Thumb Update

Daniel has been a hardcore thumb sucker for a long, long, long time.  We had been talking to him about quitting the habit once he hit four years old.  We weren't exactly sure how we were going to accomplish this, but we figured it would be a long process, considering how long he's been addicted. 

We forgot that Daniel is really good with deadlines.

For example, when Daniel turned three, he started pooping in the potty.  He had refused to do this for the previous eight months (even disregarding bribes such as trips to the zoo, cupcakes, toys, etc.), but when he turned three, he turned a magical corner in his mind and just did it.

The same thing happened with his thumb and turning four.  He just quit the day he turned four.  Just like that.  He's asked a few times to put a bandaid on his thumb to "help him remember," and there are occasional nights that we hear him sucking it long after he's fallen asleep.  I'm assuming that will go away on its own as he doesn't need it to fall asleep anymore.  Overall, he's doing amazingly well!

Tonight we treated him to frozen yogurt - the same prize we used for potty training.  The kid loves it!  He had cookies 'n' cream yogurt with Reese's, M&M's, Nerds, gummy bears, and colored sprinkles.  Sounds kinda nasty to me, but he loved it.  When we got in the car, he said, "When will we come to the yogurt shop again?"  I said, "I don't know.  When do you think?"  He said, "Well, I guess I need to learn to wipe myself all by myself all the time, and then we can come back to the yogurt shop."  Agreed!  Glad we have a new goal! 

Catherine's 8 Month Update

Catherine turned eight months old the same day that Daniel turned four years old!

She has really been changing a lot and is not so much of a baby anymore! 

• She can crawl everywhere and gets pretty quick sometimes. 
• She pulls up on everything and anything that she can. 
• She follows Daniel everywhere. 
• She eats a variety of foods and doesn't seem to be bothered by any of them.
• She is starting to feed herself finger foods, though most of it falls on her lap.
• She still has just two bottom teeth, no uppers.
• She follows Daniel everywhere.
• She sleeps through most nights (8ish to 6ish) and takes 2-3 naps.
• Her hair is silly long, and I realize it needs to be trimmed, but can't make myself do it yet.
• She likes to "dance" to music, particularly when she pushes the buttons on the keyboard.
• She follows Daniel everywhere.
• She loves to be outside on the back patio and is frequently covered in sidewalk chalk.
• She loves to play in the water - either tub or pool.
• She makes silly panting and raspberry noises.
• She follows Daniel everywhere.

Can you tell she loves her big brother?  It drives him a bit crazy at times!

Daniel's Birthday

Daniel is officially four!  I think he measured in at 41".  His actual birthday was a little quieter than his birthday party.  He started the morning with muffins, and then he went to his first day of RE.  He's in my pre-K class this year, and he did well!  The rest of the day was spent opening various gifts, playing with Grandma, and visiting the zoo.  He had a pretty special day! 

He'd also had a big week as his favorite babysitter, Ms. Marcy, spoiled him all week long!  She bought him a big roll of butcher paper, new math, reading, and geography workbooks, and a cake mix.  On Friday they made a Whopper cake together.  He's eaten a piece every day since!

He received even more presents.....
Aunt Cristi & Uncle Brian - cape with lightning bolt
Aunt Pam, Uncle Josh, & Bryson - Thomas the Train circus set and bulldozer
Aunt Heather, Uncle Brian, & Henry - Cars bouncy balls, Cars color wonder set, Cars Beanz, and Percy train
Grandma & Grandpa - Cars crashing racetrack
Mrs. Gonzalez - Thomas the Train drawing board and book
Grandma Fox - money
Mommy & Daddy - scissors, tape, construction paper, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, pom pom balls, glue sticks, paint, and glitter glue (No glitter party this year, but at least we did glitter glue!)

Daniel's 4th Birthday Party

We had Daniel's birthday party last weekend, September 1st.  This was the first year we've done it at our house, and though we only invited a few families, it turned out to be a big celebration!  There were 14 adults, 7 "big" kids, and 4 babies there! 

We had planned to do a wild animal themed party, but a few days before the party, I showed a picture of the proposed lion cake to Daniel, and he got the saddest look on his face.  When I asked him what was wrong, he said, "I don't want to do an animal party!"  So, since we hadn't actually done a whole lot of planning (nothing like the last minute!), we switched everything to a "cars" theme.  We attempted to play red light/green light and one other musical chairs type game, but only the few biggest kids could understand, so we gave up.  The kids ran around the yard, playing in the sprinkler, throwing water balloons, jumping in the inflatable pool, and playing on the water-filled tarp.  They also loved having David pull them around in the wagon!  Overall, I think it was a success.  Daniel seemed happy, and that's what matters most at a birthday party!  He loved his cake and is excited to turn four in a few days!  He doesn't understand that there won't be another party on his actual birthday, and we'll see how that turns out!

Just so I can remember twenty years from now.......

In attendance were:

Abuelo & Abuela - Crazy Creatures gears toy
Uncle Luis - car racetrack

RJ, Wendy, Riley, Aubrey, Lily, and Maddie Calvo- play-doh kitchen set

Stephen, Lindi, and Vaughn Berry - Brown Bear What Do You See books and game

Raymond, Tina, Noah, Christian, and Wyatt - board book kit and Batman truck

Jackie and Linda - take apart ATV kit with tools

Kenia and Lila - board tool kit

 David with Vaughn, Wyatt, Riley, and Daniel

Noah, Lila, Vaughn, Wyatt, Riley, and Daniel 

 Daniel with his birthday cake

Riley, Vaughn, Lindi, Stephen, Christian, Wyatt, and Daniel