Mary Claire month 2

We've enjoyed another month with our little caboose!

She celebrated her first Easter.

Took a snooze on Papa...

Each morning she sends Sissy off to Kindergarten!

She also thinks Sissy is HiLaRiOuS!

Her wavy locks are caressed daily by her siblings (and anyone else who happens by!).

She scratches her face a lot!  :(  I promise I try to carefully clip those tiny nails as often as possible!

I'm not so sure about that toy, Sissy.

Since she turned 2 months on a Saturday, I had a helper at home.   :)

Mama's girl 

She tried the Bumbo for the first time.  It was a beautiful day! (But I'm not sure we're quiiiiite ready for the Bumbo chair.)

Big Bro and Little Sis

STATS AND SUCH:
*Had a great checkup---weighed 11.5 lbs (between 25-50%) and was 23 inches long (between 50-75%)
*Rolled over (tummy to back) for the first time at the doctor's office!  (9 weeks old)
*At 8 weeks, started sleeping 8 hours!! Hallelujah!  I am documenting this because the first 7 weeks of her life were ROUGH in the night time sleep department.  I mean---many mAnY nights of all.night.long. awake marathons. We had almost given up!
*Eats every 2 1/2-3 1/2 hours each day.
*Has the sweetest calmest personality!  I am praying it stays that way!
*Is starting to coo and make the cutest noises.  I love listening to her.
*Unfortunately, is proving to be our baby that likes the bottle the least.  :(  It has been really hard to get her to drink a full one.  We're not giving up though!  This little one has to let her mommy leave her every once in a while!

Easter bunnies

Mary Claire and I joined the rest of the fam at church on Easter for the first time since she was born.  It actually wasn't so bad getting all five of us ready and out of the house on time! :)  

My "big" kids!

AnnMarie is looking so grown up these days!  wOw

Little MC on her first Easter!  She wore one of my old Feltmans. 

Cousins!  Little Sarah Catherine was napping...
We had a delicious lunch and dinner at Gigi's house.  It was a beautiful day!

Since we aren't quite up to running at full speed yet, we did dye eggs, just a little bit after Easter.  :)  Better late than never, right?

Luckily this sweet one did not mind a bit.

AnnMarie grabbed my camera and went around the house taking pictures.  I thought this one was pretty cool!  Eggs!

Mary Claire month 1

*high photo volume alert!  Grandmas, grab your popcorn!! Everyone else--sorry! 

Well, the first month is under our belt.  And I don't say that negatively, rather positively--we survived adjusting to life with three kids, coming home from the hospital, and mama's hormones!

Our precious girl

Mommy went crazy with the camera while home alone with baby

Unfortunately the baby acne has come.  :(  Bless her heart!

And it turns out her eyes are blue!  I hope they stay that way!

And she has a dimple like Bubba

The End....of that photo shoot

The day she turned one month :)

First try at a wide headband.  She doesn't really love em!

Yes, she still has the hair.  Yes, it is still dark with blonde highlights!

Had to document these wonderful friends who came to visit us in the hospital.
Sweet Meg

Pretty Angelina who is carrying MC's future boyfriend, Brady James!

Love these girls!  Erica and Heather--apparently I was telling them something really important--notice the hand. :)

Aunt Krispy--- Kindred dark haired spirits :)

Being held by big sis!

Catching some zzzzz's with Daddy

First bath!

She loves bath time!

Blurry, but I just had to include it.  P.I.N.K.!

Oh yeah, still rocking the always attractive "Ocean Wonders" bouncer---circa 2006, could have been purchased in 2005.  All the kids love it!

Got her first bottle from Daddy!

But big sister really wanted to finish it. :)

YOU, Mary Claire

*Are the sweetest baby!!  You hardly every cry! I think HOPE! it's true what they say about third babies...

*Have gotten yourself into a pretty predictable 3(ish) hour eat/wake/sleep schedule.  It's great!  (except for that growth spurt that showed up at about 5 weeks)

*Go down great for your naps!

*Get hiccups ALOT

*Got the acne at @ 4/5 weeks

*Are a fast nurser--usually done in ten minutes!

*Sometimes have a hard time going down for bed between 7-10ish

*Your longest sleep stretch has been 6 hours so far.  You usually do 3/4/5 hour chunks.

*Somehow avoid getting smothered, jumped on, or breathed on by your siblings (mainly big brother) on a daily basis.  :)
*Have the greatest smile!  When you do, it's huge and makes Mommy giggle!  I love it!  You're starting to do it in response to us more and more.

AnnMarie's birthday weekend

One of the best decisions I made while pregnant was to go ahead and have AM's birthday party early---before baby came.  Genius!  ha kidding, but really, it proved to be a lifesaver that it was already done when the real day came around.  

We celebrated with family on the 10th, and MC got to meet her grand grandparents too!  

A joyful meeting

Two beauties :)

The next (rainy) morning we awoke to a fun surprise from school that I had forgotten about---another preplanned event I was so glad I had done back in August! :)

We'd been "paw-ed" by the fourth graders.  It's a fun little fundraiser for them that AM really wanted to happen to her this year!

Didn't let the rain stop them from going out to see it!

When I asked AnnMarie what she wanted for her birthday dinner, she said, "Grandmommy's chicken and dumplings".  So sweet!  Even sweeter---Grandmommy brought all the ingredients and graciously took the time to make them with her.  What a fun memory!  

My Pioneer Woman shot
And might I add that they were just the thing to hit the spot on that cold and rainy day!!

Later that night we went over to my parents house for dinner.  Cookie cake request from the birthday girl!

She had two little guys ready and willing to help her blow out the candles.  :)

And another precious cousin looking cuter than ever!
*MC was there I promise---she was just being toted around by grandmothers!

Reading with Uncle Sean/Daddy

And we even had a handsome prince come to the party.  And some other good looking dude who really wanted the costume too.  Mommy's learning to never have "one" of anything when there are two year olds around!  :o)

*To our beautiful AnnMarie: You make Daddy and I prouder every day.  We thank God for your caring spirit, loving heart, and helpful attitude during this changing time in our family.  We can't believe it's been SIX years since you came to us!  We pray for many wonderful years ahead and can't wait to see who you become. We love you forever and ever!