finley from the farm: school, pictures and fevers

Finn has been doing a Pre-K program and learning shapes, letters and numbers for 3 weeks now. He also has an ABCs Bible verses book that he's going through. He likes to memorize words and then look for them in his regular books that he looks through and then calls them out when he sees them. He's turned out to be quite the student and likes to memorize things. I've also found him practicing writing his letters and he sounds words out all the time. Sometimes it sounds like "f-f-Sunday" saying the 'F' sound and then saying Sunday, but at least he's trying. If something starts with an 'F' he automatically thinks it must say Finley. Do you know how many things have 'Fs' in them? =)

Last Wednesday, Piper got a 103 degree fever for a couple of days after he got another cold a few days before. Poor guy seems to always have a cold and runny nose. He takes it in stride though and he'll come and let me know when he needs me to wipe it. He will either point to it or he will just start blowing it on anything he can reach. It's taken some time to teach him what he can blow his nose on and what he shouldn't. He's also started to let me know when he's peeing and pooping. He'll point to his diaper and then smile as he stands very still. Sometimes it's hard not to laugh at the look on his face as he's concentrating. He will then go and get me a diaper to change him. I'd say he's almost ready for potty training. I'll first work on having him get himself undressed and redressed alone and then we'll probably start in a couple of months. I really wish he could communicate more though. He still doesn't really say much at all and will absolutely not say anything if you ask him to say it. He's one stubborn kid!

Ollie is growing like a weed. He now drinks anywhere from 17 to even 20 ounces in the evening alone cluster feeding for night time. This doesn't bother me at all as he's been sleeping straight through the night now for at least 2 weeks...and we're talking 11-1/2 to 12 hours straight! This little boy loves to sleep. He takes about a 2-hour nap in the morning, will be awake for about 1-1/2 hours and then will take a 4-hour nap in the afternoon. He then stays awake for anywhere from 3 to 4 hours while he just eats. He's still the happiest, most content baby. He loves to watch Finn now and when he sees him, will lock his eyes on him and watch his every move. Tonight, Finn got out of his line of vision and Ollie got frustrated looking around him waiting to see Finley again. I told Finley to go back over to Ollie so he could see him and he just stared. We also had Ollie's dedication service last Sunday. While we were up on stage and the pastor was talking, Ollie locked on the pastor the whole time, even through a yawn, he just watched Pastor Ray talk.

Yesterday evening we had a friend from our church come out to the farm and take family pictures. Piper decided not to take a full nap so he was pretty crabby. We'll just say that we captured the real Piper. I think we got some good pictures done...we'll just have to see in a few weeks! I'm excited to get them back!

Late this afternoon, Finn got really whiny. He didn't take a nap this afternoon and after our photo shoot followed by a bonfire and a busy morning, he was tired! So, I asked him if he was falling apart after not taking a nap. He said, "Yes, I'm breaking" in a pitiful voice. About 10 minutes later he came to me and said that his head was breaking and he was rubbing it. I asked him if his head hurt and he said yes. So, I felt him and knew right away that he had a moderate fever. Within 10 minutes he was lying on the couch, shaking and shivering with fever and asking for a spoon. I had no clue why he would want a spoon, but I got one out of the silverware drawer and he said he showed me that he wanted it on his forehead. My guess is, that was the coldest thing he could think of to put on his aching head. So, as he went to sleep shaking, I rubbed his forehead with a silver spoon. I stopped once because I thought he was asleep and he opened his dazed eyes and said, "I think you better just stay here with me". Poor thing got hit hard, but as soon as it came on, it left. He slept for about 45 minutes and when he woke up he ate and then hit the floor playing with his tractors and trucks. The fever never came back...at least not yet!

Here's Matthew talking to Ollie. If you take the time, Ollie will talk your ear off and smile up a storm!

The boys ready for bed and sitting for a picture tonight.

Ollie. He's almost into 6-month clothes. We've found too that he's most comfortable in his brace. I think the bottom of his legs and his feet are just too sensitive since they've been covered for 23 hours a day for weeks now.