More March

Here we are in March!!  Daylight Savings was yesterday and Easter is around the corner.  Wow!  I can't believe another year has so quickly past from last Spring!

We are currently on Spring Break and enjoying the beautiful weather here (highs in the low seventies and sunny all week).  Our city just renovated 6 of its parks, so I imagine we will visit several of them during this week :)

First off, I love seeing these two together:

I made these bows for the girls (mine and my niece!)

A "Sneak Peek" of some springtime photos we had taken of the girls.  It was kind of windy and we were trying so hard to just get Cecily to look our way.  She was obviously trying to hard to look straight to even consider smiling ;-)  But, Greg and I have talked about it, and we agree that we think the chubby, grumpy, baby frown is pretty adorable and a little funny since Miss Cecily does tend toward the grumpy end of the spectrum much of the time.

Here were my walking buddies the other day.  It was windy, so the hoods were down to block the wind, but they were "talking" to one another around them.

My babies with my brother.

Cecily 8 months

Cecily at 8 months~~

Still curious about her world and exploring it even more.  She can cover a room pretty easily with just her rolling, sitting, and diving combos.  She sometimes gets up her hands and knees, but usually collapses from that position pretty quickly.  I think strength and coordination wise, she is still at least a month out from crawling.  Cecily puts most things into her mouth and also enjoys exploring textured books with her hands.

She is eating some new foods: broccoli, peas, and millet are new from last month.

Even though she is not crawling, she always seems to be moving or reaching for something:

She was my helper out at the farm where we picked broccoli.  I did most of the picking and she sampled some raw broccoli. 

She really likes to explore these kinds of books:

She sits so big in an umbrella stroller- yay! This one is so easy for me to open and close, move in an out of the car, and move her around in stores.

Geneva 3 and 5/6

Updated and pictures added 3/11/2013

FIrst off- This is a pretty classic Geneva-sassy-pose/face.  It was HAT day in her classroom and this is how she posed for the picture I snapped.

She had her first visit to the dentist.  She did great and no cavities!! :) 

Greg and I took her on a special "date" to see SHREK the Musical.  She loved it!!

She was snapping pictures during intermission and I kind of like this one of she and I.

Here she is loving some frozen yogurt.  Always a special treat!

(((I am recording these things so that I do not forget them.  Since this blog has served as a place to mark milestones for the girls, this seems like a natural place.  This is a place to document, not complain or brag-- I just want to remember these moments.)))

Geneva is 3 years, 10 months.  We have taught her to say her age in fractional terms ("3 and 5/6th") and she enjoys it because it makes it sound bigger and closer to 4 than just "three."

Just a few random things about her lately:

Anyone who knows her, knows she can talk and talk and talk.  She WILL wear you out verbally before stopping.  But, with all her big girl talking, she still says cute little 3 year old things like, "Feel" instead of "Spill" and "Yank you" instead of "Thank you."

Tonight, she got out of bed and told me that she up because she was thinking about who her husband will be when she grows up.

What???

Speaking of bedtime, this once easy sleeper has now begun to be VERY difficult to get to sleep at night.  She gets up out of bed many many times and Greg and I have begun to dread bedtime.  We try lots of different things, but nothing seems to encourage nor deter her from being difficult with this right now.  Right now, I have resorted to taking toys out of her room each time she comes out.

Three has been a challenging year for us but bedtime used to be the one thing that seems sacred and immune to her willful independence and defiance.  No longer!

On the other hand- Geneva has begun to work on sounding out small words.  Yesterday, she read "sag" and today, "wag."  Being read to has always been her favorite activity and so she seems especially motivated to learn herself.

And, the other day, she insisted we empty her piggy bank in order to give all of her money to others who need it.

"3 and 5/6" continues to be a paradox of maddening defiance and heartbreaking sweetness.  Either way, we love her to bits and pieces and even try to see the positive in the frustrating behaviors.

Cecily 7.5

Just a quick update:

The first tooth has arrived!!!  Huge news here after a few weeks of intense teething. Bottom tooth now makes a little tapping sound when she bites things.

Babbling a lot: "dadadada, babababa..."

(However, I still think "MAMA" was her first word, as she has said it 3 different times when wanting me- First time, Christmas Eve morning).

Can go from laying/rolling position to sitting on her own (did this 5 different times today).

Has been sleeping/napping regularly and routinely for the past two weeks!!!!  (Also BIG NEWS here!) Often sleeps 8pm-6:30am with only short wakings (falls back asleep on her own easily) and takes three naps per day (at regular times!!).  We are basically rearranging our whole lives around her nap/sleeping schedule, but it is working and it has been worth it for her to begin sleeping better and more regularly.

Our Sweet Valentines

Geneva had been looking forward to Valentine's Day since the first day of February.  For the 13 days before Feb. 14th, she would ask me every morning if it was THE day.  She must remember how she gets to eat chocolate and cookies, etc. on Vday.  And, that she did!

So.. Leading up to Valentine's Day, this is what we have been up to...

Pretending to be a turtle

Bouncing around

Teething, playing, teething, repeat..

Rolling all over the place

Picnicing at the park

Hanging out in coffee shops

Riding big girl style and double-wide in the stroller

Playing in the sandbox

Ridin' High with Daddy

Learning to roll a ball with big sister (when she isn't bouncing it off her head)

Teething on apples

Teething on basically everything

Playing grocery store wearing a blanket-cape

Hanging out as sisters

Sooo... Clearly we have been very busy these past few weeks. 

Now- Back to Valentine's Day.  There were cookies, valentine cards from Geneva's friends, and my sweet baby niece, who we babysat so my brother and sister-in-law could go out on a date.

The rocket ship valentines that Greg and Geneva made for her classmates

 

Sometimes when you are posing outdoors with your baby sister, she will become really interested in the grass, try to put it into her mouth, and then roll off of your lap. 

And this weekend's entertainment?? Cardboard box hiding place.

Cecily 6 month update

Cecily at 6 months is curious and interested in her world.  She grabs at everything and puts whatever she can get ahold of into her mouth.  A coffee cup full of hot coffee is often a source of frustration because she wants.it.so.badly.  Like her sister did, she also tries to put Stella's paws or face into her mouth.  Yum?

It has been an interesting month for her as she has mastered sitting up on her own, has now eaten several different foods, conquered RSV, and has moved to her crib in her bedroom to sleep.

Eats: Sweet potato, green beans, pears, banana, yogurt, oatmeal, avocado.  Especially loves banana!

Sleeps: In her crib, on her side, arms contained in a sleep sack with the armholes sewn shut, with loud white noise.  To put it mildly, sleeping at night has been difficult for dear Cecily.  She is making improvements and, to date, has slept 3 full nights (not in a row).  She generally naps very well and takes two naps at regular times for 1.5-2 hours.

Behaviors/Activities: Gets excited when she sees the dog; smiles when Geneva talks to her; blows "raspberries"/ makes sounds with her mouth; turns toward others' voices and when  her name is called; reaches out when she wants to be picked up; sits and rolls; grabs for everything.

Weight: About 16lb.  She lost a little weight when she had RSV but seems to be gaining it back steadily.  Her decreased weight puts her in about the 50th percentile.

Height: 26.5 inches, which is the 75th percentile.

A little sleep after lunch one day.

Exploring blocks that belonged to my paternal grandmother.

All cozy on a walk.

Lunging for the dog and then getting a quick kiss.

Short sleeves and leg warmers in January.  It is going to be 78F here today.

Big sister always gives kisses.