Gymnastics' Demo Days

Drake started gymnastics in August and this week was his first demo day to show all of the fans his new skills. Either David or I have helped him in each of his weekly classes this session as he was in the parent/tot program. On demo day, Drake was the youngest child and pretty much did the whole exercise on his own. I think this shows that he really is ready to move to the next class starting in January.

We have no illusions that Drake is going to be a future gymnast as he is the largest child in his group by at least a head. I do think though that gymnastics is a great foundation for a possible future in any sport or activity. He is building muscles, maintain flexibility, and learning body control. It has been a great experience for him and he loves to go each week. Some days the most exciting part is the end when he gets a stamp either on his hand or his foot but he does especially love to fly though the air and catch the bar swinging (above) and the long tramp (below).  

At the end of the demo, all children were awarded a medal for their participation. Each was called up individually and Drake was given a special shout-out because he was able to do so much of it on his own after needing our help for the majority of the semester. I am so glad that we found this sport for Drake and we are looking forward to January when we'll start back at the gym.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

This evening I am scheduled for my first work trip since Evie was born. When Drake was born, I had almost nine months at home before my travel season started but with Evie, just 9 weeks. While I am certainly looking forward to a good night of sleep, I am going to miss these two little ones. I'm also pretty bummed because I will be missing Drake's first musical production; a two year-old's rendering of the age old classic, "Christmas Time is Here" (if you don't know it, we did not either, think a Christmas tune sang to "Farmer in the Dell").   

They are in the best capable hands with David and I have prepared the majority of the bottles and the freezer is stocked with a surplus of milk, it is still hard going out of town. An added element to this trip is a bit of weather anxiety. There is still a possibility that the trip is going to be canceled due to snow, sleet, freezing rain and bitter cold temperatures in Arkansas. I am sure if we can land tonight, we will not get stuck tomorrow so I can be home with my babies before bedtime.     

  

2 Months

It is hard to believe that Evie is already two months old and that I start back to work on Wednesday of this week. Evie does not have her two month appointment until December 12th, so I will wait to post her stats then. She does appear to be growing well and is generally in 3-6 month clothes right now. She is just starting to smile some which you can somewhat see in the picture above. She is very strong and is able to hold her head up very and she likes to have us help her to stand.

Our nighttime sleep situation is still not great, but I know we will eventually get to all night but when? She sleeps well in her pack-n-play but I would like for her to sleep in her crib, so I have been trying to condition her to crib sleeping. Because of that, we are not getting the long 5 hour stretch at night. She is generally still only eating once in the middle of the night, around 3:00, but she is waking up around 12:30 and we have to put her back to sleep.

Evie took her first car ride longer than an hour two weeks ago when we went to Charleston for a basketball tournament. She was a great traveler and did well at the games. Evie has also had a lot of company, meeting all of of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her Nana and Papa will be coming back for a visit next week to help with her daytime care before she starts daycare in January. She'll also get to spend more time with her Mammy and Granddaddy this week as they are helping for my first few days back at work.