Corinna is 1 year!

Our Baby Bubbles is growing up!  It hardly seems possible that a year has gone past since we were touching her soft newborn skin, admiring her squishy fat rolls, and nuzzling her downy fine baby hair.  I wrote about her entrance to this world here, and she's been a delight and joy in our home ever since.  

Jonathan was on his way to Germany on her birthday, so we kept it a low key affair and will really celebrate when he gets back.  She did have her first taste of cake on her birthday.  Chocolate, naturally!  On the day she arrived, one year ago, we feted with chocolate cake, so it was only fitting.  And tasty.  As an added bonus, Matthew made the cake.

 She wasn't sure at first what to think of it, and regarded it rather suspiciously. 

Then she decided it was fun to mush and squish before giving it a tiny taste. 

But when she tasted it, she was sold!

Then she attempted to lick her plate clean.  Num!

Please sir, can I have some more? 

For her gross motor skills she is now walking and even attempting to run!  She climbs stairs, ledges, and Daddies.  

She can throw, but sometimes forgets to let go of the ball at the right time.  Corinna also invented a game in which she puts her head down onto the ground like so:

and immensely enjoys it if you copy her.

For fine motor skills, the girl has a knack for opening things that ought not to be opened.  She's beginning to use a more refined pincer grasp when picking small objects up, but still often prefers to use her other fingers in addition to her index and thumb. 

Corinna babbles and says ma ma ma and da da da, but we don't think they are actual words yet.  Clearly she is understanding more of the world around her though.  When I say a word such as "Matthew" or "phone" she will direct her attention to what was named.  She also understands "No" and doesn't much like it!  Corinna loves to play peek-a-boo and to chase and be chased by her big siblings.  She bobs to music, and laughs and squeals when something pleases her.  

It is getting more difficult to hide things from Corinna.  If she catches you in the act of hiding an object away she is not fooled anymore into thinking that since it is out of sight it is therefore gone.  Oh no!  Even if she doesn't see the actual hiding space she is clever enough to start looking.  I took my phone away from her and quickly secreted it away without her seeing where.  She started ransacking my purse, my pockets and my hands looking for it.  

She is growing is so many ways.  I am really going to miss "baby" Bubbles, but I am looking forward to the antics of "toddler aka hurricane" Bubbles.

Melissa is 7!

My darling, darling girl on the morning of her 7th birthday

She received her pretty new purple dress from grandma.

Melissa loves to laugh and is a bundle of fun.  She loves to "think aloud" and share her good ideas, and she has lots of them!  Many of our conversations begin with, "What do you think about....?  That'd be a good idea, huh?"  When Melissa is happy she fills a room with her joy.  She feels life passionately and can be a ray of sunshine or a little storm-cloud, but her default mood is happy and bubbly.  

My little girl is bright, determined, and spunky.  It would be easy for her to just go along with her strong-willed big brother's ideas all the time, but she has a mind of her own and isn't afraid to express herself.  Still Melissa and Matthew can be the best of friends, and sometimes enemies, and yet they always look out for each other.  

Melissa adores being big sister to her baby sister after years of waiting and wishing.  She loves Isaac too, but as she notes, Isaac can be trouble especially when he gets into her stuff!

This year her reading has really taken off.  She is enjoying beginning chapter books like the Boxcar Children,  and The Magic Treehouse.  This from the girl who not long ago insisted she didn't like to read and really didn't see the need for it- Mom, Dad, and Matthew could just read for her!  We are thrilled that she has discovered a love of reading during the last year.  

Melissa is still a friend to everyone and includes all children when playing.  She likes people, and she expects people to like her too.  And they do!  Everywhere she goes she makes friends.  

It is hard to believe that seven years have past since we welcomed Melissa into our home.  She surprised us by arriving so quickly that the midwife wasn't even in the room!  I stood up and she was born into the welcoming hands of me, her mother.  Her proud papa was right there, hands below mine to catch if needed.  It was glorious, and very unexpected!  

Melissa a few hours old and home from the birth center

 

Family of 4 with baby Melissa!

9 on the 9th!

Matthew is growing is so many ways.  He has an insatiable curiosity about the world and many, many questions.  Many more questions than his parents have answers, in fact.  I've given him a blank notebook to write down his musings, so he can look up the answers himself and write them down.  Google is a great tool.

Matthew loves to create things with his hands.  He likes to fold origami, sew, build projects with wood and nails, make lego creations, and draw cartoons.

He is a kind big brother and looks out for his younger siblings.  If he gets a treat, he instinctively shares with his littler siblings.  Just today at the book fair he bought a book for himself, and one that he thought his sister would like.  He also delights in to teasing her though!  Matthew wrestles and tickles Isaac and puts up with a lot of the mischief Isaac causes with his stuff.  To be fair, Isaac would try the very patience of Job, and sometimes Matthew does get frustrated with him.  Matthew also dotes on his baby sister and loves to hold her.  He can't bear to hear her cry and if I don't get there first, he will pick her up and try to soothe her.  He is an gentle soul. 

Matthew is getting more independent and takes pride in doing things all by himself.  He rides his bike to and from the school which is about a mile away and he rides to his friends' houses.  He also likes to go into the store by himself and pay for things using his own money that he's earned. 

To our delight, our son is an avid reader and enjoys a broad selection of books ranging from mystery, science fiction, fantasy, science nonfiction, and general fiction.  Once he latches onto a good book, he will take and read it everywhere.  I've drawn the line at reading on the porcelain throne, however.  

Matthew is a good helper around the house and with his younger brother and sisters.  He can be a huge help and when things get crazy around the house, I know I can count on him.

It is hard to believe that nine years have passed since he made his debut.  It really doesn't seem very long ago!

This year Matthew celebrated his ninth birthday with lots of uncles. He had a blast playing with his Uncle Jeremy of course, and Uncles Chris and Brian who flew in town for the week to play with us. 

We celebrated Jonathan and Matthew's birthdays on Saturday.  We took family pictures in the park in the morning, and had world famous Round Rock donuts.  Later, Jonathan, the uncles, Matthew, and Melissa all went indoor rock wall climbing. 

While the guys + Melissa were out, Isaac, Corinna, and I stayed home to make the cake and decorate the house.  Isaac found a carton of strawberries and decided they looked tasty.  He took one or two bites out of every strawberry.  

 Fortunately Aunt Andrea and Uncle Jeremy saved the day and brought another carton of strawberries.  Thanks guys! 

The heavens opened up and it poured on that Saturday.  No one minded though, since it's been many months since this parched Texas ground had seen any rain.  In fact, I think the kids were initially puzzled by the wet stuff falling from the sky.  Not for long though.  Isaac wanted to go outside to play and Melissa changed to her swimsuit to frolic in it. 

 A nice picture...

...and a goofy picture.  Matthew kept acting silly in the pictures so I promised a goofy group shot if he'd just behave for one picture.  Matthew and Jonathan voted to have Five Guys burgers for dinner, so we did!

Matthew opening his loot.  He loved the origami calendar, hex bugs, magic kit, lego set, chemistry set, radio controlled car, air force hat, and airplane he received.  I say he did quite well!

Grandma sent Melissa some hair clips from her great Aunt Stephanie.  She immediately had to try them out- all of them! 

This year Matthew requested cheesecake.  Jonathan asked for banana cream pie on his birthday, so I didn't make any traditional birthday cakes this year. 

Hope your wishes come true, Matthew.  I am sure proud of you, my son, and look forward to many wonderful birthdays to come.

Pictures from Isaac's 3rd birthday

Isaac's Pingu cake. 

 

Opening presents

  He received all kinds of fun things from grandparents and aunts and uncles, such as a Cars activity set, water flutes, a Toy Story apron, a disk shooter, a stuffed Pingu, Penguin T-shirt, and a train table (from mom and dad).  He was so excited about each gift.  It was fun watching his little boy delight.

Perhaps his favorite gift was from his big brother:

Tic-Tacs

Melissa is 6!

Melissa turned 6 on the 6th this year.


First we had a family party on Friday the 6th.

Kind of blurry, but Melissa is giving Matthew a hug after he gave her a zhu zhu pet.  They are all the rage here, and Melissa adores them.  He spent $5 of his own money on it- which for him is a lot.

Usually I make a cake for the family party, but Melissa preferred a store bought one that she could decorate herself.  So she did!

Daddy and Isaac playing balloon games.

Isaac in his birthday suit still sporting a party hat.

The following week we held a kid party at Art Works.  It's an art studio for children and a great place to get messy and leave the mess behind!

Everyone had a great time, and no cleanup for me!