Quarter-pint Has a Birthday...

I am honestly shocked at how quickly the past year has gone. Granted, it's been chalk full of sick kids, sleepless nights, Daddy working long hours (and traveling more than usual), kids having surgery, and a new baby; but all that aside, it's just flown by! The most shocking part is that my Quarter-pint is 4!!! He's so grown up and still so silly all at the same time. He's really become a great kid (especially when he's not writhing on the ground because I refuse to help him do something I know he can do himself--but I think we're all entitled to a tantrum every once in awhile).

Quarter-pint adores his brothers, and is an awesome big brother. He loves to make Peewee-pint laugh, and to spend his time with Half-pint. He is a happy and helpful kid. He is fun and sweet, and mischievous and crazy. He is wild, and noisy, patient and considerate. Quarter-pint loves to play and tease. He most definitely has a mind of his own and isn't afraid to do his own thing. He has tons of qualities that I know will serve him well as he grows; but the challenge for now is to teach him how to channel and use those qualities. He is precious and adorable. His speech has improved tremendously this past year (thanks in part to the loss of his tonsils/adenoids)...he is turning into such a little smarty pants. He doesn't miss a beat-ever, He's active; but can also keep himself quietly busy with toys or puzzles. He is everything you would expect from a little boy. Boy oh boy-he's ALL boy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Little Man!!!

(We celebrated nearly all month-and he loved every minute of it!)

Peewee-pint Practices...

Last weekend, Daddy took the big boys to the mountains, so that left Peewee-pint home with me. I had a few things I needed to get finished, and wanted to take advantage of the minimal interruptions. Peewee-pint did a pretty good job of keeping himself busy with toys, and exploring while I was finishing my tasks. A few times, Peewee-pint took off out of the office where I was working. I could hear him, so I didn't worry too much. When I did venture to check on him, this is what I found...he was practicing, and practicing, and practicing...

When Mom Sleeps In...

You never know what might happen when Mom sleeps in...

When I got up this morning (I slept in until 7:30);

Peewee-pint had climbed 3/4 the way up the stairs, with Quarter-pint following him, and the big boys were fed and dressed-ready for school, EXCEPT they were wearing each other's clothes. Quarter-pint was TINY in Half-pint's shorts/shirt, and Half-pint barely squeezed into Quarter-pint's stuff. No one seemed to notice that even the underpants were the wrong size...no one except Mom-who noticed IMMEDIATELY!

Peewee-pint Takes on the World...At Least His Little World...

Peewee-pint has really gotten mobile recently...in just the past week we've caught him on the stairs (nearly a half dozen times-the third time he was 3/4 the way up!), pulling himself up on anything he can (his favorite is the family room sofa, or the TV), and he's even starting to cruise along the furniture. Cousin JJ-watch out...he might be walking first!!!

Peewee-pint also LOVES to feed himself. The other night I cut some strawberries for him-he just kept eating and eating...I think he had 6 berries (each in about a dozen pieces!). By

the time he was finished, he was pink from nose to toes from the juice! Last night, I was holding him in my arms as we walked past the open strawberry container. He suddenly and expertly snatched one and shoved it in his mouth! He went on to eat 3 more (each whole, except for the hull).

Half-pint Takes a Bath...

This is what happens when you leave Half-pint

alone for a few minutes in a jet tub, with soap and shampoo...

...at least I know he was clean!

Quarter-pint Goes to School...Again...

This year Quarter-pint is attending 2 preschools. His speech therapy is being administered in a preschool setting instead of the small group format he did before. He is also attending the same preschool he went to last year, the same one Half-pint attended. His speech therapy preschool is twice a week in the afternoons, and his "regular" preschool is three times a week in the mornings-with one overlap day. The speech therapy school began the first week of August (on the same schedule as Half-pint), and the other didn't begin until this week. He was pretty excited to head off to school yesterday...to wear his backpack again and to get back into the school routine. I have to admit...I'm excited too!

I forgot to get any pictures of the first day of the speech school, but I

did remember the camera as we went out the door yesterday. Peewee-pint clung to my hip as I snapped a few photos of Quarter-pint headed in from the car. Over his shoulder,

he kept telling me "Stop taking pictures!". But it's a Mom's job to at lease snap a few...

He had a great time and was excited to go back again today. They celebrated his birthday yesterday, (it was a few weeks ago) so he was the calendar kid, and got to be the helper in other ways as well. Last night as he was settling into his "big boy bed"

he informed me he wants to have his birthday at school everyday!

On a separate note, Peewee-pint actually took an hour-long nap yesterday morning...I was elated, and credit a quiet house without noisy older brothers constantly waking him up!

Brothers, Three..

Half-pint Goes to 1st Grade...

This year, Half-pint started 1st grade. He was excited to have recess everyday, eat lunch at school and ride the bus home in the afternoon. He has a few friends from last year in his new class-and even gets to sit right next to one of them! And he likes his new teacher.

He has discovered a few drawbacks though. He quickly realized (on the first day) that he's gone ALL DAY, not getting home until around 4 o'clock which means FAR LESS play time. He also realized he has MORE homework and new this week...spelling tests!

Quarter-pint Quote...

"Ice Cream is good for your body. It gives you energy to play baseball!"