Noelle, naturally, is first in this post. I could list her recent learning accomplishments, but nothing sticks out as exceptional at the moment. She continues to work on reading and gets easily frustrated when she can't figure out a word and wants to be done with the lesson. The magna-doodle has become a daily tool used in spelling and holds her attention for long periods of time as she asks to me to spell words and she writes them. Noelle refuses to sound out words because she doesn't like to get them wrong, she has to have the right spelling. She has mastered the computer, including Google when she wants to look up something (as I closely supervise). She loves our phones and can easily find and download appropriate apps for herself. Many times I have found her on the computer at youtube.com typing in "tractors" for Max to watch. This generation is just good with technology! Some days she surprises us and picks up our quick "parent spelling" which frequently includes things we don't want her knowing about. Telling time is something she is doing very well with, which makes it impossible to trick her in to an early bedtime.
Preschool is something I'm still up in the air about. She begs us not to take her and finding something that will work with our schedule of an upcoming baby and my inability to drive for a bit seems to be difficult. 8am seems so early to get four children loaded up for and then the afternoon session falls right is the midst of nap time for at least one, and probably two, and maybe even 3 children. Waking two or possibly three children a few times a week is something I'm not about to do! I think it would be good for her from the social aspect of things but I don't' feel as though she would be behind if she didn't go. Time will tell what we decide and work out.
Maximilain comes next in the order. His difficult nature baffles us on a daily basis. There are hours upon hours that I deal with nothing but screaming, crying, hitting, throwing, and cruel behavior. That being said, his sweet side is exceptionally sweet. He quickly is by any one's side that is injured and starts to belt out a lullaby to help ease the pain. When I'm down he looks at me with his big brown eyes and heavenly eye lashes and always says, "I will give you a kiss to make you happy!". He leans right in and plants a big juicy one on me. If I flat out ask for a kiss chances are I will not receive one. His speech is remarkable for his age and it impresses me daily. He grasps concepts well and seems more like a little boy opposed to a two year old.
Last week we used the concept of the Fuffa Fairy to rid him of his pacifier. It was been a good process for the most part. He still asks for it on occasion but we ignore the request and he's fine. I did overhear him telling Noelle the following day, "that damn fairy took all my fuffa's". He did get some cool presents from the fairy and that has aided in the transition.
Max is picking up on things as I go over them with Noelle. He can spell his name, Max not Maximilian, and we are working on his address which he can get the road and city most of the time right. A lot of times he is not willing to share his knowledge and makes me work at getting him to repeat things, but that is just a typical side of him. He knows how to count up to 20 (it could be more because he is always counting with Noelle), but when I ask him to count he gets an evil grin on his face and mixes up the numbers to be difficult. I can usually get him to repeat things while something else is distracting him. His technology skills are not that good, as he uses his giant (they are quite a bit bigger than Noelle's) hands to pound things for the fun of it! 
Potty training is going well most days. He seems to think it' funny to pee on things, including my bed sheets, because I get upset with him. His aim is horrible but I have become accustomed to wiping up urine after each time he goes. Again, he giggles when it goes outside of the toilet, anything he can do to make life a bit more challenging for me, he will. Going number 2 in the toilet has been a big challenge, he has done it a few times but lately refuses to. We will keep encouraging him and I'm sure it will eventually happen.
He seems to have inherited his Daddy's love for sports. We have noticed this awhile ago, and as the weather warms up his love of kicking, throwing and hitting balls continues to grow. Max also loves to whip balls inside the house and frequently hits his sisters or me! He is very coordinated, sometimes more so than Noelle, with kicking and batting of balls. We are thinking a trip to a baseball game this summer is in store for the family.
Violette Adelle, our smiling sweetheart comes next. She still isn't walking, but continues to grow closer. We still catch her favoring her broken leg, this seems to be less frequent. Although she is not walking her social skills are definitely flourishing. She uses a lot of baby sign, and does it well. She was a quick study, similar to Noelle and Max, a few times of repetition and she had it down. The same goes for body parts, we went over them for a few days and she had them down pat. We are now focusing on animal sounds and she has picked up a few to date. 
Three days ago Violette hit a big milestone and stopped nursing. I had weaned her down to once a day, right before bed, but she has decided that she doesn't want it anymore! It is always hard on me, and I feel very emotional whenever one of my children stops nursing. Violette is drinking milk at every meal and eating whatever her siblings eat. Her favorite foods are french toast sticks, Marconi and cheese, and hot dogs! Every morsel of food that enters her mouth is followed but a little nod and an adorable "mmmmm". Her favorite time to eat is whenever she's not in her booster seat. As soon as you set her free she is by whomever has food to give her.
She is sweet as pie, but has a little devilish side to her. When manhandled by either of her siblings she screams out and I have witnessed her hit Max a few times after he ripped a toy from her little chubby hands. She will grow up learning that when the time comes she has to make herself known and not to take the bullying of her older siblings. 
Vi now has six teeth. Two on the bottom and four on the top, two that are just barely poking through. Her hair is growing, but is still very fine. We have noticed the back seems to be getting more curly as the months pass. I cross my fingers and hope for some bouncy curls throughout her head. 
Books are her big love right now. She enjoys reading and brings books to me all the time and signs book (which seems like clapping) and more. Only board books can be allowed in our laps because her little hands rip and tear the pages as she tries to help us turn them. The books with touch and feel seem to be her favorite.
Baby number four is growing well. He/she has reached the end of the first trimester. I have a placenta previa, which just means the placenta is in front of the birth canal. This makes for some unpleasant side effects, including me being told to take it easy. The doctor mentioned that taking the kids for a walk wasn't even a good idea. They fully expect the placenta to move as the baby grows, so it's just a matter of time. I am doing my best to relax and make sure this baby continues to grow on track.
We are still undecided about finding out the sex. Tom would like to, but I think a delivery surprise would be wonderful. An idea that did strike me was having the doctor write down the sex and we open it as a family. We fully expect this to be the final addition to our Roehrig family so either way we are trying to enjoy every moment and marvel in the wonders of having another baby.
That's a bit of an update on the children. They all are flourishing and keeping us busy on a daily basis!
1 comment:
What amazing, intelligent children you have Natalie. I am constantly amazed at the time you find to work with each one on a daily basis. You are Super Mom!
Post a Comment