Greta: five months

The most major development and biggest change was Greta starting solids.  At her four month well visit she didn't quite gain a full pound and the doctor we saw (which wasn't our usual... I had to reschedule) mentioned something about it.  Then asked how long I breastfed Nora and Myles.  When I said I lost my supply between 4 and 5 months with Myles he made a face.  Okay, maybe he didn't intentionally make a face, but I saw it.  That face, coupled with the fact that she kept waking up at night - well, my mommy brain took over.  I was worried I was losing my supply and didn't want her to lose weight like Myles did so I decided I'd start oatmeal.  And if she started sleeping through the night because of it?  Added bonus.  She took to the rice cereal quickly which reassured me I had made the right decision.

Occasionally she has become a tummy sleeper now
that she can roll from back to front.  Which, by the way,
makes her look way too old.

She started using this deal-y for bath time.

And had her first shared bath.  First of many to come.
This one was with Myles.  I tried putting her in with both of them since
then just to get her quick washed - not even to play.  Let's just say the
older ones had a "two's company, three's a crowd" mentality.
There "wasn't enough room to play.  Get her out."

Things to watch for and look forward to next month: 

* more giggles
* sitting on her own

* transferring toys from one had to the other

A Salon Experience

Nora was due for another trim.  Last time I was getting my hair done I saw the price for their kids' cuts was the same price as the actual kid place - the ones where they sit in the airplane.  A real hair cut for the same price and the kiddy place?  Score. For her first hair cut she didn't want to go to my place.  She wanted to go to the same place as Myles.  Understandable.  This time, I told her I was taking her to my place.  I talked it up, told her they'll wash her hair and maybe even give her curls.  She was sold. 

I didn't get a good picture of her getting her hair washed.  She was too little to hold herself back in the chair so I had to hold it down for her. 

She looked more than adorable perched up on the booster with the cape on.
She was pretty quiet most of the time.  Pretty typical for her.  Nora is kind of like me in that way.  When you put her in a new situation she'll get really shy at first.  She admitted to me when we got in the car to leave that she was nervous at first but not as nervous at the end.

One thing she did share...
"Red is my Daddy's favorite color."

After her wash, cut, and dry, she did ask for...

Curls!  Let me tell you.  She thought she was THE. COOLEST. with her curls.  I don't own a curling iron so I've never given her curls.  

She looked and felt beautiful.  You could tell by how she walked.

William showed me how to do curls with a flat iron and you better believe she's asked me to give her curls since then. I tried it.  Worked ok but I don't have the best flat iron for the job.  Plus I'm just not good at doing hair.  You should have heard her while I was doing it.  "Mom, William does it like this." So much emphasis on "William".  I've got news for ya, lady.  I'm never going to do it as well as William.  That's why we'll continue to pay him :)

Snow Bunnies

I, with the rest of the midwest, spent a lot of time inside this winter.  A lot. Not just because it was so darn cold out but also because of Greta.  I was  happy that Nora and Myles were old enough to go outside while I kept a watchful eye through the kitchen window. Who knew it would take until March for me to finally get outside with them with my camera in hand.  

Throwing snowballs

Can you hear his giggle?  He was coming after me to
dump the shovel full of snow on my pants.

March 12.  Way too much snow for March 12.

Uno Moo

To say we've been playing a lot of Uno Moo lately is an understatement.  Nora got it for Christmas and it's lasted long after the infatuation stage.  It's usually the first thing we do in the morning.  And again an hour later. A couple of more times before lunch. Once before nap. Again when nap is over.  Maybe before dinner. And when Dad gets home.  I think you get the gist. 

One thing I love about the game is that Myles can play with Nora and I too.  Not only can he play but he has his own haystack too.  He doesn't have to sit on my lap and "help" me play.  It was easy to catch onto and he's good at it.  I'm hoping the game will also help him learn his colors better (he's bad at colors!)

The skunk is the card game equivalent to a draw two.  It's a big deal if you have a skunk in your haystack.  Both kids are such good sports when they get a skunk.  

When they have to pick from the barn there are those who are completely honest and don't peek. 

We also have one player who is more, let's say, bold when it comes to picking from the barn.  We're working on it.

And while he stays interested and engaged for numerous games in a row he also keeps himself entertained.

"Mom, look! Me Mary!"

This kid.  Gotta love his humor.

He's also been known to practice his headstands.

Greta: four months

I feel like the jump from three months to four months is a big one.  There is so much more interaction.  She seems so much more aware of things going on around her.  Looking for Nora and Myles to watch what they're doing.  Not just smiling at them if they're in her face.  Which, if I'm being honest, is about 78% of the time.  

I think the thing I like most about this past month... the routine. 

I always crave getting my kids on a set schedule mostly so you can try to plan things accordingly.  I realized she was on a routine but I wasn't following it.  It's a little more difficult to stick to a good nap schedule right now since I often have to rouse her to take Nora to and from school.  More often than not afternoon naps get taken in the car seat - she then wakes up when we get home - then finished when we pick Nora up.

She's not much of a giggler yet.  We've only heard it a handful of times.  I know it'll be more often soon.  What we do hear a lot?  Squawking.  It's really the only word to describe it. It's loud and pure happiness.

She's still on her bottle strike.  I'm hoping it'll come to and end soon.  Partially for my sake, selfishly.  Mama wants a glass of wine or a brandy old fashioned! I'd also like to be able to schedule a date with my hubby and not have to worry about whether or not she'll decide to take a bottle or wonder if she'll be hungry.  So I'll keep trying to give one to her.  

Maybe I'll have good news next month.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's to all of our loves out there!

This crazy girl, along with her brother, helped make our Valentine's Day backdrop. 

We took empty toilet paper rolls and smooshed them into the shape of hears to make stampers then stamped a giant piece of paper with red, white, pink, and purple hearts.

I planned on taking sweet, smiling pictures of my first Valentine... but she had other plans.

Scary faces for a holiday all about love. 

Then this happened!

A dress with polka dot leg warmers.
Lots to love about this. ha!

 While the kids were in the tub, I set up the backdrop outside of the bathroom.  

It was Greta's turn.  All sorts of cuteness in the following pictures.

I have to get out my camera and have more photo shoots with this one.  Darn it, she's cute. 

Sending lots of LOVE your way this Valentine's Day!

Making Valentines

We did some Valentine crafting leading up to the big day.  We made marbled hearts that turned out so cute we decided to send them to some people to brighten their Valentine's day.

We started with shaving cream on a paper plate
and put a few drops of food coloring in the shaving cream.

You swirl the food coloring around to make a marbled look.

You dip your paper - in our case I had pre-cut hearts out of computer paper.

Then you carefully lift your paper out of the
shaving cream.

Next, use a flat scraper of some sort to scrape off all the extra shaving cream. 

Viola! This is what you end up with!  

When you're done... SMOOSH IT!  After all, what good is a shaving cream
activity if you can't feel it squish through your fingers.

When the valentines were dry, I backed them onto construction paper to make them a bit more durable and look more complete. 

We sent out 10 valentines.  On each one she
carefully wrote each persons' name and also
drew a heart and her name on the back.