FOUR!

Although Sophie's birthday isn't for another week she had her check-up today. She was warned ahead of time and proceeded to tell me all day long that she doesn't like doctors and doesn't want shots. Genevieve was home from camp while recovering from a fever so I would have to entertain three children during the visit instead of two, so we were already looking at a fun day.

Sophie forgot about not liking doctors as soon as we got to the exam room. She got undressed and proceeded to bounce off the walls, weigh and measure herself, climb on every bench and table in the room, and repeat. If I had a dime for every time the nurse had to ask her to be still so she could get an accurate measurement I would be a rich woman.

Height: 40.5"
Weight: 39.5 lbs.

The doctor tried distracting Sophie by giving her different instruments to play with while he examined her. This worked out very well with the little flashlights that she shined into his face while he tried to look at hers. It was probably a bad idea to give her the little hammer that they use to check your reflexes, though. The doctor survived with only minor bruises and the hammer was quickly taken away.

After two shots, a finger prick, an eye exam and a hearing exam Sophie was declared to be a very happy, healthy and energetic four-year-old.

Why is everything so confusing?

Jonah is pretty communicative and has a decent vocabulary but summer is causing him quite a bit of consternation. It is peach season and we've been getting a ton of peaches lately. I was eating one during lunch when Jonah looked over and requested, "Apple. Want apple." "It's a peach not an apple but you can have some." "Want apple. Want apple." I sliced him a little peach and put it on his tray. He grabbed it and shoved it into his mouth. Instantly the joy of having some of daddy's apple was destroyed by this strange fruit that had been served to him. He took it out of his mouth and examined it closely before putting it back into his mouth. "Mmmm. Apple." "Peach." "Apple." "Peach." "Apple?" "Peach." "Pesh?" "Yes. Peach."

All was good until the farmers market a few weeks later. I gave him a small plum to eat. "Peach." "No, it is a plum." "Peach?" "Plum." "Peach" "Plum" He takes a bite. "Peach?" "Plum." "Pum?" "Yes."

Today I bought husk cherries. They look like grape tomatoes but taste fruity. "Want mato." "Husk Cherry" "No cherry; want mato." He gave me the look as if to say: I know what a cherry is and that ain't no cherry; now give my tomato before I throw a fit. "Husk Cherry," I said as I gave him the fruit. He put it into his mouth and bit until it popped. Instantly it came out of his mouth and he handed it to me. He gave me another look which I can only imagine meant can you stop changing things on me because this is really confusing. However, he grabbed another one and said, "Want mato." Sadly, it ended the same way as the first.

Its going to be a long summer.