Thursday, November 18, 2010

Caterpillar discovery and play

I've been trying to get outside everyday to enjoy this lovely fall weather and get some of our wiggles out. It seems like I feel better and the girls are happier when we get outdoors. The other day we were in the front yard riding scooters and bikes when I noticed a caterpillar scooting it's way across our driveway. I pointed it out to the girls who immediately needed to investigate.....they do love a good bug. While they were poking and prodding the poor defenseless creepy crawly I noticed another one, and another one and another one. There were caterpillars ALL over the place. And for whatever weird caterpillar reason they were traveling back and forth across our driveway. I checked out our trees and berry bushes to see if maybe they were eating them, or trying to make a home in them, but nope....just crossing the driveway. Makes me wanna break out in some, why did the caterpillar cross the road jokes. lol We spent a good long time outside enjoying our great caterpillar fortune, oh....and riding scooters and bikes too! :o)

Go, Maddie go!

It's about time to take that handle bar off the back

Our first caterpillar friend

Maddie: lover of all creepy crawlies

Charlie is a mean scootin' mama

I think she's ready for a big girl bike!



Maddie took this picture of Eleanor and me.
I wish I had time to do something with my hair, but Eleanor looks good! :o)

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Week five

Eleanor will be 6 weeks old tomorrow which means that I am a good week behind on posting her 5 week pictures. I have been pretty diligent about taking pictures.....it's the editing that I can't seem to find time for! I finally got around to messing with these shots, but here I am typing and uploading pictures with one hand as I soothe my babe to sleep. It's a slow process I tell ya!

Things have been going really well with baby Eleanor. She is still an excellent baby, so I think I'm going to stop holding my breath and just accept that this time around I lucked out!! She is so sweet and she's turning into a squeezable chunky monkey. She is ridiculously quiet! Every once in a while when she's really mad we'll get a holler out of her, but most of the time I can hardly hear her crying or fussing from the next room. I guess a household can only have one Charlotte and the LOUD that follows her, so Eleanor needed to be a quiet baby. She is so go with the flow and really puts up with a lot of sisterly love. I have seen a little bit of frustration come out of her when she gets prodded too much, but I think that she likes the action that comes with her sisters. Her awake times are getting longer and she has completely stopped waking at night and wanting to stay awake. Her feedings have naturally spaced out which means that her poops have spaced out as well which makes me happy because it's a pain having to change tiny poopy diapers all day long. 4-5 a day is a lot more manageable. Eleanor seriously does not ever spit up! I'm sure it's normal.....I just haven't experienced it with a baby before and find it a bit odd. I'm not complaining, it's nice not having throw up all over my clothes and stained baby clothes, but it's kinda weird.

I've been having challenges getting everything that needs to be done around the house completed, but I think that's pretty normal after having a baby. I find that things are go-go-go from the time I wake up until I go to sleep, and even then I have night feeds that I get to do. When I was pregnant with Charlotte, people told me I wouldn't have time to myself anymore, but often times I did. Now that I have baby number 3 and Maddie has stopped napping, I REALLY don't have time to myself. Most of the time I don't mind, but sometimes I wish I could just be alone for a little while, not taking care of everyone elses needs. I know things will level out as Eleanor gets older and I'll have more opportunities to do things I enjoy. For now, my goal is to shower more than once or twice a week! :o) I'll let ya know how that goes.

Without further ado......Miss Eleanor Irene, week 5!








CHUB!







Sunday, November 14, 2010

Hill Ridge Farms

After our trip to the fair this year I was pretty much dreading going to Hill Ridge Farms. I mean I love this trip, but having to brave another long outing didn't seem all that appealing. I had actually talked about not going at all this year, but boy and I glad that we did! We had SO much fun. This is another one of those adventures that we do every year and I love that my parents have been able to go with us the last 2 years. Making memories! We lucked out because we went on Halloween day and it was basically empty which makes life a lot easier! We didn't have to wait in line for the slide or the train and the kids got to spend as long as they wanted in the corn box which every other year has ended in tears because they have the kiddos on a 5 minute rotation. By the end of the day Charlotte was breaking down, but it was to be expected on a busy day. I think that we'll try and go back next year on Halloween because it really makes a difference on the level of fun we have! All in all an excellent day with lots of photo opportunities!


Charlotte wanted to wear her pumpkin costume.....
So we let her!
She looked pretty cute if you ask me! :o)


She worked up a sweat in the bounce house in her costume!


Both girls really enjoyed the pony ride.
Thanks grandma and papa!

A little unsure at first
(this was her first pony ride)


She LOVED it!

Eleanor was there too!


I would love to build a corn box in our yard



Mama did not ride the slide this year.....but grandma and papa did! :o)





Choo choo






Duck races
I think this silly thing was Maddie's favorite thing of all!
An attempt at a family picture

Pumpkin picking




On our way back to the car

County McCounterson