What they're up to

I don't write often on here, usually just post pictures. But I thought it might be fun to share a little about what each girl is up to these days.

Sarah is a riot. She's a really good talker for her age (which is the opposite of her big sister, so Michael and I are always amazed). One of her favorite things to say is, "Why not?" and "But why not, Mommy?"

When she has a dirty diaper she will say, "There's a turtle in my diaper." We can only assume she means turd.

Yesterday at my Mom's house, she wanted to see their garage and insisted that Grandpa keep showing her the garage. Then Grandma. Then Grandpa again. On her third visit she opened the refrigerator door and said, "I need a Coke." (No, she does not drink Coke...)

She is a world-class pouter. She has so much expression in those stunning blue eyes.

She likes to pull hair. My hair, her hair. Her hair might be inches longer if she weren't so busy pulling on it when she's falling asleep. Fortunately it's happening less and less. Hopefully it stop altogether soon.

Sarah is in a nudity phase (as evidenced by dinner at our "day in the life" pictures). She hates to wear a diaper and clothes. She's nearly potty trained. So close. I just need to have a block of a few days to really focus on it and I think she'll be fully trained. When she does want to wear clothes, she only wants to wear Charlotte's clothes.

She's very sweet. When she sees one of Charlotte's sippy cups laying around the house, she'll bring it to her and say, "Here you go, Chahdotte, here you go."

She misses her big sister now that she's back at preschool. Both mornings Charlotte was at school this week, I'd see Sarah wandering around looking for her. Then she'd ask me, "Where'd Chahdotte go?" and then say, "I go find her."

That brings us to Charlotte. Charlotte started back at preschool this week. Just two days. She cried the first day (for an hour!) but only briefly the 2nd day. Progress is good. When she came the first day she told me, "I cried a really, really, really, really long time."

Charlotte's communication skills continue to improve daily. She's doing better and better. Now that's back in her preschool class with the trained staff, I am hopeful that we'll see even more and more.

Charlotte is very into pretend play. She loves to "make" us food in her kitchen. She knows a lot of sign language (thanks to Signing Time!) and so when she is "cooking" she turns around and does the sign for cook and then hands the "food" to us with a big "Here you go." She likes to pretend play "restaurant" ... playing all the roles ... customer, waitress, chef.

She loves to eat out at restaurants and is a very good customer. Always insisting upon ordering her own food and she will pay the bill as well. She thinks anyone wearing an apron is a waitress so, for example, she'll ask the clerk behind the deli counter at Kroger if she will take her order. Always makes for good laughs.

Like most kids her age, Charlotte likes swimming and the playground. But what she really likes is shopping. Especially grocery shopping. Heaven forbid I go grocery shopping without her. I recently made a few trips to Whole Foods and that is her new favorite store.

Probably most readers of this blog know that Charlotte taught herself to read by the time she was 3. We continuously notice huge gains in her reading. She is reading way beyond her age level. We've never had her tested but it's at least first grade and possibly 2nd grade level. While it's wondeful that she can read, what's concering about it is that she might lag in comprehension (because she learned to read so early). We are noticing, however, that she comprehends most of what she is reading - especially if it is age appropriate. It's been an exciting thing to watch her reading skills unfold before our eyes.

So that's a little update on the R girls. Hope you enjoyed.