And the Oscar goes to . . .

Hope!

Hope won the "Peanut Butter Players Academy Award" for Most Valuable Newcomer.  She was very excited and we were very proud of her!

 Congratulations Hope!

Sorry Buddy!

So, my last post was about Beck finally sitting up.  Well, last night I had to pull out the video camera because he was trying to pull himself up on the ottoman.  See video for my "Not So Great Mommy Moment":

Dear Beck - Please slow down!  You are getting big WAY too fast! Love, Mommy

Disclaimer: No child was harmed in the filming of this video.  Though you can hear his poor little head make a "thud" sound on the ground, just moments later he was smiling and returned to the same activity.  I promise.  And, I blame the dog.

We have a sitter!

About 2 weeks ago, Beck finally started sitting on his own.  This seemed a little late to me, but at his 6 month appointment (when he was not able to sit up on his own), the doctor assured me that there's a big range of "normal".  He also said he would definitely be sitting on his own in the next couple of months.  Sure enough, 2 weeks later, he was doing it. 

While I'm at it, his 6 month stats were:

Height- 28" (95th %ile)
Weight - 16 lbs. 6oz. (35th %ile)
Head - 17 3/8 in. (60th %ile)

He's a growing boy!  He's such a sweet little snuggler.  It's hard for us to put him down, so he's definitely getting spoiled!  It's hard not to spoil him, knowing he is the last baby we'll have in our family!  He is really loving to eat baby food now - he loves fruit and likes his veggies and cereal.  With all of the running around we do, he hasn't had the chance to get on a really great schedule.  He usually eats at the same times every day now, but his naps kind of just happen when they happen - in the crib, in the pack & play, or in the car - sometimes they're long, sometimes they're short, usually they're interupted.  As someone that is a strong believer in schedules and sleep, this has been tough for me to take, but that's just life as the 3rd kid, I guess.  His sisters adore him and entertain him ~ he still gets a huge smile anytime one of them walks into the room.  I am really cherishing the time I get to watch him grow up.  It's so fun to see him grow and change, yet it feels like it's happening way too fast!

Tiny Dancer

EJ started her very first dance class last Wednesday.  There are only 4 kids in her class - the teacher's son who just turned 2, a 2 and a half year-old that is much more interested in playing with all of the other things in the room than dancing, a 3 year-old that was not going to let her mom leave her side, and EJ.  The first thing that she told me when we got in the car was, "I was a very good listener.  No one else was a very good listener like me.  I stayed on my blue dot and did what the teacher told me to do!"  Ha!  She was proud of herself!

Annie

Hope had her last performance this weekend as her debut as Annie came to a close.  She has done such a fantastic job and it has been so fun to see her on stage.  Even from the first show to the last, she has grown so much as an actress and a singer.  She has a wonderful stage presence and amazing confidence.  It is great for her to have a place where her exuberance and loud voice are such an asset.  We are very proud of our little girl!  Here are a couple video clips that Nana took at one of her shows last weekend, it wouldn't let me load some of them. . . 



A Catch-Up in Pictures

With my lack of blogging, there have been a lot of things I should have posted on, but never got around to.  I will attempt to play catch-up, once again, with some pictures.  All unrelated parties may close this window now without having to feel any guilt. 





  



 We've played in the snow.

We've had a little time to just "hang out".

Hope got her hair "whacked" (as she put it).

And then wore some of her hair as a "beard".



Beck has decided he LOVES to eat his toes . . .

. . . or anything else he can get his hands on.

Hope has been performing in Annie.  Her last performances will be next weekend.  I'll do an Annie post with video when she finishes up!

She also performed in Jr. Poetry Jamm at school.

She performed a poem "Bad Hair Day" with her friend Kaylee and one that she wrote herself called "Flip Flops"

Mimi came to visit from Austin.  Unfortunately EJ got pneumonia and Beck got bronchiolitis and an ear infection while she was here, so this is really the only picture we got.  It was very nice to have an extra set of hands with such sick kiddos!

These two are so stinkin' cute together!

The shirt says it all!

"3" has proven to be a very ornery age around here!



I went to the Arvada Arts Center with Hope's class to see The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley

Beck has started eating solids - so far he's had rice cereal, peas, and carrots.  Despite the picture, he really isn't a fan of the whole experience.  He's usually pretty mad the whole time except when the spoon is in his mouth.

Hope had her first soccer tournament of the year.

It was very cold!

That's Spring soccer for you!

Luckily Beck had his Bear suit to keep him warm!

Beck FINALLY went swimming for the first time.  He kind of liked it. :)

I <3 these kiddos!

Sleeping Beauty

EJ takes forever to fall asleep at night.  But once she does, it appears she can sleep in any position.  Here are a few we have found her in lately.

Not too comfortable, but not too abnormal



At some point after we tucked her in, she climbed into Beck's crib to sleep.

Just kickin' back!



Where's EJ?
(If you click on it to make it bigger, you can see her little face in the middle)



This is the one that inspired this post, taken last night.