BRITTA is FOUR!

HEWITT, TX-- Britta turned four in December. This girl amazes me every day. We worry about her so much and whether she'll be strong enough and able to make it through a day of kindergarten next year. She makes progress all the time and we are always wowed at things we never thought she'd be able to do (like ride a bike for instance... she's been riding a bike (with training wheels) at physical therapy the past few weeks). 

This was a big year for our family, especially for Britta. Our move to Waco led us to discover what is wrong with her little body. The doctors at Seattle Children's were never able to figure it out-- and we saw SO many doctors there!  After we moved to Waco, we found this really great pediatric physical therapy center. It's called Elite, and Britta's physical therapist is the BEST. She suggested we see a doctor in Fort Worth at Cook Children's Hospital to get Britta a specialized pair of braces to help her walk more stably. Well, we made an appointment, and the doctor there insisted we figure out what Britta's real issue was first. Apparently in the last few years there have been more panels of tests that have been developed that didn't exist when Britta was born. So, we ran some of those new panels (more specialized muscle issues). Sure enough, one of them came back positive. Britta has something called titinopathy. Basically, one of her DNA strands is missing the "titin" gene... which more or less makes your muscles bounce back after they move-- which explains her muscle laxity. 

After all these years of wondering, we are grateful to know why Britta is the way she is. Frighteningly though, since our hearts and lungs are also muscles, titinopothy also affects those too. So for the rest of her life, we'll be getting her lungs and heart checked frequently. Her first scan in November showed that so far her heart and lungs are doing great. We are so grateful. Even more miraculously in our move to Waco is that Cook Children's sends their cardiologist and pulmonologist down to Waco once a month, so we don't even have to make the two hour drive to Fort Worth to get Britta checked. We can do it just a few miles away from our home. God's hand was in this move to Waco, 100%. 

HEIGHT: 41" (85%)

WEIGHT: 33.8 lbs. (50%)

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Britta loves playing dress-up and changing outfits several times a day. Sometimes she can manage it herself (which I also find miraculous) and other times gets a little stuck or hung up and we help her get something off or over her head. 

We've been sick more this past year since we moved to Texas than I swear we have our whole lives. We joke that we are allergic to Texas. I think all the allergies have hit me and Britta the hardest. She seems to always have a runny nose and picks up any sickness going around-- which is not fun. 

She finally got braces that she wears from sun up to sun down, basically. They help her walk SO much better and more stably. So grateful for modern medicine! 

Britta loves having fun and being silly. She likes to joke around, says the funniest things, and is the cuddliest little cute thing ever. 

She's learning all her letters, how to write her name, and do all the things she'll do in kindergarten next year. Hoping to teach her how to read this year too. 

RAEGAN IS TWO!

HEWITT, TX-- My first post from Texas! Life got insanely busy and I've just never gotten around to updating anything on here for way too long. 

LAST January, our family packed up our home in Washington and said goodbye to the Evergreen state. Moving is so emotional-- especially with kids. All the emotions took a toll on me this year. Saying goodbye to a home, a lifestyle, and dear friends is so hard. We are grateful for our new home in Texas... but it still feels bittersweet to be here. Grateful we followed the impressions to come, but sad at the good things we left behind. Thankfully all our kids adjusted mostly well (we had a few hard moments with Marin and Paige) and they have all settled into life here.

Sweet little Raegan turned two LAST July... and here we are in January. But I couldn't not post about it... even though I'm late. Raegan is the cutest two year old. She speaks so well, has a mind of her own, and everyone loves to give her kisses, hugs and cuddles. She rolls with all the games they want to play with her (pretending she's a puppy, putting her to bed, making her their patient while they give her "medicine" to make her better, tea parties, and all sorts of other shenanigans). 

TWO YEAR OLD STATS: 

• Finally had her wellness check up this past week. Ha. 
• HEIGHT: 37: (75%) 
• WEIGHT: 32.6 lbs (90%)
• HEAD: 50 1/ 4 cm 

SLEEPING: Stopped napping a few months after she turned two (all my kids did this). But occasionally falls asleep in the pick-up line while getting Marin and Paige from school. Generally stays in her bed all night-- but likes to wake up a few times a week around 5:30 am.  

WEARING: 2T and 3T

EATING: Eats most things. But has a sweet tooth that rivals her sisters. 

INTERESTING TIDBITS: 

Tells me at least ten times a day that I am "the best sister ever." Her cute little voice makes it sound like, "You're the best sist-ah ev-ah!" 

Raegan will you pick up your toys, please. "No thanks." At least she's polite. 

We potty trained her over Christmas-break so that we could have a diaper-free home in 2022! She did great and we've only had one major accident (and that was a few nights ago when we tried to see if she could make it through the night in underwear... not quite ready yet). 

She and Britta have a rivalry going on to see who can get me to pick them up first or sit in my lap first. It never ends well. 

She (and Britta) have both been obsessed with Bluey, Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig lately. And Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom. 

Raegan loves playing dolls, games, and playing make believe with her sisters all day long. She gets so excited when Marin and Paige come home from school. She and Britta often call each other "pup" when they talk to each other. "Come on pup," "Here you go, pup!"

Loves being outside! 

PAIGE: Five Years Old

RICHLAND, WASH. -- Oh my little Paige. I can't believe she's five and old enough for kindergarten. Her birthday was just a few days before the cut-off... and we debated whether we should make her wait another year to go to school. But Paige is ready. So ready. We are doing online school indefinitely here in Washington due to COVID and it makes my heart ache thinking of how much more magical kindergarten would be in a school classroom instead of on a Chromebook at home. 

I wish I could joke around and play with this cute girl all day long (her little sisters are demanding, or I totally would). She is such a ray of sunshine. She loves to laugh and to make people laugh. She's a big goofball and loves to play and is always up for an adventure. She's starting to read pretty good, if only her 30 second attention span wouldn't get in the way. She loves to dance and play dress-up and play dolls ALL DAY LONG with Marin (and sometimes Britta).  

RAEGAN: ONE YEAR OLD

RICHLAND, WASH. -- My baby is one! We celebrated by going to a park and playing all morning. She had chocolate cake to kick it all off... of course she loved it. 

TWELVE MONTH STATS: 

• It's September, and she still hasn't had her one year appointment (I had it scheduled, and the doctor canceled it). 

EATING: Is still the MESSIEST eater. Has a sweet tooth, just like most of her sisters. 

SLEEPING: We are down to one nap a day. She usually sleeps for a solid two hours, sometimes longer. 

WEARING: Twelve months and 18 months. 

INTERESTING TIDBITS: She runs on her tippy toes with her hands in the air, and her knees kick way up high, like she's trying to be a prancing horse. It's the cutest thing.

She is a mama's girl through and through. 

She has been a cranky-pants the last few weeks with teething and getting her one year old molars. 

She is generally happy and loves to smile and laugh. Paige and Isaac can tickle her better than anyone and make her laugh so hard. 

Britta likes to "play" with her which generally ends with Britta pushing Raegan to the ground. When she's too rough with her we tell her to be nice and she'll respond, "But I love her!"  

Loves reading books... especially interactive books like pop-up books or books with tabs that lift. Her current favorite is Wheels on the Bus. 

When she doesn't get her way, she throws whatever is in her hand and often throws herself backward (sort of like a back head butt). I've gotten a few fat lips this way when her head collides angrily with my face. 

RAEGAN: ELEVEN Months Old

RICHLAND, WASH. -- My little baby is turning into a little toddler right before my eyes. She's practically ditched crawling for her new confident method of getting around... Raegan is a WALKER. She walks everywhere and so proudly and confidently. She looks like a little drunken sailor, teetering and wobbling, and it's so cute. 

ELEVEN MONTH STATS: 

• None this month

EATING: Is the MESSIEST eater. I guess that's what I get for just putting food on her tray and letting her eat herself. Sometimes I wonder if she gets any in her mouth. She has this new thing for loving ice. If we give her a drink of water, she likes to reach into our glass and take out ice cubes. 

SLEEPING: Sleeps through the night. Two naps still, but some days just one when I can get her to last that long. 

WEARING: Twelve months. 

INTERESTING TIDBITS: 

Points to her mouth, eyes, nose and ears and says what they are. It's very cute. "Ahs" for eyes, "Is" for ears and "Muh" for mouth. 

She has started to copy a lot more the things her sisters do or say.... for instance, Britta was playing in the curtains with her today and popping out and saying, "BOO!" And Raegan instantly started saying "Boo!" too. Marin was singing some tune in the car today and Raegan started voicing the same melody. 

She likes to shake her head no when we offer her something and sometimes even says, "NUH!" 

Loves reading books. 

Such a mess. Every meal. 

RAEGAN: Ten Months Old

RICHLAND, WASH. -- Raegan has gotten braver this past month and has been taking steps. She's doing great!  She took her first boat ride too. I thought for sure she'd zonk right out or hate being in a life jacket, but she stayed awake and loved it. 

TEN MONTH STATS: 

• NO STATS THIS MONTH

EATING: Loves food. Makes a massive mess every meal time. She reminds us of a puppy sometimes... if she sees us eating food, she'll come right over to us and stare and point until we share. She also likes to crawl on the ground and search for crumbs. 

SLEEPING: Sleeps through the night. Still has two naps a day-- a morning nap around 10:30 and an afternoon nap around 3:30. 

WEARING: Twelve months

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Loves to be outside. Hates being in the car. During all this COVID-19 lockdown, we haven't gone many places, so she's gotten used to not being in the car for longer than about 10 minutes. If she's in there longer than that, she let's us know (through tears and screeches) that she's not digging it. 

Loves being silly with Isaac. Isaac reads to Marin and Paige in their room every night, laying on the ground, and Raegan likes to crawl all over him and play games where she falls backward on him-- waiting for him to tickle her. 

Loves to explore anything and everything-- every nook and cranny of the house, every cupboard, every little item left on the floor... she is so curious. 

Britta likes to give Raegan some tough love. When Raegan ends up in tears, I'll tell Britta to tone it down or to stop, and Britta will say, "But I LOOOOOVE her!" They have a funny relationship that is fun to watch blossom. 

She is definitely a mama's girl. If Isaac takes her away from me, she'll cry in protest. 

First boat ride

I think this is her "you caught me" face. 

RAEGAN: Nine Months Old

RICHLAND, WASH.-- Oh, sweet Raegan. I swear she just keeps getting cuter and cuter. How is that possible?  We all love her so much.  She's standing up so confidently. We keep thinking she's going to take a step any day now, but it hasn't happened yet. This COVID-19 stuff has thrown us all for a loop. But it has been so nice being home all day and not having to wake her up from a nap to pick up anyone from school. Raegan has been in heaven having 24-7 access to play with her big sisters-- they all smoother her with kisses and attention ALL DAY LONG. 

NINE MONTH STATS: 

• 18.62 lbs (61st percentile)
• 29.5" (98th percentile)

EATING: Loves eating real food. She especially loves to eat all by herself and is loosing interest quickly in baby food and us spooning food into her mouth. She just wants to grab it off her high chair and down it. 


SLEEPING: Sleeps through the night most nights. Still has two naps a day. A morning nap around 10 and an afternoon nap around 3:30. 

WEARING: Nine month and twelve month


INTERESTING TIDBITS:  So far she says: Mama, Dada, Book (sounds like Buh), Ball (Bah), and other things that aren't always so discernible.

She got pretty sick at the end of March (I was worried it might be COVID-19). After a few days of really high fever, she broke out in a rash, and then we realized it was roseola. 

Got a much-needed haircut. After several comments from people about her unruly/uneven/long hair, I realized it wasn't as cute to anyone else as it was to me. ha  So, Isaac gave her a cut and it looks a billion times better. Sadly, it took away all her pretty dark hair (I love dark hair) and now her hair is a light brown. 

She does not like grass. If we sit her down on the ground outside on grass, she immediately sticks her feet straight up in the air so she doesn't have to feel the grass blades on her feet. It's pretty funny.

LOOOOOOOVES to swing! 

First Easter

First Easter, posing on the front porch 

Loves having baths with her sisters

This is the position she takes as soon as we set her on the grass.