Preschool!

The first day of preschool
My little girl was ready.. Me? Well it's been a big week for me..

Chloe was Soooooo excited!!

I got to tag along.. which I loved!!
She walked in like she owned the place. No hesitations what-so-ever!

She found her cubby, and was so excited hers was the one with the sun!

She met her teachers, and kept running to them to ask
if she could play more "games".
Her teachers loved her.

She was so happy, she ran from activity to activity playing.
She didn't even notice that there were other kids around!

What took me by surprise was the amount of physical effort now required of me.
 Instead of leisurely mornings playing and eating together,No more throwing my hair up and getting my gym clothes on (with no shower) and heading to the Y unpresentable, now I have to get my daughter dressed, fed, cleaned up and in the car, while I’m nursing and dressing a baby who is used to taking her first nap by that time. Then I  get both of them out of the car and to the classroom, say goodbye, bring the baby back to the car, load her up, and get her down for her nap once we're home. Then we do it all again two and a half hours later. 

 

On our drive home Chloe declares "Mommy next time I can do it by myself"
My little is getting so big!

Donut holes

What better way to ring in the new school year that donut holes? 

Found a recipe and made them.. They are soooo good.
 Close to krispy Kreme.

This lil' chick was a fan!

Got milk?

Oh and I'd like to introduce you to my newest love..

my green jadeite milk glass cake plates. LOVE 

Piper Jane month 3

I am in need of documenting baby Piper's little life for my records, so I won't forget..

because lets be honest, I can't remember what went on last week!

• You still like to keep your legs straight out
• You love your momma
• You say "Gee" when you are fussy or getting mad
• You are a short nurser I'm lucky if I get you to eat for 5 min
• You are impatient when your food isn't coming as quick as you would like.
• You are sensitive. Very sensitive
• You like it quiet when you are eating.
• You started giggling last week.

• You love your hands and stick them in your mouth all of the time.
• You got your ears pierced a week ago
• You wake up about every three hours at night.
• You love to be held ALL of the time.
• You are the BEST cuddler.
• You love people around, and are very social.
• You just started grabbing your paci out of your mouth, and turning it over and chewing it.

• You go from fussing to screaming in less than a minute.
• You are very aware of things going on around you.
• You are not a fan of tummy time.
• You drink from a bottle no problem.
• You started grabbing things and batting at your toys a month ago.
• You love your sling, and Ergo carrier (you love to be close)
• You can roll from your back to your side as of yesterday.

• You "sing/hum" yourself to sleep when you are tired.
• You are incredibly ticklish. 
• You are a petite little thing fitting into size 0-3 and some nb
• You are just now starting to chub up.
• You found your voice and you "sing" like the baby in Aaliyah's song "Are you that somebody?"
• You love kisses.

I can't count the number of times people stop me and freak out because they thought you were a doll, and then realize that no, infact you are a real baby. I kept thinking it was a fluke, but

it happens at least twice a day!
I love you,
 my sweet baby doll.

Yellow Jelly bean

Sometimes I dream of living out in the country and raising babies.. I guess I crave the simple life.

Letting my kids play without worrying about them getting kidnapped, run over yadda yadda.

Truth is? I'm a suburb kinda girl. 

I can't handle the wild outdoors.. One word- snakes. That's enough to send me back to reality.

But when you're three, things like that don't ever cross your mind.

When you're three, things are simple.

 I envy three.

These pictures evoke emotion in me.
Seeing the wonder in her eyes. Seeing the world as new and exciting.

I long for the days of three. 

Hope of what you will grow up to be, instead of the now of what you became.

Remember getting bored as a kid?

I can hardly remember what that feels like anymore, to be bored.

I envy the time she spends lounging and watching a movie, or playing make believe.

I want to look back and remember good times.

These pictures will help me to capture the essence of her before time takes this her away.

I can barely remember the five month old Chloe, but when I 

see the snippets of memories I captured  I can remember her then.

The absurdity of parenting small children in general is crazy hard at times.

These moments help me laugh before I give up and cry. And then, when I DO cry, they help me feel less of a failure and much more like I was NORMAL but could also maybe, just maybe be GOOD sometimes, too.  

When I see these, I see Happy.
 I like to think she is.

I like to think she doesn't get phased by the mistakes I make raising her.

I hope that's the case. 

It's not pretty, a lot of the time. 

But when it IS pretty, it is BREATHTAKING.

That is what I want to remember. The breathtaking. The sweet. The HAPPY.

Three has been pretty good to us. There is so much that has changed since three has come.

She has adapted.

So much more that I thought she could.

The end of toddlerhood is at hand, and I can't believe we are on the cusp of little girl.

Pre-school starts in two weeks.

Ballet begins.

I remember my mother used to call me her "yellow jelly bean"

She said I brighten her life.

These silly little things are the things that stuck with me,

 and I hope that my girls can remember the same kind of things.

My dear sweet girl you are MY little yellow jelly bean..

My girls

Although I had major worries about these two and how they would get along, somehow it's been nothing like I thought. Instead of Chloe trying to attack or harm the baby she has been very sweet. She loves her "baby diaper".

Chloe tries often to comfort her sister. She doesn't "over help" or get jealous of her like I thought she might. She is a great older sister and I feel really lucky that so far we don't have any issues with the pair.

Chloe loves to try to get the baby to smile. Piper isn't that into Chloe yet. She prefers me all most of the time.

I like the look on Piper's face in this next picture. I can picture her saying " Uh mom this little person is holding me!"

Pie was done after a minute.. Love these girls!

Silly Chloe

This little girl is a "free spirit" so much energy, and sas. Hard to keep up with, into everything, mischievous, and one of the most naturally funny people I know..

Chloe loves her boots. She will wear them with anything.. Bathings suits included. I suppose it's a good idea since she did step on a bee and got stung two days in a row..

See that mischievous face? She's about to splash me with with water.. 

Chloe- "Gotta keep those boots near by so the bees don't bite me!"

As difficult as raising a three year old is.. This smile makes it all worth it. Love my girls!!

You Are My Sunshine

This weekend we took the girls to the sunflower fields. Chloe has always been a fan of sunflower seeds so we thought she would like to see the flowers. She loved them. We got some adorable candid shots of her exploring the field.

The day wouldn't be complete without picking a few for the ride home.. Sorry sunflower farmers! 

She loves to smell flowers, but sunflowers aren't all that yummy and floral smelling. She found that out quickly.

This chair just happened to be on the side of the road...