Playtime

Now that Laura is a schoolgirl, she is into jump rope. Do you remember things like "criss cross" and "24 Robbers"? Oh yes, they are a regular part of my day. And the girls are so cute doing it.

When it is bad weather, Jason and I spend a lot of time watching performances. They are the greatest thing for about a half hour - they often go for much longer though!

Eliza's new favorite playtime is her bug mat. She just grins the whole time she is on it as long as I can keep Sara off her. Eliza is really growing up!

Reading Time

I spend hours everyday reading to my girls. It is some of my favorite time with them. So, it didn't really surprise me to see Laura reading to Sara instead of them watching Saturday morning cartoons.
However, I was a little surprised to find Sara "reading" to Eliza. I'm super excited that my love of reading is being passed down.

Tough Chick

All my girls have loved the baby swing. Eliza is no exception. It is also nice because it does afford her some protection from the intense love and attention of Sara without me having to hold Eliza constantly.
So, she being the youngest, got a very early start on the big swing in the backyard. The girls were enjoying one of the last sunny days and Eliza got in on the act. I'm not sure whether she enjoyed herself or just tolerated. But, I sure enjoyed seeing all three girls playing together.

Big Girl Sara

It seems that Sara has just grown up lately. All of a sudden, she has turned into a big girl. She gave up her binkys over two months ago and hasn't looked back.

Sara communicates like she is years older. "Mommy, that was not considerate." or "I can't get the headband. I frustrated" And she totally knows how to work a situation, "Thank you for the candy Mama. You da best." or "But, Daddy said it was okay to touch the TV"

She also LOOKS like she is so much older. She is currently in 4T clothes and has so much hair. She is very tall (39 inches when we measured her yesterday) and has totally slimmed down. In fact, her tummy is ripped!

Sara has also decided that she is going to make progress on potty training. She will not be pushed and I think it is going to take a while, but I am changing 1/4 of the diapers that I was two weeks ago. Any progress is wonderful.

Finally, she is really calming down. She has become much more logical, helpful and calm. In fact, she went to the store with me today and was a perfect angel. All we're wanting now is for some successful trips to nursery on Sundays. Let's hope that the terrible twos are really over, because I sure love this Big Girl Sara.

Eliza Smiles

Wahoo! I finally caught Eliza's real smile. It comes much more regularly now, so I caught it. Of course she wasn't dressed perfectly or did I set up a background, but I caught it. I love this grin. It is fleeting but beautiful!

And here are a few more adorable pictures of her!

Stylin' Sara

"Mommy, I am a princess." Yes, yes you are, Sara. Sara loves experimenting with style and truly believes that she is "A princess just like Ariel/Jasmine/Cinderella". She picks out her clothes every day. And, she REALLY loves accessories; especially something shiny or sparkly. These pictures are of a medium amount of "bling". Sara wears sparkly things almost all the time, just in varying amounts. Maybe someday she will teach me how to wear jewelry.

Sara also is in the bandaid stage. That stage where bandaids are a style statement. And, I must admit, they do make cool bandaids nowadays. This is how I found her after my shower the other day. Five bandaids...and notice she is wearing headbands as necklaces.
Sara also really loves lipstick and toenail polish. (The only makeup I regularly wear and she knows about...odd, because she has commented to me a couple of times, with a scrunched up nose of disgust, about a heavily made-up woman "What is on her face?") She really gets into flavored lipsticks. This was the result when I just let her go at it the other day. And yes, there is always polish on her toes.

Our Sara is already stylin'. I have a feeling that she will be my child to keep me looking fashionable when I get old and funny. What will she be like when she is 16? But for now, I just think she is sooo cute!

All Because Two People...

Seven years ago today Jason and I got married in the Salt Lake Temple. Happy Anniversary, my love!

Seven reasons I love you today - way more than I did 7 years ago:

1. You are the world's best teammate in any situation

2. You are the best daddy ever to our girlies

3. You are hotter today than you were when I married you

4. You make me laugh more than anyone

5. You are brilliant and give the best advice

6. You love God, me and your family; and we all know it and feel it

7. You have excellent taste in anything: clothes, home decor, sports teams, food, movies, music...everything

Seven things that have changed since that day:

1. Three beautiful daughters: Laura, Sara and Eliza

2. Three moves and the final into our forever house

3. A college degree for each of us completed

4. Upgrading to a minivan with several car changes/additions in the process

5. Hairstyle (me) glasses (you)

6. Jobs - vast improvements for each of us

7. Our taste in food: you like fish and sushi and I appreciate a good hot dog

I LOVE YOU, Jason!

Eliza at 3 Months

How the time has flown. Eliza is three months old. She smiles regularly and coos like crazy and definitely recognizes the people she loves - her family. Eliza also has a penchant for "pat-a-cake". She continues to be our fake baby and is so easy-going. She never spits anymore, hardly ever cries, eats great, and sleeps beautifully.

Eliza loves to be upright and looking around. She spends a lot of time in the Moby wrap and would spend a lot more time in her bouncy seat and swing if Sara couldn't attack her while she was there. She is getting very strong and we call her our "bobble-head" because she is always bouncing it around to get a good look at things.

Mommy's nicknames for her are "Buggaly" and "Liza" and "Angel Baby". Sara calls her "My Rellis"- we have no idea what this means, but she always says it and says it very sweetly. Jason calls her "Lizzie". And, my parents (mostly to tease Sara) call her "Ellie". Yep, lots of love everywhere shown by all these pet names.

Here are Eliza's comparison pictures. Look at these most kissable cheeks and chubby thighs - yummy! Also, the fuzz of hair on the top of her head is so strokable. She has also grown out of most of her 0-3 mo items and is into many of her 3-6 month clothes. But, like Laura, Eliza has tiny feet and doesn't fit into hardly any of the many shoes Mommy would like to put her in.