Warning: Long post!!

 Lots of progress is being made over here! First of all, I am really happy to say I think I've finally turned the corner after 5 miserable days. Yuck. I don't remember the last time I've had the flu but let me say for the record that the flu shot is probably a good idea!

Especially if you have a few germ-carrying children living with you!

Also, I am......ready for this? WALKING!!! I have made it through 2 days crutch-free now! I am not ready to be traipsing all over the neighborhood or anything but definitely can get around the house. It feels SO good to be able to do things again: helping prepare meals, washing dishes and carrying my sweet girl!

I am so looking forward to gaining strength so I can do normal things like walking through a store or to the park or even standing for longer periods of time, which is kind of painful. At the orders of my crazy-doc, I had to buy some Crocs to wear so I could have a looser, more comfortable shoe to wear. Even if they are ugly.

So I am the proud new owner of some Raspberry and Gray colored Crocs. Please don't judge me. I know I'm not cool. But they are helping me as I re-learn how to walk without the pirate-peg-leg-gait. Definitely not cool.

Missy Darlin' is 17 months old now! She is picking up new words like "Dint" (Drink) and "Peez" (please), "Doo-doo" (Choo-Choo) and "Doddie" (Doggie). She loooooves to tell us about every train that goes by.....which is a lot when you live right next to a train track:) But her little train sign and "Doo-doo!" never gets old:)

She is getting VERY picky with her food. I was in a really happy place called Denial, thinking that the picky stage would skip right over her. Right. She turns up her nose at old favorites, making it very hard to figure out what to feed her. Some staples that we know she will always eat are cheese, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, broccoli and most meat. Little stinker!

She is getting so tall and loving walking around everywhere. I just realized the other day that I haven't seen her crawl lately. For awhile after she learned to walk, she would crawl a few times a day. But it's gradually stopped over the past week or so. (wiping tear away).

She is doing great with her glasses! She barely put up a fight today and seems to actually like them. We are noticing instant correction with her eye, which makes us SO happy!

I got to put my sweet angel to bed tonight, all the way through with no "help" needed. It was wonderful. To give her a bath, get her all cozy, rock her and read her a story. I am so thankful.

 This kiddo is maturing so fast! He has calmed down so much, not throwing as many ridiculous tantrums (although they still burst out from time to time!). He is more sensitive to things like being left-out by his brother and neighborhood friends and fairness. He is riding the line between wanting to be little boy and play in the bathtub and race cars and wanting to be like big brother, who doesn't want to play the same things much anymore. It makes me feel sad for him because I don't want him to stop being a little boy yet.

Cute story: He came home from preschool a couple weeks ago with a sticker on his shirt. I noticed it and asked about it. He said, "I got this sticker from playing Salom at school." I said "Salom? What is that?" He explained that "Salom" was something they played during free time and his teacher, Ms Dredsen, gave out some stickers.

I was totally thinking it was some cultural thing they were playing since they celebrate a lot of different cultures/holidays. So I was surprised (and amused) upon further questioning to find out that "Salom" is a place where girls go to get their hair fixed but boys can't go there.

I still haven't figured out why he's getting Salom stickers if boys don't go there but I didn't ask. He got two Salom stickers that week:)

His little boy-ness that I want to remember: He still gets "psketti" face after he eats spaghetti, he loves to come sit in my lap, he loves to play in the bathtub for long periods of time, he talks to himself while he plays, he loves to pick out all his own clothes (very proudly) and regularly mismatches or puts shirts on backwards (so cute:), he announces almost every time that he has to go potty, he's sweet and tender, developing his self-confidence, wants to be loved and included, screams and laughs the loudest and has the most beautiful blue eyes ever!

My Samuel is such BIG kid now. To the point where we are adjusting disciplining/rewards to fit now. (ex. being sent to his room instead of time-outs or losing privileges instead of toys) He's maturing so fast and while it is a good, normal, happy thing, it also makes me sad!! How is this kiddo already 6 1/2??

He doesn't like to take baths anymore, just wants to wash himself and get right out (much to the sadness of Z). We've offered to teach him how to take a shower so he can be quick but he's not too sure about all the water running over his face:) He doesn't play with Thomas the Train anymore, his love since he was 2 1/2! He constantly complains of being "bored" even though he has tons of toys. The thing that really tugged at my sensitive mommy-heart was when I noticed over the past months, that while giraffees still hold a place of honor in his bed, he doesn't always notice if they fall out right away. He's quick to pick them up and tuck them up by his pillow if you tell him but he's such a big kid now. (of course, today he brought giraffees in for inspection, showing me holes and various things to perform mommy-surgery on:)

He rolls is eyes at our humor and says "Oh, brother!" He sneaks up on us, hoping to overhear secret adult conversation, convinced we are having all the fun without them.

But he still loves hugs, he giggles and belly-laughs when you tickle him, he feels things so deeply and cries easily (like his mama!) because of that beautiful, sensitive heart. He's still that same sweet boy we welcomed into our life 6 1/2 years ago......he's just bigger. And more mature. And that takes some getting used to.

I just love these kiddos and all the joy and noise they bring to our life!