Andrew

Our little Andrew is getting so big!! Lately i have been feeling just how big boy he is getting!! He can put his clothes and shoes on mostly by himself. He needs just limited help in the bathroom now. He can write his name on his own and loves to write words that i spell. He has been anxious to know how to read - I am trying to help him learn but am in no rush for him to learn this soon! I just don't want him to miss out on just playing and doing other things. But he is pretty determined and the other day he made a breakthrough! He knows what sounds the letters make so we have him sound out words. So he would do the funniest thing - real slow he would sound out "dog" - "dah-ah-gggg". I would say "good, what's the word", and he would say "box"!!! So funny. But the other day we were reading a simple book and something clicked and he all of a sudden starting sounding out the words, then saying what they were. He goes through fazes of interest so we will see what happens with this "reading" phase!

He also has been saying the funniest things! He often talks about the future/present/past all at once. For instance, he will say "when i am sixteen i can go to bed". Or just funny stuff like "when i was 6 you (mommy) were in my tummy"! We have been trying to talk to him about stuff costing money and introduce the idea of buying stuff. I tell him that daddy goes to work and makes money so every day that Stephen comes home Andrew asks "did you earn some money today?".

One thing i do with him and Jack is have them say "I'm sorry", then have the other child say "I forgive you". They are so funny - they both usually say both things at the same time. It is all i can do to keep a straight face! They are so sincere too when one whacks the other child then the offender says "I forgive you!" Andrew has been talking non-stop these past few months about his birthday! Oh he can't wait. He keeps saying his is in July - i think he is going to be so excited when Jack's birthday comes along! Andrew seems to really love machines. His favorite Mr Rogers (so fun that he can watch that show too!!) is about recycling machines. His favorite "bob the builder" is about a car wash, and he often refers to the milking parlor from the farm. He is starting to do imaginary play and he often tries to build a car wash.