The Armstrongs: Spring! (9 months/5 years)

Well, so much for being caught up... here we go again.

Penelope's six month check up proved she is in fact quite tiny, 3rd percentile to be exact. We began trying new foods. She mostly is refusing veggies and will eat fruits great. She likes Cheerios and Puffs a lot. And we have even fed her some food from our plates. She is a good little eater in my book, but she remains small. Her 9 month check up, she didn't register on that old percentile chart. Doc thinks she's just going to be petite, but will keep a closer eye on her for now. She is surely on the move now too. She crawls and rolls, and sits and pulls up, and will even walk a little while holding on to our hands. She loves her mommy for sure and mostly wants no one but me if I am in the room. She can say Mama and Dada, but I'm still not sure she associates them with us. She's a good sleeper too. Most days she naps well. Just in the last couple of weeks she is staying awake and happy longer after she eats. Kai's Legos are her best crawling motivator. =) I love to hear her talk and laugh and coo.

Kai is growing and maturing too! Here's a quick summary of what he's been up to in the last several months.
:: We had one day where we had both a playdate and dinner out with Nonie and Dagan. No big deal except that the two places had very similar names and he kept getting understandably confused. Note to self: Don't take your kid to iJump (indoor inflatable play place) and IHOP (International House of Pancakes) on the same day!
:: Buzz cut!
:: He ran into something and exclaimed that he had hurt his "thumb toe"
:: I had been away one weekend and returned wearing some clothes I have not worn in awhile also wearing makeup which I had gotten in the habit of not fooling with and he told me, "You look cute mommy."Aww, until he continued... "much cuter than usual." Ouch.
:: He's really tuned in to commercials on TV when Michael is watching something. He has out of the blue and very seriously told us that we need both Charter TV (because it NEVER goes out, no matter what kind of weather) and one of those doors that keeps bugs out (some magnetic screen contraption you can put up on the outside of your door) which needs no tools and no nails.
:: He played Spring Soccer for the Homewood league and did pretty well. I think he could really be a good little player if he would just stay focussed on the game instead of the playground right beside the field.
:: We had a good time going to several birthday parties both for friends and family. Kai loves to be around people.
:: We toured the school where he will start Kindergarten in the fall. He was hesitant to leave my side at first, but said he had a good time when we met up after it was over. I can't believe he will be in big school all day so soon!!
:: We got to spend some time with the Great Grands. They love the kids so well.
:: Our half year of Dawson Day School came to a close. It was a great experience for all of us and I'm so proud of Kai for memorizing so many bible verses in such a short time. I hope they stay with him.
:: He turned 5!! Cookie Cake was on the menu as it is every year. We had planned for a day trip with just family down to the hunting camp to go fishing and play outdoors, but it of course rained again for his party day so we scaled back to just pizza and cookie cake at Nana and DD's house. He still turned 5 and still felt special and celebrated. Not to mention racked up on Lego sets! We are loaded with Legos.
:: He had his doctor check up and all his shots. He's growing like a weed and is now in the 75th percentile for weight and height. The doc estimates he will be around 6 feet tall. Something about that just struck me. My little boy is growing too fast!!

Pictures for March thru mid May... Sorry!!