Birthday Month

Claire

Our talkative girl has been really great at copying sentences and loves to say "Look!" and point things out she knows or makes. She gets really excited to read books and will name them by what she thinks they should be named so we have to figure out which one she wants like "read snow" is a Christmas book. Next week she is turning 3 years old and I can't believe how fun and weird it is to have a child this old already, even if she is the size of a 2 year old at 26 lbs. She is never stopped by any obstacle I try to put in her way and finds ways around my barriers which means I try to make her understand not to go places (like my sewing room) and play with things (like needles!). I got her to say happy birthday to me and give me a kiss so hopefully she understands birthdays and presents because hers are all wrapped up and waiting for her to open them next week.

Shay

I thought I would be used to the way a 18 month old asks for things after Claire, but its been 18 months since then so I have to get used to it again! I keep thinking she doesn't know what she wants but she is more and more understanding and will come stare at you until you acknowledge that she wants something like food or to go outside. She hasn't yet taken my hand and dragged me somewhere but she points and gives insistent grunts and sounds to tell us things. She does know how to say more pretty well and I know what it sounds like even if Chris hasn't caught on and I have to tell him that what she wants. Other than her progressing communication, she has a lot of fun with dirt in the back yard and tests our barriers but still can't get past them luckily.

Sewing

I've finally got a set up sewing room for the first time in my life and a barricade to keep the girls out and not mess with everything. My first projects were the baby gates and then rice bags for cooling and heating since Claire got stung by a bee a few weeks ago and we didn't have a good ice pack that wasn't too cold for her. As I was going through the fabric I've had in my stash for a very VERY long time, I also found a fabric book that I remember getting as a remnant from Hancock Fabrics so I made that too and Shay likes reading it (turning the pages and not letting me read it to her). I hope to find time to make more things like matching cloths, but for now its just a simple craft room using a massage table with folded out cardboard.

Birthday

The first birthday to start this month was mine just yesterday and I enjoyed being an adult and getting practical gifts and making my favorite meals. It's been interesting to see how different I think when my birthday rolls around and I look for gifts that are useful instead of fun where this year I got an accessory kit for my instant pot which can be both I guess since cooking is fun. Since we are on a tight budget now Chris and I only exchanged homemade personal gifts and I got gifts of kisses from my girls and took a bunch of pictures. I'm now starting my last year of my 20s and I'm looking back at them so grateful for the blessings I've had in my life.