Preschool!

Preschool is here! The twins started their first day of preschool today.  Ella Jane was beyond ecstatic. Franklin was in it for the show and tell. He brought his monster truck and she brought her pony.

 I tried to capture a photo on the front stoop, however it was more like a Calvin and Hobbs comic. She smiled away, and he gave me a goofy face. I tried folks!  We've been preparing them for this since day one. Or at least trying to help them learn to be independent, brave, and kind. I'm so proud of these two and can't wait to see what great things they accomplish this year!

Caroline 9 month Update

How did our littlest one get to be 9 months old?

She is currently:
- crawling
- can sit up independently from laying down
- eating finger foods
- eating three solid meals a day (4 bottles a day)
- taking 2 naps a day (about 1.5-2 hours each)
- saying Dada and Ella
- dancing with her head

She loves:
- our beagle Gibson
- puffs
- her brother and sister (the twins)
- being outside

She is sleeping and eating well. Nine months is one of my favorite ages because their personality is truly coming out.  You get the verbal recognition when you walk in the door, the laughter, smiles, and they are a bit easier to understand.

Her hair is as big as her personality (almost).

Love you Caroline Rose aka Pippa!
Mama

Caroline 4 month update

Little C is busy and you can just see her learning so much over these past few weeks!  She can now grasp objects with both her hands, pull toys to her mouth, and rolls over every time you put her on her belly.  Literally!

Her sleeping got a little funky after her 4 month vaccinations but hopefully we are back on track.  We had to change the nipple size on her bottles, and then she consistently started eating more. She likes to eat quickly apparently!

Eating Schedule:
7am - 6 oz
10:30am - 6 oz
2pm - 6 oz
5:30pm - 7 oz
down to sleep at 7:30pm 
dreamfeed 9:15pm - 7 oz

She is sleeping in a fleece sleep sack (arms closed) or her love to dream sack, no longer swaddled and likes the gumdrop paci still.

She is talking more, has a funny little giggle, and playing the blanket game.  She enjoys walks in the umbrella stroller and hangs out quite a bit outside since its been so nice out! She is staying awake 2 hours at a time between naps!

Love our little firecracker. 

Number Three

It's been a LONG time. I feel awful for not updating this thing on behalf of our third child.  Bless her, I haven't recorded many details or her birth story.

For starters, we had a sweet, precious baby girl on November 5th at 9:18pm. 

She came into the world quickly - minus two days before or start and stop laboring at home.  After many walks and bouncing on the ball, my water broke that Thursday evening and she was born within three hours of being at the hospital.  I had no epidural till right before I started pushing - which I pretty much demanded it.  I didn't want to push that baby out with out it.

She's a joy.  From the start she was super alert, awake, and ate like a champ.  She had a head of red hair and a strong 7lb body which seemed much larger then the twins.  Everything about her seemed just a bit further along.  Granted she almost made it to 40 weeks, born just 3 days before being full term.

She now is almost 4 months old.  She eats every 3.5 hours, and sleeps in her crib very well.  She is a smiley, easy going, laid back child.  It's like she almost knew that in order to make it all work she needed to be able to just go with the flow! 

She loves being sung to, kicking her legs at toys on the playmat, and sitting in her highchair watching the family eat dinner.

She is a real blessing to our family and we are enjoying having a sweet baby around again to love on.

We love you to the moon and back Caroline Rose!

Just a little update

Just a little update! Or a big one!

We are pregnant with number three, 18 weeks along and going strong.  We've decided not to find out what it is this time around and go for the grand finale!

The babies, are not so much babies anymore and are in big kid beds.  F got his bunk beds and E is in her full bed that matches her great, great, grandmother's bedroom set that I've been working on.

The kids are loving swimming in our neighborhood pool, went to VBS at West End for the first time, and just are all around so much fun to be with.  We still have the occasional tantrum but are in a much better place!

I'm feeling great, and so thankful for that!  F and E each say they are growing a baby too.  F has named the baby honey lemon, and E has named the baby Caroline.  F wants a brother, E wants a sister.  So this baby will be the tie breaker!

We got to vacation down in Destin, Fl this year for a week.  We had the most perfect weather, and sat and played on the beach every single day.

We continue to host our bible studies on Tuesday evenings, and are having loads of fun having our dear friends over once a week and gaining such encouragement!

Those are the big highlights as of right now.  The twins turn three next week.  F loves pirates, action heros, and knights.  E loves fairys, ballerinas, and taking care of her baby dolls.  They are sweet kids and I feel blessed to raise them side by side with the man of my dreams!

Christmas Season Memories

a few things i want to remember this christmas season.
1. franklin calls all christmas lights and reindeer - "reindeer paws". think the song "up on the housetop reindeer pause" he thinks we are talking about paws.
2. their fav song is jingle bells. on repeat. in the van. loud.
3. ella loves to put snowflake stickers on her face. my face. everyone's face.
4. they say santa is not ready to come yet.
5. if i can't open it, change it, fix it, etc. immediately ella says "maybe daddy?" i love that in their mind daddy can fix everything! and i believe it:)
6. they can't say tinsel, so they call her pencil - which is our elf on the shelf's dog.
7. they ate far more candy then made it onto the gingerbread house. especially Frank!
8.  ella loved to unwrap the hershey kisses. about her favorite thing during gingerbread houses.
7.  Daddy cleaned out the playroom closets and switched things around.  They love love their new secret hideout in the long closet.  
8. they chase each other around - usually its F chasing E.  F will gently tackle E to the ground.  The other night he said "im doing it gently"
9.  F knows my first name is Emily. He says "i'm frank"  and "your name is Emily Mom" I kindly remind him I'm mommy:) 
10. Ella pulled out her easter bunny ears and wore them around one evening, kindly referring to them as bunny hoppers since they make you hop mom!

Thankful

It's hard to believe it was August since I last wrote.

Lots of wonderful things have happened.  We got to go on a vacation to the beach, which the kids absolutely loved! We visited Chi-town over Labor Day and celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary!

The children are getting bigger day by day.  F has funny phrases that he will just bust out with like "no, no, no, I don't think so" or "ew that's gross"

Ella is so in love with babies and playing baby doll.  She takes her baby's jammies on and off and likes to feed her in the booster seat we have at the dinner table.  She is still constantly singing.

We've had our fair share of little odd colds and illnesses, but nothing we've had to go to the Dr. for which I am grateful!

C and I are on a clean eating diet, less carbs and more protein and elminating processed sugar.  Not like I let him keep cookies around anyways! :)  We've also gotten the twins rooms painted, and he did the guest room yesterday! I'm SO appreciative!

We are also hosting a bible study at our house on Tuesdays, with a meal and study after.  It's been a true blessing.

Just a little catch me up!

Big Beds!

After both twins literally climbed out of their cribs within a day of eachother (F first (2x) and then E at naptime) I decided it was time for big boy and girl beds. I was pretty nervous, I had no idea how they would respond.

Hubby, after naps, took the fronts of their cribs.  F was a little concerned, E was excited, happy, and generally like wow! 

They did fantastic!  We really didn't have any incidents.  It's amazing how 2 year olds can self discipline.  I also made sure to remove any tempting toys from the floor.

I'm so proud of them.  My big kids!