face.  When most kids would have given up and felt sorry for themselves because of all the casts, AFOs and Drs visits, you kept going.  You have gotten through your long journey with your fantastic attitude and I hope that you always remember how far you have come.  Never be ashamed of the way you were born and be proud of all that you've overcome. 

But I am also reminded many days that you are still just a little girl.  You get excited easily and have a hard time calming down.  Despite your bravery you still scare easily and often get upset.  When there was an attempted break-in on our house, it effected you immensly.  Suddenly, a piece of your innocence had been taken away and you became truly aware that there is evil in this world.  Suddently you had to learn about drugs and the effect they can have on you, the judicial system, jail.  And you were left with worry about your safety in your own home.  It was a reminder to me that you are still a little girl, I take for granted your maturity, your acceptance of what is handed to us but that incident reminded me that no matter how brave and strong you are, you still need to be reassured that you are safe. 

But at the end of the day, you are just a normal kindergartener (ok, not so normal, more of an extraordinary little girl), you've taken a liking to running and love to participate in the run club when I can take you Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  You did your first Turkey Trot this Thanksgiving and we have a 5K set for March as well as starting softball.  And of course your brother, oh how you love your brother!  My heart is overwhelmed with love and joy when I see the way that you and brother look out for each other.  I'm glad you have each other and I know your love for each other will continue to grow as the years go by.  Happy Birthday my beautiful girl, I know 6 will be a fantastic year.

There's a quote that I've come across many times while I've been on Pinterest: "And though she be but little, she is fierce."  This was true of you as a 4 1/2 lb newborn the blew the Drs away, Drs that were ready to whisk you away to the NICU but were overwhelmed by your alertness and energy, but it is certainly true of your 5s, you faced your 5s and conquered them with a ferocity full of life, I can't wait to see what your 6s bring!

Happy Birthday, my sweet beautiful girl!  I wish you much happiness and wondrous things in this 6th year of your life.

I still need to snap that 6 year old chair picture

Celebrating her birthday with Nana and Poppy!
 

Happy 3rd Birthday Little Man

Jacob Liam!  I can hardly believe that you are 3 years old today.  It seems like yesterday you were entering our world, our sweet, cuddly, yet high tempered little man.  You have grown so much in the last year and I have loved watching every second of it.  You started the year behind verbally, biting, and anxious and you have finished your 2s with a full vocabulary, friendly and outgoing.  You are my sensitive one.  You get your feelings hurt easily (like your mommy) but you express them freely and I admire that about you.  You also worry excessively about those you love when you think they are hurt or upset and seek to comfort them.  Like when I was getting a flu shot and you ran to my side, held my hand and said "I want you be safe momma."  You held my hand and stroked my arm the entire process.  It was the sweetest, most compassionate gesture that even had the nurses oohing and aahing over you. 

Jacob, I have loved watching you blossom at your new school.  You are friendly, love to share, and have excitement over everything.  You are a gentle soul little man, who loves a good cuddle.  You are quite inquisitive and your favorite things to say are "What's that boy/girl doing?" and "Why?"  You could ask "why" all day long if we don't cut you off.  You can throw a temper tantrum with the best of them but are easily reasoned with.  Most importantly, you have learned to express yourself so you are no longer a biter!  Yippee!!! 

Little man, you are such an incredible joy.  I love seeing the world through your eyes, they are filled with wonderment over the littlest things and are so appreciative when you receive gifts and get to go somewhere with mommy or daddy one on one.

At your 3 year check-up you were excited about everything, especially the exam table that moved up and down and the pictures of your eyeballs!  Your stats, you ask?

Weight: 32lbs 8oz (60th percentile, my back can attest to that!)
Height: 37 inches (40th percentile which surprised me because you seem big!)
BMI: 16% (70th percentile)

Favorites:
Movie: Monster's Inc and Despicable Me
Word/Question:  Why?  (We can go on for hours doing the Why game)
Food:  Hot dogs and ice cream (you go nuts for ice cream!)

I'll love you forever and ever and ever again!

Monster Bash

To say Jacob likes Monster Inc is a bit of an understatement.  He is obsessed with Mike and Boo, he likes Sully but Mike and Boo are definitely his favorites so it only seemed fitting that we ring in his upcoming 3rd birthday with a Monster's Inc party.  It was ROAR-some!  Jacob had so much fun, we lucked out with the monster-sized storm we got this week passing through just in time for us to keep the jumpy house on the schedule.  Jacob was so excited to have a jumpy house and a party in his honor!  He requested a funfetti cake over cupcakes so I had my first attempt at a cake, I did it Friday because I needed time to make cupcakes if it was a fail.  I only had on small frosting mishap but Jacob couldn't tell or care and he loved his cake.  We had an awesome time and I can't believe my little buddy is turning 3 in less than a week!  Since pictures are worth 1000 words, I'll let the pictures from yesterday do the talking!

The kids went through "scarer" training!

An official Scarer!

Jacob's birthday twin Brycen! (they are a few hours apart!)

Brycen's beautiful sister McKenzie!

My first attempt at a cake

Happy Birthday Boy!

Jacob's face is pretty par for the course around here!

Big birthday wishes

This Guy!

I haven't blogged about this guy in a while but Jacob deserves an update.  He's doing absolutely FANTASTIC at his new school.  He's so chatty, friendly, personable, playful.  Don't get me wrong he definitely has his terrible 2 moments but he has come a LOOOONG way since early-August when we moved him to Bright Horizons.  He has a best buddy, Evo, at school, they talk about Giants all day long together and his mom and I always pick up at the same time so they leave school together.  They are like two peas in a pod and it's so stinking adorable since Jacob was SO anti-social just 6 months ago. 

Jacob is talking up a storm.  He graduated from speech therapy a month ago but he's speaking full sentences, he's really blossomed.  He tells me about his day, the walks they go on, what they have for snack (he apparently doesn't like hard boiled eggs so he just eats two crackers), that he only ate two corn dogs and two are left, what they did in school, who he rode bikes with, the list goes on and on.  He's speaking like 12 word sentences, this is a kid who 6 months ago could barely speak 2-3 word sentences.  He's due for an evaluation and I think Miss Katie will be SUPER impressed with his development.

And his temperament, WOW!  What a change, he can still be difficult but he is quick to use his words and not his mouth, hands or feet!   I picked him up from school today and one of his friends was climbing on his back, hitting his head and back and Jacob was crying and yelling, "I don't like it.  Stoooop!"  I was so proud of him using his words when 2 months ago he would have turned around to bite him.  The school's District Manager was there because the Director is on medical leave and she said he was having a great day other than this incident
 and I told her that I saw Oscar hitting him and two months ago Jacob would have bitten him but today he cried and used his words so I was super proud of him. 

Potty training has been a sore spot, especially #2s but {knock on wood} we have gone 3 days without an accident.

And finally, Jacob's new favorite activity...riding his new Spider-Man big boy bike!

I can't believe my baby is going to be 3 in less than 2 months!

Jacob had pajama day at school last week and he LOVES mustaches so of course he had to wear his mustaches

Listening to story time

Go Giants!

Every night when Jacob goes to bed he says "Mommy, can I please hold your head?"  Then he grabs my head, presses it into his squishy cheeks and hugs forever.  I love it!

Jacob got scared watching Monsters Inc (which he's seen a million times) this past weekend so he wrapped his arm around Riley for comfort

Jacob is obsessed with Despicable Me so I bought him Minion (which he calls Onion) underwear, apparently he liked it a lot!