caught!

Thomas shares with most four-year-old boys (I assume) an uncontrollable impulse to jump: on the bed, off the bed, from the coffee table onto the couch, on the couch, and just about anywhere else that seems promising. Also like his peer group, falls and bumped heads (or knees) are of no use as a deterrent.

So, here he is, doing what he loves to do. Thank goodness the weather is turning, and we can spend more time outside. Less jumping, more bike riding: at least when he's on the bike, he wears his helmet!

Iain gets a duck

Just watch the video.

where's Iain?

The voice you hear is our practically-professional-photographer-babysitter, Catherine. Iain loves to play hide-and-seek (usually he wants me to hide) and peepo or peek-a-boo (depending on who his playmate is). Winter hasn't let go yet, but the days are more conducive for playing outside more frequently, and that's what the children all love to do. Lewis is already grilling, and wants to open the pool soon. First, however, he has to take down the Christmas lights!

Anna's big potty success this morning was doing the whole procedure on her own: Thomas came running down the hall enthusiastically shouting "Anna peed in the potty!" What an announcement! I can't count the number of times over the past 3 1/2 years that I have answered inquiries about potty training Anna with the remark that when Anna is ready, she'll do it. Not quickly, I am sure. But she's interested, she knows exactly what to do, and she can do it. Eventually we'll move from "training" to "trained"--in Anna's own time!

days in the sun

Not, of course, today or yesterday: though sunny, it has been cold! Three items of note and two photos: (1) Anna continues to have success with the potty, especially at school, where all her classmates cheer her every time; (2) she has a new, smaller bike, which is easier for her to ride (Santa misjudged slightly...); and (3) Thomas has a new hobby, thanks to his Uncle Nick and Aunt Carmen (I see some noisy toys in baby Nicholas's future!). If I were to get started on Iain, he would steal the show, being at that especially cute age when firsts are still the norm and words (when decipherable) are sometimes even better than pictures.

Anna jumps

Anna spotted this activity as we were en route to old navy at the local mall. All the way to the store, Anna pleaded and cried, "I want to jump!!" So on the way back out, she got her wish. I don't know when I have ever spent $5 to such great effect. She loved it, despite getting a slow start. Thomas, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with it. Maybe when I am 8 or 9, he reflected, I will be 'big enough' to jump. Still, he enjoyed watching Anna, from his safe vantage point on his daddy's shoulders!

Potty training success

Normally, I wouldn't dream of describing such things in the public domain. But one of Anna's areas of most difficulty has been potty training. She just hasn't shown any interest, and when Anna doesn't want to do something, she can be pretty stubborn. So a fight over the potty would never have worked. Tonight, however, we had an opportune moment (obvious signs of an Impending Potty-Event) to put her on the potty. I brought her favorite book on the subject, 'Sara's Potty', and Lewis read it to her. Before too long, she said, 'poot!' (Much cuter than 'poop', I think.) And so it was. Success!! But the best part was actually a few minutes later, when I was getting everyone into the tub. She resisted, and pulled away, heading for the potty. I thought it was a stalling tactic--but no! She needed to 'poot', and went to the potty entirely on her own initiative.



It has also been proved that Anna has heard all I have said about 'when you use the potty': I have promised her virtually anything she asks for. Soon after her Great Success, she looked at me and said, 'I want to watch Grinch.' She loved it more than anything over Christmas, and it took some convincing to get her to give it up in January so we could send it back to Netflix. Fortunately, our neighbors have a copy: Anna got her wish. She and her brothers got to watch 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' on the eve of St Valentine's day.



This is a big milestone for Anna, and we hope that it signals the beginning of an interest in potty training. We certainly made a Big Deal about it for her, and Thomas was as excited as we were. He is a fantastic (developmentally 'older') brother when he wants to be. Of course we are not holding our breath for a speedy move to big girl underwear: like everything else with Anna, this will take time. Probably lots of time! If only I had a photo of the pleased look she had when everyone was cheering: it was priceless. Maybe next time....

Anna scoots!

Anna and the scooter are getting on famously. Her bike is still a little big, and the scooter (given to us by our friends next door, whose daughter is exactly the same age as Anna--really, born the same day!) has been just the thing. She rides round and round the patio table as Thomas bikes the same circuit.

Unfortunately, I don't have photos of the sponge-painting extravaganza yesterday afternoon. Anna and Thomas made valentines for their classmates, using red paint and heart-shaped sponges. Needless to say, they enjoyed the project, much more than they would have liked a trip to Target for the store-bought version. Thomas did pretty well at keeping clean, but Anna's hands and face were covered with paint by the time she was done. She displayed great iniative, however, when she was ready to move on: she got down from her chair and trotted off down the hall to wash her hands. I know I'll miss certain things about the toddler & preschool years, but a little more self-sufficiency on the part of all three children will come as a great relief!