The Stanford Family: Ready for spring

First off, spring can not come soon enough. If anyone thought that being a stay at home mom is easy than they should try to entertain 3 small children in your house day after day. Over the last 2 weeks Julian has missed 4 snow days (due to all separate storms) and had one holiday. I don't think we have had more than 2 days above freezing since the beginning of the year. I don't even think we have been close to freezing in a long time. I guess if this is what you are born and raised in you would get used to it more, but I'm not. Julian has heard me say this a million times, but I'm a southern girl. This southern girl has seen more snow in the last 4 winters than I care to for the rest of my life. Julian has even told people that it's too cold for him because he's from the south. Little does he know he has almost lived more than half of his life in the north. This includes 2 extreme winters in Canada. He's so cute with some of the things he comes up with.

We did talk Julian into taking skiing lessons. Chris took him this past weekend to Blue Mountain. We signed him up for a half day lesson with other kids and he said he really enjoyed it and would like to go again for a whole day lesson. We are so proud of him for trying something that is outside his comfort zone and enjoying it. I love to see him learn new things. It is such a great feeling to watch him try something new and show himself that he can do it and become more confident. His personality is a little cautious of new things and takes a little probing and then he loves it when he thinks he can do it.

Lilly had her follow up with the GI doctor last week. It wasn't the best appointment because she didn't have the weight gain we were looking for, but I knew it wasn't going to be great because we've had a couple stomach bugs since thanksgiving. It's amazing how fast you can lose weight and how long it takes her to gain it back. My new year's resolution is not to obsess over her weight. She's doing great otherwise. She's a healthy, happy, developing toddler that is just still very small. They say most preemies catch up by the time they are 2 yrs old. We aren't quite there but we are getting a little closer. If you saw her when she was first born to now, she looks great. We still have some hurdles but we are getting there. Lilly likes to eat, she just eats a small quantity. She eats a variety of food, and I have tried everything under the sun to get her to gain weight. I finally realize it. It is not in my hands anymore. All I can do is continue doing what we are doing and try to keep her well. I can't make her something that God doesn't intend her to be. She's my little fighter that is going to be a little peanut. She can still take her brothers for a good run for their money.

Alex is still doing good and has continued to be ear infection free since his surgery. He and Julian are very similar. Their personalities are just alike. They both are mommy boys and a little more needy than Lilly. He continues to love to eat. If he sneaks off, sometimes he goes to the kitchen and comes back with his own snacks. Thank goodness I have one child that loves to eat. He is starting to make more sounds and is trying so hard to talk. Our therapists say we just need one to start and then the other will follow.