Learning Curves and Lunchtime Fun

Littlest Sis is entering into that wonderful and brief stage of development where she can sit up and play with toys, but can't yet go anywhere. In fact, today is the first day that I can say she's truly sitting independently!

Way to go Sis!!!

I am so excited for her, that she will finally be able to join her siblings as more than just a spectator.

However, with every new skill comes new challenges.

First new challenge...large motor control vs impending nap time.

It's okay Sis! It happens to the best of us! :)

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Well, Littlest Sis was clearly in need of a nap! And with Biggest Brother at school and only two remaining children in my charge, I was afforded the opportunity to make lunchtime a little more festive than usual.

Younger Brother and Big Sis were excited to break out the cookie cutters and help me make cheese sandwiches in the shape of woodland creatures.

And then for the blessing...

Fact: 2 and 4 yr old children can not hold hands and concentrate at the same time.

They started out saying blessing and ended in an all out tug-of-war.
Sis thought that was hilarious!

She was happy to pose for a picture with her butterfly sandwich of choice.

Brother chose a squirrel, but was not going to let me take his picture quite so easily.

I still see you B!

Mid-Week Weekend part 2

Sunday Edition


The kids received an, always greatly anticipated visit from Grandpa G on Sunday. Despite a significantly injured back and leg, Grandpa is always first in line to play!

Littlest Sis isn't as little as she used to be. And she got to join her brothers and sister for Grandpa time in the backyard for the very first time. She got her turn on the swing, but decided Grandpa's shoulder was the best place of all!

She looked so precious all bundled up with the wind in her hair! I had to take lots of pics of course...

Needless to say, they kept Grandpa hoppin' from the minute he walked through the door to the minute he left. Or perhaps Grandpa kept them hoppin'! Sometimes it's hard to tell. :)

Either way, they love it!

Thanks for playing Grandpa G...you're the coolest!

Mid-Week Weekend

Saturday Edition


As promised, I have finally gotten the opportunity to post pics from our very nice weekend. Big Sis was in need of a few things for winter, so she and I set out on a little mother-daughter shopping trip Saturday afternoon. I didn't want to interrupt our quality time with picture taking (even though she loves it) so I decided to take a few before and after instead. Oh, and Cinderella came too.

Cinderella...say,"Cheeeeseburrgerrrr!"

Sis is a bit obsessed with things being "high in the sky."
Every day, she requests that I make her hair "high in the sky"...and before we left, she gave Cinderella a shampoo and requested that I do her hair to match.

Her petite little feet look enormous in this shot!

Dandelions are a family favorite. She spotted one from across the yard and ran over to investigate its "blow-a-bility."

Okay Sis, "Ready to go shopping?!"

We had a most successful trip! We ended up finding her an OshKosh parka with matching snow pants, Disney Princess snow boots, jeans, jeans for Littlest Sis, a "Baby's First Christmas" stocking for Littlest Sis, and this super cool Princess book (impulse buy...but totally worth it). And after a return, coupons, and Kohl's cash, we got it all for 40 bucks! Not too shabby considering we went to Payless first and their Princess boots alone were $39! Payless! What's up with that?!

There is, however, no price tag to be placed on a lovely afternoon with my girly girl!

Errands and Improvisation

Due to a shared camera, I had to improv a bit on today's post. And weekend pics will be still to follow. The below pic comes to you courtesy of my camera phone.

We headed out first thing this morning to go get Big Sis's new bed. Her crib was recently recalled, so we decided it was a good time to let her move on up to a "big girl bed." Here we are in the checkout at Babies R' Us waiting for the sales associate to bring it to the front. I'm pretty sure the shopping cart has a little picture with an "X" through it for at least one or more of our kid-filled cart infractions. I assured them that they would not be sued should one of my children (most likely the one on the left) decide to jump ship. :)

20/?

Today was quite the day of official business. I spent the morning navigating my way through the re-enrollment site for our health benefits, casting my absentee ballott (Go Pachyderms!), and online searching toddler beds and crib mattresses following the recall of Big Sis's crib.

I'd say it was a pretty productive day overall! However, after seeing double for a good little bit following the removal of the above pictured glasses, I also succeeded in giving myself a mad huge headache. So alas, this weekend's pics are going to need to wait a day to get posted. Have a great week everyone!

Super Brave

Littlest Sis had her 6 month (actually 7) well-baby visit at the Pediatrician today...

Her Stats:

She is 7 months and 4 days old

She weighs 14lbs 9oz...8th percentile

She is 25 and 1/2 inches tall...20th percentile

Her head circumference is 16 and 1/2 inches...20th percentile

In other words...100 percent perfect! :)

Unfortunately, she was due for shots...

Four of them! :(

Here she is with her little leggers out, waiting so bravely.

She got two in each chubby thigh.

She cried really hard for the initial pokes, but had calmed herself down by the time the bandaids were in place.

This face is the reason that mommy is assigned to shot day and not daddy!

Good job Baby Girl...you were super brave!

Thankfully, I think she was pretty much over it by the time we reached the truck.

She had a very grumpy rest of the day to say the least, but once back at home...

She had a super sympathetic big brother to ease the events of the day!

On a side note, I am very thankful to have easily accessible medical care for my children! I am able to give Younger Brother an inhaler when he needs help breathing, or hop in my car and drive 10 minutes to one of the best hospitals in the country when one of my children is dehydrated or has an infection. When there are many places in the world where medical care is a day, or several days away...if available at all. And for that I know we are blessed!

Scarecrow Day

Today was Scarecrow Day for both first grades at Biggest Brother's school...

I volunteered to help set up, so I went a little early and had a chance to stop by and see brother in his classroom.

They were allowed a no uniform day as long as they dressed in scarecrow/farm attire. The plaid shirt was the best I could come up with. That, and he sort of looks like a scarecrow with his badly-in-need-of-a-cut style hair!

He wanted me to take of pic of him with his two best buddies.

They got to take a hay ride out to the far field where the Scarecrow Day festivities were held.

There was a bonfire for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs.

I was a little late getting this pic, but Biggest Brother was chosen to bless the meal.

When I left to go get the little sibs before Daddy had to leave for work, the first graders were all having a great time playing this rather curious game.

Brother later clarified for me that the game is called "dead turtle".

Basically, it's sort of like tag. But instead of having a base, when the tagger gets close to you, you drop to the ground and make like a dead turtle until they pass you by.

Oooooh...okay! Now this pic makes a lot more sense!

Thanks for clearing that up Brother!

Tender Moments and Technology

I absolutely love our video monitor! Hard to believe I managed to raise Biggest Brother back in the "Stone Age" without one. :) Not only is it a highly practical way to keep an eye on baby, but it has also had some unforeseen benefits as well. Namely, getting to see those tender moments that I might have otherwise missed.

Littlest Sis will usually play contentedly after her nap for a few minutes. And I love watching the things she does when there is no one around to entertain her. Today, she was totally enthralled with her toes!

In fact, she had quite the conversation with herself about it! Those red lights are the noise level indicator. She was "talking" up a storm! Still all gibberish of course, but her inflections and facial expressions were super convincing!

Uh oh, I've been spotted!

Okay, not really. But you won't convince the children otherwise.

Don't worry Littlest Sis, I'm on my way!

Nice work Bug!

Younger Brother is definitely the thinker of the family. That's not to say that the other children are not, but they do all have their own individual strengths. Buggy's just happens to be that he is very determined and exceptionally good at figuring things out. And trust me, from a parental standpoint, a combination of wits and persistence isn't always a good thing! :) Today however, he was putting his energy toward being quite constructive! Check it out...

Nice work Bug!

Sunday Morning Makeover

It was a colorful day from the get-go here on the home front. I woke up around 7:30 and glanced down the hallway to see Younger Brother/Buzz Lightyear, arm on wrist, aiming a laser beam at my forehead. Good morning to you too Bug! While there is no true sleeping in, mommy and daddy do like to at least relax in bed for a bit on the weekends while the kids play. He ran back to his room so I settled back into the covers.........The next thing I knew, Big Sis appeared at the end of my bed with Biggest Brother right behind saying, "I didn't do it!"

Apparently, my stealthy girl had sneaked past me and confiscated my mascara. I think she thought it was lip gloss, because she gave herself quite the Charlie Chaplain makeover.

The irony...she had sneaked a book from the bookshelf as well. Guess which one?!

Very nice sis...

You look stunning!

And just for the record...THIS is why I had not been able to roll myself out of bed to adequately supervise my children! She had me in her tractor beams! I mean, seriously...my strength is only human!