Public Service Announcements for the Children of Arkansas

I know several Arkansas parents and grandparents read this, so I wanted to pass along two things.

First: The Arkansas Breastfeedling Coalition is looking for support of a bill coming before the state legislature that would protect the right of moms who are feeding their babies. Click the link to find out more info and how to contact your representative.

Second: In an effort to bring a much-needed dose of fun to young patients, Colgate-Palmolive and Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation are asking people across the country to vote for hospitals currently on a waiting list for "Fun Centers," mobile entertainment units that kids can nationwide to receive a brand new Fun Center. Each Fun Center will be equipped with a
flat screen monitor, DVD player and Nintendo game system, transforming hospital time into playtime. The national online vote kicks off, January 26th, and runs through March 31st. The five hospitals with the most votes will receive a surprise Fun Center delivered to their pediatric facility.
AR Childrens Hospital can be found in the "south" region. You may vote as many times as you wish.

Rock Island Dining Car

The weather didn't allow me to get a shot of Micah at the dining car during his birthday party, so a month later and here ya go!

Gabi & Grams

This is letter "R" week at the preschool and the teachers invited parents or grandparents to come read books to the class. But the kicker is that it had to be a surprise and we couldn't tell the kids that anyone was coming. Well, Gabi won't admit to it now, but she was quite surprised when she opened her eyes at circle time and saw her Gramma there to read to her. Grams read a book titled The Doorbell Rang about how no one makes cookies like Grandma, and just like the Grandma in the book, she brought a tray of chocolate chip cookies to share with Gabi and her friends.


And I stuck this last pic in just cause it's cute~

Micah's future's so bright....

that he's got to wear shades!

Q is for Quilt

Gabi's Show-and-Tell this week was her baby quilt that Great Grandma Violet made.

Are Goatees Genetic?

Or maybe they've just inherited my fondness for chocolate.

Blake wants to clarify that his facial hair is technically termed a "doorknocker," not a goatee. This is proof that a person can learn too much from Google.

(My Disclaimer: Blake took these and he hasn't used the camera nearly as much as me so no blame for the fuzzy focus! they were still too cute not to blog!)

Happy Valentines Day

Our doorbell rang today with a special Valentines delivery! Gabi's friend, Evan, brought her candy, a flower that plays music, and a heart-shaped balloon. Now, ladies, don't be jealous of our not-quite 5 year old! LOL. Gabi and Evan plan to get married when they grow up and live in Branson, in houses next door to each other.


Gabi was very nice to share her Smarties with Micah.

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Micah wants to show you his Diesel 10

Pajamarama

Since there were 2 snow days last week, the preschool did a do-over with the letter "P." So, Gabi got to have pajamarama yesterday. They had so much fun playing in their PJs and slippers, and eating pancakes for snack. Gabi even wore her robe for a coat.

Dance Prodigy

At dance class this morning, Gabi's teacher asked me to hang around so she could talk to me a minute. It seems she feels Gabi isn't really being challenged in her preschool class, and she wants us to let Gabi try the Kindergarten/1st grade class on Tuesday nights. But- since the Wednesday class' dance recital number is already choereographed with Gabi as the leader, Gabi will still attend the morning preschoolers class as well. We aren't sure yet if this will mean she'll be in 2 numbers at the recital.... we'll wait and see how she does in this class. Gabi is really excited about it. And the teacher is going to let her take both classes for the price of one! Wooo hooo. The teachers exact words when talking about Gabi were, "I can just tell dance is her life." LOL.

Good thing Ms Sarah (dance teacher) hasn't seen Gabi's goofy dancing to the Sesame Street Dance ALong video or she might change her mind! Notice that the camera-shy Micah sits down immediately when he notices I am videoing him in the second one.

We got a new dishwasher!!!!!!!!!

Do a happy dance and burn the dishwashing gloves! Saturday two nice church members installed a new dishwasher in the parsonage! It has no broken tines to scratch my pots and pans! You can sleep through the cycle! You can time-delay the washing! My gigantic crockpot fits in it -- and comes out clean!!

I wish I'd taken a picture while they were putting it in. Gabi lined up several dolls and stuffed animals to be the audience for the dishwasher-installation show. Thankfully, Ken & John were only slightly freaked out by being watched by beady little doll eyes. Then Micah & Gabi got out their tool kit toys and pretended to fix a dishwasher under the kitchen table. They thought "Mr. Ken" and "Mr. John" were the true Handy Manny. (Handy Manny is a TV show about a handy man on Playhouse Disney.)

Big Boy Booster Seat

Ever since Micah's birthday party, he decided he was big. Or as he says, "I beeeeeeeeeg!" So, he won't sit in his high chair anymore. If it's suggested to him, he says, "No, I beeeeeeeg. me beeeeeg seat." So, since Mr. I-think-I'm-Big can't see over the top of his oatmeal bowl sitting in the regular chair, I ordered him this nifty booster. He tolerates it b/c he can see what he's eating and it has no seat belt.

Giddy Up, Zebra!

Micah always has to wear his Cowboy hat when he rides his zebra. And whenever it is someone else's turn, like Gabi or Harriet, he passes the hat off.

Cat Cuddle

Thought it had been a while since you'd seen the 2Kats.... here are Tipper and MacKenzie cuddled up on the bed in Micah's room.

Micah's 2 year check-up!

Micah saw the pediatrician in Conway for his 2 year old check-up today.

He weighed 25 pounds, 6 ounces, which puts him at the 20th percentile (meaning he is heavier than 20 % of the kids his age.) this is pretty steady for his growth cruve. His head circumference was also steadily in the 15-20th percentile as it has been.

The shocker was the height... the nurse measured him at 35 inches tall which is the 55-60th percentile! Uhmmmm...... huh!? He's always been 15-20th for height. The doc said the nurse may have stretched him a bit as she measured him laying down or we may have just caught him at the end of a growth spurt. I looked down then and noticed how much of his socks I could see between his shoes and the hem of his pants and thought it's probably a combination of the two. LOL. I'll break out the yard stick and see if i can get my own measurement later.

On his language development.... the doc said to keep working with him on his talking, but that he was in the completely normal range for second child who is a boy. (Meaning-- he doesn't talk a lot but can communicate his needs just fine when he has to. It is hard to get a word in edge-wise around Gabi, as you all know.) The ped was not concerned as he is continuing to progress and learn new words and longer phrases and sentences all the time. It is slow but steady progress.

The only thing that bothered me (but not the ped)-- is his tubes are falling out of his ears!!! He said they are just dangling from the ear drum, and will fall out anytime now. But- Micah has the remnants of a cold now and the doc said even though the tubes are no longer functioning, his ear drum looked clear and dry. So I guess that's OK. I realllllllly wanted them to make it through the spring. He has his every 6 months tube check w/ the ENT in 2 weeks, so we'll see what Dr Shaw says then.

And he got his 2nd booster of the Hep A vaccine and is done with shots (except his flu shots of course) until he is 4 and has to get his kindergarten boosters! YAY!!!

Gabi as Violet Incredible

We watched The Incredibles this afternoon so Gabi had to dress up as Violet. I'm pretty proud of the costume I whipped up lickety split. She had lots of fun.

Here's what the real Violet looks like, when she isn't invisible, in case you haven't seen the movie. You should watch it if you haven't; it is very entertaining!




I'm not sure if Micah is being Dash or Jack-Jack, but he had to get in on the action. Notice he's pointing his fingers up to be just like Gabi.

Snow Day!

School was cancelled, the office was closed.... it was an official snow day! Here you can see the snow out the window over Gabi's shoulder. She stayed her PJs a while today b/c it was supposed to have been PajamaRama at school today and so we pajamaramaed at home instead.


If you want to see the snowman we made, the look close b/c it's small, and look quick b/c it's about to get stomped by Abominable Snowman Stomper (Micah).

I had to run right after I clicked this one b/c Gabi nailed me with a snowball.


She thinks she's so cool. Cold is more like it!