Family Pictures

So, we had pictures done with my family this past weekend!  It was so nice to have everyone together for family time!

Amy does a great job of capturing pictures that I never thought we would see--since our kids are not always all that agreeable when it comes to picture time!  But as usual, she caught some amazing photos of our family and children; we are always so happy with her work!  I haven't seen the whole disc of pictures yet, just the sneak peak plus one.  There was one picture that was just too good to have on the disc or the link, so she sent it to me via phone.

This is what it looks like when the photographer says "Surprise her from behind with a bear hug...."

Not cool, Luke.... not cool....

Here's the rest of the sneak peak:
http://photographybyamy.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/the-g-family-2/

Update on the Kiddos!

So, I've officially decided that I'm terrible at keeping up with a blog.  Just as it is for everybody, things just get too crazy from October through February.  I'm pretty sure that I didn't blog for at least 4 months at this time last year, too.  At least I'm consistently awful at this.

So the kiddos:

We had a great Christmas (all three of them!), and we loved visiting with our families!  Amelia is always super sad when her cousins leave to go back to Kansas.  Glad that, even with the distance, she can still have a good relationship with her cousins!

1.  Amelia is doing really well in school.  We just had her parent/teacher conferences recently, and Ms. Loos informed us that she is already reading like she should be at the end of kindergarten.  So she's a whole quarter ahead in reading!  And a few weeks ago, we received her report card.  While walking across the playground at school, Mimi said "Please let it be all 3's and 4's."  Not sure where this need for perfection came from (haha!!), but she did, indeed receive all 3's and 4's.  Last night, she didn't want to listen to me read "Are You My Mother?" for the umpteenth time (Pierson's choice), so she took over and read the middle third of the book!  We are just so in awe at how much she's learning and how fast!  We are kind of nervous for the point in her schooling when we can no longer help with her homework.  At the rate she's going, I think it will be 3rd grade when she will surpass us!  We learned to tie our shoes in Kindergarten, and she's reading!!  Yikes!!

Girl Scouts are going very well!  Amelia seems to enjoy being around the girls for meetings and when we had a cookie booth.  She likes to wear her tunic to school and church.  I hope she sticks with it for awhile.  I'm excited for when our troop can start doing some stuff outside of our meetings!

2.  Pierson seems to be enjoying staying home with Aunt Naynay during the days.  Although he did ask yesterday "Naynay, why do you always come over?!"  He's like every typical 3 year old--very outspoken and busy.  Most recently, my sister has taken on watching another little boy and they are best buddies!  I just love that he has a playmate.

He's still super interested in sports, and yesterday we went to the Spring Game.  He liked being at the football game, but was even more interested in the track meet that we walked past after the game.  He was GLUED to it.  We watched several runners and a few high jumpers--not sure he'll ever be tall enough to be one of them, but he sure liked to watch!!

3.  Eleanor Rae is talking so much now!!  She's up to dozens of words and repeats nearly everything!  We've also been working on more signs with her, and she now does "help, kitty, puppy, milk, owie" and a few others.  It's just the cutest thing!

We recently got the movie "Frozen" and this one loves to sing along with "Let it Go!"  It mostly sounds like "Goooooo, goooooo" but it sure is adorable!

I will have to end this for now, but will try to get some pictures and updates of our holidays and new family pictures posted.

Last couple of months of 2013!

Just wanted to give a quick update on the last few months, since I haven't been very good at updating the blog.  (whoopsies!)

1.  Amelia is doing amazingly in school!  She is like a sponge, absorbing everything she can--even things we'd rather she didn't.  We can't spell words in front of her as often as we used to, and when we do, we have to spell fast, hoping she doesn't catch on.  She recently (this week) earned her name and photograph on the wall for recognizing all her letters and sounds.  She's always trying to sound things out to write sentences on her own.  For example "Betil is in the bathroom." ("beetle is in the bathroom"--she did ask for help on what makes the "th" sound)... and then she said "It needs a period right, because it's a sentence?"  Please, look for her book on shelves in the next couple months, folks.... she'll be writing one by then, I'm sure....

She didn't care for the fact that there was no school on what was supposed to be the first day back after school break. She stomped her foot in the kitchen at me, like I can change the fact that it was supposed to be -25F outside the next day.  I'm glad she loves school so much--I give it two more years before she's begging for a snow day! 

2.  Pierson is potty training!  One day he just wanted to wear underwear and off we went!  We did full-blown underwear during the day and pull-ups at night.  He did the pull-ups for about 3 weeks, until recently when he decided he didn't want to wear them to bed anymore.  He wakes up dry every morning, so we decided to go ahead with that.... but of course, it happens just when I buy a giant pack of pull-ups and we've only used 4.... (oh well) Haha!!  He's only having an accident about once every other day now, and it's usually when he has to go, but doesn't right away, and then gets sidetracked so he potties in his pants.  I'm glad to report the last few days have been awesome because he has actually been doing the #2 in the potty too!  Sorry, if TMI, but it is a big deal to not have to hose out and bleach underwear daily!  And I'm so proud of how fast he's catching on!!

I'd also like to add that he is nothing less than a normal two-year-old when it comes to his behavior.  He has definitely been the most exhausting lately with his outbursts.  He is so incredibly strong-willed and stubborn, and will often scream louder than you are talking, just so he doesn't have to listen.  We have had to do far more time-outs with this one and he often spends several minutes in his room just cooling down.  Boy, he sure does keep us on our toes.  He is still quite the lover tho, and if he slows down for more than a couple minutes, you might get a snuggle or hug or kiss from him.  Pierson quote that melted my heart recently:  "I love you faster, Mama."

3.  I've decided to run Amelia's Daisy Girl Scout Troop. We've had one meeting so far, and she just loves it.  She was disappointed when we had to cancel our December meeting.  I've gone to lunch with her at school and seen her flash her GS friends the GS sign!  So cute!  (PS If anybody needs cookies in February, you have a connection now--she'll be contacting folks soon to sell you tons of boxes!!)

4.  Eleanor started walking at the end of the year. She's not super fast yet, but she gets around!  She had a great first birthday in early November.  She actually got into opening gifts at her party, and P and Mimi were ever helpful and pretty much opened the second half of all her gifts.  She is also very jealous of her new cousin, Faye.  She can't stand it when I'm holding her and will pretty much use all of her strength to, unsuccessfully, push her off my lap.  But I'm sure they will be best friends, eventually!

I will update soon on Christmas and the kids' birthday!! 

Eleanor is ONE!!!

I can't even handle how fast the time is flying!!!  It is getting downright ridiculous now!

Miss Eleanor Rae turned one this November 6.  Our BABY is ONE!!  I'm sorry, I keep repeating it.  I'm just in disbelief.  She is on the go and constantly moving.  She is starting to sleep through the night more often (which has been a huge blessing).  She crawls and pulls herself to standing next to the furniture or anything that is stable enough for her to do so.  She cruises along the furniture with ease, but pretty much refuses to let go and walk.  She gets really nervous when you are holding her hands to help her take a few steps; she is definitely afraid of falling down.  I'm so okay with her not walking yet; after walking is running, and we have two others to run after!

She likes to play with her brother and sister, but doesn't like it if they try to man-handle her or be really rough with her.  Although, I think she will be a very tough little girl with her Big Brother P around.  I feel like a broken record of three-word senteces.  "Leave her alone" "Please play nice" "Don't carry her" "Don't choke her" (you get the idea).  In any case, I think she will eventually learn to hold her own, and will probably retaliate one of these days (watch out P, you got it comin'!!)  I should also mention she has 6 teeth and I fear she will begin to use them soon.  She uses them on me, anyway... I think her brother is next.

She's a smart girl, and has been working on putting things inside of containers or the like.  It's quite adorable to watch her little mind work.  She's a pretty vocal child, and just the other day she expressed her anger with me by screaming right at me when I took something away from her.  She screamed.  Right at me.  Please tell me this is not a glimpse into our future with this girl-child.....  She can speak about 12-15 words or sounds that have meaning (the beginning of words).  Including:  baby (her favorite word right now, I think), mama, dada, pup-y (puppy), more, bye-bye, nigh (night).  She can also sign "more" and "all done".  Eleanor waves bye-bye and blows and gives big open-mouthed kisses.  She's an amazing eater, and sometimes eats almost as much as her brother (who also has a very healthy appetite!!).  She's not big on meats, but will devour vegetables and fruits.  She didn't care too much for her birthday cake(s) either.  We had to put her hand in her mouth to get her to try the cake, or she would eat it off the fork.

She's finally not such a big mama's girl, but this mama is okay with that.  I'm happy to see her going to other people with ease when I'm around.....  She still loves bathtime.  She recently loves books, and has always loved to eat paper and napkins, but is getting better at not putting EVERYthing in her mouth.  She also loves to "help" in the kitchen.  Not sure how I would ever get the dishes done without her.  Her favorite things are sitting on the dishwasher door and pulling stuff off the rack and pulling all the kitchen towels out of the drawer.  Good thing she's just too cute for words, because she makes housework twice as long!!

At her 1-year check, she was 19lb 15oz (25-50 %), and 27.5" (3rd %).  Dr. Amy was impressed with her speech and development.... also another reason why I'm cool with a little bit later walker--I'll just bet she's brain-building with all her energy!! Haha!!
  
                                                           Eleanor Rae at about 1 month

                                                                 Eleanor Rae at 1 Year

It is done. (A post I wrote awhile ago, but didn't publish til now)

So we sent our first baby to Kindergarten.  We did all the obligatory 'first day of school' shots in front of our house and then we all loaded up and went to the Berger household. 

We walked with them to the school where we waited outside for them to have the kindergarteners line up. 

Daddy and I were able to contain our emotions up until this point.  It wasn't until her teacher's name was called and we had to say good-bye that Daddy got choked up and I couldn't even actually say good-bye or I would've officially lost it.

After all the students went inside, many of the parents (probably the ones sending their first babies to school that day) stood around outside with a lost look on our faces until the Principal told us we could rally together and go into the cafeteria where they would show some short video clips of their first morning at kindergarten.  We waited about 20 minutes for them to finally bring in a camera that had clips of all the classrooms getting a start to their day and getting together to sing good morning songs!  It was so exciting that Amelia was in the front of the group while they sang, so we had a perfect view of her!  I almost lost it a second time when they were telling us about the kindergarteners eating lunch with the 5th graders so that the older students could help the little guys open milks and get through their first meal at school.... I imagined my baby eating lunch in a big cafeteria with all those kids, and needing help--but I'm not the one helping this time... *tear*

Next, Luke, James, Dana, and I went to drown out 'first-first' day of school sorrows in pancakes and eggs at IHOP.  (Why didn't we go to a bar?!)

Then in order to take our mind of the fact that we still had a couple hours until we could rescue our kids, Dana and I went to get pedicures.

Finally!!!!!!  It was time to pick up our babies!!!!  Here's where I got choked up again--outside the school waiting for my girl to come out the doors and greet me!!!  She is such a big girl!!!

I wanted to know what happened everysinglesecond of her day, but these were the type of answers I got to my questions: "Good," "Fine," "Chicken nuggets," "I don't remember."  I don't think she understood my need to know what happened while she was away from us!!!!  Or, she just really couldn't remember....
She took to school like a fish in water.... she will be an amazing student, and I hope she has tons of fun, learns a lot, and makes so many new friends.  We just love our girl....

About My Dad.... by Amelia

For Father's Day this year, I asked Amelia some questions about her father.  Thought I'd share her answers here!

1.  What is something your dad always says to you?
~"Pick up your toys."
2.  What makes dad happy?
~Me!  (Amelia)
3.  What makes dad mad?
~When I don't pick up my toys
4.  How does your dad make you laugh?
~Tells me funny jokes--if they're funny.
5.  What did your dad like to do when he was a child?
~Watch his favorite movie.
6.  How old is your dad?
~ 32 (He's 33)
7.  How tall is your dad?
~I don't know.  I never measured him.
8.  What is his favorite thing to watch on TV?
~Grown up shows.  That one where they tell people how much it is.
9.  What does your dad do when you're not around?
~Types and calls (at work).
10.  If your dad becomes famous, what would it be for?
~ A movie star.
11.  What is your dad really good at?
~Making paper airplanes and castles.
12.  What is your dad not very good at?
~Not very good at setting up a "real-real tent"
13.  What does your dad do for his job?
~Works at a "hotella."  Calls people.
14.  What is your dad's favorite food?
~Spaghetti
15.  What makes your proud of your dad?
~When he gives me presents.  More prouder, and money.
16. If your dad were a cartoon character, who would he be?
~.............Woody.
17.  What do you and your dad do together?
~Went and got chocolate covered strawberries for mom.
18.  How are you and your dad the same?
~We both have an 'A' in our name.  And we have blue eyes.
19.  How are you and your dad different?
~He's kinda lazy and I'm not.
20.  How do you know your dad loves you?
~Because I give him things I made.
21.  What does your dad love about your mom?
~He loves her.  He likes her cooking.
22.  Where is your dad's favorite place to go?
~Carlos O'Kelly's.

E is 9 months!!!

Eleanor Rae is 9 months old this month!  She was 9 months on August 6 with her check up being on the 14th.  She weighed in at 19lb 10oz (50-75%) & 26.5" long (10%).  We don't grow 'em tall, that's for sure!!  She's our quishy little Miss!!  She's crawling all over the place--we can never find our baby where we leave her--and she is venturing into other rooms so we have to make sure we close the doors.  We've installed a baby gate this month because a dining chair across the top of the steps was just not going to cut it for much longer.  At 9.5 months, she pulls herself to standing beside EVERYthing.  We officially have to put stuff above sofa height.... how does a 2 foot tall baby have a 5 foot reach anyway?!?!

She still doesn't eat a lot of foods and prefers to nurse, and often.  We tried giving her pieces of food big enough to just feed herself, but she just squishes it on the tray and grows bored with it.  But the last few days, we have been sharing from our plates and giving her bites off our forks, and she will accept it with gusto!

She does love to eat anything that she finds on the floor, but her favorites are paper and flip flops.  Never mind the basket of appropriate toys in the living room... oh no, she has to chew on any and every foam shoe she comes across.  She's like having a puppy--or is having a puppy like having a crawling baby?  Whatever.  Oh, and I'm always fishing parts of Amelia's artwork from her mouth.

She loves baths and being outdoors.  She's definitely still a mama's girl, but hey, who doesn't love an endless buffet?  She makes a "ma-ma" sound, and I'm pretty sure she has attached the sound with the person (me).  She also makes a "da-da" and "pa-pa" sound... though, I'm not sure she's attached those to anybody in particular quite yet.

This little girl smiles with her whole face and has the best laugh.  Her brother and sister love her a lot--they are always kissing and loving on her, whether she wants them to or not (more often its not)!

                                                 Hand-me-Down PJs from my big brother!!

                                                      ^With Big Sister A at Lost in Fun

                               ^Actually 8 months in this photo, but (sorta) loving some melon!

                                                           ^Loving bathtime!!!!

                                                           ^9 months + 1 day in this photo