Random fun

Here's Ellie modeling some new shorts (though I'm pretty sure they're boy ones -- oops!), and blowing bubbles using her fancy bubble cup craft we made on a recent trip to the library storytime.

Trike ridin'

Maybe she's a late-bloomer, but Ellie just now finally getting the hang of riding her trike without mom or dad pushing from behind. Well, sort of getting the hang of it... :)

Park with Lucy

A couple of recent shots of Ellie at the park and zoo with her neighborhood friend Lucy.

Big and little

I put both girls in their big and little sister shirts the other day, so an impromptu photo session ensued. Katie hasn't been subjected to quite the same paparazzi treatment from me that Ellie did at her age... but she's still getting good at smiling for the camera :)

Weekend fun

Ellie had quite a fun-filled weekend this past one back in Lafayette. We had two dinner dates -- one with Colin and his parents, and another with Olivia and her parents. The kiddie picnic table was the star attraction for Ellie and Colin at our barbecue on Sunday.

And E and O went over to the zoo's bedtime story program after pizza on Friday night. They wore their jammies and got to hear stories about bugs before holding some huge critters. Ellie was fearless while I was halfway across the room in terror.

Oh, and Ellie's babies and monkey also got some outdoor time this weekend when they learned how to climb our pear tree. Doesn't look entirely safe... 

Memorial Day weekend

I'll have to put this post into the category of "Better late than never"... We had a great Memorial Day weekend down in St. Louis. Ellie probably had the most fun since she got to ride a pony, and a train and a ferris wheel. Oh my. What a lucky girl. Most of these pics are from our visit to Eckert's orchard on Saturday, where we bought fresh peaches and let Ellie go a little nuts. She loved the Ellie-sized cart in the shop.

And she stalked great-grandma through the store... and kept sticking items in carts that we had to fish out before the checkout line.

The pony ride was a HUGE hit!

And here we are framing Katie for our ice cream indulgence at Bobby's — a custard establishment in Maryville.

And here's grandma giving Ellie some love at the ice cream shop.

Great-grandma giving Ellie some love at our breakfast out at Steak N Shake...

Grandma giving Katie some love at the house...

AND, Ellie giving daddy a "haircut" for about 30 minutes one of the afternoon :)

Katie 4 months

Took Katie in for her 4 month check-up today and she got great marks! She's up to the 50th percentile for weight (13 lbs, 14 oz) and height (24.5 inches)... and she's in the 80th percentile for head size. I was so happy to go in for the doc's appointment just to affirm that Katie's doing as great as we think she is. Nice to get that medical opinion. But when the doctor asked for additional questions, we didn't have anything bugging us. I feel like we're so much more confident and relaxed with Katie, as compared to when Ellie was a baby. Obviously there are still difficult times and we aren't experts... but so much of the baby stuff feels easier this second time around. Hope I didn't just jinx us.

Here's what Katie is up to at 4 months:

• Smiling and laughing. She's such a happy, happy girl. Love to make her grin.
• Grabbing anything she can get ahold of, especially mom's hair. I will be wearing lots of ponytails this summer. It's fun to see her hold onto toys now, and it helps keep her occupied a little better when we can't hold her.
• Sleeping through the night. Our little girl is a great sleeper (knock on wood). For the past few weeks she's been going about 8 hours each night between feedings, however we don't get that long a stretch of sleep because she wakes up several times wanting her pacifier back in. While this is frustrating we know that Katie is doing great at night overall, so we try not to complain. Last night she only woke up once needing the pacifier replaced, so I'm hoping that's a positive sign.
• Growing, growing. Katie had grown out of almost all of her 0-3 month clothes now. The skinny little bird legs she had the first couple months have turned into chunky, thunder thighs. We love it! She's getting about half breastmilk and half formula in the weird nursing and supplementing balance we've struck. It seems to be working :)
• Rolling over... a few times. She's not doing is consistently, but Katie has rolled from front to back several times. Nothing so far in the other direction but I'm sure it will come. I recall Ellie being a bit lazy with hitting this milestone, too.
• "Talking." Katie loves to hear her own voice these days and often chimes in with "ooohs" and "ahhhhs."
• Drooling and blowing bubbles. Our girl is very drool-y these days and I think I can see some white in her top gum where a first tooth may be getting ready to make an appearance. She also loves to blow bubbles and generally make whatever outfit she's wearing very soggy.
• Puking. Katie has a lot of spit-up these days. Ellie loves when she spots it first and eagerly runs to get a towel to wipe off Katie's face and shirt. Mom and dad are slightly less excited about it, especially when it lands in our hair or ruins a shirt when we're trying to get out of the house. But as Ellie would say, "It's OK."
• Kicking. Katie loves to move her legs and feet, so there must be some muscles hiding under all of her leg rolls. She's great at kicking out of any blankets we wrap her up in overnight, which doesn't help when we're trying to keep a pacifier propped in her mouth. Should pay off for her future sports endeavors, though.
• Being cute and chill. While she's a very relaxed baby overall, Katie has no shortage of facial expressions. She cracks us up every day. And if it's possible Brian and I love her even more today when we did the day she was born.