Quick St. Patty's Day

Just wanted to share a quick St. Patrick's Day photo. Yesterday we marched in the Charlotte parade again. I, as usual, forgot the camera, so here is a post parade picture with us in our green. It's really just an excuse to take a picture of Evie with deelipopers on her head. Is that how you spell that word. Ho humm.

We had a good time. Rose would say she had a great time!

Evie and Lily

Lily and Evie hanging out in the Dora tent together. Lily was emphatic that Evie play with her.

Now that Evie is getting older it is fun to see how the girls are developing relationships with her. Lily does have more time with her because Rose is in school full time, so I get to write about them first.

Lily loves being the big sister SO much. Sometimes to much. Like yesterday when I was in the kitchen and Lily decides to get Evie out of the exersaucer by herself and bring Ev to me. Yeah. She waddled right up to me with Evie. So, I don't completely trust Lily to alone with the baby. But, for the most part she is so gentle and loving towards her. She'll get all the baby toys out and sit on the floor with Evie for 15 minutes and just play... laughing and smiling the entire time.

I hope that this joy continues for Lily. I know when Evie is more vocal and able to move around better she will be doing a lot of disturbing her big sisters. I'll take the joy for now, because it can't last forever.

Half a year with Evie

Evie is almost 6 months.... as promised here are some pictures that are current. We'll only 15 days old.

It's really impossible for me to believe that Evie has been in our lives for half a year. How have we grown with Evie?

* I've learned that the third child is so much easier. Jack and I don't stress the way we did with Rose and Lily.

*I've relearned that a human really doesn't need to have 6 hours of sleep to function. Just increments of two hours.

* My house is never ever as clean as I would like it to be. And I have not caught up on laundry yet! Heck who has time? And add the babies clothes to the mix; it honestly is just humorous.

* Lily and Rose are still enamored with Evie. I was told that her novelty would wear off... not here. Not yet.

* It's amazing how much you can love another child. I didn't think it was possible... but love grows.

* The same sleeping mistakes that I made with Rose and Lily are still the same mistakes that I make with Evie.

There are so many more, but it's time to make the beds. Hey, it's only 1 o'clock!

has

Sunday at Church

We woke up late this Sunday... first off I want to add that every bone and especially my left knee are killing me. We went roller skating at the Concord rink yesterday and twice I was literally run over by some crazed kamikaze kids. My body was contorted into gymnastic like positions as to not fall on my child that was skating beside me. But, I digress.

We woke up late this Sunday and slowly started getting ready for church. And somehow managed to get there on time with all children's hair and teeth brushed. Victory! Rose and Lily as usual go to story time. Jack, Evie, and I find a pew on our regular right hand side. Within minutes Evie is grunting. Really grunting. Then smiling. Yep, you know what that means... Blow Out. The families beside know it was a blow out too. We all smile and Evie and I leave with stinky baby poop up to her neck. I make it to the restroom and pray that I have an extra outfit. (She's the third and should honestly be happy I have the diaper bag with me.) And now the process begins.... During this time Father Remo is giving his Homily... that I can hear via the speakers in the bathroom. At least I get to hear it. His Homilies are my favorite part of going to church. So, for the next 10 minutes I slowly change Evie and wash her off as I'm listening. The hidden good part; I got to listen in a quiet room and focus on his message. Victory.

After leaving the bathroom we stayed in the Narthex to listen to rest of the message and waited for Rose and Lily to return from story time so I could help them to our seat. Once seated the last 20 minutes consisted of passing Evie back and forth between Jack and I, holding Lily as we watched Father prepare communion, pass Evie back and forth, help Rose find the right hymn number to sing, and pass Evie back and forth. As we were leaving a woman stopped to tell me that she enjoyed watching our family the last 20 minutes. She said our girls were very cute and well behaved and were impressed that Jack and I stayed calm through it all. ( proof of the power of the holy spirit... I'm thinking.) And above all she was happy that that phase of her life was over. I smile.

This is bascially what our family looks like each Sunday since Evie has been alert during servie. The good news is Evie has only three more weeks until she can go to the nursery during service. Then I know we won't look like the three ring circus. Victory.

Evie Update

Yesterday was Evie's 5 month birthday and I thought it would be fitting to blog about our little peanut. She has been such a happy baby and we are truly blessed to have her in our lives. It seems that our entire family has transitioned very well...even Sunday who is still awaiting our daily neighborhood walks. Which will happen as soon as the weather is cooperative for Evie.

Evie has started eating solid foods, just the basics as of now. She seems to enjoy rice cereal and anything. As long as I blend it together she will eat carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, and apples. She's not so sure about bananas and pears.

She is also a rolling girl. No longer will she lay on her back and play with the toys on her little "gym". Put her on the ground and she will begin rolling all over the place. I guess the next step is to put all the Barbies and Polly Pockets up in the girls room. There are so many small things that go with girly stuff.

She has a beautiful personality. Though I know I'm biased. And smiles very easily at all of us. I guess being the third she will never be without some form of entertainment. Evie is also a big talker and tongue blower. (Is that even a phrase.... you know sticking your tongue out and blowing to make the fart sound.) Anyways. She loves it.

On more thing last night she actually sat by herself for a few moments!

Here are a few recent pics of Evie....though they are even a month old! I need to take more.

Girlfriends

Yesterday Lily had found a flower ( a weed ) and began pulling it apart while saying "He loves me. He loves me not." Quite a big move for a four year old.

So I commented, "Lily that's silly. What boy do you want to love you?"

"Oh, mommy this is not for me. It's for my friend Ada. She loves Nathan and I just making sure he loves her back."

And so the loyalty to her girlfriend begins.

Snow Day

A few weeks ago the kids had a snow day from school. We had a whopping 1" of snow. Pretty funny considering our family in WV has had so much snow and life must go on there. So, the girls played in the snow for about an hour and then we invited friends over for the afternoon. My dad made Lily this balance beam for her Christmas present. Needless to say it has been a huge hit for the girls. All four girls ran upstairs and put on bathing suits so they could look like real gymnasts and then the performance began. Honestly, during these pictures it was beautiful chaos. We were jamming out to some High School Musical as each girl took turns on the balance beam and dancing on the mat. (This would be the floor routine.) Evie sat on my lap and watched the girls go crazy. I know it will only be a few more months until she is mobile and enjoying herself too!