Check and Check

We have hit a few major milestones in this house that are worthy of note and perhaps even minor celebration. 

First, Norah is reading! Her pre-k teacher told us at the beginning of the year that her goal was to have at least 18 of her 23 students reading by the end of the year. At that point Norah seemed sort of far off, but when school started up again in January we started to see significant progress. Several weeks ago everything seemed to click. 

We have always tried to emphasize reading. It is a part of our bedtime routine and books are typically something we stick in an activity bag. Both girls often want books in the car and will spend time sitting around the house "reading." 

Most weeks, as part of her homework, Norah has a book to read and an accompanying book report. The book report consists of five questions for which she is to provide complete-sentence answers. We have several level 1 and 2 readers around the house that she enjoys reading, and she often encourages Macy to choose one of them at bedtime so she can read to her. 

I decided it was time to hit the library again to find more early reader books, and we came home with about 10 (plus three Curious George books picked out by Macy). 

Though admittedly painful at times to listen to her work her way through each page, it is absolutely thrilling to see Norah learn to read. 

As for Macy, the big news is that she is fully potty trained! The last time I posted about this she was only a week in, but she really never looked back. We still ask whether she needs to go before we leave the house and before nap, but otherwise she initiates it on her own. The only exception is nighttime, for which she still wears a diaper or pull-up. 

Norah was potty trained for months, but held out on going number two (she would wait every day until we put her to bed with a diaper then call us back within 5 minutes to tell us she needed a diaper change). Macy hasn't had any problems with this, either, and in fact she makes some really entertaining faces sometimes while sitting on the potty. 

The nice thing is that due to the (ah hem) difference in their body shapes they are wearing the same underwear. What is it about a little toddler bottom in underwear, by the way? Love. 

As a result of Macy's recent developments, the changing pad is out and I also realized that I I haven't been to Target in three weeks. Seth and I are very excited to be done with daytime diapers.