The Deardurff Family: June 2015

I've always loved summer. As a student I loved the time off school and spent in the pool. As a young adult I enjoyed all the freedom summer gave. Now as a parent I enjoy all the time summer gives me with my kids. This summer is bitter sweet because I've been so blessed with a long maternity leave that will end come Aug. I'm not ready, I don't think I'll ever be ready. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching - I just know how demanding it is and hate to think of how much I'll be pulled away from my kids. Its already started as I am forced to spend yet another summer moving classrooms and familiarizing myself with a new curriculum.
G will be three in about a month and a half! How can that be?!? She is so mature for her age. When she does act like a two year old we often have to remind ourselves that she is only two. She is thriving in her big sister role, most of the time. She loves to help Mommy. But she still craves attention and sometimes behaves poorly to get it. We are all adjusting to her growing independence. She loves, loves, loves horses. We are so blessed to have neighbors that board horses that she can see almost daily. She can take riding lessons beginning at age 4 so we will see if she still loves them a year from now. She also loves to sing songs, play dress up, go to the library, swing, swim, play in water, and just be outside. Running barefoot in the grass is also so fun for her.
A is 5 months old! He weighs about 21 pounds and still loves to eat/nurse. We are lucky if he goes 3 hours between nursings during the day. He has come a long way in his night time sleep, but is still not sleeping through the night. He is in size 12 month clothes! He loves to lay on his tummy and is beginning to enjoy jumping in his jump-a-roo. His favorite toys are any that he can get into his mouth to chew on, but he prefers his hands and fingers. He is napping with a lovey that seems to comfort him as he talks himself to sleep. He takes about 3 naps a day, most are about an hour long sometimes 1.5 hours. He is eating some rice cereal in the evenings. He has started to take a bottle (still Mommy's milk) from Daddy and Mamaw. He was NOT thrilled with this at first to put it nicely, but he's getting better.
G likes to hold her baby brother. She asked to carry him the other day, but he is two-thirds her size so she has to settle for him sitting in her lap. A thinks his big sister is so funny. She can make him laugh like no one else. They like to play and build blocks together and knock them down. Reading is something they like to do together too.