Alex has her third loose tooth. On the way to camp this morning she said, “I hope it comes out this weekend - then the tooth fairy will give me a $100 bill like last time.” I said, “Are you sure? I think it was a $1 bill.” And Alex replied, “It was a $1 bill and $100 bill.” I’m still laughing over that.

I can’t believe it’s been a month since I posted. I guess we’ve just been so busy, Alex has a bit of a cold and was coughing a lot this morning. I asked her to take some cough medicine so she would feel better. She told me she didn’t need it because she would feel better once she got to school. I wish I felt better once I got to school

I can’t believe it’s been so long since I posted. Alex was really sick two weeks ago - really sick and I’ve been really busy at work. I haven’t even been taking any pictures. It’s supposed to be really nice this weekend so hopefully I’ll have some new photos soon.

Well, I haven’t written anything since the New Year … I have been so sick. And a little girl in Alex’s class was just diagnosed with scarlet fever so we are praying that Alex doesn’t get it. I’ll try to keep up better once I am feeling better.

Today was my first day at my new job and Marc had to take the day off to take Alex to the Dr. and stay home with her. (Not an auspicious start to my new job Yesterday when Alex got up she was complaining that her ear hurt and she was really whiny - she usually doesn’t complain very much even when she is sick so we figured that her ear must really hurt. So, we called the Dr. and they told us to give her children’s Motrin and made an appt. for her today. The Dr. gave her an antibiotic and said that she isn’t contagious so she can go back to school tomorrow. I’ve heard that kids get ear infections all the time so I think Alex has done really well not getting one until now. She was just sick two weeks ago so I hope we avoid any more illnesses for awhile - especially since I can’t take any time off for my first three months of work.

Alex had her first visit to the dentist last week. I was really nervous because I didn’t think she would cooperate even though we had been talking about it for a couple of weeks. She surprised me, however, and was wonderful. She climbed up in the big chair, opened her mouth and did everything that the hygenist and the dentist asked her to do. She did seem shy and even though she was so good she wouldn’t talk when they tried to engage her in conversation. Her teeth are good but the dentist said that she needs to stop sucking her fingers - if she stops soon there is a good chance her permanent teeth will be ok - otherwise she’s going to have an overbite and will eventually need braces. I don’t know how I’m going to get her to stop in a nice way - she isn’t even conscious of doing it and she does it in her sleep - I’m really not sure what the best way is to handle this.

After she was done she got to choose a prize out of the treasure chest - she selected a puzzle keychain. I don’t get a prize when I visit and I’m there all the time

Alex had her three year checkup a couple of weeks ago and is perfectly healthy. She is 3 feet tall and weighs 32 pounds. She had her first vision test (with pictures rather than letters) and did really well. The nurse said she has exceptional eyesight - 3 year olds usually score 20/50 and she scored 20/30 in both eyes. (It must be all of the carrots she eats It was so cute while she was taking the test - star, cup, moon, hand … And she was a little nervous so I had to crouch down next to her and she would look at me when she gave her answer rather than the nurse.

She did have a small problem with her blood pressure - it was high for someone her size. Apparently children don’t just get high blood pressure like adults - there is generally an underlying cause. So we went back last week to recheck it and it was fine - I’m so glad because I was a little worried about it.

Alex barely says a word when we go to the doctor so they always ask me about her language skills - I think they are exceptional. It’s funny that they have to ask me because the rest of the time she doesn’t stop talking.

Alex has been stuck at home with me all week because it has been so brutally hot. We got a storm last night and the heat finally broke - it is actually cool out right now. I was going to take her outside and have fun all day. Alex, however, started feeling sick last night and now has a fever, a sore throat, and a really runny nose. I wish she had gotten sick 3 days ago when we were stuck at home anyway. I told her we could go for a walk and that I would get her a chocolate croissant at the cafe.

I don’t know where she picked this up because she hasn’t been out anywhere. She also hasn’t been getting much sleep (neither have I) so I hope she has a good nap today.

Before the time change in April, Alex was getting up really early (5:45-6:00sm). With the time change she started sleeping a little later but she still gets up early. What’s funny is how getting up has changed so much. When she first got her bed she would wake up and cry for us. The she would get up and come in bed with us. After that she would come in our room and play. The last two weeks, however, have been very different. Last week she got up and started playing and I didn’t even know she was up until I heard her talking in the other room. One morning she was getting into my desk, which is a major no-no, and I got up and told her to leave my desk alone. She looked at me, put her hand out and said, “You go back to bed Mommy.” It’s like she was telling me to go back to bed so she could continue getting into my stuff. This week when Marc gets up (around 6:25am) she is already up and is laying on the couch with her blanket and pillow as if she is patiently waiting for us to get up. We’ve been wondering how long she has been laying there

This morning, however, was horrible. I was sleeping in the living room because I’ve been sick and she came and woke me up at 5:20am - it was still dark out. I tried to get her to come to bed with me but she played instead and I drifted in and out of sleep. Marc said that she first came and woke him up at 4am! She hasn’t been feeling well but I have no idea why she was up so early. Ugh!

On Sunday I wasn’t feeling well (I still have a bad cold) and was trying to take a nap. Alex was talking non-stop in a VERY loud voice. From the bedroom I yelled, “Please use quiet voices.” After that Marc took Alex out on the porch to blow bubbles. Marc said when they were outside he talked to Alex about that it was important to be quiet when people are trying to sleep. Alex then said, “But Daddy, some people like to talk.” Some more than others and some all the time.