Happy Baby during diaper changes

For the past 4 months or so, diaper changes have been horrific with Ashley. I mean dreadful and painful. She would scream, wiggle, run away, scream, cry and it looked just awful.

Well we finally thought to buy sensitive wipes and since then she has been an angel. She actually tells us when she pee pees or poops and if I ask if she pooped she says yes or no correctly. Sometimes she even walks over and get the wipes and a diaper for us. And she even runs to where she likes to be changed and lays down ready to get cleaned. And during the change she is mostly all smiles. It is amazing what these wipes have done with diaper changes.

Thanks you Sensitive Wipes for making my day a little more easy :)

And what do you know, I'm off to change a poopie!

Much Love,
Jenny

they convinced me

to do another one.....

This time Minnie with a bow since it is Ashley's favorite.

Got this one done quicker then the others (in about an hour and 45 minutes) but oh do I hate painting with the color black!!!!! And the outlining- yuck! If it wasn't for the outlining I would have been done in an hour :)

Much Love,
Jenny

EAT!

It is literally like clockword. 8:30ish, noon, 5:15 if the meal is not ready for this child, she takes matters into her own hands.

She gets her plate, bib and started to pull out and climb up into her booster. Then she yells "Hel! Hel!" to get help with the buckles and then snaps them on her own.

Then she makes her I am ready to eat sigh and if something isn't in front of her soon, she loses it.

Just.Like.Daddy :)

Much Love,
Jenny

Fashionista

Anna is becoming quite the fashionista. When she finds out that we are headed somewhere for the day she runs quickly to her room, takes off her pajamas and finds the perfect outfit. And I'm not kidding. She takeas about 5 minutes to contemplate her choices (I walked in on her this morning talking about too hot for this one, too cold for that one) and then decides on what she believes matches. I will give her credit that she usually does a decent job matching but then she accessorizes.

The purse, the headband, the bows, a jacket or vest (I had to convince her today that one layer was enough), the socks and the shoes....

And then she looks something like this for a play date where she is meeting all her new classmates :)

SIDE NOTE: While at her playgroup Anna was holding bunny and i asked her to put him down on the blanket when she went to play. She looked at me and said, "Mommy, I'm nervous."  I was shocked that she knew this word so I asked, "Why?" And she told me, "I'm nervous that somebody take bunny." She just loves her bunny!

 

I never make her change, I just do a little adjusting of the hair band and bow, find appropriate shoes for the activity we are doing and persuade her to take layers off if we are headed outside. She usually doesn't look that bad, but I like to remind people that she is 110% dressing herself these days!

We have also gotten into dress up a lot. Here she is in her Cherry Jam outfit...

She said she was MinnieBelle here with a pink leotard and tutu on under her dress that you can't see

This little one sure does have an opinion and is growing into quite the fashionista who wants a pretty darn good explanation of why she has to change what she is currently wearing.

Much Love,
Jenny

Mothers day out

Today we went up to Anna's school to drop off paperwork, treats for the teachers and her tuition. Anna was so super excited. As we were in the office both of her teachers walk in and introduce themselves to her. They then stay in with her for five minutes or so talking with her. Anna didnt say much, besides talk about strawberry shortcake, but she was all smiles; especially as we were talking about the morning later.

Both teachers seem very nice and we can't wait to go back this week to see the classroom and officially meet them. We start a week from tomorrow and I think we may be ready.

I found the cutest book called the kissing hand that we started reading today. I think it will become our back to school or when we try something new tradition. It is a really sweet book and she likes it a lot!

I am so excited to send my little girl off to school. Some people get sad, worried or anxious. I just can't wait for her to learn, make friends, be around kids her age, get comfortable with adults outside of her family and just grow into the beautiful young lady she is already becoming. I cant wait to share in the excitement of every new adventure along the way and I hope she never looses her excitement.... Its contagious!

Much love,
Jenny

Ps tomorrow we are meeting up with some of Anna's classmates and their parents so that they have familiar faces the first day of mothers day out. I am really looking forward to this.

Such a princess

Today we ran to the mall to pick up some shoes for a wedding that I am in. I told the girls that if they were good that we could go look in the Disney store. Sure enough they were good and in we headed. They were in awe.... Bt that's not the point of this blog entry.

As we were leaving the store to go change Ashleys dirty diaper, the lady who was working walked up to my two little ladies and said, "how are you two lovely princesses doing today?"

Anna immediately got shy as Ashley looks at her, grabs her bottom and screams, "Poop!"

What can I say.... Such a little princess!

Much love,
Jenny

Happy Birthday Mommy Shop

This past weekend we went to the birthday celebration for a store called Mommy Shop. There was supposed to be really cool things there and maybe we expected too much, but it wasn't that great. We did however get some dinosaur tatoos, pictures from a photo booth that only had Anna in them (Mommy will scan that later- it is too funny), hand painting, donated Peanut Butter, won some toys that broke right away and ate some really good cake and drank a Capri Sun (yummy). We also got balloons from a balloon man but they popped right away. Anna got a flower and Ashley got a bear. When he asked us if we wanted another one, we told him no because we were too scared of them popping again.

 Us in the photo booth. Aunt Anne did a better job at the pictures then the booth did :)

 Watching the balloon guy. He was really funny :)

Mommy is usually really good at finding fun free things for us to do so maybe she'll do better with the next event :)

Love,
Anna and Ashley

PS mommy got a phone call today saying she won something from one of the vendors. We are headed there tomorrow. Fingers crossed it's the 100 dollar gift card!

PSS Thanks for taking pictures Aunt A!

35 months old

Happy one more month until I have a 3 year old!!!!! OH MY OH MY OH MY!!!

*Favorite things to do: She loves coloring, dancing, singing, playing in the rain, markers, anything strawberry shortcake, playing outside on her trike, scooter and other "bikes," swimming, taking showers, reading books, ipad time, drinking milk baba's, sleeping with bunny, dressing up, playing with Ashley, her grandparents and cousins, going to the farm, zoo and gardens to see flowers and just being around her family.
*She talks and sings all the time and she is getting more clear in her speech. I look forward to her starting mother's day out in a couple of weeks to hear what her teachers say about her and especially about her speech clarity. I can't wait to get her around kids more and more. This past month we joined a mother's group and have been to one activity, she started soccer, we headed back to the nursery at the gym and started using the nursery at church. She loves taking on the phone to her imaginary friend Ellie.
*Favorite songs: Anything is Possible (Cherry Jam on Strawberry Shortcake), Moves like Jaggar, Call Me Maybe, and ANY Strawberry Shortcake song.

Much Love,
Jenny

PS Ashley wanted her turn in the chair with pictures. Her pose of choice; the MUSH MOUTH!

Anna and Cherry Jam. Anna was over the moon to see that I had finished painting her after she went to bed last night

Ashley was too excited to see pup cake and custard (after I finished them this morning)

They love their Berry Bitty Basement. They both love to hug them, high five them, kiss them, talk to them, sit by them, sing to them, pose like them, wave to them and just play in the basement around them. Well worth the time to see the girls love this so much. And it was nice to do something crafty that we can all appreciate :)

Much Love,
Jenny

Happy Feet Soccer

 

Today we had Anna's first soccer practice. I wouldn't say she loved it, but I also wouldn't say she hated it. I think she was just trying to figure it all out.....

We joined a Happy Feet soccer league for 8 weeks and she plays every Sunday at 3:15. Today we had to wake her early from her nap and I think she was still waking up when we got there. Her team name is the Orange Orangatangs and she fought us so hard in putting on her soccer uniform shirt because she had picked out her own Orange Blossom outfit to wear to soccer and she wanted to wear it instead. I don't know how we got it on her without making a scene but we did (I was relieved to see other kids having this issue too!)

The set up was really nice and I can see Anna being really comfortable by the end. Each "practice" lasts 30 minutes and then they let the kids play with their parents, coach or other teammates for the last 15 minutes. Each kid has a ball and they call the ball "Bob" which I find really fun. During the "practice" they stretch, sing songs with the soccer ball and learn things like toe stops, kicks and dribbling. Mostly they are just learning to follow directions with a soccer ball. Anna was not a fan of her coach (extremely shy) and my goal for her is for her to give him a high five at the end of week 8. As for soccer skills, Anna may have been the slowest one at times and the one dragging behind during the practice, but we were so proud of her for hanging in there and doing everything that was asked of her (eventually). Her attention span lasted the entire 45 minutes and she seemed to understand what was going on.

Little Miss Ashley was also there and she was REALLY wishing that she was 2 and had a soccer ball of her own. She started out content with pushing around her baby in the stroller but one she saw the kids kicking around the balls I would find her right by Anna's side, in the huddle or trying to pick up the ball. Rob and I traded turns with Ashley so we could also have a turn with Anna.

The practice started with 10 kids and Anna was one of 5 left in the end still practicing. And she was smiling. Kicking and smiling. And that's all I really hope she's still doing in 8 weeks!

Much Love,

Jenny

 Stretches with the team

 Getting as close to Daddy in the beginning as possible

 Walking Baby

 Everyone is dribbling with the coach... Anna is just taking her time. In her defense, the coach did say do "slow kicks!!!"

 Doing toe stops with "Bob." She really had this down by the end of practice.

 "No way am I giving that man (her coach) a high five!!"

 Big kick!

 GOAL!!!!!!!!!! We kept telling her that the goal was "Bob's" house and that he wanted to go home! It seemed to work with her wanting to keep kick it in and out of the goal.

 Taking a break

 Team huddle!!!!!

 Being funny...

It's nice being the youngest girls on the block

Thursday afternoon while we were playing out front, a neighbor stopped by to see if we'd like to inherit any of her daughter's things. OF COURSE (I scream to myself!) and I casually say, sure, we'll take a look.

Well, WOW did we strike gold! Anna got this rain boot and umbrella set (perfect because she was asking for rain boot and umbrella for her birthday), a miniature popason chair, 3 bags of clothes which had tons of dance stuff, future elementary school t-shirts and a disney princess costume in it, a vanity and stool that needs to be painted because there's writing all over it (but it has potential... great potential!), some storage bins, a three story Barbie house (no furniture but that is easy once you have the house), a Princess bike and according to the daughter a soon to be 2 passenger riding Barbie Jeep (we will see if we actually get that! Fingers really tightly crossed!)

And it was all for free. I don't know who was more excited; mommy or Anna. I guess it pays in more ways then I thought to play in the front yard so that you meet all your neighbors :)

Much Love,
Jenny

PS Pictures to come of the loot as we get it to our house and painted. So excited for more projects!

She just makes me laugh

She LOVED it!

This morning Anna walks downstairs and sees Plum Pudding painted on the basement wall....

"Mommy.... you finished Plum????" (HUGE SMILE) "Now you do Cherry Jam?"

Then Ashley walks down and stakes her claim to Strawberry, smacking a HUGE kiss on her. They just love these girls!


 
 

As of right now I have Cherry Jam, Pupcake and Custard drawn and ready to be painted. Call me a sucker much?!?!

Much Love,
Jenny

Anna's going to FLIP out

When she sees what I finished while she was sleeping.

Request #2: Her FAVOR (favorite) Plum Pudding!

Can't wait to hear her reaction!

Much Love,
Jenny

PS Starting Request #3 tomorrow :) We will then see what request 4,5,6,7,8..... is :)

My Morning Masterpiece

Rob brought a projector home from work and I had a little fun this morning in the basement while the girls played and entertained themselves in the basement.

It felt so good to get out the paints again and get creative with blank cement wall space. It was a blast, even with having to stop every 15 minutes to play with the girls, or change a diaper, or get a sippy cup, or break up a fight, or change water color water, or do a quick dance party, or get a snack, or let Peanut out, etc.....

Here's what Anna had to say when the masterpiece was done. "Mommy, she's adorable. Now paint Cherry Jam and Plum." Looks like I have more on my plate for the basement walls! :)

I just LOVE it when she poses just like something else. Cracks me up!!!

Much Love,
Jenny

PS. I call our basement the Berry Bitty Basement now and Anna squeals in delight- obsessed much.... Anna or..... me?!?!?!

PSS Do you like Anna's outfit? This is her so called "Cherry Jam" outfit she dressed herself in this morning. Too bad the hairband and bow fell out before this picture- it REALLY made the outfit :)

Fairy Storytime

This morning we went to a fairy story time at the Mommy Shop down the street from where we live. We were all allowed to dress as fairies to come and listen to the fairy nanny ready a couple fairy books, look at fairy houses, have fairy cakes and an apple juice box and lastly watch Tinker Belle.

Here we are getting ready to leave the house.... can we guess who didn't dress as a fairy????

Anna was super excited- the Purple "Cherry Jam" Fairy (of course purple!)

Can't wait to head back. they have themed dress up story times every other week on Fridays. Between the weather getting nice (and being outside ALL the time) and all the free things I am finding in the area, we are getting busy, busy, busy!!!

Much Love,
Jenny

PS As we were leaving Anna and Ashley got dirty from my car and Anna made me wash it with her when we got home. I am so glad she isn't afraid of when to call things dirty and messy so she keeps me cleaning :)

We had our family pictures taken about 6 weeks ago. I finally made it to pick the pictures up today (can we tell my mind has been other places like the house?!?!)

I think they turned out pretty well based on the fact that they were taken when it was about 95 degrees out with 150% humidity outside at the OP Arboretum and the girls did not want to be there. They were really giving the photographer nothing to work with. But looking at these pictures he did get, he did capture the serious, the funny and the sweet sides of my girls pretty well but I wouldn't say these are my best that have ever been taken. I am so glad we get family pictures taken so often by another photographer because I don't "sweat it" too bad if the pictures don't turn out as I was hoping. Of course I wish that every time we got pictures that they would turn out AWESOME, but accepting reality I like to view it as a good way to remember their personalities at this time in their lives. (Thanks to Groupon and Living Social Photographers and photo packages are affordable!)

Enjoy! I can't wait to get some of these printed and up on my walls!

Much Love,

Jenny