Camille at the ripe old age of 2 years old just learned how to say her own name in March. I guess the two syllable thing was kind of daunting. Lydia gets the credit for patiently teaching her Ca Mille over and over. Camille still says it with a cute little pause between syllables. She's also really into the word "really" as in she needs something "REEEALLY bad". When it comes to size, most things are "tiny bit" (with thumb and forefinger held together in front of her face) or "really big. 'Jambutter" is her code word for peanut butter sandwich. Also, two of my favorites are when you kiss her on the cheek she immediately says "side" because she wants one on the other cheek as well and when she randomly comes and puts her arms around my leg and says "Love you Momma". That's pretty impossible to resist.
Lately Camille's been having a recurring nightmare. A few nights back I woke up to her gulping down sobs and went in to see what was the matter. She was obviously still mostly asleep so I just gave her a pat and told her Mom was here and she'd be fine. She started to sob again and said "Lilya (Lydia) took my candy!" A few weeks before that she'd woken up crying that Brad or Carter had taken her candy. It's a rough crowd around here I guess. And for one more Camille story, she's developed a bit of the "I'm two and I'll be grumpy if I want to" syndrome. Gratefully, the Where's Your Smile game works pretty well with her. It takes a round or two of finding her smile in odd places and tossing it around the room but it usually ends up back on her face by the end of the game.
Last week I was driving with the three littlest girls. Eve and Camille started to sing Jingle Bells in the back seat. I had to smile when I heard Eve's version: "Oh much fun it is to write in a orphan sleigh". Eve is also very interested in writing words. She loves to string together as many letters as she can remember and then ask us to read it. When we went to the cabin over spring break she arranged the letter magnets on the fridge in one big long word and asked Alex to read it. He sounded it out phonetically. When he finished she thought for a moment and then said, "That must be Spanish."
Sophie is pretty much perpetually cute. She's also started adding to her repertoire of tricks. Smiling (March 2nd), Giggling (April 14 -- Alex claims it was the 13th but we all know that was just a coo as she would surely save her first giggle for Mom), Sucking Her Left Thumb (just started last week and I'm not sure how I feel about that) and Rolling Over (April 23rd). And, the only reason I'm writing so much today is because she is practicing her newly acquired middle of the day long nap. Every so often she even sleeps for 5+ consecutive hours at night -- love that girl!!! Now to just sync her long stretch of nighttime sleep with mine . . .
Now for an update on my very grown-up and competely mature school age children who would die if I even implied that they were doing cute things. So, for the record, the following are anything but cute.
Lydia has been very excited about April since January when she started her dance class. She informed everyone that April was going to be a very busy month since her dance recital and birthday were both in it. It turns out that she was correct, it has been a busy month. Her poem about Sea World was selected as best in her class and entered in the school Poetry/Essay Contest.
Carter had a real nice look going on Sunday night through Monday morning. He collided with cousin JohnDavid Sunday night and chipped two of his bottom teeth. Luckily, there was an opening first thing on the Monday morning dental schedule. When he finally did get to school he was as good as new. Dad even repaired the two tiny chips he'd had previously. Frequent words out of Carter's mouth lately are "face" (can be used in almost any context) and "Webster" (usually used to address a little sister). Carter also had his poem selected for the all school Poetry/Essay Contest. It is about a Mountain Lion.
Bradley won one of two spots at our school to advance to the quad-campus geography bee. I won the mother-of-the-year award when I left a few minutes late and then missed the turn off for the school (it was at the Gilbert campus) putting us there just barely too late for him to participate. I felt terrible. We went out for icecream and bought the new tennis shoes he's been needing instead. Gratefully he was a good sport about it. He got to the attend the 11yo Scout Day Camp with me this year. It's hard to believe he'll be 12 in just a few short months! He also had his writing selected for the all school contest, an essay on Abraham Lincoln.
As for me and Alex, we pretty much just sit around and twiddle our thumbs all day. We are grateful for 6 wonderful children. They fill our life with joy.
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