Hm.
Seth: Let's see... he's read his first book this month -- he read three books that contained about 30 words or so. It's amazing. He told me where Machu Picchu was (I didn't even know that), -- really, really into geography lately -- learning continents, countries, major world landmarks (Great Wall, Pyramids at Giza, Eiffle tower, Sydney Opera House ... etc) -- He loves learning, I just wish I had more time to give him. His writing has improved, today he tried to sound out and write "Raya Abigail Ritter" by himself and was impressed at how close he came "Raya Abigal Rittr."
Levi: Let's see... he knows his letters and sounds and he's really trying to write the letters (like his big bro). He'll make an "H" or "F" -- or other letters sometimes, but I don't know if he can do it consistently -- lower case "l" and "o" he has down :) and likes to show me a whole page of "l"'s. Loves to sing and run. Likes to make up his own words and laugh heartily afterward. His laughter is contagious and he makes everyone around him smile.
Love my boys!
A month! I can't believe it. I've had this little girl for a month already. -- I took some pictures of her yesterday to commemorate the occasion.
Now about Raya ... she is funny :), I love watching her personality emerge more and more each day. In all seriousness this girl is outrageous, for one -- her tongue, she's crazy about the thing; two -- she's a little boombox, she snorts and guffaws, and makes all these guttural noises I don't know how to begin to describe; three -- she's very particular, whatever you do don't clean her hands! It is apparently the most unbearable form of punishment; four -- I'm just going to say it, she's got gas, she's like a horn, any forced movement and she squeaks; five -- she has the most amazing smile.
by golly I love this little girl.
So with Raya's hair starting to fall out I decided to cut off a lock. Being the super-scientist that I am, I took the hair into the electron microscopy center where I TA. I gold-coated and imaged her hair with the scanning electron microscope. How many kids can have THESE pictures in their baby book????
Raya hair at 25x mag:
Raya hair at about 800x mag:
Raya hair at 4000k mag:
I know, you don't have to say it, I'm a super cool dad.
.... I've been asked frequently how the adjustment of having three kids has been ... Honestly, the stupid truth, we're doing better now that I'm not pregnant! Sleep deprived, still recovering from pregnancy, "opinionated" daughter -- I find myself with more energy than I can recount in almost a year ... My house is cleaner (yes, I know most people think I'm overly clean, but now it's even better! :)), my boys lunches are larger and more varied -- and we're all dressed and ready by eight'ish.
It's so stupid --but it puts it into perspective how awful pregnancy was for me! I get up after a night of sleep deprivation and think, "Man, I feel great!"
Really, I can cook without having to sit in a chair, I can take a shower without fear of fainting -- bliss right there -- get on the floor and play with my boys again. I'm so excited to exercise, I haven't been on a walk in a year! (!!)
As happy as I am not being pregnant, we're still busier than all get-out, here's a typical day's schedule for posterity:
6:30am Wake/get ready
7:00am Boys wake/get ready/make beds/Eat
7:45 am Jeff leaves
Mornings are spent reading books, playing in the playroom, taking care of Raya, cleaning house (mainly laundry), running errands and off to whatever program that is planned for the day
11:30-1:00 we come home eat lunch (that was prepared the night before) clean -- put Levi down for a nap, Seth set-up for quiet time, Raya for a nap, and then I get a nap.
2:30'ish-4:00 Books, cleaning, keeping sane until Jeff gets home, we watch an episode of reading rainbow generally during this time, and I try to do some sort of lesson with the boys, and get them outside.
4:00'ish start dinner, debate whether or not to wait for Jeff to come home before we eat (We're all starving by 5:00!) Feed kids, clean kids while I'm feeding Raya typically.
5:ooish-7:00 I'm released from the bounds of entertainer and the boys pounce and wrestle Jeff for the remainder of the night. Jeff gets the boys ready for bed.
7:00 - 9:00 clean (kitchen, playroom, trash, sweep), take care of Raya, make lunches for tomorrow, shop for groceries if needed. -- Jeff does homework forever
9:30, hopefully, bed.
Oh, life, I'm glad I'm young.
PICTURES!
This is what happens when I try to lie down:
This IS what cute looks like:Love my girl :)
Hm.
Seth: Let's see... he's read his first book this month -- he read three books that contained about 30 words or so. It's amazing. He told me where Machu Picchu was (I didn't even know that), -- really, really into geography lately -- learning continents, countries, major world landmarks (Great Wall, Pyramids at Giza, Eiffle tower, Sydney Opera House ... etc) -- He loves learning, I just wish I had more time to give him. His writing has improved, today he tried to sound out and write "Raya Abigail Ritter" by himself and was impressed at how close he came "Raya Abigal Rittr."
Levi: Let's see... he knows his letters and sounds and he's really trying to write the letters (like his big bro). He'll make an "H" or "F" -- or other letters sometimes, but I don't know if he can do it consistently -- lower case "l" and "o" he has down :) and likes to show me a whole page of "l"'s. Loves to sing and run. Likes to make up his own words and laugh heartily afterward. His laughter is contagious and he makes everyone around him smile.
Love my boys!
