Update on the children

My baby boy is 2 years old.  I know that he didn't magically become a big kid overnight, but it honestly feels that way. Where has all the time gone?  Why he is saying so many new words?  When did he start watching television?  It is so damn bittersweet watching a baby grow up.

Guppy is a mama's boy.  He loves me fiercely and wholeheartedly.  And I love him so much it hurts.  Since his birth, I have been keenly aware that he may be our last baby.  As a result, I seem to mourn each passing milestone more intensely than I did with the other children.  It is hard being his mommy, because I just want to make sure I soak it all in, but that is really impossible.  No matter how hard I try, time just keeps slipping through my fingers.

I really can't explain his adorable little personality to you, but he is the sweetest toddler I've ever met.  I know I am bias, but truly, he is an amazing kid.  I am so lucky to have him in my world.  Seriously, if you could hear the way he meows, your heart would explode from all the adorableness.
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Izzy is 5 years old and getting ready to start Kindergarten.  We went through a rough patch for about a year (from age 3 to about age 4), and it was hard to parent my wayward middle child.  He has a temper and is quick to action.  It was hard to set boundaries and to discipline him.  Nothing seemed to work, and I often found myself feeling like an inadequate mother.  Why was I struggling to get Izzy to comply with the simplest requests?  But then something amazing happened.  Most parents won't admit this, but video games helped my child. 

We implemented a behavior chart, with a reward of playing video games.  Izzy gets a sticker every night at bedtime.  When he gets 5 stickers, he can play video games for 3 hours.  Izzy can lose his rewards stickers at anytime and for any reason, but usually he loses them for failing to comply with a request the first time he is asked.  But I have to admit, introducing video games into the equation has made a world of difference in my son.  It is a HUGE motivator for him.  I can count on him to behave 90% of the time. It is amazing, and I am so proud of the progress he has made over the past year.
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Porgie is now 7 years old and getting ready for 2nd grade. She is a typical first-born child.  She is eager to please, has perfectionist tendencies, and strives for approval from mom and dad.  She is also incredibly smart.  I am not one of those parents who thinks that all of her children are delicate geniuses, but I have to admit that my daughter is certainly more academically inclined than most other kids her age.  The girl loves school work and learning.  Her hobbies include reading, completing workbooks, and making crafts.

On the other hand, my daughter has a tendency to be a bit scatterbrained.  She will sometimes put on two different shoes (without realizing it), she frequently puts her clothes on backwards (without realizing it), and she would lose her head if it wasn't attached to her. 

Porgie is also a very optimistic person.  She pretty much thinks that everything is AWESOME.  She reminds me of Sue from The Middle...

 She is a great kid, and it is so much fun to be her mom.  I honestly don't know how I got so lucky.