O.K., so I start this thing and I'm already behind. But, I promise weekly updates from here on out! Natalie's party was Saturday the 14th, and it was quite a success. There were so many people here, which was wonderful. We had a blast, though at times I did feel like I was running around like a chicken with its' head cut off!!! It's a good thing we took a lot of old toys to Grammy and Grand-dad's garage sale, because we needed the room for all the new stuff. Natalie wanted ponies, and that's what she got! There are ponies of some sort everywhere!!!! She also received a lot of money and gift cards, which we've allowed her to spend at various stores. So far she has picked out a Cinderella dress, Chutes and Ladders, CandyLand (which we made sure to inform her ahead of time did not include real candy), a few movies, a jump rope (the girl loves jump rope...even if mostly to pretend it's a leash!), and a book or two. She still has so much left over, so we're debating on putting it in the bank or letting her spend more! Thank you cards are going out, so you should receive those soon! It really was a nice time. As tradition would have it, we got a big cake that everyone could eat and I baked a 6 in. cake just for Natalie; however, this year my decoration did not turn out in the least (neither did the cake for that matter)! But, never fear, kids do not know better, so we put it down with a handful of forks and Cousins Alex and Chloe joined right in on the cake eating.
One of Natalie's friends also helped this year, so the cake was enjoyed nevertheless! A friend of ours, who used to be our roommate when we lived in Arnold, stayed with us for several days following the party. Lori has a 13 month old little girl, and it truly was a blast. There were some trying times, but good practice for Natalie learning to be a big sister! At one point Bree was relaxing with her mommy, and Natalie decided she would read her a book. So, she took out "Are You My Mother," (which she has memorized), and proceeded to read. If a stranger came upon this scene he/she probably would have thought Natalie was truly reading, but it is definitely memorization (heck! we've pretty much memorized the story too with the numerous times we read it before night-night).
The Monday after her party was Natalie's 3 year check-up. She measures 37.5 inches tall, which we somewhat expected since she was allowed to ride the roller coaster at Dutch Wonderland this year. At the doctor's office they said that was the 60th percentile and said she is just above average. I was a little surprised since everyone informs us that Natalie is tall. Now that I look back at the paper they gave us she is in the 68th percentile, which is more like it, but still far from the 90th that she was in at a much younger age. She seems to be right on track with everything. We bought a few pre-school workbooks that we work on together. She always looks at me as we finish a page and exclaims "I'm learning!" or "I've learned!" I am glad that she enjoys doing these activities. I find it hard to "play" with her...I never seem to get it right as daddy does; but, the board games and workbooks have extended our "play time" together. I am just trying to figure out how to start her writing letters. I feel like she's too young for this now, but I know that in preschool they start writing. All of the workbooks have writing pages, but I just don't know how to get her to hold the pencil properly. I guess that's why I'm an Elementary teacher and not Early Childhood.
Friday of last week, we went to Extreme Bounce Zone in Millersville. They have a story time and bounce time for children 4 and under (which makes it a bit safer for the kiddies). The theme was ducks, and Natalie got to actually pet a real duck. She LOVED that (have I mentioned that she loves animals?)!!!! She did a lot of bouncing, and made a duck out of a paper plate, construction paper, and feathers. I couldn't help her with the big climbing slides this time, so she gave one of them a try all by herself. The first time she needed a hand by one of the people that worked there, but by the second time she had it figured out. One of her friends, who is a bit older, from the playgroup we are in was encouraging her the whole way. She was almost to the top when she looked up at him and said "I am doing it! I am so proud of myself!" I was really excited to hear that because Natalie tends to get frustrated quickly when she can't make something work just right (I have no idea where she gets that from!), and a couple of times she has said to us, "I'm can't do that. I'm not good at that." I was a little concerned when I heard this, but continued praising her when she would do things on her own. It was a great ending to a very tiring, overwhelming, and patience thinning week!!!!
As for me, I am just over 4 months pregnant now. August 6th is the date of our ultrasound, so we should hopefully find out what we're having. What does everyone think? I am feeling much better now, except that I already feel so huge!!! I've only gained 3 pounds, but my belly is really out there. My "big" clothes are still way too big, but my "small" clothes are now getting a bit snug. So, I go back and forth between maternity and big clothes!!! When I wear maternity clothes I really look pregnant, other than that I just look fat!!!!
One of Natalie's friends also helped this year, so the cake was enjoyed nevertheless! A friend of ours, who used to be our roommate when we lived in Arnold, stayed with us for several days following the party. Lori has a 13 month old little girl, and it truly was a blast. There were some trying times, but good practice for Natalie learning to be a big sister! At one point Bree was relaxing with her mommy, and Natalie decided she would read her a book. So, she took out "Are You My Mother," (which she has memorized), and proceeded to read. If a stranger came upon this scene he/she probably would have thought Natalie was truly reading, but it is definitely memorization (heck! we've pretty much memorized the story too with the numerous times we read it before night-night).
The Monday after her party was Natalie's 3 year check-up. She measures 37.5 inches tall, which we somewhat expected since she was allowed to ride the roller coaster at Dutch Wonderland this year. At the doctor's office they said that was the 60th percentile and said she is just above average. I was a little surprised since everyone informs us that Natalie is tall. Now that I look back at the paper they gave us she is in the 68th percentile, which is more like it, but still far from the 90th that she was in at a much younger age. She seems to be right on track with everything. We bought a few pre-school workbooks that we work on together. She always looks at me as we finish a page and exclaims "I'm learning!" or "I've learned!" I am glad that she enjoys doing these activities. I find it hard to "play" with her...I never seem to get it right as daddy does; but, the board games and workbooks have extended our "play time" together. I am just trying to figure out how to start her writing letters. I feel like she's too young for this now, but I know that in preschool they start writing. All of the workbooks have writing pages, but I just don't know how to get her to hold the pencil properly. I guess that's why I'm an Elementary teacher and not Early Childhood.
Friday of last week, we went to Extreme Bounce Zone in Millersville. They have a story time and bounce time for children 4 and under (which makes it a bit safer for the kiddies). The theme was ducks, and Natalie got to actually pet a real duck. She LOVED that (have I mentioned that she loves animals?)!!!! She did a lot of bouncing, and made a duck out of a paper plate, construction paper, and feathers. I couldn't help her with the big climbing slides this time, so she gave one of them a try all by herself. The first time she needed a hand by one of the people that worked there, but by the second time she had it figured out. One of her friends, who is a bit older, from the playgroup we are in was encouraging her the whole way. She was almost to the top when she looked up at him and said "I am doing it! I am so proud of myself!" I was really excited to hear that because Natalie tends to get frustrated quickly when she can't make something work just right (I have no idea where she gets that from!), and a couple of times she has said to us, "I'm can't do that. I'm not good at that." I was a little concerned when I heard this, but continued praising her when she would do things on her own. It was a great ending to a very tiring, overwhelming, and patience thinning week!!!!
As for me, I am just over 4 months pregnant now. August 6th is the date of our ultrasound, so we should hopefully find out what we're having. What does everyone think? I am feeling much better now, except that I already feel so huge!!! I've only gained 3 pounds, but my belly is really out there. My "big" clothes are still way too big, but my "small" clothes are now getting a bit snug. So, I go back and forth between maternity and big clothes!!! When I wear maternity clothes I really look pregnant, other than that I just look fat!!!!
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