Last days of pre-school

This is Jenna's last week of Pre-school! I can hardly believe how time flies! She has enjoyed it very much, and I have too! I am very proud of how smart she is and friendly. It really has been a great experience! She has "graduation" Wednesday night and then Friday is an all school picnic. Which should be fun! I am looking forward to it.

We have been busy busy! Always. Jenna just finished up a 6 week Jazz and Tap dance class. It was really cute and she loved it! She really looked forward to each class. We got to sit in on her last class- she does good when she tries! But she likes to be silly. She is also doing soccer class now too- and about the same- she is good- but likes to be silly. Oh well. I think she is having fun!

And she is now our big 5 year old! My baby! We had a great party for her and Zachary. The greatest turn out ever! The kids jumped in the jumper - the entire time. And the rest of us were a bit chilly! But it was a great party! And then Jenna had a party with her school friends too. I think she had fun. Thank goodness my sister Megan was here. I was a little in over my head thinking I could handle 7- 5 year olds and Zach and Ashley. But it was a gorgeous day and the girls were cute!

Zachary is doing good. He is soooo funny! Too funny! Talking so much, playing cars, watching movies, always wanting a "snack". and now always wanting to go outside into the "back yard". He has been singing the ABC's and twinkle twinkle- so cute how close he is to the actual songs. He definitely challenges me daily, but he is my sweetie too. He loves to give hugs and kisses. Which is adorable. We have been taking an Exploring Toddler class, him and I together. And he has come so far in it. He tells the class his name "Zach!" and my name "Marcia". It is really adorable. I really try to relish that time and all the time we have together.

Ashley is 8 months old! With a tooth! No crawling yet. But she did roll from back to stomach the other day. And crawling looks like it could happen in the next month. But really I am not looking forward to that. She is already into everything!! And she has quite the temper! It is something to see when she gets a toy taken or is told no- she slaps her hands down and yells. It is quite cute- but I don't know... She loves to eat- and I swear I am feeding her all day! She is doing really good though. We are getting her baptized Sunday. It should be very nice.



Double birthday party!


Together at Brookfield zoo! In the Great Bear wilderness on Opening day!


First time all 3 in the tub together! Love it!


Our sweet 8 month old (although she was still 7 months in this pic)


This picture warms my heart so much- me and my babies on Mother's day

Easter and such...

We had the greatest Easter! Our little Ashley's 1st! We were joking around that it was kind of overlooked that it was her first... 3rd child... they just need to learn it all as we go! My mom, dad and brother Douglas are all 3rd's, Ashley is in good company!

We had a wonderful day with Scott's family on the Saturday of Easter weekend. And then Easter Sunday - down in Clifton with my Mom's side of the family. The kids hunted so many eggs and gathered so much candy this weekend! Totally blowing Halloween out of the water! And I have been eating way too much of it!

We are really enjoying the nicer weather! Spring has sprung! We have been outside and loving it! We cleaned the porch out and now it is cleaner than it ever has been! So that feels great! We blew bubbles for the first time- and Ashley loves them (of course!). Zachary is having fun blowing them himself! Such a big boy!

We went to a park about a week or so ago. Our first trip to a park this year. We went to what we call "the fishy park". Zachary had so much fun! He was saying "woo hoo" "fun!". So adorable! He is saying so much now! It really is just happening! He is 25 months and the words are just forming! I now remember that this time between 2 and 3- so much happens! Baby to boys!

Jenna is going to be 5 soon! I hate it! But am so proud of my beautiful girl. She had her dance recital on March 20. She did so wonderful! She is so sweet! And has been loving being outside without a jacket. She is so particular- jackets, shirts... clothing especially has to be her way! No buttons on the jammies! Ugg! She only has a month and a half left of pre-school. It has been so wonderful. She has made great friends and has learned a lot! She has become so "miss independent"- which hasn't been a good thing. She has been taking off on her bike, going to the neighbors- without asking. And at the zoo the other day- I was having to look for her most of the time... just another challenge for me! But she is the smartest and most loving daughter and sister- I guess I can forgive her. Even when "this is the worst day ever!"- Jenna.

Ashley- our sweet baby! She is 6 1/2 months old. Has mastered eating cereal and 1st foods. And has been sleeping through the night! She sits on the floor and plays and plays. And really has been just becoming a little girl. She is the sweetest thing. Just smiles at everything, and tucks into your shoulder so sweetly when she is being bashful. She is a pro at rolling from tummy to back, and curls up pretty good to grab her feet- maybe will be rolling from back to belly soon... maybe. She was so sweet on Easter. I got a great picture of her with my grandparents. And she was just the sweetest holding eggs. My baby.

Now I just need to get to planning Jenna and Zachary's birthday party. It is in a couple of weeks. Hoping for good weather! And getting the paperwork together for Jenna's kindergarten registration... I'm in total denial about that!

Some more recent pictures in no particular order...


My Irish babies on St. Patrick's Day.


Our sweet girl- Just turned 6 months old the day before.


Sydney's birthday pool party- so much fun! Zachary loved to "fly!"



Uncle Brian with our newest family member- Deeds!



Ashley in her end of winter first of Spring Bonnet.


Jenna's stitches- just before they came out. Poor girl! But she has been a trooper!


Zachary feeding Ashley- super sweet!


Jenna feeding Ashley- such great helpers!


My girls in their hats that our friend Shelly made! (Ashley looks like a beast!)



Zachary learning to drive! Look out!

BK!

I was bad and splurged at Burger King at Yorktown mall recently. But who can resist the crowns! The kids had a ball with them while we ate and played with them all night too! Scott couldn't even give me a hard time about eating out- because it was so worth the crowns!

4 Month check up!

We had Ashley's 4 month check up today. She did soo good! My baby! She weighs 15 lbs. 2 oz. and 25 in. height. She is in the 80th percentile for everything- weight, height, and head circumference. Which is where she was for her 2 month appointment as well. She even slept through the night last night! She was very tired from the day... but hey- we will take it! And it gives me the confidence to know that she can do it! So we will see how tonight fairs. She had shots today and a bath... hopefully that will make for another restful night.

Ashley is just grabbing and chewing on everything! It is very sweet! I can hardly believe how quickly baby's progress! She will lay on her mat and just grab and chew. and sit in her bumbo and just hold and chew her baby, snowy bear book or her other few toys. She definitely is ready to start eating. I am just not ready to move on yet!! I just want to hold onto every baby minute!! I was very sad when she turned 4 months... just seems like a bigger baby now...not my tensie thing- not that she ever was tensie! Hello 80th percentile!

Zachary is sooo funny! That boy could get away with murder! The faces and the shy looks away - he is something! And loves to crack us up! He is digging his cars he got for Christmas! Which Scott is very happy about. Zachary has such a love for shoes and jewelery and barbies. Hard not to when it is everywhere he looks! Seriously - every time I turn around he has mine or Jenna's shoes or boots on. So silly and cute! Oh and he has started dancing! He had a little before- but he would get very overwhelmed and embarrassed. Well now he just dances at any music! He does this cute wide leg move and he will do the air guitar when prompted! So adorable!

Jenna- my poor girl! I have been noticing that Scott and I have been on her case lately. I have to remind myself too often that she is still little too! We just expect so much from her. She has started this baby talking that is driving us crazy! And just the little things like taking forever to get to bed, get dress, eat - everything! I have been calling her "Molasses" She hates it! But Uggg! Otherwise though- she is really wonderful! So good to her brother! They are totally best buds. It warms my heart often to see her play so nice with him. The fun they have is so cute - it reminds me of how close me and my brother Brian were when we were young. Lord please help give me the patience and the understanding with her!!!!



Jenna shaking her "boot" on New Years Eve.


Zachary's rocking out- wide leg style- New Years Eve.


Our Chubby Bubby! Little 4 month old Ashley!


Playing with Daddy and Zach and Jenna! "Gonna getcha!!"


My 3 babes!

3 months and smilin'!

On the day that Ashley turned 3 months old (December 15, 2009)- I swear that she smiled all day! This girl is the sweetest smiliest thing on the planet! It seems that she just loves everything! Especially her daddy! She will smile and cuddle in for him every time! And she will tell him all sorts of things too! Our little night talker! Lots of coos and almost yells for him. Speaking of yells - boy does Ashley have a set of lungs on her! She doesn't really cry- just hollers out! In the middle of the night to eat or to be picked up... she's a yeller!

Ashley is...
- awake most of the day
- having a hard time sleeping in the bassinet- ugg!
- smiling like crazy!
- reacting to being talked to- mostly with a big smile!
- sits well in the bumbo seat- like a pro!
- gets mad in the bumbo and practically is jumping out of it at times!
- loves to eat!
- every time she wakes from the tiniest thing at night- insists on eating!
- almost every poop is a blow out!
- and therefore is in size 3 diapers now
- likes to cuddle and almost hold her blankets
- is trying hard to hold toys
- loves her glow worm baby from Uncle Brian
- has fists in her mouth all the time!
- drools like a leaking faucet! Ugg!
- loves to kiss/eat her baby, Zachary's ducky, and Jenna's baby
- loves diaper changes! Loves letting those chubby leggies breathe! And stretch!
- Only seems to go to sleep by being in the swing, nursing or in the carrier- ugg!!
- is doing well with taking a bottle - here and there!
- blows drool bubbles like a champion drool bubbler!

Really though she is the sweetest thing! And I can't believe she is 3 1/2 months old already! My sweetie!

Ashley is 2 months old!

Where oh where has my tinsy baby gone??? She is my big 2 month old now! And doing so good! She is our little chubby girl! The thighs and chin on this girl are too much! She is very sweet too! Last night she only woke up once! Hopefully we can keep that up- but I kind of know better!

Jenna and Zachary are doing soo good too! Zachary loves his "baby". Loves laying on her (ugg!) and pointing to her "eyes" and "nose" - (double ugg!). But it is nice. And Jenna is just the best big sister ever! She is so good with Zachary! Just last night- they were playing in their room- playing so nicely as usual- and I said, "are you guys best friends", and they both said "yeah". Zachary's "yeah" is hilarious. It used to be "no" to everything. Now he actually says "yeah".

Speaking of Zachary- speaking- he is talking so much more now! It is wonderful! And as of the past couple of days- he hasn't thrown such a fit when I wipe his face after eating. Which up until now- was a screaming fight every time. Maybe he is finally figuring it out? But lots of words - some most recent: phone, your phone, cottage cheese, up, milk, french fries (yikes!)... really the list is getting longer everyday!! He is doing really good with sleeping in his bed- he gets out and we have to shoo him back in. Actually last night he came out and saw Scott and said "ni-night" and went running back into his room! How adorable!- at least he knows better!!

Jenna is doing sooo good at school. She sang some really cute Halloween songs for her Halloween party. And today had her Thanksgiving feast! And just is doing great! I really like her school. She is doing good up in her "tree house" - her top bunk bed. And is so funny with her toys- she will carry around the silliest things, bouncy balls, chalk eggs/chicks, stampers. I just can't believe how big she is getting!

Ashley is so cute! She is the chubbiest thing ever! (probably because I feed her all the time!) She is smiling! And growing out of clothes... She does good in her swing and I just got the bouncy seat down for her- and she loves it! She definately is staying awake more. She loves to suck on her hands- but not the paci. She is so good when we are out and about- she just sleeps away in the carrier. She is making it easy on me! Still has all her hair. But it looks like it is going to be lighter. She is our sweet sweet chubby girl!


Zach had sooo much fun with the leaves this year!


1st time in his new bed!


Jenna's 1st time in her big girl bed!


2009 Halloween picture- Aladdin theme this year! Jasmine, Raja and Abu.


Cutest little Abu!


Jenna's Halloween party at Pre-school, she was performing her favorite song, "we're going on a walk to a place that's dark and spooky!"


I actually caught a smile on camera!


Ashley trying out her new bed, with Zach and Jenna checking her out.


We went to the zoo a couple of weekends ago- it was a perfect day for it! This is Jenna in front of the lonely Zebra... poor zebra!

His first daytime nap in his big bed (which was on the 3rd day of having the beds) - such a good big boy!

Slow down time!

I can't believe it has been a week since Ashley was born! Where does time go? I must say it has been a wonderful - dream-like- week! Ashley is the best baby! She is sleeping and eating so well! Pretty much that is all she does! Which really has made our lives- pretty much the same as it was! Plus some bonus sweet tinsey baby time! Jenna and Zach are the best! Jenna just can not get enough of Ashley! Always wanting to hold her and be with her. She is a pro- actually she just told my mom today.."pat her butt - she likes that" which is true! She has gotten her paci for her, rocks her bassinet and just really loves her baby sister! I am so happy for her- for both of them to have each other! And Zachary has just been the sweetest too! Just doing his own thing- and being so big and independent! He is talking up a storm- although I don't understand most of it! But really has just been such a good little boy with having a new baby around too.

Also Jenna started pre-school this week! She loves it and really wishes it was everyday! I can't believe that she is in school. I am very happy for her! And she has been talking about it bunches. She really likes her teachers and the kids in the class too. She loves her backpack and just is really into it! Unfortunately there is no school tomorrow for a teacher institue day- but back on Monday! Zach and I really had a great morning together while she was there too! It really is nice!

Ashley is a week old and really hasn't changed too much! Although we have changed a lot of diapers! Her little booty is so sweet! She really is a sweet little delicate thing. I wish that time would really just slow down here for us!


We got Jenna a backpack for school- and of course Zachary had to have one too! And they had so much fun playing with them when we got home!


Ready for her 1st day of school! And her little shadow (Zach) was ready too! ;)


Look at the big girl! My school girl!


And we had to celebrate afterwords with a fun time at their favorite place- Chucky Cheese!


Ashley had fun at her 1st trip to Chucky Cheese too!