Thanksgiving 2013

This year, we spent Thanksgiving at home, just the six of us.  At first we were all a little sad.  We love going to our friends' house and spending time in DC.  A little divine intervention kept us home.  We needed to hang at home for the holiday, we just didn't know it.

We had such a magical holiday.  It was calm, peaceful and full of joy.  We have so much to be thankful for and this year, we got to fully immerse ourselves in our greatest gifts.  Each other!  It was truly wonderful.

We started our holiday with a Turkey Trot in 20 degree temps.  Miss Evelyn and Adeline hung tough in the strollers (E has a heat pad and rain cover which keeps her toasty) and the rest of us ran.  It was Lila's first 5k.  Tough temps for such little legs. She was teary and miserable the whole way but I kept prodding her on.  I knew she would be disappointed if she quit.  Quitting wasn't really an option because it was too cold NOT to run.  After the run, we ran to the car for warmth.  I randomly checked the results on my phone and, lo and behold, Savannah and Lila placed in their age group.  This was no small run either.  Nearly 2,000 people ran.  Quickly, we hopped out of the car, ran to the award ceremony where the girls were presented with gift certificates and pies!  Super awesome for both of them.  I was a proud Mama!

 After a trip to Dunkin Donuts for warmth, we made it home for a nice leisurely day and dinner.  Have I mentioned how much I love my family?!

8 months old!

Time if passing too quickly.  At first I thought it was okay that my baby was getting older.  We all love her smiles and laughs and the fact that she recognizes us and lights up as we walk in the room.  However, I think I am changing my stance on this.  I want a re-do!  I want to experience this all over again.  The small tiny baby, the first smiles, the first time her sisters held her.  I remember when Savannah would get her up in the mornings and dress her.  Evelyn was tiny and would just lay there.  Now it is a bit of a production, a fun one, but a production nonetheless. There is peek-a-boo, hiding her Bunny and making it reappear and tickling her from head to toe.  Evelyn loves it.  But somehow, she has become a squirmy, challenge for her big sister to dress.  Where is the RE-DO??

Eight months it is.  We have been a family of six for eight months.  It has been the best eight months of my life and at the same time, a pretty challenging eight months.  The worrying mother in me is afraid that baby #4 breaks us apart at times and doesn't allow me to give to the older girls like I once did.  Evelyn proves this theory wrong time and time again.  We often find ourselves, all six of us, sitting in the middle of her room and playing with baby toys.  Evelyn brings us together.  It just takes some perspective on the tough days to see it.  Without a doubt, I have experienced levels of love and happiness that I never knew existed until I met Miss E.  I have watched my girls grow in love and be able to articulate their feelings.  They are overwhelmed by how much they love her and just want to be with her.  Good stuff in my book. 

As Evelyn grows, (she is huge!) she continues to check the milestone boxes.  This sweet baby is crawling and trying to stand with lots of help.  Her crawling is more of a commando crawl but she gets to where she needs to go.  Of course she is just like her sisters, never wondering far as her favorite place to be is right by my side.  Independence isn't one her gifts.

Evelyn is also starting eat finger foods.  Her two bottom teeth made an appearance this month which makes chewing a little easier.  It is a welcome relief as I can see how eating Cheerios in the highchair is going to buy me some more time.

Her favorite things:

Well. . . me for the moment!
Her sisters and daddy too
Her Bunny
The cats
Playing in her room
BEING HELD!!!

Soccer

It's official.  I am a soccer mom!  Soccer is not a sport that I desired my girls to play.  I didn't like it as a kid and it seemed rather boring to watch.  Lila Grace changed my outlook and I love that she did.  We spent many hours on the sidelines of a soccer field.  Lila loves the game and caught on quickly.  She has great speed which keeps her in the game.  We are going to a winter skill clinic which should help her develop the necessary skills she needs to keep the ball under control. We are thrilled that she loves the sport and that it is a sport she can call her own.  Her big sister doesn't play which is a nice change for Lila.  No longer is she the little sister that has follows in her big sister's footsteps.

Here is my soccer girl!

Braces No More!

After a year of braces, my big girl is metal free.  Savannah is the first of three that need to go through this.  I have my fingers crossed that Evelyn will escape palate expansion.  First, the palate is expanded to make room for the teeth.  Once the permanent teeth fill in, braces are used to pull everything into place.  It was a relatively quick and painless process except for the strain on my pocket book!

Here is Savannah on her last day of braces. 

 Brace free and straight teeth.

Halloween 2013

For Halloween, the girls were a spider witch, monarch butterfly, gymnast, and the cutest kitty ever!

Pumpkin carving with our nicu buddy!  The twins love pulling out all of the guts.  Savannah, not so much.  I am amazed at how much they can carve on their own!  No longer is it a stressful - "Mommy can you help, mommy can you help me, Mommy I need help!"

Seven Months

How can it be?!  My baby is growing and changing so fast.  The more kids you have, the busier you are and the faster time flies.  Sigh.

We are head over heals for her.  E is such a smiley baby . . . as long as she is with mommy or daddy.  Forget the fourth child, go with the flow attitude.  She has opinions and she, like all my other girls, likes to be right on my hip.  As long as we hold her, she is happy as can be.  I guess no one regrets holding their baby so we hold her LOTS!

Evelyn's latest milestone is sitting up.  She seems like such a big girl sitting up.  And so stinkin' cute!

Fall Fun

We are so lucky to live in a place that has farm after farm calling our name during the fall season.  The girls love visiting them and taking part in all the activities.  It is a tradition now.  Miss Evelyn fell right in line and hung with us without protest.  It's days like these that make me feel like the luckiest person in the universe!

Here are some pictures for a local township's community day.  Evelyn enjoyed her first hayride!