Dusting off the blog :)

Well, Auntie Claire is bugging me to blog and we are settled into our new house and have had internet for a few weeks...so I really have no excuse not to start blogging again.  I am overwhelmed at the thought of going back and documenting the last 8 months, but I hope to get to it soon.  Since this is the only form of a journal I keep, I better document it or the kids will get on me later in life :)

Here is an update on the kiddos:

Jadyn (6 years old)
    I am happy to report that Jadyn has finally adjusted to going to school all day and getting less sleep.  When she went back to school after the Christmas break, I was relieved to find that she is coming home and not having meltdowns at night anymore.  I am so grateful to have Jadyn back.  It has been a long 4 months of being sad because she is gone all day and then having her come home a mess.  She would just be too tired to act normally and I missed her :(
    She is loving school and loves riding the bus.  Her favorite subject at school is art class and she uses all her "free choice" time at school to make projects.  Her teacher even told her once that they had to take a break from using paper because they were using too much.  She loves to make things and is quite creative.  Her dream job has now changed from being a package delivery person to being an art teacher.
    Jadyn is such a joy and is the perfect first child.  She is obedient, helpful, and considerate to others.  Everyday she talks about her schoolmates and mentions different girls being on the "best friend" list.  When I helped at her school party at Christmas, it was nice to see that she was well-liked and kind to everyone.

Maya (3 1/2 years)
   Oh My, My.  You still keep me hopping.  Maya is my most affectionate child.  She loves to cuddle and randomly tell you that she loves you.  With Jadyn being at school, she has really stepped up in some areas and become more independent....sometimes too much so!
   She loves to play with Bennett now.  They play quite well in the playroom.  I don't even usually need to be downstairs....well, until the screaming/biting ensues :)  We are still working on the concept of helping clean-up.  I hope she catches onto this idea soon.
  So far Maya prefers to play with boys.  When I suggest inviting a friend over for a playdate, she always lists 3-4 boys names first and then I ask what about some of the girls from her primary class.  She tells me no, I like boys :)
   She is still a picky eater.  The other day she was asking me what I was making for dinner.  I said "To be determined".  She started crying and said, "but I don't want determined".  You can see how our dinners go here.  She is unwilling to try most things unless it has pasta in it and decides beforehand that she doesn't like it before tasting it.

Bennett (20 months)
    Bubby Bear is just too cute for words.  I have to try to not give into him, but he is just so cute it is hard.  He is starting to get a few more words, but I can still tell he is frustrated at not being able to communicate yet.  Luckily, the biting has pretty much stopped except for the rare occasion that Maya really pushes his buttons.  I will be getting him evaluated by Early On to see where his speech is at relative to his peers.  Then, if he has more than a 20% delay, they will come out and do speech therapy at our house.  I think he is close to opening up and being more vocal, but I would rather be proactive than wait until it is too late.
   He learns many things from Maya.  He watches her and mimics what she does.  He is now a super picky eater.  Unlike Maya who would not be phased by not getting treats/more of what she did want to eat, he throws huge tantrums.  Last night he ate his cantaloupe, but then would not anything else on his plate.  When I would not give him more cantaloupe, he threw a major fit and thrashed around in his booster seat.  Then, when I got him down, he turned on more drama and went and threw himself on the living room floor and sobbed like I just wrecked him for life.  And I thought girls were drama! 
  Even though his is super active like any boy, he is such a sweet little guy.  I can tell he will be a gentle man like his daddy.  We better watch out when he gets older....adorable and sensitive...the girls are going to be lining up :)

Here are some pictures from last Friday when we had a snow day (so excuse the pjs and crazy outfits :).  The girls had fun playing jewelry dress-up with Bennett and he was uncharacteristically more than willing!