Spittingimage

Bug

This is the flutterbug.

Santa brought the flutterbug to Audrey 2 Christmases ago.   The little wings twirl as it plats music.  She loved it.  And now, Bella loves it.  She stares at it and smiles at it and coos at it.  Mommy likes the flutterbug too.

So hot!

First it's too cold, now it's too hot.  I like when it's "just right."  The kids love it though.  We pulled out our little turtle pool again today.  I love Audrey's little toddler body.  She was wearing a hand-me-down swimsuit today, and it was the first and last time she'll get to wear it.  You'll see why...

Cupcakes

As I mentioned on Tuesday, we went to a birthday party.  The hostess was kind enough to let us take home two cupcakes, as we were leaving a little early.  So Tuesday afternoon, the kids had cupcakes for a snack.  Audrey was very tentative and hardly took a few bites.  Trey however, shoved it in his mouth in about two bites!

Before the pictures, I have a bit of business to take care of... where are you all?  I've hardly seen a comment since Bella was born, and honestly, I'm not sure if my comment tracker is working.  I haven't heard from my regulars lately (Viv, Annie, Dad...) Remember, comments keep a blogger blogging.  So perhaps I'm just recapping my days for myself, but if you're out there, please leave a comment so I know!  Thanks.

Okay, here's Audrey checking out her cupcake, trying it, discovering her fingers are messy, and pleading with me to clean them.  Then there's Trey checking out his cupcake, devouring his cupcake, and smiling with a messy cupcake face, just before cleaning his own hands (with his tongue!)

An interesting 5 minutes

Just after I posted yesterday, some new photo ops came up.  I went to get Trey up from his nap, only to find out that he had fallen asleep (which is rare).  However, he fell asleep hanging half off his bed!

After that, I walked out and picked up Isabella.  She let out a huge sneeze, and that's not all she let out.  Now, this blog isn't just about the "pretty" things, it's about our lives, right?  So I warn you, if you are squeamish, DO NOT SCROLL DOWN (mom).

Can't say I didn't warn you :)

Here comes Summer

Ahh... the weather is nice.  The pool is out.  And there is finally stuff to post!  I do love the warmer weather.  It has one downfall though.  It's hard for me to take a walk with all three kids by myself.  I don't quite trust the older kids enough yet to put Isabella in the triple stroller, so I usually push them while she rides in her front carrier (it's quite  a workout up the hills!)  However, when it's too hot, the body heat is too much for us.  Anyhoo... here's what we've been up to the past few days.

Yesterday, my friend Anne came over with her little boy Gabriel to play in the "pool."  We started out with the Elmo sprinkler, but only Trey would play with that.  As soon as the pool came out, all three were jumping and splashing for over an hour.

Then this morning, we went to a birthday party for a two-year-old friend.  My friend Patti brought her pony, but it was being a bit noisy, so most of the kids were scared to ride it.  There was also a big bounce house that my kids absolutely loved.  I'm thinking Santa will be bringing one of those this year.

Isabella dressed up for the party too.  She wanted to wear her little babuschka that goes with the outfit, but it was a bit big, so we just tried it on for a picture.

   

Happy Girl

I know... 3rd child, not as many pictures!  So today I decided to try to capture that sweet little smile that Isabella has started to flash us.  From the beginning, she's been a happy girl.  In fact, the past few weeks, I've felt like she really WANTED to smile.  And this week she started doing it.  It's hard to catch on film though!  This afternoon, I did catch a few goofy smiley faces.

How lucky am I?

Seriously, could you ask for a better job for your best friend to have than photographer?  Sara just gave me the pictures from Isabella's birth and her one week pictures, and oh my goodness, they are sooo good!

This is what labor looks like...

This is Isabella fresh from the womb

This picture blows me away... notice the scale says "6lbs 12.5oz"  That is EXACTLY what Audrey was, and we even have a picture of it!

The photographer herself...

And here are a few from the one week shoot that I really like...

   

Quick Post

It's been busy around here, so I promise to get some pictures up soon.  However, a funny story to tide you over...

The kids got out of the bath the other day, and Dante put them on the couch in their towels while he got their lotion.  Audrey slipped out of her towel and ran to the little kitchen to play.  Then I saw her rubbing her fingers together and she started freaking out.  She ran over to me holding out her fingers screaming, "A mess!  A mess!"  She wanted me to clean her fingers.  However, the "mess" was just pruny fingers.  No way to clean that off!  She was VERY upset that I couldn't fix it and kept rubbing them to try to make it go away.

Welcome Oliver!

What an exciting few weeks this has been.  First the move, then Isabella, and now Oliver.  My sister Heather and her husband Preston added their sixth (yes sixth!) child to the family yesterday.  Oliver arrived yesterday afternoon.  Measuring 8lbs 6oz and 22in, he was definitely the biggest baby this family has seen.  In fact, Isabella is still over a pound and 3 inches smaller :)  It's killing me that I know Oliver will be a few months old before I get to see him!  Thanks to Preston's parents for immediately sending me pictures!

Everyday Life

Everyone always said it's harder to go from two to three kids, but I disagree.  I think one to two was harder.  Things have been going fairly smooth around here.  Of course we're tired, but the kids have taken well to their new sister, and Isabella is fairly laid back.  Today was great, because Dante was home with us, taking a delayed paternity day.  Isabella had her first doctor's appointment today and weighed in at 7lbs 3oz.  Most kids weigh more than that when they are born!  Here are some pictures from this week.

Dante and my dad spent quite a bit of time working on the backyard.  The previous owners left their wooden playset, but they didn't take great care of the yard.  Dante and Dad set up our own plastic toys, replaced swings, mulched, weeded and fertilized the yard.  The kids love it.

Audrey LOVES to "schwing."  She asks all day long.  When she gets to swing, she won't get out unless it's to move to the other "schwing."

Audrey's hair is finally long enough for two ponytails and it is so stinking cute!

This is how I found Audrey the other day... lying on Sammy's bed, reading a book

Trey LOVES his train table.  All day long he begs for someone to play trains with him.