TODAY: Tu-Tu's & Tea Party

Pajama Party

Saturday Night Dinner & Pajama Party with Buddy Davis

Cheers!

- DJ Davis - So adorable to watch him jam!

Kids in Footie PJ's are so darn cute!

Movie & Popcorn

** February Snow **

Janie is 5 months!

February 20, 2011

Our sweetie pie LOVES playing, chewing on, tugging at, etc. her feetsies. Gone are the days when she lays still for a diaper change. Instead, legs go flailing and feet come up, but the giggles and laughs roll out.

Janie keeps filling out and is wearing 6 months, or 6-9 month clothes, depending on the brand. New rolls are appearing all the time. This kiddo loves to eat!

Her eyes continue to be blue and while her hair is falling out, it seems to be getting lighter and lighter. At times we see some of Clara around the mouth when she is pouting, but as of right now our girls don't really look much like sisters!

At five months old our rolley, polley sweet baby Janie is such a fun baby! She still is the most "talkative" baby we've ever been around and makes so many happy babbles and playful sounds, in addition to her authoritative screams and cries. She means business when those come out. Since there is always some noise coming out of Janie, it makes any television or movie viewing, reading books aloud or even conversations difficult unless she is asleep. All our bets are on her being a talker like Mama!!

Sadly, both girls have been sick with lingering colds a big portion of the last month and so we have watched some changes in lil' Janie's personality, some not so fun, and yet are not sure how much are related to development and not just not feeling well. First, Janie will no longer take a bottle. Since about five weeks old, Mommy pumped bottles for Daddy and Clara to give her on occasion and she took them like a champ. She even tried formula a few times and while not eager, eventually drank that too, but for a few weeks now, she get absolutely ticked off when presented with a bottle, making any opportunity for Mommy to get away tough. Grandma & Grandpa Michael came and watched to girls so Mommy & Daddy could go to Teatro Zinzanni with Daddy's firm and Janie opted to not eat the entire time we were gone. Secondly, Janie has stopped sleeping through the night the way she did before. We are lucky (and I know I shouldn't complain because this is the norm for many babies) to get a 6 hour stretch, and more typically get her to sleep just over 4 hours. Then, early in the morning she is happy and ready to play when Mommy is a complete zombie!! By the time I get her back down, it is about time for Big Sister to wake up. We are far less rested now than we were when Miss Janie first arrived.

For a few days, when Janie's cold was at its worst, she fought sleep all together and we resorted to lots of methods to get her to go to sleep. Bouncing on the exercise ball with her swaddled in our arms with light patting on her touche and loud shushing seemed to be the best method, but even this was fought. The swing, that Janie had really started to dislike as a form of entertainment, has also been a big help in getting her to sleep. It probably has more to do with sleeping at an incline that the motion. Now we have to start transitioning her back to sleeping flat on her back at night, and while we are at it, it may be time to make the move to her nursery. She really has grown so much that is it cramped quarters in her bassinet. Mommy is really having a hard time with the idea that my baby is so big already. My Grandma Wanda always reminds me that our little ones really are little for just the precisely right amount of time for us to appreciate the time and that every stage of their development is just as special, but nonetheless, I find myself getting sentimental at every step.

The changes in Janie's development this past month have really been special. She really LOVES to play with toys - way more than I every remember Clara liking them. She plays hard at her baby gym with a few of her favorite toys, talking and shaking and feeling like she is taking it all in. It is fun to see her examine things carefully as if she is conducting her own scientific experiments learning about her surroundings. Her fine motor skills seem to be surging more now as she brings everything carefully to her mouth in a more coordinated, intentional fashion. We have a game where she pets my face or hand gently while saying "So nice" or So gentle" and I have been amazed at how much more fluid her petting has become. She also has gotten a lot more precise with pinching and poking at the expense of Mama's face.

On the other hand, Janie still does not have any interest in rolling over. Outside of the one time, which now seems to be a fluke, she has gotten close, but not make an unassisted roll. Tummy time often makes her mad, but will be tolerated if some interesting toys are there to distract her. We are now trying to find ways to motivate her to make the roll and will be sure to post an update on when that happens!

Janie is much more willing to try sitting up for brief periods and likes the Bumbo seat. Without help she often leans forward. This was about where we remember Clara at 5 months. The exersaucer has also become a bigger hit in the past few days. Janie will make the rounds talking and playing with all of the toys, while putting pressure on her feet, something she disliked only a short time ago.

Gem Baby is still a Mama's girl at night. Now that she is feeling better, she is making progress with Daddy, too. Like I have mentioned in previous posts, she and Clara already have a lot of fun together. Clara can effortlessly get Janie laughing and at these times Kevin & I get to step back and enjoy the fuzziness in our hearts!

Janie & Delaney's Playdate

Janie had a fun playdate with her pal, sweet Delaney, her Mommy Wendy, and Grammie Glynis. Laney lives in San Francisco, so it had been several months since we have gotten the girls together and it was SO fun! The girls are just eight days a part and already seem to have fairly different personalities. Where Janie likes to just hang out and watch the world around her, Miss Delaney is very active and expressive. She was so cute rolling around, playing with her feet and busy checking out toys.

Both girls have beautiful blue eyes! Adorable!

They both were pretty interested in one another!

I bet they are having a great "baby talk" conversation, because we know that their mommies sure love our girl talk!

Can't wait until the next "playdate" - We hope it is soon because Wendy & Delaney are such special friends!

Happy Valentine's Day 2011

Twelve years ago, on Valentine's Day, Mommy & Daddy celebrated our first holiday together and now we have two sweet little girls together! That's pretty darn neat! In 2000, on that first Valentine's Day Kevin surprised me with a trip to Pike's Place Market and together we prepared a seafood dinner (halibut supreme, in fact). Up until having kids, we would go to the market every year. Now, we just continue the tradition by making a seafood meal together, and having bakery treats from Le Painier.

Now, our little Clara receiving Valentine's gifts from BOYS!! Her sweet pal, Davis surprised her with a special Valentine bag of goodies.

What a cute 3 year old couple!

~ Daddy's Girls ~

In the Michael household, we had an AWESOME night together. Daddy brought us all treats, we had some Valentine's surprises for one another and enjoyed a great meal.

~ Cheers!! ~

Clara excited to eat her yummy cupcake!

Daddy brought Valentine's for his girls - TOYS!! He found some great things that were hits with both of the girls.

Janie LOVED her colorful octopus chew toy/top

Clara LOVED her Brain Noodles and immediately made herself a crown.

Things sure have changed since 2000, but Kevin & I both agree that we are happier together now than we ever could have imagined back then. The time we have together as a family is the sweetest gift and this year Valentine's Day was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on that, while still making a little time for just Mommy & Daddy and our special history together!

P.S.

I ADORE you, Kevin! XOXO!

I just have to share the sweetness...

Our Loves!

Beginning to "play" together...

Janie and Clara really do LOVE one another. Janie is fascinated by Clara. Scout's constant flurry of singing, dancing, playing, laughing entertains Janie, which really isn't all that surprising to us. We are fascinated by Clara, too! What we are surprised by is how much Clara really adores her baby sister. She is always concerned with where she is, when she is sleeping, tries to soothe her when she fusses, and more recently loves playing with toys with her. Even though Janie takes up a lot of mom and Dad's time and has booted Clara from "only child" status, at this point Clara has made the transition graciously and really is a big helper to us! We can't get enough of seeing our girls truly enjoy one another - it is the BEST feeling!

Sweet "Gem" Baby