Happy New Year

So our computer decided to crash on us about 2 months ago. So I've been trying to keep up on my emails through my iPod, but have obviously been unable to do anything on the blog lately which is so sad, because we've had oodles of blog worthy moments lately- three holidays, two birthdays, Ella's first lost tooth, a blessing, and last but certainly not least, a darling baby who is growing up WAY too fast. She hit three months old last week. Yet sadly, we've only been able to dedicate one post to Miss Lucy. Thankfully my parents were ready for an upgrade, so we inherited their old computer for the time being. As soon as I get our pictures sorted out, the posts will be soon to follow.

We had a wonderful Christmas. My whole side was able to come out to celebrate, which is the first time in a very long time we've had the whole family together. Ella struck up a fast liking to her Uncle Alex, who has been at school and on a mission for the past three years. We caught this fabulous conversation between the two of them at the dinner table, and I had to share:

Ella: Are you a kid or a grown-up?
Alex: I'm a grown-up.
Ella: Oh. Do you have a house?
Alex: No..
Ella: Do you have a wife?
Alex: No..
Ella: Do you have a car?
Alex: No..
Ella: Are you dating? (I don't even think she knows what that is!)
Alex: No..
A momentary pause-
Ella: Can you go to the store by yourself?
Alex: Yep!
Ella: Oh! So you're like a little grown-up.

We were all cracking up. I love the way little minds work. Evidently the above things qualify you as a grown-up in her eyes. Uncle Alex isn't quite there yet. Enjoy little adulthood, Al! It goes by all too fast. :)

Welcome home, Lucy!

Lucy McKenna is finally here... she was born at 1:46 pm on September 30th, 6 lb 13 oz, 19 1/2 inches long. We are so happy to have her here safe and sound. Everything went well with the delivery- other then the fact that my epidural ran out a good hour before she was born- but it was all worth it in the end. Luckily she was a little thing, so she was out with about 6 good pushes. She is the sweetest baby. She is so content, and has only cried once since we've had her home. The girls adore her. Ella just loves to sit and hold her every chance she gets. Molly loves to hold her too, but she only lasts about a minute before she's ready to pass her off. Everyone loves being around her, and she has brought such a sweet spirit to our home. We feel very blessed.

One more week...

So I had a doctors appointment today, and they scheduled me to be induced next Wednesday, the 29th. Hooray! Molly was a little too big and got stuck coming out- so they've been watching the babies growth really carefully and decided to induce early to keep her around the 7 lb. range. I am so happy to have a date- and that it's only a week away. I'm tired of being a big fat cranky pregnant lady. I can't wait to be able to bend over, and walk up the stairs without being winded, eat whatever I want without getting heartburn and paint my own toenails. And most of all, I can't wait to have this baby in my arms. We are all so excited to meet her and snuggle her.

UPDATE

Molly located another pair of scissors and cut her hair AGAIN this morning. I am not kidding. I thought her hair looked a lot worse this morning, but I thought it was just because we had a bath last night and I could see it better this morning. I was in the bathroom and saw a big chunk of hair on the floor. I yelled- Molly! Did you cut your hair again?? She said- yep. I asked why, she said because she wanted her hair to look beautiful. I said- (I know, this is awful) well, it doesn't. It is no longer salvagable. Oh well. At least people won't think I cut it awful on purpose. It's pretty obvious what happened here.

A Rite of Passage?

Molly came up the stairs this morning announcing- "I gave myself a haircut with my little scissors!" I couldn't believe it. Which is funny, because nothing should surprise me any more with this child. I was almost in tears. And she says to me- "It's funny! Laugh!" Which I eventually did. I think it really could have been a lot worse. Its almost salvagable. I mean, it was bound to happen at some point or another, right?? So I should just be glad that I can make them into somewhat believable bangs. It gets a little too short in the back, but I guess that will just have to grow out. She was feeling pretty proud of herself and even admiring herself in every mirror she passed. I informed her that she will not be allowed to use her scissors anymore, and she said- "Oh. That's too bad." Maybe one day she'll put all of her creative energies towards a good cause. Until then I am keeping the scissors well hidden.

Family Time

We got all dolled up for the library story time featuring Princess stories. The girls made these gorgeous hats since we didn't have any dress up clothes.

Our uninvited camping guest. This guy was huge and fearless. On the first night he ran off with our blueberries, cheese, and a pack of hot dogs. And have any of you ever heard a raccoon hiss? It's a terrifying sound when it wakes you up in the middle of the night. The girls have a renewed fear of raccoons. And this time for good reason. I'm a little scared myself.

Mmmm.. smores. Molly loved toasting the marshmellows, but I don't think she ate a single one of them.

Ella loved the water.

Molly loved the sand.

My little boating girl.

Enjoying our family's favorite game. Bananagrams. It's the best game ever.

Driving the boat with Papa.

Cuddling up with a cozy fabric remnant. Totally her grandma's girl.

We made an impromptu stop when we found a firefighters museum on the way to our tour of the Culinary Institute of America. Molly has wanted to be a firefighter for probably a year or more. She loves them. So we couldn't pass it up. She had a fabulous time, but it kind of sabotaged the rest of our day. Lets just say that we didn't exactly get to enjoy our trip to the CIA which was the focus of the whole trip. Molly also threw a world class temper tantrum that I'm pretty sure got everyone within ear shot questioning my parenting skills. The things we do for our kids.

Enjoying the ride from the bike trailer.

Red faced and exhausted after our bike hike. She was such a trooper. It took us about an hour and a half to get to our picnic spot, and 20 minutes to get back to the car. Curteousy of the never ending hill we had to go up to get there. About half way through Ella pulls her bike over to the side of the path and says- I give up! Molly calls out from her cushy spot in the trailer- Don't give up sissy! We're almost there! She pulled through. I was proud of her. It was quite a long hike.

Molly orders blue ice cream everywhere we go.

Can you believe the size of these Sundaes?
We went to an ice cream shop near my parents house that was featured on Throwdown with Bobby Flay. Great ice cream. But the sundaes were huge!

Visiting the museum and playing doc.

Ah.. there it is.

Sporting Grandma's glasses and looking good.

Molly looking so grown up.

We visited Papa at school and got to play in the fountain.

Love this picture.

We were able to enjoy a nice long summer vacation. We started out on our annual Waddington family camping trip- always a good time. We got rained out on the last night and ended up at a hotel (where Ella discovered and fell in love with the A&E show Billy the Exterminator...) but it just added to the fun. The girls and I went back to NY with my parents and got to spend two weeks there. We had beautiful weather. My parents found a bike for Ella on Craigs List, and she wanted to ride bikes every chance she got. They spent a lot of time on the trampoline. They would wake me up at 7:00am and ask- Can we go on the trampoline? They loved spending time with their Grandma, Papa, and Uncle Ikes. We were so glad to be able to spend this time with them.

Getting My Craft On

So I've spent a lot of time perusing the craft blogs lately for fun and fabulous baby stuff, and I came across these little shirts. I thought it would be cute to make matching ones for all three girlies. I love to get crafty, but my sewing skills are pretty spotty. So ignore the less than perfect stitching. But other then that, I thought they turned out pretty cute. On to the next craft!