Girls

Around our 10-year wedding anniversary in October of 2015, there was a lot of talk about marriage. Dave and I shared stories of our courtship and the boys saw the collection of 10 years of "selfies" Dave and I had taken during our marriage. I suppose a lot of it was on Andrew's mind because at one point, he said he had a secret to share with me. He said he'd only tell me and then later Daddy. He leaned over and in a conspiratorial whisper he said, "I like girls." Given he was only just about to turn 7, I found this just precious.

Adam at age 2

Adam is growing by leaps and bounds and amazes us with what he understands. If we ask who wants a snack or say it's time to go, he's often the first to grab a bowl or his shoes. He loves jokes and even though he is only starting to string two words together and usually says just one, he can actually get a joke across! At preschool, he jokes with another two year old by calling him the wrong name, with a twinkle in his eye. At home he enjoys his brother's reaction to his physical comedy (recreating a fall, tickling, etc.) He interacts with each brother in a different way. He and Sam love to play horsey, with Adam riding Sam's back. Sam also loves to carry Adam around and Adam happily dangles like a sack of potatoes in Sam's arms. Andrew and Adam love to look at Calvin and Hobbes comics together and Andrew does "nosey nosey" and strong hugs that often end on the floor. Thomas and Adam are preschool compatriots and do lots of pretend play, especially dress up. Adam is on the small side. At his two year appointment he was 2' 9.5" tall (33%) and weighed 25lb 12.8 oz (22%) but is growing steadily. His blond hair continues to be a commonly commented feature and his emerging independence is crystallizing (he makes it clear he wants me behind and him to run ahead!). He is quite the dynamo and we can't wait to hear more from him as his verbal abilities take off.

Thomas at age 4

Thomas loves to tell a good story and can often be heard telling stories with the toys he's playing with and engaging in pretend play with his brothers ("We're a family of cats." "We're superheroes and ninjas"). The other day he told me a story about how when he grows up he wants to be golden Spiderman and he'll be my hero and protect me.

He loves to be silly and goofy and while he sometimes gets rubbed the wrong way and becomes incensed, he can be flipped out of it and return to his joyous, sunshiny self. He loves to tell us he loves us (spontaneously!) and is fierce in his devotion to his brothers (he requires a kiss and hug goodbye every morning).

He and Adam are starting to play cooperatively very well. One of their favorite things to do is to fill our laundry baskets with pillows and call it a "bubble bath". He is very interested in letters at the moment and loves to list off random letters and then ask me what they spell. (One time he actually spelled Foam, but usually it's a random assortment of his favorite letters).

At his four year appointment, he was measured at 3' 5.5" (66%) and 36 lb 11.2 oz (50%) and can now walk to and from his brothers school the whole way (if he chooses...stroller is still the back-up).

We love our "Sunshine Thomas", as he calls himself.

Some of his mis-words that we love: stummyache, hotness, "Can you paint face me?", "I'm snug as a rug bug"

Halloween 2015

Thomas as a park ranger, Adam as Yogi Bear, Sam as the Titanic and
Andrew as Optimus Prime, transformer. It was a great year! Both Sam
and Andrew got most original of their class. :)

What I learned from comic books

I was turning off the light and saying good night to the boys when Sam asked me (mom) if he could ask a question. I said sure.
Sam said "Is Santa Claus real"
I replied "Do you believe he's real in your heart"
Sam said "I don't know, I don't think so. And then there's science and things."
Andrew asked "And why when we go to church do we always leave someone behind?"
I said "What do you mean, Andrew, we usually go altogether as a family."
Sam clarified "I think he means on Easter."
I said "We go together then too."
Andrew said "But not Grandma and Grandpa."
I said "Sure, Grandpa came last year - remember he helped us in the rain with the umbrellas."
Sam said "But not Grandma!"
I said "Oh, she came later because we went early for Sunday school or the egg hunt. And they don't like to stay after as long as we do because you like to play outside."
Sam piped up "Well, I already know about Santa Claus. I read it in Calvin and Hobbes!"
Looking for an out, I said "Okay, time for bed. Good night guys."
Sam whispered to Andrew as I walked out "We're just waiting to figure out about the tooth fairy."
Andrew conspiratorially answered "I have an idea how to trap her..."

Nicknames

So all of the kids have been given nicknames along the way.

Sam was Peanut or Mr. Peanut
Andrew was Sweetpea and the Sweetest Baby in the World (but don't call him names!)
Thomas is Sunshine, Sunshy, Sunshine Thomas and still self identifies in preschool as Sunshine
Adam was Munchkin (didn't stick), Danger boy, My Beautiful Baby Boy, Blondie, and the Terrorist

Growing and climbing and talking

Adam is a kid on the move! His favorite latest trick at 18 months is to climb onto chairs and/or the table. In fact, today he just learned how to climb up the slide on the playstructure on the deck...and how to make his mom's heart beat faster.

He has a host of words now, learned in approximately the following order: dada, all done, more, mama, Andrew, milk, up, Sam, bowl, water, spoon, egg, bath (favorite word!), Gabe, deck, down, ball, doggy, hungry, fork, toast, nose, hair, diaper, poopoo, Odyssey, Cecilia, Thomas, shower, shoes...and I'm sure many more I can't think of. He loves to mimic and often will repeat back to you; just with the consonants missing. :)

He's getting bigger. At his 18 month appointment he was 2 ft 7.5 inches tall (21%) and weighed 23 lbs (34%). He also thinks he's way bigger...insisting on sitting in a chair like his brothers and using crayons or pencils like his brothers and playing Legos like his brothers. And truly, in so many cases, he really can do things just like them.

He continues to take one nap a day of about two hours, which give the household a nice respite from the constant motion and occasional antics (pulling hair or biting) as he pals around with his brothers.

Thomas quotes

Daddy - I'm Drinky.
Mommy - I don't want dirty rice!  I want clean rice!
XXXX - I love you.  (This kid says I love you more than any of our other  kids - words of affirmation kid?)
I'm Sunshine-Thomas!  (Christine is convinced that he is going to be confused when Kindergarten comes around)

Adam's 15 month stats

Adam had his "well" check (while being in the middle of a terrible cold), but is doing alright. His weight is now 19 lb 13 oz (11%) and height is 30.25 inches (18%). No wonder he's still fitting in the 12 month clothing and some 9 month pants!

Great quote while watching Empire Strikes Back

Han Solo is piloting the Millennium Falcon away from Empirial fighters as the rebels flee Hoth.

They have just found out the hyperdrive is broken. They happen upon an steps field. Han steers into it, hoping to scare off the fighters.

C3PO: "Don't you know the odds of successfully navigating an asteroid field are 6,715:1?"

Han growls: "Odds, don't ever tell me the odds."

Sam: "Odds, why doesn't he tell him the evens?"

New words and new places

Adam is learning more words each and every day. This week he added bread, peakaboo and apple to his lexicon. He also rediscovered "All done" and is now agreeing to put his fingers together in the sign language for "More." Since a loud shriek gets Mom's attention faster if she's busy with his brothers, he does favor that instead of the sign language. Something we're working on :).

Adam also learned how to get to the promised land yesterday: climb the couch! Boy is he proud of himself. He can use the corner or not, and loves to walk along the length. He's pretty good about going down backwards, though he did take a rolling leap off it. He landed on a pillow and the rug and it didn't phase him in the least.

He still loves to get his hands on any toothbrush he spies and will toddle up to Mom and hand it to her for her turn to brush his teeth, just like his brothers do. He enjoys shutting doors and has been known to hang out by himself in the little nook behind three closed doors for quite a while.

He still has a few curls in his blond hair, but as they get longer and the line between curls and mullet blurs, we'll have to have his first trim.