3 years old!

Wow! Nina is having quite the birthday month. She refuses to let anyone else have a turn of a B-day since it's all about her!
B-day was the 11th. She woke up to a room full of balloons(got the idea from Parents mag)

She had a pizza party at school with all her friends and out to dinner with more friends later! Great day!

This weekend we are taking her to see When Elmo Grows Up. and she is having a B-day party at the house!

In other news, she has her 3 year check up this week, I am wondering how is doing in the growth department. She is still very mini. NN Followup is next week.

We had her IEP completed. Very pleased with her evaluation:
She scored age appropriate with her peers for skills such as fine motor, cognition, communication, social.
She is a bit behind in self-care skills and Gross Motor.
She will receive services at school 2x a month for each.

They all told me it would happen this way...

So Miss Nina seems to be potty trained.
Last week she was peeing in her pants and this week she is not...so weird.
She still needs a pull up at nap and at bedtime but she is dry all day...
It started last Friday when I picked her up at school, her teacher told me she's been dry for a couple days during the day so starting Monday to pack changes of clothes and send her to school in underwear...so I was feeling pretty good about this and started her in underwear Friday night and we spent all weekend living large in Elmo and Princess underwear. Nina does not like to call them panties.
It is so weird to see this little person walk up the stairs and when asked where she is going she says "to the potty!"

Nina completed her evals for her IEP so I am anxious to hear back once they scored her.

Other than that we are trying to get something together to have a little party for her next month.

Growing up...

I know I do not update this blog as much as I should, but I wanted to update you guys on Nina's progress these days.
A few weeks ago we moved her into a toddler bed! We made sure her first experience sleeping in it was naptime and it worked out great. I can't believe we were so nervous that she would not transition well to a bed.

Nina's been water coloring and using other paints for a while now. It's one of her fav things to do. She can sit for an hour or so and paint stuff for us.
She still loves her babies and tells us repeatedly that she has a baby sister in her belly and she will come out on her birthday and play babies with her.

She'll be 3 on March 11. Crazy! If you would have told me in the NICU that she would have turned out this strong and smart and just able to be a "3 year old" with other kids, I would have never believed it. EVER. It's just amazing to me that she escaped so many preemie issues...I will say I am always waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I think that is normal.

As far as Nina's stats. I think she is about or over 30 pound mark. She is still on the small side for height coming in at 34 inches. She eats like she is a 15 year old boy.
She is jumping now with two feet off the ground. She likes to think she is great at forward rolls, she can do them , but most of the time they are sideway rolls.

She is doing well at school and loves going to see her friends.

For my 3 babies

I stumbled upon this poem yesterday...

Footprints

These are my footprints,
so perfect and so small.
These tiny footprints,
Never touched the ground at all.

Not one tiny footprint,
for now I have my wings.
These tiny footprints were meant,
for other things.

You will hear my tiny footprints,
in the patter of the rain.
Gentle drops like angel's tears,
of joy and not from pain.

You will see my tiny footprints,
in each butterflies' lazy dance.
I'll let you know I'm with you,
if you just give me a chance.

You will see my tiny footprints,
in the rustle of the leaves.
I will whisper names into the wind,
and call each one that grieves.

Most of all, these tiny footprints,
are found on mommy's heart.
'Cause even though I'm gone now,
we’ll NEVER truly part.

Author Unknown.

updates

Happy New Year!

We are doing OK over here. Nina was sick earlier in the month.
Another double ear infection plus a cold that found its way into her lungs. So it was Albuterol every 4 hours plus we are now proud users of Pulmicort. She is currently on it 2x a day and next week will get it once a day until May.
I suspect tubes for the ears are in her future.

Since Nina is turning 3 soon(can you believe it) we leaving EI and getting an IEP. (I hope I am saying that correctly)
Not sure what/if she will qualify for services. Currently she gets PT and OT once a month.

I am reading through the questions for the IU:
Does Nina attend preschool? YEP since April 09 she goes 3x a week from 8:30-4pm (the best thing we ever did for her)

Favorite activities: Painting...she loves watercolors. playing babydolls...having a catch with Daddy...looking through books...legos...

Next question is what is she good at? what an odd question to me... What's an almost 3 year old good at? I am 35 and still do not know what I am good at...
She is good at saying "No I no like that"...I will have to think on this question...

What else? Potty training has stalled once again. She is just not ready and we are not pushing it.
We have not put the bed together so still in the crib. We waiting on it since she was sick and did not want to change her place around.

She is still a sassy little girl is very talkative. She loves when I paint her nails but hates getting her hair brushed. She still will only let me put in barrettes. She refuses anything with ponytails which makes me sad. (haha)

Happy Holidays!

Very exciting stuff going on around here. We put out some reindeer food(oatmeal) out in the snow, baked cookies for Santa, and will be leaving carrots out for the baby reindeer.

Going to church after dinner with Great Grandmom. Hopefully Nina will behave and not shout out Baby Jesus?? Baby Jesus? Where Are You????!!!!

Merry Christmas to all and be sure count your blessings! We do everyday!

Time for a big girl bed

For over a month, Nina wants a brighter light on in addition to her nightlight. Says she wants to read...
Last night I told her that I would leave the hallway light on instead and crack her door-not good idea. She climbed out of her crib (for the first time ever) and was sitting on top of her bookcase crying about the light not being on.
Thank goodness I was still upstairs when I heard all the crying and went into her room to see what the deal was. Was a sight to see this little monkey on the bookcase.


So I guess it's time for a toddler bed.