Happy 6th Birthday, Brennan!

Happy 6th Birthday, Brennan!

Our not-so-little guy is growing up fast!  Brennan has been looking forward to turning 6 for quite some time.  He's such a kind, funny, intelligent, inquisitive young man and we're so proud of him!

To celebrate his birthday, Brennan had his first friends and family party.  In addition to family and family friends, he chose to invite his entire kindergarten class!  Several of his school buddies were able to attend and he had a great time celebrating his big day.  We had his party at Chet and Matt's Pizza for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle themed party--a theme he chose shortly after his 5th birthday! 

Current interests and favorites:

-Super heroes and super villains

-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

-Books and reading -- he's able to read several of his stories to us!

-Legos

-Crafts and art

~School!  He loves kindergarten and is doing great!

It's a GIRL!

We had Encore's big ultrasound today and learned that Encore is a GIRL! We're very excited!  Since we're "old pros", the technician assisted us in discovering the gender by pointing out the correct area on the ultrasound screen and letting us determine if it was a boy or a girl! 

Encore looks perfect and healthy.  She's quite the contortionist/acrobat, including having one leg curled while another leg was by her head, and flexing her arm above her head.  We were able to watch her yawn and almost suck her thumb.  While the OB listened to her heartbeat following the ultrasound, she commented that she's very active.  I'm feeling some movement, but not everything.

It was discovered during the ultrasound that my placenta is low, so we'll have another ultrasound in 4 weeks to make sure it's resolving itself.

Here's our beautiful little lady!

18 Month Stats

Abigail had her 18 month well check today.  The doctor noted that she looks "perfect" and was pleased with her development. 

The pediatrician gave us the go-ahead to give her Miralax regularly due to some occasional issues.  He also suggested that we wean her from her pacifier within the next few months.  She only gets a pacifier when she's sleeping and we had already discussed weaning her from it soon. 

Current Stats:
24lb 1 oz
32.5 inches

18 Months!

~Abigail's expressive language continues to blossom!  She is saying new words often and her pronunciation is improving.  Everything sweet is called a "cookie".  She loves "bubbles".  Any bread, especially if you are putting it in the toaster is a "waf-fle".  She says "bee-boo" for Peek-A-Boo.  She'll extend her arms and state "a-du" (All done) when finished with a meal.  Abigail will state "Hot!" when we're cooking at the stove and enjoys wearing her "hat".  She's standing up for herself and will state "Mine!" when her brother attempt to take a toy from her. She's making more animals noses, including "hop hop" for rabbits and "woof woof" for dogs.
~She continues to improve her interest in books.  She will often bring us a book to read. Current favorites include books with "babies", dogs and Bubble Guppies (Guppa guppa).
~She's doing a great job of feeding herself with utensils, including spearing bites with a fork and scooping with a spoon.  She enjoys wiping her face and high chair tray with a paper towel.  She's a fairly good eater and is becoming more tolerant of different fruits and veggies.  Abby prefers to eat her food just like her brothers, rather than cut into bites.  She definitely has a sweet tooth.
~Abigail is entering a Mommy-itis stage.  She prefers to be held and put to bed by Mommy.
~She is quite the climber!  She enjoys crawling onto objects, including toy bins, recliners and dining room table chairs.
~Abigail is in the beginning stages of pretend play.  She likes to get and serve us beverages from the play kitchen or play food sets, give us bites of food while stating "yum-yum" or "yummy", brush our hair and walk around with her purse on her shoulder and a phone by her ear!
~Just like Brennan and Gavin, she's going to be a great big sibling!  She loves to point out "babies" and is very affectionate to her baby dolls.

17 Months!

~Little Miss Independent prefers to feed herself rather than be feed.  She does a pretty good job!  She'll repeat "Mommy!" when wanting help with scooping food, but then wants to do the rest herself.
~Her language skills continue to blossom.  She's added many words, including "wa-wal" (waffle), "cook-cook" (cookie), "dis" (this), "Hi", "Yeah", "Ni Ni"and "Daddy".  She consistently says "Hi!" when entering a room/someone enters a room, "Bise!" after exiting the bathroom post-shower and finding Mommy/Daddy, "Guppa guppa" when she sees Bubble Guppies books/characters, and "Daaa-da" when she sees a dog.  Several people on several occasions have commented that it sounds as though she is saying longer phrases at appropriate times.  She's definitely a talker!  Her receptive language is flourishing, too, as she seems to understand many things that are said to her.
~Abigail can jump and twirl.  She's found the joy in climbing, especially now that she can get herself down by crawling backwards.
~She loves to be out and about. She'll bring us her shoes if she hears that we are going somewhere or that someone is leaving.
~She's learning more noises of animals and objects.  While not always consistent, she'll "vroom" for cars/vehicles, "choo choo" for trains, smack her lips together for a fish, "baaa" for sheep, and make a throat gurgle for a bear.  She also has an adorable "Muah" for kisses.
~She's such a happy, giggly gal.  We occasionally refer to her as "Giggles" or "Abba-giggles".  The babysitter frequently comments on her personality, including telling us that she is the happiest baby she's had in 27 years of babysitting!
~She's a great sleeper!  She continues to take 2 naps a day.  She quietly puts herself to sleep and wakes up happy.  The babysitter has commented that when Abigail starts to get tired, she'll wrap a blanket around her shoulders, point to her pacifier on the counter, and after she gets her pacifier, she'll walk into the bedroom.
~When asked, she'll point to her belly, nose and mouth

Fabulous Four!

We're thrilled the announce the upcoming arrival of our latest addition!  Baby Swartz #4 will be joining our family in May, 2016!  We've nicknamed Baby #4 "Encore" -- as in one final, wonderful performance.

Encore at 8 weeks!

While news of Encore was a surprise, it's certainly a welcomed and exciting surprise!  We shared the news with Brennan, Gavin and Abigail as we carved pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns.  Instead of having three pumpkins, we had four -- one for each kid!  They are excited for the arrival of their new brother or sister!

16 Months!

~Abigail is picking up speed every day and is nearly running!  When walking quickly, she does a cute swing of her hips.

~Her expressive babbling continues and she has added more words! She says "Hi" and "Bye bye!" at appropriate times.  She has also added "doggie" and very clearly states "Mommy" and "Dada".  She's been heard to say "Bise!" (Surprise) and "Baby" often, also.  Her receptive language is blossoming, too.

~While she has always enjoyed books, her interest seems to be growing.  She frequently bring us books to read to her and points to pictures to be labeled.  She is most interested in interactive books, including lift-the-flap books and books with textures.

~She does the adorable move of moving backwards while sticking her bottom out while on her way to sit on our laps.

~Abigail continues to adore her brothers and imitates them often, including roaring like lions, jumping (attempting to jump), and running around the room.  She likes to get into their rough-housing, also.  

~Abby enjoys the play kitchen, including taking play food in and out of the microwave/oven compartments.  She puts cups under the faucet and then pretends to take a drink.  Abigail loves "stirring food" with a play utensil and cup/bowl.  Then, she'll come to us and "feed us" with the utensil while repeatedly smacking her lips together.  It's adorable!

~Abigail is taking an interest in dogs.  She'll point them out excitedly and label them.

~She likes to make animal noises when she sees them in pictures, although most animals roar, "Mmmm" or clear their throats.

~She enjoys picking up toys.

~Abigail frequently claps for herself when being praised.

~Our little dancing queen is learning new dance moves.  She moves her hips, stomps her foot, twirls, and side steps with her head on her shoulder.