April 2017

We actually got to attend the Logan Auction this year and it was a ton of fun. This year the theme was "novels" so most people dressed up as characters from a book... but Matt and I were super boring. Next year maybe! Matt loves auctions, clearly because he likes to win things ;) We got tickets to Frozen the Musical (which Aurora doesn't know about yet!), a painting for Aurora's room, some wine, a trip with one of her teachers to the science museum and a week's stay at a chateau in France. Should be interesting!!

I am starting a class called Strong as a Mother that focuses on rebuilding and addressing weaknesses postpartum. The woman that teaches it, Zoe, is a student of Katy Bowman so I'm really excited to work with her!

Easter was especially exciting this year because we got to do our egg hunt at the new house! Aurora and Connor loved the extra challenge that came with a much bigger search area. We did have to keep the kids away from one set up bushes, however, there was a half eaten rabbit that a coyote (we assume) had stashed for a later snack... how festive right?!

Connor got to go to his first friend birthday party, for Sloane. He and Sloane unfortunately crashed into each other in the bouncy castle so we left early with a swollen and bloody face. He was a trooper though!

We have started a new 'behavior motivation' system. As a parent it is very easy to fall into the "expect good behavior and punish bad behavior" trap. It is especially difficult when you can't seem to find very many consequences that are motivating to your kids... So Matt and I have decided to try rewarding good behavior (being especially kind or helpful) with a counting bear. When their jar is full of counting bears they can redeem it for a special date with Mom or Dad. Aurora and I went on a special date to The Brown Palace for high tea.

-- Cooper at 18 months --

June 2015

Aurora has had two dance camps so far and they have been great! There has not been a single tear and she even got to be a helper to one of her friends that was crying at drop off. It was so amazing to see her be the one to go take her friends hand and offer to walk in with her.

We flew to Massachusetts to see Mimi and Papa for almost a week and then headed into Boston for Matt's cousin Robbie's wedding. The kids had so much fun playing with Mimi and Papa. Aurora got to swim in the hot tub and both kids loved running and playing in the yard. Friday Papa drove us into Boston and then my parents met us at the hotel to watch the kids while Matt and I went to the wedding. It was a rare treat for the kids to get to see both sets of grandparents at the same time!

Thankfully Connor and Aurora have been playing better together lately. After the past month of them just terrorizing each other I am so happy that they seem to be enjoying each other again.

Aurora is reading everything! I am constantly amazed at how quickly she picks up new words. She doesn't like having to stop and sound out things she doesn't know, but we are working on that. She is also developing quite the competitive streak. We have talked many times about how her friends aren't going to want to do things with her if she is constantly telling everyone she does things better than they do... but this will take time.

I can't believe I'm 28 weeks already. The middle of the pregnancy seemed to go really slowly but now as the 30 week mark is approaching September is starting to feel awfully close. I'm tired all of the time and not as patient as I would like to be but considering those are my biggest complaints things must be going pretty well.

-- Connor at 18 months --

This boy is talking a ton! I used to joke that with a sister who talks as much as Aurora does Connor would either have to be super loud to compete or not say a word until he turned three. I think we have our answer :)

He is using two and three word sentences. Where Dada go? and Dada work! are two of his favorites

He is also responding really well, I feel like he understands most of what we say to him even if it is more complex than a very simple direction or statement.

He is finally starting to eat well! I wouldn't say he eats a ton but he is finally starting to each chunks of meat and not fight us about everything on his plate. As a result he is actually putting on some weight and was in the 5% which is an improvement (albeit small) from the sub 5% category he has been in.

He was a champ at his 18 month well check. He got two shots and didn't shed a single tear. What a brave boy!

We got him a sleep light that seems to be working pretty well. We started having it turn green before he wakes up and steadily pushing the time later and later every few days. He picked up the concept pretty quickly and we have him now waking around 5:30 which is a huge win.

He has been a little cranky lately but I think he's getting his first molar. We have also been dealing with quite a bit of hitting lately. He does seem to understand he shouldn't be doing it and will repeat "no hitting" back to us but that doesn't stop him from hitting the next time he is frustrated ;)

It also looks like it wasn't just a fluke that he threw up in his car seat while we were in San Antonio. He has had two repeats since then -- one while visiting my parents and one here in Denver. We are going to try switching his car seat to see if that helps because its really awful to make that poor boy ride around in a seat full of vomit. Yuck.