f o u r

It has been over a month since Sophia turned four. Posted 4/8.

Sophia Mae,

You are FOUR YEARS OLD today (February 28, 2016).

You weigh 38 pounds (75th %ile) and are 42 inches tall (98th %ile). You've grown quite a bit this year!

You have long red curly hair that has never been cut and brown eyes. You like to wear your hair in ponytails or braids, but there is often a bit of convincing that needs to be done for you to get your hair brushed. You usually shower and have taken over hair washing duties.

Most of your clothes are 5T or 5, but you have a few 4T items that still fit. Your shoes are size 10.5 (but your soccer cleats are a 12!). You pick out your own outfits, frequently adding a tutu, and wear mismatch socks daily.

You got a little picky with your food choices for awhile, but once Emma started eating solid foods you were right back on track. Chex continues to be your favorite breakfast food, but now you prefer to only eat the Chocolate Chex. You love to pick the ingredients for smoothies and cook with Daddy. One of your friends got you a cookbook for your birthday and you love picking out the recipes to make.

You started at a public Montessori-ish Preschool this year and enjoy your teacher and class, although sometimes you have a hard time walking through the door in the morning. Your favorite work stations and lessons involve patterns, cutting, gluing, and writing. You have learned and grown so much this year.

You like to read and write in your journal before you fall asleep. You rarely nap but get a brief rest time in the afternoon where you play and read in your room.

You talk all the time and your vocabulary has exploded. Occasionally we have a hard time understanding what you are trying to tell us, but you have gotten great at explaining what you mean.

You are the best big sister and Emma adores you. You share (most) of your toys and show Emma how to do things. You like to read to her, push her in her car, and chase her around. I love watching the two of you interact.

You still love books, but your newest obsession are "Find It" books (like Where's Waldo). You could spend hours looking for the hidden pictures. Your current favorite show is Octonauts and you still watch Little Einsteins. Frozen and Tangled are your favorite movies. You do not get much screen time, but you are great with operating the ipad for your shows and games.

You have a great imagination and love to pretend play - current favorites are doggy, mommy, doctor, Octonauts, and princess. You love to ride your bike and scooter. You usually want to either play at the playground or in your playroom. You love gym class and occasionally take a dance class. You sing and dance all the time. You just started playing soccer and love to be the goalie.

The past four years have flown by. I cannot believe you are already four. Thanks for keeping us on our toes and pushing us to be better parents. We love you to the moon and back!

8/52

"A portrait of my daughters, once a week, every week, in 2016."

my little observant one.
her eyes say so much.

learning new things everyday.
so proud of herself for conquering a fear and climbing higher than she has before.

linking up with Jodi for The 52 Project

o n e

We spent last weekend celebrating Emma turning one with our little family and it was perfect. Emma was fascinated with the cake and the candle and big sister was happy to blow out the flame after we sang.

Dave tried helping Emma eat and gave her a pep talk about how good funfetti cake with buttercream icing is, but she wanted little to do with the cake until we cut into it and ate some with her. I think she did a pretty good job demolishing part of it.

We only did a few presents (and thank goodness because unwrapping them was painfully slow - hooray for big sister to speed things up). Emma enjoyed crumpling the wrapping paper and checking out her toys. Her favorite part of the process was being in charge of the screwdriver to assemble her car ramps. She really did not want to give it up or exchange it for a toy one.

This was by far the fastest year ever. We still can't believe our Baby Sunshine is a year old!

We love you sweet girl. Happy Birthday!

7/52

"A portrait of my daughters, once a week, every week, in 2016."

those lips and cheeks.
it is bittersweet watching her grow and change.
not a baby anymore.

telling tales at the dining room table.
she is so animated and tells the most dramatic and animated stories.

linking up with Jodi for The 52 Project

twelve months {emma layne}

Emma Layne,

You turned twelve months last week on February 6, 2016.

You weigh 22 lbs, 6 oz (84th %ile)

You are 29.25 inches long (53rd %ile)

Your head is still in the 97th %ile, measuring at 47.5 cm (and the nurse measured you three times to be safe).

You have dark hair and hazel-ish eyes. You are mostly in 24 month clothes and outgrowing the last of your 18 month pieces. You wear cloth diapers at home at size 5 diapers at night and when we are out.

No teeth have made an appearance yet. You are a great eater, but you are starting to get picky about some foods (thanks to a bad experience with beef stew). You frequently eat more than Sophia does and toss any food you don't want to eat to Hunter. You are nursing on demand still, but I am not offering if you do not ask. You drink a little milk and water from cups throughout the day.

You are getting more mobile and have the hardest time being still (which made pictures a bit challenging this month). Diapers changes are next to impossible right now. You are pulling yourself up all the time, but just figured out how to get yourself down. You will take a few cruising steps, but not often. You still dance all the time and love to clap, high five, play chase, and give big wet sloppy kisses.

This month was awful for nighttime sleep. You had many nights where you were up for hours and other nights where you would wake multiple times to eat. Naps were also inconsistent. Hopefully sleep gets better soon.

You are so chatty and we call you our little monkey with all of the little noises you make. You consistently say ten words: hi, bye, muh (milk), dun dah (Hunter), nigh nigh, dah (dog), wuf wuf, ma ma, da da, and uh oh, You are inconsistent with other words and some I can't figure out. We are still doing some sign language, but you do not use it on your own very often.

You are so calm and sweet, but your temper has shown itself more frequently. You get into quite a tizzy when you don't get what you want.

You love to point for what you want, dump things out of containers and then put them back in, put on shoes and socks (as long as they are not yours), and play with any toys you are not supposed to have. 

Sophia and you have been able to play more lately and it is so fun to watch the two of you laugh and interact with each other. She prefers your outfits to match and play on her terms.

Baby Sunshine, this year with you in our lives has flown by and we have enjoyed every minute (well, maybe not the sleepless nights, but certainly the daylight hours). We love you right up to the moon and back.

Sophia's twelve month post is still sitting in my draft folder. Once I sort through pictures I will post it along with a comparison picture. {Highlights: she had four teeth, three words, wearing 9 and 12 month clothing, was sleeping through the night, and walking.) Read more here.

A comparison with Sophia:

Your monthly comparison:

6/52

"A portrait of my daughters, once a week, every week, in 2016."

Always so interested in what is happening around her.
Perched on the couch reading a magazine and watching sister play.

Helping Daddy prepare appetizers.
She was quite fascinated with the little potato cups and how the filling stayed inside.

Linking up with Jodi for The 52 Project.

wordless wednesday: snack time