An Allowance, the 1st Day of Summer Break & My Little Entrepreneur

Stink started to get an allowance (not tied to anything) at the age of 5.  He is given $3 a week and has to split it between a Give, Save for College, Spend.  We have told him that in order to be able to spend his "spend" money, he has to have a goal or an item in mind-- he just can't go on a shopping spree at the toy store.  He has decided he is going to save to buy a real camera.  Another rule to our allowance giving:  certain chores are expected, others are extra and extra allowance can be earned if/when completed.  And we've had a few discussions about lemonade stands, he's asked his Grandparents to do odd jobs, and has really taken to trying to come up with ways to "work" to earn money for his camera.

Which leads us to.....

Yesterday was Stink's  1st Day of Summer.  To kick it off, we headed to the library where, Stink, armed with his new hobby of drawing monsters, wanted to borrow some "how-to-draw" type books.  I was very excited because I love art in all its forms.

We came home and he started to draw zoo animals.  Really, very good zoo animals.  I raved like any proud Mama would.  Then I sat down to nurse Jet Fighter XT in our living room.

Stink came in the living room moments later and said:

"Mama, I have an idea!  What if I draw some of these animal drawings and sell them for money?  Would that be a way that I can earn extra money for my camera?"

He was super excited and set a price of $0.50 per drawing, factoring in the amount of time it takes to draw them and the paper used. He made up about 4 pictures, and then marched over to his grandparents house, where he promptly sold 3 and took an order for the 4th.  This made him super happy, and suggested that, at his sister's 3rd birthday party on Saturday, he'd like to sell his art at an Art Stand.

 "You know, mom.  Like a lemonade stand, but with my drawings instead!  Then everyone at the party can buy my art and I can get my camera sooner!"

My little entrepreneur.

6 Months Old

Today, Jet Fighter XT is 6 months old.  It has been an amazing and quick 6 months! Way too quick!  At his well- check this morning, he is 27 1/4 inches long and 17lbs 11 oz.   He has two teeth on the bottom with a third making its way in, and one front tooth on top!

He has been eating cereal now for 2 months, and we started avocado as our first food.  He loves it!  All in all, he is a super happy and mellow baby.  He loves to "sing" has a lot of fun laughing at his big bro' and sis' and likes to play with his toes. Stink and Peach adore him!

We are co-sleeping still most of the night.  When he does wake-up, whether it is morning or nap time, he wakes up all smiles.  Since he was an infant we sang "Good Day, Sunshine!" and when he hears it, he has a huge smile on his face.  It is the best!

Just as I couldn't imagine life with a third baby while I was pregnant, I can't imagine life without him now.  He IS.  We ARE.  And it is only slightly better than controlled chaos around here most days, but that, to me, is bliss.

Two Little Teeth, Numbers, and Big Bikes

Jet Fighter XT is cutting his first two teeth!  I can not believe how quickly the first third of his life has passed.  The little baby stage lasts for so short a moment, he changes so much and so quickly!  He has started to belly laugh at peek-a-boo and the silly antics of big sis and big bro also make him giggle.  He also tries so hard to pull himself to a sitting position when he is in the bouncy seat --his least favorite spot to be, yet where he spends so much time!

Peach is still quite behind in her speech due to excessive ear infections.  She has been in speech therapy for a year (during which she still had many ear infections) but is making some great progress.  She now tries to say so many more words.  She can:  count to 5 unassisted, make it to 10 with a little help, can E-I-E-I-O, is learning ice cream, more, milk, animal sounds (and a few animal names with prompting) and will now attempt any word you ask her to say. (a year ago, she didn't know how!)  She has so many signs/gestures/ and facial expressions, she has managed to communicate very well with very few words--a testament to just how really bright she is.  She understands everything you say to her (or around her).  I just can't wait for her to have all her words and be able to use them more clearly.  She tries so hard to string together 8-10 "word" sentences, but frequently they are non-sense words she's created to replace words that she can't yet say.  Her brain is working so hard!

Last weekend we took both kids to the local bike shop to pick out new bikes.  Stink was in need of a bigger bike and Peach picked out her very first bike with a pink fairy on it.  We shopped around the local big department stores but ALL of the bikes his size had many gear shifts on it and two hand brakes.  I wanted him to have a single speed bike with one rear hand break as well as a coaster brake...which is precisely what we found at the local Schwinn shop.  It is blue and black and he looks so big on it!  It is a 20" bike and I will not be surprised if we have to buy him a new one next season. The seat is already raised half-way!

Peach is starting to learn how to ride her bike too!  It is so exciting-- at first she would just sit on her bike, but now she is starting to figure out how to pedal it.  For her 2nd birthday we gave her a "big wheel" type bike, but she couldn't figure out how to pedal it with the pedals out in front of her.  I think it has been much easier for her to get with the pedals underneath her. She gets stuck over bumps and rocks easily because she hasn't figured out how to gain much speed...but she is so proud to don her helmet and hop on her bike!

I Want To Ride My Bicycle....

After getting the Gyrowheel to help Stink learn how to ride his bike, we ended up still having to take the pedals off his bike to help him unlearn all the bad form he picked up while riding on training wheels for 3 years.  But yesterday morning, on the first warm and beautiful day of the year, my husband placed the pedals back on Stink's bike...and 5 minutes later, he was cruising down the street with  my husband chasing after him!

It was such a fantastic feeling after being so frustrated by not "getting it" last fall.  The Gyrowheel website warned that the product isn't as effective if a kid has been on training wheels for a long time.  Knowing what I know now, and having a 12 inch wheel & a 16 inch wheel due to my pregnancy brain last summer, we won't be buying Peach a bike with training wheels this year.

Stink is super excited to be riding on 2-wheels like the bigger kids on the block.  My heart is a little heavy about the whole thing-- he's growing up and becoming this super capable little guy.  This is such a milestone moment.  I feel strongly that after potty-training, the only other two things parents MUST do is:  teach their kid to ride a bike and make sure they learn how to swim.  You know, aside from all the "be a good person stuff".  That goes without saying.

So one more thing gets checked off my parental to-do list and another big memory is made for Stink.

Jet Fighter XT

Dear Jet Fighter,

You are now  3 1/2 months old and I don't know where it went!  From the second you were born, you were an easy going baby.  You cried when you needed a diaper change, were hungry, or tired.  I know we were up with  you in the night- but it was easy being up, not hard.  Now, you sleep 4-5 hours a night, though sometimes those nights are on the early side of things.  We bring you into bed and you like to snuggle right in next to me.  I can say that I don't sleep well- but its better than being up all night!

You are such a happy baby! You laugh and giggle at everyone who smiles at you.  You love to watch Stink and Peach play and they love to kiss and cuddle you!

Your presence in our life has been amazing!  It is as if you've always been here with us- and while your birth day seemed like yesterday, it feels like it was forever ago.  I guess that is also the effect of being a mom to your sister and brother- one day has so much activity packed into it.

We are keeping an eye out for you and making sure you stay healthy.  Your sister was very sick with bronchitis and RSV, and so far, :::knock on wood:::::, you haven't been sick.  I've read that nursing moms have the antibodies to fight RSV, and they can be passed in breastmilk, but that isn't well supported. And yes, you are still nursing!  You are an excellent nurser- but you are getting ready for solid foods!  You are drooling so much!!  2 weeks until we start cereal!

You have a case of cradle cap that just won't go away.  It isn't terrible, but you have a habit of scratching your head and it is leaving marks on your sweet little head.

Your favorite things right now:
being held by mommy (or pretty much anyone. You aren't particular)
chewing on your hands when you loose your pacifier
being swaddled.  Still.  It helps calm you down and it has from the moment you were born.
tummy time.  You do love tummy time, so long as I haven't just nursed you!
Playing "so big" or bend & stretch
looking in the mirror with mommy

I love you, Jet Fighter XT!

Kindergarten Registration?

This week is Kindergarten registration in the school district that we live in.  And in this house, we are at an impasse.

For many resons, I've considered homeschooling the kids.  For a little while, at least.  But a part of me is scared.  It is a huge responsiblity and I don't know for certain that I can do it.  And if I can, is it the right thing for my children?

I've been struggling with this for nearly a year now and decision time is here.  We  have to decide wether or not Stink is going to go to Kindergarten next year.  And here is the tough part:  my husband is supportive either way.  He can see benefits for both situations.  And I can too.

If we can't talk it out we may be flipping a coin on Thursday night.  I'm hoping and praying for clarity in making this decision. I want to be totally confident in our decision-- and right now, I'm not confident 100% in either. 

2 Months 5 days

Our little baby boy arrived save and sound, November 17, 2011.  Labor & delivery went very well, and aside from chasing the two bigger kiddos around, I recovered very well too.

We did finally figure out a name for our littlest man, Rhys Michael, and it suits him just perfectly.  He looks so much like his big brother its unreal!   But now, today, he is already 2 months and 5 days old!

Having a baby the week prior to Thanksgiving and right before Christmas is a little crazy!  I tried to plan, be prepared, and be organized, but there is no really preparing for it.  Stink and Peach took fairly well to their little brother.  I was surprised that neither kid woke up when Jet Fighter would cry!  But, he really doesn't fuss that much.  Only when he's hungry, tired, or has a dirty diaper.

For the most part, things around the house have calmed down nicely.  For us at least, going to 3 kids felt a little reminiscent of having our first kid.  The crazy, trying to figure it all out, learning how to be outnumbered, being a SAHM to three- juggling getting kids to school and activities....that was tough.  It has gotten easier and thank goodness for that!  My lifesaver-- the TV.

When my husband went back to work after one week, I really needed help, but we don't really have people available to us at that time of day.  So, in order to maintain calm and order, their brains were "fried" on hours of Nick Jr., Disney Junior, and PBS.  I can now sing the theme song to any and all children's programming available on daytime TV in my sleep.  It worked somewhat-- at a certain point, they'd get antsy and needed to get out a moving and playing.  We did that-- but I tended not to leave the house alone.  We ate out a lot.  Or had breakfast for dinner.  Or sandwiches.  There has been a huge learning curve on preparing a meal and trying to fit in nursing sessions.  And laundry?!  HA!  The first month we lived out laundry baskets. 

We have a much better grasp of life now.  We cook.  We actually grocery shop.  I have a system of getting the mundane completed around the house.  The kids aren't in front of the TV any more, and Jet is now co-sleeping with us, which makes mommy happier and daddy happier-- because we each are getting  a little more sleep.

And what about the big kids?  Well, Peach is two and a half.  She is stubborn.  She is sweet.  She is funny.  She started preschool at the beginning of December which has been so awesome for her.  She loves being the girl in the middle and now that I can more easily lift her, she is eating up the attention she can get from me.  She is mommy's little girl and daddy isn't allowed to help her do anything.  He can't be the one to get her food, or drinks, or tuck her in bed.

Stink is still on the fence of wanting to be a big kid and wanting to be a little boy.  He straddles those moments daily--which is a challenge sometimes.  He can be smarmy and is learning the fine art of negotiating--which will serve him well in his teen years.  I am not looking forward to this.  He still sees things in black and white most of the time, but is quickly learning that there is a middle ground in the choices he makes.  We are trying to let him make much bigger decisions in his life everyday.  Giving him a lot more choices on what order he wants to do the things that need to get done gives him a great sense of independence.  This is much more effective than simply telling him what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.  Though, things take much longer.  Within the next month, I will be registering Stink for Kindergarten!   I can't believe how quickly the time has passed!  I've already been in tears about this milestone a number of times...and hopefully, by the time his first day comes around, I can just enjoy the moment.