Our girls this month

Time is getting away from me here...I'd wanted to update each week to keep track of the details of our lives, but you know how it goes. The fact is our life continues to be very busy...and even though this is a lot for one post I want to get some of the memories down before they pass.

ELEANORE

Eleanore seems more grown up each day and learning to give me a run for my money. She asks "Why?" and awful lot and is testing her boundaries. I think she is starting to learn that we mean business on some issues, but has had to find out sitting on her little bed a few times (I read this 1,2,3 discipline book and I liked it but I feel like all I do is count to three...hmmm). Really, El is a very good girl she is just learning her limits.

She loves "projects" like finger painting, anything that involves glitter, glue, feathers, buttons, markers, and/or scissors. She is really creative and is fun to be around. I am continually shocked at the things she remembers and repeats, and by the way she perceives what we say (both to her and to each other). It is pretty hilarious sometimes.

While finger painting she made quite the mess...good thing it was washable!

 
 
I heard of a Utah trend called "Glitter Toes" and wanted to take Eleanore to do it. I couldn't find a local spot that does it so we tried it on our own one night when Dad was at Church late one night and we got the babies to sleep. It was our own little version of a girls night in.

A picture says a thousand words right? That is how I feel about nearly every photo I look at of this girl. I'm so glad for digital photography because when I look at the thousands of photos we've taken of Eleanore so many memories come to mind. I sure love her.

We decided to give Elsy another shot at ballet/tap class. We tried it in the summer and she cried and cried and didn't want to go back so we didn't push it, but then she expressed interest again. The photo below is her ready to go on the first day of class (it was a rainy day, thus El's trusty rain boots which make for awesome puddle jumpers). That first day proved to be a total repeat of summer. She bawled and clung to my leg. She enjoyed watching the other kids through the window, but wouldn't go in for anything. When I offered to leave she freaked out because she wanted to be in dance class. I was so frustrated and left thinking we were done for another year or two. Throughout the week Eleanore went back and forth on whether she wanted to return, but yesterday she said she wanted to go. We gave it one last chance and today she LOVED it. She smiled the whole time and did the steps just like her teacher "Miss Kate." I hope it lasts, the class is supposed to be just for fun to give El something special to do -- not torture her!

She loves her little sisters. She is starting to include them in play and likes to hold them more than I think she did when they were really small. Ivy and Maya think Eleanore is hilarious and don't seem to mind the jostling too much either, as long as she is giving them attention.

I love to listen to Eleanore pray. She does it all by herself and is very thoughtful. Her prayers always include "Thank you for me. Thank you for Daddy and Mama and sissies (or Ivy and Maya). Thank you for our food and our house and for Ellie (her blanket)." She is thoughtful to think about whoever else is around during prayer time. I love that they really aren't recited prayers at all...she thinks through what she is saying and I think she really understands who she is talking too. El has a very special spirit, and I am so blessed that she is my baby (or "big girl baby" as she tells me).

MAYA

Mighty Maya is growing too fast. She has such a laid back personality and is go with the flow. However in the last week she is catching on to her sister's mommy attachment and does not tolerate me leaving the room well. This little gal loves to eat. She has a funny laugh and is a growler. Her looks remind me so much of Eleanore at this age. When she wears Els old clothes it is hard not to think of her as a baby.

Maya is going to the more verbal baby I think, she has begun to jabber "Mamamamama" and "Dadadadada"...much to our delight. Who knows how aware she is of what she is saying, but I'm sticking to the story that she knows exactly what those precious little sounds mean.

Last weekend (August 21) her first tooth (bottom left) finally popped through. Poor little girl had been working on it for a long time and I am glad it finally is out. Both of the babies' toothy little smiles make them seem so big.

IVY

Ivy is such a sweet little baby, and it is good thing because that makes up for the fact that she is wearing me out. She doesn't like sleeping too much...not in the day, or the night unless she is cuddled up to mama. I suppose she just doesn't want to miss a thing. She is a wild baby. Doesn't hold still for a second for a diaper change or anything else. I laugh because if we hold her in the air she kicks her legs like she trying to run away.

Ivy has figured out how to get around. She gets up on all fours and rocks but then gets down on her belly and get where she wants to do doing a worm move. She is pretty quick and very determined. She now has her bottom two front teeth.

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Just a funny little pic...talk about good timing. :)

These two girls love each other. They don't really interact too much yet, but I know they are aware of each other. They still sleep in the same crib and I'll often find them cuddled close together or when I rock them to sleep they'll hold hands.  I am very excited to see their relationship as they get older. As you can see below they don't really look much alike at all, and there personalities are just as individualized -- which I am so glad for.