5 Year Check-up

Lauren had her five year check up on Wednesday this week.  She has grown a lot in the past year but I can't find her doctors report from her four year check up just to see how much.  She weights 42 pounds and is 44 and 1/4 inches tall.  She still is in 90th percentile on height and 75th on weight. 

We had planned on getting her kindergarten shots done this summer sometime.  However since we were there, the nurses and doctor thought we should go ahead and get them done.  Maybe it was for the best because Lauren really didn't have time to think about it much.  She was very brave and didn't cry just squeeled quietly.  She's has insisted she keep bandaids on the wounds though just because they hurt, not because they are needed!  Regardless, I was proud of her for handling it so well.

The surprise of the visit was that the doctor recommended that Lauren get her tonsils removed.  I was shocked by this because we haven't had that many cases of strep or tonsilitis.  However, she does have very large tonsils and is a snorer.  The doctor has observed this for a while now and give her need for a lot of sleep, he feels it would be best.  He believes her airway is so constricted that she is not actually resting well even though she is sleeping a lot for her age.  When he discussed the signs with me, it all made sense, just something I didn't expect.  So we are headed for an ENT visit in the next couple weeks and then will schedule the surgery thereafter.  From what others tell me, we'll be relieved after she has the surgery and how much it will help her. 

If anyone has any good ENT recommendations in the St. Louis area, let me know.  I'm very undecided whether we should go to Children's hospital for this or just our local hospital.  I have a lot of faith in our local hospital but want the best care possible for her too in case something were to go wrong. 

Fun in the Snow

We got a little bit of snow on Sunday night so we went out to play in it on Monday. Lauren loved it, Blake was not amused. He tolerated me pulling him in the sled but was not crazy about going down the hill in our back yard. Lauren really got into the sledding action though and enjoyed it. Unfortunately we just haven't gotten much snow this year for us to be able to play in so we have to take advantage of it whenever we can.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We were very fortunate to have all the Bartlow cousins together on Valentine's day this year since it was the morning after Lauren's birthday party. Although Lauren was unwilling to cooperate for the photo and get out of her pajamas (to her credit they were a birthday gift and I let her get by with it), we managed to snap a quick photo of them. From left to right Delaney (Andy and Julie's), Addison (Aaron and Brekin's) Lauren, Blake, Brenna, and Braden (both Aaron and Brekin's). The family will be expanding in June when Delaney becomes a big sister!

Lauren's 5th Birthday Celebration

Lauren's birthday celebration began on Tuesday. She got lucky in the fact that she ended up having school that day. All the surrounding counties cancelled school but Clinton County did not. So she got to take Hannah Montana cupcakes to school. Then we had a special birthday dinner at our house that night for her and she opened her presents from mommy and daddy.



Then on Saturday the 13th, she had a party with her friends at Hugz and Fitz in Breese. Keeping with the Hannah Montana theme, the girls were all made up like rock stars. They enjoyed singing karaoke, playing the guitar, and making candy necklaces and rock star bracelets. It was really neat to see all the girls decked out. They seemed to have a great time!



On Saturday evening we celebrated her birthday with our extended family. Grandma Marcia made her cake again this year and Grandma Vernitta helped me a bunch with the meal. We had a really nice time together. Lauren got thoroughly spoiled as usual with lots of new stuff to play with and wear. Thank you to everyone who made her 5th birthday special.

And this is what I think.....

Blake has gotten very expressive in his talking to us and is now using lots of hand gestures and intonation when he speaks. Unfortunately there is no clarity to his talk except for a few key words. Anyways, I thought it was pretty cute to see him talk with his arms crossed the other night at dinner. I wonder where he gets this trait???

Chair Climbing

Last Wednesday, Blake surprised me by climbing up on my desk chair and then onto my desk! I knew the climbing days were coming but that doesn't mean I was ready for them. Then he discovered if he pushed the chair and climbed on top of it he could really get to anything he wanted. So now we have a new, dangerous game being played. I'm just wondering how many days we have until he figures out how to climb out of his crib. Lauren did it around 18 months so he's not too far behind I'm sure!

Ta-Da

Blake has been very determined to learn how to walk up and down steps recently. This newly acquired skill is making me very nervous and giving me premature gray hair! He also has been practicing walking with the railing, again making me nervous. Anyways, to practice his stepping down skills he likes to use the step at the base of our main staircase in the foyer. I have taken a bunch of video of him doing this which is so cute to see his determination, but I can't get it to upload. So instead I'm attaching the picture of him saying ta-da when he finally did it without falling forward. He's learned ta-da in Little Gym and is now using it at home as well!

Little discoveries

A couple Saturday's ago Blake found that I left the wipe container open and as you can see promptly emptied it for me. Granted I only left him for 2 minutes top while I walked from the hearth room to the garage to throw away his dirty diaper! He's also discovered the art of pulling kleenex out of the box and unrolling toilet paper! Toddlers are amazed with such little things in life. I try to remind myself of this instead of getting frustrated by the constant clean up these days.

Blake has also discovered shoes recently.  The first pair he thought he should try on for size happened to be Lauren's red shoes with sequins from Halloween.  It was quite funny to watch him try and get them on.  Then a couple days later I found him trying to put Bradley's shoes on.  Big sis got in on the action and helped him out getting them on. 

Our New Toy

Bradley decided to purchase a new toy for the farm. It was delivered a couple weeks ago and Blake is thrilled. So now when we go out to the barn he has to sit on all three tractors and pretend he's driving them. If we don't get to the barn each day to sit on them, he's not a happy camper. These pictures are of Blake watching the tractor being delivered and then getting his first ride. Lauren is enjoying it as well.

Happy Birthday Lauren!

I can't believe my baby girl is 5 today! Wow, it seems like yesterday that we had just had her and were marveling at her wonder. Today were still marveling at her wonder and enjoying every day we have been blessed with her. Lauren is one of the sweetest, brightest, most loving little girls I know. I'm so proud to call her my daughter. She has grown so much in five years, its just amazing. We love you sweetheart!

Revelations by Lauren

So today we were driving to Little Gym for Blake's class when we pass a McDonalds.  Lauren says to me, "Mom, do you know that you can get a coffee for a buck."  I started laughing and said, "so, I have to call up Uncle Keith to go kill a deer with antlers and take it to McDonald's so I can get a coffee?"  She says, "no mom, money."  I said, "so what is a buck?"  She says, "a dollar mom!"

So the moral of this story is, my child pays way too close attention to TV!  I thought we cured the TV addiction when we quit having kids shows on, but no, she just memorizes the commercials now. 

Then later in the morning we were driving past a strip mall and she says, "oh look mom, it's a jewelry store."  "That's where boys go to buy their girlfriends, necklaces for Valentine's Day."  And she continues, "every kiss begins with k."  My response, well daddy's can go to those stores too and buy mommy's gifts for valentine's day.  Do you think you should tell Daddy that?

So once again, I am convinced we have a TV addicted child!