May 2nd was Sarah’s gastroenterologist appointment.  The doctor recommended that I add back everything except dairy and soy back to my diet.  She also had me collect some specimens to have tested and if they come back clear than she recommends an x-ray.

Last weekend we went to the strawberry farm and Ted and I filled a bucket while Pat and Sarah supervised.

Sarah had her first solid food on May 7th.  Ted fed her her first bite of rice cereal.

Sarah is very mobile now.  I remember Ted went through a phase where I could sit him down and he would stay right there and happily play with his toys because he was not yet crawling.  We seem to have skipped that phase with Sarah.  Any time I put her down on her back she flips right over and starts scootching away, backward.  She can do a plank and is already pushing up on her knees.

Also, she got her second bottom tooth this week.

Ted recently completed his first (and second) guy’s road trip.  He and I drove to and from New England last month (while the ladies flew).  He did really well, thanks most likely to the DVD player, Leap Pad, and the free-flowing snacks.

Here’s a photo from that trip. On Easter morning Ted put the squeeze on GG.  She got him a Transformer for his birthday this year, and a hug was totally in order.  Wish he could spend more in-person time with his great-grandmoms, as their lack of of email and skype put them a little out of the loop sometimes.

The next pic was also taken at Newport Creamery, home of candy-covered pancakes and the four-year-olds who love them.  He and Jack love these pancakes so much, they suited up for the occasion (and maybe for Sarah’s baptism).

Wish we got more photos from that morning, as cousin Abigail and her parents were there, too!  Ted did pretty well for having to get up super-early Easter morning.

Forty-nine month old Ted has built up a formidable collection of cousins and step-cousins.  While visiting Grandpa and Grandma, he and Sarah squeezed in together with Sophia, Matthew, JJ, Jake, Jack and Ben.  I hope Ben always stays as happy as he is here.

Here’s Ted chillaxin with Grandpa on their back porch.  Ted got to try his first soda! He seemed to enjoy the drink, the company, and the sweet sweet cable tv they were watching.

Forty-nine month old Ted goes to a lot of birthday parties these days for his classmates.  We went to two last month and have at least two or three more upcoming.  They tend to be a at high-energy bounce house kind of places and he loves it.

He still very much likes to ride his bike, and we try to get him on it at least once or twice a week.  He’s -almost- figured out how to coast.  For a while it was either peddling or braking to a full stop.  No in-between.  Getting him to not peddle full-speed downhill has been a challenge.

Staying hydrated is key.

The first day out we took it for quite a ride (while I walked/ran to keep up).   He did great, lots of peddling (something he struggled with before) and figured out how to turn and use his brakes.  He only went off the trail a few times, and got right back up.

Ted wanted a pool cake.  He got it.

Even Sarah got into the water.

Ted demands group hugs frequently:

Cupcakes were served on his actual birthday, and then we had a huge party for him and his friends (blog post forthcoming).

Kim, Anne, Jack and Ben helped us sing happy birthday over skype.

Four year old Ted is skilled at Easter egg collecting. Here he is at his preschool hunt, checking out the haul.

Ted’s most mature quality, I think, is empathy.  He wants very much to feel what you feel, and to help cheer you up when you’re not feeling great. He’s driven to view the world as an optimist, and while I worry sometimes it might lead to naivety, I’m so glad he’s the way he his.

Kate, Sarah and I are truly fortunate to have him in our lives.

Handsome kid, that Ted.  Check out those teeth, cleaned professionally during his forty-seventh month.  He did a great job at the dentist, too.

Ted continued his scootering in February and is doing pretty well with it.  Hopefully he’ll get more time on it during the spring.

Grandpa Al visited recently, and he and Ted did some baking together, watched the superbowl, and visited Marble kids museum.  They had lots of fun together.

Also last month:

• Ted successfully chewed some gum without immediately swallowing it.
• His reading is improving.  Auntie Kristen picked him up some early reading books and he’s working his way through them.  Dad’s mind = blown.
• Poor kid was sick for like two weeks, missed a whole bunch of preschool.  Snot and coughing.
• Ted can totally operate operate Netflix on our Wii on his own now.  He also has a Nick Jr. Wii game that he plays very well.
• Mom’s new nutritional requirements mean lots of new food choices in the house. Ted recently tried and very much liked coconut milk.
• Ted and Kate and Sarah got to visit our town’s new police station recently.
• He and his cousin Jack held a phone conversation last week which went on for a very long time for the 3-4 year old age group.