Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Last swim lesson
Bo made a ton of progress this summer with his swimming. Hopefully he'll be able to jump in the pool next summer and remember all of the tricks and skills that he learned this summer.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Two months of updates...
Things have been quite busy for our family lately so I apologize for not updating the blog in over two months...
We're back at school so our days are fun-filled while our evenings are often a little hectic as we all wind down from the day and get ready for the next one.
Bo's back at the same daycare that he went to last year, but it is different for him this year because he is one of the oldest kids there this year rather than one of the youngest. I think he enjoys being around so many little ones, especially because he is still on cloud nine since he became a big brother.
At the end of August, Bo went to his four-year well-visit at the pediatrician and he did great. He weighs 35 pounds and is 40 inches tall. Right now, Bo is very much into superheroes, Toy Story, Star Wars, Cars, the tv show "Super Why," drawing, playing instruments (he now has a harmonica and a saxophone too), sports, riding his bike and making Molly smile. He has started to show a great deal of interest in writing his last name, but we have to convince him that he has to write Bo Boykin rather than just Boykin when he writes his name. He thinks that he doesn't need to write the Bo for his first name since it's already in the name Boykin. He had been going to a soccer skills group once a week and did great with that too. The eight-week soccer class ended so now we are looking forward to starting basketball.
Molly is doing great with her babysitter Diane (we call her "D") who keeps Molly during the day. D is expecting her first baby in February so Molly is making sure that she learns everything that she needs to know before the baby comes! We could not be any happier with the wonderful people who are taking such good care of Bo and Molly.
Molly's had three doctor's appointments since the end of July. She had her four-month well-visit which went well. She was up to 14 lbs, 4 oz (50th percentile), 25 inches (75th percentile) and her head circumference was (no surprise) off the chart. During that appointment, the doctor asked to see her again in a few weeks to re-measure her head. At the follow-up appointment, her head circumference was still off the chart so he recommended that we have an ultrasound done to rule out the possibility of fluid in Molly's brain. Everything looked great at her ultrasound, and we went back to the doctor last Tuesday for a follow-up measurement. Unfortunately, her head was even further off the growth chart than it was at her last appointment so it was recommended that we take her to a cranial-facial specialist who should be able to tell us what our next plan of action should be. Before we go to that appointment, she will have her six month well-visit and we are hopeful that between now and then she will get back on the growth chart and we won't need to do anything else. The doctor said that there is a slight chance that she could need a CT scan, MRI or surgery if her head structure isn't forming correctly, but he also recognizes the genetic factor in all of this. Let's face it--Bo, her daddy, and other relatives and cousins also share her larger head-size gene. She seems to be meeting all of the milestones so we're not overly concerned about our "big brained baby." :) We're just trying to remain optimistic that the growth will level out. (By the way, her weight was up to 14 pounds, 9 ounces at the follow-up appointment @ 5 months old.)
Her favorite things to do right now are to go on walks outside, play in her exersaucer, take baths, listen to Elmo and to be around anyone who will smile at her. She's so social, and it's been such fun watching her interact with people. Her least favorite things right now are the hours between 5:45-6:45pm (she usually gets tired and fussy and she's not very happy unless she's held) and riding in the car for more than 10 minutes. She's doing pretty well with the solid foods that she has tried. Her menu includes any of the following: rice cereal, squash, peas, sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, applesauce and bananas. I think squash and peas are her favorites and cereal is her least favorite thing to eat right now. Although it seems a little early, she may be getting a new tooth because she is drooling like crazy and she is constantly putting her hands in her mouth. She gave up using the pacifier about a month ago so anything and everything that she can get her hands on ends up in her mouth.
Here are some pictures of videos of both kids that I took over the course of the last couple of months. Enjoy!
Superhero Bo
Expressive Molly
Still as chatty as ever--
The last swim of the summer--
Riding his new bike from his Papa Paul--
At his cousin Maddie's birthday party--
According to Bo, he was working on "writing something for college" when I took this picture.
Molly will work so hard at tummy time if she can watch "her stories."
Bo's version of "All Shook Up"--
I've got to turn around so I can watch!
Yes!! I didn't miss the best play of the game!!
We're back at school so our days are fun-filled while our evenings are often a little hectic as we all wind down from the day and get ready for the next one.
Bo's back at the same daycare that he went to last year, but it is different for him this year because he is one of the oldest kids there this year rather than one of the youngest. I think he enjoys being around so many little ones, especially because he is still on cloud nine since he became a big brother.
At the end of August, Bo went to his four-year well-visit at the pediatrician and he did great. He weighs 35 pounds and is 40 inches tall. Right now, Bo is very much into superheroes, Toy Story, Star Wars, Cars, the tv show "Super Why," drawing, playing instruments (he now has a harmonica and a saxophone too), sports, riding his bike and making Molly smile. He has started to show a great deal of interest in writing his last name, but we have to convince him that he has to write Bo Boykin rather than just Boykin when he writes his name. He thinks that he doesn't need to write the Bo for his first name since it's already in the name Boykin. He had been going to a soccer skills group once a week and did great with that too. The eight-week soccer class ended so now we are looking forward to starting basketball.
Molly is doing great with her babysitter Diane (we call her "D") who keeps Molly during the day. D is expecting her first baby in February so Molly is making sure that she learns everything that she needs to know before the baby comes! We could not be any happier with the wonderful people who are taking such good care of Bo and Molly.
Molly's had three doctor's appointments since the end of July. She had her four-month well-visit which went well. She was up to 14 lbs, 4 oz (50th percentile), 25 inches (75th percentile) and her head circumference was (no surprise) off the chart. During that appointment, the doctor asked to see her again in a few weeks to re-measure her head. At the follow-up appointment, her head circumference was still off the chart so he recommended that we have an ultrasound done to rule out the possibility of fluid in Molly's brain. Everything looked great at her ultrasound, and we went back to the doctor last Tuesday for a follow-up measurement. Unfortunately, her head was even further off the growth chart than it was at her last appointment so it was recommended that we take her to a cranial-facial specialist who should be able to tell us what our next plan of action should be. Before we go to that appointment, she will have her six month well-visit and we are hopeful that between now and then she will get back on the growth chart and we won't need to do anything else. The doctor said that there is a slight chance that she could need a CT scan, MRI or surgery if her head structure isn't forming correctly, but he also recognizes the genetic factor in all of this. Let's face it--Bo, her daddy, and other relatives and cousins also share her larger head-size gene. She seems to be meeting all of the milestones so we're not overly concerned about our "big brained baby." :) We're just trying to remain optimistic that the growth will level out. (By the way, her weight was up to 14 pounds, 9 ounces at the follow-up appointment @ 5 months old.)
Her favorite things to do right now are to go on walks outside, play in her exersaucer, take baths, listen to Elmo and to be around anyone who will smile at her. She's so social, and it's been such fun watching her interact with people. Her least favorite things right now are the hours between 5:45-6:45pm (she usually gets tired and fussy and she's not very happy unless she's held) and riding in the car for more than 10 minutes. She's doing pretty well with the solid foods that she has tried. Her menu includes any of the following: rice cereal, squash, peas, sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, applesauce and bananas. I think squash and peas are her favorites and cereal is her least favorite thing to eat right now. Although it seems a little early, she may be getting a new tooth because she is drooling like crazy and she is constantly putting her hands in her mouth. She gave up using the pacifier about a month ago so anything and everything that she can get her hands on ends up in her mouth.
Here are some pictures of videos of both kids that I took over the course of the last couple of months. Enjoy!
Superhero Bo
Expressive Molly
Still as chatty as ever--
The last swim of the summer--
Riding his new bike from his Papa Paul--
At his cousin Maddie's birthday party--
According to Bo, he was working on "writing something for college" when I took this picture.
Molly will work so hard at tummy time if she can watch "her stories."
Bo's version of "All Shook Up"--
She loves her exersaucer--
...and just when "exersaucing" couldn't possibly get any better, Molly notices that he daddy has Sportscenter on TV.
What's that I hear...the Top Ten Plays?
What's that I hear...the Top Ten Plays?
I've got to turn around so I can watch!
Yes!! I didn't miss the best play of the game!!
Love those chubby cheeks!
No one makes her smile and laugh like her big brother!
No one makes her smile and laugh like her big brother!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Molly's Christening
Molly was christened at our church at the end of July. Some family members took pictures on their cameras during the ceremony since I didn't have time to take pictures while we were there. However, I did take some pictures of Molly in her gown the day after the ceremony. She was christened in the same gown that I wore for my christening. For some reason, getting a decent picture was MUCH more difficult than I expected...Here are a few of the pictures of my attempts:
and then finally a successful one.
One memorable part of the ceremony happened when the minister was asking whether we, as Molly's family members, promise to support her as she grows in her faith. We had to respond "we will" to several of his questions. However, after about 3 or 4 questions, Bo decided that it was time to draw attention to himself by answering "I won't" to one of the questions loud enough for the whole congregation to hear it over the minister's microphone. Leave it up to her big brother to steal the attention away from little Molly on her special day. :)
and then finally a successful one.
One memorable part of the ceremony happened when the minister was asking whether we, as Molly's family members, promise to support her as she grows in her faith. We had to respond "we will" to several of his questions. However, after about 3 or 4 questions, Bo decided that it was time to draw attention to himself by answering "I won't" to one of the questions loud enough for the whole congregation to hear it over the minister's microphone. Leave it up to her big brother to steal the attention away from little Molly on her special day. :)
Sunday, July 31, 2011
July SPED by!!!
Here a few pictures and videos from this month:
Dressed up for Chick-fil-A's Cow Appreciation Day:
Molly thinks her hands are the best toy ever!:
This is my favorite picture of Molly from this month. I could just eat her up!
If you remember from a June post, Molly was not yet able to lift her head as many two-month old babies do so we had to work with her and bring her back to the doctor for a check-up to see how she was progressing. Her doctor was pleased with her progress, and within a few days after our appointment, Molly was not only lifting her head pretty well, but she also began rolling over!
Bo is becoming more independent every day. Some of the things that he is doing now that he either could not do at the beginning of the summer or has progressed with since the beginning of the summer include:
*No longer needing pull-ups, even at night time!!! (Thank goodness!!)
*Swimming across the pool completely unassisted and without floaties.
*Reading more than 100 words. (With the exception of a few words on the Dolch Pre-Primer and Primer list, he can read all kindergarten words and we're working on first grade sight words now. The crazy thing is that he can spell a lot of the words from memory too.)
*Dressing himself completely (except for buttons). He comes out of his room every morning, usually with a mismatched outfit, puts his hands on his hips and says, "How good do I look?"
Bo is all about Star Wars and superheroes, and he also really likes coloring with markers, making Molly laugh and talk, singing along to Randy Travis songs in his Daddy's truck, watching Super Why and Word World, and reading books. Every day is a new adventure with Bo, and we can't wait to hear about all of the fun things that he does when he goes back to school this week!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Bo knows...
...the Serenity Prayer! Our church is studying the prayer this summer so we started reading it to him at bedtime so that he could become more familiar with it. Bo quickly learned the words (well, most of them) and he now insists on saying the prayer every day before nap and bedtime. He's already learned all of the words so all of you WFUMC members can/should too. :)
In case you aren't familiar with the prayer, this is what he is saying:
In case you aren't familiar with the prayer, this is what he is saying:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it,
Trusting that you will make all things right if I surrender to your will
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with you forever in the next.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Swim time with the cousins
Bo's taking swim lessons with his cousins Maddie, Sophie and Ella. He's really making good progress and likes his new teacher, Miss Brittany.
Only one week after we made this video, Bo started swimming the width of the pool without using his floaties! I'll try to get a video of that soon.
At least one child is looking at the camera in each of these pictures. :)
Chatty Cathy
Molly has so much to say these days...
Molly chats a lot with her daddy when she should be getting ready to take a nap.
Here she is giving you an update about her two month well-visit at the doctor:
Molly chats a lot with her daddy when she should be getting ready to take a nap.
Here she is giving you an update about her two month well-visit at the doctor:
Length: 22 1/2 inches (50th percentile); she was in the 10th percentile at her one month visit
Weight: 10 pounds, 7 ounces (25th percentile); she was between the 10th-25th percentile at her one-month visit
Head: 41 cm (off the growth chart); she was in the 90th percentile before; Her pediatrician said that the size of her head is most likely affecting her ability to lift her head up when she is laying on her stomach. We're supposed to work extra hard on tummy-time exercises to strengthen her neck muscles and report back to the doctor in 2 weeks. If we don't see progress, he'll refer us to a neurologist to have tests done to determine what is causing her to be low-tone.
After getting three shots, a little Tylenol and a nap goes a long way. She cried a good bit when she got her shots, but a few hours after her appointment her smile was back.
Head: 41 cm (off the growth chart); she was in the 90th percentile before; Her pediatrician said that the size of her head is most likely affecting her ability to lift her head up when she is laying on her stomach. We're supposed to work extra hard on tummy-time exercises to strengthen her neck muscles and report back to the doctor in 2 weeks. If we don't see progress, he'll refer us to a neurologist to have tests done to determine what is causing her to be low-tone.
After getting three shots, a little Tylenol and a nap goes a long way. She cried a good bit when she got her shots, but a few hours after her appointment her smile was back.
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