Landon's 1st year

We barely blinked our eyes and Landon is already one.  This year has been one of our busiest and thankfully we feel like we got through one of our hardest ones with a baby.  All during Landon's first year we experienced a new job, new baby, buying/renovating a home, selling a home and moving.  In true third child fashion, Landon rolled through all of it with ease.  I'm glad he finds his comfort in who he's with instead of where he is.  After we got him sleeping through the night, Landon has been a very easy baby.  And he is so much different than his sisters.  He is much more physical.  He hits and pinches like I never knew a baby could.  He throws things across the room already.  He beats on things like another drummer I know.  He also seems to eat way more than the girls did.  And he is also showing signs of being a climber.  Ah! What do I do with that???  He doesn't like to cuddle.  But does still do sweet things.  And you will occasionally fall asleep on Daddy.  (lucky duck!)

Landon is happy and always looking for a laugh.  He can entertain himself except when he wants to go hide in our play tent and then he needs someone to look for him.  I always know he's sick when he starts to not sleep well.  He won't have any other symptoms and I'll take him in and he'll have a double ear infection. 

He is cruising along furniture easily now and keeps attempting a step or two.  Selfishly I'm hoping he waits longer to walk.  I just don't like the goose eggs that come with unsteady toddlers.  He still naps twice a day but we are thinking next month we're going to try and make it only one so it works with the school schedule better.  He is wearing 18month clothes and size 4 diapers.  You have 6 teeth, (4 top and 2 bottom) but gums look like they are about to burst forth with teeth.  You interact with other people in a sweet way. Even going towards your nurses to get hugs from them. 

A few of the words we've heard him say: mama, dada, brr (for bird), caa (for car), elmo and nana (for banana).  Some of Landon's nicknames: Land-DON, Bubba, Schmookie Bop (Maggie gave him this one) and Bubs.

Head Circumference:  18.5"  (76%) - tied Maggie in this measure, Emma's was smaller

Weight: 21.5lb (53%) - beat the girls by over 4lbs! 

Height: 29.25" (27%) - beat the girls by at least .25"

We've have had fun with Landon this past year and its neat to compare how he is different from his sisters.  I know all kids are different despite gender, but you have been very different. Happy birthday Bubba. Love you little one.

 

Maggie - 4 years old

So my sweet little chubby Samoan look alike newborn is now four.   Despite her being my biggest baby at birth she seems like she is leaning towards being a little bit more petite than the other two.  But she is 'perfectly proportioned' according to our pediatrician.  It's been a joy to see Maggie grow in all ways this past year. 

I'm pretty sure her love language is one-on-one time.  Billy and I have both experienced wonderful conversations with her and gratitude beyond her years during short times away with her.  Many times she is competing to get her voice heard but when you get her alone all that goes away.  And she can relax and carry on a conversation like a champ.  I imagine this next year will be huge for her as her favorite playmate goes off to school.  I am thankful that even at 4 she still likes to cuddle and she loves to sleep in.  (a girl after my own heart) 

Our cuddler

 Since just after Christmas, Maggie was in a dance class with her sister and it was neat to see her coming into her own there.  She was the youngest in the class (technically too young for the group) but the teacher let her join since she easily followed instructions.  And by the end she was a 'leader' in their dance at the dance recital.  She doesn't shy away from scary things but faces them head on. 

It also brings me great pride to see Maggie knowing God.  We got to see Finding Dory recently and there was a preview about a 'demi-god' Hawaiian named Maui.  It looks like a cute show, but after he announced he was a god in the preview, Maggie out of nowhere says "no you are not, there is only one true God." I don't think I was thinking about things like that at 4.  In fact, Finding Dory was Maggie's first movie theater experience.  But she wasn't that impressed.  She has seen two kids plays before and has deemed plays much better than movies.  haha!  Such a lady of the arts. 

Mrs. Shari was Maggie's teacher when she was 3

In recent months Maggie has seemed very hesitant about public bathrooms.  Anytime we go somewhere new the first question is do they have a bathroom.  Even when stopping at gas stations during road trips.  I'm sure this is common in this age group but its just the first time I've experienced it. Thankfully she lives here and not in Europe.  Ha!

Lovey is still a critical part of Maggie's life.  But she can happily leave her in her bed during the day and at home so that any risk of losing Lovey has been mitigated.  We had one night where we simply could not find her.  We had seen her in their room before bedtime but here it was 10pm and Maggie was in pieces because she couldn't find her.  Occasionally, Lovey slips down between the bed and wall but this night she was nowhere to be found.  The next morning I went up to wake the girls because we had somewhere to be and low and behold Lovey ended up appearing under Emma!  I guess Maggie has gotten into bed with her sister early on in the evening and had left her there when she returned to bed.  Emma had been sleeping when the disappearance was noticed so no one wanted to wake her up.  I had felt horrible since I think this was on Maggie's actual birthday.  I was happy but also a little sad when Lovey reappeared.  :-)

Maggie is wearing at least size 4 things, mostly 5.  If she had her way, she'd wear church dresses everyday.   Still wearing a size 9.5 shoe.  (She loves shoes) Favorite food is pizza and favorite fruit is banana.  She writes mostly with her right hand but still uses her left every now and then too.  She says she wants to be a Dance Teacher when she grows up.  Her favorite movie is the Pirate Fairy and she loves any and all books!

Height:  39.75"  (50%)

Weight:  34lb  (41%)

I can hardly believe this little one will be in school in 13 months. 

Actual birthday, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 2 days before her 4th.