Four months

I'm a little, like half a month, behind on this post but here is Cutie Pie's 4 month picture:


She is soooooo happy! She will smile at just about anyone. She is trying so hard to figure out how to really laugh so she can laugh at her sissy! She is still sleeping swaddled and at 4 months was still sleeping in our room but at 4 months and a week we moved her to her own room. She wasn't too sure at first but she is getting better and better each night. At 4.5 months her general sleep schedule is 7pm bedtime, wake at 5:30a to eat, back to sleep until 8:00ish. Then she naps around 10am for about an hour and then from 2-4:30pm. She also sneaks cat naps in the car or here and there. Really she'd probably like to have three naps but the life of a second child doesn't always allow for quiet naps multiple times a day. She still loves to put her fingers in her mouth and if she didn't sleep swaddled I would bet we'd have a thumb sucker on our hands. She loves most to watch her sister from her Mommy's arms. She is just on the brink of realizing when she is not in Mommy's or Daddy's arms and she doesn't like it. I however love that she prefers us! Her favorite toys are ones that light up or play music. She still likes to chatter and sometimes she talks so loudly that we have to try and shhh her. She is still rolling from front to back but doesn't care to roll from back to front. She doesn't love her tummy....so why would she learn? She still likes her bath and her jump-a-roo. She is starting to enjoy books since it's something she can do with Cupcake. Really she is so in love with Cupcake that she'd do about anything if Cupcake is too. The good news for her is that Cupcake is super in love with her too. Hence this month's outtakes:

Train ride

Some days I have idea-exhaustion. It's not that I don't have ideas. The curse of a creative person is that ideas are always fogging your brain. But some days I just am exhausted from making ideas happen. On some of those days when I'm having idea-exhaustion we go to the mall.

Cupcake loves to people watch and walk around. She likes to step about two steps into each store, listen to the music, and do a dance that goes with it. Her favorite store is...Wet Seal. Darn you Wet Seal. I imagined my battles against you your all too skimpy clothes would start more around age 10....not age 2. We ride the big carousel. We go to the princess store and look around. The most recent visit Cupcake noticed they had discontinued a certain product. She was horrified the employee was shocked she noticed and offered her a job application. We play close attention to every detail in the princess store. We almost always go to Hallmark too. With big families there is always a birthday, anniversary, or something card worthy on the horizon. Cupcake has a knack for finding cards that have been put back in the wrong place. She pulls them off and hands them to me. I used to try to find their rightful place but if you spend 3 minutes seeking out the long lost home of the card she has, in the meantime, found 6 other lost cards. So we take our pile to the register where they too offer Cupcake a job application. On some visits to the mall we eat lunch at Chic-fil-a. Finally, on the lucky days where Mom can find a dollar somewhere in the Marry Poppins bag....I mean diaper bag she gets to do this:



She really loves driving the train....Cutie Pie loves watching her. It's a great idea on the idea-exhaustion days!

Daddy's balloons

Cutie Pie is in LOVE with Daddy's birthday balloons. Each morning when we come downstairs she is frantic looking around until she spots them. Once she sees them, she smiles, relaxes a bit, but keeps an eye on her beloved helium friends. When Cupcake runs around with them in hand, Cutie Pie giggles with glee. I'm sure she thinks they are dancing for her.

One afternoon when Cupcake was taking a particularly long nap Cutie Pie and I were playing. I decided that she should have her own time with the balloons. I tied a tiny loop and placed it on her finger.

Gasp - horror - I know. Before you leave a comment with the lecture about strings, choking, helium balloons, and all the warnings I WAS RIGHT THERE THE WHOLE TIME! I know the risks. I'm not a fool. It was just a few minutes of fun. Glorious fun might I add.

At first, she was in awe. She just couldn't believe the balloons were that close to her:


Then she went nuts with joy! Kicking, flailing, grunting, and giggling all ensued. I only caught some of it on tape:



Shortly later Sissy woke up and the balloon loop was removed. She still watches those balloons from a distance and I'm not quite sure what will happen the day they no longer sail. But for now, I think she relishes in the moment, albeit brief, that they were hers....all hers.

Happy 60th Dad!

Today my first love, hero, advice giver, and advocate turns 60! He's a son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandpa, team mate, dog owner, boss, salesman, and friend to many. Lots of people have worn similar hats in their life but a fewer number have done it with the integrity and loyalty that my Dad has. Driven in his early years by a strict father, later becoming a strict father, and ultimately pushing himself even still to do the right thing even when it's hard, he's a man surrounded by success. He is kind and gentle yet firm and fierce. He is friendly to everyone but has no problem standing up for something when you are out of line. He loves his family and his dog. He has run marathons, traveled around the world, played instruments, given more blood to the blood bank than any person I know, recycles religiously, gives generously, loves music, cars, and swimming in the ocean. He will talk to a stranger, friend the friendless, and be family to those who have none. He takes care of the elderly and has impressed the importance of doing so on others too. His cholesterol is ridiculously low yet he is an ice cream king. He never missed a dance recital or competition...even when the other Dads were playing golf. He loves my Mom and modeled romance well. He was tough on my boyfriends, until I met the right one. When he holds my daughters....I remember what it was like to be his little girl. The first 60 years have been more than admirable and I can't wait to see what the next decades look like for my beloved Daddy!

Happy Birthday....we love you Dad, Father-in-law, and Papa.

Crack team takes a hike

Since our winter is like spring we figure we might as well be outside as much as possible in early anticipation (dread) for what the summer will look like if we're in the 70's in January/February.

This weekend we headed out for a hike. Cupcake was THRILLED! She could barely wait to hit the trail as we unloaded our lunch from the car and got Cutie Pie strapped into her carrier. Once we hit the trails she was a little chatter box pointing out all the nature finds. She also melted my heart in one key moment when I was walking a little cautiously over some wet stones. I was mildly concerned that if I took a slip Cutie Pie would not be so trusting in her carrier. Cupcake turned around extended her hand to me and in full confidence said "Come on Mommy. You can do it!"

Melt.

Total Melt.

Reality check....I probably shouldn't take her out too so while I took her sweet extended hand I realized I better plant my feet firmly.

Anyway, we had a fun hike, a nice lunch, and then played at the park too. Sure it was warm for winter but at least I didn't have a pedicure to ruin!

She likes to help

Cupcake LOVES to help. She'll help with anything....laundry, sweeping, diaper changing, eating M&Ms (not that we do that) counting things, putting stamps on mail, and even getting toilet paper for someone who has just used the loo. If you don't want such "help" you'd be wise to lock the bathroom door while in our home.

I'll try to get some videos of all the help I get around here because A) she's sooooo cute! and B) when CPS asks why I thought it was ok to go on a date night and leave my 3 yr old in charge this will hopefully prove I'm not insane.



Just kidding on part B, Mom. Don't worry.

The big girl bed

A few weeks ago we ripped the band-aid. Cupcake is now in the big girl bed.

Why do I say ripped the band-aid? Yours truly was.not.ready. Cupcake was.

Cupcake really did love her crib. In three years she never once tried to climb out. She would sing, read, and play with babies happily in there for up to 30 minutes if we needed. She has been to this point an excellent sleeper still clocking close to 11hours at night and 2-3 at nap. There was freedom each day and night when I put her in the crib and closed the door. I knew she'd sleep and happily play regardless of what was going on in the rest of the house (so long as we were reasonably quiet). But Cutie Pie wants a room! Cupcake wanted her big girl bed. Mom had to rip the old your-baby-continues-to-be-less-a-baby band-aid.

So, here are the first pictures and video of Cupcake moving to her big girl bed.






And, why did I underestimate my girl? Maybe because true to every other part of Motherhood people prepare you for the worst. When will I quit listening to all the worst case scenarios? We put her in her bed and she did what she always does: sleeps happily, plays in bed happily, until we come and get her. I held my breath for a few days but at this point I'm pretty trusting that we've made the flip and it was seamless.

If you are a Mom about to make the switch...here's one for the positive side: Maybe the only difference will be that your baby is now in a big girl/boy bed. It doesn't always have to be drama. But you do have to swallow that when you open that door to retrieve your precious one...they won't be grabbing their toes in their crib...they'll probably be singing "The Sun will Come out Tomorrow" at the top of their lungs to one of their dolls with their feet on the wall like a wanna-be-teenager. For that, I have no words....

A little dip

Remember when you first got married and everyone would ask "How's married life?" Well now that we have two girls the question I always get is "How are they the same or different?" They are the same. They are different. They are both.

Here's a difference:

Cupcake's first dip in the pool:



Cutie pie's first dip in the pool:



Same totally hot Dad to do the dip....completely different reactions. In regards to their first pool trip: DIFFERENT

Happy Birthday Hubby-love

The Hub's birthday is actually the week before Valentine's Day but as soon as his birthday is over we launch into Valentine's day, our nieces birthday and then my Dad's birthday. Whew. So this picture is a little late but here are the girls helping to make Dad's birthday cake:


This year he had a brownie cake with ice cream in the middle and m&ms around the edge (Thank you, Pintrest). A certain girl LOVED helping...the other was just relaxing!

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines from two Cutie-patotie's!


We went to a playdate/Valentine's party this morning. It was so fun to celebrate with sweet friends, yummy food, and of course some crafts too.


Making a craft for Daddy! (Cutie Pie, you slept almost the whole time!)

These girls may not be thrilled with this picture one day but...I tried really hard to get you to both look at me and smile and this is what I got. We're thankful for our sweet friends! They hugged and said Happy Valentines to each other no less than 20 times!


We hope you are having a love-filled day too!!

It's been a hard days night...

and he's been working like a dog.

It's been a hard days night, the baby's sleeping like a log....

The Hubs was going to check a few things with work after dinner one night and before he knew it she was out. And by out we mean she was sleeping, we took her up, checked her diaper, swaddled her, and put her in bed...she didn't wake. Out! Who can blame her...he's got a cozy snuggle about him!

Ephesians 2:10

Our sweet friends Shannon and Marc sent us a calendar for Christmas that lays out a year of Discovering God with Kids. Wow! How do you thank someone for such a great gift?

Each month there is a bible verse and then weekly activities to help children understand God's word. Once a week there are questions for the dinner table that have to do with the verse too. We've been wanting to be more regular with devotionals with Cupcake so this was the PERFECT launching pad.

January's verse was Ephesians 2:1o. Cupcake was a little off at the end but she can tell you all about this verse and it's such a great reminder of the value of each of us!



One of the activities for January included sharing some s'mores. Lucky cupcake! That is more sweets that we normally allow but in the effort to stay on track...and because how can you say no to the yummy treat we went for it. So, here's Cupcake's first s'more:

Somethings she says

A little blurry but still sooo sweet! She has recently been asking for me to put her hair on top of her head...

I always think I should blog a few of the cute things she is saying and then I don't. So before too much time goes by and really for my own memory here's some of the favorites:

She used to (has already grown out of it) call Elephants: "Ef-a-lents"

When she wants to do something she says: "I a ...." So turning a light on "I a turn the light on."

One day she noticed the Hubs and I playing footsie under the table (we're still crazy in love even if we do have a load of diapers in the wash and spit up on both of us). She said: "Why your feet hugging?"

The hubs is always the prince and Cupcake is the princess. While listening to Sleeping Beauty's Once Upon a Dream song in the car Cupcake instructed me not to sing as it was just for her and Daddy. Then when the chorus chimes in she permits me to sing too.

She still calls all dips: ketchup, salsa, ranch dressing, queso, cream cheese, etc. "dip, dip"

When she wants something she says: "Please I have...."

When you offer her food that she doesn't want she very succinctly and matter of fact says :"No Tanks"

She loves to sing. Frosty the Snowman currently tops the list. She also likes to sing the Rug Time song from Sid the Science Kid.

I love her! Even when I occasionally have to ask for a talking time out so I can think straight I still love her. What will I do when her little voice becomes a big voice?!

Fancy Lily!

Cupcake's sweet friend had her 3rd birthday party last weekend. It was a Fancy Nancy-ish tea party that was so fun and so cute! Her fancy Mom did a fabulous job of pulling everything together. It was a sweet gathering of close friends and of course we all...yes ALL got fancy in honor of the birthday girl's big day.

Happy Birthday Fancy Lily!


Here's her Grandparents and Aunt....they really got fancy!!


Fancy Cupcake LOVED pouring her own tea from a fancy tea pot...


And drinking from a fancy tea cup...


I'm not trying to hide it...I love playing dress up too!

Even Cutie Pie got fancy...check out her bedazzled angel wings and silvery tutu!

We are so blessed to have sweet families to raise our girls with. These fancy folks are certainly at the top of the list. Love you guys!

The Deets!

I don't want to forget her sweet little details as she gets older....so here are some close-ups of my precious Cutie Pie.

Have we mentioned Big Smiles? Seriously...they are huge.


We've got Raspberries!


One word. Eyes. My girls have fabulous Eyes. I LOVE them:

Ants on a log

I do love re-living or should I say re-eating some of my favorite childhood snacks with Cupcake. Ants on a log is a timeless classic. Someone I know likes to lick the log clean....and not eat the log. Any guesses who that could be?