Hallelujah!!

We've hit some milestones. Some big ones. Kylie first. She is finally talking. She is signing about 4 words independently (milk, more, bye bye, and shakes head yes and no) and she says about 3 words independently (ticka ticka ticka (tickle), ma!ma!ma!(mine), mamamamama(mom)). She also repeats A LOT of words you say to her. This is big for me because she's about to hit 18 mo in a few weeks. This means she will be going to the doctor for a check up. If I had to tell a doctor that another one of my children wasn't speaking by 18 months I was going to go mad. She's a girl for goodness sakes. I think she'll be fine though. She picks up on things so much faster than the boys did. Her receptive language skills are great. I can tell her to go get something from another room and she will get it. I can ask her for her foot without pointing and she will hold it out. She knows where her head and hand is. She is so smart.

Now Gavin. HE'S POTTY TRAINED!!!! YAY!!! It only took me 3 weeks. The first two weeks were spent trying to convince him this was something he wanted. See, the thing with Gavin is, if he doesn't care, he just won't do it. He just didn't care about sitting in wet or poopy diapers. He didin't care to be a big boy. He didn't care about going in the potty. So we had to make it an expectation instead of a choice. After about two weeks, he suddenly decided it was cool to be a big boy. And he wanted to wear his Thomas underwear. Now we have another problem. Now that going potty is so cool, so it seems is playing in the potty water. Now when he goes potty he sits down in the water and soaks himself. Hee Hee Hee, fun fun. Nice. He is such a boy.

Now Landan. He's doing really well at school. He's had a little more trouble during Oct. but nothing too bad. His teacher is still doing the interventions she started at the beginning of the year and it seems to be helping. He's right where he should be in math and he's at the top of the class in reading. He's always been at the top of the class in reading. He loves to read. She says he's a very smart little boy.

Landan's football team finally won their first game last Sat. It was the last game of the season. It was so exciting. Although Landan had a rough time. He was playing center and the nose tackle ran him over on one of the plays and then after the play was over he came over and stepped on Landan's arm with his cleat. Of course the refs didn't see it so it wasn't called or anything. Then later in the game the same kid tackled him again and he hit his head really hard on the ground and got the wind knocked out of him. He got up but was feeling dizzy so he started crying and the kid laughed at him. How rude!! That wasn't called either because the ref didn't see it. It just so happened that it was the other teams coaches son who was being so mean. Landan told our coach what happened so our coach told the new center to knock him on his butt. Well the other teams coach heard what he said and complained to the ref. So there was this big commotion. Luckily no penalties were called on our team. I always try to stay out of the way and not be a nosy parent but I was about ready to give that other teams coach a piece of my mind when I saw him in the parking lot after the game. So now we just have a bowl game to end the season. I love football.

Family Changes

My baby Kylie isn't so little anymore. She just turned 17 months. She is starting to get longer and thinner so she looks more like a toddler. She's just sort of starting to say recognizable words, usually after you say them. But she's got a mind of her own and she won;t let her brothers push her around. She is such a delight.

We are actively and strongly potty training Gavin right now. It's been going on for about 2 1/2 weeks now. He's doing ok, but he still misses a lot. He spends most of his time naked because if he's wearing any kind of underwear he promptly pees in it. Everyone keeps saying that he'll get it when he's ready. You know how people also say not to worry because no child has ever gone to kindergarten in diapers? I'm sure Gavin would. Just because he could. But I decided it was time for him to be a big boy now and grow up a little. I have a good reason for it though. Gavin is supposed to start Primary in a couple of months. He's 3 1/2 yrs old. And, I pay for too many diapers.

I currently pay for 3 sets of diapers every month. Kylie is in diapers, Gavin is in diapers, and Landan still pees the bed every night so he is in Pull-Ups every night. And I'm about to have to buy even more diapers. Why? That's right folks. I'm pregnant.

Again....

Surprise!

Yeah, it was a surprise for us too. We were going to wait until Gavin was in school. I guess not. So... I'm due March 31st. We'll find out what we're having in the middle of Nov. So it's about time someone gets out of diapers. I am desperately praying that Kylie is a "typical" girl and potty trains early. We'll see.

Kylie 16 months

PS. She is now 18 lbs and still in her infant carseat. She may be small, but she's mighty.

Ready for School

Gavin has been talking about preschool all summer. He couldn't wait to start school just like his big brother. He goes to preschool (daycare) twice a week when I'm working. He absolutely loves it. He got his own new backpack and lunchbox and everything. He asks me every day if he gets to go to school. Now if i could only get him to potty train...

Are you ready for some...FOOTBALL!

Landan started tackle football this year. I think he really likes it. He has some trouble keeping his focus for a whole two hours but he seems to like it. He plays center and sometimes right guard. I don't know what he plays on defense, there's only 11 kids on his team and they play 8 man ball so the players have to play both sides. He mostly plays offense though. So far his team hasn't one either of their games but they play hard and its so exciting to watch. I love watching them. Football is so much more fun to watch when you are cheering for someone specific. And they are so cute in their little uniforms. Landan even has a girl on his team who is actually one of the better players.

Landan's game face (#13)

Lining up

Landan on the ball

Home jerseys (Hutto is orange and white)

Our cute little cheerleaders

2nd Grade

My little boy started 2nd grade on Mon. I think he's going to like it. His teacher is fantastic. They have their own desks this year instead of sitting at tables together.

I already had a conference with his teacher and I am very optimistic about this year. She had the insight to see him having trouble touching people and gave him a fidget toy all on her own before I explained about his disorder. She was completely on board with all the interventions I wanted to do and she is going to set up an appt. with the principal to start the process of getting him tested for services.

I also found out that there was some trouble last year among several parents and teachers with getting services for kids last year, so I wasn't the only one being stonewalled. We have a new A.P. and Principal this year and I hope things go better. I have heard great things about them. Good Luck Landan. Hope you have a great year!

Another Birthday

My Landan turned 7 this weekend. He is growing up to be quite a young man. He's starting to say funny stuff now and again. He is a great helper and loves to help with his sister. He's smart. He loves to play Wii, legos, and loves Star Wars and Transformers. He loves to ask questions. As far as I can tell he likes science best in school.
For his birthday Kevin and I took him out on a date with just us and him. We went and saw Kung Foo Panda 2 in 3D. It was pretty funny. Then we went to Fuddruckers for lunch. We had cake and presents that night after a pizza dinner. I made him a football cake because he started football this year.

Thank you Eppie and Papa.

Happy Birthday Big Guy!