Sept Pics

Sept went by very fast, with the start of preschool. Elle has adjusted very well to Kindergarten and I am almost adjusted myself- weaning is hard any way you slice it. Her teacher and I had a few disagreements and all seems to be smoothed over now. She is learning sight words and can read quite a few, the first word she learned to read was "wheat", as in "wheat free". She would ask if a food was wheat free when she could read wheat on the box.

Justin is doing well in Preschool after some early difficulties. He went from a class of 8 to a class of 20. He hated circle time at first but has figured out the routine and has the opportunity to play alone when he is feeling overwhelmed, which helps tremendously with socialization. We started him on some digestive enzymes this summer after I did some research on them (they were always too strong or the wrong ones before), and his digestion has improved immensely. He has improved so much from the use of enzymes that - dare I say it- he acts like a normal kid now. No more sensory issues, no more meltdowns for no reason, no more gross motor weakness. His speech has made some leaps, but still needs work, but I am happy to say he is only about 3-4 months behind what is developmentally appropriate right now.

Having four kids next door has also helped a lot with both kids' socialization, because they play all the time, and have the opportunity to play without adult interference a lot of the time. Sometimes I feel like I live in Mayberry b/c we can allow our kids to play in the front yard while we are inside. The other day I was inside nursing Miles while Justin went next door to show something to Cameron (their 10 yr old), and he had been gone a while... well I went looking for him and one of the teachers from Elle's school who was canvassing the neighborhood brought him home. Not that he knows our address, it is just the only house on the street with LSU flags and mailbox, but I digress. He had walked all the way down the block... so then we had a talk about strangers, and he knew what to do, and walking only with an adult, and he knew that, he just wanted to take a walk to the creek! Like I said, becoming a normal kid.

Elle is so tired when she comes home from school that I don't think she has many other interests besides reading and drawing, but she does love soccer. A few of the games have been cold and rainy, but most have been fun, and they have a playground next to the fields, which is fun for the kids. Justin is really into bugs, loves all kinds of bugs and we learn as much as we can about them.

Little Miles is almost at the 21 pound mark at 11 months, which Justin had reached at 6 months! He is still in size 4 diapers, so is proving to be our most petite kid, although he is very tall, 29 inches at 9 months. He is almost walking, takes about 3 steps at a time. He is signing "finished" and "play", and is learning the others. He is obsessed with the potty because he sees Justin going, but we haven't "caught" a peepee on the toilet yet.