DOUBLE digits- 10 months

Please please slow down time!

AHHH... 10 Months

*18.1 pounds

*Has two teeth(front)

*Eating more solids, but prefers milk still

*Crawling

*9 and 12 month clothes

First Pumpkin Patch

First PigTails

First carosel ride solo

Ela's First Day of Pre-K

My baby started her first day of Pre-K! 9/8/2014

We were hoping for a good transition as she has been in a school setting since she was 1 year old. After the first week I will say it is a success! She had a few funny first things to say about school. But in good Ela fashion I am not surprised.

Me: Ela, how was school today? (picking her up the first day)

Ela: MOM, I farted all day, but don't worry I didn't tell anyone.

When I picked her up the second day they said that she cried going into the Aftercare program.

Me: Ela why did you cry? I will always come and pick you up.

Ela: Mommy, I did cry because I missed you. For 15 whole hours!

She was not even at school for 8.

We were trying out the school lunch thing.I informed the teachers of the food allergies and checked the menu. The teacher informed me that Ela did not eat much of her lunch. She asked me if Ela was allergic to beans? I said no, I noted all of her allergies on her card. She proceeds to tell me "Ela refused to eat her tacos. When I told her she needs to eat, she said she is allergic to them"

Oh my little comedian!

Ela: I made a new friend, her name is Alessandra.

Me: Thats great what does she look like?

Ela: She has shoes.They are perfect and purple. Can you buy me some?

Ela: Mom, remember my friend Micheal?

 He was not good today at school,he hit the teacher.

Me: Oh no, thats really not good.

Ela: Dont worry, I told him if he is not good, I wont be his friend anymore.

Ela: Mom in Greek class today they talked in Polish funny. 

Its a Greek Orthodox school

Doesn't she just look so grown?

Mommy and Ela

Jules: "Oh No, my sister is going to school?!"

Tata and Ela

She looks so small

She went right in and sat down. Never even turned around!

Yes, I am the creeper mom who peeked through the window.

Julia 9 months

9 Months

17.4 pounds

28 inches

She is basically a little squirt in the 30% percentile.

She makes up for it with her big smile.

New Firsts:

*She said her first word...Take a guess?

ELA!

*First tooth- Bottom right

I have to write it here because I am sure I will forget it in the baby book. ;)

*Julia is crawling...Backwards that is.

*First Trip to the beach

Oh the Rolls! I had to take a picture of them to never forget.

*First Football game

*All of a sudden very curious

*First NYC bagel

*First trip to the zoo

8 Months-Julia

Yep...That proverbial clock continues to fly by!

8 MONTHS

Weight: 

Not so sure...around 16pds?

Whats New?

Attempting to crawl

Belly Sleeping 

Clapping Hands

Waving "Bye Bye"

Says "Hi"

Standing almost unsupported

Goes from sitting position to belly

Loves to swing

First fever thanks to Coxsacie

First time on a Bike(Helmets on Babies=awesome)

I mean...Come on those helmets! -Governor's Island, NYC

Hi...Like my helmet?

 A privilege of being a girl mom is matching outfits!

Fuzzy haired baby!

This child and her sleeping positions.

Fighting off that fever. First time being sick! 

Ela 3.5 years

July 12th my first baby turned 31/2 years old.(Yes we celebrate half birthdays). 

I am in awe, more like denial that she is almost 4 years.

So what's happening with my little Ela....

 My 6.11 pound squirt is now almost 35 pounds and just reached over 3 feet! 

She loves to eat! (Just like her mommy) Anything and everything in such a big girl way!

She has pierced ears.

She was a first time flower girl...Took her job very seriously at that!

She is the boy I will never have. Even wearing pink and a big bow, 

she still can find dirt in the cleanest of places.

The imagination she has is amazing. She dreams and thinks of anything.

Nothing will stop this girl from reaching her dreams.

She loves posing for a picture and wants to wear her purse everywhere...just like mom.

Will always be a joker and avoid bed at all costs...

Can make her own fun anywhere...Even in the rain she makes the best of things.

Is hardly shy by any means. She loves being herself

How do you know...

A few times a week, if not a day, I am reminded. It really stood out when we recently traveled to Atlanta for my brother's wedding. Here's how it starts. In the airport, countless people would first give me the look of pity. You know what I am talking about; the look like "Bless your Heart" for traveling with two young children, the look like "I hope I don't get a seat behind you", the look like "Did you really need to pack all of that stuff". Immediately after comes a smile, and then the kicker. "Enjoy them while they are young". They then go back to reading their book or head to the bar kid  free and walk the other direction.

I don't want this post to come off as me being over-sensitive, as 99% of the time the person is being genuine and probably reminiscing back to the young days of their children. Is this just a cliche that every mom of older children feels they have to say? As a mother, I am sure you have heard this phrase countless times over the years. Admittedly it is hard to stop and enjoy your children when your are arm deep in changing diapers, your clothes constantly smell like spit up, you rarely get to eat a meal without an interruption, and 6 hours is considered a great night of sleep. How do you know I am not enjoying them?

There is not a day that goes by that I don't sneak into my daughters room and watch them sleep even though the day was long and I was looking forward to a break. Or on my train ride to work, I sit on my phone and look at their pictures, when I only left them a few minutes prior. Or placing countless kisses through the day on those soft fat cheeks they have. Or letting my oldest sneak in my bed to cuddle when my husband is traveling. Or let my youngest wake up to feed in the middle of the night because she will only be a baby for so long. Or taking a million pictures of them,knowing no one finds them as cute as I could. I often find myself just staring at them thinking "How could I have made something so beautiful".

So the next time you think to say "Enjoy them while they are young", take a second to think twice. Although I might look completely overwhelmed, tired or  covered in spit up I am enjoying EVERY minute of it.

7 Months- Julia

 6 months is a half a year, however 7 months is just a little bit closer to ONE! As nostalgic as I get, Julia is just as happy now as she has been the past 7 months. You can always find her smiling.

We had many new first this month!

*Julia started solids. I am making my baby food and doing a combo of baby lead weaning and purees. She is not a huge fan of food yet, but when she finds something she likes she will let you know.

*Julia is sitting! The first few days she was a little wobbly and now she just wants to see the world. She HATES being on her back now.

*So the no back thing, means first time sleeping on her belly. She only did it once and I wont put her on her belly until she does it herself . Even for a second time mom it is nerve-wracking!

*Julia went to her first wedding! She was passed around to everyone and smiled the whole time.

She looks nothing like him right?! ;)

Not the best family picture but it was a feat to get this!

*First Boat Ride- We technically didn't leave the dock, and it really qualified as a house, but none the less she was on a boat!

*This was a one time thing and we propped her up...BUT her sister walked at 9 months. Wonder if we  are going to have another early walker?

A few other notables:

* She moves her whole arm up and down to wave

*She says "hi"

*Giggles away! All.the.time.

*First time eating cake(courtesy of Ela)

*First tooth- FINALLY! 

Its a strange first. Bottom right canine.

It is really hard to believe that this little black haired, dark eyed newborn is the same blue eyed baby.

The picture on the right cracks me up...She makes some crazy faces with those big eyes.