This big girl is as
intense as a 3 year old as she was as a newborn. She can be over the moon happy one second and then two minutes later screaming mad.
This big girl loves, loves, loves babies. Bathing babies, changing babies diapers, changing babies clothes, rocking babies, feeding babies. She spends 95% percent of play with her babies. She loves for them to go "nigh-nigh" and even if she hasn't touched the baby in 4 hours she is still playing with it...so DO NOT move it an inch. Babies include her new toy cow figures, barbie and ken, stuffed animals, ANYTHING that she can hold. For the other 5% of play she loves coloring (especially with markers), dressing up, having a "tea party," play-dough, reading/being read to, loading/carrying purses or "back-packs." This big girl loves to talk on the phone. Real or otherwise. She carries one or two in every purse and backpack.
This big girl loves being a big sister. She hasn't shown one minute of jealousy. She loves to hug them, hold them, kiss them and help care for them. She is an awesome big sister. She loves them so much it's hard to stop her from helping them. She loves to give them a pacifier when they are "crying" which is crying nobody can hear but her (i.e. they are happy or asleep). She loves to help with their baths. She is an extra hand that mama appreciates especially when mama's hands are full and someone needs a pacifier or to be bounced. She is ready with kisses 50 times a day for "I-ya, Enry, and Nant" and loves to hold their hands.
This big girl started preschool. The young 3's class at 5 C's. She is still a little shy but really enjoys it. Already we are seeing her mature and blossom including with her art work and independent play.
This big girls best friend is Abi. She asks constantly for her but when mama tells her that she will have to share her toys she frequently tells me "Abi go home!" This big girl does not like to share. Their favorite activity is making a big mess of her toys. at least that is my interpretation.
This big girl loves the Bernstein Bear books, "Do-Do-Do-Dora", bath time, stealing her sibling's diapers, bibs, blankets, burp clothes, bouncers and swings for her baby's use. This big girl believes
firmly that possession is 9/10 of the law and will fight to the death about it.
This big girl is very independent and wants to "do it myself." She is stubborn but is quickly learning that mama is more stubborn. This big girl is learning that mama means her warnings and that timeouts are no fun. This big girl is also very determined. We love to watch her perseverance.
This big girl has a big imagination, except when it comes to play food and dishes. We frequently remind her that she is a big girl and big girls DO NOT put things in their mouths including play food and that she has to pretend eat them. There is less room in our fridge currently as we had to make room for her play juice, onion, carrot, egg and random plates and bowls. This big girl is constantly making up songs. What are they about? We are still not so sure.
This big girls favorite things to say are: o-k mama?, I don't want to, why?, no, baby crying? pink, where is da-dee? and tickle-tickle. She talks constantly and has full sentences. Most of the time she is easy to understand, though she does not use all of her consonants.
This big girl loves to dance. Her dancing has evolved from bouncing up and down to adding sways, spins, and side to side hip moves. She loves Sugerland's song "Stuck Like Glue." She loves to run around singing to her made up "naked nance" song, which is done as you've guessed...naked. We are treated to the "naked nance" every evening as she gets ready for bed. If you were wondering at how the song goes it sounds like this, "naked nance, naked nance, naked nance." Occasionally we are treated to a "naked nance" from one of her babies.
This big girl loves "chocolate malk," candy, yogurt, pretzels, hotdogs, oatmeal, cereal bars, fruit snacks, carrots, grapes, and many other foods. She has a good appetite and we hope she takes after us in enjoying most foods but not in the over-consumption of said foods.
This big girl is constantly on the go. We find it hard to get her to sit and eat. She has a lot of beautiful energy.
This big girls nigh-nigh routine includes: potty, "naked nance," diaper undies, pajamas, brush teeth, kisses, "read da book," prayers and then lights out. She likes to have her sound machine running and night light on. This big girl is a champion sleeper and most nights sleeps uninterupted from 8:30pm to 7:30am. This big girl no longer needs diapers except at night and soon we will no longer need them. This is big for her mama and da-dee.
This big girl brings us so much joy! It's been an amazing and beautiful 3 years. We can't wait to see her continue to blossom, explore, learn and love. Year 4 should be a blast!
Ella now weighs 7#14. She is 1oz heavier then her cousin Xander was at birth! She has grown to a length of 19.25in. She is our happy camper...unless she needs her pacifier. Though the picture doesn't show this, she tends to always look happy. Like she is just thrilled with being here and seeing you. She started smiling and cooing last week. She has adorable chubby thighs and belly but still seems like a delicate little girl, even more so then Evie did. She shares some of her daddy's looks but has inherited my lips and shoulder dimples. She LOVES her pacifier but cannot keep it in her mouth, much to this mama's frustration. If she's crying it's usually for this reason. Daddy calls her Ella Bella and I call her Sweet Pea.
Henry weighed in at a whopping 9#12. 2# heavier then both of his siblings. In fact, he weighs at 2 months the same as his oldest sister weighed at 2 months and she was born at 8#3 and he at 5#2. Quite the gainer!!! He is the first (and only) to move out of newborn clothes and diapers. He is now 20.75 in. Henry is our laid back man! Usually cries because he is HUNGRY or tired!! He could care less about a pacifier, despite Evie jamming them in his mouth. He was the first of the 3 to smile and is much more "talkative." We had a bit of a medical "scare" when I found a hernia in his scrotal sac. After a long drive to the U of M to meet with a pediatric surgeon and an appointment that lasted all of 5 minutes, we were were relieved to learn it was just a hydrocele. This is a fluid filled sac that initially starts out like a hernia. The good news-no surgery. It should resolve by 1 year. My favorite moment with him was on our drive home from that appointment when I looked at him and said, "Hi, I'm your mommy!" He gave me the BIGGEST smile ever and since. Yep, definitely wrapped around his finger. His nickname is currently Chubba Bubba.
Grant weighs in at 7#9. Still our peanut but definitely gaining on his sister. He was in the the 1 percentile for everything but his head. He sure has a big noggin. His daddy calls him the Brain. Unlike his brother, Grant is more petite. Even weighing close to Ella's weight, his legs are long and skinny. He may take after my side as Evie does for growth, while Henry takes after Shawn. He is 20in long. Grant has been our more temperamental baby, but we're starting to figure him out. First, he is intolerant to dairy. I am pretty good at staying away from this so the milk he's received from me has been good. However, we had to switch him to soy formula. That has helped A LOT. Second, he is a stomach sleeper. So all naps are done this way. We also start him that way at night before swaddling him and laying him on his back. Like Ella he too loves a pacifier. He is a little better keeping it in his mouth. The biggest thing to know about him is that he is impatient and will quickly fly into a rage if you have not met his need in a timely fashion. He is smiling and talking and unlike his siblings loves to listen to his musical pull toy during diaper changes. His nickname is little man and peanut.
