Family Update

Nicholas turned 5 earlier this month... his 5 year check-up was fairly uneventful. Do you still post stats for a 5-year-old? Well, I'm going to because I love it! He is 45 inches tall and weighs 49 pounds. He's in the 90-95%ile for both... as usual. We did find out that he has a hernia (since birth, undetected previously) that needed repairing. On Monday, January 18th, he had surgery to repair it and is now back to his "normal" self. Nicholas still loves his brother more than almost anything. They play together all the time, especially "chase" around the house. Sometimes they will find a string, cord, belt, etc. and each hold and end and run around the house. We do have problems with toy sharing... Matthew wants all the cool Nicholas toys, Nicholas doesn't always want to share. He is a great big brother though, encouraging him in many ways including speech. He coaches Matthew on how to say words and phrases, Matthew often complies. Nicholas still enjoys his "workbooks", especially BrainQuest (we were finally able to find Grade 1 at CostCo last week). He spends hours a day reading, his favorite books right now are Frog & Toad, Magic School Bus (chapter books, he'll tell you), and anything to do with what he's learning at school (Polar Bears and hibernation right now). He is pretty "bored" at home though... school days are fun-filled days. Nicholas enjoys "doing crafts" with me and cooking anything and everything in the kitchen. We often make banana bread, coffee cake, or just dinner! He's a great helper in all ways. Nicholas is still a stubborn kiddo... he definitely wants everything just his way and is rarely willing to compromise. This is difficult to manage at times, but we know stubbornness isn't all negative. He loves playing board and card games, his favorites being clue, Yatzee, Guess Who, Crazy Old Fish War, Monopoly, or any other game in our closet.
Matthew is 19 months old and still into everything! He is our little tornado, making messes everywhere! His new, funny "thing" is carrying around items. Now this changes daily, sometimes hourly. It usually involves monkey, but other items dragged around include a (play) saw, a broom, small watering can, books, phone, someone's shoes, the popper, small gladware containers, and so much more. Matthew gets so frustrated that he can't carry them all at once!!! He also slept with several of these items... I just can't explain why he must sleep with a monkey & a saw. Odd. Matthew is still quite a little eater. I think he ate his lunch today in 5 minutes flat. It may have been the plethora of fruits and veggies on the plate today (green beans, carrots, bananas, grapes, blueberries). Matthew just loves to eat! There is hardly a word Matthew won't trying to say... he's even started putting words together (pretty basic though). Ownership of objects is very important to Matthew. He will walk around the house and show me an object & tell me who is belongs to. It is a fun game that takes hours. Matthew is in love with Dora (DuhDuh) and Elmo (high-pitched "hahahaha"). He is a fun kiddo, becoming fiercely independent, frustrated by his limits.
Jason is still enjoying his job at Dell. It is challenging yet interesting at the same time. I think the weather we are having right now makes it hard for Jason... it is 75 degrees outside today and he is missing someone to golf with! The weather is unbelievable for January! We have a "date night" Saturday night thanks to the MOMS Club & Babysitting Co-op! Not sure yet what our big plans are... but I'm sure it will be fun! I am insane. I could just leave it at that and most people would agree, but I won't. I am (stupidly) running a half marathon on Sunday morning. Some people might start with a 5K or 10K. I've never done either. If I don't require hospitalization after Sunday, I will post and let you know how it went.
Still missing KC a bit... especially this week when I just wanted to call _______ to see if they wanted to watch Matthew or just come sit with me or go out to dinner the night before surgery. It's also hard knowing that baby (toddler?) schedules are aligning at this age, playdates would be easier, we are more portable than we were last May. Missing my friends. Missing time together. Wishing you were here to enjoy the beautiful weather with us. Lots of Love.