Ellie's 6!

For Eliana's birthday this year she got to have her first "drop of party". She was so excited to have all of her friends come over. She knew what kind of party she was going to have back in January, so I had been coming up with ideas since then. the theme she picked was Barbie and all she wanted to do was "craft" with her friends. I made Barbie bottle caps and they made their own necklaces. We played pin the sunglasses on Barbie, both my girls totally cheated, opened presents and of course had snacks and cupcakes. By far my favorite part of the party was the life sized Barbie box Nick made. Each of the kids, including my Nephew who was the only boy, got dresses up as a Barbie and posed in the box for a photo. Even some of the adults got in on the action. She had a great time and I think the other kids did too. Happy Birthday Ellie! 

11 Months

11 month stats:

17lbs 6oz

 

A few things about Miss Lila:

Cut 4 teeth in three weeks.

Is crawling

Pulls herself up to the furniture and walks around on it

Can stand on her own for a few minutes

Is starting to refuse baby food

Absolutely loves cheese and pizza

Makes the funniest faces when she eats fresh fruit

Crawls with one leg tucked up

Says Mama! and dada, dad, bye, hi, Lila, Ellie, and papa

LOVES her Aunty Stephenie and calls her nah nah

Dances when she hears music

Thinks sunglasses are hilarious

Likes to "sing" in the car just like her big sisters

Has a loud voice and wants to make sure she is heard

Loves animals, especially dogs, she goes crazy when she sees one

Is completely a Mamas girl, and mama loves it!

Will not drink from a bottle or sippy cup

Has to have a bite of EVERYTHING we eat

Hates having her nails clipped, but doesn't mind having them painted

Won't wear headbands anymore (cue tears from her mama)

Is a sweetheart and we love her to pieces!

March of Dimes

At the beginning of May we were able to participate with the March of Dimes in the Pierce County March for Babies. This is the second time we have done it and this year we raised $688. This year we created a team, Markham Miracles, and walked with family and friends. We are so grateful to all those who sponsored us and walked with us. The March of Dimes is an amazing organization whose motto is working together for stronger, healthier babies. Healthy full term babies really hits home for us. We walk because we are so lucky that we have our three healthy beautiful girls. I don't want anyone to have to experience what we went through having two premature babies. I am so grateful for the wonderful NICU staff who card for my sweet girls and all of the research and funding from the March of Dimes that helped them have the best chance at survival.

 Obviously not everyone has a positive outcome with a premature baby. It really hits close to home for me, it truly is a miracle that my girls survived and are here and healthy. We were honored to be able to walk in the memory of sweet baby Capri this year who didn't make it. Watching a friend go through something like that was horrible and made me again realize how blessed I am to have had a good outcome twice. I will always think of her each year as walk in the honor of our girls and the memory of her.

Watching my girls cross the finish line was a wonderful moment. We talked to them a lot about why we were doing the March for Babies. They each know their story and I hope will grow up knowing how very special they are. This year they each raised $7 to donate, it may not be much but it is so true that every dollar helps. It warmed my heart every time they did a chore and chose to put the money they earned in the March of Dimes jar.

The first year we were able to walk as a whole family.

"The girls" I was so happy my good friends Melissa and Sarah came and walked with us.

The whole team minus my brother who left before we took the picture.

10 Months

10 Month Stats:

17 lbs 6 oz

A few things about Lila at 10 months:

Has 2 teeth. One on top one on bottom. Teething doesn't seems to bother her.

She grinds her teeth

Has a become a fantastic sleeper. I put her in bed and she falls right asleep.

Says Dada, hi, up, and Papa, still no Mama

Loves to eat

Finds sunglasses very funny. If you are wearing them and holding her she will giggle at you.

Went swimming for the first time while we were at Great Wolf Lodge and loved it.

Still loves to take baths, but refuses to stay sitting on her bum in the tub.

Has learned how to pull herself up to standing.

Gets onto her hands and knees but hasn't crawled yet.

Discovered that she can roll to get anywhere she wants to go.

Is still Mamas girl.



Great Wolf Lodge

We planned a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge with my brother and his family. It just so happened that the only weekend that worked for both families was on my birthday. It was the best way to spend my birthday. We had a blast! Nick wasn't able to go in the water at all because of his eye, so he sat on the sidelines and hung out with Lila and took tons of pictures. The girls were so excited to have their cousins there to play with. I can't wait to go back with them next year.

Two Front Teeth

Ellie's two front teeth have been loose for months. She wanted to just leave them alone and let them fall out on their own. She didn't really wiggle them much and she wouldn't let us try to pull them. While we were in the check out line the other day her and Lexie were goofing around and Ellie fell. Knocked one of the teeth out but the other one was still holding on. We got out to the car and she pulled out the other one. She says now that she has a "window" in her mouth. I giggle a little every time she smiles, that toothless grin is just so cute.

9 Months

9 Month Stats

16lbs 11oz (25%)

25in (3%)

A few things about Lila at 9 months:

She has a favorite blanket that she will suck on to fall asleep.

Shakes her head no

Plays peek a boo

Is feeding herself some finger foods, although sometimes she doesn't chew before she swallows

Is having some stranger anxiety

Loves to be outside and swing

Likes to have her picture taken, if she hears the camera she stops what she's doing turns and smiles