Williams bed

Here is daddy working in building a headboard for William's new bed

Swimming!

We have been running all over the place these last few weeks. I'm not sure how long I can keep up this pace! We've been swimming, to the gym, to the library, and meetings almost every night. We're also working on refinishing a bedroom set for William's room almost every night when the kids go to bed. I'm seriously missing my quality time with my couch.

Anyway, I wanted to record this big milestone: WILLIAM IS SWIMMING! Honest to goodness kicking and scooping, face in the water swimming. He ( and mom and dad, too) has worked so hard and come so far from the kid who hated water! At 18 months, we went through a phase where there couldn't even be any water in the tub. He would just scream and scream. I got a little teary eyed tonight watching my big (little) guy swim half way across the pool on his own. I wish I had a picture to show you, but we had TWO dead camera batteries in the camera case tonight. We still have a few days left, hopefully one of us can catch it on film.

SO PROUD!

Swimming Video, as Promised

I am so excited to share these swimming videos with you! I also want to note that I go back to work in another 2 weeks after a not-so-restful summer break. I'd expect the posting to slow down significantly at that point in time!

William actually swimming

More swimming. You'll note in this one, he doesn't actually make it to the wall and starts to sink. Before, this would have been an all out melt down requiring getting out of the pool and large bribes to return to the water on a different day. But now? No. big. deal. He is actually SMILING.

And a few pictures, too.

Look! Head! Under! Water! by his own power (evidenced by no adult is anywhere near him)
One of his favorite games is jumping off my knees and swimming to the wall. I've been able to gradually move away from wall AND he has needed to propel himself less because he is able to SWIM (short distances).Floating on his back would be easier if he had any body fat. Ribs in this picture were not enhanced with any photo editing software.William is especially excited he can actually touch (I'm using this term loosely) in the Big Kid Pool.

William slides. In which he climbs up to the top and slides because he wants to. Because "it is fun"

William jumps in the water, allows his head to go under. All without assistance. Amazing.

Conversations

Despite his initial fears, William and Amelia have spent a great deal of time playing out the story from Cars 2. I happened to overhear this particular conversation:


William (as Lightening McQueen): Hi Mater!
Amelia (as Mater): Hi Lightening!
William: Hey Mater! Who is your favorite princess?
Amelia: ??????
William: You know, Ariel or Snow White or Pocahontas?
Amelia: Cinderella?

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William came running out of his room a few nights ago. It was about his third time out of bed, which means it was time for a consequence. I started to stand up when he said: "No, Mama! I just need to tell you something! Thank you for the blanket you made for my bed! I just love it so much. It is snugly and warm like a giant hug! Thank you Mama!" and then he hightailed it right bad to bed while I tried to pull my chin off the floor.

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Last week sometime I attempted to entertain William with music videos on my iphone as Amelia napped. In particular, I was looking for a camp song (Light the Fire) to use at a church event coming up. Two birds, one stone. Find a link to the song, keep William quiet so Amelia naps. I found a few renditions that were passable. William was tickled by the version that included a woman playing her guitar. He just couldn't get over how she had a "mama sized ukelele". I tried to correct him and explain about a guitar with no avail. It was a ukelele. A mama sized one. End of story.

William v4.5

Today William is 4 and a half. Hard to believe, isn't it? I have a hard time wrapping my brain around the idea he'll be 5 on his next birthday. 5 sounds so...grown up!

Anyway, I just wanted to write down a few things that are happening with William. Especially since his 4 year old birthday post looks more and more like it isn't going to happen.

William is a delight. He makes us laugh out loud with the questions he asks and the silly things he does. The kids are currently playing REALLY well together. So well that I was able to sleep on our couch for an entire hour the other day while feeling under the weather and my two kids just played together. They play most of the morning and afternoon away happily with very few occasions where I am needed to step in a referee. I know this will not last. I understand this will not last. I know this is probably just a phase, but I am still delighted every time I head Amelia shout "Let's PLAY!" and they both run to get their cars or trains (my poor girl, she loves trains, trucks, and baby dolls).

We bought a pool pass this summer to help manage the heat wave of our summer. This weekend, we had a "short break from the heat" in which the temperature only got up to 94 degrees. It sure didn't feel like a break from the heat! Although with close to ten days of upper 90's/100's, high humidity, and not a drop of rain in sight I should have probably taken better advantage. We're scheduled for more hot this week.

Showing off his "sad" face. I'm not buying it.

All that to say: We have more than got our money's worth out of that pool pass in keeping cool. There's been another side effect. William is enjoying himself in the water AND actually learning to swim on his own terms. It is hard to get accurate video with two kids needing full attention, but we're going to try. Because William has come SO FAR in the last month. It is almost unbelievable if I wouldn't have seen it with my own eyes.

Those blue eyes...

At the beginning of the summer swimming lessons William:

-overall was afraid of the water. Wouldn't get in without prodding. Complained about having swimming lessons, didn't want to go
- wouldn't put his face in the water
-wouldn't jump in the shallow area where he knew he could touch without holding on to someone's hands
-couldn't relax enough to float on his back
- didn't like to be splashed
- wouldn't let go of the adult in the pool
- was afraid of the water slide, refused to try it
-wouldn't jump in and allow his head to go underwater in the deeper area

These are all things he is now willing to do and more. He has gotten so BRAVE and I'm so PROUD!

William is also working hard at learning to read on his own time. He does NOT want me to interfere with this process and refuses to read to me or work on reading. However, he has let it slip on a number of occasions that he knows what the words on signs or in books say. The stinker! I'm just dying to get into a book with him and see where his skills are (teacher mode apparently doesn't ever turn off), but HE WON'T LET ME. It is driving me crazy to be so patient!


We've had our first real experience with not-so-truthful reporting and are dealing with it as it comes. Luckily, four year olds are terrible liars.


I also wanted to throw out there that William is a great help around the house. He loves to help and is actually helpful. He vacuums the laundry and bathrooms with our small Dustbuster, he puts away silverware, shakes rugs, folds wash clothes, takes clothes to the laundry, picks up his toys, fetches the mail, waters plants and does it all with a smile!

Every 4.5 year old should be able to jump on the bed. Also, I'm stumped about what to put over my bed. Suggestions?Tried to get a few of the two...without luck

At least they make me laugh....Hahahahaaaa! This one I'm saving until she is 15. I'm going to need whatever ammunition I can get my hands on at that point. Just look at that face.

Home Again, Home Again

After 10 days away, it is good to come home. Our kids were so tired, they slept a significant portion of the 7.5 hour drive home. As did I. Only poor John stayed awake the whole time.

This is the final picture from the trip. Amelia fell asleep with her lunch in hand and would NOT wake up. Even with all of us laughing at her. She slept hard for about 5-6 minutes and then resumed eating her sandwich.

Happy 4th of July!

We celebrated the 4th of July in Rochester this year!


Another project: My mom helped me make Amelia a 4th of July dress. We started the night before, of course. I decided to go with a biggest size a)in case I didn't get it done and she had to wear it next year and b) so I don't have to make another next year. It turned out a lot bigger than I was expecting.

Amelia has the red, William the blue

I hope you like to read. If our kids of visiting, you'll be reading to them.

Here are the kids "helping" Daddy and Grandpa by painting the playhouse (with water) while the grown ups painted the deck.

I decided that Amelia was old enough (and so far off her regular schedule) to go to the fireworks display starting at 10pm. Note: regular bedtime is 7:45pm. Good thing we brought a book to read.

William wearing his 4th of July shirt I made for him last yearSnacks helped pass the time before the show

Amelia and Grandma. Grandma kept saying "OOOOoooo!" about the fireworks and Amelia would tell her "NO! Say Aaaaaaaaaa!" Bossy

She cried when we put away the phone. Even while the fireworks were starting. She'd rather watch Thomas on the phone than watch live fireworks. Clearly, she wasn't old enough!

In the end, both kids liked the fireworks, although I was hoping for a little more awe on their end.

Guess what we had scheduled for the next day?

If you guessed driving home, you'd be right!