He Is Risen!

He Is Risen, Indeed! Hallelujah!

This Easter, we decided to host our family for the first time.  We have hosted more people in our home for birthday parties and baptisms but it was still a holiday.  It was just our family and our parents - a nice, small group to get our holiday hosting toes wet.  

The day was tied for the third hottest Easter Sunday on record.  We topped out at 80 degrees.  Greta spent most of the time in the shade and being passed around from Gram to Grandpa to Grandma.  She can be amazingly stubborn about taking naps (like she was on Easter) and spent nearly the entire time awake.

Reading new Easter books with two of her favorite people.
Or should I say three... Guy.

Nora had a rough day.  There was a small accident opening the door going into church.  It got opened too quickly and her big toe went right underneath the door - of course she had sandals on - immediately turning half of her toenail black.  It was, no doubt, throbbing the remainder of the day.  She snuggled on a lap all day long and limped her way to and from.  She was already doing much, much better today.  

There are some added bonuses about being at your own house on Easter.  One: You can change out of your church clothes and put on camo shorts and a digger shirt.  Two: You can ride your bike all. day. long.  Seriously, this child and his bike.  They'll be inseparable this summer.  More on that for a later post. 

Getting more and more expressive.  Much happier after a full belly and a
small snooze in the stroller.

We all changed so quickly upon coming home from church I realized I never got a picture of all three of the kids in their Easter outfits.  Two out of three isn't bad.  It's still a darn cute picture.

After the grandparents left we all came inside to hunker down for the evening.  We had literally been outside the entire day so we were all ready for a break.  Greta seemed to be fading quickly but it was still too early for bed so I thought I would distract her by showing her her first Easter basket again.  I got more than I bargained for.  She explored her basket for at least 15 minutes.  Her dress was a drool-y, dirty mess (she had sucked on strawberries while we ate) but she was happy as a clam.

Happy First Easter, Greta!

This just might be my favorite from the day.

Greta: six months

Six months.  Say it ain't so.

Happy Half Birthday, Greta Bear. 

This past month has been fun.  I've always said, once babies hit six months their personalities really start to come out and things get fun.  The biggest physical milestone has been her sitting.  She went from almost able to sit on her own to 'this is a piece of pie' in the blink of an eye.  Her world just got significantly better.  Now she really gets a good new view of her brother's and sister's antics.  

My photo shoot helpers gave her this prop.

Another biggie?  She got her first tooth! It somewhat came as a surprise to me.  For a few days I thought I noticed a white spot on her gums but when I'd take a closer look... nada.  Then I checked again when I was sure I saw white and sure enough, I felt a little tooth poking through.  She didn't show any signs of teething (besides excessive drool but that's not so out of the ordinary for her anyway) which is why it was a little surprising.  In the above picture you can even see it -- it's her bottom right, our left.  The one on her left doesn't seem too far behind either.

Greta also had her first "vacation".  Mom and Dad went to Dallas for the Final Four for five days so she stayed with Grandma and Grandpa.  But more on the Dallas trip later.  

Things to look forward to between now and eight months (her next peds appointment): 

* beginning to crawl - or near crawling

* mama, baba, dada type talk 

********

When Greta's pictures were done Myles and Nora wanted me to take pictures of them too.  They took turns hopping onto the chair and posing in their own ways.

"Scary face"

She looks a little too old in this picture.  

And those legs.  Suddenly they go on for days.

Side note - cross tattoo is from the Easter Bunny that visited her classroom.

Reaction to the scary face? I'd like to think so.

Little Mermaid

Nora started swimming lessons a few weeks ago. She was very excited on the first day.

This was a good two hours before we had to leave.  She was more than ready to go.

I was hoping her excitement would continue once we got there.  I was half way expecting her to suddenly get nervous, like she tends to do in new situations and not want to go in.  Thankfully, I was wrong.  She walked away without even looking back.  She even volunteered when her teacher, Chris, asked who wanted to go under first.  "Me!" she yelled with her hand shooting up into the air.  And in she went.

The first week, I didn't bring my real camera (to be honest, I didn't want to be that mom...) but the second week, I got over it.  I wanted good pictures.  I attached my zoom lens and snapped away.

Blowing bubbles while "swimming".

This poor boy has spent every. single. class on the sidelines.
I give his mom credit for continuing to come and put him in.

The last thing they do during the class is crawl on the step
and roar like a lion while they get to the other side. 

Then they jump in.  I'm not being biased
when I say she's the most brave when it
comes to jumping in.  She'll actually jump a
bit while they others just kind of lean in.

And she goes all the way under! 

In the two weeks since I've taken these pictures, they've worked on floating on their backs.  They have floaties around their waist and Chris will help hold them up.  During the last class, Chris let go if they were ready.  She did it!  Her legs stayed up.  Her ears were in (Chris told them to look for Curious George eating a banana in the rafters).  She did absolutely fantastic!  I was one proud mama.

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.