5-30-14

Boy, early childhood is an adventure! Both of the older girls are doing so many new and fun things all the time it sure keeps me on my toes! Anna Claire has really started getting a funny personality. She says things that take me off guard all the time, sometimes for the good and others times for that bad. :-) She hasn't yet learned about being a smart-aleck or back talking. We have really had to start working on that. That she will get it in time. :-) She is so sweet and most of the time does not intend to be disrespectful, although that is not always the case.

Juliana absolutely amazed me last night! She brought some wipes over to me and wanted me to give her one. I did give her one, and she immediately took it and went to wipe Eliza's face! Unbeknownst to me, Eliza had just spit up and needed her chin cleaned up. I was amazed that Juliana had noticed a problem, or even something out of the ordinary, and then problem-solved by herself as to what needed to happen to fix it. What a smart girl I have!

Anna Claire has started to respond to being asked to do tasks by saying "sure!" Or has started to say "I have idea!" And "that be good?" Such cute expressions!

5-27-14

Juliana is talking more and more and more!!! I couldn't write it all down if I wanted to! Every day it's a new word and she will attempt to say anything! Absolutely adorable at this age!

Hmm....she says, stop, please, thank you, mama, daddy, sissy, more, all gone, go, no, down, uh oh, fries, juice....all in the sweetest little voice!

Her temper has settled down some, although when she gets mad it's pretty hot! But definitely improving. I suspect a bit of that was frustration at not being able to adequately communicate.

Both big girls are going through a mommy stage--wanting me a lot....funny how they do that from time to time. I hate to see them [ush daddy away for any reason though---he's just the best dad ever! They will just never know how much we love them until they have their own---I understand that now that I'm a mommy....

Eliza started sleeping in her crib last night. Didn't get out of bed to eat until 5:00 a.m. which was great, although I did have to check on her in the middle of the night several times. She is such a beautiful, happy, smiley, fat baby. Perfect gift from God and I am so thankful!

We don't know whether we want another child or not---this has been very hard having three so little, but I know it will pay off in the end. I so desire the girls to be close and it will help so much for them to be close in age. I would like a fourth child, and I think Andy would also, but it is just not a good time to talk about it at all. :-) We agree to revisit this issue when Eliza is about 18 months.....

5-26-14

What a fun day! Memorial Day 2014 is behind us, but it was well spent! Mary and Tyson McDaniel came over with their kids for lunch and to swim. Their 7 year old, Emma, is so good with Anna Claire and she loves her! Then Chris and April Clark called to see if they could bring their girls to swim and came by this afternoon. So then Anna Claire got to play with Autumn in the pool, and later in the house. Oh what fun she had!

Got her first sunburn - not bad, but this Mama felt AWFUL that I forgot to reapply!!!

Lily-Marie, Anna Claire, Autumn and Emma

Sharing the iPad--

Playing dress up: l-r: Cinderella Autumn, Mulan Anna Claire and Aurora Lily-Marie.

5-24-14

Juliana tried (and loved) swimmies today!! Of course Mama had to get in on a moments notice - fully clothed! So worth it!

5-22-14

Yummy watermelon tonight--Juliana LOVED it and didn't want to go in the pool and leave her slice behind! Got mad when Daddy took her away from it!

Ac got to pick some blackberries tonight! She was so excited! Called them strawberries, we told her they were blackberries---now she calls them black strawberries!

5-21-14

Eliza weighed 16 lbs 3 oz today at her well baby visit. She got her 2nd round of Rotateq and Pentacel vaccines. Doing great so far!

Big girls made the most of the visit! Like a traveling circus these days! :-)

5-18-14

So hard to believe this little squirt is four months old already!! What a joy she is to our family! She's found her toes and is beautiful and roly poly all over!

I took some time today to just hold and cuddle her while the big girls were asleep. Oh how much this Mama loves her girls!

5-17-14

Anna Claire says out of the blue on the way home today --

"I go pee pee in the gass (grass).

Me: no, you are a big girl--big girls pee pee in the potty. Why would you want to pee pee in the grass?

Because it's fun to pee pee in the grass!"

As in, "duh Mom!!!"

We had a great trip to New Orleans, albeit fast. Ricky was surprised and I think touched to have everyone there for his graduation from New Orleans Seminary. It was fun to do something different and out of the norm. Getting to spend some one-on-one time with Anna Claire was nice also. She's growing so fast and is so very special.

The trip home was extra fun--we sang songs a long way....the ABC's, Veggietales, Yo Gabba Gabba, This Little Light of Mine, etc. The ABC's is her favorite right now even though she gets the letters all out of kilter. So cute!

This is her singing:

5-16-14

If you ask Juliana her name she will tell you it's "Junia Bug Hunter"

5-15-14

Love my family so much! Mama and Papa are here visiting and it was wonderful to see how excited the big girls were to see them! Anna Claire ran straight to Mama and wanted to know if "you come to my house?" Juliana screamed a happy scream and danced a little before running straight over to be picked up by Mama. So sweet! So thankful for them investing in my girls! (And for the full nights sleep I will get tonight since Mama is going to keep Eliza! Haha!)

And my happy, fat baby! Adorable! She really enjoys her playmat and has started rolling and wiggling everywhere! I can definitely tell that she is starting to be easier to satisfy and please now that she can sit in the Bumbo seat and play on the playmat!

5-9-14

I can't turn my back for a minute. :-) A couple of days ago, I stepped into the next room for like, 30 seconds to get medicine for the girls, and when I came back Juliana was sitting on Eliza's back like she was riding a horse! Ack!

Then today, THIS:

5-8-14

Who slept through the night last night?? Yeah, this baby did!!!! :-) oh how I hope it wasn't a fluke!

And look at my two big girls heading off to school. Juliana just had to carry her lunchbox like a big girl even though it made it harder to balance! :-)

5-7-14

Took this picture Wednesday night after church. Anna Claire and Kohen were playing so well. She felt the need to "read" to him. :-) So cute! Forwarded it to his mom, Courtney.

She replied:

"I showed that picture you sent to Kohen, and he said "Aww, look at Kohen and Anna Claire reading that book! Take me to church RIGHT NOW so I can see her!""

5-6-14

Crash and burn!! Just rolled until she couldn't take anymore....

Had lunch with Daddy, Kim and Kevin and Matthew Brannon....

Took Anna Claire to the doctor about the bumps on her body--just more muluscum....and sometimes the big girls really love on each other!

Busy, tiring day, but love the time to spend with my family. Need to improve on disciplined time management before Anna Claire starts k4 though.....

5-4-14

Mary McDaniel gave us two Walmart bags of clothes for Eliza today unexpectedly. Some are really cute! Excited!

5-1-14

Fun night--playing Hungry Hippos and eating dinner in bed watching Despicable Me together! :-) Love it!

Both girls loved the game! I was so pleased! I've always looked forward to having family game nights! Junia got super excited just at the chaos of it all! Then she would say "num num num" and try to feed her hippo a marble--so cute!