Ben
Ben's birthday party was a lot of fun (and loud)! We took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese and asked our immediate family to join us. Ben was a bit shy at first - not liking everyone looking at him as he opened presents. Daddy had to help him blow out his candles too, but he loved all his gifts and his sheriff's badge from his Toy Story birthday cake.
(Cousin Havyn had to help Ben open his first couple of presents)
The behavior reward system seems to be working well because Benjamin has become a pretty well behaved kiddo. So far he has gotten to go to Chick-Fil-A (to play on the indoor playground), and has received a Buzz Lightyear and went to see Toy Story 3 with Daddy as his big prizes for 7 days of being good (although it sometimes takes a week and a half to get those 7 days). For the first few weeks he got daily prizes for being good too.
(Ben and one of his "daily" prizes)
He has become quite a good helper - especially with his little brother and sister - and will often try to soothe them if they are crying ("it's just okay Jack", "it's okay Emma, Mommy is gonna feed you in just a second").
(Somebody looooves his baby sister)
(what Rob sees when he comes home from work)
Jack
Jack has become very proud of himself for learning new words. He loves pointing to things and saying their names. He still loves having books read to him, and amazingly can name almost all the shapes in his shapes book (although it probably is only understood by mom and dad). He is also learning lots of animals and what noises they make. This week we have been playing follow the leader - he'll move his arms or hands in a certain way and I'll do whatever he does. He loves that!
We can see that he is starting to understand more because he can answer "yes" and "no" appropriately now. Also, he has been saying "oooookaaaaaaaay" when we ask him to do something (or stop doing something).
(Jack got a gift at Ben's party too! Thanks Gigi and Grandpa!)
(silly boys!)
He can still throw an amazing tantrum and wail (Rob calls it the "wahmbulance") but can also smile so gorgeously that it makes you want to cry with pride.
He also loves his baby sister and will point to the monitor and say "Emma! Emma" if he hears her cry. He also says "hi Emma" to her a million times a day and picks her toys up for her when she drops them from her walker tray.
We're having another family birthday party on August 14th for Jack since he will be turning 2 on the 11th. Photos to come...
Emma
Miss Emma is sweet as ever. She is now able to grab a toy that you hold up in front of her and bring it to her mouth. She has been sleeping 7-9 hour stretches at night most of the time. Today I am trying naps un-swaddled because she has started to get angry when I swaddle her. At 3 1/2 months I started rice cereal which gave her reflux (just like her brothers) so I switched to oatmeal after about 5 days and she does better on that. I also started sweet potatoes, but I'm not sure she is doing so well with that so I think we will stick with oatmeal for a few weeks and see how it goes.
(Emma after eating oatmeal - not as messy as the boys)
She is doing great sitting up supported, and usually loves her walker, but likes changing positions every 15 - 20 minutes or so.
(Jack isn't the only one who got a gift at Ben's party. Thanks Carolyn Carney for the cute dress!)
Emma is also giggling and smiling a lot more lately. Before we know it she'll be crawling around!
(Emma on her special handmade quilt from the Helmstetters)
That's all for now, kid followers! Gotta go feed the baby...
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