Today is Simon’s 15-month “birthday” and Nora celebrated her half birthday a couple weeks ago.
Although I’m not doing monthly posts for either of them anymore, I thought an updated post was in order — especially since they have both changed SOOOOOO much the past few months… and Simon is going to be a big brother in a matter of weeks!
And speaking of baby #3, my tentative “plan” for sharing baby and kid milestones and updates is to share one monthly post with updates on all 3 kids. That way, Nora and Simon won’t be completely left out, and I won’t need to write 3 posts every month to keep everyone in the loop 🙂
So starting in the next month or so, you can look for my monthly “Dekker Update” post (I’m hoping to come up with something a little more clever for the name of that post series — any ideas?)
Anyway, back to my sweet Simon boy…
He is still sleeping really well at night and finally starting to get the hang of super long naps (something I thought all parents were just lying about before I experienced them myself!)
He is fully transitioned to only 1 nap a day (yay!) and often sleeps for 2-3 hours straight! He wakes up happy as a clam and is often content to play in his crib for 10-20 minutes after waking up.
Simon LOVES being outside. He literally wakes up in the morning, goes right to the back door, and starts whining like a little puppy to “go outside”. He would spend all day outside if he could — even in rain!
Of course, whining is all he does — because he still doesn’t say ONE WORD! Not even “mama” or “dada”!
Although Nora was practically speaking in complete sentences at 15 months (and doing almost every imaginable animal sound) Simon has yet to utter anything but a grunt… however I ALWAYS know what he wants, and he ALWAYS knows what we are saying 🙂
Simon gets into everything, climbs on everything, makes a mess out of everything, and turns everything into a car (or something he can push). He is all boy and then some… even though Nora and I thought it would be fun to dress him up like a girl last week!
Simon is a mama’s boy through and through — which I kind of love, but also fear as I’m not sure how he’ll do once a new little person is vying for my undivided attention all day long. At least Dave will be home all summer to help with Nora and Simon!
I’m sure he’ll be fine… I hope 🙂
Now for little Miss Nora!
This girl celebrated her half birthday a few days ago — and is now officially closer to 4 than she is 3 (big stuff around here, my friends!) She likes to be measured on our life-size growth chart almost daily to see if she’s getting any bigger — and she always insists that she IS, in fact, getting bigger every day.
The big news with Nora is that she “went to school”… kind of 🙂
Our local early childhood center offered a free 8-day preschool program for 3 and 4 years olds this spring. So for 4 weeks, she went to school on Monday and Wednesday mornings for 2 hours. She was excited, but almost every single time (besides the first day) she left crying while a teacher “pulled” her into the room. She always had fun and was super excited to tell me everything she did and how she was excited to go back. But when it came time to actually go back, she started the crying fits again.
Thankfully, she’s too young for preschool this coming fall, so we’ll hopefully have PLENTY of time to get her ready for school in the fall of 2016 🙂
She is honestly the most stubborn and strong-willed person I’ve ever met; and to make matters worse, she’s actually really smart so most of the time, she knows exactly what she’s doing when she’s in one of her stubborn moods.
The other day, she told me, “I know I should just listen to you, but I just can’t… I want my own way so bad that I don’t care if I get punished.”
Yes, friends, this is what I’m dealing with at 3.5 — what on earth am I going to do when she’s 13?!
On the flip side, Nora is so caring and sensitive and loving and helpful that it (almost) makes me overlook the many MANY tantrums and fits she has every single day. She loves helping with Simon (when she’s not fighting with him). She loves helping me cook and garden and do household chores. But watch out, at any moment, she could totally switch “gears” if something triggers her… and the tantrums will begin all over again. Sigh…
Of course, there are MANY hair-pulling, shouting, crying, fighting, yelling, pushing moments in our house… but in general, these two kiddos are a pretty fun and dynamic duo, who I really enjoy spending my days with!
I’m excited to see how both kids adapt to having a new baby around, and also what life will be like in another couple years once they can all really play together!
Julia says
My son, Gage, didn’t start to talk more than 3-4 words until he was 2 1/2. I knew things were fine because he understood us, did what we asked him to do, and could hear everything. His preschool teachers were very focused on him not talking. If he had been my first, I would have been concerned. Fortunately for me (and him), he has an older sister who can talk the horns off a billy goat. Problem solved–poor kid couldn’t get a word in at all. Once the switch turned on, he was all talk all the time. Trust me, quiet is good !!
brenda says
Dekker details
MomofTwoPreciousGirls says
Your descriptions of your kids are so much like mine. My oldest is JUST like Nora. Her food issues were not as bad but she definitely had a lot of texture problems and her “I’m in charge” attitude has made school quite difficult. She will go into 2nd grade and she just won’t do what she doesn’t want to do. She was tested and diagnosed with ADHD (not sure that one is right) and Oppositionsl Defiance Disorder. Seriously being willful has been given a name.
My youngest, however, was just how Simon is. Laid back and quiet. I cried once when a picture of her came home from school…I was shocked that she was smiling…she was always so serious! I think she has been compensating for her sister for a long time. Her sister also always spoke for her. She didn’t really start talking until she was 18 mos…but now at 6 she is NEVER quiet. She does still allow her sister to stay in the center of attention, simply so she doesn’t have to “deal with her”!
Kristen @ Joyfully Thriving says
Nathan is the exact same way – with his love of the outdoors. He wants to be outside all the time! Like you, I’m thankful my teacher husband will be home this summer to help!. 🙂 We;ve also just transitioned to the one nap, and I don’t mind because I like the longer format of the naps too. I’m thinking of you as you prepare for the addition of another little one to your family!
Patty@homemakersdaily.com says
Cute kids! Don’t you just love having children?! They are so much fun. Now I’m a grandma of three and this is actually the best part. Love, love, love my grandkids.
Laurel says
I thought the definition of preschool was for three and four year olds. Our kids went when they were three and a half and absolutely loved it. It was nice for me too as I had four little ones. I would double check with your area preschools. I bet Nora would grow so much from that experience especially if she is headed to kindergarten after that.
Andrea says
she would technically be able to go to preschool next year if I REALLY wanted her to (but I don’t). however, even if she went to preschool next year, she would NOT be able to go to kindergarten the following year — so then she’d either have to go to preschool for 2 years or take a year off and I don’t really like either of those options.
Also, I have absolutely NO desire to cart her to preschool twice a week with a toddler and infant baby to bring along with! We’ll gladly just wait another year 🙂
Tracy says
Lovely update! What is around Simon in the picture of him on the “big kid swing”, something you made or something you purchased?
Andrea says
I’m not exactly sure what you’re talking about with the swing. There isn’t anything “around” him — it’s just a special swing for little kids. It’s very similar to this swing (http://amzn.to/1SZIs2s)
Tracy says
Thanks for the link! I didn’t know you could purchase those types of swings! I saw the chain across this lap and was wondering how he stayed on so well! A couple name suggestions for your monthly family updates: Monthly Mom Musings / The Dekker Darlings.
Andrea says
yup, no problem. Our swing came with the swing set, but I’ve thought about buying another one since Nora and Simon both like it… but we just haven’t made the purchase yet.
Julia says
Andrea, I always enjoy your updates about your children. My middle child is turning three this week and he shares much of Nora’s personality traits. I look forward to the day when his stubbornness and wanting of his way are things that become positives – I hope they will become that! These posts have always made me remember I’m not alone with my strong willed kiddo, thanks for that.
Dianne says
My son was a pointer and a grunter for what seemed like forever! Then he started talking and we couldn’t find the off switch, lol. He earned the nickname C3PO for just that reason. Everything with kids just happens in it’s own time, starting from when they decide to come into this world, lol. Enjoy each phase as it happens and you’ll all be fine.
Andrea says
haha — that’s what I’ve been told by so many people — once he starts talking, he won’t stop!
Paulette says
I LOVE these posts…what adorable, beautiful children! I cannot believe how grown-up Nora sounds!! P.S. I’ve heard numerous times that boys talk later than girls most of the time. Thanks for sharing your family with us, Andrea.
Ann says
Having parented a child with Nora’s will and outlook on life and now foster-parenting the child of that one, I KNOW and UNDERSTAND what you are saying about how hard it can be. Remember a picture is worth 1000 words. Many of your readers likely don’t believe it is “all that bad” in the rough moments because they only see adorable pictures of Nora. Here’s to the blessings and challenges the next many years will bring you. (Notice I did not say the next 14 1/2 years since these kids mature on their own timetable as well and there is no magical “now I’m an adult” moment at 18!)