Caroline's Idea of "taking a nap"

Caroline - you are no longer napping. For the past 6+ months, you've napped about 1/2 of the time. The rest of the time you just played (happily) for a couple of hours in your room until I came up to get you. Now though, it appears you are officially done. It's been at least a week since you actually took a nap. This afternoon I walked in to get you, and this is what I found. I couldn't help it .. I laughed so hard. I asked you why you put the dolls on the window, and you said: "I just put them up there because it's fun."



xoxo, Mommy

Jake on His Birthday

Jake - since you're really too little to do much, we just let you open your presents from Lita on your actual birthday. :-)





xoxo, Mommy

Happy 1st Birthday Jacob Paul!

Jake - I'm not sure that I can put into words exactly what I am feeling today. I am so proud to be your Mommy. You are such a sweet little child, and you make me laugh daily. I'm a little sad knowing you are no longer a "baby" anymore. However, I'm looking forward to watching you grown into a little boy this coming year. Here are a few pictures from your party on Sunday (just family, very low-key)...















xoxo, Mommy

Jake's First Haircut

Gabe, Caroline, and I took Jake to get his first haircut yesterday. He did a great job. No tears and very little wiggling.

xoxo, Resha

Conversations with Caroline

Child, you were on a roll today. Here are a couple more:

While walking up the stairs to take a bath:
Me: You kids are killing me today. (It was a tough afternoon - fussy for several hours.)
Caroline: We are because we love you Mommy. (You are such a sweetheart.)

While going back downstairs after your bath:
Caroline: Why you take that off my door Mommy? (referring to the childproof knob thing)
Me: Because you are bigger now and I don't think you need it.
Caroline: I'm not bigger. I can't reach anything.

Conversations with Caroline

A few minutes ago...

Me: Caroline, where did the toys go? then realizing she had put them in her doll's stroller Oh, nevermind. You put them in the stroller.
Caroline: She (meaning Katy, her baby doll) wanted to play with them.
Me: Oh. I understand.
Caroline: She didn't want the toy that went AWWHH so she screamed and then I said, "Okay, okay, calm down. I will get you another toy."

Note: She spent the day with Lita yesterday, and Lita says "Okay, okay. Calm down." a lot. :-)

Conversations with Caroline

While driving home from school yesterday...

Caroline: Mommy, after my nap, What are we going to do?
Me: I don't know. Do you want to go outside and swing and slide?
Caroline: Sure! Will you go down the slide with me?
Me: Sure! Did Daddy go down the slide with you yesterday?
Caroline: Noooo. He's too big. But you're not big Mommy.

Daddy's Birthday - Part 2

Caroline continued her new tradition (started last year) of singing a song to her Daddy for his birthday. Here is this year's little gem. :-)



And Jake has a new talent too. He can now climb down the stairs with his feet (instead of just diving off hands first like he normally does).

Gabe's 34th Birthday

Gabe, Lita, TaTa, Tia Paty, Tia Lisa, Uncle Tom, the kids, and I all celebrated Gabe's 34th birthday on Tuesday night. Like most of our adult birthdays - it was very laid back. Here are a couple of pictures...

Let Them Eat Cake

Caroline, You and I spent most of the day on Thursday baking the 48 cupcakes for her party. (White frosting with sprinkles, just as you requested Little Miss.) At the end of the day, you asked about your cake. To which I responded, "We are having LOTS of cupcakes." You were very upset and said, "But I want a big cake 'cause everyone has a cake." So...off to the store I went to buy more supplies to make you a cake as well. You helped me prepare the batter, and then preformed the mandatory quality taste test.






xoxo, Mommy

Caroline Turns 3 - Part 2

Since Caroline's party was scheduled for Sunday, we had a quiet day for her actual birthday. It started with this "gem" of a picture (Caroline - I have no idea why you didn't want your picture taken that morning):



And then you had a "party" and cookies (you asked for sugar cookies with pink frosting) at school. After school, you came home and napped and then we made your dinner of choice (you requested mac-n-cheese and chicken):



Then Lita came over with balloons (which for some reason you were upset about at first, but then loved after a few minutes). And then Aunt Roz and Uncle Stu came by to give you your prescents (they couldn't come to your party b/c Uncle Stu's cousin was getting married in Boston):





Then we sang "Happy Birthday" with some of the cookies from your school party and you blew out your candles:





You went to bed a very happy little girl, with one of the pairs "princess shoes" Aunt Roz & Uncle Stu got you.

xoxo, Mommy

Caroline Turns 3

Caroline, you are 3 years old today. I had every intention of writing a very long post, but as with most days - this one got away from me. And, to be honest, I am very emotional today and I'm not sure I could get through it.

I was not super emotional on your 1st or 2nd birthdays. I was happy, but not "oh my baby" type of emotional. But today my dear, it's different. You have turned three. Even though you are still a very tiny girl, you are no longer a "baby" in my eyes. You seem so grown up. You are kind, caring, loving, intelligent, beautiful, funny, fun (most of the time), inquisitive, giving, gentle, and oh so super sweet. You have a smile that lights up the room. You have a twinkle in your eye that makes my heart melt.

You are doing so many things now. Too many to list really. I can tell you that Tinkerbell is your favorite character - you are super excited about anything that has to do with her. You are so polite - please, thank you, no thank you, yes ma'am. Everything I always wanted you to be. You are talkative - just like your mother. And thoughtful - just like your father.

You have grown in to such an amazing little girl, and I will sit back with a heavy heart and watch you grown into an amazing woman.

xoxo,
Mommy

A Weekend of Milestones

This past weekend we went back to Natchez for their fall pilgrimage. We had a great time, and also a weekend of milestones. For the first time on Saturday, Jake waved and said "bye-bye" and later that afternoon, waved "hi." And then today, PawPaw taught him how to clap. I don't know why I never tried to do it before. Here is a short video taken this morning. Note: I have no idea why he has that rash on his face. It happened while we were in Natchez, and we all think he may be allergic to grass.

Playing

Jake and Caroline are two very different little people. Jake loves to throw things, and bang things together, and Caroline has always been super gentle with her toys. We came home from shopping the other day, and Jake went strait to the kitchen. Caroline, on the other hand, had to examine her loot. lol

More pics before school

It seems like the easiest time to take pictures of the kids is right before we leave for school. Here are some from the past week. Caroline is being cute, as usual. And this is Jake's first day in jeans. He looks so old!




And a couple more: I love the sweater on Jake. I don't think Gabe cares much for it, but I think he looks precious. And I seriously have no idea when Caroline got to be such a grown up little girl.