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.

May 2015

Aurora's first year of preschool is over! How did that happen so quickly? And yet this past school year has at the same time felt like an eternity with her separation anxiety. I just can't believe how fast she is growing up...

We spent Memorial Day weekend in San Antonio with Matt's side of the family and it was just so sweet to see all the cousins together. It's also fun that Aurora is finally old enough to do some of the kids activities with her grandparents - really sweet memories being made.

Mothers Day was cute this year, Aurora talked about it for a few weeks before and tried so hard to keep my surprises quiet. Matt got me a new laptop and the kids and Dada took me out to brunch at Jax which I absolutely loved. Interestingly the kids both devoured a plate of mussels at brunch -- apparently Connor isn't really picky we just didn't realize he had such an expensive palate ;)

Things are going well with the pregnancy! I am now about 24 weeks so it's moving along pretty quickly. I am definitely not enjoying being pregnant as much this time around but I think that's more to do with chasing the other two around. I am also having a few complications that I haven't before like the nasty varicose veins on my legs…

-- Connor at 17 months --

Connor has his first true two word sentence! He has always said "gigit" for get it but I think to him that was more one word ;) In true second child style his first two word sentence was "Go Ro-Ro!"

This guy is killing me with his early wake ups. I don't even remember when it started but he has been waking up around 5 or 5:15 for quite a while now and I'm just tired!

He's still climbing on everything and now has started jumping. He loves to climb onto of a bolster and jump onto the big teddy bears we have.

He is officially on one nap. He will absolutely fall asleep if we are in the car too long around 9 or 10 but he can usually make it until 12 or 12:30 without much problem.

Just started saying Connor, which sounds more like "Ca-Ca"

A rare moment of sibling love.

He's been pretty clingy lately which causes the kids to be at each other's throats a lot. When they play they play well but it seems like those times are getting fewer and farther between. He does miss her a lot when she's not home though so that's cute.

April 2015

20.2 pounds

30 1/2 inches

This was the first year that Aurora really anticipated Easter so Easter baskets were extra fun. Both kids had a blast hunting for eggs in the yard. We were planning to dye eggs but they all cracked horribly when I boiled them which has never happened to me before. Next year I will plan ahead and boil them well before Easter.

We have started car shopping! With this new baby on the way Matt and I decided that we need a bigger car. I am pretty sure I can't get three car seats in my current car. Plus it would be so nice to be able to drive another kid with us if we needed to. Unfortunately my car got hit at a baby shower I went to. Perfect timing…

We had our anatomy ultrasound and everything looks great with the little one. As with Aurora and Connor we decided not to find out the sex, but I feel completely sure that we are having a boy… which means the baby is probably a girl ;)

Aurora started swim lessons and tennis lessons. She is taking private swim lessons and they are going great! She tends to get very distracted in group lessons (like tennis!) but with the undivided attention of her instructor she has made great progress.

Sadly we lost Miss Lauren. She decided to take a break from school and get a full time job so she won't  have time for us anymore. It's probably a blessing in disguise because her schedule really hasn't been working for us for some time but I've been holding on just to avoid the annoyance of finding someone new.

-- Connor at 16 months --

Connor is starting to talk quite a bit. Lots of his words sound the same so you have to use context but he can communicate a lot about what he wants. My favorite thing he is saying lately is when he asks about the red balloon in Goodnight Moon. The red balloon isn't in all the room pictures and it drives Connor crazy. He says "Where balloon? Where balloon?!"

This boy loves being outside! He will just stand at the sliding doors and say "side! side!" 

He is also starting to interact with the dogs more, and he is so much more gentle than Aurora was. She isn't much of a dog person even now but he loves them.

He is climbing on everything which usually leads to him falling off everything… I think in one day recently he fell out of the kitchen chairs four times. He has to learn sometime right??

We are in that place where two naps is starting to be too much but one nap is not enough. He is so tired by 9 or 10 that I may start trying to give him a really short morning nap and then an early afternoon one.

He is finally big enough to transition to 12-18 month shoes! We got him a pair that have lions on the toes and he loves them. He calls them "lalas" and wants to wear them all the time.

Connor has become interested in the potty all of the sudden. If anyone goes into the bathroom he follows and wants to get his pants taken off and sit on the potty. I am not quite ready to start potty training him yet but hopefully later this summer.

March 2015

Happy Fourth Birthday Aurora! You are turning into such a lovely little lady. I am continuously amazed by your intensity, curiosity and will. I know that they will serve you well in life. You brighten our days and provide a constant source of laughter. I love you with all my heart and am truly honored to be your Mama.



We took Aurora to the children's theatre for her birthday and she loved it! We saw Androcles and the Lion and she talked about it for days. I was a little worried that she wouldn't be able to be quiet through the performance but she was so enthralled that she didn't make a peep.



Aurora's birthday fell on Purim (Jewish Halloween) so she got to dress up like a princess for preschool and also got to skip around the room during Shabbat sing for her special day. I was so proud of her because I didn't think there was any way she would do it but she was so happy to be the focus of attention she skipped around with a giant grin on her face :)

Aurora got her very first haircut! It only took four years and her younger brother got one first, but she was very pleased with the results. It is soooo much easier to brush in the morning!

We were about to pull Aurora out of school because she was still having enormous stress and upset about separating at school. I had just had enough of the screaming and crying so we went in to talk to her teachers for next year and Aurora's eyes got all big when they showed us a picture routine for the day that they have up in their class. We made one for Aurora and that combined with ending her afternoon enrichment class has yielded an entirely new kid! For the past two weeks I have dropped her off at class and she smiles, waves and says "see you after preschool Mama!" Amazing.

We have started doing Aurora's reading lessons again which are going really well. She tends to want to do a lot of lessons all at once and then take a big break.

I'm pregnant! #3 is due to join the family mid September and we are all thrilled. I think it is still pretty abstract for the kids though because when we told Aurora she got a big smile on her face and said "Yay! Now can I go do stickers?" ;)

We had Aurora's princess party the end of the month and it was a lot of fun, but so much work! The kids decorated swords and tiaras with paint and gems which seemed to keep them happy for the entire party.



Aurora loved having all her friends over and we were very proud of how well she behaved the entire time. I don't think she had one behavior issue or melt down the whole morning. What a big girl!

-- Connor at 15 Months --

You want to walk everywhere. Often when I am carrying you you point down and yell "WA! WA!" until I put you down and let you walk yourself. You LOVE the playground. You are so much more fearless than Aurora was at this age. You will go down the big slide all by yourself and could probably do it over and over again for hours.

If you are ever too quiet it is a fair bet you are playing in the dog's water bowl and making a giant mess.

You are starting to really understand what we are saying to you now which is a lot of fun. You can follow some directions and definitely respond appropriately to what we say to you. It definitely makes things a little easier when we can effectively communicate.

You are talking quite a bit. I'd guess you have around 30 words. Your words so far are ::

Hi, Bye bye, Ball, Book, Milk, Doggie, Mama, Dada, Get it, Again, Cold, Hot, Snow, This, That, No, Banana, Apple, Cheese, Baby, Aurora, Nose, Mouth, Down, Walk, Boots, Shoes, Socks

February 2015

We have had some really warm weather lately. I think we had a whole week of 70 or 80 degree days which were lovely; however, only make the return of the cold that much harder. The kids loved playing outside and digging in the dirt.

Unfortunately preschool isn't going well. The stress usually starts as soon as Aurora wakes up and ends with her hysterically crying when I drop her off at Temple. It is completely exhausting and I feel terrible that she is so unhappy for so much of each school day. If she was happy and content after I left that would be one thing but apparently she is usually sad for quite a while.

We celebrated Matt's birthday! Unfortunately we didn't get to celebrate on his actual birthday because I picked Aurora up from school to find her a complete disaster complaining of her ears. I took her to the pediatrician and she had an ear infection in both ears. Poor girl!

Connor got his first haircut! He was so cooperative and looks like such a big boy now!

We finished ski school! Getting Aurora to her lesson was pretty brutal but luckily we ended on a good note. She left her last class saying how much fun she had and that she wanted to come back next year. She may feel differently when next year actually rolls around… but for now I'll take it!

-- Connor at 14 months --

You are finally eating a little bit more. I think part of the problem lately may have been your teeth. When you are being extraordinarily picky you will still usually eat soft things like packets and yogurt so I'm wondering if your mouth just gets really tender. Even though you won't eat most things, you are obsessed with banana. Any time you see them you shout "nana!" over and over again until we give you some ;)

You have picked up your second nap again.

You are finally not screeching so much. You can now yell "mama!" whenever you wants something.

For Valentine's Day your Dada got you and Aurora giant bears which you both love. You especially love "attacking" them by walking over, shouting "ahhhhhhhhh" and throwing yourself on top of them. It's hysterical.

You have recently discovered a love of books. You want to be read to all the time and will often sit by yourself and look through them. You also like to point to the pictures and "talk" to them.

New words :: gig git (get it), ma "moose"