Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Today is the last day of 2013.  Katie has been home for nearly a year and a half.  She is two and a half years old.  This year has been very busy with lots of exciting developments.  Katie started going to a montessori based preschool program, which has been very helpful in her speech development.  Though she continues to be delayed, she is working weekly with a speech therapist and I can tell that all of our efforts are paying off.  She is starting to say our names and ask for help, as well as saying yes, no, and thank you.  It's pretty funny how she will say thank you several times in a row.  :)

Attachment and bonding has also improved.  Katie is a very spirited toddler, and there are times I feel like I am at my wit's end with chasing her around the house and pulling her off her brother or sister.  This is the first child I have had with this type of temperament and it makes me feel like a newbie parent as I try to figure out the best way to manage.  But the last few months have brought a lot more cuddles, hugs, and kisses along the way that help make us realize that we have a very special and very smart little girl.  As she continues to improve in her speech, we believe it will get even better.

So how is the family doing?  We have done a lot of fun stuff this year such as going to Orlando for spring break, spending a long weekend at the water park, playing in the pool all summer, and having quality time together and with our extended family.  The kids have taken on more chores in the house (who hoo!) and just finished another season of basketball.  Next is more basketball along with guitar lessons and the continuation of 4H, children's church choir, and cub scouts.  I'm sure I am forgetting something.  As you can surmise, we keep everyone very busy around here!  We have started a new tradition of weekly family meetings to keep up with everything and talk about what we can to accomplish as a team.  We just started this about a month ago and it has been useful to stop once a week for 30 minutes and take an opportunity to educate our kids as well as get feedback from them.  

We are keeping busy at work as well.  Mike got a new job this year and it has been a blessing for him, as it is a job he has had a goal to achieve one day, and he did.  We are all very proud of him.  I continue to chug along and have traveled a lot for business this year - Houston, Chicago, Ohio, Kentucky, and Georgia are all states I have visited this year, as well as Ontario.  I hate being away from the kids but it is nice once in a while to get out and see some other places.

Wishing all of our loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!