like father like daughter

We used to think Henry looked a lot like Gabe.  Then along came Caroline.  This little girl looks a lot like her daddy as a baby.

Baby Gabe

Baby Caroline

Baby Gabe

Baby Caroline

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Happy St. Patrick's Day

We started our St. Patrick's Day celebration on Friday by making sugar cookies.  Henry did an awesome job figuring out what cookie cutters we needed to spell Happy St. Patrick's Day, and crossing off the letters once we used them.  Maggie had a lot of fun making this surprise for Daddy, and also playing in the flour!  

 Sunday morning the kids found some treats from the leprechaun, but no tricky little leprechaun in sight....

 Caroline had a really happy day and blessed us with lots of smiles!  She smiled at me at two weeks (focused eyes and everything, not just sleepy dreamy smiles) and today at three weeks she gave us lots of big smiles!  One of my favorite baby milestones, and pretty early too - the earliest of the three kids.  

And Happy Anniversary to my loving husband, wonderful father to our three beautiful kids, and my best friend.  We had some blue skies today just like the day of our wedding, even though it was significantly colder.  Brought back good memories.  This weekend we celebrated by watching a movie, snuggling on the couch, and later this week we will go out on a little six year date!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Happy Anniversary, Happy Life!

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Miss Maggie is Two

Happy Birthday Maggie Jane! 

 We've come a long way baby girl....

You're two now!

We love you and your sense of style...

your laugh and giggle,especially when you're being silly with your Henry, and how much you miss him when he goes to preschool

 your growing sense of independence

 your love of food and your unique way of eating it (silly,

snowy - yuck, Mommy could do without this love!,

 and sweet!)

And we love how tickled pink you are by your baby sister, and how you've embraced being a big sister so quickly, and how much you love Caroline.  

We know the past few weeks have brought on a lot of changes for you and our family, and you've handled them like a pro.   Your year of being one was wonderful, and it seems like you've been two for awhile now.  It's hard to believe that only a few months ago we were worrying about you walking and crawling and were going through physical therapy, and the year before that we were worrying about your growth in mommy's tummy and bringing home a healthy baby girl with no growth issues at all.   This coming year of being two will be challenging for you as we all adjust to our new family, but we know you will show us so many changes and love.  We love all the sentences you're sharing with us, watching you copy and learn from your big brother in everything he does, and your love of reading.  You woke up one day knowing how to do puzzles! You are adaptable, smart, determined, and as you told me in the car today, "big and strong."  Here's to you beautiful girl!

Happy Birthday Maggie-o

Love, Mommy, Daddy, Henry and Caroline 

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Welcome Home Caroline!

 First Picture at Home!

                      More time for snuggles                                          First Picture of a Family of Five!

We brought Caroline home on a snowy, cold but beautiful blue skyed day.  The kids and Grandma put up balloons to welcome us

We got all settled in, unpacked, and everyone in the house took a nap - Henry, Maggie, Caroline and Mommy!

Henry and Maggie got to hold their new baby sister at home, and were so excited she was here and not at the hospital.  We were pretty excited to be home too

Caroline got to try out some new sleeping spaces - her swing

Her crib

 Her bouncy seat

 And the bean bag chair in the basement!

  But her favorite is still with Mommy and Daddy

                                      Cheers!

We've had a good transition to life at home.  Caroline slept right on our chest for the first week, and although we were able to put her down a few times, she mostly would pop right back up.  Having her sleep on me during the night, while it felt cozy, made me nervous, so I was anxious to get that fixed.  This week, however, she has slept quite a bit more in her swing (just like the other two) and is sleeping there about half the night.  The better I am about putting her down in the swing, the better she is about staying there.  She really likes to sleep on her tummy and side, with her hands by her face, so the swing helps her feel cozy.  Luckily, we're all getting some rest, but the tiredness is starting to catch up with us (I might be enjoying a Coke to help get me through the afternoon :)!) 

Caroline came out of the womb rooting around and wanting to eat right away.  And she didn't stop the first day either - cluster feeding the whole first day rather than the second.  She is growing well, and by her first week had gained back most of her weight.  She hasn't really wanted to take a paci - actively spitting it out and making disgusted faces.  We've tried a few different kinds, and will likely try more, but we will have to see. I tried to delay introducing it because of issues with nursing, but now I wonder if I delayed too much and she won't take one.  We will have to see.   Mostly Caroline would like to nurse to sleep, so every time I can rock her to sleep without nursing during the day I feel accomplished!  

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Caroline at the Hospital

Henry and Maggie really loved visiting Caroline, Mommy and Daddy at the hospital. They brought cookie cake and we sang Happy Birthday lots of times, and we had a little birthday party with a pretend candle and presents for the big kids and to Caroline from them.  

They really enjoyed loving on Caroline, holding her, and talking all about her.  Maggie warmed up to her right away, had a permanent smile on her face, and was really in love with Caroline. Maggie said, "where's my new baby sister", "she IS tiny", "little hands", "little nose" and pointed out all her body parts.  Henry was a little slower to warm up to her, but said "I love Caroline" and gave her lots of kisses.  He was so sweet with her, and really loved crawling up in Mommy's bed to snuggle with both of us.  They visited three times, and were really good the whole time they were there.  

 After the kids visited, we really enjoyed lots of quiet moments to snuggle

 and read stories to Caroline

 Big Brother, Big Sister, and Little Sister, all with their hands up like Caroline

 Caroline showed us that her favorite way to sleep was with someone holding her.  

 She's in her bassinet here, but didn't stay there long!

 In Mommy's hospital hat and an outfit from when I was a baby

 And Caroline was awake and alert from birth                 All ready to go home....felt good to feel like a real    

                                                                                                  person

She's so little in her car seat!

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