November Update

Thanksgiving is next week and Christmas will be here before we know it-Wow! Erik and I took Ellie Grace and Niklas to the famous Pink Pig a few weeks ago. It is a ride that was downtown when we were little and now it is at Macy's at Lenox Square Mall. Ellie Grace rode it for the first time last year with our FCC Playgroup. We all climbed aboard the little pink train and enjoyed the ride! Momma wanted to shop a little since it isn't one of the malls we frequent. Ellie Grace spotted the man in the red suit and sweetly asked if she and Niklas could go see SANTA. We gladly agreed even though it wasn't planned and neither child was dressed for the occasion.
Erik and I got a curve ball thrown at us when I asked her what she told Santa that she wanted for Christmas - she got a big grin and said "It's a secret! You will see on Christmas!"
Niklas is still going to ST (speech therapy) and PT (physical therapy) once a week at a neighborhood location associated with our local children's hospital. He loves seeing Ms. Kelly and Ms. Chamar each Thursday morning. We are working on basic language skills and really trying to get him to use at least two word phrases. This sounds easy, but sometimes it is like pulling teeth. We also are encouraging him to say "I want ___ please". This is difficult even when we divide it so that he only has to say two words at a time. Niklas is very good at saying "NO" and having some pretty loud temper tantrums. We are trying to label everything as "my ___" instead of his usual "mine" and getting him to say "ba ba (Chinese for dad) or da da" instead of "na na" for Erik. We have initiated potty training again but we are more excited than he is at the prospect of no diapers at the moment. A few of his favorite things are Elmo, bikes/big wheels, snack or eating anytime, and Ellie Grace.
Ellie Grace is really excited about the upcoming holidays. She loves school and enjoys doing any kind of art project. She has finally started eating more but she can still turn her nose up at dinner and refuse to even taste it. She loves to spell things and tell me simple addition that she can do. She has enjoyed being in choir this year like her Pop. She can be a very good big sister to Niklas and helper to me.

The Pink Pig

Erik and I remember riding the Pink Pig as children-it has changed a bit but it is still an Atlanta tradition. We all rode this year and then had an unplanned visit to Santa because he was spotted by Ellie Grace while we were walking around Lenox.