Last week

This is the last week with Lucas and the schedule we've enjoyed for most of the summer...for those of you who have yet to bring home your children - no matter how much leave you have it's not enough. I can't believe 12 weeks have gone by so d@#* fast. September 10th is when Lucas will start Montessori school 3 days a week while I go reluctantly back into the office. I know I shouldn't complain...I am thankful that we can get by with my part-time schedule and it's the best of both worlds.

This is the last week Alexander is in preschool. His *toddler* days of nursery and preschool are coming to a close and we embark on the Big K. Next week is a mix of an evaluation by his new school, orientation and then we are heading to Storyland in NH for Lucas' first overnight away from home. Kindergarten starts on the 8th.

This is the last week of August...always bittersweet as I love the summer and although Fall here is absolutely beautiful, August is the last of summer and September starts the approach to winter for me. BUT September is also the month that the Ministry of Education in Russia starts back to work after months off (yes I said months) and I know of sooo many families that are chopping at the bit for news in September. I can't wait to follow their stories!

The boys have been doing great...Alexander I think is over the big issues with having a new brother. There is the usual "he can't touch X" or "he drooled on the blanket and now I can't use it", etc but that will be par for the course for - oh I don't know - another 20 years? Paul and his brother I think still have their moments and they're...well...um...older.

Lucas has made a few strides...he has a few more words but no major explosion yet. We've had Early Intervention for a few weeks now and they are impressed with how much he is learning and picking up. He has started running which is so cute...he gets going especially fast when I chase him around the house and surprise him around corners. He just squeals and runs away...I love it. But by far my favorite recent thing is that when he wants us to show him a book he will walk backwards towards us, whether we are sitting or standing and bump into us. If sitting he plops right down into our laps and if standing he looks up and keeps nudging. He also sometimes goes beep beep as our car does when it backs up! So sweet!

Laura

"Uugs"

Lucas' receptive language seems to have exploded in the past week or so...he seems to be understanding so much. We'll ask him to close a drawer or put something back or go to another room...and he does it. It is so amazing to watch this progress. By far the best thing is the hugs! I asked him for a hug last week and he goes "Uug" and came on over. And he gives me hugs in the Ergo when we're walking as well which is so darn sweet.

Lucas has also started saying "Mama"...about a week ago it started when we were trying to get him to repeat 'mama' and 'papa' as he has been doing a great job of mimicking words and sounds lately. So he started saying 'mama' and was really getting the meaning. I would point to myself and say 'who am I?" and he would very clearly say 'mama' and smile. He also recently has started to say 'mama' when he wants something and usually says mama when making the sign for more or help. But he's also calling Paul and Alexander 'mama' even though he clearly knows that they are called something else. We gently correct and say their names but this is exactly what Alexander did for a while. He would call us both 'mama' and then after a while called us both 'papa' and then finally after a few weeks differentiated. We'll see how it goes with Lucas :)

A few more words to added to his vocab:

- close (as in close the door or drawer)

- home (especially when we pull up in the driveway or walking back from a walk)

- down

- up

- nose

- boom

Lucas is now also off formula...he still gets a bottle of whole milk twice a day before nap and bedtime (sorry any dentists out there...) but he's now just about 23 lbs and his thighs are getting quite chunky :) ! I'm off the 'fatten up Lucas' plan and now he's pretty much eating what the rest of us eat...especially as he's now getting the last of 8 teeth that have come in since the beginning of June! Oy... He's having a fun time crunching different foods...though any type of fruit remains his favorite.

I am also happy to report that Alexander seems to be settling in now and is a much happier kid. No doubt he still has his moments - he is 5 after all - but since his birthday we've seen a marked difference in his mood. He's generally happier, more agreeable AND seems to enjoy getting Lucas involved in a silly game or to show him how to do something (though a common term heard now around the house is "No Lucas!"). I spent a lot of time with the boys this past weekend as Paul is finishing up a class and there were some really sweet moments. Hopefully we'll stay on this path...

The pics above are from the past few days and our trips to several parks...luckily tuckered them out enough that they both took naps (Alexander rarely does anymore).

Laura

My 'baby' is 5!

Ok...this is starting to get tough. Who said Alexander was allowed to turn FIVE?!?! Hard to imagine the little 13-mo old BABY we first met (just the other day it seems) wearing a green and white striped shirt, orange shorts and lime green socks is now this tall, skinny KID. Although he has changed in oh so many ways, there are definitely numerous aspects of his personality that remain. He is still very sweet and incredibly sensitive to many things... He is gregarious and friendly but anxious with strangers if you look closely enough... And he is still very much attached to my hip, figuratively and often times literally.

We had a birthday party at a local farm on Sunday jointly with a close friend who is also turning 5 in a few days. It was a great day and Alexander seemed to relish in the attention and goofing around with his friends. There was a hayride through the farm, jumping on haybales and tormenting chickens (through a fence LOL). And, of course, there was cake! The highlight of Alexander's day. We did a bookswap instead of gifts and that was GREAT! Alexander had another bday celebration today at home with us where he got to have more cake and open his presents from us.
We had his 5 year physical and he is 90% for height and 75% for weight. Tall boy! I'll start saving up for basketball camp :O. Otherwise super healthy and aside from screaming through his last 2 shots until he's 12 he did great at the doctor's (considering he used to start crying when we pulled into the driveway).

And since he is now 5, he'll be starting Kindergarten in a little over a month. Time for school supply shopping! One of my favorite activities when I was a kid and I hope he enjoys it as well. He says he's not nervous but excited for K and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this new milestone in his life will be a positive during his "Lucas" adjustment.