My Big Girls

Cecilia and Lilly Jeanne have become quite the twosome.  I can already tell that they will be the best of friends.  I'm a little jealous of their relationship as sisters, it's something I never experienced.  They play together all the time.  The also fight all the time, but that's beside the point.  They love to play outside and dig in the dirt.  They like to color and play with playdough.  In general they like to play with each other, or with whatever the other one is playing with (hence the fighting).

Pretend play is big here.  Hence the princess dresses in the dirt.  They randomly decided that they were "going to work" and packed up their bags and headed to dad's car.  It was pretty hysterical.  Cecilia buckled Lilly Jeanne in the back seat because she was the driver, of course.

I love when they play to Nora.  They will preform little songs and concerts for her all the time.  Complete with music books and instruments.

I love the ages they are at because they can do most activities together right now.  I have them enrolled in a gymnastics class, and they really like it.  They are so cute!  It is teaching Cecilia to slow down and have a bit more control of her body.  Her teacher told her last week "it's not about going fast, it's about doing it right."  She needs to learn that on many levels.  Heck, I need to learn that.

These two are going to be trouble too.  The other week when I was sick, I was nursing Nora and relaxing on the couch while the big girls were playing in their room.  I thought they were playing so nicely because they had come and gotten some toys and taken them back to their room.  I knew they had wipes becsuse I could hear the package crinkling, but I didn't think too much of it.  After all it was just wipes and I was not feeling well at all, and they were happy and Nora was peacefully sleeping in my arms.  After about an hour I finally got up to check on them... Can you spell TROUBLE?  It looks a lot like CECILIALILLYJEANNE to me.  Not only did they have wipes and toys, they had helped themselves to the top drawer in the dresser in the nursery and found three bottles of lotion, baby Vicks vapor rub, diaper cream, sunscreen, and Vasoline.  They then thought it would be fun to make their own concoction and apply it to the toys, carpet, beds, and wipes.  I lost it.  I admit, it was not my finest moment.  I (probably not so gently) escorted them to the back yard, shut the door and locked it.  Trust me, it was for their safety.  I cleaned up the mess and cried through my cold.  I did not take any pictures of this event, I was too distraught.  I learned the lesson, once again, not to leave them alone for more than 1.37 seconds. 

Potty Trained

Lilly Jeanne is potty trained.  Thanks to my mom, who decided that it was time.  I sent the girls away to Mamma and Pops' house the weekend before Thanksgiving, and Lilly Jeanne came home in big girl panties and practically accident free.  I've heard rumors that sometimes this happens, but I never really thought much of it.  I'll take it though.  I hadn't planned on working with Lilly on this until after the holidays, seeing as I have a newborn, who is not on any schedule yet, but Mamma thought otherwise.  I'm really so proud of my big girl, and I'm thrilled not to be changing her diapers anymore.  Thanks Mamma!  You rock!

Nora: 2 months (ok, 2.5 months)

Growing! Sleeping! Eating! Happy!  We can't ask for much else.  She has been a great baby.  Her two month appointment was delayed slightly because we were sick.  But she couldn't get out of those shots.  Here are her stats:

Weight: 11lbs, 29th Percentile

Length: 23.5 inches, 82nd Percentile

At two months old, this girl is so strong.  She holds her head up like a pro.  She loves to stand.  She is starting to scoot on her back.  And she is starting to try to sit up on her own.  She has graduated to a bumbo.  She likes her swing ok, she will tolerate it for about 5 minutes.

Nora has the best smile!  Its a big wide open grin with a crinkly noes.  She lights up my world with that smile.  She is starting to talk and coo.  We have very deep conversations.

She is sleeping really well.  She is only waking about once a night, sometimes twice.  She takes at least one long nap a day, and usually a short nap in the evening.  We're working on getting her into a two long nap a day schedule.  I think my coffee habit has to go in order for this to work :(  Of course, being number three, her nap schedule is highly influenced by whatever else is going on during the day.  She is often interrupted by school schedules and whatnot.  She does love to sleep in this awesome sling a friend made for me.  I love it too.  She loves to sleep with Jon or I.

Nora's eyes are still blue!  Could it be that we have a blue eyed child??  She gets the most comments about her awesome hair.  It is pretty impressive.  It is super curly when its wet, and has a ton of body when it is dry.  She's got a full on mohawk goin' on right now because the sides of her head are bald because she sleeps on her tummy (don't tell the authorities).  

She has been to her first wedding, her first funeral, and met her new friend, Thomas.  Important events!

Blankets

My mom has finished Nora's blanket!  Now all three of my girls have a sweet blankie from Mamma.  I just love how Nora's blanket looks and feels.  It is so soft, and the colors are great on it.  We have started training Nora to her blanket.  She sleeps with it, and it is starting to come to church with us too.  

As a Mom of Three

1. I've lost my mind.  And my keys- have you seen them?  Oh- there they are!  
2. I wish my key fob for Minnie the Van had an alarm for when I've forgotten to close the door because I was guiding two small ones inside, carrying the tiny one and all the stuff (purse, blankets, grocery's, random toy, dirty diaper, etc) inside. 
3. I've become really, REALLY good at multi-tasking.  The other morning I ate a bowl of cereal, dressed Lilly Jeanne, put Cecilia in time-out, and nursed Nora all at the same time.  Where's my cape?
4. I've also become really, REALLY good at starting things.  Just the starting part though.  Finishing tasks needs impro
5. My priority list is constantly being rearranged (see item #4).  
6. My sleep has been more interrupted by my two year old than my two month old.  Say What!?!?
7. Taking a shower is like taking a vacation.
8. I don't think I've gone to the bathroom alone since before Nora was born.
9. I left for two and a half hours the other morning to get my hair done.  It was amazing.  Of course, I didn't even make it to the end of my street without Jon calling me.  I never color my hair, but I did this time for two reasons:  I needed a change, and I have gray hairs sprouting all over my head.
10. I love my life.  It's crazy and chaotic, stressful and challenging.  But I know that my life is so much more fulfilled because of these little blessings.

Bumbo History Look Alikes

With baby number one & two, everyone tries to see if they look more like mom or dad.  With baby number three, everyone tries to see if they look more like big sister #1 or #2.  You be the judge...

Nora, Cecilia (top), Lilly Jeanne (bottom)

Halloween Princesses

Nothing to fancy this year.  Nora was a cute little pumpkin, and fortunately, my big girls decided to be Cinderella and a princess, costumes we already had.  They both got to wear their costumes to school and go trick or treating with Dad.  We also went to a trick or treat street earlier In the week at one of the local high schools.  I was pretty sick the whole week, so we didn't do a whole lot, we didn't even carve our pumpkins this year.  The trick or treater count was low low low this year too: 22!