Memories

I wanted to dump some memories of life lately - I love looking back at my posts and there have been some special memories I wanted to document!  It has been a fun couple of weeks around here.

We went to a baseball game with friends and these two are the best of friends!  Go Cardinals!!

We've been doing daily walks and they have been so nice!  We have met some neighbors too!

**please ignore the grainy-ness my photos have.  I am working on learning how to upload photos so this doesn't happen.  But it gives me a headache - so I'll learn more another day!

Every now and then, the girls will actually play together.  Well... Savannah always wants to play with big sister - so I should say every now and then Addison decides to play so sweetly with Savannah and it melts my heart!

We made pizzas for dinner with Grandpa and Addi loved it!  She ate just as many toppings as she put on!  Grandpa too :)  

We are so blessed!

-Erica

February Four!

Remember this post - The Four Februarys?

Well those sweet babies are now 6 months old!

How adorable are they???

They actually all weren't born in February, but will always be remembered as the February Four.  They are in birth order - left to right and 3 weeks apart!  So. much. fun.  We are all so thankful they are all happy, healthy little girls!  And I think best friends forever already!

And some outtakes:

Parents are jumping, clapping, crazy.... in hopes for a smile.... this is what we got.  

Caption this one!  :)

Drama already?  

And this is the whole gang (minus 1).  Our group of kiddos went from 4 to 8.  After playing outside and popsicles - this was as good as we could get!

As I always say - we are blessed!  And not just Eric and I - but all the mommys and daddys of these cuties!

A Day in the Life

Life is flying by with two littles.  I wanted to take a moment to remember what these days were like.  Because I really can't remember these days when Addison was Savannah's age... and really, it wasn't that long ago!

Currently Savannah is 6 mo, and Addison is 2 years.

We have a great morning routine right now!  Addison gets up at 7 and we hold off Savannah's breakfast bottle till then.  Both girls and I cuddle up on Savannah's oversized rocker, Savannah gets her bottle and then we read some books.  I get the girls dressed then we head downstairs for Addison's breakfast and Savannah's solid breakfast.  We then head out for a morning walk with our dog, Ellie.

Savannah takes a nap while Addi and I get some one on one time.  Most days we try and get out in the morning.  Whether it's playing outside, story time, the store, or play date.  Our current favorites are signing time at a local library, story time at Barnes and Noble or the library, or play dates!  Getting out with two in tow has gotten easier.  Savannah is pretty good at sitting with Addi or sitting in the cart!  Much easier than lugging around her in the carseat.  Addison does a great job staying close to me and holding my hand.  She climbs in Savannah's side of the jeep and gets herself into her seat for me to come and buckle her in.

We usually eat lunch at home.  Savannah's on a pretty good breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime bottle schedule.  She is eating solids now and can't get enough of it!  Thankfully I am getting the girls both down for naps around 1:00 and it's been wonderful!  I work on etsy sales, do some housework, or take some downtime!

After naps is usually filled with some more playing and a snack.  Addison has loved pretend playing or talking Savannah's ear off.  Savannah is crawling and gets up to her knees on everything - so she loves trying to keep up with her sister.  Watching these two interact has been so cute.  They are going to be best of friends!  (Or at least I hope so!)

Once daddy gets home it seems to be craziness until bedtime!  Daddy is our chef (love him for that) so he cooks while I entertain the girls and we catch up on our days.  We all eat dinner then try to play together as a family or squeeze in a walk or errand.  Then bedtime for Savannah at 7 and Addi by 7:30!    

We are so blessed!

-Erica

PS I was a guest blogger at The Girl in the Red Shoes sharing my breastfeeding [and formula!] story. Thank you again Julie for letting me share my story.  

5 Months Old!

Our little peanut will be 6 months in 1 week.  How. is. that. possible.  

I am not going to lie - going from 1 to 2 kiddos was a bit more of a shock to me than I thought.  However, time goes way faster this time around than it did with Addi so I am remembering that the tough times will pass.  

Since time goes so quickly I have been trying to take more pictures!  Picking up the camera more often has been so nice- I really love being behind the lens.  I feel like I am finally understanding how to actually use it (but still need lots of practice!) and how to organize my photos in order to edit and do something with them.

The first batch I have been so anxious to get together is Savannah's monthly pictures!  You forget how little they are- she was so tiny!  Her round face sure hasn't changed though!

Such a happy little girl!  We are so blessed!

-Erica

Five for Friday: Addison Edition

Addison has been saying and doing some things lately that I want to remember and cherish- she is just so stinkin cute!

ONE

Her sentences and phrases are cracking us up!  

"Addi go to work sometimes."  

"I got it"   

"Addi wore that when little baby"

(startles sister awake) "'nannah not sleeping!  'nannah eyes open!"

TWO

She is afraid of the funniest things.  For example a hip hop dance on So You Think You Can Dance, Ellie (our dog) wearing bows on her ears after the groomer, and a piece of fuzz floating in the water during bath.  She now takes bubble baths so I don't have to spend most of the bath time trying to fish out the tiniest speck floating around while she cries that it's going to get her.

THREE

The week before she turned two we started asking her how old she was and she quickly would say "four."  Cracked us up.  The best part is when you ask her to count to five she counts "one, two, three, five."  

FOUR

She adores her sister.  She can't keep her hands off her.  She is constantly asking to hug her, hold her, tickle her, etc.  Savannah's eyes light up and she smiles so big.  I never thought a bond between the two of them could be shown so early on!  I swear I say "gentle" 500 times a day.

FIVE

After watching Eric play his church softball game Addi so sweetly, with her arms out in confusion, said "no sing song!"  After a moment we realized she meant "Take me out to the ballgame"  I guess she was paying attention when we were at the Cardinals game last weekend.  You betcha we sang it with her on the car ride home!

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Linking up with 

The Four Februarys!

This is seriously too much fun!  And God is so good!  The most important thing to start this post off with is that there are 4 healthy babies and healthy pregnancies.  What a blessing!

Now, a little background...
- Katie and Erica find out they are pregnant and due towards the beginning of February.
- Emily finds out she is pregnant and tells Katie and Erica that she is due in February.
- Katie and Erica decide to surprise Emily with their news once all first appointments are done.
- Chelsey finds out she is pregnant.
- Katie and Erica surprise Emily during a "picture" (it was actually a video) of the three of them with their exciting news.
- All three are due within 10 days of each other!
- Chelsey tells her news and makes it now four of us due within 21 days of each other!

Did you get all that?  So exciting!

Sam and Chelsey found out they are having a sweet little girl.  They have two boys and wanted to tell their oldest the exciting news along with the news of a brother or sister.  It's going to be adorable watching those brothers swoon over a baby sister.

Meanwhile, Erica goes to her gender sonogram and has to keep it quiet for two weeks until Katie and Emily go to theirs.

We had all gone shopping prior and picked out a girl outfit and a boy outfit that we would then buy once we knew the gender that we would pull out of a bag to be the reveal.  

So then party time came!  Goodness was it hard talking about the baby and not slipping a he or she!

Predictions were made

Food was prepped

We also did the same for Chelsey but not written down since we knew they were having a girl, and her wives tales all pointed to girls as well!

Then came the moment of reveal!

Getting the outfits ready...

THREE MORE GIRLS!!!!!

Chelsey was out of town unfortunately... we will get a picture with her next time!

All the daddys and their sweet little girl outfits!  So cute! :)

I am still in shock that 4 little Valentine girls will be headed our way!

We also did some games.  Pretty fun!  The kid count will double!  From 4 to 8!

Oh and a hot air balloon stopped by the party too 

God is so good!  We are blessed!

Well hello beautiful glorious fall!

A couple weekends back we were able to experience something through Addison's eyes.  It's one of my favorite things being a parent.  I love watching a brand new experience through her eyes.  

Addi is always aware and taking things in.  She has been this way since she was born.  Can't miss what is going on!  She loves to watch, learn and try it on her own.

She loves holding our hand and guiding us to where she needs to be.  Seeing her hold her daddy's hand is always one of my favorite moments.  Nothing like a daddy daughter relationship!

Fall is such a special time each year.  The air has a new crisp-ness to it.  Kind of like a breath of fresh air.  The hot and busy summer days are fading away, the holidays will be here before you know it, but the fall gives you a chance to catch your breath.

And fall gives you a chance to do simple things like pick pumpkins.  Finding the right ones to sit on your door step to decorate or carve.  It seems to always take hours more than it should.  It starts with one simple task of picking pumpkins.  But making memories, taking pictures, and deciding which is just the right one, always makes the time longer and that much more perfect.

Life is simpler in the fall.  A great reminder of God's love for us.  He is the breath of fresh air to our busy lives.  He is what fills us with joy and blessings.

He also gives us sweet little girls to love.  

First one off to Kindergarten

It's hard to believe the first of the cousin clan is headed off to Kindergarten tomorrow.  In order to celebrate how proud we are of him and remember this special time we took pictures and ate lunch at the family Bar & Grill.  All his choice :)

Sweet, sweet boy

Kindergarten!

We all blinked and now he is headed to kindergarten

Such a sweet heart

As a preschool teacher, I never get tired of little hand's writing

Proud of his bookbag and lunch box

The cousin clan!

How does it work that the youngest is always the most cooperative?

Lunch time games

Watching the cars go by

They adore each other

Some phrases like "ok this is your wedding" " walk down the aisle" "you're getting married" occurred and brought back some cousin memories of my own

Looks like a proud MooMa

And that my friends, is a wrap!

 I haven't been behind the camera in a long time, nor have I blogged in a long time, and man... it felt good!  Maybe I'll have to do it all again!