Saturday, Oct .20, 2007
Already October. Mostly it has been a warm month. On September 29, we went to the beach and played in the water. 85 degrees. Today it’s 67, warm…too warm.
The past few months has been filled with crunching catching and playing in leaves, pumpkin throwing, days of school, shopping, Apple Squeeze, Bartletts, apple eating, garden cleanup, etc. Not so pleasant has been the month long colds, jack throwing up after coughing at night (he’s now back in our room), and putting on half of our roof. The latter was backbreaking for Mike, especially having to remove 4 layers of shingles in 85 degree weather. Even with the help of 2 guys, it took all day just to remove the shingles.
In the past few weeks the kids are playing more together. Laughing more and interacting. As you can see by the pictures they do more things together now. It’s wonderful to see. There’s still the choking and pulling of hair, but it’s getting better. Jack LOVES Isabelle. He copies her all the time and looks for her every waking moment. When she’s at school he calls “beya” around the house.
There is much more interacting of the kids, especially with neighboring friends. Andy and Eva are special favorites. When we walk down the road…questions are always asked: “where’s Andy?” or ANDY is yelled.
Isabelle: She is finally starting to adjust to school. It has been a challenge thus far as she cries when I leave her and she takes out her frustration on Jack, but it’s getting better.
She sings now, skips, and is more sun-shiny than I’ve seen her in a long time. Being around more children, she’s becoming more of a kid herself. Free and easy. She’s sweet and though miss independent, wonderful to be around.
She’s pretty much potty trained now. Though she won’t go at school, she never wears a diaper.
Bella also has a sense of humor. Very dry and subtle. Mike and I constantly laugh at the new things or twist of words she comes up with, especially now that everything is in sentences.
Bella Interests: She loves to color, paint, do puzzles, read, wear pj’s, run around outside, climb things, observe the world quietly, sing, do things herself, help me cook, laugh at Jack, play with any one else’s toys, play in sand.
Jack: What a little one for tricks. Outside of his cold, he’s full of charm and mischief. A teaser, and utterly challenging at times. Every time I discipline, he either doesn’t listen or cries big crocodile tears, hugs and cries Mommy solemnly. That’s one thing, he loves to snuggle and hug. He’s loud, and we’re constantly shushing him. There’s a merry twinkle in his eye. Irish charm, my mother says. I’d call him a little comedian. Bella now laughs all the time at him and we all say “oh, babes!”. Both of them say or do the funniest things at times, though it’s Jack that really has an entertaining side to him. Today we took a walk in the woods and he was peeking behind a small sprig of a plant, pretending we couldn’t see him.
Jack Interests: yelling “moon”, hugging bella, playing or eating markers or chalk or crayons, drawing on carpets or furniture, hugging, snuggling with blankie or Mr. Sheep, playing in sand, building things, following Isabelle, mimicking the older kids; playing with blocks, eating; singing EIEIO, dancing
Words: repeats everything, EIEIO, oh, wow, Bella, bankie, too many words to list here.