Firsts and Lasts

Landon (and his mama!) had some very BIG moments over the weekend! Some firsts happened to my last baby, which is kind of a hard deal to swallow. These days, he seems to be just growing so fast that I can't believe when some of these milestones show up out of no where! Still cute and fun nonetheless! Still so hard to see my babies get bigger!

Saturday, I got gutsy (or tired) enough and took him to the barber shop to get his first haircut. I was digging my heals to get this done for a looooong time! (I usually wait until they turn 18 months.) His curls have always been so sweet to me but here as of late they were becoming unmanageable and hard to comb through without his comb getting caught in his hair. And his hair when wet reached his shoulders. Unfortunately, it was time! John and Andrew dropped us off so they could go vacuum the van out. The girls got their haircuts at the beauty shop next door first and then I sent them over to the book store together to hang out while I focused on a cranky and tired 1 year old. I was expecting to do this deed with John with me. The original time I was going to do this was first thing in the morning but John woke up with a migraine so all plans quickly changed. 

{His curls a few days before}

Cutting off his baby hair and cute curls was sort of a daunting process for me. At first. It ended up not being as hard as I thought it would be. So thankful for that! Probably due to having done this a time or two before! ;) We took our number at the door and had a seat. Graham crackers definitely helped pass the time with him impatiently waiting his turn. When one of the barber's was finally free, I sat down with him in the chair and explained to him that this was his first haircut and that I wanted to keep a strand of his curls as well as to NOT give him a military hair cut! Haha. Just in case. You never know what they'll do! So he started snipping here and there but leaving a lot of the curls all around his head. Basically, he wasn't cutting much off. So I told him again that while I loved the baby hair, he needed a boy cut. It was time for the baby stuff to go. He then proceeded to give him his actual haircut. But because he started off only trimming, it didn't leave much hair to get the strand of curl I was hoping to keep. Just a half inch section or so. I quickly let it go. (Of course not before I kept part of it!) He held really still in my lap while the barber worked around us to give him a cute little boy haircut. :) When he'd spray his hair, he'd scrunch up his nose and laugh. At the end, he turned on a small pair of clippers to clean up around his ears and neck. The buzzing sound got him curious so he was turning towards the sound a lot, looking to figure out what was going on. He is such a goofball! 

I must say, he looks pretty handsome with his new do! 

And I have to give myself a huge pat on the back for making it through that as well as I did! :)

Next up on my little guy's "getting bigger" agenda was to start nursery at church! Landon is now a SUNBEAM!! This is always such an exciting time for, well, the parents mostly! haha :) But an important thing for the little ones too. They start going to nursery at the age of 18 months through 3 years. Technically, he turns 18 months tomorrow but we didn't think one day would be that big of a deal. I think he was well and ready to go. And maybe I was ready too? So hard to entertain and hold and manage a wiggly child for the entire 3 hours of church. I'd be silly not to welcome this change with open arms!  

Before Andrew went to his class, he helped me walk his little brother to the nursery. His two sweet teachers helped him adjust and feel right at home as soon as we walked in the door. It was a very inviting and laid back atmosphere for the kids which I loved right away. I knew he'd love his time there as I watched him help the teachers set out cups on the table for their snack. And the fact that he didn't notice my presence after just a few minutes. After a few quick photos from my phone, I was out the door without him making a peep. One of those sad and happy moments! Happy he was doing well and not crying and hanging on me....but sad he was doing well and not crying and hanging on me! :) I checked on him from time to time through the door window for the next 1 1/2 hours (as well as when I brought him his sippy that they were looking for) and he was happily playing with toys and doing so well. He looked right at home! So proud of my baby!

When it was time to pick him up, I raced with Jocelyn and Andrew down to the nursery and this is what I found....he was so cute standing on a little wooden chair looking out the window at the birdies with his teacher cutting up a pear and feeding him. She said that so often, they have extra food from the day laying around but not today! He was happily eating anything and everything they gave him! :)

He totally tugged on his mama's heartstrings today! I'm so happy for him and this new experience he gets to enjoy. And sad too, as crazy as it sounds, not to be walking the halls or holding my baby during sunday school anymore. :( My, they grow so so fast! I'm certainly cherishing all these sweet moments with my children. Just love them all!!!!

{big brother and sister greeting Landon after church let out}

Jocelyn {Kindergarten}

Jocelyn's now a BIG GIRL in Kindergarten!!! :)

(and she LOVES it!)

We She was counting down for her first day of school to arrive at least a month ago. This day was a huge and long-awaited milestone!! Over a year in the waiting. A week before kindergarten started though, they had orientation day. A chance to get acquainted with the teacher, find out which class she was in, who else was in her classroom and what to expect for the duration of the school year as well as sign up for PTO and meet the school principal. 

Last year, when she wasn't able to go to school yet like we had hoped, we did many great things at home: she learned to read by using the Dick and Jane book series, she knows how to say, recognize and trace her numbers and letters and she knows how to cut paper with scissors - just to name a few!

So here are a few pictures from her orientation day...

And now for the day we've all been waiting for...Jocelyn starts Kindergarten!! 

She will be normally taking the bus to and from school each day. But because today was her first day, I decided to drive her in. After getting up and ready and eating breakfast and brushing teeth and making lunch and snack and filling her water bottle and doing her hair and making sure she had her bus pass and name tag...WHEW!...it was time to get on the road! First of course, we had to have a little photo op of the BIG day! :)

I sneaked a little note into her lunch bag ;)

Andrew wanted to get in the picture. He was really going to miss his buddy that he's been used to sharing the day with all these years!

Picture with Dad + Mom

Waiting at school for the doors to open up.

She was the first one into her classroom and she quickly found her seat!

Mommy + Kindergartener

She has such a sweet teacher and teacher's assistant. I'm very happy where she'll be spending her days learning and growing. I look forward to the occasional opportunity to go up to the school and volunteer as much as possible. Oh, and having lunch with her once a month at the very least. Her request. Hey! I'll take it as long as she'll let me! :)

 This picture is of her right after she got home from the first day of school. She was so happy and excited to tell me all about her first day! I love how much she loves school already. It's so cute! To touch a little on her first bus ride home experience...well, it was a bit nerve racking! First, her teacher called to say she had missed her bus. That the driver had already left by the time they got her to where she needed to be to get on. They were wandering around the school yard when Aubrey saw Jocelyn with her teacher and said hello to her. The teacher said, "do you know Jocelyn?" And she said, "well, yeah, she's my sister!!" The teacher was apparently thrilled to have run into big sis! She helped make arrangements for Jocelyn to ride home on the bus with Aubrey and all the middle/high school students that lived in our area. However, Aubrey's (German) bus driver was NOT in favor at all of this idea! I can understand they want their rules to be their rules and to follow them to a "T" but come on! They don't live close to the school nor was this (hopefully) going to happen again. With a grudging attitude, he let her on. But scolded Aubrey for the issue. Ugh! On a good note, everyone on the bus loved having Jocelyn ride home with them. They fought over who got to sit next to her and who was her friend! :)

 Such a sweet gift for us parents - her hand print and a poem from the book "The Kissing Hand."

 Here she is with her Daddy during the first week of school on a bright and early morning to the bus.

 And walking home with friends after school after getting off the bus.

 So far, she's loving homework! And I will not discourage this moment whatsoever! ;)

Here's to a great year...her first year in elementary school! 

Andrew + Potty Training

Here we are....one week to the day since we started good ol potty training with Andrew. Even with an occasional accident here or there, he's doing awesome!! I've been finding that more often than not, he's dry when he wakes up from his naps which is a good indication that he is getting old enough to wait until he wakes up to go potty. (Not night time yet, just naps.) And boy has he been easy to please! If he goes, all he wants is a gummy bear or to play a game on my iPhone. Sounds good to me! :)

Besides him showing some obvious signs of starting to be potty trained, I thought this time was as good as any - especially with being stuck at home without a vehicle for a month now. Every hour, we walk down to the bathroom so he can try and he usually goes. If he doesn't, I have him take off his pull-up and once he goes again, he can put it back on. Kinda scary having him run around without anything on from the waist down but whatever works! And because he's the big boy that he is, he insists that he flushes the toilet after I empty out his little botty chair bowl into it. He most definitely loves being able to wash his hands all by himself. (With supervision of course!) :) As of right now, he's been able to go #2 in the toilet a few times also. Slowly but surely, we're getting there. By golly, sooner or later, I will only have ONE child left in diapers!! Woo hoo! :)

Today, after we saw the doctor for his 3 year well child visit, I took him across the hall to the restroom, held him on the big toilet and he peed! I was so happy for him and I just LOVE to see his adorable smile when he hears that his Mama is so proud of him! He's just the cutest thing ever! This has been a huge step for him (and us!) and I think he's doing an amazing job for only being a week into the process. More proof that my once "baby" is now getting to be a BIG boy! My how fast they grow up!

{Sporting his new pull-ups}

We Have Ourselves A Young Woman!

Big news! Our first daughter has graduated from Primary and is now in the Young Women's program at church. We are SO proud of her and she is SO excited! :)

I remember what it was like (some years ago) being in Primary...so ready to move on and be with the big girls and not the little kids anymore. It's a sad yet happy transition. She's going to miss going to Primary with Jocelyn but has already met and become friends with some really great young ladies and they are so happy to have her!

"You are growing up way too fast my dear...we love you sooooo much!!"

We Have a Middle Schooler!

I can not BELIEVE my baby is almost 12 years old and starting middle school today. 6th grade already!! So not only is Aubrey starting a new school in another country but she's going from elementary to middle school. HUGE step! She's so smart and talented...I know she'll do GREAT! I'm so excited for her as she branches out and tries new things....one of them being band this year instead of choir. It doesn't seem that long ago that she was in preschool playing on the playground, learning to read and write, having snack and nap time, going on field trips and taking dance class from Miss Debbie! The years have flown by so fast!

 

{Left: 1st day of 6th grade (2011); Right: Preschool Graduation day (2005)}

We went out to the bus stop to greet her home. She was beaming from ear to ear! Was a hard day transitioning to 6 different classes versus the one class she had last year and in the years past as well trying to meet new people and having to sit by herself for lunch (heartbreaking)! But I know with time, she's going to have a blast and succeed! We just love her so much and are so proud of the girl she is and the one she's becoming!

Her dad joked with her before she left for school...saying that it's now HER time to have the long commute. :) She has to ride the bus for 30-45 minutes one way and it only takes him 5 or so minutes to get to work. They've pretty much changed places. In Virginia, John's commute every day to and from work was at least 4 hours and Aubrey's school bus ride was 5 or so minutes. She doesn't see it as a problem though...a little more reading (or snoozing) time could never hurt. :)

Look What We've Got...

A Preschooler...soon to be Kindergartener! :)

I took Jocelyn to the elementary school and signed her up today to start Kindergarten in the Fall. I can't believe she's getting so grown up. (And I can't wait to have 2 at school next year and 2 at home - shhh! LOL)

She's very thrilled that she'll be soon sporting around a backpack, eating lunch in the cafeteria, meeting and playing with new friends and oh, I can't forget, RIDING THE BIG YELLOW BUS!!

New Beginnings

It's so hard to believe how fast my babies grow! My first baby is already turning 12 this Fall and tonight at the church they held the New Beginnings program for the girls graduating Primary and going into Young Womens this year. She's so excited! The current young women put on a really cute skit with them playing as news reporters and told about the Young Womens program for the girls and their parents followed by cupcakes and root beer floats. I'm so proud of my Aubrey and the young woman she is becoming!

BIG (& Busy) Boy

Being that Andrew is my first boy...I'm becoming quite used to being VERY BUSY! He is into everything and climbing and jumping and running all over the place!! Not a dull moment that's for sure! :)

On this particular day, I grabbed my camera and followed him for a short time. Here is what I was up against...

Climbing on his toys and turning the tv...

Pulling my flat iron out of the bathroom drawer and running around the house with it...

And sneaking into mommy and daddy's room, stealing the laptop and setting up camp in his room trying DESPERATELY to figure out the password! hehe While he shouldn't be doing this...I couldn't help but think it was funny!

Whew! I can barely keep up with him these days!!! And I'm sure it gets busier from here on out...especially with a little brother in tow!

P.S. Andrew has a new haircut! He looks like such a big boy now! (As if me having a baby and him looking bigger now because of it wasn't enough!) :)