Our Not-so- Little Lady

It’s hard to believe our little bug is not so little anymore.  She’s an 18-month that’s always curious, on the move, and despises the word “no”.  Our laid-back sweet baby has turned into a feisty chick that makes her desires known!  (I guess you’d have to be that way when you’re the 3^rd one.)  Here are some milestones she’s reached:

Words –

Her vocabulary is expanding exponentially everyday!  We were a little worried a month ago, because it seemed like she wasn’t adding new words, but she’s just taken off lately.  She’s always been really good at understanding what we say, but she didn’t have a desire to talk but rather grunt.  We always find her words funny, because they don’t seem to be the conventional “first words”.  Her favorites are:  mum, daddy, pumpkin, crackers, uh-oh, baby, duck, and shoes.

Food-

The pickiness has set it.  It’s a tough age, because you can’t bribe her yet, so we’re stuck with what she chooses to eat.  Although if she’s really hungry she’ll eat anything.  So I try to  sneak in the veggies and fruits before her meal and see if she’ll go for those first.  It’s also tough having big sisters, so she’s already been introduced to too much junk.  Her favorites are hot dogs, mac & cheese, bananas, crackers, juice,  and yogurt.

What we love about you, our funny bug -

1.  The way you yell “mum” at me like an angry Englishman!

2.  You point at a CSU Ram logo and say “daddy”.  Can we say obsessed much?

3.  When trick-or-treating you would grunt when you wanted candy – just like you do to us when you want something. 

4.  You love to parade around in our shoes.  I can never seem to find 2 matching shoes, because you trek them all over the house!

5.  You walk up to us holding a diaper and wipes and point to your diaper and say “poop”.   Makes life a little easier!  Guess, again, you expect that with a 3^rd one that gets little attention.

6.  Even though you’re constantly moving and investigating, you still have time to be extra cuddly!  Love you buggy!

More Birthday Fun!

Chandler was excited to have yet another birthday party with the family.  It seems like these birthdays are always such a production in our house, but it's ok, because the girls love it!  We decided we'd better have her favorite - pepperoni pizza.  After dinner - cake and presents, followed by horse rides from Cousin Damon.  Another party down!

Chandler's cake request (because Kenz is a hula girl)

 Opening gifts

Great way to end the party! 

Monday was her actual birthday, so we had some hot dogs for dinner (another favorite) and opened gifts.

Last, but not least, was her classroom birthday celebration on Tuesday.  So after 3 weeks it was over, but she's been having a ball playing with all her new toys!

Four years is when they start feeling "old" to me, so it's a little bittersweet.  Wonderful to watch them become "little people" but sad to no longer have my baby.

Milestones this Year
1.  Made her own friends at school (This is big because she's always had the same friends as Brooklynn)
2.  Learned how to cross the monkey bars all by herself
3.  Started writing her name and reading sight words
4.  Has amazing fashion sense - always chooses her own clothes and can button, zip, everything

Over the past couple months we've watched Chandler really blossom into a big kid.  Her teacher at school said her transformation has been amazing - she went from a girl crying at drop-off to being everyone's friend and the teacher's helper.  At home we've seen a complete shift as well.  She's been so sweet and delightful and seems so mature.  While she still has her Boston accent (thank God), our little girl is getting so big!  We love you to death Cheeseball and can't wait to see what the future holds for you!

Professional Trick-or-Treaters

It seems like Halloween gets busier and busier each year, but we try to enjoy these times before they're "too old" for all the fun.  Since Halloween fell on a Thursday this year, we had both Brooklynn and Chandler's school parties and then trick-or-treating in the evening.  I felt like I was running around like a mad woman, but it turned out great, and the kids had so much fun celebrating with lots of friends.

After I shuffled Chandler off to school I went to Brooklynn's school to help with their party.  The kids loaded their plates with cupcakes, Rice Krispie treats, and candy.  Uh oh!  They had lots of fun doing activities and just being silly with friends.  Since she's only in half-day kindergarten she doesn't eat lunch or have recess with friends, so I'm glad she has these times to make some friends.

Brooklynn and some classmates

 Then we had to speed over to pick-up Chandler, who had a great time with her friends!

 After the sugar crash and nap it was time to go trick-or-treating.  So we bundled the kids up (although the weather was pretty nice to start with), and away we went.  

 When will you be done with these pics so we can get some candy?

 With Grandma, the M & M

 Stop already with the pics!

 Adaley was so cute!  She just loved holding her Elmo.  She walks around the house carrying purses all day, so trick-or-treating was right up her alley.  

 At our neighbors' house.  Addy would hold out Elmo and grunt until the candy was dropped.  It was so funny!

 Hangin' with her BFF Sophia

 Chandler just loved it!  She was trying to keep up with Brooklynn and the big kids.

 Ready to go home with her snot nose!  As soon as she got home she broke into her favorite - Smarties!

 The girls love to go out, but have no problem coming home, because they just set up shop in the front and love to hand out candy to the other kids.  Because it got so windy there were only a handful of more trick-or-treaters, so they would open the door and yell, "Come on trick-or-treaters.  Come to our house."  It was hilarious.  Then they started giving the big kids whatever they could find - stickers and coloring books.  Steve and I couldn't stop laughing at them!

The letdown of the holiday is tough though.  They were sad at bedtime that it was all over - all the hype, the anticipation, and the fun costumes.  At least we have a few fun holidays coming up to help them cope.

The Day has Arrived!

Chandler has been obsessed with her "pumpkin patch party" for months - going up to strangers and telling them and asking random people if they're coming to her party.  No wonder I felt so much pressure to make sure everything was just the way she wanted it!  It's always a good time getting everyone out in the pumpkin patch and seeing all the cute costumes.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous (2 years in a row now), and the kids had so much fun seeing each other and playing.

Spider Girl posing with her cupcakes

 Our Doc McStuffins

And our little cow!  She actually loved dressing up and would bring it over to us and grunt throughout the week to put it on her.  Of course, it was too hot to stay on long at the party.

 Our little ladies

 We found a perfect pumpkin - Julian!

 Awww.......can't wait to show them this in 10 years!

 Having fun with Jada and Hazel

 Watch your eyes buddy!

 Getting their grub on.  I can't believe how many kiddos there are now!  Wow!

 Ready for cupcakes looking so sweet

Although it was a lot of hard work, we all had a great time, and Chandler gave it her stamp of approval.  Thank God!  She's already talking about next year's plan.  Oh no..........

She's 4 and in charge!

Chandler always knows what she wants and what she likes.  I asked her about her favorites now that she's 4, and she answered them quickly without any hesitation.  What a rockstar!

Favorites:
1.  Color - pink & purple
2.  Toy - Frozen dolls
3.  Fruit - strawberries
4.  TV show - Peppa Pig
5.  Food - pepperoni pizza
6.  Snack - string cheese
7.  Song - Let it Go (Frozen)
8.  Outdoor activity - Slip n' Slide
9.  Drink - chocolate milk
10.  Holiday - Brooklynn's birthday (I guess because there's even more toys in the house)


When she grows up she wants to still be a firefighter or own a restaurant or maybe just be a waitress at a restaurant (she's not sure yet), but thankfully she has lots of time to decide.