Scrunchie is 4 months old

 Happy four months, sweet baby girl. I love you sooo sooo much!

 You are such a happy and giggly little girl. You have really grown out of your nightly crying routine--thank you! Your dad and I appreciate that so much!!!

 You are a rolly polly baby. We've received several comments about how, ahem, HEALTHY, you look!

You weigh between 14 1/2 and 15 pounds. We'll get the official weight/height check on Thursday when we take you for your 4 month check up. 

 You are wearing 3-6 month clothing and size 2 diapers. We don't get bows on you often, but your hair is still in its shedding phase. You do have a healthy appetite and I'm still having to supplement your feedings with a bottle of formula once a day or every couple of days. 

 I feel so bad that you don't have a good nap schedule. We are always going 100  miles a minute, so if you sleep, it's usually in your carseat. We usually do get in a decent nap in the afternoon. I'll lay you down in your swing and that soothes you to sleep. Unfortunately, you are now able to slouch over to one side or the other and you look like you're about to fall out.

 In other activity news, you do love your new entertainer. You love to tap the piano at your feet. And it does a good job of keeping you occupied. 

 You also enjoy the play mat. Just recently you finally figured out that you can look up. You are so steady and have almost rolled over sooooo many times!

 And let's not forget about your sleep schedule at night. For a few weeks about a month ago, you were sleeping from 8:30-6:30/7. Now, you may fall asleep around 7, but sometimes it's around 8. Now you get up anywhere between 3:30 and 5 for a feeding. Then you get up again around 6 or 7 for another feeding. I like your former schedule, but I'll admit that sometimes I'll snuggle you between the first and second feeding. It's nice!

 You laughed, like really laughed, for the first time on the day before you turned 4 months old.

 It was one of the best things I've heard in a long time. I just cried hearing those sweet and precious giggles come out of such a tiny little girl.

 By the way, I tickled you around your pits and that's what got the giggles rollin'. 

 And let's not forget about your sisters. 

 They are always available to make you laugh...

 or make you smile...

 sing you a song...

 and you really do love pat-a-cake. 

 They also sing you the ABC's--especially Boushka.

You are still enjoy the bouncy seat as well, though you can darn near wiggle yourself out of there too.

 So the Bumbo has also become one of our go-to's. You like to be in this when I cook dinner. 

So it's been quite a busy four months, but I wouldn't trade one of your giggles for all the riches in the world. I love you my precious, Scrunchie baby!

Because all I Have Time for is Week In Review Posts...

 Last week was our slow week. It was supposed to be at least. I think somehow when I know we're going to have free-time, I get our schedule a little packed. But as I've learned this summer, that leaves little room for trouble!

 (Enjoying some Father's Day giant, chocolate chip oatmeal cookie)

This was the week where we didn't have any camps, lessons, or formal anything planned. Instead, I filled it with play dates, baking lessons, shopping (the necessary stuff), and cleaning out the toy room, of course. It's garage sale season, folks, and I need to get a move on it!

(This poor baby broke out in the lobster rash. We aren't sure why this has happened twice now. 



On Monday we had our Parents as Teachers' visit from our parent educator. Everything with the girls seems to be going well. Boushka contniues to impress us all with her talents in the motor skills department.

The last time we had our PE out to the house, Boushka stacked all 9 blocks that our educator brought. Our PE said she'd never seen a kiddo her age do 9 or more so she didn't bring anymore blocks. And this time, Boushka sorted all of the (green, yellow, red, blue and purple) bears into the appropriatly colored container. Again, our PE was impressed with this girls' perseverance to do all the bears.
I guess most kiddos get bored with the activity and turn their attention elsewhere before finishing the task.

(Just because she loves to pose, I oblige in photographing her)

(This little artist loves to have time outside to use her sidewalk chalk)


And as for little Scrunchie, she is a rock star.

This gal has been standing/bearing weight (with help, of course) for basically her whole life.

And in the past 6 weeks, she has been very steady and can hold her stance for quite some time.

I asked our PE what the normal age was when they could do it this well (I was assisting her standing at this point), and she said she'd never seen a little one this age (3.5 mos) do it so well. Okay, I'll stop bragging!

(She likes to pose too!) 




On Wednesday, the girls got a visit from Gram. The girls were excited to see her since it had been a couple of weeks since they last saw her. They watched Tangled and played. She brought the girls each a little Carter's 4th of July shirt. The girls are glad they'll all coordinate!

(The darn thing just wouldn't blow up like she was trying so hard to do)


Peach and Brownie had their second to last softball game (wouldn't you know the pics are on my iPhone), and both girls are really getting better at hitting. I think they've caught on to the little rules of the game--like after you hit the ball, you run to first base! And I just love listening to their little cheers from the dug-out.

(I can't believe she's going to kindergarten soon...)


The older two girls also went on a couple of dates with Auntie. They went to see Kung Fu Panda 2, shopping at Target and they played and picnicked at the park.

And our sweet girl Bug had her date with Autie. They also visited Target, and then they hit the pool. Apparently I've got a good little swimmer on my hands! They also stopped for a special Sonic treat and went to grandma's for a nail-painting session. 


On Saturday we visited the Farmer's Market for the first time in almost 2 months. I so missed my fresh Italian cheese bread, homemade granola, breakfast burrito and of course all the fresh produce. Boy, if you want a lesson in what's in season, just visit this place. I know next to nothing about gardening (though I'm working on changing this), but I could tell that beets were totally in season just by walking the FM.

(Not fans of this pose)

(Oh, it's so bright, mom)




We also attended a birthday party for our little nephew on Saturday. He's only a couple months older than Peach. The girls all had fun playing with the kiddos at the party. And everybody's favorite kiddie guitarist/singer was there too. We love Kyler and his awesome songs!

(Boushka is about to jet!)

(Boushka is crying her way out of this pose...)


In the midst of this past week we've also visited the Book Mobile, planted a small garden (corn, okra, jalapenos, lettuce, arugula, and broccoli), played outside with sidewalk chalk and got the house cleaned up. The clean up needed to happen since this was the first week since I've been back on my feet that we didn't have any major, scheduled plans. Yes, I feel a lot better about making small messes now that we don't have huge ones all over the house! Makes for plenty of more time to do fun summer stuff!
 

(And we'll end with a favorite ballet position)

Father's Day

Our Father's Day didn't start off terribly well--in fact, in started off terribly. We originally had plans to spend the day at the lake, but then we chickened out at the last minute due to the predicted 103 degree weather (that was with the humidity).

So we opted for a family trip to Lowe's (which is a huge deal since we almost never go anywhere as a complete family) to pick up some gardening supplies. Then we thought we'd plant some veggies that afternoon, have a nice dinner (Matt's favorite, roasted chicken with green beans and new potatoes cooked in the same pan as the chicken) and then finish the evening with a chapter reading from Little House on Plum Creek while roasting 'mallows and eating s'mores around our little fire pit.

We headed into Lowe's and all was well for 20 or so minutes. And then things happened that led me to carry out a kicking and screaming child to the van. I then had a shoe aimed and thrown at me, but it ended up under the car parked next to us. FUN TIMES, folks!



I let the screaming child sit strapped into her seat (air-conditioning on, of course) while I waited outside the van for the remainder of my family. They came shortly thereafter and we loaded up and headed home. And luckily, the terrible part to Father's Day ends there.

Oh, except for the part where I lost Matt's card, didn't get pictures of the girls printed off that were to go into 5 homemade frames, and I didn't ever get a chance to get his present for him. But he did pick it up while we were at Lowe's--that counts, right?

Thank God he's not that big into making a big production of holidays.  He was fine with me telling him what my card said and how much his girls all appreciate and adore him, that I'll print those pictures this week and that he picked up his own gift. at the store. on Father's Day!

But all's well that ends well, at least in this household it is. 'Cuz we are all about surviving right now. In 20 years I'll have a terrific fishing getaway planned for him and a couple buddies, a cold beer with his favorite meal, a homemade lemon meringue pie and a brand new grill waiting for his Father's Day.


But this Father's Day will go down as the one that ended on a happy note. We ate our version of winner winner, chicken dinner, had some s'mores by our little fire and ended up dead tired in our by the time our heads hit the pillow.

Happy Father's Day, honey! Glad to be surviving it all with  you!