Kiran Is Really Growing Up!

We wanted to share a few things we've been writing down about our little guy. He will be 4 years old in one month, and he has had a major developmental growth spurt in the past couple of months. We just couldn't wait until he turns 4 to tell about everything he's been up to!

The biggest news about Kiran is that he has learned to write his name! A month ago, he wrote his name by watching me write it on an easel and copying my movements. Now, he's got his name down well, and he can write many letters and loves to write words and family names as we spell them out for him. He is learning sounds that letters make. Kiran recognizes most of his first numbers.
This is Kiran getting his library card. When you learn to write your name, you can get a card! They make a big deal of it, and all of the librarians cheered Kiran on! It was really fun and sweet!


These days Kiran loves doing big physical movements. I am so glad he is in a sports skills/gymnastics class so that he can get some of his jumping and spinning out in a "padded room" one night each week! For these pictures, family got to go in and see all the kids had learned through the Aug-Jan season. It was really fun, and Kiran did such a great job! They said Kiran was "most improved" of his class! After the first week of class, Kiran had a hard time going in for a while, and I would go with him. Slowly but surely he gained courage, and now, he is a champ! He runs right in and is so excited about it! We are very proud of him for being so brave and learning to overcome his fears!


Kiran still really enjoys school! Here is a picture of the bird feeder he made there recently. He has become quite socialable in the past few months and looks forward to seeing all of his friends and teachers. He loves show and tell on Tuesdays! We have fun thinking about what he will take each week.


He loves to teach Ellery new things: "Ellery, come try it!" She immediately says, "Okay!" and runs right over to participate. Kiran enjoys singing more than ever. He says he would like a small puppy, and he has asked when we will have another tiny baby at our house (no comments or questions, please! ;) He plays well with friends who are both younger, same age, and older than him. He is getting better and better at using his imagination.

He is beginning to take his plate to the sink without prompting after a meal and is beginning to help clean more cheerfully. This is a picture of him taking the garbage out by himself! He got one bag all the way in the trash can by himself and asked for help with the second one because it was too heavy!

He loves to run as fast as he can and say, "I'm running as fast as Dash!" (from The Incredibles) If you'll remember, Kiran used to only want to wear boots and jeans, but his preferred wardrobe is open to change these days. He likes to wear "nice" clothes for going out, "dirty" clothes for working, and "sports" clothes for sport activities. He also loves wearing his pajama bottoms all day because they are comfy! He loves wearing his hat, hoodie, and gloves.

One of my favorite things that started just before we left for our December time in TX is when Kiran wakes up in the morning and the first thing we hear from the gate at the top of the stairs is, "I like to move it, move it!" It cracks me up every time! Kiran likes to watch more TV and movies. He loves music. Kiran still likes his thumb and Momma's hair when he is sleepy. He has an excellent memory and just asked some specifics about his birthday party from last year.

I love how Kiran loves his sister. He will say, "Ellery, go under the bridge!" She says a quick, "Okay!" and crawls right through/under his legs. It's really cute!

A few sweet and fun things Kiran has said lately:

The other day, I was looking for a pair of Kiran's favorite socks. He had taken them off and we were about to leave to go to school. I was searching in his room while he put his clothes on, and when he came in, he said, "Mom, you're looking everywhere for my socks! Thank you!" Oh, the things that make a mom's heart melt.

Earlier this month, Kiran just looked at me one day and said with this huge smile, "Mom, when we get old and go to be with God, we will get to see Sunshine!"

One day I thought Kiran had eaten a whole lot of oatmeal for breakfast, but he was still asking for more. I said, "Kiran, ask your tummy, 'Are you full?'" Kiran's response: "I think I heard a 'no'!" Where he gets some of his clever phrases we'll never know!

On Feb. 9th, we all sat down to eat dinner, and we asked who wanted to pray. Kiran began singing a prayer he learned from his school last year. Then, he said "I want to say a prayer like you but I don't know how." We told him to just say "dear God" then to say whatever he was thankful for. This was his prayer: "Dear God, thank you for Grandad's tractors, for healthy food, for learning to write my name, for healthy food. Amen."


















Watching the inauguration - Kiran was really interested in the whole election process and kept asking questions about the candidates (please ignore the dust and crazy cabeling - just another area of our house that is a work in progress!)




We went to a wonderful family concert presented by a local orchestra, and Kiran got to try out several instruments. His favorite was the bassoon (but I didn't get a good picture of it).


Yes, it's the middle of winter, and Kiran ran out the door with his "boxers" on! This kid does not like to be hot, so he loves wearing short sleeves and shorts.


1st photo on this entry is by Chera

Nice Sunday Afternoon and Rainy Day Fun!

Ellery, You Are 19 Months Old!

Ellery, we are so thankful that you are ours! We want to tell you a little about what you've been up to lately.

You love the "Moon and Tars!" You are so excited anytime you see the moon, and you love finding it in books. You will say "Moon" over and over again when you see it. The first couple of weeks this year, you were into "Goodnight Moon" big time!

Words we can't hear you say enough:
1. "Oh!" when we talk to you or tell you something. You always say this at an appropriate time as if you know exactly what we are saying and you are acknowledging our explanation. We think you are really smart!
2. "Sign" when you give the "I love you" sign.
3. "Okay" when brother says, "Go under the bridge!" (you say okay and crawl right under his legs)
4. "My turn" anytime you and brother want the same thing. Exactly one week ago, you said, "Close it, computer (actually, "booger" is how it comes out), my turn!" You are also saying, "First" since you know that this is what Kiran says to get what he wants before you.
5. "Forsie" anytime you see a horse or just before checking out at Wal-Mart since I let you and Kiran ride the horse and motorcycles one time as a reward. Now, we usually ride the rides (without coins) then pour on the hand sanitizer in the car!
6. "Kien" (for Kiran) - You started this just after Christmas, and it is so sweet! Kiran loves it when you say his name.
7. "Cool" (for Kiran's school) - You love going there to see all of the big kids and to show off your shoes (actually, you do this everywhere now). You always hold up your purple crocs or pink boots so that Miss Angela and Miss Michelle will compliment you on them! They love it!
8. "Water" - you shout this out over and over when we drive by the river until we acknowledge that we heard you. Sometimes, it takes us a minute to remember and sometimes our first reaction is that you want something to drink.
9. "Ready, Set, Go!" when you and Kiran are running around the house or outside.
10. "Tinkle!" for "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" (your favorite bedtime song)

You are saying 3 word sentences occasionally!

What a little Gruffalo!



You have been asking to go potty and many times you are able to accomplish this task.

You love dancing to music.

You can't seem to keep your fingers off the laptop!

Being a little sneaky! Checking out Brother's motorcycle while he is at school! We start out with an adorable bow from Aunt Nat in your hair every day upon your request (actually a loud, BOOOOOWW!). You are keeping them in longer and longer each day, but they always come out at some point!

You are ALWAYS up early! Your inner clock will not let you sleep a minute past 7:00, and usually, you are up by 6:15 or 6:30.

You love singing.

You like puppies a lot! You also like stuffed animal puppies for bedtime. Often, when we get you out of bed, you are still a little sleepy and grumpy. The first thing you say is "Puppy, Blanket!" We take them with us downstairs for you to wake up.

You still play with your belly button (sometimes we think it's for comfort, but mostly it seems to be fun).

At Kiran's gym performance doing a little performing of your own!


When given 2 choices, you always say the last word we say. If we ask, "Do you want pink or blue (bows, for example), you would say "blue." But, if asked the other way you'd say pink. We've given you some pretty goofy choices to check this out, and your answers make us crack up!

You love to count, especially for Hide-N-Seek. You've been counting 8, 9, 10 since before Christmas, and now you can say most numbers to 10!

You are drawing circles. You love to drag stuff out of our craft shelves (pipe cleaners, etc.) You especially love crayons and drawing on your easel.

You are quite an independent little girl! You have been feeding yourself for several months but have practically refused help at all for a couple of months now! You come around occasionally when you can't get those last couple of bites in your spoon! You like to walk up the stairs holding our hands now - no carrying! You like to get your own bowl and silverware out of the drawer for meals. You try and put your pants on. You like to wipe your own nose. You are starting to stall and give me a head tilt and stinker smile when I ask for help cleaning up instead of your recent (maybe a month ago) excellent cooperation! You still love to sing the "Clean up" song though.

I took a quick shower one day and got out to find my two sweeties doing this!

Pushing Kiran around in the dump truck! You both get a huge kick out of this!

You love riding Rody, pushing your stroller and cart, playing in the kitchen, playing pretend with phone calls, doing anything Kiran is doing, taking care of your baby, getting your coat on to go outside (and always emphasize, "Hood" to make sure we get that on too), being silly with Kiran

You love brushing your teeth and always have. Now, you have a new trick - spitting! You love spitting next to brother. The other night was priceless watching the two of you go at it and giggling at each other the whole time!

Washing dishes with brother and Mommy
Shaking the rice in the yogurt cup shaker we taped together dancing to some fun "Going Green" music
Giving Baby a Bath (in your first baby bath tub from the hospital)

You are very sensitive and caring toward others. Yesterday, Kiran said "Ouch" after he had hurt himself a little. You reached over and patted him, then held your hand out and said "Hep you."

We just had your 18 months doctor appointment on Thursday, Jan. 29th, because you needed a shot that we had to wait for and because you have been sick with an ear infection. You did such a great job at the doctor's office the past 2 times! You used to get so upset upon walking into the room and especially upon seeing a nurse. But, you barely even cried for your shots the other day, and you had a great time getting so much attention from the nurse and doctor. You LOVED your "saur" and circus band-aids! I have to post some photos I took from my new iPhone (some day this will date Mommy, but for now, I'm in the technologically cool crowd, I think, after getting a hand-me-down from Daddy). I am not, however, in the cool geek crowd because I don't know how to get to them downloaded until Daddy gets home! :) You are very healthy! You weigh 21 lbs and 6.5 oz. (around 10-20% on the charts). You are 32" tall (exactly 50% on the charts).


We love you for everything that makes you, you! And, we are so grateful to be your parents. We look forward to these months leading up to your 2nd birthday to see how you grow and change even more!

a sweet thought

Just sharing something sweet about my kiddos. Tonight before bed, Kiran had extra lotion on his hands and was asking what he should do about it. I told him that he could put it on my hands or on Ellery. He carefully bent down and rubbed it on his sister's belly, arms and legs. She loved it!

Then, after I turned out the light but before our book with Flash (Kiran's special bedtime flashlight), Ellery ran over and started tucking Kiran in bed, saying "Tuck, tuck!" It was super cute!