The First Day of School - Going Back in Person!

Last week, on Tuesday, September 8th, our kids headed back to school in person! If you read this post, you know the decision to send them was practically impossible to make, but we decided to give it a try. We are almost two weeks in, and so far so good. My kids were so excited to go back, and they actually enjoy going to school each day!

This year, we had two big changes. Dylan decided to go back to public school instead of continuing with cyber school. He missed high school a lot more than he expected he would! This is the first year that Lily and Liam are in the same building, and it won't happen again until Lily is in 11th grade and Liam is in 9th grade. Lily is so excited to be in the same school as her baby brother!

We're nearing the end of week two, and we're finally getting into a routine. It was a big adjustment after being home almost 24/7. I don't think any of us will ever take school for granted again. Dylan, Lexie, and Lily said it isn't even that bad wearing a mask all day. I think they're just really happy to get that small bit of normal back into their lives! (I absolutely agree!)

One and a Half

 

Liam Dayne
18 months
18 1/2 lbs
29 inches




Milestones: Standing without holding on to anything for longer periods of time.  He is so close to walking alone! He's also starting to identify body parts, using his shape sorter properly, and trying to put socks and hats on by himself.

  



Tooth Count: Still 7! 4 molars, 2 bottom middle teeth, and 1 top middle tooth. 



Eating: 3 meals a day plus 2 snacks.  He feeds himself every meal, but is still learning how to use a fork and spoon properly.  He nurses morning and night, but he's beginning to wean.




Favorite Foods:  Bananas, Strawberries, Oranges, Yogurt, Peaches, Pineapple, Cereal Bars, French Toast, Yogurt Melts, Macaroni and Cheese, Chicken Noodle Soup, Pasta with Red Sauce, Carrots, and Cheese. That's the short list! The boy LOVES to eat!




Sleeping: He sleeps 12-14 hours every night without waking, takes one afternoon nap, and often falls asleep in the car.




Words/Signs: Mama, Dada, Papa, Dyl (Dylan), Up, Hi, ByeBye, Pop, and Bubbles.  He is learning animal sounds, and regularly woofs and oinks (that sounds funny!).  He signs more and eat. He signs eat A LOT.  He also loves to sing!





Likes: Snuggling, giving hugs, tackling his siblings, cruising around the house, playing, taking baths, speech therapy sessions, going to the library, and eating.



Dislikes: Being cold, getting his diaper changed, and getting his face wiped.  He loathes the last one!




 
Favorite Toys: Fisher Price Peek a Blocks Train, Leapfrog Cook and Play Potsy, Play Kitchen, Fisher Price shape sorter, Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Puppy's Activity Home, books, and his foam letter playmat.  He's also obsessed with playing with Lily's mini baby dolls that are in a mini bunkbed!



Nicknames: Miam, Little Dude, and SuperLiam.




Health: Other than a few sniffles, and a few low fevers, he stayed healthy!  It's hard to tell if he had a cold (Dylan and I did) or if he was just teething (he is).




Early Intervention:    He receives Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Therapy in our home. Each type of therapy is once a week for one hour.




Wearing: Mostly 6-9 month clothing, although a few 0-3 month onesies and 3-6 month pajamas and shirts still fit!  He wears a size 3 diaper and a size 2 shoe.




Personality:  Liam's pictures say it all.  My sweet snugglebug isn't suffering in any way!


 
 

Lily at 18 Months

My sweet Liliana turned 18 months on February 3rd!  I have yet to work on her 18 month photoshoot, but I captured a few pictures last week that sum up her personality!



AGE:  18 months.  How are you possibly a year and a half old already?!?

STATS:  23.6 lbs and 34.5 inches.  Between the 25th-50th percentile for weight and above the 95th percentile for height.  You are really tall and losing your baby chub!

WEARING:  Size 4 diapers, size 5 shoes, and 12-18 month and 18-24 month clothing.

MILESTONES:  You are talking so much more!
 


TOOTH COUNT:  16 and working on your 2 year molars!

COMFORTS: Sucking your thumb and twirling your earrings while sucking your thumb.

FIRSTS:  All of your "firsts" are pretty much over.  That makes me sad!

EATING:  3 meals and 3 snacks a day.

FAVORITE FOODS:  Olives, blueberries, tomato soup, spaghetti, and alfredo.



SLEEPING:  12+ hours of sleep every night along with a 2-3 hour nap every afternoon.   You rock it in the sleep department!

WORDS/SOUNDS:  A few of your new words this month:  Peek, Boo-boo, Eyes, Nose, Mouth, Cheeks, Ears, Hair, Belly Button (your favorite word!), Teeth, and Owww.  Most used phrase:  "Where'd it go?"  Most used word:  Yeah.

LIKES:  Climbing on everything, pulling out all the baby wipes, taking baths, playing on the sun porch,  searching for Vaseline to smear on things, and reading your books.

FAVORITE TOYS:  Your books (especially Miss Spider's ABCs), your Furby, your dolls, and your doll stroller.

DISLIKES:  Getting your diaper changed, getting dressed, being told no, and getting your face and hands wiped.




NICKNAMES:  Lily, Lilybug, Bugs, Bugaboo, Boo,  Bugsies, and Lily Belle.

PERSONALITY:  You are the sweetest little snugglebug.  You love to cuddle, often for up to an hour at a time!  You have a very outgoing personality.  When we are out running errands, you smile and say, "Hi-eee!" to everybody that passes us.  You adapt easily to any situation.  I have never hesitated to take you anywhere.  You do have a mischievous streak!  You love to climb on everything and get into things. You are a little ham and you use your big grin to charm people!  It's difficult to resist that smile!