Big Girls

It was a weekend of firsts for the girls.

Ella had baby oatmeal for the first time Friday. We did this in an attempt to help her sleep through the night. (It didn't work. I am sooo tired!)




Ben has been itching to take the rail off Avery's crib so I finally let him do it this weekend. (Yes, I know what you're thinking: What the heck is a 3 year old still doing sleeping in a crib? Well, I figure, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! We were ALL getting great sleep with her in it, and for all I cared, she could have stayed in it until she was 13!) Anyway, she loves it and calls it her "new bed". But what I think she really loves is the freedom she now has to climb into our bed at all hours of the night. (Needless to say, I'm not loving it quite as much as she is. Repeatedly walking her back to her room is getting old. Did I mention how tired I am??)




Here's the one I'm really excited about. Avery wrote her name ALL BY HERSELF for the first time last night! We've been working on her letters, and they're usually all over the place. But this time, she spelled and wrote her name all on her own, left to right, with no prompting by us. She was so proud ... and so were we!

TGIF

I went back to work for the full five days this week. It's been crazy with school, daycare adjustments, lack of sleep, stuffy noses and coughs, potty issues, a visit to the pedi, and yes, pink eye ... again! And that's not to mention the pumping, pumping, and more pumping. I think I have spent as much time doing that this week as I have spent sitting in traffic ... and that's a LOT if you know this area! ;)

Daycare

If anyone said a prayer for Ella today...it helped! So, thank you! Apparently it was harder on me than it was on her. Jackie (the sitter) said things went great. Whew!

I have this mental image of God just holding her extra-protectively in His arms all day. I shouldn't have worried. (As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you. Isaiah 66:13) I should have had more faith!

Going back to work

Ella has fever today. I guess it's from the shots yesterday. Even with her not feeling well, though, she is still being the sweetest little angel, bless her heart.

If she feels better tomorrow, then she will have to go to her very first day of daycare. My chest is tightening and my heart hurts just thinking about it. We had such a bad experience when Avery was a baby in childcare, and I just can't stand the thought of Ella having to go through that, too. (Hmmm...Would I be being a bad mommy if I hoped she would still be too sick to go tomorrow?? OK, OK, never mind!)

Ella is 4 months old!

Time flies WAAAY too fast when you have a baby! Was she really just a newborn a few months ago? Of course I love seeing her healthy and thriving, but now I completely understand why my grandpa always used to say he wanted to put a brick on my head to stop me from growing.

We had her four month checkup today, and she's looking great except that she seems to be slowing down on her weight gain. The doc thinks it's probably because of her severe reflux (not acid, thank goodness), so we'll continue to monitor that closely.

She's also discovered that her fingers taste yummy! She usually has at least two of them in her mouth at any given time. I think she liked chewing on them because they made her gums feel better, and then realized they're great for sucking on, too. Hey, better that than the boob, if you ask me!

Sisters

Isn't it supposed to be the little sister that bothers the big sister??

I guess in our family it's the other way around:

A picture is worth a thousand words!

Splish, Splash

One of the best things about this summer has been our many visits to the pool. Avery puts on her little arm floaties and "swims" all over the place. She won't let us help her at all. "No! I can do it!" she says. Ben is one of those awesome, fun daddies (just like mine was) that tirelessly plays in the water with her like a little kid. She loves it ... and I love the memories that they're creating together.

Ella went "swimming" for the first time last week! She chilled out in her float and was as happy as a clam. She was so relaxed, she even fell asleep! Let me tell you, a chubby 3 1/2 month old in a tiny little bathing suit has got to be one of the cutest things in the world!

I LOVE summer!