A night out with my big girl Ella

Ella and Ms. Kera in the “winners circle” at the Freedom Cup charity dinner. Ella has a blast betting on the “horse races” and we won a car ornament in the silent auction. Our sponsored horse, named House of Gilrs, won the last race of the night! What a great time with my cool teen girl. 

Molly Marie is getting big!

I Molly Marie will be turning 1 year old in less than a month! I know it sounds cliche but I just cannot believe how quickly the time has past. For a past 2 weeks she has started standing on her own for brief moments and is cruising all over the place. She has 8 teeth now and will eat pretty much anything. She especially loves cheese cubes, scrambled eggs, raspberries, watermelon, waffles, and hotdogs. She no longer is nursing--she really strarted losing interest around 9 months but was still nursing in the morning mostly for my benefit. Once I found out we were expecting baby #4 I decided to give my body a break for a little while and fully weaned her. She didn't seem to mind at all and her preference is solid foods and feeding herself. 

She loves playing with the big girls and no one can make her laugh like silly Sami. She especially loves to crawl over to the tub and splash in the water while the girls take their nightly bath. 

Molly is also learning some sign language and sounds. She puts her hands together for "more" and shakes her hand up and down for "drink." She puts her arms up for "all done" and will clap her hands for "stop" when we tell her stop! 

She is also saying "dada" and just said "mama" last night for the first time. She also smacks kisses at you and will open and close her hand to wave. 

Sami loves her little sister. 

Molly just loves Papa. 

She is still pretty tiny for her age and is about 19 pounds and still fits into most 6 months clothes. She eats like a horse though so I am thinking she will hit a growth spurt soon! 

Fun at HDG craft night

Last night the PTA hosted a Christmas craft night for the students. We decorated cookies, made a santa ornament and a Christmas mouse. Of course Ella's favorite was the mouse. About half way through the night, Ella stopped making her own crafts in order to help Jen with her station. Sami and I had some great mommy daughter time while Grams generously watched Molly who was a big hit with all the other moms. A great night! 

Molly's first fever

Molly has her first fever today. 100.5. She kept getting very mad while nursing, pulling off and crying. She wants to be held, but is pretty content as long as she is in the wrap. Her little mouth and hands are so warm.  Poor baby Molly. 

Sleeping baby molly

I was just lounging next to Molly making sure her binky stayed in so she could nap, after having to come upstairs twice already to pop the sucker back in after yowls of protest. There she was, happily sucking away and drifting off. She finally completely relaxed, sighed, and became completely still. Suddenly-- she made a funny little gurgle sound and pop! spat that binky outI guess she only wants it to fall asleep, but not when she is sleeping. My funny girl. 

Ella at Kennedy Krieger

We had a biannual appt at Krieger today. We are ao lucky to live so close. People travel hours to see these doctors. We had a scare when we arrived--they said our appointment was at 11:00 but I was told 1:30. Got there early enough that Dr Vernon was still there and we were still able to see her. They are so accommodating and kind. 

Dr Vernon ordered a neuro psyche eval to get a baseline of Ella's strengths so we can better understand if her inconsistent performance at school  and moodiness is due to fatigue or just normal Ella. Should be helpful. 

They got her blood drawn with just 1 stick this time. Poor baby-- you could see her pulse leaping out of her artery in her neck she was so nervous. She did great though! 

Sami's first day of dance

After many tears, this is what Sami wore on her first day of ballet. She got crazy sunburn yesterday at Hammerman beach. We went for a last summer fling and didn't bother to use sunscreen. Next day she was bright red. So Minnie Mouse it is for today. The pink leotard will have to wait.  She still looks adorable though! 

Sami's new song

3/27/14 this is an old post that never got published from last march: Sami learned a new song from a favorite kids show. She sings it non-stop all the time! It is driving us crazy, but I know when she is too old to do such things I will want to remember this song. 

Bees bees buzz buzz bees bees! 

Bunny slippers

These were on my bed when I went to sleep. Someday my girls will be too old to wear such staples of childhood. Cherishing these moments now. Love being a mom. 

Mother's Day Tea with Sami

Today I was invited to the preschool Mother's Day tea at Sami's school. She was so adorable in her cream dress with the big flowers, white patent leather Mary Janes and punk ruffle socks. Really having girls is so much fun!

The class put on a little performance, singing, 3 little ducks went out to play, another duck song, and "I love mommy, I love mommy, yes I do, yes I do" to the tune of "are you sleeping?" There was a moment gazing at those bright blue eyes shining over those ginger freckles that I was just overwhelmed at how very blessed I am to have these amazing daughters. God is so good!

Commencement 10 yrs later

It was 10 years ago that I was sitting on the floor of the Convo waiting for my name to be called so I could walk across the stage and enter the world of true adulthood.

In some ways it is so long ago that I can no longer remember the specifics of that day, in fact I had to look up the name of the convocation center where the graduation was. I feel like I was kind of a lost puppy then, not sure of where I was going or what life had in store. I am so blessed to look back and see the ways God has blessed me, has given me an amazing husband, beautiful kids, great job, and enduring family and friends.

It never seemed like a straight shot to get us where Thomas and I are today and I certainly didn't fathom we would be where we are today 10 years ago.

So as I watched my baby brother Alex walk across the stage and pose with his buddies for those milestone photos, I tried to imagine the man Alex will be in 10 years. Will he be married? Kids? Will he still have that same easy smile, the same sense of adventure? No one can say for sure, but I am not worried. This weekend affirmed for me that Alex has a good heart, good deep values; his foundation is solid and he will not be swayed by heavy waves or shifting sands.

I am so proud of my baby bro and can't wait to see what the future has in store for him, or rather what he has in store for IT.

Gratititude and Simple Joys

Natalie writes:
The Thanksgiving season is upon us, and, appropriately, I am currently enjoying a great book I received from my dear friend Abby. The book is called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Vosklam. The book is a semi-memoir of a woman who finds spritual healing by listing a thousand blessings that God has given her. It is an excellent gook and it has really helped me this past week to try to slow down and recognize the beautiful moments and blessings in my life. Here are a few:

--Sami padding down the stairs in the footy pajamas yelling "mommy!" when I come through the door.

--the color of Ella's eyes as she day dream out the car window, unaware that I am watching her.

--the way my tension melts away when I feel Thomas sit by my side.

--the diamon-white color of the full moon on a breezy autumn night.

--Kathy in her robe on the front step giving her granddaughter one last kiss good-bye, even when she knows she will see her again in a few hours.

"Do not disdain the small. The whole of the life--even the hard--is made up of minute parts, and if I miss the infinitesimals, I miss the whole...There is a way to live the big of giving thanks in all things. It is this: to give thanks in the one small thing. The moments will add up."--Ann Voskamp

The rest of this week will be filled with planning menus and shopping trips, home repairs, and sitting arrangements in preparation for Thanksgiving. It is my hope that in the midst of the business, I can take time to honor what this holiday is truly about.

It has been 9 months since we last posted a blog...so to try to make up for some lost time, here are some photos of the growing girls.




Ella and Sam as Kun-Fuing Power-Puff Girls at Halloween. Their Aunt Nenni made them these awesome costumes! Hiya!

Natalie at her 31st birthday party with all the Dennison grandbabies. Johnny, Wyatt, Sam, Piper, Ella, Lily. Love it!

Ella and Sam carving pumpkins on the deck. Sam insisted on scooping with her own Sam-sized spoon.

Sam enjoying a late-summer ice cream treat from the ice cream man.

The whole family at a Ernie and Jo Ann's wedding.

Thomas and Natalie--9 year anniversary date.

Ella is thriving in first grade at Hickory Elementary School. She adores her teacher and comes home almost every day and changes into her "teacher" clothes and plays schoo. She is a great big sister who goes out of her way to help Sam and check up on her . I am so proud of my big girl.

Sam is a giantess. She is almost fully potty trained and is learning to say new things each day. On my day off on Friday, we had a great time watching the squirrels look for pumpkin seeds on our deck while we ate lunch. "Yook! Skerrel! Where go skerrel? What he doin??" We had so much fun.

Today Thomas asked Sam to go upstairs and get dressed--something she did not want to do. She showed us her contempt by sighing deeply and dropping her arms to her sides in exasperation--just like a 16 year-old :). How does a 2 year old learn to do this? My whole body shook trying not to laugh aloud.

Thomas and I are busy--though trying to cut back on things to slow life down a bit. Things are good, lots of changes --more updates to come!

natalie