Bunny

Self-Entertaining while waiting for dinner to be ready last night. She took bunny outside for a walk in the stroller, but him in bed, read (recited from memory) Goodnight Moon, and said, "Goodnight, baby."

First Day of School, Take 2

Last Wednesday I got a call from the Director of the preschool I really wanted Ella to attend saying she had an opening in the 2 1/2's class. So exciting! The school is much more organized, and bigger, brighter, over-all better. It has a great reputation in our community and her teachers seem to be so loving and nurturing. We previewed on Monday, and today was her first day on her own. She did great! A few tears on drop-off, and during a transition from free play to circle time. When I picked her up, they were playing with Flubber, and the girl next to her was giving her a hug. I think it is safe to say she's going to be very happy there!


I'm a firm believer in "the dirtier the clothes, the more fun was had"~And here she is today after school. Shirt and pants covered in paint, dirty knees, and a green marker smear on her nose and cheek. Pretty good start!

While the (Ellie) Bear is away...

We have photo shoots!

After her hour nap (when I got some housework done, first step in my quest to keeping a better, cleaner home), we went outside to enjoy the beautiful morning. While the temperature is still HOT, fall has clearly arrived. The leaves are turning and falling, the winds are blowing, the days are getting shorter, and the light...I don't know how to quite describe it, but it is different. I'm a little scared of what this winter may bring, but for now we're enjoying the slow changes of season. Hello, Autumn!

p.s. We had an awesome trip up to Seattle this past weekend, but sadly forgot our camera. For a glimpse at our fun see a post HERE and HERE. Thanks, friends, for picking up our slack! We love you all and had a blast~Hope to see you all soon!

Time Warp

Could it really be possible that Quinn is Five months old today? I don't know where the time has gone, but truly, it has flown. Quinn at five months:
Continues to eat, grow, eat, and grow some more.
Is talking and laughing increasingly everyday.
Wearing clothes her sister wore at 7-8 months.
Enamored with her big sister, the only one worthy of giggles.
Improving her nighttime sleep after a few weeks of numerous wakings.
More aware of what is going on around her, often content to just sit on a lap and observe.
Taking 3 naps a day, never overlapping with Ella's nap for more than 30 minutes.
Rolling from front to back like a champ and pushing up on her arms.
Still pretty darn bald. I never thought I would have such a bald baby. She has Greg to blame for that~ her hair is a dead ringer for his baby pictures.
Demanding my attention *right* now, so this month is going to be cut short.

First Day of Preschool

Today was the big day. Actually the third-most-defining day of her life so far (the first being her birth, the second, the birth of her sister). Today marks the first day of her independent self's own life~making memories of her own, relationships of her own, experiencing the world through her own eyes. If only one day a week, it is a big step for our little girl.

We read The Kissing Hand together this morning, and she was happy as can be to get all dressed up in red (her favorite) for Red and Blue Day. We put her things in her cubby and got out the dolls for her to play with. When I said goodbye, she just stood there like a deer in headlights for a solid minute while I watched through the window. Then, the tears started so I went back it to try again. Her teacher had found her by that time, so we had one more hug, and she tearfully went off to find a book with Kristen. Quinn and I went home for a rest and the phone rang after an hour...I immediately thought it would be the school saying I had to come get her because she hadn't stopped crying. But, thankfully, it was the Director calling to tell me that Ella was doing great and having fun playing. I should have had more faith in her! When we picked her up, she was happy as a clam reading a Winnie-the-Pooh book with her teacher and two other kids. She says she had fun and wants to go back. Also said about 20 times, "I knew you were still here!" Her coping mechanism?

Outtakes

Quinn Laughs

Quinn Rolls

Since she hasn't been performing on command via Skype for her grandparents, I thought I'd post a quick video of Quinn's latest trick.

Excuse me?!?

After my shower just now, I went upstairs to get dressed and found this:

Naughty dog! She hasn't been allowed in the bed since the day I married Greg. And now, 5+ years later, she found her way under the covers and everything, just like the good old days.

Preview Day

Ella and I had our first preschool experience today. She did great~ We had 30 minutes to play together in the classroom before the Moms went into another room for orientation, and to give the kids time to get used to their teachers. Ella separated without event, but found her way to me through the back door of the bathroom for help with dressing her baby. After I took her back to the classroom, she freaked. Screamed and cried and tried to pry open the bathroom door, then the other door before finally (5 minutes later) settling down with her teacher to read some books. When I went in to get her, she gave me an enormously tight and long hug, and gave an enthusiastic "Yes!" when I asked her if she had fun. She says she is excited for next week, so we're hoping for the best. This school is a Lutheran Preschool, and definitely is a church preschool, not just a preschool renting space from a church. Fingers triple crossed she doesn't bust out any colorful language or offend any of the faithful during chapel. I'm anticipating some interesting conversations in the coming weeks now that prayer, grace, chapel, and Baby Jesus stories will be part of her days!