Clark Family Blog: 2013

In the last week, we've experienced huge milestones for the kids. The kind that make you so proud, but at the same time think, geesh, slow down life!

Isla is becoming a strong independent sitter. And most notably, just this past Friday, her first tooth began to pop through! Really, teeth already? We had a feeling it was on its way for a couple of months. I kept saying I thought she'd get her first right around six months, similar to Gavin. Sure enough, a week before her half birthday and here she is with her little face/smile changing! It's just barely through, so will be a little bit before it's more noticeable.

And that Gavin, oh that Gavin! Conferences last week with a perfect report from his teacher. And she said he is an official reader. While it seems obvious that you should know when you kids' start to read, it's been challenging for me to know when to "officially" say he is reading. He knows several popcorn (sight) words. But he is now officially sounding words out and reading them. We've been working on several level "A" easy/first readers and he is doing great! We've never been the parents to push Gavin academically - you know the ones, quick to brag about how advanced their child(ren) is. Instead, we've just let him learn at his own pace, giving him more opportunities in areas that he likes - things like math and reading. And off he goes, running with it!

In fact, at the beginning of the school year, I was worried we were pushing him too hard by placing him in DK instead of 4 year old preschool. I wasn't sure about him going to school every day (half days) vs. just three days. The first weeks were tiring for him and created a bit of a wild child in the evenings. The way he reacts to being tired is to get all goofy and fly around the house. But he's really settled into his school routine and now I'm loving that he's there every day. He really likes it and he's settled down a bit. His teacher, as we expected, pointed out that he is very routine-based. He loves having a routine, following it, and holding everyone around him accountable for it. Almost to the point that he's a bit inflexible at times. Something to work on! But I'll take it - it sure makes bedtime and other routine-based times of the day very predictable.

We're just so proud of Gavin! He just amazes me!

And I can't go without mentioning our angel. Grace would have been two and half yesterday. I so remember this age with Gavin and what fun it was. I can only imagine how full of life our household would be with her here, goofing around with brother and sister. She is so missed. Here's my post from when Gavin was two and a half. Gee, the things that girl would be doing!

Sucking and biting those fingers, a very common occurrence now!

Our little (but big) reader!

Halloween is an absolute blast with a preschool-aged child, and of course with a baby who you can dress up with no complaints and full compliance, no matter how ridiculous you make her look. The preschool age lends itself well to attending multiple Halloween festivities, because each additional opportunity for Gavin to wear his costume is a complete win for him.

We hit up the Monster Mash at the zoo - rain cleared just in time to make for a lovely evening strolling through the critters and trick or treating; went to the neighborhood Halloween party with 20+ equally excited kiddos dressed in a variety of fun costumes, playing games and eating lots of treats; and then the big Halloween events...

I took a half-day off work to attend Gavin's school Halloween party. So much fun. This year, the kids trick-or-treated through every classroom. Gavin came home with a half bag of treats! We made a mummy candle holder and enjoyed a nice Halloween story. When we arrived home, the pre-made spider web (and olive spiders) pizza was ready to bake and eat for our second annual Halloween themed dinner. Last year was fish sticks and pirate food (Gavin was Captain Hook). With a Spider-man costume this year, the web pizza seemed a good fit. It was a hit!

As the week progressed, the Halloween day forecast got more dreadful by the day - rain, then rain with wind, then rain with wind and thunderstorms. Honestly, it ended up being okay. It rained, though lightly at most points. And the temps were mild. Winds didn't pick up until much later in the night. We had a fun time trick-or-treating with the neighbor kids and parents. Just enough houses in our neighborhood and the adjoining hood. About an hour and we were home.

It's fun for me to think back to the previous years' Halloween festivities. This was the first year that Gavin was able to run up to the doors without me, along with his little friends, say "trick or treat" and "thank you" on his own, not cutting in front of other kiddos, taking just one piece of candy. I just stood in the street with the other parents watching. The past three years of trick or treating involved me (or Brad, or both) walking up to the door with him. When he was 20 months old, it was toddling and tripping along the way, going to just a few close houses. Then at two, he had the whole process down and improved his efficiency and speed, and we made it through half our neighborhood. At three, he would walk up by himself, just me lagging behind. This year, he was nearly full-on independent. I suppose the next step will come with him trick or treating by himself with just friends (though I think and hope this is several years off).

Isla and Brad hung out at home with Grandma Shirley, passing out candy to the remaining five or so kids in our neighborhood - most came earlier when we left as a group and Gavin was able to pass out treats to them. He took great pride in this. He's really beginning to make some wonderful friends in our "new" (I still call it new) neighborhood.

This week, our wee little one turned five months! Gosh, time is just flying with her. She is laughing more, playing with her feet lots, rolling from tummy to back (not quite from back to tummy yet), sitting well with support, babbling more and more, blowing lots of bubbles, DROOLING, and in the early stages of teething. I think she may be just like brother and pop her bottom two front teeth out right around six months old. That's right around the corner - whoa, teeth and solid foods. We're in no hurry to start solids, so will wait until six months old to start some cereal. Isla is a very efficient, fast breast feeder. We're definitely in that very easy stage of feeding. She is sleeping until around 5am each morning, up for a quick feeding, after going to bed around 7:30pm. Then up around 7am for a quick feeding before I leave for work. She weighs around 14 and a half pounds, tracking bigger than our skinny little Gavin at that age! And she's just a joy!

Here are a bunch of Halloween photos of our Spider-man and Minnie Mouse - I just love this holiday so couldn't resist snapping lots of pics.

Just mousing around a few weeks ago! My ears are originals circa 1980's. Gavin's from his first Disney trip this past January. And Isla's complements of her Disney Store costume.

Monster Mash, yay our first costume opportunity! Doesn't Isla look excited! That brother hold is a little frightening.

Spidey poses at the zoo.

Pumpkin carving!

Our three punky kiddos - Gavin wanted a vampire (with ears added after this photo was taken), Isla got the "gummy" smile (appropriate), and our Gracie is none other than the butterfly.

The family.

Delivered to sister, candle all lit. I'm sure the festivities in heaven were fabulous, but we would have given anything for you to be dragging your feet in the puddles with brother, trying to keep up with him as he ran from house to house.

Ready to head to the neighborhood party with our first ever homemade batches of caramel corn. We had a beautiful day for the party - sunny and dry, right in the middle of a very wet and gloomy couple of weeks. We all needed some sun!

More poses, isn't he good at this?

I was so excited that this onesie (and socks) fit Isla. It was Gavin's at 8 months old - fits her about the same. My First Halloween! Funny, it is slightly stained with what appears to be sweet potatoes from when brother wore it. Sweet potatoes were his favorite! I wonder what she'll like best?