It is hard for me to swallow the rather large pills that a. I have 3 kids and b. Two of them are 6 (gasp!) and 3 (double gasp!!). That just seems impossible! I feel like yesterday I was pregnant with Ivy and having the jitters of being a first time mom and then with fast forward on the highest speed I am here with my current situation.... first grade, preschool, and a newborn. Life moves crazy quick. This week Ivy and Tula had their annual check ups and again I left thanking God for the blessings of healthy children. I know health is something never to take for granted and I wake up everyday thankful for that. So here we are checking in at 6 and 3!
Ivy Camille
Height: 45 inches (38%)
Weight: 39.4 lbs (15%)
Ivy's stats have remained in the same percentile since birth. She has always been close to average height and on the skinny side. I always look at her and see long legs something that I don't think I have ever had! I predict Ivy to be quite a bit taller than me and that maybe she will even see eye to eye with her Daddy as she gets older. I pray that she will always be confident in the way her body is built as I know body image is something that lots of young girls struggle with. I try to address the differences of people's bodies now as she notices people that are taller and shorter than her. We talk about being healthy and how God made us all so different and we need to be comfortable with how he designed each and everyone of us.
Ivy is loving 1st grade! I have been so excited to see how the soaking it all in like a sponge has continued to occur with reading. She loves reading and is really starting to see herself as a reader always proud to declare- "Hey, that says _____!" It makes my teacher heart so happy! She is also excited about spelling tests. She tends to be a little schedule oriented and strict with herself about studying her words- which I have to appreciate because I know there will be a day (perhaps with another one of my less scheduled children- wink!) that I have to really "enforce" school habits. I am enjoying having a 6 year old- who on most days is a big help at home!
Tula Belle
Height: 35 1/4 inches (10%)
Weight: 24.4 lbs (1%)
Well, our little munchkin really did grow.... 3 1/2 inches and 3 lbs in a year but that just wasn't enough to put her on an average-ish growth curve. Tula is still extremely petite but not a concern to the doctors. She has always been at the 10% or below in height and weight so this is a healthy area for her to stay in. I believe Tula has a lot of my mom's family's genetics and they are all VERY small people..... who talk a lot! :) We are trying to make sure Tula hears conversations about how God makes us all different shapes and sizes and it is okay to be smaller than your friends or taller than your friends but this little fire cracker feels BIG and doesn't notice that she is the peanut of her peers. She has quite the personality to match her "fun-size" God-given packaging!
Tula is continuing to be in the 3 year old room at Wilmore Daycare 3 days a week while I am on maternity leave. She loves her friends and is always excited to go to school. She also loves her teacher even on days when Ms. Kim "is bossy" to Tula. Tula's "leadership" skills are being spotted early on when she is often recognized on her daily check sheet as being friendly, talkative, helpful, and wait for it.... bossy! Shocker! She is really busy and hasn't cared to take time to learn her ABC's (she can make it to Q) but does like to count and can make it to 20, if she isn't distracted by something else. But right now she wants to learn to spell after hearing Ivy practice her words. She can spell Tula and Ivy and is always asking for help spelling other words. Tula likes to walk the line in saying inappropriate things (potty words) and is way too brave (jumping from things, sticking her hand in "snake holes") so we were not surprised at her latest spelling request, "Teach me how to spell a bad word!" Ummmm.... no! We are already praying for how to mold our spunky little Tula as she grows up.
After our doctor visit I just kept thanking God for the gift of my children. It may be the hormones but I have gotten teary just thinking about this gift and talking about the pressure of it with Greg. It is huge to be a parent! I feel so blessed to call them mine and that He trusts us to raise them. I pray that we are able to do this and do it well. I know I will make mistakes and I will apologize, accept His grace and the grace of my children, and I will move on and try again. This morning I am feeling blessed to be the mom to a big 6 year old and 3 year old.... and a little sleeping baby!
