Update

It has been quite a while since I've updated, but it has been very hectic with both of my jobs starting back and Alexis getting back into the swing of daycare. I also frequently update Facebook with information about us and Alexis. So, here it goes...

We throughly enjoyed our summer together. Mommy and Alexis got to spend umpteen hours together and Daddy was able to share in some of those when he wasn't working! In mid-July, we took a quick vacation to visit Uncle Dan and Aunt Joan and Angie and John. Alexis loved visiting and showing off how cute she was. She did an awesome job on the car rides! At the end of July, Alexis took swim lessons. The class was lasted thirty minutes four days a week for two weeks. At class, she learned how to enter the pool from the side safely and how to climb back out as well as how to jump off the edge to an adult. She also learned about slapshing with her hands and feet as well as how to make bubbles. There were many other skills introduced; she didn't like getting dunked or floating, but she did go off the diving board to the swim instructor a few times. We will taking the class again next summer; Alexis will be too young to move up a level.

It seemed as soon as swim lessons were over, Mommy had to go right back to work. Since Mommy was going back to work a week earlier than planned, Alexis was spending the week with Daddy and Paw Paw. The Sunday before Alexis' first day with Paw Paw, the three of us were relaxing on her "big girl bed". Alexis stood at the end of the bed and would fall forward onto Mommy or Daddy's legs. She was having a blast. The last time she did it, none of us realized how much further up the bed she was and Alexis feel forward and banged her lip and nose on the shelf that is attached to her bed. Of course, we started to panic. Daddy grabbed Alexis and whisked her off to the bathroom while Mommy got a wet towel. Luckily, Daddy took care of the injury, because Mommy nearly passed out. Alexis felt very rough most of the week but was in better spirits to start daycare.

Alexis has taken right back to daycare. She thankfully has the same teacher who she absolutely loves, and she quickly made friends of the new members in her class. There's a boy named Amani in her class; she walks around daycare and home saying "Mani, Mani" like she's expecting him to pop out at any minute. Ms. Tara, Alexis' teacher, said that she is much more docile than before which is a relief. Mommy used to fear picking Alexis up from daycare, because she didn't want to hear about her hitting or biting anyone! There are a few issues that we are working at home and daycare; Alexis is quite whiny at school, so Ms. Tara is being firm with her about using words and not crying (Alexis can verbalize most things that she wants); Mommy and Daddy are also dealing with this issue at home. Additionally, Alexis' eating habits have dwindled. She used to be the best eater in class and now, Ms. Tara usually has to convince her to eat. On a positive, she is the only kid that will sit in her seat without getting up until her lunch is over. Finally, I heard the other day that Alexis likes to eat dirt on the playground. What fun!

One more little comment on daycare...Last week, Alexis appeared to be getting pink-eye so Daddy took her to the doctor's office. The PA that saw her said she didn't have pink-eye and prescribed a decongestant to clear up her sinuses. Since she wasn't contagious, she went to school the next day with medicine in hand. Upon picking her up, Mommy was informed about how difficult it was to administer her eye drops. Obviously, this was surprising since Alexis didn't have eye drops. The substitute teacher (thank goodness it wasn't Ms. Tara) had put the oral decongestant (it had "oral" in the title) in her eyes. This sent Mommy and Daddy into action. We had to flush her eyes and call the doctor and Poision Control. Her eyes were red, but she appeared to be fine. Of course, the next day at daycare, Mommy got a call saying that Alexis was running a 101.8 degree temperature. We went to the doctor's office again. Her actual doctor saw her, and, after expressing his displeasure at the unacceptable mistake made at daycare, said that she did in fact have pink-eye and a sinus infection. She actually got prescribed eye drops this time, but Mommy and Daddy administered them this time. We didn't want them to end up in her mouth. The owner of the daycare called and assured us that the issue was not taken lightly and the teacher was reprimanded and suspended for a few days. Mommy is now very observant of who is in Alexis' classroom with her. Okay, tirade over :)

Alexis also went to the doctor a few days ago for her well visit. She weighed 22 lbs. 13 oz. which is in the 10th-25th percentile; this is also a drop of two ounces from her last well visit, but the kid doesn't eat much! She is now 32 inches in height which is the 25th-50th percentile. The doctor said she's doing great. He checked out her eyes since her pink-eye was just the previous week, and he also looked at her mark on her lip the injury as a result of the monkey jumping on the bed. The eyes look great, and he assured Mommy that there wouldn't be a scar on her lip. Additionally, the doctor said he can tell Alexis is a chatterbox and quite stubborn. Mommy blames the stubbornness on Daddy. Alexis will go back to the doctor in six months unless she gets sick again (knock on wood for us).

The doctor was quite right about Alexis being a chatterbox. She picks up new words almost daily. Mommy and Daddy couldn't count how many words Alexis can say. She learned "apple" right after starting school and loves to say the word. In addition to learning new words, Alexis has started making simple sentences. A few weeks ago, she became obsessed with "All done" and "All gone". She knows the difference between the two as well. Whenever Mommy parks the car and turns off the engine, "All done" can be heard from the backseat. And, whenever Mommy or Daddy finish a drink or food item, Alexis chimes in "All gone". It's so cute. Also, about a month ago, Mommy was sitting on the floor watching TV with Alexis. She walked off and picked up something and brought it back. She pushed it forward and said, "Here go, Mommy". It was surprising! And, a couple of days ago, she started saying, "close it". Since she can say these simple sentences, Mommy and Daddy are trying to teach Alexis to say "I love you". It has stuck yet. Alexis is also learning her numbers and how to count. She currently can count to four by herself. She can say all of her numbers and most of her letters if prompted. Finally, Ms. Tara has been working on her colors. She can say "blue", "green", and "orange". We are still working on identifying the colors.

Alexis' doctor was also right about her stubbornness. She doesn't like it when she is discipline or not allowed to have her own way, and she lets it be known. But, we are working on this at home and school. Other than working we her, Mommy and Daddy are just praying that this is a short phase that will go by quickly. Wishful thinking, I know.

While we are making no headway in the potty training department (we decided to wait until she moves up to a new class), Alexis slept in her big girl bed all by herself last night. She didn't get out of her bed before falling asleep and slept all night. She apparently got out of bed at least once, because when Mommy peaked in her room this morning, she had a book and a bag of puzzle pieces as new bedmates. But, she fell back to sleep, so that's great! She just woke up around 8:30. Mommy left her bedroom door open this morning, so she came walking out sleepily. It was too cute!

Well, that's what has been going on in our lives! We will be posting new pictures later today. Daddy left the camera downstairs. We hope you are all doing great!