Spring is finally here! We are enjoying our Illinois spring so far--the wind is unbelievable, the weather is a bit warmer than what we're used to, and we have a lot of sunshine. Much more sun than we are used to in Michigan. Owen is now 9 months old, and is a tiny little guy. At his appointment he was only 27 inches and 16lbs 4oz. That puts him just under the third percentile for weight and around the 10th percentile for height. His pediatrician and I agree that he seems to be developing fine and his size is not a concern. He does seem to have some food allergy issues, though. He appears to be allergic to soy and dairy, and hopefully that is it. We are investigating the cause of his allergy symptoms, and I have a few more of the most common allergens to try.
Henry is almost three, and is potty training. He's doing really well. He is having accidents sometimes, but will occasionally go a day or two without one. He seems to want to go on the potty most of the time. I'm really proud of him!
Nora and I have started her kindergarten work. She wants to learn to read, so she and I are using the book, "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons". We're almost to lesson #30, and she is beginning to read. She can read words well with the phonics sounds we've covered so far. We're considering enrolling in Clonlara school for kindergarten next year. It is an accredited school located in Ann Arbor, MI that has a wonderful homeschool program. They have advisers, have curriculum you can use if you choose to, and will furnish you a transcript and grades from your reported work. The great thing is you can still homeschool in any way you choose and they will work with what you're doing to credit you at whatever speed the kids are working.
Another great thing about this spring and summer is that we're expecting to have lots of guests! We just had a great visit from Matt's parents, Howard and Rochelle, last week. The kids had a great time playing with them, and were very sad to see them go. Matt and I had a nice time having them here to talk to and be with. It is so nice to just be with your loved ones! It is difficult being so far away from them, especially since we got a bit spoiled being nearby last year in Michigan.
We are also looking forward to a visit from Emily and Colin, possibly my mom, Tom and Heather Hofmeister, and Ellee Spier and her kiddos. Yay!
Before I sign off, here are a few new Owen photos. He is 9 months old in these photos, and just cut his first teeth.


