Katherine Joy Davis
Five Months Old
Likes talking, drooling, sleeping and nursing
Dislikes strangers, being alone, and getting her immunizations

Dear Kate,
You have surprised us this month with your growth, happy nature, and loud babbling. We can no longer say you are our "petite one" since you are in the 80% for height! You are rolling from tummy to back and grabbing your toys and pacifier to wave them in the air. You are fascinated with hands - yours and ours. You love to talk to yourself in the mirror and smile at the baby! You smile easily and are a great audience for Jack and Jo.
For a few weeks this month you regressed and began waking at night - not to eat, just to cry. You were soothed by your pacifier and us rubbing your cheeks. Thankfully you are back to sleeping 9-10 hours. Dr. Halsell confirmed that you are a strong and verbal little girl!
Your Daddy has enjoyed being home with you on Thursday mornings this month, then bringing you to school at lunch and for the afternoon while I teach. My students love you, and can't get over your fuzzy black hair and rosy, plump cheeks.
You have added playing in your exersaucer and Johnny Jump-up to your daily activities. You are wearing 6 month clothing and really filling them out! I think teeth are around the corner as you drool constantly and chew on my fingers and your own.
You are a fun (still high-maintenance) five month old, and we can't imagine life without you.
I love you,
Mama

28 Reasons

I received an email this week from Babycenter titled: "Your Preschooler at 28 months." I actually had to read it a few times and think which child it was talking about. I haven't referred to Josie in "months" for a long time it feels. She is so...2. Here's 28 reasons to love this 28-month old.
1. Have you ever seen eyes this blue?
2. She is a great mommy to her babies.
3. She talks about everything. Just this morning she raised her shirt and said, "Look, Mommy, I have a baby in my tummy."
4. She crawls into my bed every morning and snuggles with me until I am ready to get up.
5. She has the cutest pigtails I have ever seen.
6. She likes to hop.
7. She eats just about anything. Some faves are cereal, oranges, "kini" bread, and granola bars
8. Her signature dance move is the shoulder shrug.
9. She can say her ABC's and count to ten. This week she has been counting in Spanish to three.
10. She loves her "babysisterTate."
11. She smiles with her eyes.
12. She gives great kisses and hugs.
13. She is getting better at using the potty.
14. When she washes her hands, she sings Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star EVERY TIME.
15. She is simply hilarious. This morning she said, "Let's go amigos!"
16. Every day at 11am she asks to watch "D-D-D-Dora!"
17. Her thumb and pink blankie are all she needs in crisis.
18. She loves her Doc and Mam, and their dog "Dutchie boy."
19. She is so tough - takes tumbles and falls in stride.
20. She is a book lover - at least 6 times a day she comes to me and says, "Read this book to me, please."
21. Jack is her rock star.
22. When we try to pretend and make up names for each other, she gets frustrated. "No, I Josie!"
23. She likes to wear her sunglasses upside-down only, and this drives Jack crazy.
24. She is the tallest kid in her class. Most people think she and Jack are twins.
25. She is really difficult to discipline because she truly forgets instructions. Just today she was climbing up my desk chair and I said, "Josie, that's not safe. No climbing." She responded, "Oh, I sorry."
26. She likes to eat toothpaste. When we can't find her, we know to look in the bathroom.
27. When I pick her up at school, she runs to me and gives me a hug!
28. We love her because she makes our days fun and light.
Happy 28 months, JoJo.

Super

Thanks to SuperAunt Kat for a super gift!
The kids are loving their handmade capes, especially SuperJack, who is eating, playing and sleeping in his newest costume. I haven't been able to capture a great pic of the kids in their capes...but aren't they perfect? They have loved coming up with their alter-egos and superpowers. They have added endless possibilties at the LHIGP!

Jack, aka SuperJack
Superpower: as told to Mom - super hiding power (his fave game is hide and seek)
Josie, aka SuperJo
Superpower: super hopping power (seriously, this girl has a nice vertical already)
Kate, aka SuperSister
Superpower: super drooling power (teeth must be coming soon!)

These super kids are rocking my world.

Happy anniversary to my best friend and husband Will.
Eight years has flown by, and I keep laughing at your jokes and loving you more.
We were kids when we married (me - 21, Will - 24) and now God has given us three kids to love! He has certainly been good to us. Thank you, Will, for standing by me in good times, as well as in trials. I can't imagine sharing my life with anyone else.

"It was the best Christmas I ever had."

This is what Jack told me in the car Christmas night as we drove from San Antonio to the farm. And why not? The celebration began December 1st as we began our advent tree, and didn't end until New Year's Day. I echo this sentiment as I think back on the month. Some memories include:
*Having devotions each night and adding ornaments to our advent tree
*Christmas parties at Sonshine Club
*Staying with Sam, Shannon and Connor in San Antonio
*Going to Sea World
*Christmas stories and carols at church
*Christmas Eve with the Davis gang
*Matching pajamas (thanks Shannon!)
*The Christmas eve children's service with Connor
*Jack singing "Away in a Manger" on Christmas Eve
*Leaving a note, cookies, and milk for Santa (Jack helped me write it!)
*Singing "Happy birthday to Jesus"
*Playing hide and seek with all the Davis cousins
*Seeing the kids eyes full of wonder when they saw their bulldozer and baby
*Christmas brunch
*Seeing "Prairie Lights" in Grand Prairie
*Christmas night at the farm with Doc and Mam
*Jack playing his new drum set and singing "Happy Anniversary" to Clif and Kat on the phone
*Celebrating Kate's first Christmas
*Will being on vacation! Everyone's happier when Dad is home.