the big 3

Don't be befuddled by my late posting, Miles 3rd birthday was a momentous event. It followed close on the heels of spending a long weekend at the coast (celebrating Grandma's 60th birthday) with 30 of our favorite people (and a hot tub ... and SAND!). You might think that would be hard to beat, but we definitely did it.

Miles's love for the color purple is something I dearly love about this age. I have to wonder if there will come a day when he will be so embarrassed by all of the purple clothes (which are remarkably hard to find, for a little boy), purple toys, purple crayons ... but for these few months we are fully exploiting it.

The "purple party" was actually his idea, but we took it to the maximum -- purple decorations everywhere, purple paint for hand prints of the guests, Joe made purple flubber, purple ice to excavate and find purple rocks, a purple pinata filled with purple toys, even purple cabbage on the salad, and most critically purple cupcakes.  And Miles, "the purpler" himself, was in a little heaven of excitement to be the center of the fun for his day. Even more than I love his appreciation for purple, I just adore his "thrilled" expression - huge smile, body trembling, hands hiding his mouth - it's an expression we saw a lot.

As sad as it is to sad good-bye to 2-year-old-Miles, Miles at 3 is just delightful. He's charming and enthusiastic, still quite loving and snuggly, and a bit shy. He still likes to sleep on my tummy (heart-breaker!), and now he's learning to take good care of his sisters (just tonight when Ada cried because she dropped and broke something, he got a cloth to wipe her eyes) and to play so nicely with them. He certainly has a healthy bit of stubbornness, but far more often we see his infectious smile, and now an emerging logical side: "well, actually ... " Although my baby boy is long gone, little Miles is still pure sweetness and snuggles, and such a wonderful member of our family. When he is 13 and 23 and 63, the world will be a better place if Miles Nelson retains any of the great personality he has now at 3.

Ready .... GO!!

She did it!  November 4th, her 13th month-birthday ... I stood her up and said, "Anika, walk!" and she did.  Amazing.

Officially a KID!!

 Anika's birthday has come and gone in a flash. She was the theme of her own party (lots of little Nica faces!), and she ate up the "happy birthday" attention.

 It's hard to believe that the baby phase is over ... but the baby bottles and changing table are gone, and little Nica is working hard to be a "kid' - she very much wants to keep up with her siblings. She drinks from a glass, eats with her own spoon, draws with a marker (and gets the cap back on it!), even occasionally puts a book back on the shelf.  No time for nostalgia about the end of the baby phase, she's growing up fast.

And I am overjoyed to know this sweet little peanut. She's incredibly social, meeting new friends like a champ, waving and chattering even to strangers sometimes (although she doesn't hesitate to give them the 'staredown' either). Although she's a good snuggler, she's our bravest little soul at this age, and it's so fun to watch her digest new situations. She absolutely adores Adelaide, and she's already learning how to play rough with Miles (cheap shots when he doesn't expect it!!).  Little Anika, welcome to childhood - as sad as we are that the baby of the family isn't a baby anymore, we are so proud of your little accomplishments and we can't wait to see what you will do next.

first tooth

Anika (finally) got her first tooth, and she's working hard at figuring out how to use it!

first day

She started school this morning,
And she seemed so very small.
As I walked there beside her
In the Kindergarten hall.

And as she took her place beside
the others in the class,
I realized how all too soon
Those first few years can pass.

Remembering, I saw her as
She first learned how to walk.
The words that we alone made out
When she began to talk.

This little girl so much absorbed
In learning how to write.
It seems as though she must have grown
To girlhood overnight.

My eyes were blurred by hastily
I brushed the tears away
Lest by some word or sign of mine
I mar her first big day

Oh how I longed to stay with her
And keep her by the hand
To lead her through the places
That she couldn't understand.

And something closely kin to fear
Was mingled with my pride.
I knew she would no longer be
A baby by my side.

But she must have her chance to live,
To work her problems out,
The privilege to grow and learn
What life is all about.

And I must share my little girl
With friends and work and play;
She's not a baby anymore --
She's in Kindergarten today.

building skills

Oh the life of a 10-month old!  Little Anika has a new skill every day - it's hard to imagine how a brain can grow so fast!  To name a few key developments: this month she has learned: to wave, say "hiiieee" appropriately, give a high-five, point, to ask for what she wants without screaming (hurray!!!). She's been fascinated with in/out and with things that open/close, and today she learned to stack the stacker. She was so proud of herself when she got the thing filled to the top!!  We love these new skills as she's ever more interactive and plays so much now. She's also established that she loves the water in any form or temperature (today got blasted by the fountain stream changing size and laughed at it!).

eat your beans

As a preface, this story is probably not internet-appropriate ... and yet it's just too great to forget.  Last night after dinner, in the bath, Miles was washing his parts (yes, all of them), when he suddenly had the most puzzled, interested look. He looked up and asked, "we have beans for dinner?" - yes, Miles, we had bean burritos - next, all of a sudden: "there are beans in my peni" (although I should know better, we call his little part a "peni" because it's such a cute little word for such a cute little part). He was very excited -There are beans in my peni - over and over. (chuckle) I didn't give him an anatomy lesson about his testicles, or tell him that the "beans" where there even before he ate dinner ...