Happy Groundhog's Day Alice!

Alice just had her first birthday on Tuesday. She doesn't seem like a 1 year old to me, she's still just my little baby. I took her in for her 1 year check-up yesterday and she is almost 19 1/2 pounds. I can't remember all of her other stats, but she is pretty much in the 30th percentile for everything. She's just my little stinker baby. I keep thinking she is kind of big, or average since she is bigger than her cousin Liam. I suppose I need to find another baby for reference!

Alice loves her mommy and would happily let me carry her around the house for pretty much everything. She has been a great blessing and is really a pretty easy baby. She has her moments, especially with her tendency to scream for attention at mealtimes - but she just wants me to know when she needs more food. She's a great eater and a wonderful sleeper. Alice can say a few words, although the only one she says consistently with an obvious reference is "Po." We probably should have given the dog a harder to say name. I hate to lose out to him.

Anyway, here are a few pictures from our celebrations. Alice especially loved her birthday cake, but kept getting angry when she couldn't get the chocolate off her fingers by shaking her hands. (I thought it was funny.)

Happy 6th Birthday Abby!

Abby turned 6, there's no way around it. She got 2 cakes and a pie from her various celebrations. I think she quite enjoyed it all!

We started her out with breakfast in bed. I think she had to lay in bed for about 30 minutes waiting for her breakfast. It doesn't work quite as well when they wake up too early!! Abby thinks everyone gets breakfast in bed for their birthday. I told her it's actually not that common and she seemed pretty surprised.


Abby kept begging and begging to open her presents. I always thought there needed to be some sort of ceremony or singing or something, but I guess it doesn't need to be that fancy. Kids just want their presents ASAP. (At least my kids do.)

We went out to dinner, then took a pie over to Tom's parents' on Abby's birthday.

Abby had her "friend" party on Saturday. We borrowed a projector and showed a movie on a big screen for the girls. Tom made some Abby dollars that the girls could spend at the concessions stand. They ate so much popcorn and candy that they hardly touched their cake and ice cream.



All in all, I think Abby had a pretty great birthday, which is the point - right? Anyway, now I'm the mother of a beautiful, smart, funny, sensitive, six year old girl. Aren't kids great?

100 Posts?

I just went to put a little post up about Alice standing up and I noticed I am at 100 posts! I'm a long way away from some of my super blogger friends, but this is pretty good for me. Can I count this as journaling? Cause I always peeter out on those keeping a journal goals really quickly. Anyway, I'll get back to what I was going to post originally.

Alice has been randomly standing up in the middle of the floor pretty often lately - so I thought I would take a little video of it today and share. It's not much, but I think it's fun. Alice taking those first steps isn't too far away!



Alice is a funny kid. She started out pretty quiet, but has figured out that she needs to yell to get attention sometimes. Her yelling pretty much comes out at the dinner table. She yells pretty quickly when she runs out of food. Taking her to restaurants can be kind of dodgy, especially once I run out of whatever snack I brought to keep her satisfied before the food gets there. I guess being the third child has taught her some tricks to making sure she's noticed.

Waffles

I'm not sure why, but I think it is the cutest thing to see Alice eat a waffle.

A bath past due

I finally gave Alice a bath in the big kid tub. I know, she's been old enough for a long time now. She wanted to get out until I let Sophie go in with her - then at least she didn't complain too much.

All clean and ready for bed!

A Visit from Santa

We went to a family Christmas party at the beginning of the month and Santa showed up to visit the kids! My kids were SO excited - and totally spellbound by Santa. Well, Alice didn't care too much, but the other two thought he was pretty awesome. I didn't get the best pictures - but I'm hoping to get some from other people's cameras to make up for what I'm missing.

Sophie was enthralled by Santa, but pretty scared at first. She wouldn't give Santa a hug at the beginning - or even sit on the floor with the other kids while he read "The Night Before Christmas". She warmed up eventually.

Abby has been pretty faithful in asking for a Barbie and a Polly for Christmas. At least she isn't waffling and leaving Santa guessing!

Alice smiled for the camera while sitting on Santa's lap - unfortunately it wasn't for my camera. Here's a token picture of her looking cute anyway.

Happy Birthday Sophie

Sophie turned three years old today. She is awesome and I love her. I love the faces she makes, the sound of her cute little voice, cuddling with her, and pretty much everything about her. We celebrated the day yesterday by taking the girls to Chuck E. Cheese's - it was a total madhouse. Then we had some dinner with my parents at our house followed by presents and cake and ice cream. We'll have cake at Tom's parents' house tonight with the usual singing and presents there too. Happy Birthday Sophie!







(On a side and yet still related note: I bought a present Saturday morning for Abby and Alice to give to Sophie. When I showed it to Abby she broke down in tears - because she wanted it really badly. She cried again when Sophie opened it. I don't know what to do with her!!!)