Kenan: Spring and Early Summer

Kenan finished his kindergarten year off with flying colors.  He ended up scoring above average in all areas he tested in and I could see dramatic growth from the beginning of the year to the end.  He is already excited about first grade because he gets a locker.  This spring Kenan played baseball for the first time and had fun.  I think he enjoyed it much better than soccer and it helped that Nick didn't coach.  I think as he gets more mature Nick will be able to coach his team again, but for right now we shall continue to see how he does.  I think he liked baseball better because it is less agressive.  His team was about average and won about as many as they lost.  Kenan was definitely not the best on the team, but luckily not the worst either.  I was surprised with what he could do since we really haven't worked with him a lot yet.  He even got the game ball after he hit the winning run one time.  He was so excited about that.  Baseball ended at the beginning of June just in time to start tennis lessons at North.  I played tennis and think it is a great lifetime sport to know and plan on teaching all of the kids.  The midwest tennis association has started a youth tennis program here that is a really good deal and we decided to enroll Kenan in it.  I think he enjoyed this as well and looks forward to next summer where he will be in the older kids class.

As summer has arrived in full force, we have spent a good deal of time swimming.  My mom has a pool that we enjoy and we also visit places like the Lincoln-Rochelle pool, the splash park, friends houses, etc.  Kenan is becoming a proficient swimmer for not having actual lessons and I see him progressing every day.  He loves the water and could swim for hours.  We went to a picnic at New Beginnings for ECLC and he dove off of the diving board for the first time as well as went off of the high dive.  We are working on the front crawl, the breast stroke, and the back stroke.  I haven't gotten to the butterfly, and since I hate that stroke it may be awhile before we do.

Kids dash at the Scott/Oakhill family fun run. He is trying to catch up in the back there.

Up to bat

Getting his trophy

Field day/as head room parent I had to wash all of the tye dye shirts for the class

It was a fun day for him because it was his birthday also.

Hitting with the coach

Look at that air

His first time and look at the height of that board

Working on his backstroke

2nd Annual Birthday Camping Trip

Last year we decided to go camping as a family with Uncle Gary and Aunt Tina to celebrate Gary and Kenan's birthdays since they are two days apart.  They like to go to Lincoln State Park, so we just tagged along.  That was our first weekend camping as a family, and even though I was 33 weeks prego we had enough fun to make it a tradition.  We headed up on Friday night and stayed until Sunday after lunch.  The weather was great even though a bit warm.  Tina's parents camped with us and Mike and Pam came up for the evening on Saturday.  I never thought we would be a camping family, but the boys love it and we may even look at getting a tent so we don't have to keep borrowing Tina and Gary's.  The only downfall to the weekend was our site.  Although it was a large one and nice for a large group, it had the least amount of shade.  During the day, those at the campsite spent their time rotating around to stay in the small amount of shade there was since it was a warm weekend.  Luckily by afternoon it was covered better and we could enjoy the evenings.

Setting up camp

Touching a snake during the creepy crawly program



Tough Stuff

Easton was worn out and Kenan enoyed a massive slice of watermelon.

Gary and Tina

Tina's parents

First paddleboat ride

Enjoying our time before dinner

Langston 11 months

     This month has been a big one for Langston.  Development-wise she has made many strides.  The first and most significant is crawling.  Shortly after the last post she begin crawling (or her form of crawling) all over the place.  She crawls with one knee and one foot.  I think she believes she gets more push forward that way.  It is cute to watch.  The first time she came down the hall to the back where we all were was fun to see.  The problem is that she is into everything now.  Also her mood has been affected some since crawling has begun.  Where before she was the happiest girl, so content to sit and play for hours, now she can get irritated and upset easier.  This comes from crawling to toys she wants (the boy's toys mostly)and then getting them taken from her.  Ensuing in tears because she wanted that toy and worked hard to get to it and now she doesn't get to play with it.  Personality has is starting to come out.  I swear she can already say her version of "mine." Also, baby proofing has become a full-time job again because she puts everything in her mouth.  We were spoiled because Easton didn't do that, and we forgot how much can go in the mouth.  She is not walking by herself at all yet, but she can pull herself up on things and walk slowly while holding someone's hands.  I am in no hurry though.

      Food:  She is eating all three meals now and pretty much any food.  I still try and keep fruit and vegetables as the main parts of the meal, but she can eat most of what we eat minus some of the meat.  The only meat so far is fish because of the soft texture.  She is not too picky with her food and prefers to pick it up and feed herself versus me feeding her.  She still nurses 5 times a day, although her last month of the first year(next month) I will go to 4 times.  After a year I will slowly drop feedings, but plan to nurse until at least 15 months.

      Sleep: Langston sleeps around 10 hours at night and two naps a day usually.  If she only gets one nap it is a long early afternoon nap.  Her total sleep for the day is probably 13-14 hours.  One of her new things with sleep is pulling herself up at the end of the bed in the morning or the middle of the night when she wakes up.  This poses a problem because she will just stand there and cry which can keep her from falling back asleep if it is not time to get up.  Hopefully she learns to sit back down soon.

      Speech:  Words that she tries to say are mom, ball, and mine.  There have been a few da das, but Nick doesn't think they are real yet.  She has also pointed at something she wants a couple of times.  It is funny to see her and her cousin Navy try and talk to each other.

      This month Langston has gotten to start swimming in my mom's pool.  She loves the water and we can tell we have another water baby on our hands.  I am glad because I love the water as well.  She has also started to try and wave, give high fives, and lean in for kisses.

 Notice all of the water pictures already this summer

Anticipating the flash

Daddy clean shaven