Shelby does this kind of post from time to time and I think I will give it a try as well... it makes it easier to just throw a bunch of pictures together and play "catch up!" :)
This weekend, we went to a Western Kentucky University Basketball Game. My mom and Royce had some extra tickets, and they invited us to go.
Here are Jason and Lauren outside the arena.She was so excited!!
When we got inside, we saw some of the WKU cheerleaders while we were in the bathroom. They thought Lauren was the cutest thing, and gave her a little temporary tattoo to wear on her cheek during the game.
I thought it was hilarious that the cheerleaders asked Lauren if she wanted to be a cheerleader when she got bigger. She said "Yes!" Then one of them asked her was she going to come cheer for Western. She looked at me and I said, "not if her daddy can help it!"
(Jason's a Bama fan through and through)
Despite not having a nap, Lauren did well during the game. She didn't want to sit for very long at a time, but we got up with her and walked around. I think all the sounds and lights were very interesting to her!
When we asked her before the game who we were cheering for, she said "Alabama!" :)
By the time the game was over, it was after 6 and we headed to the car. Before we were out of the parking garage, Lauren was sound asleep! And I mean, drool-running-down-her-cheek and snoring- asleep!
When we got home an hour later, this was Lauren.
Too much excitement + not enough sleep = this grumpy girl.
We put her to bed and she slept until 8 the next morning!
Lauren has also apparently had some kind of growth spurt in the past 3 months that I hadn't really noticed.
Jason was getting her dressed for the basketball game and kept telling me that every pair of pants he put on her was about 2-3 inches too short. What?!
This happened last year as well...she outgrew her 2t's a month or so before the weather warmed up, and there was no way that I was buying a bunch of new winter clothes in a bigger size!
She does have a few pair of 3t pants that will get her by until spring, but most of them are going to have to be put away.
Case in point:
I bought this outfit for Lauren in October. She wore it for the first time to Aiden's first birthday a few weeks later. I LOVE it....but look at all the white sock that is visible in that picture! She looks like Steve Urkel. (minus the suspenders)
The frog outfit that she wore to the bball game is a 4t and I bought it for next year because I had gym bucks to spend at Gymboree. Obviously, she'll be wearing it now!
It's not that Lauren is a chunky monkey, she just keeps getting TALLER! At least she gets her height honest. But good grief, if she continues to grow like this....I am going to have to learn to make her clothes. (HA!)
I have been working with Lauren on learning her ABC's a little bit at home. I'm definitely NOT pushing it, just building on her natural curiosity. (she really loves the book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and she points to letters as I say their names or names them herself. yay!)
From my teaching days, I remember that it's easiest for children to first learn the letters that are most meaningful to them...i.e., the first letter of their name, their parent's names, sibling's names, etc.
Sooo...I make sure to always point out "L's" to Lauren and tell her that "L" is her letter. "L for Lauren". (And "M for mommy", "D for Daddy"...etc.)
She is loving it! One day last week, she found her foam bathtub letter L and brought it to me saying, "look, mommy! L for Lauren" "It's for me! It's my letter".
And our library has these huge wooden letters in their upstairs children's area and there just happens to be an "L" (not all the letters are represented).
Lauren was really excited to have her picture made on her letter... (wearing a pair of jeans that don't show her ankles) :)
There are also quotes on the walls of the library (you can see one in the pic above)
Lauren will point out letters that she knows in the quotes. The day I took this picture, she was showing me "O and E"
I think she recognizes/names A, B, C, D, E, K, L, M, O, P, S, T, X, and sometimes Z.
I love that she thinks that it is fun to find letters!
I will just run with this as long as she enjoys it, I don't want to push her and make it "un-fun", though. :)
And..... (whew! this post is getting loooooong)..2 weeks ago at MOPS, our pastor's wife spoke about teaching our children about God and how to raise disciples of Christ.
One of the examples she used was to make Bible studies more meaningful by having children "act" them out.
Lauren is OBSESSED with the story of David and Goliath right now.
(it was Noah and the "big boat" a few months ago)
One day, she was playing with some craft pom-poms that I had in a little box for her and she was wanting to throw them like balls. I started to tell her "no", because our rule is to not through things in the house.
Then it dawned on me: I could bed the rules a little and let her act out her favorite Bible story.
So here is Lauren in action....
She is throwing her "rocks" at the "big giant" (her bedroom door).
I thought it was a great activity and was meaningful to her.
Unfortunately, Jason came home not long after, and saw all the "rocks" on the floor and was not impressed.
Maybe it wasn't such a great idea, but Lauren still talks about wanting to throw her "rocks" at the "big giant". So, I think it was worth the mess.
My dad also came up for a visit last week. He had some time off work, and got to stay with us for about 4 days.
Lauren was so excited!
This is my dad reading "Corduroy" to Lauren one night before bed.
I love seeing my dad spend time with Lauren.
Here is Lauren Sunday afternoon after church getting ready to make her "Valentines" for our MOPS Valentine's exchange.
She said that she wanted to make a "surprise" for all her friends. :)
( there is nothing better than a surprise in Lauren's mind)
We made little bags with Valentine's inside, and Lauren got to add a mini playdough and some heart candy.
I thought she looked adorable in her dress and sweater and HUGE bow (which matched her white tights, not the pink dress, clearly)
But Lauren was being silly and these are what I got....
She's such a ham!
"Mommy, stop taking my picture, please!" :)
Here is the almost-finished product.
I tied the little bags with red ribbon...they are too cute!
I just printed these Valentine's onto cardstock.
They have a little fairy on them and say "Have a fairy nice day! Love, Lauren"
She's super-excited to give them to her little friends from church.
And, finally....
today it snowed again. (surprise, surprise...)
So Lauren and Katelyn got to watch a movie.
I had to get a picture of them laying on the couch.
Love that Kate copies everything Lauren does. (that could be good or bad)
And she's such a sweet little friend to Lauren!
When Jason got home, he took Lauren outside for a few minutes so she could get some fresh air and play in the snow for about 10 minutes.
Warm clothes? Check.
Hat? Check.
Coat? Check.
Gloves? Check.
One Happy Girl! :) (with a very pink nose)
Oh, Spring...we are so ready for you!!
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