All the Funny Things...and a Few Steps

Everyday it seems there is something funny and new that makes us laugh with these kiddos. There is so much activity around here, NEVER a dull moment. Much of our day is spent in the play room, it is so awesome to have this space. I think it is one major reason I am still of sound mind (most of the time). The thought of watching three kids going three separate ways exploring everything in the house makes my blood pressure rise. I often wish I could let them explore the house like most kids do, but that would be simply dangerous with three. Especially since our main floor is very open so there are few walls to gate off areas.

Busy girls:
Having fun in their new kitchen:
Anyway, I am very thankful for the safety of our playroom! There is little in that room that would allow for major injury. Unless, your name is Brooke and you take every toy in the room and find the most dangerous way to use it, then injury is always a possibility. Lately she likes to stand up and climb on everything. Take her shopping cart for example, she likes to stand on and try to balance on the wheels. Dad was showing here this weekend how to put food and toys into the cart instead of herself!!! The same with her little scooter, she likes to stand on the seat instead of sit. Again, not safe since it is on wheels. Brooke has started taking a few steps on her own, I think three is her best so far. She has also gotten more aggressive with her toy stealing! She is not sly at all, and if you take her toy you will be sorry! This child is crazy, she has NO fear, so nothing has really changed!

Brooke acting dangerously:
Taylor has been really verbal lately. She will stand completely balanced for a long period of time and chatter to her "imaginary friends". She is very serious about it and uses a lot of had gestures. It is very sweet to watch. Taylor seems to have the best balance so far and has taken the most steps consistently. She has taken 4-5 steps a number of times, I think she will be our first walker. She also is a little snuggle bug. Usually in the afternoon she likes to come sit or lay be me and put her head on my shoulder and just hang out. I love this! She has been the most chill lately too, very little fussing or crying. She is the first to hand over her toys. She rarely gets upset if someone comes and swipes her toy, unlike her sisters who throw a fit!!! That is not to say she doesn't swipe her fair share of toys.

Taylor standing, chatting using her famous hand gestures:
Sydney is loving life on the move! She is such a happy little girl now that she can get where ever she wants to. She is all over the place! Busia has made everyone in the family a cozy fleece blanket with fringes all around it and suddenly, Sydney loves them all and will crawl up to one lay her head down and snuggle in. It is really cute! She is also talking a lot more and making more and more sounds that sound like words. She definitely says Mama and Dada appropriately. Over the weekend Chris went in to get the girls in the morning and I was still downstairs and when he opened the door I heard a very excited "DADA", my heart melted. She does the same with Mama and I just love it, no longer is Mama reserved for when she is unhappy and screaming!!! She is doing so much better with the crying, she is not screaming every time I leave the room and has much fewer fits at the dinner table! Whew! She still gets a little frustrated quickly, but she is really so much happier now! Syd really gets worked up when her sister takes her toy, but has no problem grabbing theirs. She loves her sisters and I often see her looking at them and smiling or all out giggling! She is super ticklish, especially around her neck, I love to get her going, she has the best giggles! Oh, and she has now suddenly figured out how to suck rather than blow with the straw and is loving it!

Syd crawling around being silly:
Loving sucking through straws!!!


We still have the bedtime bottle which the girls absolutely love! I am not taking that away just yet. But, as far as the sippy cups, they really seem to prefer the cups with the straws. They are doing incredibly well with them and I am thrilled. Overall everyone has been very healthy so far. I hesitate to say this, but the runny noses that we couldn't seem to get rid of a few months ago have been non existent and no other illnesses to speak of. I pray this trend will continue. I will say we have had a few bad days of teething lately. Butts have been more red, drooling has increased, fingers in the mouth are more common and rashes on the face are back. It is a tough time for the little ones, and I feel bad for them. I can always tell with Brooke especially, she bites things more. Today she was snuggling with me an bit my stomach, boy did that hurt, mostly because it was unexpected. She then was trying like crazy to take my fingers and put my fingers in her mouth and bite them. That was not going to happen, so she settled for a teething ring, which I was happy about. A few months back I remember her coming up behind me and biting my back, I hope this is not a sign that she will be "the biter". Ugh. I really think it is linked to teething, at least so far, fingers crossed!

Mealtime has changed a lot too, they now are and have been for awhile now on all food food. We now put a plate in front of them and they completely self-feed. What a great thing this is. The spoon thing in not yet on the radar, but we will get there. They pretty much love every food I put in front of them, thankfully! Some things they eat regularly: bagels, scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles, bananas, pears, peaches, yogurt, applesauce, ravioli, pbj sandwiches, avocados, kiwi, grapes, salmon, tilapia, veggies, potatoes, chicken nuggets, turkey meatballs, blueberries. I am blessed with good little eaters, so far!