TLC

Every single morning, Jackie snuggles with Ben.  He totally adores her- looks for her, smiles at her, etc.. Hilly too.  It's amazing to me that he enjoys their attention because when they are giving him attention (which is every second of every day), it is usually stressful to me.  Today I caught Hilly pinching his cheeks going "awww, sweet Benny!"  She was pinching his cheeks HARD.

We hit up the DCM on Wednesday morning for a little over an hour. 

I caught Hilly drinking gross water...

We hit a huge rain shower and had to run to the car.  All 4 of us.  If I don't strap Hilly in first, she ALWAYS tries to sit in the 3rd row with Jax and then throws a tantrum when she realizes I am not going to let her.

Below, I told Jax to smile.  Haha

We also hit up the library this week.  I let Jax pick out a ton of books she wanted and I also rented the Beauty and the Beast DVD.  She loves Belle and princess "stuff" but the full movies don't hold her attention yet (other than Nemo, Peter Pan and the Toy Story movies).  I tried to explain to her that Gaston is attractive on the outside, but ugly inside and the Beast is unattractive on the outside but kind on the inside.  She looked at me like, "Whatevs, lady."

P and crew came over for pizza Friday.  Jax got to see her at a play date on Thursday, so when I told her we were seeing her again on Friday she just started cheering.  She loves her some P.

And that little Hannah nugget below- LOVES Ben.  Loves him as much as his sisters do.  It's really sweet.  :)

Natural History Museum

So after a lazy day on Monday spending a great deal of time counting mulah from Gma E-ster (see coins below- you would not believe how fascinating these coins and this little wallet is to Jax.  Also we played with all gifts received- play doh, special mess-free finger paints, books, paper dolls, Barbies, etc..), we met up w some friends at the Natural History Museum on the big Aug 2-7.   Truth be told, Hilly loves her some taxidermy.  Other truth be told, so do I.

Below is my beloved son, ready to see some dinosaur bones.

Jax chose her own outfit- she was happy it "matched."  I mean, what does neon plaid NOT go with, is the question...because it DEFINITELY goes with the new sparkly gold shoes Grandma gave to her.

At last we arrived to find that it was $1 Tuesday.  Score!

See T-rex and Stegasaurous (sp- not looking this up) below

Below there was this awesome rain forest exhibit - I think Phillipines.  Or Thailand.  Can't remember.  But you walk in this glass cove and there's rain forest sounds and the glass is so clear, Jackie asked, "Is there glass?" And Hilly was freaked out at first.  Very cool.

There was also this glass ocean floor scene (below) and huge stuffed marlins and stuff.  I was totally into these huge stuffed fish.  The girls weren't that into them.  Maybe they were tired.  Jax's friend Kyle was totally into them, though, which satisfied me.  I mean, these huge fish swim in the ocean that we swim in.  Crazy.

Then we had ice cream sundaes at home to celebrate.

The end.  :)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Hilly!

Hilly, you are still a total mama's girl and I LOVE it. We are kindred spirits, you and me (except for your total lack of patience- that is all your dada, and he admits it freely. And your totally awesome eyebrows. One day you will be able to get them waxed to form the arch of which some women can only dream). But like me, you act first, think later. Bite off more than you can chew and end up in binds. And you are a risk taker. Thank God for the cautious types like Jackie and Daddy we have to look out for people like us on this earth! They will be your best of friends. :)

While I hope you live with me forever and we can go out for wine and I can babysit your children and basically be your BFF (second only to your sister and brother and dada, naturally), I also hope you never lose your natural ability to find everything fun or your love of freedom. I hope you are never insecure and I hope you never compare yourself to others. I hope you are always a little rough and tumble- and I hope you keep that fiery temper.

Other than get more of an awesome taste of your personality this year, you sharpened my parenting skills and gave me gray hairs. I have developed more of an eagle eye. I have chased you EVERYWHERE, every day for over 365 days. You have fallen down steps, walked around holding sharp objects, climbed to life threatening heights, had loud tantrums in front of large groups of people, and the list goes on. But you also are SO lovable- I see your face and I literally am addicted to kissing your cheeks. Your little knuckle dimples. Your shy and pouty smile when you are trying not to smile. Your athletic little feet. The way you gallop when you dance. How tightly you hug my belly when we snuggle. Your little overbite. The way you love Jackie and pull her out of her shell without even realizing it. Your enthusiasm for animals and cool things- and everything and everyone you love. The way you eat off of other people's plates when they are finished like a young Oliver Twist. The way you totally know how to kick back and relax. Your obsession with books. Your pronunciation of "elephant." How you are game for anything.

I thank God that we had you, Hilly. We were meant to be.

Love,

Mama

Convos

Waiting for more pics to come in before I do a post of our awesome weekend..

But I had to relay thus convo Jack and I just had.

J: Is Hilly 2?
Me: Not until tomorrow. She is still 1.
J: There are 2 babies in this house.
Me: Who?
J: Hilly and Ben.
Me: Well you will always be my baby.
J: Do you sometimes wish I was still in your belly?
Me: Sometimes. You were the best baby ever.
J (very reassuringly): I know you feel that way, but I am too big to go back in your belly. It will be okay.
Me: I know
J: I am going to grow as big as daddy! Isn't that awesome?
Me: Totally!
J: And my feet will touch the ground when I am sitting [in a chair].

Hahaha
I love when she acts very sensitive and reassuring to people. It's such a wonderful trait. I get really stressed about the girls climbing on Ben and swarming him but I have to remember how lucky I am that I have kids who like to be around each other.