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.