Derek is constantly asking questions. Most start with "why" which I find the hardest to answer. He is very thoughtful and I love watching his face when he is concentrating or trying to understand something. He absorbs so much. After Kenna's baptism I asked him what happened. I couldn't understand it all but he said "Holy Ghost" a couple of times. He has also started asking lots of questions about Heavenly Father and Jesus.
I love how full of life he is. When he watched Kenna's baptism he was surprised when she was dunked under water and he laughed out loud! For the past couple of days he has sat on my lap and sang as I played songs like "Popcorn Popping" on the piano.
He is growing up so much. Today when I asked him to clean up so his friends could come over to play he started immediately and worked so quickly. I asked him if I could help and he said he wanted to do it by himself. I love that "do it by myself" faze. Today at speech he had earned enough stickers to get a fun size candy bar. For some reason he likes to choose Baby Ruths and he calls them monkey bars. Unfortunately, it wasn't Porter's time to get a candy and that made him sad, but Derek offered to share his. I was beaming with pride and wonder at my little boy as we went out to the car. I told him it was nice to share and that maybe it will be Porter's turn next time. Derek agreed and said then it wouldn't be his turn. I was relieved that he understood that so he won't be disappointed when the tables are turned.
When ever Derek is hungry he takes matters into his own hands. Most of the time it is a bowl of cereal that he makes for himself. Eliza is pretty good at following suit.
Since Derek turned four I tried to take him to the dentist. I thought he would enjoy it. He is always disappointed when he doesn't get a toothbrush or a toy like the rest of the kids. When we got there he watched Michael go first, but wouldn't even sit in the chair on Michael's lap to try it out. He kept telling me he turned back to three and he hasn't admitted he was four since. Eliza thinks she's three too. She is her little brother's shadow and she is hard to argue with.
They are quite the team. I am so glad they have each other and hope this new little one will fit right in with them because I do not want to be pregnant again. If Derek is going to be in the bathroom for an extended period of time and decides he wants company he will call out, "Eliza, I need you," and she will come and sit on the bench and visit with him. He has tried to get me to do the same, but I'm not as obliging.
Eliza is all princess. She announces it to everyone and if you ask, "are you Eliza," or "are you two" or anything like that she'll disagree and say she is a princess. Every morning the first thing out of her mouth is that she wants to wear a princess dress and shoes. She must have shoes. I doesn't matter if they match or if they are even hers. Sometimes her princess dress goes on over her pajamas and if we are not going anywhere that is how it stays. I figure it keeps her warm. Today she added her Strawberry Shortcake hat. Paired with the old fashioned dress she was wearing she kind of looked like Holly Hobby or like she could be in Avolnee. She also likes her purse and she is know to carry up to three babies at a time. Of course, they must be wrapped up in a blanket.
She likes to practice speech when Derek does. She loves my gum. She is constantly singing, either real songs or ones she is making up on the spot. She is a very happy little girl from the moment she wakes up. She is easy to reason with. She is full of love.
Merian is doing well in first grade. On the first night of Christmas break, she was wrestling with Michael on her bed and fell off. Yes, she was pretending she was a monkey. She broke her collar bone and has been in a sling ever since. She looked forward to getting out of P.E.
Merian's best friend right now is Emma, (from school). I'm glad she has someone she gets along with so well.
