Ashley's First Hair Cut

Four years old and Ashley finally had her first hair cut.  She was ready!  I was torn on how much to have cut since we had many battles over brushing and her twirling it into knots.  She said she wanted it short like a friend at school but then would tell me just a couple inches.  8 inches would make it to her shoulders and could be donated, but I couldn't imagine cutting that much off!  

We went after bowling with some friends and she was super excited.  She picked out Doc McStuffins from the DVDs to watch while they cut her hair.  She told the stylist how much she wanted to take off.  The woman agreed to take 4 inches off.  She sat in the car chair and stared at the show.  I don't think she even noticed she was having her hair cut!  The cut some for a souvenir and made a certificate with her picture.   

You would think 4 inches would have looked like more!  Since she had it cut, she no longer twirls it making knots and it's much less difficult to brush.  She even has her curls coming back at the ends!

Ashley's first week at school

Ashley survived her first week at school.  She was there about 4 hours each day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  I'm very glad that we grouped the days together since it seems to work well for her to be in a row.  Caitlin took long naps all three days so it was pretty quiet around here - and I got some stuff done from my to-do list!

Yesterday she was very cool about me picking her up as she sat reading on the couch and finished the book before coming to see me.  Across from her on another couch, was a little girl that told me she lived close by and she was going to come over on Sunday!  It was funny how specific she was :)  Ashley told me she did not get computer time and filled me in on her lunch, turkey in gravy with mashed potatoes, hot beans and milk.  Mrs. Vickery said she gobbled the food right up and the other kids were not so sure about eating it.  She made a coloring sheet with the letter A and a paper with thumb prints.  She thought it was cool to put her finger in an ink pad.

Today, she was a little unsure when I dropped her off.  She had some tears in her eyes and asked me to stay.  When I picked her up, she was on the computer, so I knew she'd be happy.  Mrs. Vickery said she had a few moments where she "missed mommy" and then really bonded with another student, Emerson, who was new to the school this week too and missed her mommy too.  I guess misery loves company!  The owner of the school was in the lobby when I was leaving and she told me all about how much fun the two had that day and I should ask Ashley about Emerson.  Today was the first day Ashley was chatting with the directors when she left and was talking up a storm normally she just wants to rush out.  She made painted handprints and coloring sheets with the letter A.  She was telling me they played with something sticky, which I'm guessing was glue since there was some on her hands when I wiped them off in the car.  The project was drying so she will bring it home on Tuesday!

As quiet as the house has been, it's so much fun to hear her stories when I pick her up and I can't get over how cute she looks in her uniform!

Ashley's first day of School!

Ashley had her first day of school today!  She wore her red polo and plaid skirt with her white knee high socks and new black shoes!  We matched her hair with a red pony tail holder and red barrette.

She came down to the kitchen and told me her belly hurt.  I asked if she was nervous and she said no, I'm just hungry!

Caitlin and I dropped her off this morning about 8:15 and she put her backpack in her cubby and got a special baggie of gold fish from her teachers since she's "o-fish-ally a pre-kindergartner".

About 10:45, Pete and I got an email with a picture of Ashley in the classroom.

I was all ready to pick her up at 12:30, but Caitlin was still sleeping!  So we got there about 12:45 after I woke up Caitlin.  It will be nice when Pete's home so if she's sleeping, I can just go get Ashley.  All the kids were laying in their cots resting with the lights out and Ashley and another girl were on the couch with books.  She saw me and ran over to give me a hug!  The teachers helped gather her stuff, her backpack and her artwork (coloring page and fingerprints on a card) and we headed out.  There were a couple other people leaving as we arrived so it seems there are a few other half day kids in her class.

She told me she had chicken, hot beans and pineapple for lunch and was super excited about it.  She learned a song about not putting your hands on the table until everyone had food.  She didn't get computer time but told me all about the books she read and how she got in trouble for putting sand on the floor.  They played outside but since it was so hot, she explained how they took a deep breath.  I don't really understand, but that's the story from Ashley!  Ashley also told me she wished she had a cot, because she was so tired and yawning and wanted to lay down.  I told her she could come home and lay down, but she is bouncing off the walls, I didn't help that since I got her a 1st day of school gift :)

She's excited to go again tomorrow and already requested a red dress to wear like another girl in class.  Of course, I bought a blue dress!

Ashley's 4 year check up and Caitlin's Walking!

A lot has been going on here in the last week.  The big news is that Caitlin started walking last week!  She seems to walk the most after dinner.  She still crawls quite a bit since it's faster and she even walks on her knees too!  She has also learned to nod her head yes and no to questions, the main one, "Are you hungry" which is usually followed by a yes nod and crawling to her high chair!  Yesterday she stared pointing with her fingers curled under.  She's mastered saying mama (no shocker there!) so we are working on her saying dada (which she does pretty well) and Ashley as well as saying uh oh!

Ashley had her 4 year check up today and got her physical sheet signed off for Pre-K!  We have her clothes for school and her excitement for school changes day to day going from excited to scared.  Ashley is about 36 pounds, which is the 60th percentile and 41 inches, the 78th percentile!  Crazy that she was so petite as a baby!

Last weekend, we had a big butterfly themed birthday party for both girls.  Each of them had a cake and Caitlin had a ton of fun eating her butterfly shaped cake eating chunks of it.  Ashley had a white cake with 3D butterflies on it.  We had close to 50 kids and adults here and couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

Now just a couple more weeks until Ashley starts school!

Caitlin's 1 Year Doctor Appointment

Caitlin had her 1 year appointment today.  She was extremely relaxed and barely made a peep during her exam.  She is 19 pounds and 1.5 ounces and 28.5 inches.  She is in the 37.5 percentile for weight and 25th for height, which is not the most accurate measurement since that would mean she's barely growing.  I believe at 18 months they will have her stand up to be measured.  Her left eye is a little inward, but not enough to be concerned for an eye doctor exam.  She has good movement and he thinks it should correct on it's own.  She got two shots, one in each leg.  She barely cried, maybe 15 seconds and then she was fine - just giving nasty looks to the two nurses, or shot girls as Ashley calls them!

Ashley asked if she could get shots today too.  Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood had an episode about how to get a shot so she's excited about it.  She has another year before she needs any.  While we were waiting for the nurses, I gave Ashley a tongue depressor.  I said do you know what this is for?  She responded, "It's a tongue depressor, it goes in your mouth!"  We left with a nice little kit for her with a tongue depressor, some purple gloves and a face mask.  That should keep her busy for awhile!

Caitlin's FIRST steps!

Caitlin took her first steps, three to be exact, in the pool!

We were in the zero depth part of the pool and Caitlin was playing with some water rings.  She kept standing up from a seated position without holding onto anything and then she took one step and fell.  Then another and fell and then three (and fell).  I think we are a bit away from actually walking, but she's making progress!

I joked while we were on vacation that Caitlin would learn to walk in the water since she's become quite the fish (which is funny since she hated baths until a couple months ago) and she actually did!

 Now we'll have to try on dry land!  

Summer is here!

It wouldn't be summer if it wasn't busy!

Yesterday, Ashley had her first soccer class.  Weather has been pretty cool lately but, of course, yesterday it was in the mid-80s and no wind.  I was hot just sitting on the side watching!  She was tired and had trouble staying on task for the whole 45 minutes.  However, she told me she had fun which is good since class runs through July!

After class, I took Ashley and Caitlin to a water park with some friends.  It's for little kids and Ashley LOVED the water slides.  I think she went down the two water slides at least 50 times.  She even got water in her face and had water dumped on her head (with only mild crying), this is a huge deal for her since she will freak out even when rinsing her hair in the bath or shower.  Caitlin loved splashing in the zero depth and jumping in the deeper areas.  I even took her down a couple of the little water slides in my lap.  We were there for a good 4 hours - when we had to escape because of a storm!

Caitlin had two bottom teeth pop in over the last week.  She now as 4 on top and 4 on the bottom.  She needed those with her love of food!  She'll gobble up sweet peas, carrots, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, and cheerios.  I just found yogurt made with coconut milk so we'll be trying that today since it's dairy free (yes, I know teeth are not needed for yogurt, but I was excited to find something dairy-free!)

Caitlin has also mastered waving bye (and sometimes hi) and can clap!  She will also dance on command which is cute since Ashley makes us all dance to certain songs in movies or shows.

A week from today we leave for our first big family vacation.  First part of the trip will be in New York for Laura's wedding and then we will head to Ocean City to spend a few days on the beach.  This is our first family trip where we will be staying in hotels, so it should be interesting since we've never slept in the same room!

A week after we get back will be Caitlin's first birthday and a month later Ashley turns 4!!  Time really does fly!