Just a normal afternoon

On any given afternoon around our neighborhood, kids abound; Riding scooters, swinging on swings, jumping on a trampoline, riding bikes--now without training wheels--and playing baseball. Our backyard is a spot they sometimes congregate. Today, the swing set was full of girls. I didn't notice until after I took this picture that Allie has only one shoe on--and the one she has on is a winter boot! Like I said, just a typical afternoon! 

Emma, Allie, Audrey and Julia

Audrey's new trick on the monkey bars. 

Sarah

Sitting in my Bumbo

Since Ava has amazing head control and she's only 50% for weight and her legs still fit in the Bumbo, we decided to try it out. She does quite well, but gets irritated after about 5 minutes or so. But if her sisters are there entertaining her, she'll sit there a little longer.

Ava and big sister, Allie.

Sarah

Ava's smile

Ava is by far the happiest baby I've had (knock on wood). Every time I look at her, she gives me the biggest smile, even if I'm telling her that Mommy is tired, and it's time to go to sleep. She's been smiling for weeks but just today did I take time to try and capture it. She's 2 months.

Sarah

Good Ship Lollipop (Allie's last day of dance)

Today was Audrey and Allie's last day of dance this semester. I was happy to get to see Allie's 'Good Ship Lollipop' dance one more time since her class isn't performing in the recital. I think Allie could have though. For being the youngest in her class, she does 90% of the dance moves, listens to her teacher and has never thrown a fit about going in to class or leaving class. She loved dance class!

Sometimes I'll see her 'dancing' at home and she's got the booty shake down. I laugh out loud every time she turns on her music on her play laptop and dances. She started that about a month ago and I have yet to capture it--for sure something I want to remember. It's hilarious. She's on beat, she just rocks back and forth on her feet, sticks her butt out and does something with her right arm that I can't describe. .

I sat there is disbelief that it's been 11 weeks since Ava was born, and nine weeks since I first tackled taking all three girls to dance. Unbelievable how time flies. Ava was awake for Allie's class and slept during Audrey's. We took our lunch, pumpkin muffins I'd baked that morning and bananas. The girls ate and played with their friends from class and I talked 'Disney' to the other moms. We are so excited to go but it is a lot of planning! Ava has gained 5 pounds since that first dance class she went to in February.

Audrey did not cry today when she learned it was her last class of the semester. I believe she's ready for a break. She isn't ready to put dance aside, but I'm not sure it's going to be a love for her. I'm anxious to see how she does in the recital this year.


Pictures from Allie's class today I took on my phone, so the quality is awful. I need a new phone, with a better camera. I didn't notice it at the time but her tongue is stuck out in almost every picture.

Sarah

Mom's Night

I went with Audrey for our first Mom's night at her preschool tonight. The theme was flowers. She made me a tissue paper flower corsage for my wrist, we painted flowers with soda bottles for our craft, Audrey had made a flower placemat for me using her hand prints as the flowers. We had muffins and tea--Audrey got to eat my muffins since they weren't gluten free. The teacher had asked the kids questions about their mom and we had to read those out loud. For my age, Audrey said I was 98! The other moms ranged in age from 12-33. I was by far the oldest. Perhaps it's time for some wrinkle cream. When asked what I do when she's at school, she answered: "Go shopping with Ava and Allie." That answer was right on, and what do I do for fun? "Work on the computer."

Allie just couldn't stand not being in the picture too. Audrey and me before Mom's Night

Sarah

Swings

Allie still loves her baby swing. Which means she needs someone to push her, someone to strap her in and someone to get her out. That someone was always mommy or daddy. Until, my husband got his most brilliant idea so far this spring. He added chain to her swing, making it low to the ground. Therefore, she can get in by herself, and Audrey can buckle her in, get her out and swing her! Whoo hoo!

Sarah

Ava 2 month check-up

Stats:

height: 23 1/2 inches  90%
weight: 13 lbs 11 oz   50%
Head: 15 1/4   75%

All three girls and I went to see Ava's pediatrician for her 2 month check up today.  He's gotten so busy that we had to wait 11 days past her turning 2 months old to get in, and that was with me calling 4 weeks ago. We went ahead and just made her 4 month when we left today.

According to her stats from today, she is my long and lean child. She only ranked in the 50th percentile for weight and 90% for length. When I read 50% on the piece of paper the nurse gave me I actually looked at the doctor and jokingly said, "What's wrong with her?" Audrey and Allie were both always in the 90th percentile for weight. ALWAYS. They were always 90th percentile for weight and 50% for height. But she's healthy just the same! He commented on her amazing head control and her ability to hold her weight well when you stand her up. She so far doesn't have the sensitive skin and skin issues that Audrey had/has and Allie is developing so here's hoping that continues. She cried the hardest of any of my children when she got her shots, but nothing a bottle didn't quickly cure. Later tonight she got her first dose of tylenol when she was really fussy after her nap--no doubt uncomfortable from her shots. She gave me a smile before she fell asleep, so it must have worked. :)

Assignments for 3-4 months:

Bring both hands together
put hands in her mouth (which she already does)
smile (check!)
push up on her arms to lift her head off the floor (check!)

Love our little Ava Grace!






Sarah

No more Training Wheels!

Audrey learned to ride her bike last night  with no training wheels! Out of the blue she asked Jeremy to take them off and he helped her get her balance and eventually let go. Upon seeing Audrey with no training wheels, neighbor Julia and Lily asked to have their training wheels off too. So, three little princess bikes were all riding up and down the sidewalk tonight with parents holding onto their pink seats or running alongside.

Audrey impressed me. I'm fairly sure it took me longer than two hours to learn to ride a bike! I had taken Ava and Allie in for baths and Audrey wanted to try her bike one more time. Up to this point, Jeremy had been following really close behind her. A little while later she came running upstairs and said, "Mom! Guess what!? I rode my bike all the way to Emma's house and then to Lily's house WITHOUT Daddy!" A huge grin on her face. I gave her high fives and told her that was awesome. I was a little bummed I missed the photo/video opportunity.

After her bath she wanted to call Grandmother and Grandpa and Grandma S. to share her big accomplishment.

Tonight, it was as if she'd been riding a bike for years. Her only shaky point is getting started, which I'm sure she'll have down by tomorrow.

Way to go Auds!

Sarah

Pea Gravel

In lieu of sand for our water/sand table, Jeremy opted to buy pea gravel, thinking it was a fantastic idea.

It fell short of his expectations.

For starters, the day he bought it, he neglected to rinse it off before putting it in the table so the girls, and Julia, became muddy messes. Then of course, it found its way out of the table and onto the concrete patio, and into the grass, and into the rain gauge and other random places. Sensing the kids (namely Allie) would make a mess with it, Jeremy bought a  miniature dust pan and broom to sweep the rocks up every night. Allie didn't touch that broom once. With as particular as my husband is about his yard and the outside appearance of our house, I told him yesterday I'd be surprised if that pea sized annoyance made it to June. And I was right. It was gone by the end of today. It lasted 15 days. And not an hour more.

Chalk it up to a learning experience--like clogs for a four year old or non washable crayons. Pea gravel--just as messy as sand, and harder to clean up. Not our finest idea.

These pictures were taken on day one of the pea gravel--thus the mud. That was April 1st. This particular morning, Audrey picked our her own outfit. The extra girl in the pictures? Neighbor and friend, Julia.

Sarah

The trampoline

Our neighbors have a trampoline. 

And my girls LOVE to jump on it.  

Allie does "little" jumps where she kicks her feet up in the air but Audrey does all out front flips and side twists. It's nerve wracking to watch for a momma but they have a ton of fun. We used to have more control over when Audrey would jump, as she couldn't get up by herself. And then, last summer she figured that out. And Allie, figured out her own way up too. We do have a rule that an adult must be supervising when they jump, despite their attempts to practice their toe touches and flips on their own.  

Sarah

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday:

Church service with Grandmother and Grandpa at our church

Mini brunch at our house afterward 

(homemade waffles with real maple syrup, veggie frittata)

Easter baskets! 

Lunch at Uncle Joe and Aunt Lynn's

delicious ham

Easter egg hunt!

Homerun derby for Daddy

Swings and golf cart rides for the girls

a long nap for Ava

enough bubbles and sidewalk chalk to last the summer!

Easter baskets from the bunny: 

I forgot to get a picture this year of them before the girls opened them, but Audrey got a magic hair Rapunzel barbie, a preschool workbook, a Barbie Mermaid 2 movie, a Barbie book, bunny snacks, a cupcake purse and learn to read books. Allie got a Dora picnic basket, Tinkerbell nightgown, Dora movie and painting book and bunny snacks. Ava: diapers and a soft rattle. 

the girls with Grandmother and Grandpa, after church

Audrey, Ava and Allie

Ava, two months old

Our place cards the girls and I made for brunch

all three Easter baskets, before the bunny arrived. I, of course, forgot to get a picture of them Easter morning

baskets of goodies from Grandmother and Grandpa

Allie loved riding on the golf cart with Grandma and Daddy. 

Audrey with cousin Ellie

on the tree swing

Allie hunting for eggs. Her color this year was pink

Audrey hunted eggs for her and Ava.

Sarah