The Calm Before the Storm

This past week we have thoroughly enjoyed the glimpse of Spring weather. Unfortunately, it has been a big tease! We are expected to get 6-12 inches of snow today! Hard to believe when we have been eating lunch outside, and riding our bikes everyday! I guess that's Colorado weather for you!!

Times a Wastin

I am sad thinking about this being the last year for me and my girls to "play" on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We usually try to do something fun on these days since we don't have school. I have taken it for granted until now I guess. We have March and a few days in April because of our Florida trip and then Summer break. Then next year, Ava will be in school Mon-Fri and Molly will be in school Tuesdays and Thursdays. My babies are growing up. Time to join the real world I guess. I kept the girls very busy this week.

On Tuesday, my Mom took Rachel so that I could have some quality swim time with the girls. It was great! Amazing how much less work two kids are!!





On Thursday, we met Marie, Claire and Sophia at the Children's Museum. We had so much fun! Ava's favorite was playing veterinarian. Molly's favorite was dressing up in the dance clothes and painting. Rachel loved crawling around in the baby section. It was so nice we even had lunch outside!

Change-a good thing?

Yesterday, we went for Rachel's 9 month check-up. Mike's company changed to Kaiser health insurance. I have been dreading this change. I absolutely LOVED our old pediatrician. We have been going to him since Ava was born. He knew us and knew our girls. So, originally, I went on Thursday for Rachel's appointment. When I checked in they had an appointment scheduled for her. It was Feb. 11. Which is very strange because she wouldn't have been 9 months a month ago. So, they got her in yesterday. We waited for almost 45 minutes to see the doctor. I guess that Rachel knows what a doctor office is because she cried the entire time. So much so I could barely hear the doctor talking. The new doctor is very young and I did like him. He's just not the grandpa type like our old pediatrician was. But he tells me that they usually don't do 9 months well checks. Could someone have told me that before I dragged all my children into the office exposing them to all the sick germs? ARGH... Very frustrating! The good thing is that she didn't get any shots! At her 12 month well check she will get 5! I am preparing her now! :) Her stats have changed dramatically since our last appointment with the other doctor. He said that it was a "measuring issue"! So she weighs 17lbs. 7.4 ounces (21 percentile) and she is in the 57 percentile for her height. Last visit she was in the 80th percentile for her height. Who knows what to believe? Is my daughter shrinking or did she stop growing? I have said this before that I am not good with change and this is why!!

Rachel's new trick

Rachel turned 9 months on Monday! She is becoming such a big girl. Crawling everywhere! And starting to pull herself up onto things. She is getting into everything. Her favorite is the pantry and tupperware cupboard. I keep waiting for more teeth to come in but she still has only the bottom two. This makes me very nervous since she won't eat much baby food now. But she seems to get by. Her little personality is emerging. She loves to be with her sisters and they love to make her laugh. She is a very laid back little girl but still a Mommy's girl.

Rachel has discovered her tongue and is not afraid to use it!

Enough of Winter Already

Has this winter been dragging on and on for everyone or is it just me? We usually have fairly mild winters here in Colorado. This year is an exception. We usually don't have this much so and I can't remember it being this cold in the 13 years I have lived here. Thank god for the sunshine or I would really be going insane! I am counting down the days until Easter for our Arizona trip. Then ten days after that, our Florida trip. So, I just have to survive for a few more weeks! It doesn't help much that they streets have been snow covered and I haven't been able to get my "sanity" runs in. The eliptical in the basement is not the same! Hopefully the sun will melt the rest of the snow today so I can get out in the fresh air tomorrow morning.

I really should take some notes from my kids. They don't care about the weather. They always seem to make the best of it! Molly wears a swimsuit no matter what time of the year it is. And Ava has found a use for our huge unfinished basement-she loves riding her bike and the roller coaster my parents bought them. And Rachel, my good sleeper will just sleep the winter away! Sounds like a great idea to me!!

Spring, spring, you can't come soon enough!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a great Valentine's Day. The girls have been dying to use their Build a Bear gift cards from Aunt Katie so we thought today would be a great day to do it! Apparently, we weren't the only ones with this brilliant idea! I think that half of Littleton decided to join us. The girls were awe of all the bears to choose from. And if that wasn't enough, they got to choose clothes for their bears too! Too fun!



After spending some time there, we came home, ate lunch, and made some Valentine cookies. The girls couldn't decide what was more exciting, baking cookies or playing with their new bears.






And to top the evening off, the girls got to spend the evening with Grandma and Grandpa. A great Valentine's Day indeed!!

Gymnastics

The girls take turns each session doing classes. Last time, Molly did dance. This round of activities, Ava chose to take gymnastics. I was very impressed with the programs with the rec center. Since we moved, we have new choices at different rec centers. The girls basic class was very basic but covered everything. Floor, bars, balance beam, and vault. Ava's favorite parts were jumping into the pit and the trampoline. The teacher worked them very hard and Ava is always exhausted after class. So, because it's so good for her, I have signed her up for the next session. And Molly choose to do dance again so, I am going to be one busy mama. Can't wait!