So many milestones

Don't know where the time goes...obviously not spent blogging about what is going on in the Padre household!

Natalie is - almost- potty trained! Yeah! She has been in underwear every day since the beginning of May and is doing great. She was going through the night without having a wet diaper so I switched her to underwear in late April at night and then transitioned to underwear all day. The first couple of days at day care she went through 4 pairs of pants but this last week, Natalie came home from day care in the same clothes that she went there in! Very, very exciting! I am no longer worried about her starting pre-school the week of August 11th.  She does have accidents still and the bowel movements tend to be a bit tricky - she knows they are coming but wants to get off the potty before she is truly finished.  But we know she will get there.

Her language continues to improve and she has become a real chatter box. Lexi spent the night at Auntie Michelle's house and Natalie talked our ears off! Now we can't get her to stop! We can't understand everything she is trying to say - sometimes it is the words and other times the context...we will get the words but can't figure out what she is referring to.

Lexi is reading chapter books to herself and doesn't want to put books down! It's SOO wonderful.  She really loves to read. Math, on the other hand, is kind of a struggle for her.  And Mom and Dad don't know how to help her   - they aren't doing it the way we dig - so there have been several tantrums thrown.

Stephen and my goal this summer is to teach Lexi how to ride a bike.  We didn't get very far last summer and she tends to get so nervous. I hope we have the patience to make it through.

Lexi and Michelle as weather reporters

Two weeks ago, Michelle took Lexi and Natalie to a science fair in town, and Michelle and Lexi made this video.

An example of Natalie's weekly "report card"

Natalie's daycare sends home a sheet every week on which they have evaluated her behavior every day. It's titled "How Well I Do With Classroom Rules." Here is last week's report - the portion where the teachers have added their comments. It's a mixed bag of a report for the week, which is pretty typical for her.

Monday
Enjoys and participates in the morning meeting, though reminded to stay with the group and wait for her name to be called.

Tuesday
She's a little bit fussy today. She whines whenever things doesn't get her way (sic). Reminded to use words to say what she wants.

Wednesday
She cuts with scissors so well and able to follow lines while cutting. Reminded to wait for instruction before moving to another activity.

Thursday
She always show (sic) pride in her accomplishments by demonstrating it to teachers and friends. Though reminded to keep hands to self when others don't agree with her.

Friday
No notes

Yep. She's her parents' daughter!

Recent Pics of the Girls

Very, very bad at taking pics of the 2.5 year old though I usually remember on her birth "day" each month.

Natalie's Sleep Schedule

For probably the last 4-6 weeks, Natalie hasn't wanted to go to bed. She wants me to stay in her room, rub her back, rock with her in the chair, redo the blankets, etc. She screams and runs after me if I try and leave the room.  She can easily be awake until 10 pm, totally ruining my chance at any me time.  Last Friday, I was out in the evening and Stephen put her to bed - with no problems. If got her settled, then left the room and even though she wasn't asleep yet, it was not a problem. Last night I went to yoga and came in late so Stephen put the girls to bed again.  Same story with Natalie.  I must be the problem! Not sure if I can manage to disappear at bedtime every evening....wish we knew how to break Natalie of this habit she has developed when I am home.

Natalie's Growing

Natalie at 2 years 3 months

Natalie at 2 years 4 months

Natalie at 2 years 5 months

Lexi goes to art class

Because her friend from school Ana Lu was going, Lexi agreed to be signed up for a 4 week art class that would mean for one hour on Saturday mornings.  She went to the first one today - still feeling a little nervous but she had a great time.  They made monsters out of tissue boxes. Lexi's monster is pink with orange teeth, circles, hearts and a name tag. One hand is also holding a valentine's card.

Her monster's name is April.