FOUR months old!

Four months old. What a milestone! Four months is really the end of the newborn stage in my mind. I went through Emily's closet and took out all of the newborn clothes. I found myself incredibly nostalgic about some pieces and unable to put them in the "sell" box. There are just certain outfits that remind me so much of each girl. It may not even be something special that we wore. It is usually a regular every day outfit that they just looked so cute in so we wore it over and over again. We definitely know that our family is complete now, but it still tugs on your heart strings to look at those teeny tiny baby clothes and know we will never use them again.

Ms. Emily has taken off in the fourth month. In a two week span she started pushing up more when on her belly and playing with toys that way. The first time we put her in an excersaucer she got the biggest smile on her face and can play contentedly while I take a shower or fix dinner. She is almost sitting up by herself. She is babbling away and loves to "talk" to the dogs. She is very interested in different toys and is starting to reach for anything and everything within her grasp. She LOVES to be outside. If she is getting irritable or fussy all I have to do is walk outside with her and her bubbly happy little personality comes right back. She loves to interact with people. If we are at a store she will stare someone down until they make eye contact with her, but they are rewarded with the sweetest smile. She is starting to regulate her sleep a little more, still taking three naps during the day and eating every 3 1/2 hours. She still gets up twice at night during a 12 hour period.

I am trying not to wish away her baby days but I remember with Charlotte that every month is even more exciting than the last. I love watching this little girl grow!

Of course, Charlotte had to get in on the action. She said "Wait Mommy! You have to have Sophie too!"

This one cracks me up!

Perfection.

First sister bath

Emily literally outgrew our sink. Something about knowing this is your last baby makes you hold on to all of these little moments for a little longer than you normally would. I totally understand now why the "baby" of the family gets babied so much! This was Emily's last bath in the sink before she moved on to the big bath tub.

I thought Charlotte would be really excited to take a bath with Emily, but about a week went by before I could convince her to get in. Turns out she'd rather have the bath to herself so she can get all her toys out and fill the tub up with bubbles!

Emily really loves bath time now. She gets to float in her little lily pad and enjoy the warm water. Bath time is one of my favorite times of day.

First day at the pool

I can't wait Mom! Let's Go!!

The weather has been hit and miss around here.....it's sunny, then it's raining, then it's warm again and still cold at night. We still braved it and decided to take both girls to the pool because EVERY time we drive past the front of our neighborhood Charlotte is begging for the chance to go. So one warm evening we suited them up and headed out. Emily wasn't really sure what was going on but Charlotte loved being in the water. She got on her noodle and floated and bobbed her way through the pool. I am looking forward to so many more pool days with these girls!

God's Blessing

I met Mrs. D at Wal-Mart. I was eight months pregnant with Charlotte and grocery shopping with Bryce one evening. and went to reach into the refrigerated section for a gallon of milk. Mrs. D stopped me and asked if I already had someone to watch my baby. She said she didn't normally stop people but she just felt this little tug like God was telling her to talk to me. She showed me pictures of her daycare and at the time we weren't looking for anyone to watch C so we politely smiled and moved on with our shopping. A few months later I was desperately calling in-home daycares looking for someone that could watch Charlotte on a part time basis. I literally got to the LAST number with tears in my eyes, and as soon as she answered I knew. This is the lady I met at Wal-mart. God is looking out for me. We went and interviewed with Mrs. D and we have never looked back. Charlotte spent the next three years of her life at Mrs. D's house while we are at work, and I have never once had to worry about my child while she is there. Mrs. D has been God's blessing in our lives. She taught Charlotte so much.....things that as new parents we wouldn't have even realized the importance of. Yes, Mrs. D helped teach Charlotte her letters, and her numbers, and her colors, and how to write her name. She taught countless subjects that made Charlotte love to learn even more. But Mrs. D also taught Charlotte what it means to be loved and adored by someone who isn't your family. Mrs. D taught Charlotte her manners. Mrs. D taught Charlotte how to pray, and sing church songs, and love Jesus every day. Mrs. D taught Charlotte how to be kind and help others. Mrs. D taught Charlotte how to love herself. I am forever grateful and indebted to Mrs. D. I honestly don't know how we would have made it without her. As sad as I am that Charlotte is moving on to "big girl school" the only thing saving me is knowing that Emily will be with Mrs. D and will have the same wonderful teachings. God's blessing will continue in our lives.

Last day of swim class

We ended up doing two months and I am so glad we did. Charlotte was able to interact with kids her own age, and it was really good to have something to get her out of the house and away from the baby. It starts to feel like life revolves around the baby's eating and sleeping schedule, and I know she flourished when she got to spend some one on one time with Bryce and I.

She loves to swim! She would be so excited on Saturday mornings to get up and get ready for swim class. She always requested a "good" breakfast so she would have a lot of energy!

Charlotte can climb out of the pool all by herself now!

This kid is one step closer to being an independent swimmer. As long as she has a kick board or a noodle she is off by herself. I think one more year and she will truly be a little fish in that water!

Sophie the Giraffe

Emily LOVES Sophie the Giraffe! This is a teether that became popular at the very end of Charlotte's first year and teething was pretty much past us so I was so excited when Nina bought this for us as a gift for Emily. We leave it on our kitchen table and she gnaws on it while we eat. If she drops it she is immediately looking for it and reaches to try and pick it back up. Besides, it is just the cutest thing ever!

Momma's day

This was our first mother's day with our family now that it feels complete. There are so many special moments that go by and I know in my heart that I am sharing it with the three people who are meant to be here. I l.o.v.e. being a mother to these two sweet girls. I couldn't ask for anything better.

To help celebrate mother's day for the Grandmas, we made pictures on canvas using our feet and handprints. (thank you pinterest!)

3 months old

Oh, how I love this girl. She is so happy and so easy to please. These three months have absolutely flown by. She wants everything in her mouth now, as you can see from her picture. Hands are a constant and anything she holds has to get a try out in there too. She is starting to "talk" and coo. The first time she laughed out loud I literally got teary eyed. I was tickling her belly and she let out the biggest chuckle. All three of us will do anything to make her laugh now. It is like Emily's own personal theater show over here. She accepted being "stretched" to eating every three hours very well and is starting to sleep longer stretches at night. She is usually in bed by 7:45 and wakes up any where between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM. She wakes up at 8:00 AM on the dot. I literally roll over and look at my clock and say "yep, it's 8:00". She wants to sit up all the time and is finally starting to enjoy some toys. She loves staring at the dogs too. Charlotte has been the best big sister and Emily absolutely loves her. I can already tell I'm going to have a serious case of "monkey see, monkey do"!

All work and no play

Work. Back to work. Maternity leave this time around was so much smoother. I'm not sure if it is the background knowledge that comes with having a second child or the sense of family that is already there, but by the end of my maternity leave with Emily I had a fairly good handle on things. We were on a good schedule (eating at 8, 11, 2, 5, 8 EVERY DAY no matter what) and sleeping for about an hour 4 times a day. Emily is still waking up 1 or 2 times a night, but thankfully she goes right back to sleep. I only have one month at school and then we are out for summer, so the mantra for the next four weeks is "I think I can, I think I can". Monica is watching Emily for us until the end of May and Charlotte will continue going to Mrs. D's house. Bryce will keep dropping Charlotte off in the mornings, but I will take Emily to Snellville before I continue on to school, then I will pick both girls up in the afternoon. Bryce often doesn't get home until after 6:00 now. That means my day starts around 4:45 AM when I get ready, feed and dress the baby, and leave by 6. I drive to Monica's and rush into the school building right about the time the bell is ringing. I pump three times while I'm at school, which means I also have to have my classes covered. After school is over, I leave to pick up the girls which is about an hour drive from school to home. Once home, I have to immediately feed the baby (she is usually getting fussy when we walk in the door because she is hungry), then I start dinner. After dinner it is bath time and bed time for ALL of us so we can do it all again tomorrow. I literally have sticky notes all over the place reminding me of everything I need to pack, what needs to be done, and who will be where on what days. I think I can, I think I can!

The ONLY thing that makes it all worth it, is coming home to these sweet faces!