Congratulations Dan & Bridget!

We had a great weekend celebrating Dan & Bridget's wedding in Cooperstown, NY. The ceremony was beautiful (and funny - Uncle Dan, did you write a script for the priest?), the reception was fantastic, and the whole weekend was filled with joy. Congrats Dan & Bridget!

Cox Farms 2013!

Throughout our busy fall we kept wondering, "Will we ever get to Cox Farms this season?" We woke up Sunday morning to find out that Sunday School was canceled and the weather was going to be sunny. All this when Nana was in town and the Giants had a bi-week. The stars finally aligned just 2 days before Cox Farms closed for the season. We had a perfect day at the farm visiting all our favorite activities: slides, corn maze, hay ride, and animals. We enjoyed delicious cider, apples, and kettle corn and since Halloween had passed, we witnessed a new activity: pumpkin smashing!

 super bundled!

the rope swing was a new favorite activity

 running back for another swing on the rope swing

ready for a hay ride!

Happy Halloween!

We had a great Halloween. On Wednesday we carver our pumpkins:

"Face"

designed by Abby

carved by Mommy

"Snow White"

design chosen by Anna

carved by Daddy

Then on Thursday Nana arrived! After dinner we quickly got into our costumes:

The Beauty and the Beast crew

The cowgirl crew

And Mini Mouse too:

And then we hit the streets for some trick-or-treating! The weather was perfect and the rain held off until the girls' pumpkins were too heavy to carry and they were ready to go home anyway. A great night!

a little Grandma & Grandpa time

Thanks for a great visit...

time flies when you're having fun :)

Today Elizabeth is 6 months old! She has had a busy month trying new foods, learning to sit up, learning to make new sounds, and learning to dance!

I

playing with sisters!

If we say "dance" or "do Stevie Wonder" this is what she does:

These dance moves were named "Stevie Wonder" after both Daddy and Grandpa separately called her that.

I can't believe it has been 1/2 a year since Elizabeth was born. Time, please slow down just a little so you don't grow up too fast, sweet pea!

We have a winner!

Elizabeth's first tooth poked through today - or at least we found it today. That makes her the winner of the tooth contest. Kudos to Anna and Uncle Pete who correctly predicted Elizabeth as the winner!

our little dancer

All ready for her first dance class this year:

unfortunately, she never got a class today because the teacher got stuck in traffic, but she's looking forward to next week!

Exersaucer!

Last week Elizabeth tried her exersaucer for the first time. She loves it!

Compare this picture to this picture taken of Anna 5 years ago - there is definitely a resemblance!

And here she is just being smiley:

Time for oats!

Last week Elizabeth ate her first solid food: baby oatmeal! I can't say she loves it, but she seems to be warming up to it. Here she is eating her first bowl (fed by her sisters!):

And here she is last night after her dinner:

okay, I guess this isn't so bad...or maybe I'm smiling because dinner is over. Can I have some milk now?

Where's the good picture?

This week Abby had to bring a picture of our family in to share with her class. Together we looked through our digital photos to choose one to print. She wanted to use one of the family pictures we took in North Carolina from this post on the blog in August. Thinking back on that day I remember how much I wanted to get a good family photo, but how all the girls were a little cranky. We never got a great shot. Together, Abby and I looked through the series of pictures taken during that photo shoot. Abby was disappointed with the choices. She remarked, "I want to find a picture where Anna & I are both smiling and Elizabeth is looking at the camera." Hmmm. I think that was what I mentioned many times during the photo shoot - "come on girls, but just keep smiling so we can get a good one." Oh well.

The tooth contest

What will happen first:

Will Anna loose her first tooth?

Or will Abby have her first trip to the dentist?

Or will Elizabeth get her first tooth?

Here's some helpful info:

Abby's dentist appointment is scheduled for Oct. 28th.

Both Abby and Anna got their first tooth within days of turning 6 months old.

Anna currently has no loose teeth.

For bonus points, correctly predict the day of the first tooth lost and gained.

 

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The attempted roll

After Elizabeth learned to roll from her back to her tummy, I tried to catch it on video. She did not go along with my plan to perform, but I still got a cute video:

I'm 5 months old!

Today Elizabeth is 5 months old. In the past month she has become more and more interested in socializing with everyone. She loves getting attention from her big sisters and they love to make her laugh. She loves getting kisses and tickles. She learned how to roll over from her back to her tummy - although she doesn't do it that often.  One of her other new tricks in blowing raspberries - which she does ALL the time. She likes to sit up in her Bebe pod chair or propped on the coach so she can watch everyone and play with toys. Elizabeth is such an even-tempered little baby. She really only cries when she is hungry or over-tired. Otherwise she just gives us tons of smiles! Happy 5 month birthday, Elizabeth. We love you so!!!

 On Saturday Elizabeth started joining us for meals in her high chair. She loves being part of the action in her new seat!

3 Sisters in a Tub

An Anna, an Abby, and an Elizabeth!

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Visits from Grandma, Grandpa, and Nana!

In the past two weeks we have had a visit from Grandma and Grandpa and a visit from Nana. Anna, Abby, and Elizabeth had fun playing with their grandparents and Mommy and Daddy enjoyed catching up with everyone. Thanks for the great visits!

Elementary school fun run!

This afternoon Anna participated in the elementary school fun run. She ran 10 laps around the track - which I would guess was about 3 miles? Abby joined her for 1 1/2 laps and Elizabeth and Mommy cheered from the side!

First Day as a Ladybug!

Abby had a great first day as a ladybug today! The dress she is wearing she picked out special at the store to wear to the first day of school because, "It has flowers all over it and is so beautiful!" She reported that circle time was after playground time, which was surprising to her. And she said she liked playing in the kitchen.

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Miss Kindergarten

Anna had a great first week of kindergarten! She went to gym, music, and art and liked them all. She also liked eating in the cafeteria and going on the playground. She reported doing a scavenger hunt around the school with her class. We are so proud of what a big girl you are now, Anna!

 

 

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Growing bigger!

Yesterday Elizabeth had her 4 month doctor's check-up. She is now 16 pounds and 26 1/2 inches long. 

Waiting for Daddy to come home from work...

on a very sunny evening!

Happy 4 month birthday, Elizabeth!

Elizabeth is 4 months old day. In the past month she has acquired quite the belly laugh, which her sisters are the best at pulling out of her. Abby loves to give her big tickles and dance around her and they both love giving her "zerberts" and getting her to laugh by tossing her big soft blocks around her. Elizabeth enjoys using her hands to grab things more and more. She especially likes to try to hold her giraffe rattle, soccer rattle, big soft blocks, and pink bug. If she doesn't have a toy to play with she often likes to suck on her fingers. She squeals a LOT...especially when she wants to get our attention. She loves to be part of the dinner table, but she put her hand in Mommy's food for the first time this week so her days sitting on someone's lap during dinner are numbered. She often smiles at strangers, but if she is a little hungry or tired, a big crowd of strangers can really overwhelm her. Often in these situations she pops her lower bottom lip out before any tears come. I feel bad saying this, but it may be her cutest face. Happy 4 month birthday Elizabeth! We love you!

My sisters gave me a tubby!

Thank you Teal Playgroup!!!

Today we met many of our teal playgroup friends at our pool for a swim and lunch. Anna & I joined the "teal" group in January of 2009 when Anna was just 9 months old. We've been meeting with this group weekly since then. A week from today most of the babies who joined the group in 2009 will be headed off to kindergarten. There were a couple teary moms at the pool when we took this picture, including me :) Thank you teal playgroup for giving Anna, Abby, Elizabeth, and me an amazing community to share parenthood and childhood with over these past 4 1/2 years.  Thank you to all moms and kids for sharing your homes for playdates, listening to us, laughing with us, playing with us, and being there for us. It is hard to imagine these past years without your friendship!

Aug. 2013, Vienna Aquatic Center, right to left: Alyssa (5), Maddy(5), Logan(5), Jacob(3), Anna(5), Abby(3), Corinne(5), Jack(5), Lucy(5), and Ryan(3)

summer 2013, Vienna Baptist playground: Maddy(5), Anna(5), Carter(2), and Abby(3)

May 2012, last day of soccer class: Logan(4), Andrew(3), and Anna(4)

May 2012, Vienna Public Works Day: Anna (4), Abby(2), Alyssa(3), Maddy(3), Ryan(2)

spring 2011, Peterson Lane Park: Abby(10 mon.?), Jacob(8 mon.?)

spring 2010, our house: Logan(23 mon.), Anna(23 mon.)

fall 2009?, Meadow Lane Park: Anna(18 mon.?), Corinne(20 mon.?)

Teal PG Halloween Party 2009: Anna(ladybug), Corinne(ladybug), Logan(bear), Tyler(dinosaur), Maddy?(bee)