Yay Daddy!

Today was Daryl's last day of class! Well . . . last day of class for 2 1/2 weeks. But still! We were all very excited. Samuel and Hope helped me make Daryl's favorite dessert (butter pecan ice cream dessert) to celebrate. Tonight was the first Wednesday night in 7 months that we've had Daddy home with us. One more year and he'll be completely done!

My Favorite Things!

The kids were watching a movie tonight before heading for bed. I looked over and saw that they were each holding onto a favorite toy: Hope had her favorite baby and Samuel had his favorite basketball. It's so fun to have a little boy and a little girl (well, 2 little girls!) and to see how different they are and how they attach to different things!

A Miserable Spring

This has been a horrible spring. We've had a couple of beautiful days but the majority have been cold and wet - usually in the 40s. Today we woke up to snow falling from the sky and covering the ground. I was less than thrilled. My kids, specifically Samuel, were thrilled.

Aliyah just kept staring out the windows trying to figure out what in the world was falling from the sky in the middle of April. I'm not sure who had the more confused look on their face - Aliyah or myself. I mean, seriously, snow on April 18!? That is confusing!

Samuel spotted the snow right away when he came downstairs in the morning. The first thing out of his mouth was "It's snowing!! We can shovel!! Mommy, you like snow?" The boy loves to shovel. Let's hope he still loves to shovel 5-10 years from now!
I don't have any pictures of Hope greeting the snow. She was pretty nonchalant and cool about the whole thing. She was more concerned with making sure Samuel didn't touch her Dora doll.

By the time we made it outside (during Hope's nap), all the snow had melted in the driveway and the only snow left to shovel was on the deck. Samuel was disappointed that the driveway was clear but shoveling the deck was enough to satisfy him.

Aliyah was ticked that I bundled her up and took her outside. I can't blame her. I wasn't so happy about it either. But we survived. And the fresh air did feel good.

Swinging made it a little better. I'll let you in on a little secret: Aliyah's snowpants aren't zipped up. I was afraid if I zipped them up that she wouldn't be able to breathe. Also, when I zipped them up and tried to sit her down it didn't work. She just tipped over. So unzipped they were.

On her feet!

This little girl is on the move!! She loves being on her feet and she's just starting to figure out the whole walking thing. Yesterday she pushed a little grocery cart across my parent's basement. Today she walked behind the stroller back and forth across the sunroom. Her balance isn't the greatest yet - she has a lot to figure out before she starts walking by herself. But as long as she is holding onto something she does a great job with moving her feet and walking around. She's starting to cruise around the furniture. Hope and Samuel both want to "help" her walk but she weighs almost as much as Hope and she's just too unstable for them to hold her hands and help her along. Where is my baby going?!

The Hair-Do!

Hope's hair was my project these past 2 days. It probably took a total of 1 1/2 hours. Last night I got half of it done and finally called it quits at 9:30pm. Hope was tired and my fingers were starting to cramp. Then I finished it this afternoon after she woke up from her nap.
Yesterday I went to a beauty supply store just around the corner from our house. Someone from Daryl's work recommended it. When I pulled up I almost didn't go in because I knew I'd be totally out of place once I got inside. But, I swallowed by nervousness and went in. The first awesome surprise was that they carry the shampoo/conditioner that we use for Hope! I've always had to order it online and pay for shipping and handling. So excited that I won't have to do that anymore. I was wandering my way around the store trying to find some combs when a girl that worked there came up to me and asked if I needed help. I think I looked a little lost (never mind that I stuck out like a sore thumb - a blonde head in the midst of all the dark heads of the other shoppers!)! She turned out to be a huge help and was very open and willing to teach me more about Hope's hair and the right combs and products to keep her hair healthy and looking good! By the time I left I felt very encouraged and pleased that I had gotten over myself and my fears and actually went into the store. I came home from the store excited to try out my new purchases on Hope's hair! Poor Hope . . . she wasn't quite as excited as I was. She hates having her hair done but she loves it when it is done. And I love it too! So much easier to care for. I learned how to do these twists by watching a video on YouTube. It took a couple of practices twists before getting the hang of it. Thanks for sticking with me, Hope! (Like she had a choice!) We were both happy with the way that it turned out. And I'm really really hoping that it will last a couple of weeks. :)

Aliyah Rose: 9 months

This sweet girl is already 9 months old! I can't believe how quickly the months go by. Aliyah Rose, what are you up to these days?

• You are 25lbs 12oz and 30" long. Both are way over and above the 97th percentile! But you aren't as big as what your brother was at this same age.
  
• You are wearing size 18 month clothes and a few size 24 months. The one piece 18 month clothes are pretty much too short on you - the legs of the outfits always end up around your knees! You are still wearing 12 month sleepers and onesies but everything else in that size is packed away! You are in size 3 shoes and size 4 diapers.
• You have 6 teeth :)
• You still scoot everywhere on your bum. You are rolling over more (especially from back to front) and even showing more interest in learning how to crawl. Right now you put your face down on the floor and then scoot forward on your belly pushing with your legs - you still need to figure out the whole using your arms/hands things to help you crawl!
• You are showing more and more interest in being on your feet and walking around. You pull up beside more and more things (chairs, Samuel's train table, Hope's crib, Mommy or Daddy if we are sitting on the floor, etc) and even starting to cruise a little bit around furniture. You have just started to really love holding onto Mommy or Daddy's hands and walking around. Just the other night you pulled yourself up to a stand next to Samuel's chair in the bathroom (while he was brushing his teeth) and then you walked along with wall into the hallway all the way to the diaper pail!!
• You love feeding yourself Gerber puffs. If Mommy puts puffs and Cheerios on your tray you'll eat the puffs and leave the Cheerios. You are a champion baby food eater and are just starting a couple of table foods. So far you've tried peas, noodles (from casseroles), bananas (you love these!) and pancakes. You love to scoot around the kitchen floor on your bum and sample all different types of food that have made their way from the table to the floor thanks to your brother and sister!
• Mommy has had to dig a lot of things out of your mouth that are not for eating: pen tops, pieces from Samuel's matchbox cars (like a bobcat scoop), pieces of foam balls that you've bit off, and the list continues! We need to watch you every single second!
• You ride really well in the car (as long as you can't see Mommy - then you are mad because you want to be held!) but don't like being put into your carseat. Every time, without fail, you'll stiffen up and scream when we are trying to put you in.
• You like to put your feet up on everything. It is SO funny and it makes Mommy laugh. You put them up on the toy shelf, the TV stand, Daddy's leg (when he's sitting down), and pretty much anything that is in front of you that is low enough for you to get your feet up on.
• Samuel always has a fruit cup before going to bed at night. Daddy started giving you some of the juice. Now whenever you see the fruit cup you'll get a big grin on your face and make a beeline for it so that you can have the juice!
• When you are falling asleep you like to pull/play with your hair. Sometimes when I peek at you when you are sleeping you are holding onto your hair.
• You love being outside and when you see something that gets you really excited (trees blowing in the wind, birds, Samuel or Hope or Mommy) you start saying "oooooh, ooooh" and you put one of your arms straight up in the air. You've just started to wave a little bit when Samuel or someone else waves at you.
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Mommy loves you so much, beautiful girl! Happy 9 months to my precious daughter!!

John Ball Zoo

Today my Mom and I took the kids to John Ball Zoo. Our first stop of the day was at Hope's biometrics appointment in Grand Rapids. We decided that since gas is $4/gallon that we should make a day of it and swing by the zoo while we were in the area. Becky and her girls, Shelby and Ella, met us at the zoo. Since it is April there were a lot of animals not there yet but it was still fun! Samuel also loved playing on the playground just outside of the zoo. After we got home today I asked Samuel what he saw at the zoo. He said, "penguins . . . and fish . . . and playground!!!" I'm not sure what he enjoyed more, the zoo or the playground! Anyways, the weather was beautiful (mid 60s), the sunshine was out, and the animals were fun to watch. Aliyah was such a good girl (like always!) and slept most of the time. Hope loved seeing the animals but was super concerned about the gorilla that had "owies" on her bum. Samuel said that she needed Burt's Bees (the diaper rash cream that we use) on her bum.

Two little monkeys (Shelby and Samuel) watching the monkeys

Samuel loved watching the monkeys.

Grandma and Aliyah watching the fish

Have I mentioned before how much I love our stroller? :)

Playing by the penguin statues

After we got home from the zoo I caught this precious moment between sisters. Hope was reading some books to Aliyah. Aliyah was sitting still and looking at the book until she saw me with the camera!