Halves

I am being constantly reminded by Nolan these days that he is not four, he is "four and a half!!"  Now that he has also learned that Quinn is two and a half he always makes sure to correct me if I say that she is two.  

Nolan as a four and a half year old is funny, outgoing, talkative, inquisitive, smart, demanding, and very loving to all of his friends and family.  

Nolan is spending his days playing with Quinn or his friends, going to school three days a week, and helping Eric out around the house on the weekends.  His imagination has really grown as a four year old and it's fun to see him creating scenarios in his head and acting them out (usually with Quinn as his trusty sidekick).  He loves to pretend that he is a "worker guy" arriving at our house to repair, paint, or build something.  Another favorite these days is pretending to hunt "bad guys" as he runs around the house with his Storm Trooper gun shooting them all.

He really loves school and is doing great so far this year.  He has been practicing his letters, numbers and colors and does his weekly homework assignment without complaint.  He has some good buddies in his class this year and seems to have about five girlfriends.  The boy is girl crazy and gets giggly as he discusses which girls he "loves" and is going to marry some day.  We are in for it!!

Nolan still takes a nap each day and he needs it!!  He usually reads books for awhile and then falls asleep for about an hour or so.  With kindergarten starting next school year we will have to wean him off of the nap routine this summer but for now we are keeping it in order to all stay sane.  He is a good eater and a creature of routine.  He eats pretty much the same thing everyday but some of his favorites include:  all fruit, pancakes, turkey and mustard, carrots, yellow bell peppers, cucumbers, cheese, pickles, grilled chicken, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, broccoli, and yogurt.

He has been giving us a run for our money in the tantrum department here and there.  His tantrums seem to come in spurts but when they hit you better watch out!  He responds to positive reinforcement and is able to turn his behavior around by earning back his privileges.

He is a funny little guy who is developing by leaps and bounds.  We are loving watching him grow up into a little boy with his own interests and opinions.  I love having conversations with him and witnessing how is thinking works.  I can't believe we are half way to having a five year old on our hands!  

Quinn is slowly but surely learning that she is two and a half as Nolan continues to teach her.  Quinn wasn't the easiest baby she has become such a cuddly, loving, easy-going child.  Don't get me wrong, she has her two year old moments but for the most part she doesn't give us too much grief and does not like to be in trouble.

She is talking up a storm and can communicate most, if not all, of her needs.  She wants to be very independent and tries to dress herself, put on her coat and shoes and buckle her car seat by herself.  This is both great (that she wants to try) but also very frustrating (because it take forever).

Quinn is developing her own interests as well.  She is very into all princesses right now and taking care of her babies.  All of the little girls on the street like to take their babies for walks in their little strollers up and down the sidewalk.  It's really cute.  She likes to play pretend as well.  She mostly pretends that she is a mommy, a doctor, and she is a good sport and will pretend to shoot the bad guys with Nolan from time to time.  Quinn is also content to sit and color or place stickers all over a piece of paper.

Quinn is still sleeping in her crib and I am in no rush this time around to move her into a big girl bed.  She loves her crib, doesn't try to climb out, takes a two hour nap every day, and sleeps twelve hours at night.  I think we will wait on the big girl bed and not tempt fate :)  She sleeps with a million stuffed animals and both "lambies" and a pile of "nuks."  The lambies and nuk are dragged around the house daily which will be a hard habit to break with her.  She loves her lambies so much and has rubbed a hole in one of them.  Quinn is also a very good eater and isn't too picky.  Some of her favorite foods are:  fruit, yogurt, cereal, bagels, pickles, cucumbers, yellow bell peppers, carrots, avocado, salami, cheese, turkey, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, grilled chicken, hot dogs, black beans, rice, broccoli, tater tots, and spaghetti. 

School is going well for Quinn now that she is adjusted to venturing off by herself.  She proudly comes  home on Wednesday and announces, "no crying!"  She likes creating the artwork and she says she plays with her friends.  Her teachers have a blog and it's fun to see the pictures of what happens in the classroom weekly.

We love our baby girl so much and even though it's hard to see her growing in a big girl (and no longer our baby) she is becoming such a smart, sweet little lady. 

We couldn't be more proud of our 4 and 1/2 year old and our 2 and 1/2 year old!