Disneyland

We were due for a Disney trip, so we took advantage of the perfect weather right before the crowds and higher prices of spring break...it also coincided with Grace's 4th birthday!

Sam and I set out clues around our home as a scavenger hunt for Madeline and Grace to tell them about our coming trip to Disneyland. Despite a little hiccup when our dog, Gus, ate one of the clues...it went well and we enjoyed watching the girls run around and get excited for our trip! This was Charlotte's first time to fly, and she did wonderful! Except when we were in our hotel room for baths and sleep, Charlotte was almost always in the carrier on my chest...which she still expects after coming home.

Lovie was able to be with us for the fun. We're always grateful for her extra love...and help. The 1:1 adult/child ratio was great! We stayed at the Grand Californian Hotel at the park, which made it so easy to get into the park and go back to the room whenever we needed to (like for a nap attempt or when Grace sits down in water and wants a pair of dry shorts).

On Grace's actual birthday, we had a character lunch at Ariel's Grotto in California Adventure. The girls met and took pictures with all the princesses...so of course they got to dress up like one.

Papa, along with Zaza (Aunt Lisa) and Nana (Aunt Jeannie) joined us for Grace's birthday dinner at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney. After we ate, we walked around and the girls danced for an hour in front of a street musician.

Grace was just tall enough to ride many of the big kid and adult rides. She went on her first mini roller coaster and loved it. She was very patient in the lines (thankfully we didn't have many) and loved everything we went on.

Since Madeline doesn't even like the swing at the park, I expected her not to like the rides...I was very wrong. They could not go high or fast enough, and they were always too short. Each time a ride would end, she would ask and sign for more then start crying when she had to get off. The only temper tantrums we had on the trip was pulling a kicking and screaming Madeline off each ride that had ended. She could never get enough!

My sister and brother-in-law, Audrey and Noah, and their sweet Abel joined us on our last day. It's so nice for the girls to be around a cousin! Each of my girls are apparently too stubborn to give it up and take a nap in the stroller, but Abel knew when he had enough stimulation and got a quick nap...which is what all the adults wanted by then.

It was interesting to watch how Madeline and Grace each acted around the characters they met. Madeline went right to the characters like Pluto, Chip and Dale, Mickey, etc..laughing, giving them hugs and high fives, while Grace was very reserved. But when Jasmine or Cinderella were in sight, Grace lit up while Madeline acted shy.

Visit from Tia

My sister, Erin, came to visit us last weekend, which ended up being way too short. She spent the entire weekend with at least one little girl in her arms. We all had so much for with Tia...we miss you!!!

Getting to know Madeline

Madeline has always been a unique person, but in recent months, mainly due to her increased vocabulary, we're seeing how wonderful she really is. She likes dressing up, playing with baby dolls, coloring, reading, pretending to talk on the phone, making food on her play kitchen, having tea parties, making funny faces, playing hide-and-seek, being tickled or flubbered (and flubbering Charlotte). She LOVES milk, cheese, and oranges, and refuses any green vegetable. Her favorite animals are dogs and elephants. She likes to get on all 4s and either pant like a dog or growl like a bear, she also really likes to put her head back and howl like a wolf.

She's putting 2 or 3 words together now, mainly the basics: "Hi Dada," "Shh Night-night Baby," "Bye-bye Gracie." She doesn't use the word "no," but says "Uh-uh" instead...which we hear all day.

I don't have to worry about anyone taking advantage of her in my absence...I've seen her hold her own with 5 year-olds. When I am out of the room, I can always tell when Grace is taking something away from her, because Madeline will scream. If screaming doesn't work, she's been known to either bite or hit. But Madeline has such a soft and unselfish side. She's very giving to her sisters and I love when she gives unsolicited hugs. Even though she is very capable of getting out of her big girl bed after naps or in the morning, she still sits and calls for me. When I go to get her, she ALWAYS cheerfully says, "Hi Mama," then asks where Grace or Charlotte are.

Madeline plays ALL DAY with Grace, but now that Charlotte is getting a little older, I see the two of them connecting a lot more now.

Whenever Madeline disappears, I can usually find her playing alone in her room or putting on jewelry in her bathroom.

Silly oddities: Madeline does and says what most 22 month-olds do, like waving hi to airplanes, saying "Uh oh" when she drops something, etc., but she has a lot of quirks that seem to be all her own. After finishing drawing a picture, she holds it up and yells, "TA-DA!". She runs to help me unload the dishwasher and enjoys laundry. She is good at snapping a shirt to get the wrinkles out before attempting to fold it. She often takes her pajamas off after we put her to bed then calls for us to put them back on. While she's in her car seat, both Grace and Madeline like to pretend to be asleep, but Madeline's facial expression really cracks us up. She will squeeze her eyes shut and smile when we announce to everyone that she's sleeping.

She refuses to be misunderstood and will quickly correct us if she is. This morning I was standing at the stove and she was yelling what I thought was "HELP" (which is a VERY useful word for her right now). Without looking at her I asked what she needed help with. She grabbed my pant leg and said, "UH-uh Mama....HOP" and then I saw she was hopping.

By far, the strangest thing about her is her close attachment to Tucker. In fact, her second word after "Mama" was "Tucker." Each morning and evening when she gets her sippy cup of milk, she will find Tucker and lay with him. If she can't find him, she'll call his name around the house until she finds him or he gets down from a bed or couch and she will stand and stroke his head while she drinks. It's very odd, but Tucker likes any attention.

I deeply love my sweet Madeline.

Baby food

When Grace began eating solids, I used to spend a few hours each week chopping, steaming, pureeing, then freezing all her food in ice cube trays that I would defrost as she needed them. When Madeline began eating solids, I invested in this handy machine...it has to be one of my favorite inventions. I'm able to chop up a pear, sweet potato, or whatever Charlotte's eating and put it in my Babycook about 15 minutes before dinner, and it does the rest for me. Grace and Madeline also like the fruit purees. I just wish I had thought of inventing this!

Birthday weekend with family

Mimi and Grandpa came for a visit to help celebrate Sam's birthday. It was wonderful to have family here with us!

Spring seeds

Our cantaloupe seedlings were very successful last year, so I thought I'd let Madeline and Grace try radishes, tomatoes, and carrots this year. When the first seedling sprouted, Grace shouted, "IT BRUSSELS SPROUTED!"

6 months

My baby Charlotte is already 6 months! She now weighs 20 pounds and is 28 inches, still off the charts for both! She is still taking 3 naps each day and gets up once through the night to eat. She can quickly roll across a room and uses her hands to sit by herself. She's also pushed herself to all 4s twice this week. Grace loves to hold her more than ever, now that Charlotte can support herself better. Madeline likes to bring her toys and they sit and play together. It's interesting to watch how differently they interact with each other. Charlotte continues to be a happy soul and a joy to our family.

Patiently waiting for me to make her lunch.