W: The Family

Parent-Teacher Conferences

2011-10-18T18:21:00.004-04:00

Seriously. I have GOT to get better about posting here. I fill my facebook feed with sweet pictures of the girls, funny things they've said, and tales of recent accomplishments. From there, my memories disappear into e-blivion. :(

Michael and I had parent-teacher conferences at the girls' school today. Marlee is in her Second Year Primary, and Eloise is in the Toddler Community in Montessori school. Both conferences went well. We really didn't have any concerns about Eloise, and her teacher confirmed that she is doing really well. No separation problems, socializes well, participates and works. If anything, she needs to be attending more, so we will be moving her to three mornings in January. She also said that Eloise "holds her own" and "doesn't let anyone mess with her." Ha! No surprise there.

We did have some minor concerns about Marlee, but they were mostly put to rest. Our main concern was that she seems to have plateaued when it comes to reading. She has been reading for over a year, but she doesn't seem much more advanced now than when she was three. She says she doesn't like practicing the Moveable Alphabet, which is the work for her age that promotes phonics. I was frustrated. Then I learned that in true Montessori fashion, her reading is at a standstill (though by no means behind) because she is interested in and focusing on math works. She has mastered the binomial cube and is practicing the trinomial. She has mastered number rods and will start gold beads next week. Her teacher told us that Marlee is so advanced that she is considering inviting her to join the Third Years in the afternoon work cycle (normally reserved for kindergarteners) beginning in January. However, Marlee will have to do some maturing. Right now, she often has to be reminded to choose works, and is quite chatty during work cycle with her two best friends (the three of them are the self-dubbed "Sparkle Team.") I'm not really concerned or eager to have her stay the full day. She'll most likely just start next year as normal. Still, it's nice to hear how well she's doing...even if she is a bit distracted!

We left the school feeling awfully proud of our girls, and as always, thrilled with Montessori. I'm still waiting for that windfall that will allow us to keep the girls in their school through elementary :)

Not Ready.

2011-06-13T09:30:00.003-04:00

We have had a couple of late nights in a row. Saturday, we had some friends over and the kiddos were up playing until after 11. Last night, we went to the drive-in, and the girls watched their dvd player while we saw Bridesmaids. Again, Marlee was up until past 11. Needless to say, she slept in this morning. When she woke up, I said, "Good Morning, Junebug! Eloise will be so happy you're awake. She's been asking for you."

She replied, "Mommy, I am NOT ready for Eloise yet."

I get it, kid.

What's Going On

2011-06-01T13:36:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone! Once again, I'm way overdue for a post around here. Things have been crazy to say the least. Take our normally super-busy life and throw in a home renovation and a few illnesses and...well, you get the picture.

Our house is coming along slooooooooooowly, but we expect it to be finished in the next week--only 2.5 months after we started our "4 week project." I'm looking forward to not having contractors around almost as much as I'm excited about the finished product.

Marlee is out of school for the summer, and I'm loving having the girls all day! We have lots of crafting and adventuring planned for the next couple of months. I'll do my best to take pictures and share stories, but I think we all know I'm not so great about that these days!

Singing

2011-04-22T07:49:00.003-04:00

Eloise has become quite the little singer. She sings along to many songs, but her favorites are Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the theme to The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That...she can sing those all by herself! We couldn't figure out where she learned Twinkle Twinkle. We don't sing it much at home, but I learned that Papa sings it to her when they swing at the park!

Oh, and she sings the alphabet! Her accuracy varies, but it's pretty good :)

It Starts

2011-04-12T10:44:00.003-04:00

My sweet sweet Marlee June had her feelings hurt. And it hurt me. Like physically hurt me.

She was quiet in the car the other day. She is rarely quiet in the car. Suddenly she says, fighting back tears, "Nobody ever picks me for napkins."

"What, Baby?"

"On birthdays. Nobody ever picks me."

Turns out that when a child in her class is having a birthday celebration, he or she chooses a friend to pass out the napkins to go with the birthday muffins. And no one ever picks Marlee. Heartbreak.

I told her that they probably didn't know how much she wanted to do the napkins. This apparently sparked a conversation with her friend Maya, whose birthday is this week.

"I asked Maya that may I pass out her napkins because we are favorite friends and she said I could."

Oh, Maya, please remember your promise and choose Marlee on Thursday.

**UPDATE: It was Tuesday, not Thursday, and Maya chose Campbell. Tears at carpool :(

Chatter

2011-02-04T14:22:00.002-05:00

THINGS MARLEE JUNE SAYS

"I see perfectly fine, thank you." -when told that eating carrots would help her see better

In a conversation about Chinese New Year

Me: You know where China is!

MJ: Yes, Asia.

Me: And where is Asia?

MJ: It's just it's own place.

Me: In which hemisphere?

MJ: It's in two hemispheres.

Me: (Racking my brain to think if east Asia crosses into the Western Hemi. I later found that it in fact does, but that's irrelevant.) No, sweetie. Is it in the East or West?

MJ: I know, Mommy, East! But you forgot Northern Hemisphere, silly!

Touche.

I am weaning Eloise, and was trying to distract her when she was wanting to nurse.

"Don't say that to her mom! If she is thirsty, you give her milk!"

THINGS ELOISE SAYS

"I want snack."

"That's mine phone!"

"I want juice, please."

"This mine chair."

"I call Papa."

"Giggy's here!"

"Daddy's in shower."

"Where's Marlee?"

"It's my turn!"

"I LOVE YOU!"

Well That's Sad

2011-01-23T21:17:00.003-05:00

I just received a notice that my blog background has been retired. I have to pick a new one, or I'll be sporting an error message February 1. I really like the look of this blog...so much that I designed the girls' bedroom after it. But alas, nothing lasts forever. Here's to a new year, a new look.

A Fancy Day

2011-01-23T20:57:00.007-05:00

Last Saturday, I took Marlee to see Beauty and the Beast at the Fox Theatre. We began our day with brunch at Livingston restaurant at The Georgian Terrace Hotel. Marlee could not believe all the food and that she could have whatever she wanted. And seconds! Our server was very nice and treated Marlee like royalty. She ate that up too, of course.

Brunch

Before the Show

Mrs. Potts Facepaint

Loving the beautiful theater!

Unfortunately, we had to leave a short while into the second act...Marlee said she wasn't feeling well. Before we even made it home, she had started vomiting in the car. Despite the sad end, we still had a fun and memorable day!

Pitching In

2010-12-16T08:52:00.003-05:00

In an effort to keep our home neat and running smoothly--an effort that is so far failing, but an effort none the less--and to teach our kids responsibility, independence, and citizenship, each has her own chores.

Eloise's are pretty simple...

-diapers in the diaper pail

-dirty clothes in hamper

-put away silverware from the dishwasher

-brush teeth

-clear her dishes from the table

Marlee's are a bit more involved...

-self-care (dressing, teeth, hair, etc)

-setting table

-clearing her dishes

-feeding and watering George

-picking up toys (she's not very good at this, unfortunately. i get to distracted to always enforce. :()

-folding the dishtowels and rags we use in place of paper towels

Both girls love to help me when I clean...dusting, sweeping, washing baseboards, etc. Marlee loves to cook and is my designated sous chef.

I'm hoping that everyone's chores will become a habit, and I'll hear less, "Mommy will do it," which is often Marlee's response when Michael asks her to do something :(

What do your kids do to pitch in?

Dare Devil and Sweet Moment

2010-12-15T14:33:00.003-05:00

I realized that one of the things that's taking away from my blogging is Facebook. I used to post cute things the kids did here, but now I do it there. In an effort to get back to blogging, here's a bit of cute to brighten your day.

A few weeks ago, Eloise slipped on the wet dining room floor while I was mopping. Rather than crying, she thought it was hilarious. Now, every time I get out the mop, she giggles and comes running. She tiptoes around the room, holding her breath, until she slips and lands on her little tush. Then she cracks up laughing, gets up, and starts over.

This afternoon, the girls were watching a Christmas movie during their quiet time. I overheard Marlee say to Eloise, "This part is a bit scary. We should hug each other." Aw!

Well, Hello There!

2010-11-18T10:42:00.002-05:00

I know, I know. It's been forever. I haven't had much access to a computer, and that makes blogging a bit difficult. Today I unhooked the computer in our room that serves as our media center and hauled it into the dining room just so that I could say hello to everyone out there in blogland.

First things first, I uploaded a few new pictures to the Photo Site.
And Here and Here are some pictures from Marlee's class.

Now, for the updates.

E~L~O~I~S~E

Eloise seems to be much better these days. We've got her allergies pretty well in check, and her skin has started to clear up. On a not-so-great note, we recently found out that she has kidney reflux. This basically means that urine backs up into her kidneys. Normally, it's not a problem, but because she has had two urinary tract infections, the infected urine is getting to the kidneys, which could potentially cause kidney problems. It's fairly common and the sort of things kids often outgrow. We're meeting with a pediatric urologist soon to determine course of treatment.

Now that she's feeling better, Eloise is walking and running all over the place. Her vocabulary is growing daily, and this week she put two words together..."Eat Baby!" She said while feeding her doll, not as a command, but in telling me what she was doing. She meant "feed baby." So cute.

M~A~R~L~E~E J~U~N~E

Marlee has become quite the sassy silly little thing. She cracks me up on a daily basis. I usually post her witty comments on facebook, so if you're a friend there, you know what I mean. In the past couple of months, she started reading short words and can write her name beautifully without help. She wants to write lots of words and is always asking how to spell things. Her art has also undergone a metamorphosis, from fun abstracts to detailed drawings.

**Cute anecdote: When Marlee draws balloons, they always have a little red square at the bottom of the string. This is because our favorite Mexican restaurant ties on a bag of Teddy Gr@hams to weigh them down.**

R~E~N~E~E and M~I~C~H~A~E~L

We are going to see Harry Potter tonight. So excited :)

I continue to be ridiculously busy, but I recently crossed my breaking point and will be cutting back a bit. There are only so many hours in the day, and I only have one me. I'm looking forward to a few weeks of playing, crafting, baking, and snuggling with my girls. They are, after all, my number one priority!

Michael started running about a year or so ago, but he's been doing really well recently, and has beaten his previous best time in the last two races he ran. He's training for a marathon now. I'm so proud of him...I can't even run to the end of the driveway!

That's all for now, but I hope to be back soon!

Portrait Slide Show

2010-09-17T07:29:00.002-04:00

CLICK HERE!

The password is our last name, all lower case.

One Year Stats

2010-09-16T15:42:00.002-04:00

Eloise had her one year check up today!

Weight 19 pounds, 12 ounces>> 29th percentile
Height 29 inches>> 47th percentile

She is just about the same size Marlee was at that age.

We were referred to an allergist/asthma specialist. Eloise's chronic eczema, respiratory infections, and suspected food allergies are the "allergy/asthma trifecta" according to her pediatrician. She'll be tested for food and environmental (though not seasonal) allergies. Hopefully we'll get some answers as to what is irritating our little one!

Stepping and Spelling

2010-09-16T15:39:00.002-04:00

Sweet Eloise is taking steps! She takes about four at a time before she decides that crawling is more efficient. She can, however, walk a long way holding just one hand. I wonder how long until we have an official walker?

Big Sister Marlee June also has a new skill...spelling! She has been spelling three letter words all afternoon, after an epiphany at the mall:
from my facebook:

marlee june, after being asked to press the "one" in the elevator: wuh- uh- uhn. wuh- uh- un. i know it, mommy! it's w-u-n! one! w-u-n!.....f-u-n fun! s-u-n sun! one, fun, sun...i'm spelling rhymes! she was giddy with laughter and SO proud. me too :)

So proud of my girls!

Sneak Peek!

2010-09-14T10:37:00.002-04:00

We had the girls pictures taken on Saturday. We haven't seen all of them yet, but we do have a sneak peek!

Birthday Party Pictures!

2010-09-07T15:40:00.001-04:00

Uploaded to the photo site. Remember, password is our last name. :)

Marlee June's Three Year Stats

2010-08-30T17:33:00.002-04:00

Weight 34 1/4 lbs>>>59th percentile
Height 38 1/2">>>76th percentile
Awesomeness>>> 100th percentile

Here she is, not wanting her picture taken with the poster we made for her celebration at school.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

2010-08-30T15:02:00.005-04:00

So--I mentioned MJ has had a rough time with the school drop-off thing. We made a bit of progress last Friday. This morning, I had a Parent Association meeting at her school, so I had to go in. I asked her if she wanted me to walk her to her class...from the office, outside, down a path with stairs to her building. The children walk alone or together each morning. She said she would wait outside on a bench for a friend. I was SO PROUD that she didn't want me to take her. Major. Progress. My meeting was actually in the same general direction, so I watched through a window as she waited. Another child from her class came along, and MJ got up to walk with her to class. When they had been out of view for a few minutes, I went out myself to get to my meeting. Out the door, down the path, down the stairs...then I saw her. Marlee was sitting outside her classroom door, sobbing.

Turns out she had stopped to visit her class garden, and the other child (who was older--the class is 3-6 year olds) had gone ahead to class. When Marlee finished in the garden she pulled the door to her room, only to find she couldn't open it...it was too heavy. So she freaked out a bit and sat down and cried. I held her for a while, then took her in to see her teacher. Ms. Dixie gave her a hug, and they talked about what she could do if that happened again. Apparently she had a great day after that, but I'm wondering what is going to happen at drop of tomorrow.

Oh, and all this happened the same morning I dropped Eloise off for her first day of drop-in playcare. I was an emotional wreck. They are both fine. Par for the course in Mommyland.

Edited to add-- The entire campus of Marlee's school is very securely enclosed. It's not like the kids just wander around in the open. The idea of them walking themselves to class is all part of the Montessori philosophy of fostering independence and being in control of your own education :)

No Tears This Morning!

2010-08-27T10:54:00.003-04:00

Marlee only pouted this morning when I dropped her off at school. She told me Tuesday that being dropped off in carpool made her sad because she doesn't get to give me a kiss and a hug :(. So now I let her get out of her car seat and sit up front on my lap while we wait for her teacher to come get her. Seems to be helping!

HELLO?!?! [hello...hello......hello.............hello]

2010-08-26T09:14:00.002-04:00

Alrighty folks, if I'm going to end my blogging hiatus, I need you to motivate me by telling me you're here and reading. Leave me a comment :)

Tap Tap...Is This Thing On?

2010-08-25T13:16:00.004-04:00

Hello W Friends and Family! I realize that I owe you a ton of back posting (10 and 11 month pictures, anyone?), but that could take a while. So I'm going to start with a long "here's-what-we're-doing-now" update.

Starting with the tiny one.

E L O I S E

Our littlest family member has grown by leaps and bounds, as children tend to do. She's still a little peanut, and her petite frame and full head of long hair often stump strangers trying to guess her age. She's cruising furniture and standing without support but doesn't really show signs of walking. She has a lot to say, but we can only understand a little of it...mainly "mama" and "dada." She is quite the artist, and will take any opportunity to crawl back to the playroom and paint on the easel. So far, she's pretty good about aiming for the paper. More than painting, Weezy LOVES to dance. The second she hears the beat, she starts moving. Adorable.

M A R L E E J U N E

For starters, Marlee June is THREE! It's so hard to believe. I can still close my eyes and remember her birth day like yesterday. She just started another school year and is now a First Year student at her Montessori school. Dropping her off is a bit painful, but she's grinning when I pick her up and full of stories from the day. Marlee's favorite pastimes include art, dancing in the car, and imaginary play. She even has several imaginary friends that pop up here and there. She plays really well with her sister, which is great for all of us!

R E N E E

I am busy. There's just no other way to put it. In addition to my primary job as MJ and E's mom, I have my volunteer stuff (Parent Association Secretary/Treasurer and Community Service Chair, Meals on Wheels), and my paying job(s) with A L@b0r of L0ve. I am now taking two birth clients a month as a doula. I am on call for each one for four weeks, meaning I am pretty much on call for 1-3 mothers-to-be at any given time. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, I will have been on call for 15 weeks without a day off. In addition to attending births, I'm working with my company as an educator, teaching specialty classes. I've also begun taking clients as a post-partum doula. This means that I work with a mother and her newborn, doing whatever it is she needs me to do. I teach her newborn care basics, assist with breastfeeding, demonstrate babywearing, cook meals, do housework, play with the baby while mom showers...anything. To top it off, I'm attending training this weekend to become a certified Dancing for Birth instructor (think prenatal yoga, only with more movement), so I'll begin teaching weekly classes for that as well. I think it's a perfect fit for me, being a labor doula and former dance teacher! Are you tired from reading that? Writing it sure wore me out. So you'll please forgive me for my lack of blogging and my currently messy house :)

M I C H A E L

Michael is amazing. When I get caught up in taking care of my kids and other moms, Michael always takes care of me. He takes the girls for a walk so that I can get some things done around the house, or he does them for me so I can take a hot bath. He supports my work outside the house and appreciates my work at home. What can I say? Every girl should be so lucky.

His still new-ish job is going really well. The company is so great. The benefits are unheard of, at least to us, as M has always worked for start-ups, which are not exactly known for taking care of employees. Some of the perks we've enjoyed so far (beyond the awesome health insurance and generous savings plans) include tickets to Braves games and discounts at movie theaters. Another benefit the company offers is back-up childcare at their on-site daycare for just $25 per family. I am looking into this now as an option for when I get called to a birth on a workday.

So, that's what's going on with the W Family. More posts and pictures to come.

I'm Back!

2010-08-13T10:19:00.001-04:00

I had some issues with my blogger account, but I'm back up and running now...Hooray! More posts to come!

Wordless Wednesday: Silly Goose

2010-07-14T14:46:00.000-04:00

Weezy Speaks!

2010-07-14T14:13:00.004-04:00

Her vocabulary so far:

Mama
Dada
Maw-Ma (Marlee, sounds different than Mama)
Hi
Gih Gih (Giggy)
GaMuh (Grandma)
Doug (Grandma's boyfriend. This one comes out oddly clear.)
Num Num
and by far the cutest, Uh Oh! (Mostly in response to a dropped chupa)

Looks like I have another early talker for sure. She had a major language explosion while we were camping last weekend. We heard more than half those words for the first time over a two-day span!

For a fun comparison, here's what Marlee was saying around this time:

Dada
Hi
Kih =kitty
BuhBuh Kih = Bogey
Tinsoo = Thank You
and finally Mama! Yay!

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-21T09:37:00.007-04:00

California or Bust

2010-06-18T10:19:00.002-04:00

I've been super frazzled lately. So much to do, zero time. I'd feel buried even if I didn't have a 12-day trip around the corner, but it certainly doesn't help. I don't like to leave with my house even a little messy. Vacations tend to wear me out, and I want to come home to a nice, clean, stress-free house...So our upcoming trip has added infinite items to my to-do list. Every once in a while, I think,

Well, at least when it's all done I'll be on vacation!

Then I remember that vacations are quite a bit of work with young kids. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite shows, Modern Family.

At the airport preparing for a trip to Hawaii, a frazzled Claire turns to her peppy Hawaiian Shirt-clad husband and says, "Honey, I'm a mom traveling with my kids. This is not a vacation. It's a business trip." So true!

Still, I'm very much looking forward to our trip. We're kicking it off with my cousin Sara's wedding and related festivities. Then, after a couple of days with family, we're taking a vacation within a vacation...just the four of us. For our final days, a camping trip at Collins Lake! Should be a great trip, but I'm thinking I'll need to take a personal day when we get back to recover. Oh wait....

Eloise is Nine Months Old!

2010-06-18T09:50:00.005-04:00

Nine Month Stats:

17 pounds, 11 ounces
27 1/2" =
44.6cm head

Weezy is so much fun. She just started doing things intentionally to make us laugh...so cute! She loves to sing and dance and even "ah-ah-ah"s along when Marlee sings Lady Gaga. Two new teeth have popped through, and more should be not too far behind. She's an expert crawler, of course, and is doing pretty well with the furniture cruising. The bruise on her cheek in these photos is evidence of her inner daredevil when it comes to balance.

Seeee my new teeeeeth?

Okay, Mom. You got your pictures. Can I take this off now?

Happy 3/4 year to our Sweet Sweet Eloise. We didn't know what we were missing until you joined our family!

How Do You Take Your Coffee?

2010-06-17T09:33:00.002-04:00

We had dinner at Giggy's house on Monday night. After dinner, I went to pour coffee and asked everyone how they liked it. I repeated back their preferences:

Ok, coffee with cream for Giggy. Coffee with milk for me. Coffee no milk for Jenna.

Then Marlee piped in:

Milk with no coffee for Marlee, please!

Oh. Em. Gee.

2010-06-07T16:33:00.003-04:00

This afternoon, while I was putting Eloise to sleep and working on some homemade hotdog buns and sandwich rolls, Marlee asked to play outside with her water table. I thought for a moment and decided that she had demonstrated enough maturity lately to be able to play unsupervised, but within earshot. We talked about the rules.
Put on sunscreen.
Stay on the deck.
Don't dump the water out.

I didn't think I needed to add

Don't take off your clothes, get in the water table, and wash your hair with your underwear.

Mother's Helper

2010-06-03T17:10:00.004-04:00

In just a few short months, Marlee will be going to school five mornings a week. You already know that I LOVE her school, and I know she's ready...I'm just not sure I am :) We decided to pass on summer camps so that I can spend more time with her, but I need a few hours a week to do work related to my doula business, errands, and chores. We hired a mother's helper, and she's awesome! She'll be here a couple of mornings a week to play with the girls while I work around the house, watch them while I go out, or accompany us on "field trips" as an extra set of eyes and hands. I don't trust just anyone with my girls, but I knew she was the right choice. We love her, and I'm pretty sure she loves our girls....

Snow Cone and Oatmeal

2010-05-28T09:42:00.003-04:00

8 Months Side-by-Side

2010-05-18T17:25:00.001-04:00

Who knew sisters could be so different but both so beautiful?! :)

Mommy, Please Take This Cheerio Out of My Nose.

2010-05-17T12:46:00.002-04:00

That's what Marlee just said to me. I asked if she was sure there was a Cheerio in her nose...I couldn't even see it. She said, "Yes, Mommy. I'm sure because I put it there." Sigh. So I pinched the unclogged nostril shut and told her to BLOW! On the first blow the little bugger became visable; The second blow propelled it into my waiting palm.

I totally thought my kid was smarter than that. Sigh.

Playroom

2010-05-13T10:50:00.004-04:00

The past couple of weeks, I have been working on a playroom for the girls. I never thought we'd have a designated playroom because our house is so small. But the older Eloise got, the more clear it became that the nursery was a waste of space...a cute one, but a waste none the less. We cosleep at night and Eloise often naps in her swing, so she was using her crib about three hours a week...or less. The only thing I use the nursery for is diaper changes. Meanwhile, toys were taking over our little house, and I was frustrated with the lack of a designated safe place to play.

[This change comes just a few weeks after I redid our dining room. I'm awakening to the fact that half my family is comprised of children, and my house should reflect that, rather than hiding it :) I'm still love to decorate, but I want family-functional rooms.]

So I sent out an email saying I was selling our nursery furniture and bedding. The furniture was sold to a client within an hour. I'm about to put the bedding on Craigslist. We bought Eloise a very inexpensive Ikea crib that matches Marlee's bunkbeds and put it in Marlee's room. We debated even doing this. I was just going to use our Pack N Play for a few months until we can put E in a bed, but it's so darn uncomfortable! The crib converts to a toddler bed, which may or may not come in handy. I have a feeling the girls will end up sharing the bottom bunk for a while...they love the sleep together.

A trip to the antique store, one to Ikea, and one to pick up a Craigslist find, and I had some pieces for our new playroom. It's about halfway done now. The girl's room now holds only books--no toys. It's a space for relaxing and sleeping. The playroom is an organized fun zone. I think it's going to work out well for us! I need to do a bit more storage-wise, and I plan to paint it a cheery color and make some curtains.

Oh, and the playroom is now home to all my "toys," my sewing and craft stuff!

Here are a couple of pictures of the room in progress. I'll be sure to post more when it's completely finished!

At Least I'm Good For Something

2010-05-11T16:00:00.001-04:00

Me: Marlee, I'm tired. Can I take a nap?

MJ: No way, Mommy!

Me: Well, why not? I'm so sleepy!

MJ: Hmmm. Well, I can play with Weezy, but I can't nurse her!

Mother's Day Weekend

2010-05-10T10:15:00.003-04:00

I had such a wonderful weekend with my family! On Saturday, we met my mom, Alexander, Jenna, and JD for breakfast. When we got home, we spent some time working in our yard and on our new gardens. After lunch, we went out to get one of my gifts...a clean car! My car got the VIP treatment inside and out. It's SO NICE. While we waited for the car we visited a nearby toy store. Marlee fell in love with a doll car seat, so my eyes are now peeled for one while I consignment shop. We got home in time for me to take a quick shower and head out to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday. I so rarely go out on my own...it was wonderful to be able to have a couple of drinks and hang out knowing my girls were happily spending time with their daddy.

On Sunday we went out the breakfast again, this time just our little family. Then I went to see a movie by myself. I saw the documentary "Babies." I'd been looking forward to its release for months, and it lived up to my expectations! I got home during rest time, so Michael and I got to watch a movie and eat some lunch together. After that, my wonderful husband sent me out of the house and cleaned a bit for me! All in all, it was a great weekend with the perfect balance of family time and me time.

I hope all the moms out there had a wonderful weekend too!

At the Playground

2010-05-10T10:11:00.002-04:00

Photos taken May 5, after our Cinco de Mayo dinner at La Parilla :)

E-L-O-I-S-E!

2010-05-10T09:47:00.002-04:00

The past two weeks have been pretty big for Eloise!

April 30- Coordinated crawling
May 1- First word...MAMA!
May 2- Pulls up on furniture
May 8- First tooth pops through
May 9- Second tooth follows

That's a lot of firsts in just a few days! We love you, Sweet Weezy!

Blogging

2010-05-10T09:33:00.002-04:00

I'm going to state the obvious. Sometimes, I have major blogging dry spells. I used to be so good about blogging, but I've gotten a bit slack. I blame 99% of the problem on facebook. What used to be blog worthy is now just a status update. It takes so much less time, and time is something I could use more of. But in my latest dry spell, I missed a bunch of Eloise "first" posts, and that makes me really sad. So I'm vowing to be better about blogging. I was going to say I would try to be better, but in the immortal words of Yoda, "Do or do not. There is no try."

A Weezy First

2010-04-21T10:38:00.002-04:00

I feel like I have been terrible about documenting Eloise's "firsts." More often then not, by the time I recognize something as new, I realize she's been doing it for a while, and I have no idea when it officially started. I feel terrible about this. I could tell you the date, and probably whether it was morning or afternoon, of each and every one of Marlee's baby accomplishments with one quick check of the baby book. Eloise? Not so much.

But I got this one! Yesterday afternoon, Eloise was lying on her belly and sat herself up for the first time! Around the same time, she crawled forward with a bit more coordination than previously demonstrated. I'm not going to say she's officially crawling, but it's coming, and soon. Go Weezy!

7 Months Old!

2010-04-15T16:24:00.001-04:00

Funny Things Marlee Says

2010-04-13T22:25:00.002-04:00

Watching goats sunbathe:

I used to LOVE lying in the sun when I was a little goat.

Listening to a fiddle player:

This music is making my toes dance...I can't make them stop!

Pretending to show pictures to Jenna on her (nonworking) cell phone:

And THIS is my new cousin, Baby Jack. Isn't he a little chub?!

Sharing what she did in school today:

I did 3D geometrics. A cube is a 3D square. A sphere is a 3D circle. You know, it's like a box and a ball, Mom.

To me in the bathroom:

Mother, Weezy is crying so bad for you. You are taking too long to get her. She is just a little baby.

Selecting an Easter cookie:

I will eat this one. It is a healthy choice because it is shaped like a carrot.

To Michael:

When I was a little boy, I used to wear contacts. And I used a boy potty (aka urinal).

I swear I could go on and on. I forget so many. I need to keep a list. Man, that kid cracks me up.

Prunes!

2010-04-11T21:23:00.002-04:00

Eloise had some prunes with oatmeal today. She really doesn't like being fed and prefers to feed herself. This is what happened when I loaded the spoon and gave it to her. Believe it or not, she managed to get a good bit in her mouth, despite what the picture portrays :)

Easter

2010-04-09T14:23:00.006-04:00

Pictures of Marlee June

2010-04-04T16:10:00.006-04:00

Because it has been too long!

Sign Language

2010-03-31T20:42:00.002-04:00

Here is Eloise signing "milk."

Eloise at Six Months

2010-03-29T18:17:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted much about Weezy lately, and I skipped her six month photo shoot entirely. She has spent a good part of this month sick with RSV (a respiratory virus). She's finally back to her perky little self, so I'll have to get some belated pictures. Here's what's new with Sweet Eloise:

She "talks" all the time, and is trying to form words. I've heard Mama a couple times, but I'm not sure it's intentional.
She has a delighted squeal (most often brought on by the presence of Marlee June) that will make anyone giggle.
Speaking of giggles, her husky little chortle is adorable.
She plays the silly game with Daddy...they take turns growling at each other and laughing.
I think she's going to be an early crawler. She's been up on hands and knees for nearly a month and is quite adept at getting from A to B.
She has started solid foods and mostly eats finger foods. I've decided to skip purees, and I only spoon feed her oatmeal. She does really well with things like diced veggies and pasta.

Pictures soon, I promise!

Jack Raymond

2010-03-24T09:39:00.002-04:00

We have a new nephew! Jack- all 10lbs 14oz of him!- was born just after 1pm Monday. Isn't he just the cutest little chubby dumpling? I just want to nibble him.

Something is Up with Marlee

2010-03-24T09:34:00.003-04:00

Sigh. My Marlee June has not been herself these past few days. She was sick last week, and I'm trying to convince myself that's the reason for the change, but I'm honestly not so sure it is. She's more mopey, more fussy, more difficult. And she has stopped using the potty. She's been 100% potty trained since February, but suddenly, she's not. I know it's not a UTI because she's on antibiotics for an ear infection. Although I guess technically it could just be a different bacteria that's resistant to that drug...maybe I'll investigate. Or maybe she's getting her molars. Or maybe she's finally feeling some jealousy toward Eloise.

Or maybe she's two.

Little Comedian

2010-03-16T09:54:00.004-04:00

Marlee is quite the silly one and seems to have a comedic comeback for everything these days.

Marlee, where's your other shoe?

I ate it.

We're going to have lunch with Papa at Chili's.

You're a chili.

What are you going to do?

I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me. Papa, Paparazzi!

What did you and Daddy do last night while Mommy was at her meeting?

I call him "Father" now, Mom. Oooh, Faaaaaaaaather!

6 Month(ish) Stats

2010-03-12T11:56:00.002-05:00

I had to take Eloise to the pedi Wednesday to get a cream for her eczema, so I decided to just make it her six month check while we were there.

Weight 15 pounds, 10.5 ounces (49th percentile)
Height 26 inches (65th percentile)
Head 42.4cm (53rd percentile)

All in all, pretty average! We feel like Eloise is a little chunker, but I guess that's only because we have her peanut-y sister to compare her to!

Voila!

2010-03-10T18:11:00.001-05:00

The setup:

I am sitting on the sofa catching up on emails. Eloise is on my back in the Ergo. Marlee is behind me playing with her. They are both giggling.

5 minutes or so of this.

then

Marlee: pretty whiskers! now you are a kitty!

A Love Song

2010-03-04T07:37:00.002-05:00

Marlee just made this up and sang it to Eloise all on her own.

(to the tune of frere jaques)

I Love Weezy, I Love Weezy.
She's so cute, She's so cute.
How I love my Baby! How I love my Baby!
Yes I do. Yes I do.

Weezy was all grins as she listened to her serenade!

Those two together melt my heart.

Marlee June is Two and a Half

2010-02-24T12:50:00.002-05:00

Our baby girl is 30 months old today...only six months from her third birthday. How can that be? Two-year-olds are toddlers, but three-year-olds are KIDS. I can't believe how fast she's growing up.

I suppose the looming third birthday shouldn't be such a surprise. After all, Marlee is quite the independent little one. Now that she's potty trained, she really does do most things for herself. Sniff.

What can I say about my little MJ? She's smart. She's sweet. She's funny. She's such a joy to have in our lives. Things are just so much more fun with Marlee June.

She loves to play pretend. In fact, that's just about all she plays...constantly cooking and baking in her play kitchen, dressing up, or throwing parties.

She also loves nature. Recently, she spotted a ladybug, and immediately declared that she needed to make him a habitat. She found a jar, and tried to coax him in, but she wasn't having much luck. She said, "Howard, you are not being a very good listener. Now get in your habitat!"

Snip

2010-02-19T15:44:00.003-05:00

I cut off a bit more than I intended. I was being conservative, then she wiggled, and I took out a chunk. Of course, then I had to even the rest of it up. Oh well, it will grow back.

5 Months Old!

2010-02-19T15:34:00.004-05:00

Our little Eloise is five months old! There is no word that describes her better than SWEET. She's just so full of snuggles and smiles. She's quite the sitter as you can see. Other new talents include carpet-swimming, a form of pre-crawling that involves wiggling about until you get somewhere. We love you, Weezy!

Pop!

2010-02-03T19:29:00.003-05:00

Marlee June is a big fan of current pop music. She knows most of the words to Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA" and the words and moves for Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies." I'm impressed that she can identify who is singing. An older Beyonce song came on the radio, and Marlee asked when she was going to do "Single Ladies." Last night, "Bad Romance" was on, and she said, "It's Lady Gaga!" LG is her current favorite, I think. Hilarious to hear a two year old sing "Poker Face!"

Cute Overload...PIGTAILS!

2010-02-03T18:57:00.001-05:00

Peas!

2010-02-02T21:04:00.004-05:00

Eloise is definitely curious about food. I'm not quite ready to take her down that path, but I did let her explore the curiosity with some peas in a mesh feeder tonight. She was a big fan!

((sorry for the terrible pictures...low light with the iphone :())

Growing Up

2010-02-02T20:58:00.002-05:00

Tonight at bedtime, Marlee said

Mommy? I'm not all tired. Can I read some books?

It's not a completely unusual request. She does it about once a week or so, but tonight was different. Usually, she'll finish reading and call me to sing her a couple of songs. Tonight, I watched silently from the hall as she yawned, put her book beside her bed, crawled under her covers, and shut off the flashlight we use for reading. Something about it just struck me. It seems like such a mature thing to do...what happened to my baby?

Potty Quandry

2010-01-29T13:47:00.002-05:00

We've been working on potty training with Marlee since before Christmas. While she definitely understood the concept, she just wasn't in to it. If i put her in underwear, she didn't have accidents, she just held it all morning until she had a diaper on for nap. Realizing that this wasn't working (or healthy for that matter), we decided to hold off for a while. That said, she still enjoyed being diaperless for a while each day.

Well, Wednesday night, Marlee decided she is potty trained. She was playing with Michael in her room, said she needed to go...and did. Since then, she has used the potty consistently for ALL her business, with only one accident in the last 36 hours. Hey, she's a girl that does things on her own terms.

"Fantastic!" you say? Well yes...mostly. Problem is, we're getting on a plane in the morning to visit Kacey and the ma-unchkins in Virginia. And Marlee says she doesn't need diapers anymore. I'm still debating how I'm going to handle the whole flight and staying away from home thing. I think a diaper on the plane is a must. Hopefully she's be okay with using Pruett's potty. We'll see how it goes!

Math

2010-01-27T14:18:00.004-05:00

Last week, the lower elementary students at Marlee's school held a bake sale to raise money for Haiti relief. I volunteered to help work the sale, but the kids did EVERYTHING. They passed out fliers; they made posters; they priced the homemade goodies; they operated the cash box. I was so impressed.

When Marlee's class let out, Papa (who was having lunch with us that day) allowed her to pick a treat to buy. She chose a bag with three mini banana nut muffins. She had one right then, with the understanding that the rest were for after lunch.

We went to M0e's for lunch. Marlee ate her burrito and another muffin for dessert. Then we took Papa home. On the way back to our house, she asked for another muffin. I told her they were all gone. She said

No, Mommy! I had one at school and one at Moe's. There is one more muffin!

Four Months Old!

2010-01-20T14:49:00.002-05:00

Eloise was 4 months old on Friday! Bad blogger that I am, I'm just now posting a picture.

Our Weezy continues to be the sweetest, happiest baby ever...and I thought Marlee was easy! She's full of smiles, coos, and laughs. She loves tummy time and playing with her big sister.

First Food

2010-01-07T21:00:00.002-05:00

Eloise had her first food today. She swiped a chocolate chip from Marlee's plate at IHOP and instantly put it in her mouth. I took it away quickly, but she contentedly licked the melted goodness from her fingers as I tried to clean them. I felt like a horrible mom for a moment, then realized that this is one of those things that you just have to laugh about.

Look Who's Sitting Up!

2010-01-06T21:59:00.002-05:00

And at not even four months old! She only lasts a short while, but I'm convinced I have another genius ;)

Saved!

2010-01-03T09:43:00.003-05:00

Marlee got a dollhouse--complete with furniture and dolls--from Santa. We had been talking and reading about the Christmas story, and she decided to name the baby doll Jesus (it's a girl). Here's a conversation that took place last week:

MJ: Mommy, where's Jesus? I can't find her.
Me: I don't know, Marlee. It's not my toy. It's your responsibility.

a few minutes later, she yells from another room...

Mommy, I found Jesus!

Jumparoo

2010-01-02T10:41:00.004-05:00

Little Weezy is getting so big! Michael pulled some things (the Bumbo and this Jumparoo) out of the garage yesterday for her to try out. She loves her new toys!

Some Christms Pictures

2009-12-31T10:03:00.000-05:00

Added to the photo site!

Lambie

2009-12-29T09:19:00.004-05:00

...and a flashback:

The girls are just about the same age in these pictures. Eloise is actually about two weeks younger than Marlee.

New 'Do

2009-12-21T20:02:00.004-05:00

Marlee has a new haircut! Her hair was a bit scraggly, and no matter how much I tried to style it, she always looked like a bit of a ragamuffin. Now she has a cute little bob!

Angels Among Us

2009-12-18T14:02:00.003-05:00

I wanted to share two simple stories that have reminded of the good in people this holiday season.

As most of you know, I volunteer for Meals on Wheels through our church. I started off doing deliveries, but I also cook. I love it. A few weeks ago, the coordinator called me to see if I would be able to cook for Christmas. I explained that Michael was out of a job, and that I would not be able to help out this year.

A few days ago, he called me back. He wanted to make sure we had everything we could want for Christmas dinner. He knew we had a new baby, and he didn't want her first Christmas to be lacking. I explained that although we were tightening our budget, we were fine, and to please spread his generosity to someone who really needs it.

Yesterday I got a card in the mail from several members of my church saying they held a prayer meeting and prayed that Michael would get an offer before the holidays. The meeting was Wednesday. The day before the offer came.

.
.
.
.

Today was Marlee's last day of school before the holiday break. I left two tuition checks: one for December (the school had given me an extension due to our circumstances), the other was for January. The secretary just called me to say I'd made a mistake...that they had received a $50 cash payment from us last week, so I overpaid. I never made a cash payment.

An Early Christmas Gift!

2009-12-18T08:28:00.001-05:00

Knowing Michael will have a job after the new year! The offer came yesterday. I didn't realize how down I was about the whole thing until the weight had been lifted. :)

On a Roll!

2009-12-17T09:36:00.003-05:00

This post is a bit late...Eloise rolled from tummy to back on December 15th!

I didn't know how quickly she would reach milestones like this. While Marlee spent a lot of time playing on the floor, Eloise spends more of her playtime in her swing or crib for her own safety :). I thought this might slow her physical milestones a bit, but she's moving right along. I put her on the floor at Nanny's house, and she rolled over immediately. When I put her back on her tummy, she did it immediately again! I remember Marlee taking a few tries to finally get over. It seems to be no problem for Weezy!

Howard

2009-12-16T09:25:00.002-05:00

Marlee has taken to naming everything Howard. I don't know where she got it, but it's hilarious. Right now, her current favorite is a ladybug named Howard that she keeps as a pet in a glass jar turned ladybug habitat.

3 Months Old!

2009-12-15T16:05:00.006-05:00

I didn't get a great picture in this month's shoot, so I present you with a collection of outtakes :)

A Big Ol' Update

2009-12-15T09:20:00.003-05:00

Marlee June has taken to her role as big sister like a pro. Eloise adores her, and she's a big help to me. She's so sweet to the baby and genuinely loves her. It brings tears to my eyes daily!

We've been working on potty training for the past couple of days. We had been back and forth with it for months, so I finally decided to go for it and say, "No more diapers!" It's going to be a rough week, but hopefully we'll have success in the end!

Marlee continues to impress us with her smarts. :) She's very into astronomy right now and can correctly identify all the phases of the moon and find Jupiter in the night sky. Grandma Cathy visited last week, and Marlee said, "Look at all the beautiful stars. See the bright one? That's Jupiter." Granted, Jupiter isn't a star, but it is the brightest object in the sky right now. Her pre-reading skills are continuing to develop as well. She can tell you the first letter of words and spell simple ones when we help her sound them out.

In the past two weeks or so, she's become obsessed with her pacifier. She was really good about only having it at bed time or in the car, but somewhere (I suspect Disney World) she fell off the wagon. So now we're having to work on that. She comes up with any excuse she can to get it. "I need to settle down." "I want to get in the car." "Mommy! I'm cryyyy-iiing!"

On to Eloise....

Sweet Weezy is growing and changing before our very eyes. It's amazing how much little babies develop each day. She's full of smiles and coos and loves to "tell stories." She's sleeping pretty well at night and giving me at least a four hour stretch...sometimes six! She is settling into a routine and is pretty predicable, just like her big sister was. I've been lucky to have two easy babies! Eloise is totally laid-back and go-with-the-flow. I suppose it's because she has to be to be a part of this wacky family!

Michael's job search continues after a bit of a heartbreak last week. He has several things in the works, and we're hoping one pans out before Christmas. It would be nice to go into the holidays knowing that things are better on the other side. Despite all the stress of unemployment, we're focusing on having a meaningful holiday with our girls.

Dumbo

2009-12-03T10:59:00.002-05:00

My girls and I take to the skies!

A Belated Thankful Post

2009-12-02T21:18:00.002-05:00

I'm thankful for so many things, but I just checked on my two sleeping girls, and I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. I can't believe that just three years ago I was so low that I threw a candle through a window, angry at life, convinced I'd never be a mom. Now here I am, with two angels, sweeter than I ever could have wished for. Thanks be to God.

Marlee the Star!

2009-11-30T19:09:00.003-05:00

Click here to see a video of Marlee performing in a show at Epcot! She was excited but a bit shy. I'm so proud of her for getting up there...she was by far the youngest one.

Back From Disney World!

2009-11-30T17:35:00.003-05:00

We had such a fantastic time! Marlee really loved it, and Eloise was a breeze. I'll write more later, but for now you can see the first round of pictures on the photo site!

Reason #89,042

2009-11-20T19:15:00.003-05:00

Why I love my husband:

Two Month Check-up

2009-11-19T21:29:00.002-05:00

Weezy had her two month well visit today. She got her very first shot, which is always sad to watch. Other than that, the appointment was good. Here are the stats:

Weight 11lb, 9oz 64percentile
Height 23 1/4 inches 74th percentile
Head 39.1 cm 52nd percentile

Two Months Old!

2009-11-16T14:45:00.003-05:00

Twirling in the Leaves

2009-11-16T02:53:00.006-05:00

Tummy Time

2009-11-12T10:36:00.004-05:00

Smart Cookie

2009-11-08T18:42:00.001-05:00

Marlee: Mommy, where's the moon?

Me: It's daytime. The moon is sleeping.

Marlee: That's uhcuz it's "nocturalt."

Our Little Red Head

2009-11-07T15:12:00.001-05:00

Eloise's hair has always had a red tint...but look how red it's getting!

Talking in Her Sleep

2009-11-06T09:13:00.002-05:00

MJ has been a bit under the weather the past couple of days. Right now, she's napping on the sofa, but she just said, "Mommy, I need you to get me some raisins." I wonder what she's dreaming about?

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T07:48:00.006-05:00

We had a fun Halloween with friends! Thanks Eva and Mike for a great Halloween/football party. Marlee had a great time trick-or-treating with Sophie and Emily.

In case you were wondering, MJ's not dressed as anything in particuar. She picked out her "costume" from things she owns. It consisted of a pumpkin shirt, pink tutu, funky tights, coverse high tops, and (at times) her blue crochet hat.

Dancing in Papa's Truck

2009-10-30T11:56:00.002-04:00

This was taken a few weeks ago.

Six Weeks Old

2009-10-27T08:34:00.005-04:00

Sweet Eloise is six weeks old today! Her little personality is beginning to develop. She's mellow and reserved. Her smiles are few and far between, but when we get one, it's so sweet and loving.

I suspect that Weezy might have a sensitivity to cow's milk...so I've gone dairy-free for a while. I'm hoping that will help with her eczema and colic. If it does, I'll slowly start to eat dairy again until I find her threshold.

Oh, and though it's kind of hard to tell in this picture, she has red hair and blue eyes :)

Another Adventure

2009-10-23T14:32:00.003-04:00

While we would have been happy wait a while for another big adventure, it has found us. Michael was laid off yesterday, along with some other coworkers. It's not too big of a shock...he felt like it would happen eventually, we just didn't know when. For whatever reason, neither of us is too stressed about it. We're not happy of course, but we're optimistic. I wonder where this adventure will take us....

Weezy Bear

2009-10-22T16:33:00.001-04:00

I Have to Rest

2009-10-21T20:49:00.002-04:00

Today, Michael asked Marlee what she was doing lying in her bed, and she replied,

"Remember? I have a baby sister in my belly and I don't feel good. I have to rest, remember?"

I guess everyone felt my difficult pregnancy!

Wordless Wednesday: Girls in Hats

2009-10-21T09:22:00.001-04:00

Cousins

2009-10-20T18:13:00.004-04:00

Marlee had so much fun playing with her cousin Henry this weekend! We were sorry he and his parents couldn't stay longer.

Resemblance?

2009-10-19T16:24:00.004-04:00

I think they have the same nose...but that's about it. What do you see?

One Month Stats and Observations

2009-10-15T13:47:00.002-04:00

10 lbs, 5 oz >> 78th percentile

21.75 inches>> 70th percentile

37.1cm head>> 50th percentile

Eloise is so different from Marlee. It's funny, when you have one child, you just assume your other children will look like her. I pictured Weezy looking like MJ...but I did picture a full head of hair! There are so many differences, though. Eloise is bigger and longer (even her fingers and toes). She's a furry little thing just like her sister was, but her body hair and eyebrows are white-blond, Marlee's was dark. The hair on her head looks a bit red. Marlee has my olive-undertones, Eloise is very fair skinned. MJ's eyes are big and round, like Michael's; Eloise's are almond-shaped, like mine.

I'm interested to see how similar or different they look as they grow up!

A Lady and Mush

2009-10-14T14:17:00.003-04:00

Marlee has been asking me all morning if I would get her "a lady and mush" for her room. I had no clue what she was talking about until we read Goodnight Moon just now...

A comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush. And a quiet old lady who was whispering hush.

I guess she's trying to recreate the story!

Fun Fall Weekend

2009-10-12T14:28:00.006-04:00

We kicked off our weekend by watching the Youth Day Parade with lots of friends on Saturday. Traditionally, we go to the pumpkin patch after the parade, but we were too tired, so we relaxed and enjoyed some football instead. Sunday, we hit the pumpkin patch. It was pretty hot out, which kind of kills the festive atmosphere, but it was fun nonetheless!

Visiting Tom Turkey

Searching for the perfect little pumpkin.

Sad sweet tiny pumpkin :)

All that fun wore Marlee out. She almost fell asleep on her pumpkin on our hayride!