Kate is Four!

Our Kate Marie is four years old! What a year it's been for her. When I think back to her third birthday I'm amazed at all the ways she has grown and developed. 

She has learned so much, like how to put on her socks and shoes, and dress herself. She is potty trained! She has gotten more confident at the park and is taking more risks, climbing higher and running faster. She swings in the big girl swing. 

She knows most of her letter sounds and can more easily recognize numbers and quantities. She sings along to more songs. She loves to do her calendar and have bible time. One of her favorite play activities is to lead her stuffed toys in "Shine Time". (What we call our morning bible time) She's starting to use scissors and loves to paint. She helps me in the kitchen and always reminds me to put the hole in the dry ingredients before we add the wet. She loves books. 

She loves her sister and they have a bond so deep that I can't interfere when they are "talking" to each other! Yes, at times she is the typical big sister and she gets frustrated, but all in all, she cares so much for Claire. 

(Though this picture is posed, she really does like this book, The House on Pooh Corner. It was quite fitting for her picture!) 

At times I'm not sure what I'm doing and I feel like I'm in over my head. Her strong will challenges me in ways that strengthen my character! She is her own person, with her own mind. She has her own ideas and ways of doing things. If I want her to like something there is about a 75% she will say she doesn't like it just to be funny. 

She is logical. She wants to understand. 

She is also full of the special sort of joy that only children possess. She likes to be silly and laugh. I tend to be more serious so I suppose this is good for me. :) 

She notices the small things, and loves to walk around outside picking up acorns or sticks. 

She loves to talk, imagine that! ;)

As far as her favorite things to do- who can really say at this point? She is a little girl and she will take interest in most things if we are doing it alongside her. Dance has been fun for her because she enjoys the sweet music and the scarves and things. She looks forward to Bible Class. 

She has changed me in so many ways, and I love her for it. I can't wait to see her grow and discover this next year. She's been so patiently awaiting her special day. 

Happy Birthday, sweet girl! 

Claire is One!

She is one. I've putting off this post because it's the last of these monthly reflections. While part of me just procrastinates, part of me just doesn't want it to end. This time last year was full of doctor appointments, tracking, endless pharmacy visits to gather up Provera and Clomid amongst my regular medications to tend to the unfortunate PCOS, and waking up at 5 AM every morning to take my temperature. As I sat in the waiting room month after month I could see other couples, some with hope, some with heartache. Infertility is not as easy road to travel, and I'm thankful I didn't have to travel it as far as so many others. I will never forget the surprise I felt to see the positive sign on that pregnancy test. Our doctor wasn't expecting it, so I certainly wasn't, but I diligently tested myself because that's just what you do when you are paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars to get pregnant. You take a test even when you think there is no way. 

Not long after, I went into Dr. Reshef's office and he confirmed our sweet blessing. We listened to her heart beat and he said with a huge smile, "That's the best sound in the world." 

It is. It's the sound of hope and wonder and joy. 

An expression of God's love in it's purest form. 

Then our Claire was born. It was a fast and furious birth. She was ready. She changed the three of us from the inside out as our selfishness was exposed and our hearts reshaped. We struggled with sleepless nights and lots of pain and we wondered what was wrong. Months of blood tests and doctor appointments and of course, diet changes. I thought we'd be stuck in that pit forever. 

And now, here we are. 

Our little girl is thriving. Clear skin, normal digestion, and growing and developing month by month as she should. One year old. 

At her appointment she weighed in at 22.1 lbs (68%) and measured 28.5 in long. (31%) 

She is happy and heathy and precious. 

She loves to move. She will not stay in one place for very long. 

She is by her sister most of the time. She wants to see what she is doing, and usually steal a toy or two. ;)

She loves the doll house, music, her rocking horse, and just about anything small that she can grab and chew on. 

She LOVES to play at the park. Climbing, walking, sliding, eating mulch- she loves it all. 

She learned to walk this month! I can not believe how fast she can go now! She is strong and coordinated. Her favorite game is to run and stick her hands in the potty if the bathroom door is open, so you know, she keeps me on my toes! 

She eats and nurses well. She still wakes up at night and I still go to her. She is a happy thing, seeing her sweet smile when I feel stressed soothes my soul in a way that reminds me of what's important in life. 

Sweet Claire Lucille,

I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. 

As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.