One Year Stats and GOOD News!

First, Ephraim had his 12 month appointment yesterday. Here are his numbers:
height: 31 1/4 inches tall (90%)
weight: 22 lbs 14 oz (50%)
We also started drawing height lines on Gabriel's bedroom door jam to keep track of how the kids grow. I loved doing that when I was growing up.

The pediatrician was impressed that he's walking so well, babbling like crazy, and using a fork to eat! He is picking up any baby signs that we give him. He used "help" the other day, waves Hi and Bye at the sound of the word, signs for diaper change, signs milk and says "ba-oo" for bottle, asks and hesitates before he puts things in his mouth using the sign for "eat" and "me," and gestures for "where is it?". He also recognizes lots of words. For example, we were playing with the wooden car slide and I wondered out loud where the cars for it were. Ephraim walked over to the toy shelf and grabbed the box of cars and brought it to me.

Gabriel is growing up so fast. I am sometimes surprised with the ideas and sentences he says. A few moms from church are putting together a preschool co-op. So on Monday (and Wednesdays), Gabriel will start preschool with 3 other kids. The moms are going to take turns having it at our house and teaching the lesson. We'll see how it goes, but I'm excited.

And our big happy news: PAUL GOT A JOB!!! They moved quickly: phone call last Thursday, phone interview on Monday, in-person interview this Wednesday, call of offer Wednesday on the way home from the interview! We expect the offer letter in the mail tomorrow. New hire orientation is on Monday!! The best part is that medical benefits start right away.