Funny you should ask....

We were at the doctor's office this past week for Miss Eva. Dr. Rolando (whom we have gotten to know very well over the years) was chatting with Big Sister Emma, and then turned to us to exclaim,

"Are those highlights in Emma's hair natural?"

No Dr. Rolando, we chemically enhance our 2-year-old daughter's hair.....

Well Baby!

Today was Eva's 4-month well-baby check. She is healthy as can be! Here are her stats:
~15 lbs, 12 oz (75th percentile--we were expecting 100th %-tile, so maybe she isn't so squishy afterall!)
~26 1/4 inch long (93rd percentile--yay, another tall girl!!!)
~17 inch head circumference (90th percentile--to be expected as Josh's daughter!)

She only got 2 booster shots because we denied the others at this young age. On a side note, I am a fan of Metagenics products, and they have a new protocol for kids that are getting vaccinations to help detoxify the effects of the formulations. So far she is doing perfectly post-shots! Let me know if you are interested in this.....

Snaps to a happy, healthy 4-month old Eva! :)

Baby Shower!

Emma: two-and-a-half
Eva: 4 months
Cousins!

Emma, Kendra, Haniah, Vivian

Sisters!
Caitlyn--34 weeks pregnant
Treat bags
Cousins Eva (4 mos) & Annika (2 mos) meeting for the first time
1st cousins--and like sisters!

Tara Muench, Cara, Melanie Rahmel, Melissa Mueed, Caitlyn Ruckman, Jen Cameron, Amy Englin

My Mom playing the Dirty Diaper Game
Erin & Shirley, Sarah & Natalie
Salad luncheon
Mommy-to-be and A.L.L. of her gifts!
Rattle cupcakes!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

- Jeremiah 29:11

I had the honor of giving my sister a baby shower on Sunday. What a great time we had. I am so grateful for all of my friends (including Erin and Sarah!) and family (some drove 8 hours!) that came to support her in this stage of her life, AND brought such generous gifts. My favorite part was the opening prayer where my aunt made a special quilt for the baby-to-be, and we all passed it around and prayed for Cait and the baby, so that everytime she uses the blanket, she and the baby will literally be "wrapped in prayers." God is so good.....

These Are the Moments.....

Emma & new Mommy, January 2006

Last night, Emma and I were in bed, sharing a few snuggles. When she started to get drowsey, she rolled over, looked at me with her gorgeous brown eyes, and said something that took my breath away and left me speechless for a moment.

"Mommy, I wuv you."

I looked at her, smiled, and said, "Emma, I love you too."

She gave me a huge, through-the-Nuk smile, rolled back over, and drifted off to sleep.

If I never understood the meaning of life, I sure do now.

Potty Training Time.....

It is Potty Training Time at our house. Emma was doing great with it before Eva was born, and has since then regressed to the point that she has no interest in it at all--until now..... For every pee-ing session, Em gets a sticker to place on her Potty Chart. If you know Emma at all, you know she l.o.v.e.s. stickers. When she accumulates a certain amount of stickers, she gets to pick a prize from the prize bowl. Once she is proficient in pottying, she gets to go to Target to pick out the grand prize of her choice. I hope we are making our trip next week! :) Wish us luck!

I don't care who ya are.....

Emma: almost two-and-a-half, Eva: almost three months

.....this is hilarious! I start laughing every time I see it!

Meet The Nanny!

Emma & Joy

Emma finger-painting with Joy

Eva smiling at Joy

Eva all smiles for Joy!

Meet out amazing Nanny, Joy who spends countless hours with our girls! If you can't tell, Joy loves taking photos, which I love! The girls absolutely adore her.....what a blessing!

Let the Teething Begin.....

.....so it can end! :)
Eva is working really hard to cut her first tooth. I wasn't quite on the look-out for this one, though the drooling should have been my first clue, because Em didn't cut a tooth until 6 months. However, the excessive drooling and crabbies led me to check her gums, and sure enough, a toothy is trying to make its entrance. Thanks to some homeopathic teething tablets that work wonders, we are managing quite nicely! The only problem: We tell Emma that Eva can't have her yummies because she doesn't have any teeth. Looks like we will have to come up with a different reason for her not to share her treats!

What a Happy 4th!

Though Emma was petrified of the fireworks display, and while Josh had to work the e.n.t.i.r.e. weekend, somehow we managed to have a fabulous weekend! My parents took a vacation up north last week, and joined us here in the cities on Thursday evening. Josh and I took the girls for a fun family lunch at Old Chicago on Thursday, which started the beautiful weather that we had this weekend. We then joined my entire family for a 4th of July cook-out at Tom & Tara's (my cousins) house in Mpls. On the 4th, my parents, the girls and I, met my aunt and uncle at The Freight House in Stillwater where we enjoyed a fantastic meal on their deck on the St. Criox River. After lunch, we walked along the river, and noticed that many families were beginning to reserve seats at the riverfront park for that evening's fireworks display. We decided to do the same! We laid out blankets and chairs, and while my uncle took a nap to reserve our spot, we ran home to throw together a picnic for the rest of the day. We returned to Stillwater around 4, and enjoyed the rest of the day planted at our spot along the beautiful St. Criox. Josh joined us when he got off, and he grilled us brats, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and s'mores! Around 10pm, we saw (well, all of us except Josh and Emma who had to hide out in the car due to fear!) one of the best fireworks displays that I have ever seen, put off to music right over our heads! It took quite some time to get home, which made me feel bad as Josh had to be to work in a few short hours, but it was well worth it. We have decided that Stillwater is our new 4th of July tradition! On Saturday, my parents, the girls and I met up with my aunt and uncle at the Farmer's Market in Minneapolis. We got yummy cinnamon rolls, beautiful bouqets of flowers, and fresh yummy produce. Later that afternoon, we all met Tom and Tara at the Tin Fish outdoor restuarant on Lake Calhoun, and then retreated back to their house to play games. We concluded our fun holiday weekend by sleeping in today and fixing a delicious breakfast, and then Josh headed off to work, and my parents headed back home to Milwaukee.
What a fun-filled weekend we had, thanks to my amazing family!

Snuggles with Mom.....