Out of Order

 These 2 pics are from last night.  A little R&R between dinner and bed. 

 Yesterday's swim lesson w Grammy.  Floated on her back by herself.  Wasn't liking it.

 Below- after pre-school visits and Hilly's doctor appointment we celebrated with lunch out with Grandma D. Throughout Hilly's doctor visit she kept saying, "Hilly like him!"  and then "Hilly lays on table" (as opposed to Jackie, obvi).

 Same day, we have Hillers, post doctor visit and Hep B vaccine. 

 The doctor asked if she could stand holding onto things, so we gave it a go. 

 My 2 sweet little beasts smiling for Grandma.

Hilly's stats:
Weight: 18 lbs 15 ounces (I guess my scale is off or Hilly has been secretly dieting)- 50th percentile
Height: 28 1/4 inches- 70th percentile
Head: 45.5 cm- 91st percentile

It is clear to me from those statistics that she is a genius. 

Jax is enrolled in pre-school at a Methodist church.  They promised no fire and brimstone.  Simply "God is love."  Maybe they will have a paper cut out Jesus- the ones where he is pale with medium brown long hair and wearing a blue sash.  To this day, I feel slightly offended when I hear reports that Jesus probably had short hair.   I am eager to pass these preconceived notions onto the next generation.

Best Pic Ever

I begged for this picture- chased her around the house before swimming today.  And I decided it deserves it's own entry. 

POOH BEAR LOOKS SO GROWN UP!  I have been staring at this picture all day like a creep.  I think I am stalking my own daughter.

Memorial Day

 Jackie was officially initiated into the Shoemaker family yesterday.  Initiation involves running around the backyard naked, preferable through some sort of sprinkler.  Done and done, right Jax?  It was only after she started trying to climb a tree that I re-diapered her.  I mean..............can you blame me? 

 Below is my dad and Horse.  The first famous member of our family.  He should have charged my dad for this picture.

 Below is Aunt Lynn about to take a slide down the slip n slide, which is a pretty awesome thing for a grandma to do with her granddaughter. 

 And below are Jax and her cousin Rai.  Jackie got a blue slurpee (ahem, her first) because that's the color Rai got.  How adorable is Raiden? 

Saturday

 Saturday our plans were postponed until today (pictures of which I will post tomorrow).  I tried to post this entry like 100 times, so I'm feeling disenchanted. 

My point: Hannie and Hilly are BFFs.  Louie and Jackie are BFFs.  But I have captured the bond that exists between baby and golden and it melts my heart and makes me want to smooch a certain golden muzzle.  Yes, I kiss dogs on the lips.  Always have, always will.

 Below we have Jax flying solo.  Where was Louie, you ask?  Napping on the GD couch, that's where.  We called for her to come out but she gave us the canine equivalent of the middle finger.  We still love you, Lou, despite your bad attitude!

9 Months

 Happy 9 Months, Hilly!  Above is my beauty queen a mere hour upon waking this morning. 

In other news, the Higgins gals spent a night on the town in the city of brotherly love Friday night for Aunt Nini's big 3-0.  These girls were complete angels.

 Here, we have Hilly wearing a fashionable dress from the Hoods.  She received it in utero and it is cuter in person.

 Jax sat next to the pregnant guest of honor, above, colored, drank water and ate pretzels.  We were at a fancy new italian pub. Hilly sat next to the father-to-be. 

 And, finally, yesterday we played at Will's house in his pool.  These 2 play together like they were made for each other.  They make each other laugh, they are patient with each other, they have the same interests. 

Anyway, Hilly's official 9 month wellness visit is Tuesday, but I weighed her today and she is 20 pounds of burning love.  She woke up with a swollen eye and I called the pediatrician at 6am. 

Dad's Easter

STILL haven't uploaded all Easter pics, but here's one from Jim's phone of him and Jax at the Shoemaker family Easter extravaganza.  As Jim poses on this bear statue in the middle of PA Dutch country with his 50% German daughter, you know he is thinking, "I finally feel like I've made it in this life."  In his defense, I think everyone who marries a Dutchie feels this way.

Activities

We played with the train table at the bookstore, went grocery shopping primarily to feed J's yogurt obsession, park, walked baby dolls, watched Curious George and passed out cold in our high chairs from exhaustion. Jax is obsessed w her crocs and also enamored w an older girl at playground who does gymnastics on the little bar she's hanging on below. I don't know if she is too cautious for gymnastics in general, but we will enroll her to see. Also, she is wearing Hilly's rainbow shorts. They officially share clothing.

In the cute pic below of Hilly's face, she just said to Jim on the phone "Dada." the way she said it with that sweet expression is the reason why I'm ending this blog right now- to go over and give my H some snuggles. Her soft little potato body is the best.

Happy 4th Anniversary to Us!

 For starters, I have to wish J and myself a happy 4th anniversary.  We sometimes say things like, 'Omg, isn't it weird that we didn't know Jackie/Hillary when that picture was taken?'  I sometimes add my baby girl Hannie into that statement and Jim rolls his eyes.  But then later I catch him nuzzling deep into her golden fur.  Let's be honest, who can blame him?  Hannie's golden hair and loving, amber eyes are a sight for sore eyes. And let's face it- Lou was there since the very beginning.  Lou is legendary. 

These pics are from yesterday.  The first one is proof that Hillers is trying to pull herself up.  The one below is Jax telling me about her swimming lesson.

Below is some unhappiness during the lesson.  Ms. Alicia only holds her legs now.  Jax isn't into it.

Today I made appointments to look at 2 preschools in the area for Jackie starting in September- 2 days a week 9-11:30.  I am emotional about it.  The preschool I like best so far involves taking the 2 year olds to chapel where they pray and the pastors tell them stories.  Love it.

Buzz Plane

 While this was Jackie and my third time at the Flower Market on Mother's Day weekend, this was our first time christening the rides.  "Buzz Plane" feels way faster when you're riding around in it than when you're watching it- feet firmly planted.

 Above is a picture of me texting my mom.  She sent me a text "Why are you ignoring me?"  She had called a few times while I was on the Buzz Plane.

And here we are on our descent.   The seatbelt was not even a little bit tight. 

Anyway, Jax loved it, which is good.  A ton of my good childhood memories come from amusement parks and rides and stuff.  I can't wait until they're old/tall enough for roller coasters. 

Final Frontier

Mixed in with some sisterly love.

Jax now asks to watch Thomas and Curious George ("the Monkey!") and, of course, Elmo. Hilly loves loves loves Sesame Street.

I organized Hilly's room and Jax now wants us to play in there all the time. She helps me tuck in Hilly often, waiting while she finishes her bottle and saying little prayers with her and putting on her Sleep Sheep (don't ask), and kissing her goodnight. She loves babies. This baby is gaining on her quickly. Soon Hillers will be holding Jackie.