Memorial Day Weekend

We stayed around the house this Memorial Day weekend, but it was still pretty busy.

Friday started with me taking both girls to a retirement luncheon at my school.  I felt pretty brave!  But really I just had no other option.  I have to say that both girls were terrific.  I can't always say that, so when I can, I do!!  Elizabeth even shouted "Amen" when one of the speakers read a Bible verse.  I didn't even know she was paying attention:)

Here are my two girls loving on each other (or at least one of them is) before leaving for the luncheon.

On Saturday, Bert's family came over and we headed to the pool .  It was our first time this year.

 Elizabeth couldn't wait to jump in!

Caroline relaxed with Bonnie under the fans.  She loved it as much as her sister did when she was a baby.

Elizabeth loves the freedom she has with her new puddle jumper swimmies.

Mackenzie loved holding Caroline.  And Caroline didn't mind all that attention either:)

Here is Mackenzie giving Elizabeth some swimming lessons.  Who's having more fun?!

This picture is way overexposed, but I love it anyway.  It's Alex and Mackenzie pulling Elizabeth back from the pool.  Elizabeth loves her cool older cousins!

After a long day, Daddy and Caroline cuddled in the chair.

The next day, the only thing Elizabeth wanted to do was go back to the pool.  So we did!

And Caroline slept under the fans the entire time.  Sweet girl!

On Monday, my department had a end-of-the-school-year party.  Elizabeth was very eager to help me make a dessert to bring.  Ha!

And here is another picture of Caroline who fell asleep during tummy time... again.

Best Friends

Beth and Meyers spent the last week with us and I'm not sure who enjoyed them more, me or Elizabeth.  We did a lot of hanging around the house, and even loaded up the car a few times for some outings.  Let me tell ya, watching us load the car was quite a sight.  And every outing was quite an adventure!

We love to dress our girls alike.  They just looked so cute together.  Here are our girls all ready to go to the Children's Museum.

These girls love each other!

Meyers and Elizabeth were like two peas in a pod!

It always melts my heart how much Elizabeth loves her "baby sissy".  But I think this little girl might love her just as much.  Meyers would beg to hold Caroline, and wouldn't let her go until she was good and ready.  Caroline seemed to enjoy all the attention. 

I know our girls are growing up so far away from each other, but moments like these make that distance seem nonexistent.

On Wednesday we got the girls dressed in their matching strawberry outfits so that we could go to the Strawberry Farm to pick berries. 

When we found out that it was closed, they had to console each other!!  Just kidding.  Actually, the farm was closed for the day, but we didn't find out until we got there... classic!

So instead we met Kathryn and her mommy at the Marietta Square.  The girls had a blast dipping their feet in the fountain.

Meyers didn't want to dip her feet in, but she did like to look at it.

On our last day together, we took the girls to our neighborhood pond.  We tried every trick we had to get them to sit together for a picture.  This car passing by was about the only time they even looked in the same direction!

They did love on each other though

Elizabeth was very motherly to Meyers the whole time.  She even would hand feed Meyers her goldfish and Meyers would let her.  What a pair!

Right before they left, I finally got a picture of Beth with Caroline.  Both of my girls love her so much.  Elizabeth kept calling her "other mommy".  At first it was "Meyers's mommy", but she quickly staked claim to Beth as hers too.  I loved it.  We have been best friends for 20 years, and I hope our daughters one day know friendship like that.

One Month Old

My precious Caroline turned one month old on Monday.  I really can't believe it.  I want so badly to freeze this time in our lives.  Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to get a full night sleep again and obviously I look forward to watching her (and her sister) growing up.  But knowing that she is my last newborn to wake up for middle of the night feedings, makes me treasure this time instead of merely survive it.
Here is what Caroline is up to at one month old:

• She is 21 inches long- 75th percentile.  She is half an inch shorter than Elizabeth was at one month, but E had only grown one inch since birth while Caroline has grown 1 1/2 inches since birth.  She might just catch up with her big sis!
• She weighs 8 pounds and 14 ounces- 50th percentile

• She eats every 2-3 hours during the day and often cluster feeds in the late afternoon.
• She'll sleep about 4 hours (give or take 30 minutes) at night before wanting to eat again.
• Because of her reflux, she grunts and moans a lot after feedings.
• She also sleeps best at night in her swing which we've moved to our bedroom.  We don't turn it on, but the more upright position really helps with her reflux.
• When we hold her she likes to be up on our shoulder with her feet pulled up underneath her.

• She really likes her tummy time for about 10 minutes.  She moves her head from side to side and pushes off the mat with her feet.  She'll be turning circles in no time!

• A few things that she is not a fan of: diaper changes, changing clothes, being naked, baths, pacifier (she's starting to take to it more)

Here is a comparison of my two angels at one month old.  Elizabeth on the left and Caroline on the right.  I still think they favor A LOT!  And they sure do love each other.  Elizabeth is border line obsessed with her baby sissy.  She loves to hug, kiss, and hold her.  Elizabeth doesn't like it at all if Caroline gets upset.  She's even tried to pick her up to console her.  Needless to say, we have to keep a close eye on her!

Overall, Caroline is such a sweet and content little girl.  We love her so much!!  Happy One Month Birthday Baby Girl!!!

Our Weekend

We started our weekend a little early because we had special friends come in town to visit- Beth and Meyers!  Elizabeth was so excited to go to the airport to pick them up.  I put them in their Big Sis/ Lil Sis outfits.  It was the first time they wore matching outfits, but definitely won't be the last!

My sweet girl was not up for taking pictures.

Her big sister was quick to help her out with a paci.

Elizabeth has had so much fun playing with Meyers.  She gets a little territorial at times, but she loves having her BFF here.  And so does her mama!!

Caroline had her first real tummy time this weekend and she absolutely loved it.

She even turned her head from side to side.

We have been on the go so much, that I decided it was time to get our double stroller.  We tried it out for the first time by taking Meyers and Elizabeth to the park.  I'm a big fan!

Elizabeth has been such a little helper with Meyers.  She holds her hand and leads her places.  She even feeds her.  Meyers doesn't need Elizabeth to do this for her, but she lets her which makes them a great little duo!