5 years young

James was so excited about his birthday today, that he did not get much sleep last night. I kind of wondered if he would be in a picture mood today, and it turns out he isn't. I was able to snap one as he ate the cupcake he chose (the one with the most icing flowers on top of course! and pink!). James has learned a lot this year, he has figured out basic arithmetic, and is very interested in how things grow (he has been a big help in the garden). When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, he replied, "I would like to be a Tyrannosaurus Rex, though I am not sure how I can do that. Either I will figure out the science to become one, or I will just be a Paleontologist and study them closely". He enjoys running, dancing, singing, and pirate play. He adores Captain Hook, so we have read the original Barrie twice this past year. For his birthday he received an abridged version that we can complete in one sitting (he is thrilled). His favorite color is pink, and his favorite band is a tie between They Might be Giants, the Starlight Mints and The Apples in Stereo. In the fall he will begin to take both piano and karate lessons, to see if either are something he is interested in pursuing. He is an extremely vivacious kid, with an easy smile, and a very big personality. We are so happy he is our child.


and one of E enjoying his cupcake for James' birthday:

last day as a 4 year old

I cannot believe this child is going to be 5 tomorrow. He is alternating between being super excited about his birthday (presents! cake!) and not wanting to grow up. He has always been a child of many moods, so this is not surprising. I thought I would put up a few pictures of him today, in case he does not want his picture taken tomorrow.

he fits in a bucket

The good news is that E is now officially on the growth chart. 5%, height and weight. I am very proud, as this is the first time in his life he has been ON the chart. He has grown an incredible amount this year, 5 lbs and 4 inches.

That said, he still fits completely inside a 5 gallon bucket. There are definitely advantages to being tiny.

E turns 3!

Is anyone else as appalled by this as I am? It is strange how big James seemed at 3, and in comparison, E still seems so small. Such is life as a younger sibling, I suppose. We are having a birthday party for both boys at the end of the month, so today we celebrated with cake pops. Here are a few of the birthday boy enjoying his:



This year Eliot has learned to use the potty (most of the time), climb almost any structure, and really annunciate his speech. He is very interested in dinosaurs and vikings, and his favorite book is "In the night kitchen". His favorite band is the Pogues. His favorite activities (according to him) are "sneaking" and "playing". He is eating a much wider array of foods recently, though he maintains his sweet tooth. He is full of this wonderful energy, and is so expressive with his face. We are so thankful he is part of our family.