Katie: Four Years Old

Katie Bug,

My precious baby girl and ray of sunshine! Happy 4^th Birthday to you! The day that you have been talking about for nearly six months is finally here! You really are FOUR now, and it’s the day of your much anticipated Ariel Birthday! I hope that today is everything you always dreamed it would be and more.

Cruising in your Barbie ("Arby") Car, August 2013

Riding the Train at Landa Park, September 2013

Aunt Tara and Katie, September 5, 2013

You have been talking about this birthday for quite some time now, asking me “Am I four now? Am I four?” You are so excited to grow up and you like to point out grown up things vs. big girl things. For example, the other night you were sitting on the barstool at the kitchen island and asked me, “I am sitting in a grown up chair, right?” You also told me when you are big and are a grown up, you can clean and wash dishes. And were genuinely excited! Stay little while you can baby girl, you are growing up too fast!

Playdate with Abbey at La Cantera, September 2013

Forced to hold a Longhorn by Aunt EJ!, September 2013
(Actually she picked this out for Uncle Kevin's Birthday)

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, September 2013

You are quite the mother hen. You yell at Nathan when he gets into your stuff and you complain to us, “Nathan is not listening to me!” You are pretty bossy, but that is to be expected for a four year old. Of course, you are asking us, “why?” about everything under the sun. You are very curious and like to know how and why everything works the way it does.  You love electronics, and are quick to figure out how to use almost all of them. You are even starting to trace letters on your Leap Pad!

Daddy and Katie, Halloween 2013

Making Pies for the Murray Thanksgiving, Novemeber 2013

Celebrating Caleb's 3rd Birthday at Peter Piper, November 24, 2013

You continue to enjoy swimming classes and are in PS3. I don’t think that you have very many skills until you are ready to graduate, either. Mamaw said at your make-up class last Sunday that all you need to master are your kicks! You are going to be a little mermaid this summer at the pool! You love riding all the rides at SeaWorld, and enjoy going to the park to play with your “friends.” You are more outgoing socially than you were this time last year, too. You make friends with almost everyone that you meet. You are also very sensitive though, and get your feelings hurt easily.

Thanksgiving at Mawmaw's House, November 28, 2013

Making Gingerbread houses, December 1, 2013

"Makeovers" with Charlie, December 2013

Your day to day routine is still pretty much the same as it was in August. You don’t want to take naps anymore though. It is very hit or miss whether or not you will take one. On a good day, I can get you to “take a rest” where you doze off for an hour or an hour and a half. It won’t be long and you won’t be napping at all. You still stay up until 9-10pm at night and sleep until 8-9am. Usually Nathan wakes you up early. You are wearing 5T clothing because you are so tall, and size 10/11 shoes. The 11’s are still too big, but you are growing into them. You are almost completely potty trained. You are no longer wearing pull ups at night, but occasionally you have accidents at night if you don’t potty prior to going to bed.

Frozen with Mommy and Mawmaw, December 2013

Katie's first Gingerbread House with Aunt Nomi, Mommy and Isabella, December 2013

My favorite time of the day is when I come home after a long day. You run to the door and throw your arms around me to tell me “MOMMY! You are home!”  You even sit down with me and ask me “How your day at work? Your patients all better?” You are the sweetest, kindest, most caring, and loving daughter I ever could have hoped for. I really do love watching you grow up. Each stage and age is more exciting than the last. You are now at an age I can actually remember being, which excites and terrifies me simultaneously.  I love to see how you think and what you like. I know that the things we are doing today are times you might reflect back on fondly in 20 years and that makes my heart soar.  But the scary side is, you will remember these days when you grow up - What if I fail you? What if I make the wrong choices? I am more aware than ever how impressionable you are and how important it is to protect you and provide for you.  My time with you is so precious to me and I relish in your hugs, kisses and affection.

Christmas Eve with the Garcia Family

I can’t wait to see what 2014 brings for you as a big four year old! I love you so much Doodle Bug! To the Moon and Back!

Love,

Mommy

Nathan: Two Years Old

My Rowdy Bubba Bubba

I can’t believe you are already two years old. You’re personality has definitely blossomed this year! You love to talk, and talk more than most three year olds that I know. You have even started to copy Katie and ask us “why?” all the time. This past month, you have also started copying mommy and Aunt Tara and answer yourself “said so…” because mommy and Aunt Tara said so. Lol! You are very good at asking “please” and almost always say “thank you.” You speak in short sentences most of the time and can say “shoulder ride please Johnan,” “I want my mommy,”  “water daddy please,” and your favorite “I want my ‘fier’ (pacifier).” You say so many words; I can’t keep track of them all but it has to be at least 150-200. Despite that, you are pretty stingy with your “love you” and say it most to Aunt “Tear-wah” (Tara).  You are learning your body parts and know your head, eyes, nose, mouth, tummy, arms, hands, legs, and feet. You like to grab noses as tell us “honk honk!” All of your teeth have come in as well, except for your two year molars. One or two of them are peeking through, but not quite out.

Swimming with Charlie at Aquatica, July 29th

Lunch with Abbey and Miss Jess @ BJ's La Cantera, August 2nd

You love to play and laugh all the time. You hop around the house and tell us “happy, happy, happy, happy!” Katie is your favorite playmate, followed closely by Emma, Abbey (Katie’s swim buddy),  Caleb, and Charlie.  Your Uncle “Johnan” is the coolest guy. You have followed suit with Katie and the two of you tag team him to play “Get You!” You love you grandparents, but of them all, you are Pawpaw’s buddy.  You are just like him, too. You have his temper, outgoing personality, pouty faces, and he is the only one that can get you to snuggle up and take a nap some days. A big change from last year is that you are a major Daddy’s Boy! You always want to be with him and ask for him as soon as you wake up or get home. You are such a happy boy and make friends easily.  At Thanksgiving at Gam Gam’s you made fast friends with your 3^rd cousin, Angela. She carried you around and played with you all day at the park. 

Katie and Nathan at Mass, August 2013

Trip to Oklahoma, August 16-19, 2013

Nathan's First Movie, Planes (Alva), August 17th

You climb like a monkey, and attempt to climb up the ropes and up the slide backwards at the playground. Somehow you can swing yourself onto my cabinets and try to reach things on the 2/3^rd shelves in the kitchen. You love to play with balls and toys that light up. You really enjoy being outside and will find all kinds of things to get into in the garage and backyard. While you like some TV characters and shows, you certainly are not interested in watching a whole cartoon show. Your favorite cartoon is Little Einsteins and Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  Most recently you have developed a love of putting on other people’s shoes - whether they are Katie’s light up shoes or Daddy’s sandals makes no difference to you.  In typical boy fashion, you are big time into pulling girl’s hair and get in trouble quite a bit for doing so. Time outs do not work very well with you; you usually throw yourself dramatically on the ground in a fit of tears whenever you go to time out. However, you know mommy’s look and you certainly don’t want to get a “pow pow.” Counting down from 5 usually gets you to rethink your behaviors.

Emma and Nathan grocery shopping, August 28th

Nathan with Mawmaw and Papaw at Landa Park, September 2013

Nathan at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, September 2013

You used to be such a good sleeper until a month ago or so. You usually sleep from 8:30pm to 7am. Sometimes you wake up at 5am, but you go back to sleep without much fuss. Recently though, you fight sleep, and end up falling asleep somewhere between 9-10pm. You wake up constantly and always want daddy to sleep with you on the couch. When he is getting ready for work, you are standing outside the bathroom door or shower asking for him.  I am hoping this has more to do with you possibly getting your molars or your allergies causing you to wake up more. Mommy is not a morning person, and your 5-6am wake ups are pretty rough! You are still eating okay, and continue to grow bigger each month. Your favorite foods are strawberries, waffles (pancakes, toast, mini waffles), chips, corn, peanuts, and fruit snacks.  You made it 23 months nursing (although much less frequently for the past two months) and nursed for the last time November 8th.  I am so proud of us for making it so long, and while I miss the special bond with you, I was ready to be done nursing! We have a follow-up with the Endocrinologist in December to check your growth, but I am positive you are making progress. You have moved up to size 18-24 month clothes and size 7 shoes, but are still in size 4 diapers.

Big Bubba brushing his teeth

Happy Halloween 2013!

I am so proud of the little boy that you are becoming. You have so much energy and are full of life. I can’t wait to see all the new things you are going to learn this year.  It won’t be long and you won’t be needing mommy as much to do things. You can already take off all your clothes yourself. If we aren’t paying close enough attention, you strip down to your birthday suit and try to get in the bathtub or shower with us. You love the water!! You are starting to want to “poopy in potty” and have asked to sit on the potty a few times. You don’t do anything yet, but you pull off the “paper” and flush all by yourself.  When anyone is doing laundry, you help pull out the step stool and climb on top of it. You also really like playing with the vacuum and broom and will pull them both from the closet when we are cleaning. My favorite was this past month when we were cleaning up and you chimed in singing “Clean up, clean up” with Katie! J You are so smart, Nathan, and a fast learner!

Nathan as "Jake" from the Neverland Pirates, Halloween 2013

Nathan and Paul snuggling on the couch

Angela and Nathan at Aline Park, November 3rd

I hope that you always know how much we love you! You are such a sweet, sweet boy and I cherish your hugs and kisses after a long day! Have a wonderful birthday (a Thanksgiving Birthday) and know that mommy loves you more than life itself.

Isabella (6), Nathan (23mo), Eveyln (7), Katie (3.5), Lily (2.5), Caleb (3)
 at Caleb's 3rd Birthday Party, November 24th

Katie and Nathan, Thanksgiving 2013

Love,

Mommy

Kaitlyn: Three and a Half Years Old

Katie Bug,

My sweet, precious baby girl. You are growing up so fast! You like to remind me of this, too. Yesterday during lunch, you proclaimed, "I put my pjs on, went night night, and I woke up big and strong! I'm getting big and strong like you!" You like to do all the things that I do, as well, and during lunch you also told me, "I will come and help you take care of your patients. I can help you make them feel all better!" Some days you say you want to be a nurse, although other times you will enthusiastically refuse the notion. :) I know you will be amazing at whatever you decide to do my doodle bug. 


Disney On Ice @ the Alamodome, April 14th

SeaWorld with Carmen and Tamara, April 2013

A typical day for you when you are home with me-
*You wake up around 8-8:30am, depending on where you are sleeping (usually in mommy's room, sometimes your room or grandma's when you stay there) and/or when Nathan wakes up and where he wakes up at (in his room vs the same bed you are in).
*Go potty, by yourself, and change out of your pull-up.
*You help me get breakfast. Usually you have a waffle/toast/bread of some sort and fruit. You love fruit and your favorites are strawberries, bananas, blueberries, watermelon and cantaloupe.
*You watch cartoons on Disney, Jr. while you eat breakfast and have some free play around the house while I do laundry/clean/get ready for the day.
*We load up the car around 9:45-10am and head out for the morning. We either run errands or go play. Sometimes we head to Sea World, where we stay until 1-2p, or go to the park or swimming at our neighborhood pool, have play dates with your friend Abbey, or we meet our friends for lunch (usually at Chick-fil-A).

Landa Park with the Potters, May 2013

Mother's Day at SeaWorld, May 12th

*Lunch usually at 12-1p*After lunch winds down, you and Nathan get ready for a nap. You usually sleep for a couple of hours, although lately you have been waking up after an hour. I doubt it will be long before you skip naps all together.
*The afternoons are usually spent playing with your daddy. Rarely do we head out for errands in the afternoon. Your new house has a playroom and your playground is all set up outside, so you have lots of things to do at home in the afternoon.
*Dinner is usually around 6-7p.
*Bath time is play time for you and Nathan at our house! Usually y'all get in your pjs after bath. Nathan goes to bed earlier than you, so you play with Grandma or Uncle Jon if they have stopped over, or you play with Daddy until it is time for you to go to sleep.
*Bed time is around 9pm. Sometimes you stretch it out to 930 or 10pm. You are my little night owl!
*When Mommy has to work, you and Nathan go to Aunt Tara's house during the week and Mawmaw's house on the weekends. I take you both in your pajamas so you don't have to get dressed at 545am. Daddy picks you up when he gets out of work in the afternoon, and then your day pretty much resumes as normal.

Charlize's 2nd Birthday Party, May 18th

Getting a haircut, May 2013

You love to help out around the house. You help me find things (although you have your uncle's sense of direction), put things away, bring me laundry, sweep and push the mop, and help cook or do the dishes. You bring Nathan toys all the time. As a typical preschooler, you still are working on sharing,  but you usually do well. Nathan, on the other hand, likes to take your toys away or pull your hair when he is upset, and then you start the "tattle tale" game. I can't tell you how many times I hear, "mommy, Bubba pulled my hair! ....took away my toy! ...is in my room!" You both love to play and love to fight. There is usually more playing then fighting though, thankfully. 

Katie's 1st Bike, May 2013



Big Girl Room!!! June 2013

You received your first big girl bike with training wheels this summer from Mawmaw and Pawpaw . You picked it out all by yourself and it's pink with Disney Princesses. You are very preoccupied with Disney Princesses. You know almost all of their names, even for the princesses I didn't know you had seen (Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine). When you put your pjs on, you spin around and tell me that you are a "princess" and tell me you have to lift the side of your dress up (like the princesses carry their gowns). When I wear a dress, you tell me to do the same, "Mommy, you're a princess like me!" You like to watch this Barbie movie at Mawmaw's that is about a princess and a rock star, and you love Sophia the First, which is about a young new princess. In fact, you have informed me that your birthday will be a Sophia the First party - you know in December! I used to be the same way and planned my birthdays 6 months in advance when I was younger, too. My little princess is also obsessed with tea parties, "or tea sets!" as you call them. You have two porcelain tea sets that you play with and are surprisingly careful with. You pour tea for Uncle Jon, Mawmaw and myself, and hold the lid on the tea pot very carefully. Sometimes you are a bit demanding, "No, Uncle Jon! I don't want you to drink all the juice yet!" but it is always fun to play with you. :)


Brunswick Bowling Alley, June 15th

Sea World wtih Abbey, June 2013



Swimming with Aunt EJ, Summer 2013



Fourth of July at the Hyatt Hill Country with Aunt Megan, 2013

You are still in swim lessons and take the 9am class for P3. You and Abby have not mastered your nose bubbles, yet, so you haven't been able to ring the bell for P2. Hopefully you will soon. Caleb is the other little boy in your class, and last week there was another young boy that started. You love swimming and are a very good student.


Katie @ 3.5 years old, July 4th



Aubree's 3rd Birthday Party, July 6th

Our new house has a beautiful new room in it for you, one you even helped me decorate and set up. You love to play in your new room, even shutting the door so that no one will come and disturb you. Mawmaw and Pawpaw bought you a lovely white bedroom set with purple/pink/yellow/green linens these cute white ruffle curtains. However, you have yet to SLEEP well in your new room....you still cry and come to my room, even with your new ladybug nightlight I got you. Oh well, we will continue to work on it. 

Lunch with MawMaw, July 2013



Sea World with Caleb, August 8th

If you get any sweeter, your Grandma might melt. :) You do and say the sweetest things. You frequently tell Mawmaw, Bubba and mommy that we are your best friends. When someone feels sick, you will lay with them and give them hugs so they "feel all better." You think of others frequently and are very protective of Baby Emma. You love as hard as you play. You are so much more than I ever could have dreamed! 

Mass at St. Anthony de Padua, August 2013



Hanging out with Aunt Tara, August 2013

I am excited to continue watching you grow! You are so smart, and ask to go to school all the time. We told you that you had to learn to use the potty before you could go to school, but now that you have potty training mastered, there is nothing holding you back. I am looking into pre-schools for you, but it might have to be next year since school will be starting so soon. You memory is sharp, too. You remember things that happened 6-7 months ago! 

Acelyn (4), Katie (3), Tailey (4), August 18th

You are so special to us, Katie. We love you to the moon and back! I know you know I am proud of you - you told me "You so proud of me mommy? You so proud of me!" the other day - but please don't ever forget it. You are my little angel.

Love,
Mommy