uno...dos...tres

Three is a magic number in our household this month. Vivian turned three months old yesterday. We love her sweet smile and she smiles ALL the time. We are lucky that she is such a happy baby girl. Emma Jane has become really interested in the number three recently. She has just learned how to hold up three fingers and she knows that will be her age on her next birthday (5 months from now!). She asks for three cookies or three crackers or three crayons. She went on a bike ride with Paul at the park the other day and she brought back three flowers for me!

chasing and cuddling

We took a trip to the Riverfront Park today to enjoy some of this early springtime weather. Emma Jane ran and climbed and explored her heart out. I had to include a picture of Emma Jane in motion with only half of her visible because this is how 90% of the pictures we take of her turn out. That girl does NOT slow down! While at the park, Vivian did what she does best...slept! By the way, if you haven't noticed, we have to drape our sweet baby in huge bibs. The acid reflux causes her to lose her lunch pretty frequently and unexpectedly. I've finally decided that I can't let that slow us down. We've been out and about all week and I just make sure that I'm prepared with lots of bibs and burp cloths and a change of clothes. Vivi is pretty good about just going with the flow regardless of her tummy issues. We had a wonderful time basking in the sun while chasing one little girl and cuddling the other.

good friends make the world go round

We've had some fun play dates with our friends this week. Addie and Lily both came to play at our neighborhood playground. Now that the girls are older, they are really starting to enjoy playing together. Today Addie and Emma Jane went down the slide countless times and Addie was kind enough to share some snacks with Emma Jane. Earlier this week Lily and Emma Jane had fun chasing each other, playing with a beach ball, and coloring cute monkey masks. The playground is the perfect place to let our girls play safely.

We also went out to dinner with Lily and her family on Valentine's Day. There was a man at the restaurant who makes balloon animals and he made the girls adorable ponies that actually fit around their bodies! Lily and Emma Jane rode their ponies all over the restaurant! Lily also shared her dessert with Emma Jane....now THAT'S friendship!

you are my i love you

We had a wonderful Valentine's Day. We are so lucky to have two beautiful girls as our valentines. I found a few sweet books for Emma Jane and Vivi and cute stuffed animals covered in fun prints. I also stumbled upon a book for Paul from the girls called "You Are My I Love You". I will have to quote a few lines here because it is one of the sweetest children's books I've ever read (and I've read MANY!). It truly describes the relationship that Paul has with Emma Jane and will one day soon have with Vivi. I'm sure any parent would feel the same.

I am your parent; you are my child.
I am your quiet place; you are my wild.
I am your calm face; you are my giggle.
I am your wait; you are my wiggle.
I am your carriage ride; you are my king.
I am your push; you are my swing.
I am your way home; you are my new path.
I am your dry towel; you are my wet bath.

There's more, but I don't want to ruin it for those of you who might like to read this book for yourself.

Happy Valentine's Day!

XOXO

saturday outing

We made the most of our Saturday now that we are feeling better and the weather is nice. We enjoyed lunch at the Cantina on Devine. Although it's a Mexican restaurant, Emma Jane ordered chicken fingers and tator tots. She has become an expert "dipper" and had loads of fun dipping her food in honey mustard. Vivi slept soundly throughout our meal. We then took a stroll around the Capitol grounds. It's a great place for Emma Jane to run and safely have a little freedom. Vivi even made a short appearance outside of the carseat. She took a bottle and then timidly looked around squinting in the sunlight. It was so nice to get out and have some fun together. Hopefully spring is on its way!

green means go

Emma Jane has become a constant chatterbox and incessantly questions everything around her. Although this can be quite exhausting for those of us who are expected to respond to her every word (she won't stop asking until she gets an answer!), some of the things she says are just so darn cute. This post will be the first of many Emma Jane conversations, I'm sure.

This was our conversation on the way home from school today.

EJ: Mom, green means go!
Me: Yes, it does, honey.
EJ: Mom, green means go!
Me: I know, sweetheart, you're right.
EJ: Mom, greens means go!

This is when I realized that we were indeed sitting at a green light waiting to turn left. She didn't understand why we weren't moving when the light was clearly green!

Continuation of the same conversation:

EJ: Mom, red means stop.
Me: Yep, that's right!
EJ: Mom, yellow means slow down.
Me: Yes, it does, sweetpea. Good thinking!
EJ: What does black mean, mom?
Me: Well, the traffic lights are only red, green, and yellow. There is no black.
EJ: What does black mean, mom?
Me: There isn't a black light, Emma Jane.
EJ: What does black mean, mom?

This is when I realized that the black she was referring to was the color of the lights not currently in use. She is one observant little girl! Although she obviously hasn't learned how to reword her question more specifically to ensure others understand what she is asking, she is determined to find out the answer no matter how many times she has to ask.

zoo day

After a full week of sickness, we finally got the girls out of the house for a quick trip to the zoo. This was Vivi's first zoo experience and I'm pretty sure she had no idea she was there. Our little peanut closed her eyes as soon as we buckled her in her car seat and didn't open them again until we got home! Emma Jane, on the other hand, was very aware of where we were going and what she planned to do when we got there. She was given a map at the zoo entrance and immediately told us we were going straight to the merry-go-round! She found a picture of the merry-go-round on the map and said, "There it is! Let's go! I think it's that way!" Fortunately we had to pass several animal exhibits on the way to the merry-go-round, so we were able to distract her from her goal momentarily. She half-heartedly checked out the animals we passed and reminded us to keep moving! When she finally spotted the merry-go-round spinning in the distance, she shouted, "Stop merry-go-round! Wait for me!" After a few excruciating minutes of waiting in line, Emma Jane finally got to ride the merry-go-round with her daddy. Of course, my camera battery died just as I was getting ready to take their picture! Even though Emma Jane didn't quite understand that the purpose of going to the zoo is to see the animals, she was finally able to release some of that pent-up energy that has been building all week and is sound asleep in her bed as I write this.