Leah, Emma and Claire (and Jen and John)

We are all settling into the new routine. It still seems very busy but it is manageable and so far things are running smoothly. Hats off to those of you that do this 5 days a week.

Work is going really well. I still haven’t got over the novelty of having 8 hours to myself. Having to concentrate on something is actually enjoyable and then getting paid is a bonus. Going into the office that first week was pretty tiring. I picked a great week to start with company massage day and company lunch falling on the days I was in. Sitting in a massage chair at work gave me plenty of time to reflect on just how different life is in downtown Toronto. One day a week is definitely enough for me. Last week I hit company bagel breakfast day. I forgot how enjoyable eating is when you’re at work. Again, I’m glad I’m at home away from temptation for most of the week!

All three girls are adjusting really well to daycare. I have worked everything so that the girls still go to preschool 3 days a week. Claire is there 3 full days and from all reports is happy, but not eating or napping much. Nothing shocking there although it is nice to have someone who understands my frustration. There are 2 other little girls there part time who are around Claire’s age which is really nice.

Emma and Leah are doing well. They are growing up before our eyes and ready for school. We are probably going to keep them in preschool this summer just to keep things smooth for September. Emma has been quite defiant lately and she can be a challenge. She’s picked up some nasty habits like flat out refusing to do things and saying she won’t when you press her, sticking her tongue out at us, and the topper - saying na na na na boo boo. Man it’s grating. We are on top of it but it is very challenging to not lose my temper sometimes. It’s also nice to see that she can push my buttons when I thought no one would ever reach Leah status. Leah is happy go lucky these days. She is still highly emotional but now she just says she’s upset, or frustrated, or sad. She’s on top of all her emotions and she keeps us all informed. It’s hard not to laugh when she says things like “This is terrible. I’m upset at you.” Thankfully her happy times are just as intense.

They are fighting more these days like friends rather than siblings and I suspect some of it is stuff they pick up from school. One of them saying that they are bigger can send the other into a state of disaster or start them screaming that no, they are bigger. Again it is grating. They are also very kind to each other and Claire. They genuinely do things now to make the other one happy like sharing clothes. Even Leah gives up her favourite things and lets Emma borrow them.

Emma’s dress and hair obsession has reached a new high. Every day she tries to weasle her way into a dress. It kills me. I don’t understand how she doesn’t see that she looks way cuter in jeans and a sweatshirt. For the most part we are indulging her but I am going to have to start being more selective about what makes its way into her closet. Sorry Emma - you outgrew all the dresses…

We are now fully entrenched in the Disney vault and their imaginations have been captivated. They are always role playing and making up stories. Claire is always included either as Lucifer from Cinderella or Flounder from The Little Mermaid. I’m pretty sure she actually responds to both names. The old Disney movies are interesting. It amazes me how a movie like Bambi, which is mostly music, ever captivated children. It is a pretty telling sign of how far thngs have progressed (or maybe regressed). Yeah, not a big fan of Disney. Oh I almost forgot, the girls now want to go to Cinderella’s castle. They’ve told me it’s in Florida near Granny and Grandpa’s house. Maybe in a few years.

Until next time,
Evil Stepmother

Hair:
Getting longer at the back. Now that we are outside in the sun you can really see the red still.

Teeth:
She added two top molars this month. Now when she smiles you notice the gum spaces rather than the teeth.

Sleep:
We are still making progress. We are consistently at one bottle in the night now and we had three consecutive nights of no bottles which was exciting. The bottle warmer we were using broke over Easter so she now gets cold milk. She drinks much less now.

We had no 2 hour night parties this month which was really nice. She is consistently getting up before 7 now but that makes getting her fed and ready more relaxing in the mornings.

She had three weeks of not having to drive her sisters to school and she napped much better. Without sisters she would nap after lunch. She is still an extremely light napper which causes me all sorts of frustration with Leah and Emma and trying to make them be quiet.

Getting Around:
She can now bend down with ease and is much more balanced. She likes to dance and walk around in circles. She also likes to run away when she knows it’s time to get her shoes or coat on. We have spent some time outside over the past week and I think it’s going to be a challenging summer. The backyard is not level and I think it will take awhile for her to master the slopes that all end in the fence. She definitely can’t roam free yet.

Yesterday she managed to get on the couch for the first time. She stood right up and started jumping on the back. I think her sisters had a breakthrough moment about Claire doing stuff she sees them doing and why I tell them to knock it off. She also likes stairs and the few times I have tested her she has turned around and tried to go down on her stomach (an improvement from just walking down them…).

Things she’s saying:
A week with just Claire and we realized how much she can actually say. And it’s not like the girls talk for her, She’s just so involved in keeping up with them that she doesn’t have time to talk. She’s also started saying NOOO NOOO NOOO when she’s upset and tonight she said NO MOMMY NO NO NO MOMMY when I put her in the stroller to leave the park. She can also say cookie, thank you (dank q), shoe, cheese and nose. She will repeat the first few letters of the alphabet if you sing them to her one by one.

Eating:
She is doing really well this month. She has her favourites (bread, cheese, yogurt, sweet potatoes) but she is more and more willing to try new things. She eats up fruit no problem which is nice. Some days she does really well and some days she throws everything on the floor.

I am trying really hard to get her on a cup but she refuses to drink out of a straw cup. She can get the milk/water into her mouth but then she lets it dribble out of her mouth rather than drinking it. She has one of those nuby straw cups and she does a little better with that one. Standard sippy cups also get dribbled. She’s being a monkey. I haven’t pushed too hard since I knew I was going back to work. We will have to get tougher soon.

Stats:
She had her shots yesterday. She was just over 21lbs and just over 29inches. She really enjoyed the waiting room and danced and went around the room smiling at everyone. As soon as we were in the room she started screaming and then she turned it up a notch for the doctor and then went crazy when she got the needles. She recovered though. Leah and Emma were with us getting a preview of what’s in store for them at 4 years. There’s been a lot of talk about needles this week.

Fun things she’s doing this month
-actively colouring which involves taking the lids off the marker, scribbling, giggling at herself,and putting the lid back on and choosing a new marker
-stealing the keys and trying to get the key in the door
-trying her best to open the basement door (she’s tall enough now)
-talking on the phone rather than just trying to press all the buttons
-Silly smile. I have to get this on video. She scunches up her face in a silly smile and you can’t help but laugh.
-Trying to dress herself.
-putting John’s gloves on
-putting our shoes on
-bringing me stuff from the drawer

Personality:
She’s still pretty easy going although we do see her temper now and then. She’s done well so far at adjusting to being in someone else’s care 3 days a week but we’re only 2 days in so we’ll see how she does this month. She is a funny little girl and she has a good sense of humour if that is possible at 15 months. She’s just silly and funny and she definitely knows it.

She had a week without her sisters this month and I think they missed her more than she missed them. She was much more needy to us that week. When they came home she squealed and let them hug and kiss her and it was pretty cute.

That’s all I can think of. I have to take some pictures!

I almost forgot - Claire’s 15 month day was extra special because our friends Coby and Carrie’s son Spencer was born. Those Lamarche boys better not be trouble in 15 years