Della has her own page on here, so I wanted to start one for Lana, too. This one won’t be quite as daily journal-ish as D’s is, though. I’ll use this space mainly to keep track of milestones, stats, things of that nature. Basically whatever I’d want to keep track of in a pen-to-paper journal and/or stuff that doesn’t really go in a baby book. So here we go…
(FYI, because I write so much about these kids, their pages are all broken into yearly chunks so as not to crash my site. I’ll keep the current year on the main page for ease of use. Enjoy!)
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January 10, 2018
My poor, sweet baby girl. Last week you slipped in the dining room, smashed your face on the dining room table bench, then got spun around and fell onto the floor, cracking your head on there, too. You totally bit through your lip, which completely freaked me out. Fortunately it wasn’t as bad as I’d originally thought once I got you all cleaned up, But the amount of blood that gushed from your poor lip was frightening. You were pretty subdued the rest of that day and night, too, so I think it really took the wind out of your sails. You are such a tough cookie, though, that you were already healing well by the next day. I love you so much, my love, and you are one of the strongest kids we’ve ever known, from the day you were born.
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January 24, 2018
One more week until you’re a big sister for the second (and last!) time, my love! You are so excited, too. You and Della both have countdowns going – yours goes to the 31st, which is the day they’re supposed to be induced, and Della chose the 27th as her day. I really hope yours is right, because that’s how I’ve been planning everything out! You are becoming such a great helper, always willing to get me stuff I need now that I can barely move around the house, and you are going to be so happy with 2 new babies in this house. I can’t wait to feel my love for you grow and grow as your love for these 2 little ones grows, too. You are simply the best, my dear! And your new short haircut like Della’s makes you one of the 2 cutest little girls I’ve ever known.
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January 30, 2018
Last day before the twins, my love! You are so excited, so I really hope we’re not screwing everything up by adding 2 more kids. I know we didn’t exactly choose to add 2, but here we are. I think you, especially, are going to love having the babies here, though.
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February 1, 2018
You, Della, and Morrison came to the hospital to meet the twins today, and you were so very, very cute. You were so curious about everything, and you immediately wanted to hold Avit, the one who we said looked like you when you were born. You did such a great job, and I can tell already that you’re going to be an amazing big sister again. You all made me cards for my hospital stay, and they’re going in my keepsake art collection forever. Watching your love grow for your new baby brothers makes me so incredibly happy.
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February 7, 2018
You and Morrison got to go out for pizza for lunch with Daddy today since Della had pizza fun lunch at school. Of course you loved it!
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February 9, 2018
You girls had a snow day from school today, so Daddy took you 3 sledding over at Cahill. Needless to say, you had an absolute blast. I loved having us all home together for an unexpected day. Today was supposed to have been your 100th day at school and you were all set getting dressed with the shirt you made for it and everything, but fortunately the fun of the day made up for having to postpone it. Plus it wasn’t canceled, you’ll get to have it on Monday. That made you feel better, too.
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February 12, 2018
Now you got to have your 100th day of school, and you were so happy! You hopped out of bed to get your shirt with 100 “things” on it that you all worked hard painting and decorating, and you looked absolutely adorable in it. At school you got to make a necklace with 100 Fruit Loops on it, you made an art project of what you’d look like at 100 years old, and you did a bunch of other fun “100” projects in class. It just makes me so happy how much you love school.
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February 14, 2018
You and Morrison got to go out for a fun lunch of ramen with Daddy today on his last day home. Then we ate heart-shaped pizzas for dinner, our standard Valentine’s Day tradition.
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February 15, 2018
Unfortunately you started throwing up this afternoon, my dear, so I’m hoping this doesn’t turn into something really nasty. You have always been the best puker, though, seeming totally fine after each time you throw up and saying so.
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February 16, 2018
You and Della are both home from school today. You haven’t thrown up since about 11:00 last night, though, so fingers crossed that this is just a short-lived bug.
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February 17, 2018
You and Della are both much better today, thank goodness. No flu.
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February 18, 2018
Daddy hooked up a little video game system in our bedroom for you guys to play on, and you are loving it. I’m not sure any of you really knows how to play the games, but you just like using the controllers.
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February 22, 2018
You and Della got to go swimming at a hotel pool this afternoon with Grandma, and you had so much fun. I was very happy to hear that you took right back to the water, since you stopped wanting to do anything in your swim lessons last fall. Grandma said you jumped right in off the sides and took your puddle jumper off so you could do your bobs up and down off the bottom. Great job, my love!
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March 3, 2018
This morning was your first dance class of this session, something you love doing. Your class is a lot bigger this time than past sessions.
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March 6, 2018
You had your first real play date today, and you were so excited. You’ve long lamented the fact that Della gets to have fairly regular play dates with her friends, and today was finally your turn. Sarah Crowbridge has been giving you rides home most days, which has been an amazing help to me, and her daughter Amelia is in the other K4 class. So today she invited you to stay at their house after school and you got to play all afternoon until she went to pick up her boys at the end of the full school day. You had so much fun! You girls made a snowman, played baby, and had a great time.
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March 13, 2018
Tonight was your K4 concert at school, and it was so wonderful watching you up on that stage. I fully remember going to the same concert for Della, and I’m pretty sure I watched it with tears in my eyes just as I did for you tonight. Auntie Mer is in town for the week so she stayed home with all 3 boys, and the rest of us went to watch you. You stood in the back row of the risers, and I could see you plain as day in your beautiful white dress with all the beads and pearls along the collar. I love you so much, my dear, and I am so very proud of you.
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March 20, 2018
You got to give Avit his bottle again tonight, one of your favorite baby “chores.” I’m going to start giving them almost all bottles now, so you’ll have the chance to feed them as often as you want.
You’re such a big help around here, my love, I can’t even believe it. Almost every day when you get home from school, you head right to the kitchen to make lunch for you and Morrison. This started a few weeks ago, and I never even asked you to do it. When you make lunch, it’s usually peanut butter and Nutella rollups, peanuts, peanut butter spoons, and some sort of fruit. Good thing you guys don’t have any nut allergies! But for you to just take this on yourself is such a huge thing for me. I don’t know many other 5 year olds who make their own meals. You are an amazing big sister to the twins, too, always helping get their plugs back in when they need them, and giving them hugs and kisses all the time. I love you so much, my sweet baby girl! I’m in awe of your creativity daily, and I will never tire of simply watching you.
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March 22, 2018
I got you guys a real tea set with butterflies on it, and you, Della, Morrison, and Daddy had your first real tea party tonight. You, especially, had so much fun with it!
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March 23, 2018
Tonight was the start of spring break, and since we aren’t going anywhere this year, I wanted to do something fun for you guys. So I set up an indoor campout in your bedroom – all 3 of you get to sleep in sleeping bags on the floor, I tied a sheet up to make a canopy, and I put your little play campfire set in the middle of the floor. We even made s’mores after dinner to kick it off and everything. You all said you love it, so that makes me happy!
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March 28, 2018
I took all 5 of you to the zoo today. Wow. I hadn’t anticipated the spring break crowds, so that made me crabby to navigate, but you all said you had fun, so that’s good.
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March 29, 2018
You, Della, and Morrison went up to Uncle Rich and Auntie Billie’s house today for your first sleepover, and you’re so excited. You especially can’t wait to use the bag with your name on it that Auntie Billie got all 3 of you for Christmas, specifically for this. We had a little blowup earlier today when you guys weren’t listening and I accidentally broke the little family statue that Aunt Joanie sent when you were born that you wanted to put in your bag to take for the night, but all was right by the time you guys left. You are going to have so much fun!
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March 31, 2018
You guys got to go to Rock Bottom for lunch today with Daddy, and you loved it, as usual.
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April 1, 2018
Happy Easter! The Easter Bunny gave you guys an indoor egg hunt since it was wet and cold outside. You had a blast hunting down all your eggs!
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April 10, 2018
You got to have a playdate at your friend Amelia’s house after school today, and you ended up staying all afternoon. You had so much fun!
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April 12, 2018
Today you asked me if I like vodka. Say what?? You heard it on the show Nailed It, where they made vodka-soaked cake pops (gross!), and one of the judges was talking about making vodka drinks. Then Della told me that at Dairy Queen during your sleepover a few weeks ago, you told your cousin Gwen that you were going to go to her wedding, drink all the vodka, and leave. Oh great!
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April 17, 2018
Unfortunately you caught the stomach bug that the rest of us have and are home sick from school today. Yuck.
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April 20, 2018
Your class and the other K4 class had a Q-U wedding today, because you’ve been working on that letter sound in class. You guys were the U’s, and you were able to dress up fancy. You were so excited because you got to wear your sparkly blue “high heels” to school for it with your pretty white dress, but when you got home you said they had really hurt your feet. You guys also had crazy hair day at school, so that added to the fun.
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April 23, 2018
We walked home from school for the first time this year, and you were so happy. You chattered all the way home, a sure sign you’re excited about something. It feels great to finally have some nice weather and be outside exercising again.
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April 24, 2018
Unfortunately you guys lost your street-crossing privileges tonight. You 3 were playing across the street in the Fischers’ backyard this evening, and you and Della let Morrison come home by himself. The last thing we said when you guys went out was that if one comes home you all come home, and to keep an eye on Morrison. So now you all have to play on our side of the street only all summer unless Daddy or I is across the street with you. Not taking any chances on that one.
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April 25, 2018
You are getting so good at sounding everything out to start writing and reading! Today you spelled yo-yo and hot for me. You’re star student in your class next week and you are so excited! You made a countdown for it today and everything.
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April 28, 2018
Yours and Della’s creativity never ceases to amaze me. Your latest projects are houses that you’re drawing, complete with families in the windows, backyards, and swimming pools.
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April 30, 2018
Daddy got new training wheels for you and put them on Della’s old bike, which fits you much better than your little purple one. You rode to/from picking up Della today, and you did your excited chattering again so I knew you were having a lot of fun.
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May 3, 2018
Today was your star student day! You were so utterly excited for it, and you were so adorable. Grandma Jenni, Grandma Rau, and Aunt Linda were all in town to watch, and Della got to come to your class with all of us, too. When we walked in you had no shoes on, and of course today was the one day we forgot to put shoes in your backpack when you wore your rain boots. Ha! We went out to a fun lunch afterward, and you thoroughly enjoyed being the star of the show. Even when you said Della fights with you a lot during your poster presentation, which she totally does not!
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May 4, 2018
You were off school today and Daddy took the day off, too, so you, Daddy, and Morrison went to the zoo this morning then out to lunch. Lucky ducks.
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May 5, 2018
You 3 did the kids run for Run the Bay this morning, and you had as much fun as you did last year. Then you played outside with friends all day, since the weather was finally beautiful.
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May 8, 2018
You and your sister are the sweetest little girls I’ve ever known. You both made me scavenger hunts for my birthday this morning that ended in little bags of candy, you had Daddy take you to the store last night so you could buy me a gift, and you both made me cards. Yours said I’m a good mom, the best mom a kid could ever have, and to never think I’m a bad mom. Oh my gosh, I about cried as soon as I read that! I love you so much, my sweet girl.
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May 9, 2018
This morning you read me a whole page of 3-letter words that you guys have been working on at school, and I was so impressed! You wore a pretty dress to school today that Miss Kristen gave you last night with your new white leggings underneath it. Veronica’s grandpa gave you a ride home today since it was so rainy, and as soon as he pulled up to our house to drop you off, you somehow leaped out the door of their minivan and landed on your knees right in the gutter of the street off our curb. Instant black muddy knees on your white leggings. I could tell you thought you were going to be in big trouble when you saw me, but I assured you it was ok, I’d wash them and it’d all come out, and it was no big deal. I didn’t want you to feel bad in front of Veronica either. You guys had so much fun playing together outside in their backyard yesterday – I love having our neighbors be our good friends, too.
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May 31, 2018
I can’t believe you’re almost done with your first year of school, my love! One week from today is your last day of K4. No way! I’ll be sad to no longer see you come bounding out the K4 doors and run across the grass into my arms at pickup. The other day was your school Spring Sing, and it was so funny watching you. You saw me from the risers and were waving, then you saw me again during your performance on the blacktop and waved to me as you walked back to your class area. It made it easy to find you for pictures! You’ve had such a great year, and the growth in your knowledge and skills has been amazing to see. I am so, so very proud of you, sweet girl, and I hope you never change. I know you’re excited for summer and to play with all your friends on the block, too. I signed you up for NASA camp today for a week in July, so you’re really looking forward to that. You told me today that you want to be an astronaut when you grow up, so maybe this will help guide you there. I love you so much!
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June 7, 2018
Happy last day of K4, my sweet baby girl! I can’t believe your first year of school is over already. Off to full-day and K5 you go!
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June 28, 2018
I took you, Della, and Morrison to the zoo today to see the dinosaurs, which is one of your favorite exhibits, and you love when we go by the ones that spit water at you. Then you 3 rode the merry-go-round, another perennial zoo favorite. You and Della also rode your bikes in a kids bike race over in Shorewood tonight that Daddy took you to, and the best part was the ice cream at the end.
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June 29, 2018
Daddy took you big 3 up to Bookworm Gardens today with Grandma Rau, then you went out to lunch with her and Uncle Randy’s family. You guys love that place so much.
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July 4, 2018
Happy 4th of July, sweet girl! You guys were so ready for the day – we laid your 4th of July outfits from Grandma Rau out last night and got your candy bags ready for the parade. It was so hot, but thankfully you all had your sunscreen on and drank plenty of water, then played in the slip n slide and our pool. It’s always such a fun day!
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July 5, 2018
Since our village fireworks were cancelled by thunderstorms last night, they went on tonight instead. Daddy took you, Della, and Morrison, and with your ear plugs ready, you had so much fun.
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July 6, 2018
We walked to a pizza place for lunch today that is just over 2 miles from our house, and you rode your scooter the whole way there. Way to go, little one! I was impressed, because you’ve never ridden that far before. You did ride home in the wagon, but that was still a great job and some major exercise for those little legs.
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July 8, 2018
Some of the most hilarious things come out of your mouth. Daddy has actually started keeping track of some of them, but one that made us both laugh happened tonight. We told you to go to bed, because Della and Morrison had already gone in your bedroom, and you said, “Wait a minute, I have to itch my bun crack.” Ha!
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July 17, 2018
This afternoon we were over at the Riveras’ house, and you started pedaling on 2 wheels on Amelia’s bike all by yourself! Great job, sweet girl! I bet you could be on 2 wheels all the time by the end of the summer if we keep working on it. You were so excited, too.
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July 19, 2018
You were so happy about all the sea glass we found down at Big Bay today. You absolutely love every time you find a piece, and I was so happy we all went home with some. It was definitely our best haul yet, and you guys had a lot of fun playing in the water, too.
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July 20, 2018
There were some big thunderstorms last night, which you don’t like, and you came into bed with me. You started rubbing Nigh-Night’s tail on my hand as you snuggled back to sleep, and it filled my heart to bursting. I love you so much, my sweet baby girl. Then tonight we watched the Brewers game from a suite with Uncle Randy and Uncle Rich’s families, and you had so much fun with your cousins.
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July 21, 2018
I took you, Della, and Morrison up to Bookworm Gardens for the Fairyfolk Festival today, and you were in heaven. You could’ve built fairy houses all day, my love. Then you loved sitting next to Grandma Rau at lunch afterward.
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July 30, 2018
You started space camp today for the week, and I could tell you were a little nervous this morning. You’re the only girl in the class and most of the other kids are older than you since it’s ages 5-12, but you were so excited to tell me all about it when you got home and I was so relieved! The first thing you learned was how astronauts pee and poop in space, ha! Right up your alley. It’s from 8:30-12:00 each day, and you get to bring home some great projects, including a launchable rocket – awesome! Grandma Rau got you a super cute NASA shirt with an astronaut on it and you absolutely love it. I’m so proud of you for choosing this camp, my sweet girl!
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August 5, 2018
You have your first truly wiggly tooth, and it is suddenly incredibly loose! You bit into some corn yesterday at Della’s birthday party, and it knocked your front left bottom tooth super loose. We’re going down to Grandma’s today after your friend Maura’s birthday party then onto Peoria for a couple days, so I bet it’ll come out on the trip. We’re taking the tooth fairy doll and your tooth box just in case. You made Maura such a nice card with Della – I’m so proud of you girls.
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August 6, 2018
You and Della jumped off the diving board with your floats on at Uncle Nate and Aunt Sherry’s house today, and you’re having so much fun. You keep swimming around the shallow end without your puddle jumper so you can dive for toys, which makes me nervous, but you’re doing a great job. You swam across the pool again like I saw you do in your last round of swim lessons, too – I knew you could do it!
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August 10, 2018
You and Della went over to Anna’s birthday party today, and you thoroughly enjoyed your spa day of hair spray color, glitter, and pedicures.
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August 12, 2018
Congratulations, sweet girl, your first tooth came out tonight! Daddy pulled it right before I went to pick up dinner, and you did so great. I could tell it hurt a little because you flinched back when he tried to pull it, but then you turned around with a big bloody hole in your mouth! Good job!! You were nervous about it because it was sore, but we kept saying that meant it was ready to come out. The front root was still pretty long and was what was holding it in, but you were so excited once it was out. You kept saying how weird it felt with the hole in your mouth, and you swore you could already see the new tooth growing in a little. You proudly put your tooth in the tooth fairy doll’s little front pocket, and you’re now snoozing soundly, waiting to see what’s in there in the morning. I love you so much, my sweet girl!
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August 19, 2018
Your first 6-year molar is starting to poke through – upper left. It’s so funny that you’re losing teeth and getting new ones at the same time!
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August 23, 2018
I took you big 3 to the water park near our house tonight after dinner, and you loved it! You wore your puddle jumper the whole time and had a blast. You were the first one to go down the water slide with me, and we laughed the whole time. We’ll get back to swim lessons this fall, and maybe next summer you’ll be able to pass the swim test and not need a float anymore.
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August 30, 2018
We went back down to Big Bay today to look for more sea glass, but the water was really high so it wasn’t the best hunting. You guys did find a couple pieces, though. The same thing happened last year when we went down there at the very end of summer vacation – the whole beach was totally underwater with big waves. School meet and greet was tonight, so we took all your supplies to your room, dropped them off, and met your teacher. She seems great! I think you’re going to have a great K5 year, my big all-day girl.
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August 31, 2018
One last trip to the zoo for this summer – we did the dinosaurs again and the merry-go-round this time instead of the train. You guys do love that place.
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September 4, 2018
Happy first day of K5, my love! You are so excited to start school, and you are totally ready to be there for a full day. Your sweet heart is already shining through – you made a little picture for Ms. Armstrong on a hot pink post-it note to give her first thing this morning. It said To Ms. Armstrong I love you Love, Lana and had a couple little drawings. I wait in your line with you each morning while I wave to Della, then I wave to you the whole time you walk in, up the stairs, and around the corner. Then Ms. Armstrong dismisses you directly to me from line every day on the playground. I love you so much, and I miss you terribly when you’re away from me all day! May your school forever be a safe, happy place for your days, my sweet baby girl.
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September 8, 2018
We started our first session of swim lessons at the high school this morning instead of the JCC, and you all did great! I put you in level 1, but at the end of your lesson your teacher came to find me and said you could really be in level 2, which is what Della’s in right now. She said they do more putting their heads all the way under which still gives you pause, plus that class is full, so she’s just going to push you a little harder than the other kids in your class to get you ready for level 2 next time. Great job, sweet girl! I’m so proud of you!
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September 11, 2018
You are so amazing, my sweet girl. You looked at me with such excitement in your eyes when I asked you to get the babies’ towels and pj’s ready for their baths tonight. It was so cute – you instantly lit up with pride at the job you’d been given. You got everything set up and laid out perfectly and neatly, and you even made little “Nat’s” and “Avit’s” signs for their respective places. You folded each of their towels into tidy little squares and had all of their pj’s, diapers, q-tips, lotion, and combs ready for me. I love you so very, very much.
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September 12, 2018
You make me so proud every day, my sweet baby girl. Today you told me how you played with Mia at recess, one of the special needs friends in your class. You said you girls were having races on the slides, and Mia’s helper comes out to recess with everyone. You have been such a great friend to the special needs kids in your classes both years so far, and I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that. Always be such a good friend to everyone, my love.
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September 18, 2018
I kept you home from school today already, unfortunately. It took you less than a week to get sick last year, too. You have a bad cough that’s just gotten more persistent, so we can’t have you spreading all that around. And the worst part is you, Morrison, and Avit all have it. I hope you get well soon! Fortunately everyone is off school tomorrow, so we can just stay home and rest you up.
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September 21, 2018
You were off school again today for half-class assessment days. Short week for you this week! But you knew Della’s picking up her new glasses this afternoon with Daddy, and you made her the absolute sweetest picture. It said “Happy Glasses Day Della! To Della From Lana,” and you drew a pair of glasses instead of writing the word. Then you drew a picture of her in her new glasses and you next to her, and you even got the outfits you both have on today perfect. You filled the background with falling leaves, since today is the first day of fall. I love your creativity! You adore your big sister so much, and there’s not much that makes me happier than watching the love between you grow and grow.
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October 4, 2018
Tonight was Open House at school, and I was so impressed! I love going to Open House night to see your classroom, artwork, and what you’ve been working on so far in the school year. Your drawings are so great, my love! I took pictures of everything to show Daddy, and he was really impressed, too. Your drawing of a fall tree from your Audubon Nature Center field trip was incredible. You are definitely an artist.
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October 5, 2018
I took you and Della out of school after a half day today to drive down to Grandma’s to begin our trip to Tucson this weekend. Great-Grandma Barbie and Great-Grandpa Bob are looking forward to seeing you guys again and meeting the twins. You’re excited to fly on an airplane again!
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October 6, 2018
Great job on the long flight to Tucson today, my love. Thank you! And while we were waiting for Grandma to get the car at the rental place, you were making Nat and Avit have the biggest smiles I’ve ever seen by playing peek-a-boo with them. They were both laughing out loud. They love you so much!
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October 11, 2018
You lost your 2nd tooth tonight! Bottom front right. Daddy has been trying to get that thing out for weeks, and tonight it was finally ready. It had gotten so loose, he said it was barely even being held in there anymore. I know you’re happy it’s finally out, and you now have it tucked safely in the little tooth fairy pillow on your bed. You are so cute, my sweet girl.
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October 12, 2018
You learned how to tie tonight, sweet girl, great job! Daddy was at the Brewers game, Della was roller skating with friends, and you and Morrison were watching the game on TV with me. So very unexciting for you guys. You wanted to do something, and you started working on the shoestrings in one of the quiet books. I had showed you how to do it months ago and you’d gotten it on your first try, but then we just haven’t practiced it. But some familiarity must have been there still, because you picked it right back up. Nice job! Now you’re excited to wear tie shoes to school. We just have to get you a pair that fits!
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October 15, 2018
Grandma Jenni and Grandpa Craig came into town this afternoon for a little early birthday celebration for you, and you guys are so excited! One of your favorite gifts was this amazing space dress with a big jeweled bow on the front. It could not be more perfect for you right now, my love.
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October 18, 2018
You absolutely love projects. We’ve been putting together the big gift bag full of presents for your class that you’re taking in for your birthday celebration, and you’ve been so excited to help. You’ve made me a list of which item gets wrapped in which wrapping paper before going into the bag, you helped me tape the gifts while I was wrapping them, you made a card for the class, you made a card and a little gift for Ms. Armstrong, and you helped organize everything in the bag. You also made a card for our new neighbor yesterday almost the second after I asked you to do it instead of whenever you felt like getting to it, like you do for many tasks with which I charge you. Your phonetic writing is getting so good, too, it’s becoming easier and easier to read everything you’ve written. If you get asked to do something you love, you’ll jump on it and get it done beautifully!
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October 21, 2018
Happy birthday, sweet Lana Marie!! When I got up this morning, you were already dressed in your new, beautiful space dress, and you were clipping your fingernails over the little garbage can in your bedroom. Ha! Only you, my love. Grandpa Frank was up this weekend to help celebrate, and he got you special birthday donuts and chocolate and strawberry milk for breakfast. I hope you had a wonderful birthday, my sweet baby girl! You will never know how very much I love you!!
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October 24, 2018
You girls had a half day of school today, then are off tomorrow and Friday for conferences and fall break. Hooray! I love having all of you home and not having to go anywhere. This morning you had your Halloween party in class, then at the end of the morning was the school costume parade; you were a magician. I love watching all you guys parade across the playground in your costumes. Then I had your parent-teacher conferences this afternoon, and you are having an awesome year in K5. Ms. Armstrong absolutely loves you and is amazed at your artistic skills. Great job, my love!
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October 27, 2018
Today was Rausagefest, and this year it was timed to celebrate your birthday instead of Della’s and Daddy’s like it usually is. You loved that! We made tiny cupcakes with Ls on them again, and you picked funfetti cake with purple funfetti frosting and yellow Ls. Then we used white and green for the Ls when we ran out of yellow. The day wasn’t as warm as it has been the past couple years for your birthday party, but that didn’t stop your fun at all. I absolutely love seeing you have so much fun simply being a kid. And you are incredibly good at it! Stay young as long as you can, my dear; it is so much fun.
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November 15, 2018
We were up north on vacation last week, and I had read on Ms. Armstrong’s class site that she thinks family vacations are great learning opportunities. She suggests kids make little presentations to share with the class to tell about what they saw and did while they were gone. This was right up your alley! All week long you worked on creating books to share with your classmates. One was written on little pages out of a scratch pad I got you before we left, and the other was written on the leftover pages from Della’s personal narrative book she had to write while we were gone. They were nothing short of amazing. You apparently had the time of your life, judging by how many times you wrote “I love up north.” On one page you even told your classmates to tell their parents to take them up north, and you told Ms. Armstrong to please go up north and you’d give her a gold one dollar if she did (you guys had just been watching Willie Wonka with the golden tickets). I was so impressed with how hard you worked and how many pictures you drew, that I wrote down all the translations of each page to save, so I knew exactly what you were saying. Your phonetic writing and reading abilities are getting so good, and I am so very, very proud of you, my love.
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November 20, 2018
You are so cute. This morning when I asked all of you what shoes you wanted to take on our Thanksgiving trip this week, you said your gray runners, so you can show Grandma how you can tie your shoes now. You are so proud of yourself, and I am, too!
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December 8, 2018
Tonight was our annual dinner out and Nutcracker performance with Grandma Jenni, and it was so much fun again. We went to eat at The Rumpus Room, the same restaurant right across the street from the theater at which we ate last year. You and Della each ate 13 maraschino cherries, so you were happy. Our friend and neighbor Luisa was an angel in the performance this year, so we all had fun watching her. You did fall asleep by the end, though, with your mouth wide open, ha! This is a tradition that we have come to love, even with a little snooze.
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December 9, 2018
Today you drew a picture that was a nature scene of a reindeer drinking from a lake, standing next to a Christmas tree and a Nigh-Night and cherry tree. Yes, the tree had Nigh-Nights and cherries on it. But the best part was that you actually drew a reflection of everything in the lake! And it was all a shade lighter than the actual subjects, just like a real reflection. I am constantly amazed by your artistic ability, my love. I hope you carry on with this gift, because it is incredible.
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December 10, 2018
You guys ended your session of swim lessons a month ago, but you moved up from level 1 to level 2. Nice job! From the first lesson, your teacher said you could actually have been in the level 2 class with Della but it was full, so you stayed in level 1. But you are so comfortable just taking off on your own now, usually kicking through the water with arms at your sides. I’m impressed!
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December 14, 2018
You are reading so great now, my sweet baby girl! Last night you read 2 books to me from your guided reading table, and I was very impressed. You didn’t even pause on any of the words. Your class has a whole list of sight words going, which are words that you just automatically know on sight, no sounding out or anything. You’ve been working on reading the little “Night Before Christmas” book we keep by the Christmas tree, and I know you’d love to be able to read it on Christmas Eve like Della does. I have a feeling you’ll be able to do it this year. I’m so proud of you!
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December 25, 2018
Merry Christmas, my love! You guys had such a wonderful day today, playing with all your new stuff from Santa – games, PlayDoh, books, your new terrarium, squishies, and a really cool thing that connects to a tablet/iPad and lets you draw, make creations out of shapes, play word games. You all love it! It was a fantastic day, and you especially loved helping the babies have a great 1st Christmas. You like to walk Avit around the house now holding his arms, and it is so cute. You love them so much, and they adore you. This was a really fun holiday. You even got to read part of the little “Night Before Christmas” book before bed last night, just like I knew you could this year. I love you so much, my sweet baby girl.
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December 31, 2018
As Della said when she was little, Happy Nu-Nu! Another wonderful year with all of you in the books, and I could not be happier with our now big family. I love you all so much, and I can’t wait to see what next year holds for all of us. Happy New Year!
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