Family Hike: South Mountain

We chose the Bursera Trail at South Mountain Regional Park.  The weather people kept saying that it was supposed to rain, and it looked like it should, but it never did.  The overcast skies and wind made for great hiking weather though...

First trip to the dentist

Natalie was a little scared but she did great and has no cavities!  She promised the dentist she would quit sucking her thumb when she turns 4.  They shook on it and everything.  After she was done she got to go back to school and tell all her friends in her class about her trip to the dentist.

 

Family Hike: Santan Regional Park

We are very lucky to have so many different places to hike within 30 minutes of our house.  We chose to hike the Graves trail at Santan Mountain Regional Park.

3-months old and a little crabby

"I'm told that today was my 3-month birthday.  I also heard somewhere that 10-years ago today my mom and dad went on their first date.  That's kind of neat... I guess."

"This is how mom found me this morning when she came into my room.  So far I don't sleep in my crib much but I do sleep in my room in my "baby rocket ship" because otherwise I seem to spit up when I lay flat. I have been sleeping for 8-11 hours for the past few weeks and mom and dad seem much happier in the mornings now.  Although last night I was up at 12:30am and 4:30am...

I usually cry a little when I wake up and am trying to get out of my swaddle, but after that, I just hang out in my baby rocket ship and talk to myself.  If it takes people too long to notice me, sometimes I have to cry again to get them to come in my room.

After mom got me out of the baby rocket ship and changed me out of my jammies (which she has started to do more often because I am nearly growing out of 3-month clothes), I got to pose with George in my new outfit that I got from Gramma Judy and Grandpa Larry."

Eloise and George: February 18, 2015

"I'm on a pretty solid 4-hour routine during the day, meaning I eat, play and then nap for an hour or two before I eat again.  I've started going for rides in the stroller with mommy when she runs during the day and I think that's pretty neat.  I really like to listen to all the noises outside, lay in the sunshine and have the wind in my hair.

Dolly and me getting ready to go jogging with mom.

I enjoy sitting in the high chair in the kitchen while mommy cooks or while the rest of the family eats.  I play with my new doll, "Dolly" or with my strange orb ball thing that rattles a little when I shake it.  I also chew on my fingers and hands to pass the time.  Mommy plans to dig out some of my big sisters old toys and rattles for me this week so I can have a few more things to play with when I'm laying around.  That sounds pretty exciting.

Mom says I'm more crabby than she remembers my sister being, but she also said that maybe it's because I'm #3 and I have to roll with the flow a little more than #2 did.  I like to be held, but not all the time.  I like to swing, but not if I'm too tired.  I like to be swaddled before going to sleep, but not all the time and definitely not too tightly.  Basically, I like things my way but I just can't tell you so. I keep testing out my voice but I'm not very good at using it yet.  But it still makes mom and dad smile when I do it so I guess I'll keep practicing."


A link to Natalie's 3-month birthday photo-shoot:
http://suburbanhayes.blogspot.com/2011/07/3-months-oldalready.html

Family Hike: Usery Park

This week we headed out to Usery Park on our way to visit Grandpa Larry and Gramma Judy.  Unfortunately, the trail we chose to hike (Wind Cave) was more crowded than any trail we've ever been on before.  And when you're hiking with an almost four year old, you're not exactly hiking quickly so after moving to the side to let people pass us about 800 times, we ended up calling it a day.

Fisher Price binoculars help you see lots of cool things.

Once again, Eloise slept through nearly the entire hike.

Comparison: First day of not-school

Whit went back to work full-time just after Natalie was 12-weeks old.  Eloise was 12-weeks old last week and Whitney did not go back to work full-time. 

But in the interest of comparison, below are two photos: one of Natalie all dressed and ready for her first day of school (left) and one of Eloise in jammies and a bib on her first day of not-school (right).

Stats from 2-month checkups:

    Natalie:  12 lbs, 5 oz and 23.5 inches -- 75th percentile for weight
    Eloise:  10 lbs, 1.5* oz and 22.5 inches  -- 20th percentile for weight

*In Eloise's defense, she had totally empty belly a huge poop just before her weigh in.  Proof of this came two days later when we went back to the doctor with a full belly she weighed in at 10 lbs 8 oz.

Art for Eloise

Mommy had been searching for some cute "ocean-theme" art for Eloise's room but kept striking out.  So rather than buy something ugly or meaningless, she enlisted the help of the two resident artists. While daddy was out of town one weekend, mommy got Katie and Natalie each a small canvas, paint and space in the garage to spread out and have fun.  Both took their job very seriously and the result was two very unique pieces for Eloise's wall.

Natalie decided to make a pink and purple shark out of her footprint...

 Katie opted for the very colorful and cheerful cartoon ocean life...

The result?  Two beautiful and colorful art masterpieces that Eloise can keep as long as she wants to remember her sisters.

Family Hike: Lost Dutchman State Park

We decided to seize the opportunity and start hiking together as a family more often, at least while the weather is so perfect.  So we set off for Lost Dutchman State Park and headed off in search of the "green boulder" (the fourth thumb looking rock from left side of photo)...

The trail is very well maintained and even has a few benches along the way...

The trails at Lost Dutchman offer beautiful views of the Superstition Mountains and the inappropriate apostrophe's.

Eloise's first hike was a napping success.

Nat's first haircut

Yes, Natalie is almost 4 and we haven't cut her hair yet.  It's not that I'm too sentimental to take her - it just never really needed it (and still didn't).  But after Katie got her haircut a few weeks ago, she asked to get it cut.  However, then when I offered to take her, she said no.

After being sick and stuck inside on the couch all weekend with a stuffy head cold, mommy was hopeful that she'd be able to go to school today.  But alas, this morning she still had a low fever so she had to stay home.  So in an effort to get out of the house for a little while and do something kind of fun, mommy suggested that we go get a haircut and a donut.

She was quiet, cooperative, cautious and very curious.

 

The very nice lady didn't cut off much - mainly just trimmed up the bottom.  This is the after shot, complete with a lollipop tightly in hand.

And after this, she picked out the biggest pink frosted donut with sprinkles she could find.

House full of girls

In a house full of girls, it is important that everyone knows how to braid hair.  Even you, daddy.

After bath Natalie wanted her hair braided.  But mommy was busy with Eloise.  So daddy says he can help but then asks Natalie how to braid.  In a very matter of fact way, Natalie says, "Dad you need three pieces of hair.  Then you twist and twist and twist.  Got it?"

Daddy kept brushing and brushing and brushing the hair.  Natalie was getting impatient and it was clear that he was stalling.

After a few more helpful verbal instructions from mommy, he did gave it a whirl...

That's a perfect first braid!!!  Good job, daddy.  We'll take turns doing this for the next 7 years or so.

2-months, already?!?

"Being the 3rd kid is tough.  I heard someone say that mom and dad used to come into my sister's room on her monthly birthdays and sing to her.  Now I'm lucky if they even remember that it's my monthly birthday - I practically have to REMIND them to take my picture.  And there's certainly no singing.  Sheesh.

Over the past month I have been working very hard trying to put on some weight.  Mommy says I'm a super lazy eater and she's been working hard to help keep me awake when I eat - which means I now have to eat my meals while wearing only my diaper.  And then she tickles me when I start to fall asleep.  How humiliating!

At my two month checkup, the doctor said I weighed 10 pounds 1.5 ounces (on a totally empty belly) and measured 22.5 inches long/tall.  By comparison, Natalie measured in at 12 pounds 5 ounces and 23.5 inches.  No wonder she had thigh wrinkles and I don't (yet).  As you can see from the photos below, some of my 3-month old jammies are getting to be too short when I stretch my legs all the way out.  The special spot on my head is just my spot.  The doctor said that will continue to grow and change but should disappear by the time I'm ready to start kindergarten.  But mom says that I'm beautiful - spot or no spot."

Eloise and George: January 18, 2015

"Mom and dad both agree that I'm quite a bit more fussy than my sister.  Mom thinks it's because 1) Natalie was fatter and happier and 2) Natalie didn't have to adjust to anyone else's schedule the way I do.  For instance, sometimes my breakfast or 2nd lunch gets pretty rushed because mommy is trying to hurry me up so she can take Natalie to school or pick her up from school. 

I've learned to make funny expressions with my face and this seems to entertain mom and dad.  I've even learned to use my voice a little to make happy noises instead of just screaming and crying."

"Mommy went back to work last week - a little earlier than she hoped - but she was able to negotiate a deal with her boss and will be working at home part-time.  There's no room for me in the baby room at Natalie's school until summer, so, as part of the deal I am allowed to go into the office with mommy once a week or so while she picks-up/drops-off papers and chats with anyone about work-stuff.  Her boss said he's happy to have me in the office but that my job is to help boost morale in the office.  Mommy suggested that he put me on the payroll...

I have a hard time not spitting up some of my food after I eat, so I really don't like to lay flat... ever.  That's why I'm a little crabby in these birthday photos.  I prefer to sleep in my baby "rocketship" because that keeps me swaddled nicely and allows me to sleep at a slight incline.  Speaking of sleep, mom says I'm doing very well with sleeping at night.  I routinely sleep 5-6 hours at a time but the past few nights I've done 7-9 hours at a time.  It's tough being me, I'm telling you."

"That's enough about me for now.  It's time for me to blast-off in my baby rocketship to Napland!"



A link to Natalie's 2-month birthday photo-shoot:
http://suburbanhayes.blogspot.com/2011/07/belated-2-month-birthday.html

Life is tough

With all the people in the house, it's tough being Gus...

Mommy has started taking him for walks with Eloise in the stroller.  If she can go before the elementary school bus drops kids off in the afternoon, she even takes a tennis ball and goes over to the park to let him play fetch.  Sadly, Gus will only fetch the ball 8-10 times before he decides it's more fun to lay in the grass in the shade.

But hey, at least he fetches.

New classroom

Natalie and a few of her classmates were selected to move from the 3-year old room up into the mixed 3/4-year old room at her school.  She was very excited to make the move.  She even got some brand new SPARKLY shoes to wear on the first day!

She's ready to take on the world - or maybe just a different classroom with more boys than girls.

Her first day was uneventful and while she says she misses some of her old friends and her old teachers, she seems to be adjusting quite well to the change.

Homemade pizza Sunday

It started as a way to use some leftover pizza dough and turned into an effort to help encourage two kids get along and learn their way around the kitchen. It was fairly successful at both.  So now it may have evolved into a new family tradition... Homemade Pizza Sunday.

Daddy-daughter-doggie-dominoes

Who wants to play dominoes??