Sisters.

So We Found an Empty Kleenex Box . . .

Molly and I decided to decorate our empty kleenex box the other day instead of throwing it away - and can't believe how much fun we had.  Seriously!  We turned it into a "Princess Dance Studio" - I'm sure you can guess whose idea that was.  Complete with foil in the back of the studio to serve as a "mirror" and a dance circle in the middle complete with rugs, and art on the walls! 

Molly found all her hairbands to serve as "tutus" for her Princesses - totally her idea - but I loved it! 

We spent all day playing with our Princess Dance Studio!  Gotta love rainy days . . . 

Another 1st Communion Celebration!

Our good friends the Lillis' invited us to help celebrate Brendan's First Communion yesterday! We missed out on the church ceremony as Mike was working and the girls were napping - but joined them at their home afterwards for more celebrating and BBQ!  

Brendan opening his gifts & cards with his mom . . .

Kate thought she was big stuff helping out opening the gifts and playing with the ribbon . . .

Molly LOVES Brendan's little sister, Mary Kate (age 6).  They played Tangled together up in Mary Kate's room . . .

Daddy was able to stop by after work too!

Everyone was taking turns holding Kate - but Grandpa McGuire gave Kate LOTS of love - was flipping her all over the place and she was giggling like crazy!

My good friend Shannon with Kate!  Love their family!
Thanks for including us in your special day, Brendan!

Sisters.

Kate Lately . . .

Kate has some exciting news to share!  She is now sleeping through the night!  (10-12 hours!)  I was hesitant to share this at first as I didn't want to jinx our good fortune - but now that it's been a couple weeks I want to shout it from the roof tops!!  I figure it's been about 14 months since I've slept more than 5 or 6 hours at night - so it might take a few months to "catch up" a bit but we are OVER THE MOON excited at our house!!

Kate is also starting to eat baby food!  She's still nursing 5x a day but is loving eating her oatmeal and trying new foods!  For some reason I didn't do the home-made baby food route with Molly.  I think I thought it would take too much time?  But now that I'm home all day cooking 3+ meals for Molly it seems so natural to also make Kate's food.  I figure I was so vigilant with what I ate when I was pregnant with both girls, knowing everything I consumed was going directly to them - and now even nursing Kate I'm even more observant- trying to eat a variety of foods each day, lots of fruits and veggies - so she knows various flavors.  It only makes sense that I would be cautious about what is in the foods I give her now!  And - it's so much cheaper!  Thanks to my good friend Gretchen who passed on one of her favorite baby food cookbooks and some great advice . . . it's actually been fun so far.   Kate LOVES sweet potatoes -  we are going to try carrots and red peppers next followed by green beans and peas  . . . can't WAIT to get to fruits!

              

I've been using this handy mesh feeder with Kate during the dinner hour - when she almost always wants to be held- so I can have my hands free for a few minutes to cook dinner.  I had been putting ice in it since she was not eating solids yet and it would entertain her for a few minutes as she is most certainly teething and has been for many months now. . . but last night I put in one of my frozen sweet potato cubes into it - and she was ecstatic - something she could hold herself and suck on! She thought she was BIG STUFF sitting at the table with us eating her own food!  So fun to see your baby learn new things - especially this happy baby!

Molly - Artwork

Molly painted this at school this week and she calls it, Spring Thunderstorm.  She said, "I first painted blue sky, but then the dark clouds came in and it started to storm."  I.LOVE.IT.

The Proper Way to Apply Lip Gloss (if you are 3)

Lucas' Soccer Game

Kate & I got to see the Plano Fireballs in action on Sunday afternoon before flying home!  It was so fun to finally get to watch my nephew play and my brother as the head coach!  I even got to witness Lucas score a sweet goal!

Kate was ready for the action at first . . .

But all the excitement wore her out - 

Lucas' 1st Communion!

My nephew received his Sacrament of First Communion on Saturday in Plano, Texas and I was lucky enough to get to be there to witness his spiritual milestone!  Here are a few pix - courtesy of my sister and my folks.  

{Lucas (age 8) & Isabella (4)}

{Kate (6 months) & Isabella}

My FAVORITE image from the entire weekend!  Lucas about to receive the Holy Eucharist.  He was soo excited.

Kissin' Cousins!

So weird to have a family photo without the whole family - we missed Mike & Molly!

Me & My Sibs!  Sarah (age 33), Brian (37) and Me (39)  LOVE THEM SO MUCH!

After the reception, we went to a great Italian restaurant for dinner.  Kate was pooped out - literally.

Kate's 1st Flight!

So, as I mentioned in an earlier post - I flew to Dallas for the weekend to visit my brother and nephew's 1st communion.  Kate got to go with me because she is still exclusively nursing and also - flies free! 

 

Molly flew with us to California when she was about 6 months old but I had Mike with me so this trip- was a totally different ball game!  6 months is a tough age to fly - as they are old enough that they are not simply sleeping all the time - but not old enough for finger foods to munch on and keep themselves entertained as it is when they are closer to one.  

So, I'd like to think I packed very smartly (no checked luggage!) with a few teething toys she loves, a couple books and LOTS of extra clothes and diapers.  I purchased a small umbrella stroller to get around the airport with her - as I have no idea how I would have attempted the bathroom, carrying the diaper bag and our luggage while holding her.   

Here we go!  About to take off on her 1st flight ever! 

She was super restless the first hour on the airplane - I nursed her on take-off so that her ears would not pop - but for some reason nursing her always seems to wake her up so like always - she was super hyped up after feeding.  She moved from side to side, wanting to "converse" with every single person she could see around us.  She would grunt and smile at them until they would notice her and make eye contact with her.  She is so social - it's ridiculous!  She got a LOT of love on the flight.  Eventually - I mean like  - 10 minutes before landing -  she passed out.   

At Uncle Brian's house - playing with her toys . . . 

The flight back to Kansas City was basically the same thing - except this time I was lucky enough to get a middle seat.  Nursing again - gave her a burst of energy.  Here she is sitting on the tray table in front of me with one of her teething toys . . .

Eventually passed out.  Everyone loves a sleeping baby on an airplane.  You should have seen how many smiles I got after she eventually fell asleep!  I must remember the very kind people on both legs of my trip who saw me struggling with luggage going through security or getting on the plane who stopped and helped me out.  They were so very kind and I hope to do the same in the future when I see someone traveling alone with an infant.  Great job Kate - I think you are already a seasoned traveler!
Can't wait to go on many more adventures with you as you grow . . . 

Sisters.

I just returned from Dallas over the weekend.  It was my nephew Lucas' 1st Holy Communion and I am his Godmother - so I flew south for the weekend and brought Kate along with me since she's *free* and I'm still exclusively nursing her - no bottles for this baby.  Mike and Molly stayed home and Molly pointed out on numerous occasions that this was the first time her and Kate were ever going to be apart.

I knew the girls had an amazing bond - but I didn't realize how strong it was until they were separated this weekend.  Molly has slowly been teaching Kate how to HUG.  Every single time she greets her or says goodnight - she takes both of Kate's arms and puts them around her and she goes in for a big hug.  She is very patient with Kate and sometimes has to place her arms back up over and over to get a quality hug from her.  But it's something she alone has taught her and Mike and I have never really thought much of it.

This weekend at the airport, on the plane, and in Texas - we saw children and young kids everywhere and I could see in Kate's eyes as they dashed around, she was always looking for Molly.  She would get excited at first sometimes when a flash of a dark haired girl flew by us, but then you could see the look of disappointment/frustration on her face as soon as she realized it was not her sister after all.  We spoke on the phone all through-out the weekend and Molly always wanted to know what Kate was doing and how she was doing, etc.

Molly showers Kate with true unconditional love – as Kate is not buying her things, taking care of her, or prioritizing her like I do, and yet she receives buckets of love. And then there is that look in the Kate's eyes when she sees her big sister – hero worship. It's amazing to watch their relationship develop.

Mike and Molly had a fabulous weekend here at home, of course - playing princess, having a picnic, planting shrubs, mowing the lawn, going to the park, out to dinner, etc.  They had a great time.  And of course, Kate and I had a fabulous time as well visiting family and getting to see my sweet nephew experience such a huge spiritual milestone. (pix to come)

When Kate and I got off the airplane last night at KCI, Mike had parked the car in the parking lot and they were waiting for us when we got off the plane - a sweet surprise.  Molly gave me a huge hug and then quickly ran up to Kate in the stroller and Kate put both her arms out on her own for the first time to give Molly a big HUG back.

They are so full of love and I'm so happy to get to witness it.

April Showers Bring May Flowers?!

Couldn't resist grabbing my camera after school today to take a pix of Molly spinning her umbrella in the rain.  Love teaching her to JUMP in the puddles with her rain boots on!  We are patiently waiting for Spring here in Kansas . . .