NADIA

Today was a big day for Nadia. She wrote her name for the first time! She wrote it several times, and each time she got a little better at it. This was a big improvement for one day, as the only letter we had worked on before today was "N." I plan on working on the other letters of the alphabet over the next few weeks so that she can write words like "GRANDMA" when making Christmas cards. We've already worked on "E", "F', and "L," which are the first three taught in Handwriting Without Tears. We jumped out of order to learn the ones in her name. I will scan at least one of the papers to share here sometime this weekend. I am not good at saving things she's colored and such, but I definitely am saving today's papers! She also worked on drawing a square and also stick people for the first time today. I have tried to get her to draw those in the past without success, but today she gave it a whirl! Her "person" may not look like much to someone else, but I know what an accomplishment it was for her! I was one very excited Mommy!

Nadia and Ian definitely have their issues in terms of playing nicely together, but there are moments when they really are enjoying each other. I snapped this photo (above) when Nadia was willingly giving Ian a horsie back ride through the kitchen, living room, etc. They both were laughing their heads off during that activity. They both adore Oliver and hold him several times a day. Generally Oliver hasn't been too keen on being held by either of them, but he's now started giving Nadia smiles. I'm sure he'll eventually give Ian some smiles also. Oliver's smiles just warm me down to my toes. There's nothing quite like a small baby beaming at you. Part of the reason I was able to work with Nadia on her letters was that Ian and Oliver were both napping. Oliver took one three hour nap today. I can't believe he's 14 weeks old and might have already moved to one nap a day? We shall see. Ian slept for one hour in his bed and then came down crying. I was holding him to comfort him, and he fell asleep in my arms and slept for another hour. That was only possible because Oliver was still napping and Nadia was playing with her Leapster. I would say it felt like deja vu (since he used to take all his naps in my arms), but he is so much bigger than the last time I held him like that for a nap that it didn't feel like deja vu. It was still sweet though, although not quite as sweet as holding a sleeping baby in my arms (like when Oliver took a nap in my arms during Nadia's ballet/tap class on Monday).