Farm Girl

 

We just got back from spending some time on the farm.  It's a summer high-light for Pinky.  Of course, we think every season is fun on the farm!  Pinky loves playing outside, chasing the dogs, and spending time with Grandpa on whatever adventure she can convince him to take her on.  (This is not hard, by the way!)  I think she is a little farm girl at heart.  

 

 

 

"Hey, Mom, I think I am big enough to drive this one!"

Grandpa's helper - Hauling the cows out to the pasture.
"Giddy-up partner, yets go!"

First (of many) "gator" ride! 

Tractor ride too! 

And the lawn mower!  (Grandpa didn't get to have all of the fun!)

 All that farm work is exhausting! 
Good thing she had her "cozy corner"!

What could be better - donuts for breakfast!
Of course the bowl of chocolate chips Grandma
provides at snack time are pretty tasty too!

Lucy is getting so big! 

Play date! 

"Shoo, cows!  Go on!"  (A natural cattle hand!)

Can't beat this view on a Friday night!

Followed by some s'mores fire-side with friends!

My big girl! 

One more ride on our list evening - beautiful night on the water!



Big Sister

People keep asking us how Pinky is doing with the adjustment of becoming a big sister.  It's hard to know how to respond to that.  As I have mentioned before, she's 3.  Which for us, and for her, means completely unpredictable in many, many ways.  And I have to admit, Pinky's reaction, response, and adjustment to becoming a big sister was one of my biggest concerns leading up to Rosie's arrival.  I evidently didn't communicate how much of a concern this was to my husband.  One day after a not so good 3-year-old moment, he said, "She's 3, she should be able to handle this." 

Clearly we weren't communicating!  OOPS!  Our doctor told us yesterday that age 3 was probably the hardest age to "introduce" a new sibling to the family.  Awesome!  She also told us that how we parent at the age of 3 sets the ground work for the teen years.  To stick to our guns and to stay consistent.  We probably should have talked to her before Rosie was born. 

But I am happy to say, that for the most part, Pinky seems to be adjusting as well as can be expected.  She wakes up and can't wait to see "her baby".  She wants to hold her, burp her, feed her, hug her, kiss her . . . just one more time!  And often during the day, you'll hear her say "Oh, Rosie, you're my best friend!" 

Yes, we've seen some regression with potty training.  Yes, she spends lots of time in the corner or her room.  We've heard much more screaming at mom and dad.  But she's had a lot of change.  And change is hard for all of us.  And it's our job to help her through! 

We've started an "incentive program" for Pinky. 
Every time she is "dry" when she uses the potty she gets a dime.
She spent her money last week on a carousel ride. 
By the look on her face, it was money well spent! 
She thinks the ice cream truck may get her money this week.
Whatever works!

Big sister!!!!

Mommy's helper

 

Another big change...no more daycare, at least for the year. 
I know she misses her friends already. 
We'll need to set up some more
play dates.

 

Father's Day

We had a fun weekend celebrating Father's Day.

Our girls adore their dad, as do I!

Happy Father's Day to the only man I would want to be my partner in raising our beautiful daughters!

Saturday evening at the zoo

Rosie's first trip to the zoo!  She slept through it all.

 

Sunday morning - Pinky kept her gift  ("tic tacs") a secret
for 4 days and then spilled the beans.  Her daddy also got a new
BB gun. 

 

Daddy's girls! 

BBQ with friends Sunday after Church

We didn't get to see our dads/grandpas for Father's Day, but we celebrated them too!  What a blessing to have so many wonderful fathers in our lives!  Every child should be so loved and so blessed! 

2-Week CheckUp

 

We took Rosie in for her 2 week check up this morning.  She was such a good girl.  Big sister came along to "help".  (This was a good appointment for big sister to join us - no shots!)  The doctor thought she was doing great and growing well.  What a blessing!!!! 

 

Rosie  has officially passed her big sister's birth weight (6 pounds 5 ounces), weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces!  She's starting to fill out the newborn clothes a little better these days, but is clearly not ready for 0-3 month.  The t-shirt I had her in yesterday looked like a dress.  She still feels so little in our arms, but she is a little more "sturdy" now!  I wonder if she will always be our little peanut???? 

 

Rosie is still eating 2 ounce bottles every 3-5 hours day/night.  She's getting up for bottles in the middle of the night around 1-2 am and again around 5-6 am).  Thinking she may be a morning girl, as she isn't always as eager to go back to sleep after her 5 am bottle as she is at 1 am.  We may need to start using that time to exercise.  HAHA!

 

 

so big!

little helper

let's go home

 

 

"Rosie"

"Rosie" is here!  Oh, and was she worth the wait.  She's just about 2 weeks old already.  Time flies when you're making bottles, changing diapers, and playing "defense" with a 3-year old!  :) 

Here are some things we know about Rosie:

• She has the cutest dimples - thanks to her daddy - although they are very hard to catch on camera!
• She looks a little like her sister, a lot like her daddy, and is as perfect as can be.
• Her sister is her #1 fan.
• She's a good eater!  She only lost 1.5 ounces in the hospital and had regained that and more after just a few days!
• She likes to be swaddled when she sleeps, just like her big sister did.
• She likes to have her hands by her face when she sleeps, again like her sister!
• She likes her Nuk, but doesn't need it (or want it) all of the time.
• She has dark hair, mostly in the back and a little on the sides and top.  It's soft and straight.
• She is still swimming in newborn clothes, although she probably weighs over 6 pounds by now.
• She seems to enjoy stroller rides, but is less of a fan of car rides. 
• She's been a good sleeper.  Day and night!
• Her mommy thinks she is absolutely, positively, perfectly adorable! 

Welcome Baby Girl!  (With our doctor!)

Proud big sister

Happy Birthday, Rosie!

Celebrating her arrival!!!!

So sweet and so tiny.  Our little peanut!

So glad to be home!  Look how she's changed!

One of her favorite places to be! 

Snuggle time

 

 

Enjoying a beautiful evening in the back yard!

Full of Surprises!

People keep asking us if Pinky is ready to be a big sister.  I'm never sure how to answer this question.  She's THREE.  Which I have learned means completely unpredictable for this child!  Sometimes, she surprises me . . . other times, shocked might be a better word for it.  So, is she ready?  I have no idea.  She thinks so!  Time will tell!

A good friend had a baby earlier this spring and she graciously allowed me to bring Pinky up to her hospital room to give Pinky a sense of what it was all about.  Pinky held the baby, rubbed her hair, and checked her out from head to toe.  She even let me hold her for a few minutes!  I thought the visit was an absolute success.  But then, as we were heading to the car, I said to Pinky, "wasn't the baby cute?"  To which Pinky quickly responded "Not as cute as me, right mom?"  For a good week after our visit, we had similar conversations that went like this:
Pinky:  See that bus, mom, isn't it cute?
Me: Yes, very cute! 
Pinky:  But not as cute as me, right mom!
Me: (Silently in my head)  Oh dear, what are we in for????

Fortunately, we have seen some "softening" in recent weeks that brings me hope that she is ready to be a big sister.  (Or as ready as she can be!)

A couple of weeks ago there was a baby shower at my school for all of the families having babies this year.  We received the cutest piggy bank filled with gifts from co-workers.  Leaving work with this generously filled pig, I was a little worried about big sister's response when she saw it.  Big sister, who has 2 piggy  banks of her own.  Big sister, who has to hug and kiss her piggy banks each time she "feeds" them.  What was she going to say/do when she saw this piggy bank with a tiarra and pink tutu that was NOT for her????

SURPRISE:  She went to her room, got down a piggy bank, opened it up, and got some money to share with her baby sister.  And then, she helped find the "best" home for it in "Rosie's" room!  My heart smiled like you can't imagine.

****

On Saturday, we were at a local book store picking out some gifts for upcoming birthdays and what-not.  We were having so much fun looking around the store together, something we don't get to do often.  We were looking at the books, the games, the toys, and then . . . .  We found a shelf of stuffed animals and I was pretty sure our time at the store was OVER for my little plush-toy fanatic. 

SURPRISE:  I offered her the opportunity to pick something out for "Rosie".   Something she could bring to the hospital when she comes to meet her.  She spent at least 10 minutes trying to decide which one Rosie would like better.  The puppy?  The turtle?  The monkey?  She settled on a floral print monkey, as soft as can be.  She snuggled with it the whole way home, and then, as asked, she took it to Rosie's room and put it in her crib, where it has been ever since.  (Except when she has to show someone what she got for Rosie!)  Sigh!  What a good girl! 

Waiting for Rosie!

 

****

Pinky has been very interested in watching my tummy grow.  (And at 35 weeks, it's getting pretty big she has informed me!)  She loves to rub my tummy, but now it is more about hugging and kissing Rosie.  Maybe this is just an excuse to get out of whatever she is supposed to be doing at the time . . . because she knows I won't say no to her initiations to show affection to her sister.  In the recent week or so, she has also been talking to her sister, which I think is adorable.  In church on Sunday, she was sitting on my lap rubbing my tummy and I hear her lean over and whisper to Rosie, "It's ok, Rosie, Mommy's got you.  Mommy's got you." 

My view looking down these days!

Oh, this girl is full of surprises.  She is so sweet and affectionate.  She completely warms my heart and makes me smile.  I pray she will always have that sweet, sensitive, caring disposition . . . along with her quick whit and sense of adventure!  And I pray that when little Rosie gets here, her big sister is ready for all of the changes that will be happening in our house.  (Of course, I'm also praying the same for mom and dad!)

#1 Sister 

Proof

Not that we need it . . . but every once in a while we have those moments when we think, "Yep, she's definitely my daughter!"  The other day we was one of those days.

Pinky and I were in the car, I'd just picked her up from school and we were nearing home.  We saw the high school track team out for a run.  From the back seat I hear Pinky say, "Hey mom, can we throw snowballs at those runners tomorrow?" 

Yep!  PROOF she IS her DADDY's daughter!!!  (Because we all know her mommy would NEVER think of something like that!)

We hadn't been home more than a few minutes.  My hubby and I were visiting about the day and clearly not paying attention to our little one.  She comes down the hall and peaks her head in the door holding up a big piece of unwrapped chocolate and says "I snooked some candy!"  Then pops the entire thing in her mouth.

Yep!  PROOF she IS her mommy's daughter!!! 

We put her in the corner, put the lock back on the treat cabinet, and fought laughter the entire time.  I'm sure she has seen me "snook" chocolate out of that same cupboard more than a hundred times . . . and this wasn't a first for her either.  I can't say I blame her, it was probably one of those days for her too.  The good news is, she still doesn't know to "hide" her little acts of mischief!  Lucky for us!!!!

That's OUR girl!  She "snooked" our hearts too!