Four. More four.

Statistics for the four-year-old:

HEALTHY! Praise God, we didn't go to the doctor between July 2013 and July 2014. And he's in full-time preschool. Miracles, y'all.

Height: 44.25" (98th percentile)

Weight: 39.2 lb. (72nd percentile)

So, long and lean. And yes, he has outgrown almost all of his summer shoes. We're in about an 11.5 now.
 

Discovering the simple beauty of a McD's sundae.

 

His eating has gotten pickier and pickier. He loves chicken and rice. He prefers raw veggies over cooked, and will eat broccoli, carrots, peas and anything with marinara sauce. He will also eat Thai curry and Mai Fun noodles like a champ, but will not touch a hamburger. His favorite is probably pizza or spaghetti or "cheesy noodles" (fettuccine alfredo). Loves chick-fil-A nuggets and any form of ice cream and chocolate.


Bedtime is a struggle. Astonishingly, when the lights go out, he is "STARVING!!!!!" (in a dramatic fashion)

Matching pajamas (same size, even) with cousin Micah.

"Mommy, my tummy is squishy. I'm STARVING."

"Ok, do you want a banana or applesauce?"

"Not that food, Mommy. I need cheese crackers..."

And on and on we go. He likes to have company when he falls asleep. Usually in the form of Mommy. No matter what we try, he says he scared of being in his room by himself. Extra lights, stories, special teddy bears, checking in every few minutes...sigh. It's been a long year or so with that. We're tired.

Google made a SWEET GIF of his candle-blowing at the party! (photos by mommy)

He recently began doing somersaults. Just flips right over. And climbing EVERYTHING. His favorite climbing apparatuses are sofas and dressers.

Shepard and cousin Madeleine enjoying the Fourth of July

His favorite toys are anything that he can involve someone else in. We've discovered the joys of a watergun recently. He likes all of his cars a lot. He really likes to paint or color or cut paper. He likes to build walls with his Gigi at the Lego table. He likes to play store, fashion show, light show (dancing around with glow sticks and light-up shoes), build-a-castle/house, and catch.

Squirtgun + tub o' water = happy

Favorite shows right now are "Sammy 2" (Turtle Tale 2), "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," and "The Reef/Reef 2."

Favorite books are "Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site," "Knuffle Bunny" (1 & 2), "The Foot Book," "The Lorax," and "Llama Llama, Red Pajama."

Climbing

A conversation we just had: We talk about putting all our questions for the day into a "question box" so our brain(s) can rest and go to sleep. This is his side of the conversation with my um-hums and return questions omitted.
"My question box is tight, Mommy...It's very full of questions. And it has lots of buttons...My 'whys' are fragile...when you say 'I don't know,' they break...my 'whys' are made of green glass...and they're fragile...there are lots of buttons on my question box, and they are automatic." 

Mommy shed a few tears thinking about the beauty of all of that. I get so worn out from answering the non-stop flow of questions. But they are so precious to him. We asked him recently why he asks so many questions. "Because I need to know things I don't know yet." Well, when you put it that way...

Love and hugs. I love to watch you grow and learn. ~Mommy & Daddy

Happy Birthday, Shepard!

Dear little guy,

You are growing in knowledge. So smart and inquisitive. I keep trying to get you to put your questions in the "question box" late at night when our brains are getting sleepy. You just want to know everything. You told us so. I love that you are curious.

Make a wish!

You are getting tall. I'm a little afraid at how much you grow and how fast. I'll have to double-check, but I'm pretty sure you've grown 4-5 inches since your birthday last year. And a full 3/4 of an inch in the last MONTH. I'm also fairly afraid that you outgrew all your summer shoes overnight, with July, Aug. and Sept. to go.

Creativity and focus.

Always in the middle of the good time.

You are vocal. This obviously goes both ways, but I love that you know what you want, how you want it and when. And you are learning to be gracious and kind each and every day. I see a strong mind and qualities of leadership. And I pray a lot for the Lord to help us direct you and teach you to be a gracious leader. From "incapacitated" to "deciduous" to "septic tank," the number of words you retain and use are astonishing. It's as if you can't wait to use all the words you haven't even learned yet.

the singing of the "Happy Birthday"-face

You love to laugh. You ask to be tickled instead of having "consequences." (and who can blame you for that, really?) But you are always ready to have some fun. And you've started telling us silly jokes that really don't make sense, except that you find them funny...so we do, too.

Overseeing the lighting technique.

 You are creative and expressive. Your imagination is so healthy, and you love to make up games and situations for us to play along with. Whether it's playing "restaurant" where you take orders and hand out chocolate milk, or setting up "K-Mart" in the sunroom; you always have a plan. I guess I've taught you that...but I do love it when you tell me what's up and then ask, "does that sound like a plan, Mommy?"

I have no idea what you're thinking here. Looking at the cake...

One of the most interesting things we've discovered about you lately is your keen sense of smell. You evaluate most of the world on whether "it smells right" to you. I surely am glad you like my smell, because you are definitely drawing lines on liking, eating, playing with and even entering places based on smell alone. Not sure where this is headed. Perhaps you'll be a "smellologist."  :)

Thinking about sidewalk chalk

Most of all, your Daddy and I love you to the moon and back. We love discovering each new day with you. We pray that you will meet the challenges that life sends to you with grace, truth and love; and send those things back into the world with a great ferocity. We love you the ocean.

~Mommy

(photos from our 4th birthday celebration with a few friends and family on 6/28 at the Harris Street Park)

March marched and other news

This morning, I had my work calendar open today to March and started to feel deflated. See, I color code my events by location, and March looked like a RAINBOW. For a moment, I thought I was looking at April and wanted to crawl under the desk and: A. nap; B. cry; C: whimper, D; all of the above. If you guessed D, you are correct!

So, many apologies for the lack of posts.Between work, a mini staycation, sinus funk, and an upcoming Starving Artist production, I am happy to find time to grocery shop, sleep and eat.

I have some photos I shared with family of Shepard's month-long fascination with teeth-brushing. He will run to the bathroom, saying "TEETH!" He has on occasion, tried to use the toothbrush as a hairbrush, at which point I try to explain the difference. He loves to stand on his little green stool and ask about everything in the bathroom--faucet, toothpaste, Mommy's toothbrush, sink, water, wash hands...etc.
We get new words every day. Saturday's word was "chickpeas!" as I was buying some at Target. I generally can't get him to greet folks with a Hi or Hello, but chickpeas we've got down. We are starting to get some sentences, though only intelligible by him. He will start them and end them with words we can understand..."Daddy schmee gah la go?" Things like that. And over the weekend, he seemed to be experimenting with some Forrest-Gump-sounding words like Mah-maaay instead of Mommy. Who knows?

We're looking forward to the next few weeks with Easter, a trip to GA, and Mommaaay and Daddaaay's date night at Les Mis in Greenville. Whew!
I will get some playtime at the park footage up soon. Soon, I say!

This week in the life of Shepard-19 months

Happy 19 months, sweet boy! You are such a joy. You ask what EVERYTHING is, and especially like to point to animals and objects in books and hear the words over and over. You can identify lots of animals now when Mommy and Daddy ask you something like, "Where's the cow?" Occasionally, you will roar like a lion and smile at us with a glimmer in your eye, as though you know how cute you're being.

Man, my feet are growing so fast!

Hopefully, I'll grow into these feet soon.

Let's go play outside!

On Saturday at the park, you played on the bridge part of the playground for the first time. Which was all very exciting until you decided to run into the other section and slide down the really-steep slide on your stomach. It was so steep we hadn't let you down it at all before! You laughed and then ran around and did it again...this time with me and on your bum. I have to wear my running shoes to keep up with you. (yes, the same running shoes pictured on HIS feet up there)

Who me? Just sittin' at the table. That's all.

You still love to climb on things. I came around the corner this morning after you had been quiet in the kitchen for a few minutes to find you sitting on the stool at the table and smiling at me...again, as if you knew how cute you are. You seemed so proud of yourself. I was really proud that you weren't standing on the stool. (see pics)

Cheese!

You take particular joy in closing doors these days, especially is someone is on the other side. Then we play a game where we open the door and you giggle and close it again. I think you'll be opening the doors pretty soon.

You have outgrown most of your 18 month clothes and are fitting into mostly 2T stuff now. Good thing we had lots of hand-me-downs ready!  At mealtimes, you are getting much better about not yelling, but asking and gesturing so we know what you want. You are pretty particular. You still love pizza, pasta, chicken, and your veggies, and have recently decided that grapes and strawberries are pretty awesome too.

I love scrambled eggs!

Last week, you interacted with the TV by saying "CHOO CHOO!" whenever the TV asked you to. And when you heard the word "sky," you jumped up and pointed straight up as if to say, "I know where that is!!!"
You change every day. I really think you grow measurably every day in height. Your eyes sparkle with everything you're thinking, and I know you can't wait to tell us all about it. We can't wait to hear.

I'm a big boy. ~by Shepard

This week I am 18 months old. That is a year and a half. Mommy keeps using the phrase "big boy" these days. That sounds good. I am learning to be a big boy every day. I went to the doctor today and he said I have big feet. Why does he always tell me that?
I am about 26.6 pounds and in the 60th percentile for weight. I am 35.5" and in the 99th percentile for height. No surprise there. I can reach the door handle at the doctor's office now and like to open and close the door while we wait on the doctor.

I got to see lots of my family at Christmas. I ripped paper off of presents and stood on my train box. My favorite part was getting love from Gigi and Pops and Grandma. They smile at me a lot and hug me. I also really liked climbing the stairs at Gigi and Pops' house. Daddy kept saying it made him tired. But I was the one climbing. Daddy was just making sure I didn't fall when I went down the stairs head-first on my belly. I know where my belly button is and I will show you if you ask. I also know about my nose, eyes, mouth and teeth. I like to put my finger in mommy's nose. I don't think Mommy likes it very much though.
The end. I have to go run and wiggle.

Mr. Fussy Britches ~By Shepard

Every day the world is making more sense. I'm starting to use some words and the teachers and mommy and daddy can understand. They still don't really understand when I just open my mouth and see how loud I can be. I wish they did. I'm very good at using my lungs and making high-pitched noises. I have been practicing it a lot but it's really because my mouth hurts a lot because I am getting giant teeth all over the place. Sometimes I find myself making my loud noises and crying and they don't know what I want at all. It will be nice when I learn some words for ouch and thirsty. Sometimes Mommy calls me "Mr. Fussy Britches." I just want to do what I want to do. What's so wrong about that?
I am really good at sleeping all night though. I have been sleeping between 11-14 hours a night lately with barely a wake-up. I am growing a lot lately, so I have to sleep a lot. Plus I run around all day at school, and we go outside twice a day and I get to swing and slide and play. I nap at school, too, on my monkey mat. It's soft and nice to sleep on.
I went to the doctor today for my check-up. Guess what? I have grown TWO WHOLE INCHES in the last three months! I am 34" tall and offically off the percentile chart. The computer told mommy I was 98.8th percentile and the doctor said 100th. I am already getting too big for some of my 18 month stuff and wearing 2T. The doctor also said I had long feet, but they go with my height. I like my feet. They carry me all kinds of places. I am starting to climb on things like the ottoman, hearth, sofa and pretty much anything I can. Mommy is always right behind me in case I don't make it. I weighed 23 lbs. and 14 oz. so I'm in the 41st percentile for weight. I will probably look a lot like my dad. Tall and handsome. They told us how big my head is, but I can't remember it right now. I'll have Mommy look it up and write it on here soon. She is good at recording that stuff so we can make sure I'm growing right.
I still really love pizza and lasagna, and love to eat my broccoli, cauliflower and carrots with a little cheese sauce. I also love PB-banana sandwiches and yogurt and cheesesticks. I eat fruit every day. Lately, I like to see my food hit the floor or see if I can drop it on the dog as he hovers below the high chair. It I'm a good shot, I can get a cheerio right on his head! Mommy keeps telling me, "NO THROW!" but she must not know how much fun it is for me to hold up the food and drop it. It always falls the same way. But bananas look different on the floor, and noodles are fun too.
That's all for now. My Grandma's coming over tonight, so I will be happy to see her. We will have fun this weekend...and remember my Papa. It's been a year since he went to heaven. We miss him a lot. I wish I could have known him and he could see how big I'm getting. I will have Mommy send a note to heaven and make sure he knows we love him.
I have to go nap now. Writing makes me sleepy.

First Haircut!

Well, yes, it did happen over a week ago. But, I'm a busy woman. It was finally time to snip the little curls that were happening on the back of Shepard's sweet head. Sometimes he really likes to wipe his banana-hands in his hair, and I needed there to be less hair to do that in.  :)

We found a cute-as-a-button kids hair salon in Newnan when we were visiting the grandparents, so it seemed the perfect time.

I'm ONE! --by Shepard

I'm ONE YEAR OLD TODAY! Mommy and Daddy have been making a fuss all week. And I think my Grandma and Nana and Pops and some of my friends are coming over on Saturday.
I like being one except sometimes when they don't know that I want something I have to scream until they figure it out. But I am working on words. I do "bye-bye" really good. And I know the sign for "all done" and usually say "DA!" emphatically when they keep putting cheerios on my tray. My favorite foods are broccoli, blueberries, pizza and graham crackers. Oh and yogurt. I want to eat four yogurts every day. I only get one. I am getting pretty good at walking. I think once I get this no one will be able to keep up with me 'cause I'm fast as lightning. I love to speed down the hall and try to get in all the doors. I can reach them, but there are these weird covers on the knobs that only grown-ups can work. But I'm watching and I will be able to open them soon.
I watch everything. I want to know how everything works....what's inside...what it tastes like...or what noises it will make. I am an explorer. When I grow up I will be able to go outside and run really fast and that makes me happy. I got a car already and can steer it. Mommy made a video about it. There is so much that I have learned all this year and so many great people I have met. It's been a great year. Thank you all for watching me grow and cheering us on.
Mommy made us a video so we can see how little I was and then all the things I have learned. I hope you like it. Here it is.





As soon as we get back from the doctor today I will tell you how tall I am and how much I weigh. Mommy says "heavy."

*UPDATE at 11 am*
OK. I am 32" tall, so I have grown 2.5" in three months! I am in the 96th percentile for height and am 21.5 lbs. so I'm in the 30th percentile for weight. Long and lean. My head is 45 cm. The doctor said I am very healthy and then they stuck my legs and it really hurt for a few minutes. Mommy said it was quick little bee stings and tried to buzz like a bee. I think it was the nurse. She looks nice, but I didn't like that tray she had at all. My blood is very healthy from all the broccoli I eat. Gotta go and do my nap!

Stats for the Kidlet

Nine-month check-up today. Nothing exotic to report. In addition to the "spirited" adjective we received last visit, we got "social, happy, and energetic" today from Dr. C. Yes, indeed. His motor skills are advanced for his age and he has good muscle tone (all the better for pulling up on everything in sight, right Shepard?).

Stats are:
Height: 29.5" (83rd percentile)
Weight: 20 lb., 12 oz. (50th percentile)
Head circumference: 44.5 cm (about 25th percentile)

We're so thankful to have a healthy and energetic munchkin. The doctor also confirmed that this is a dangerous time for him (yup. figured that out) as he could basically fall in a toilet or tub with water or try any manner of things due to his ever-increasing mobility. Thank God for the pack-n-play, 'cause sometimes Mommy just has to go to the bathroom or make a bottle. Doc also said to start giving him whatever we're eating. (in small pieces) So, Pad Thai for dinner tonight!!! (ha. kidding)

Hopefully some videos will magically appear this weekend. If Mommy's magic elves will help her.

Love to all,

Jerod, Shelley and Shepard

Quick Request

Dear Shepard,

I realize you wake up and think you're starving to death. Not that we aren't giving you plenty all day long, mind you. You are so happy at first to be awake at midnight and 4 am, crawling around the crib and talking to yourself. However, after a few minutes, you realize that it's dark and your tummy is growling and your bones are growing before your eyes. But Mama and Daddy would really love it if you could remember that we will feed you FIRST THING IN THE MORNING...lots of food...a bottle, oatmeal, yogurt, whatever you want. And armed with that knowledge, could you put yourself back to sleep?

Thanks sweetpea,

Mama and Daddy

Remember this? Sleeping blissfully?

Six Months...already!?!

So...here we are at MONTH SIX. Amazing.
Shepard is rolling both ways, trying to nibble on his feet, and laughing a lot. He reaches for everything in sight, and usually gets it if it's in reach. He sits up with some help, but usually topples a bit when he reaches for stuff. He loves bathtime, but not really the getting-dressed part. Overall, he's smiley and happy. He's eating everything we feed him...rice cereal, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, prunes, apples, pears, corn, peas, green beans, etc. He is fascinated by his reflection in the mirror and smiles at the baby he sees (who wouldn't? that's a cute baby!). He reaches for the fish in the aquarium. He is friendly towards pretty much everybody. He sleeps most nights through with maybe one wake-up. He is really enjoying toys with textures and the "crinkly" noise parts. No teeth yet, but the drool lets us know that we should be meeting his pearly whites shortly.

The doctor calls him "spirited," as he is full of kicks and wiggles while being examined...and smiles.

Baby by the numbers:
He is 28.5" long and in the 96th percentile
He weighs 17 lbs. 5.4 oz. and is in the 49th percentile
His head is about 43 cm and in the 27th percentile

Thank you, Lord, for our sweet and healthy little guy.

My baby has a muffin top...and I helped!

Thank God, he's getting more and more rolls and stuff. Here's a good view of the muffin top.

Two months!

Shepard is two months old! We went to the doctor this morning for his check-up and got his latest "stats."
He is 23.5" long (68th percentile); 12 pounds, 2.8 oz (64th percentile), and his head measures 15.6 inches (39th percentile). His weight to length percentile is like 38th, so he's longish and leanish. So...clearly not taking after me. {Shelley} Poor thing had to get a few shots and an oral vaccine, but his discomfort seemed short-lived.
He is basically sleeping about 6-7 hours at night without having to feed, with a solid 3 hour sleep just before that. That doesn't quite mean that mom gets that much sleep just yet, as he has needed a bit of momentary consoling here and there during that span; however, usually just a rub on the back and replacing the pacifier is all it takes. Hopefully, I can log some more hours without interruption soon because I'm starting to think I will never get my brain back. Mom-nesia is a REAL THING.
I return to work tomorrow for a few hours and Shepard will go to "school." Just prayerful that we have a good transition all the way around. And that my momnesia doesn't affect me too much at work. Thankful for a cup of morning coffee and great co-workers.
Jerod has started school with students this week, and is already in the thick of it with a new year. We've had a few back-to-school socials where we showed off our sweet Shepard. "Mr. Jones" is well-loved by his Woodlawn School family.
{insert mommy yawn here}
At the moment, I'm deciding whether to wake up the wee one for his "lunch." He should be hungry by now, but he's sleeping so well...I'm certainly ready for lunch, so I might go make that happen.