The Rowans 4: April 2013

It's really hard to believe that it's almost MAY! I can't believe how quickly this year is already flying by. I'm having an especially difficult time with this because I know that my baby girl will be turning 3 in June. It's just not possible. She is growing so much and way too fast. I do love the way that she is growing and it is a joy to be her Mommy. We still have our "difficult" toddler moments, but she is really turning into a little kid! She is starting to understand what a quiet voice is and when it is appropriate to use it. Yay! She is also getting really good at drawing. I love seeing her pictures of people. All of a sudden one day, she just up and started drawing people. She can draw the head, eyes, nose and smile... sometimes she will draw a body and shoes. (Can't forget the shoes). She has successfully written her first name a few times with very little help. She signed some birthday cards for friends and really tried her hardest. She held the marker all by herself and I just prompted her to spell out her name. It's a really exciting thing to watch your baby learn how to do all of these big kid things. I guess I do have more of a big kid now than a baby! Another thing we have just started working on is sounding out short words. We were working on the "at" family of words and I was impressed with how well she did. She knows all of the sounds that the letters make and after I made the sounds she could blend them to say the word. I think that she will learn to read without much difficulty... so once she turns three, I think we will start on simple reading skills. It's not a matter of if she can, it's if she has the attention span to do it. Haha... when we were working on the "at" words at the fridge today she said, "Mommy, I'm all done rhyming". I didn't even tell her we were rhyming. Hahah... oh Callie. I'm in no rush though, she will learn it soon enough. I'm sure if I pick my own teacher brain, and dust out the cobwebs, I can come up with some fun activities that she would be interested in... well at least for a few minutes.

This past week we had Matt's sister Jen at our house. It was so wonderful to spend some good quality time with her. It seems like when we do get to see her in Texas it's just not for long enough to really catch up. We always have to split up our time in so many different directions when we are there, so it was really nice to just have one on one time with her. Callie was in HEAVEN. She absolutely loved having her Aunt Jenny here! They played and played, and then they played some more. Aunt Jenny even brought Callie some fairy wings and a wand. Both of them had lots and lots of sparkles on them. Obviously that instantly made Callie and Aunt Jenny best friends. It was fun having an adult to talk to when Callie went to bed while Matt worked or was studying for school. I love Jen and spending time with her just makes me wish we lived closer to family.

Here are some pictures from when Jen was here. I hope all of you are having a blessed week! Love to you all!

Erin

Sweet hugs for Aunt Jenny! Callie is thrilled that it's nice enough out to be in her swimsuit! She cant wait until it's warm enough to swim!

Here is Callie at Child's Play. She is carrying the coveted "Princess Baby". She is pretty much obsessed with this doll. It's always "fun" when we get there and another child has it.... not!

Callie and Princess Baby.

Aunt Jenny was such a good sport! She went down that slide many times with Callie!

Callie's first trim! (And yes, she is wearing Halloween PJ's... she loves them all year long haha).

I just love this picture of her! Such a cutie!

Aunt Jenny and Callie on a "train" at the Springs Preserve.

Love this sweetie!

"I see you Mom"!!!

FACT: kids love sand.

Aunt Jenny being a good sport again!

She could have stayed in here all day!

Smelling the plants in the garden.

Cute!

Taking time to stop and smell the roses!

I know I'm the Mom... but isn't she so cute!!?

Cactus!

More cactus!

Pretty flowers!

Pretty cactus flowers!!!

Callie takes after my Dad in this picture...

That's better!

Sweet kisses for Mommy!

This is one of Callie's drawings! There are 3 people on this picture can you make them out? :)

So... it's been a while... a long while. I promise I have no intention of quitting this blog, I just lose motivation to write sometimes. I do get some helpful reminders though to update this blog and I appreciate those reminders because I really do want to have a record of life with a toddler! So thank you for the update requests! Well... I guess the last time I posted was at Christmas, so I will just try my best to remember the stuff in between then and now. I have also been really bad about taking pictures this year. I was a little sad when I saw how few pictures I had over the last few months... so I plan to change that!
Nothing too big to report for Jan. that I can remember. We had a wonderful Valentine's Day together though! Callie absolutely LOVES every holiday at this point in her life. She gets the hint from the stores that we shop in. She loved going to see all of the bears, balloons, hearts and flowers at the grocery store. But I'm learning I have to use discretion when going down those types of isles these days. (Otherwise the whole store will hear Callie throw a bit of a tantrum when I tell her she doesn't need whatever toy it is). She is getting clever though. When we go to Target she inevitably finds something she MUST have... and now she just calmly says "Ohhhh!! I can ask Mimi/Grandma and Papa for that!" Hahahahah. I just shake my head and move on. February was an exciting time because Granny and Papa came all the way from Colorado for a visit! What a special time that was. It was so nice to spend some real time with them. Usually when we see them in Texas it is just for a day or two around the holidays. But this time we were able to spend a whole week with them! Callie adores her Great Papa and Granny. She loved dragging Papa all over the house to play! She also had a wonderful time playing games with her Great Granny. That's a new thing with Callie! She can play a few games now! It's so much fun! She has a Clifford the Big Red Dog game, and Toy Story Memory game and now, Candy Land! We were able to go to the park together and go see a few places that Granny and Papa wanted to see (like Pawn Stars). Granny may or may not have almost gotten arrested or shot was it, for trying to look in the door while they were filming a show. Hahaha... the security guard took it easy on her and we all left with our lives... hahah! We loved having them visit and were so sad to see them go! March was also a wonderful month! The weather started getting really nice and the infamous Mimi came for a visit. We had such a great time with Mom while she was here for the week. Callie pretty much would not leave Mimi alone for one second the whole time she was here. In the past when Grandparents visit, Callie is obsessed for a few days and then its all me again.... but not anymore. I enjoyed this. I pretty much just took it easy. Mom even watched Callie so that Matt and I could go on a date! I barely remember what a date is! It was really nice to get out and just relax! While Mom was here poor Matt was swamped with his final project for his Masters degree. He finally finished his 30+ page paper and now only has a small project and final exam standing between him and GRADUATION. This will be such a huge moment for our family. All three of us have sacrificed a lot for this degree and I know Matt and I are equally excited about it being done. I can't imagine what it will be like to be able to go do something fun as a family on the weekend. Or have help around the house! Hahah... I won't lie... our house will benefit from an extra set of hands. :) I know Callie will be glad that she doesn't have to say "Have fun with your lecture/paper/homework" soon after her Daddy gets home from a long day of work. It really is a joyous time in our lives! I am so proud of Matt for this accomplishment and I will just be so glad to have him around more! So while Mom was here, Matt stayed upstairs working away while we went to the park, Child's Play, the new Children's Museum and several birthday parties. It was a fun week and I'm so glad that Mom came. Mimi was also here for Easter! We thought Matt was going to have to work, but God worked it out so that he could come to church with us after all! We had a wonderful day celebrating our Savior! Callie was spoiled by all the goodies from the Grandparents- she had a great day! She really got into the Easter Egg hunting too! When we drove Mimi to the airport and dropped her off Callie cried real tears. That's the first time she's done that! It was sad but sweet all at the same time. Matt's sister Jenn is here right now visiting and we are having a wonderful time with her! It's been so long since we have been able to spend some good quality time with her so we are loving it! So is Miss Callie. It doesn't hurt that Aunt Jenn brought Callie pink sparkly butterfly wings with a matching wand... :) Well this post is quickly getting very long so I will wrap it up! I hope everyone is having a great week!
Much love!
Erin

Callie playing kitchen!

Say cheese!!!

Callie and Mommy.

She is still loving her dollhouse!

Valentine's Day breakfast <3 p="">

Valentine's Day lunch! PBJ's apples and strawberries! YUM!

My happy girl!

Baking sugar cookies on Valentines Day!

She was quite thrilled.

Sweetie!

No, it's not her birthday... just Valentine's Day... Thanks to the Grandparents for all the goodies!

Callie showing off her new stick on earrings from Grandma and Papa!

Callie's first picture. She had Mimi's help but she did pretty good!

This is another Callie picture taken all by herself!

Another Callie picture... such talent!

My beauty at the park!

Climb!!

Callie likes to make friends everywhere we go. These first graders loved playing with Callie. They even helped her use the big girl swing for the first time! She's getting so grown up on me!