Dancer Bantrer

 Lots of uncertainty...

 Will I like it?

 Will sissy be in my class?

 Will our teacher be nice?

 I don't want to dance in the Nutcracker...

 ...maybe next year though, mom!

 I'm not going to dance on that stage like you did mom!

 I'm too scared!

 I know you'll be there, mama, but I'm still scared to dance in the recital!

 Oh, but I like our costumes!!!

 Can we try on our costumes?

 Can we show our Sissy/friends/Grandma/Daddy/Auntie our costumes?

 Okay, I think maybe I'll dance next year if my sister does it again with me.

 No, Brownie, I don't want to take dance again next year--I'm going to stick with soccer!

 Okay, if you dance again next year Brownie, I'll do it too!

 But I'm still not doing the Nutcracker!

 Okay, but I think I'll go ahead and do Nutcracker next year?

 Momma, what will I be in the Nutcraker next year?

 Oh, well does that person have a pretty costume?

 Yay, I love pretty costumes!

 Okay, Brownie! Maybe I'll do the Nutcracker next year, too!

Oh that'll be fun Sissy. We can do it together!

Mom, will Bug dance with us next year?

Oh that Boushka!

You are moving at light speed these days with all your new developments, so I wanted to take a minute and jot down your fun facts.

A couple weeks ago you walked into the kitchen and started singing the ABC's. WHAT?

YES, you know your ABC's and it was a complete shocker to me since I had little to no hand in teaching you the ABC's. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I don't have much time to sit down and work on these things with you, one on one. So I point things out to you as we go about our day (such as that red car, or that black cow says Moooo!, or that sign says STOP!), I read to you all the time, and I talk to you as if you understand. This is my method of teaching since it fits in with our go-go-go lifestyle. And occasionally while we are go-go-going in the car we'll sing the ABC's. It must have really sunk in because you totally surprised me with what you knew!


Around this same time you started counting. I forget what you were doing at the time, but you weren't counting anything specific--you were just saying the numbers. You counted, in order, all the way from 1 to 12. Again, I had no hand in teaching you this. I'm thinking you've listened to your sisters count and you just picked up on it. Wow! You are just a little sponge.

(Here's a fun, weird little fact about you--- you love to pick your toes. I love it!)

You also know colors. And continuing with the theme, I never really sat down and taught you the colors. You just absorbed this knowledge by paying attention to your sisters--and I like to think that I had a small hand in your learning by pointing out colors when we are going about our daily routine.

You still love to play with K & L. And Charlotte (or Char-et) is also your friend. You are always going around talking about your fends. You are such a big two. Not in size necessarily, but you act so grown up. I hesitate to say mature because you definitely still throw your tantrums and act very much like a 2 yr old. But socially you act a little older. That's one benefit of being the fourth child, I suppose!

One other thing you like via your sisters' influence is a braid. Actually, Miss Traci started the braiding and your sisters love it. So naturally, you love it too. You are proud to show off mommy's (very poor, especially compared to Traci's) work. But I'll learn!

Okay, I'm done bragging on my baby Boushka. But isn't she just so sweet and amazing? Love you, boo-boo!

3 Months old

(BIRTH)

(1 MONTH OLD)

(2 MONTHS OLD)

(3 MONTHS OLD)

Oh my sweet Scrunchie Face!

You are 3 months old now and growing and changing faster than I care to admit. In the past few weeks you've really lost that newborn look and gained the more baby-like look. No matter what your look, you're super adorable!


You recently started putting both hands together and putting them in your mouth. You are constantly sucking on those puppies. You also grab onto your toys with both hands. Such big milestones!

And we can't forget the most important milestone---
YOU SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!

Mommy and Daddy would like to thank you very much. You started sleeping through the night about the same time that I had my surgery (around 11 weeks old). You'll usually fall asleep around 9 or 10, and sleep until 6 or 7. Sometimes you fall asleep around 8pm and after waking around 7, you'll eat and fall back asleep for another 2-4 hours. It's magical! And since I've been sitting on the couch healing, it's so awesome that I get to hold you while you nap.


You're still kind of fussy during the day. You used to have fussy-time during the evening and into the night, but you've really started acting that way throughout the day now. You are either asleep, fussy, or perfectly content to sit and watch your sisters play. And every once in a while you are happy to play with those hands or a toy within reach.


You weigh about 13 1/2 pounds, though I'm not sure how long you are. I'm hoping to get that measuring tape out to measure you soon.


You still wear a size 2 diaper. And for the past week I've been asking your daddy to bring up the 3-6 month clothes tub (he's been super busy taking care of all of us, but he'll get it done soon). There is no way you fit into much of your 0-3 clothing. You are my first baby to really follow the clothing size guidelines.


You nurse anytime and all the time. Since I've been off my feet for 2 1/2 weeks now, you've totally taken advantage of the fact that I'm open for feeding business 24/7. In the afternoon and evening you nurse about once every hour-hour and a half. While I enjoy it to a certain extent, I'm worried that when I'm back to my normal life, you'll be incredibly upset that I'm not available to nurse you.... say while driving, for instance. You used to never have a problem taking a bottle from me or anybody for that matter. And now you absolutely WILL NOT take a bottle from me--and most of the time not from anybody else either. Ummm... yeah, I'm kinda worried!


You are a smiley, smiley little girl. Though you have your fussy-gassy times, your personality is just oozing sweetness. You smile so hard that your big cheeks make your eyes squint. I just love the pure, unbridled joy you share. This smile can totally turn my bad mood to good. When you smile, you make me smile. Thank you, Scrunchie!


So far your favorite song/game is patty cake. Whenever I take your little hands and start singing this you give me that awesome grin. I've also made up a song about being pleasantly plump. I sing this to you as I slowly lift you above my head (while I'm sitting). This always gets the smiley spit bubbles flowing. Love those, too!

The day after you turned 3 months old, you got to meet your Auntie. She has been gone since you were gestationally 5 weeks old, and here you are 3 months old. Upon walking into our house she ran right over to you and scooped you up into her arms. I think I may have seen a little tear form in the corner of her eye. She held you throughout the afternoon, which was quite the task since your sisters were demanding her attention. But I have a feeling there will be lots of love time between the two of you this next month!


I love you my sweet gal. I love you from your chunky thighs, to your big blue eyes. Your little toes and your squishy nose. And of course those big kissing cheeks and your monster swimmer's arms. I'm enjoying all your little rolls because I know that all too soon you will thin out and the baby rolls will go away.

Unofficial, Official Start of our Summer!

Well, I'm a slacker. Here I've been sitting on my tush for two weeks now, trying to recover from foot surgery and I think I've blogged..........twice? Not sure. And I'm too lazy to check. But lazy is okay when you are given a prescription to be lazy, right?

And it's summer. Well, not officially, but we're out of school, so I deem it summer time. And here's how you can tell it's officially, the unofficial start of summer at our house!

Messy kid art outside in our swimming suits!

Drinking a tall, cool drink on a hot and windy day (and she insisted on the long sleeves despite my warning her of temps reaching the 90's)!

Me relearning the art of baby-wearing via the Moby Wrap since we'll be moving around outside a lot, and I'll need to have free hands!

Being utterly disgusting with your chocolate pudding in your clubhouse!Or being utterly disgusting with your pudding while giving a cool kid "Hey, what's up?" look! Or is this a Joey Tribiani "How you doni'?" look?

Hanging out in your bouncy seat wearing only a diaper and shirt!

Attending the annual last day of school lunch!

Attending the Last day of school ice cream social!

Looking like a dirty heathen until you get a bath waaaaay past sundown!

Practicing your poses for your upcoming dance recital!

Falling asleep on the couch in the basement whilst awaiting a tornado or riding one out!

Posing at the park!

And there's many more. But I'm going to share those at a later date...

...or maybe I won't. Seeing as how I've really been on top of blogging lately!

Award

Tiffiny gave me the Versatile Blogger award! Thank you Tiffiny--you inspire me daily. You are one of the best examples of being an advocate for your child and your child's health. You've got guts, wisdom, motivation, and enthusiasm. It cracks me up that you want to be me when you grow up... because I really feel like a kid still. Plus, you've been through so much with your little guy, so I hope I can be like you when I grow up!

Of course, with accepting this award I'm going to play by the rules. They're pretty easy to follow--and you all probably know that, at heart, I'm a rule follower.

1) Thank and link back to the award giver. I thanked Tiff above, but just in case you missed it...

THANK YOU, TIFFINY!!!

2) Tell 7 things about yourself.

* I love good, healthy food. I believe what we put in our mouths directly affects every other area of our life. That's not to say we don't enjoy a few treats in our house, but they are the exception, and not the rule.

* As I sit here on the couch frustrated with feeling lazy, I seriously can't wait to get out in the sunshine and run. I'm looking forward to meeting my goal to run a half marathon.

* I once thought that a Kindle or Nook would ruin reading instead of enhance the experience. But after using my mom's Nook for a while, I find it easier to read. Now I want one!

* Water is my favorite drink--and most people give me a weird look upon finding this out.

* I miss my sister, but I will be seeing her so soon--YAY!

* I'm a candle junkie--as well as a recipe magazine junkie.

* I'm now officisally freaked out by storms! Tornadoes suck!

There, that's 7 things about me.

3) Now I'm passing on the Versatile Blogger Award. And I'll pass it on to Amanda over at Proud Mommy of Four. Her blog covers several topics, and it's a fun read. She has 5 kids and they are spaced like mine.

I'm also wanting to give it to Jessica at Love From Texas. She has the cutest craft ideas and some pretty cute kids, too. There's always something fun to read about over there!