Scenes from March

Sweet four month old, blue-eyed baby!


Sweet baby toes.


Sister love.
Sneaking a peak at Ainsleigh, dissappearing to play on her computer, and create some artwork.


On our way to go rollerskating.







Paige enjoyed the blacklights and disco ball too. But from a slightly different vantage point.


Our current wall art, note that the top painting is of Paige, Ainsleigh and I playing at the park. See the swingsets?!:



I left Paige in Ainsleigh's bed for a moment while I ran to do something. I came back to find Ainsleigh quietly reading to her. I was able to sneak a few pictures as my heart overflowed with sweetness. And a little pride too.



Ainsleigh was interested to see what Paige would look like with long hair...


I babysat this week for another sweet baby. Two sweet cheeked babies.

ahh!

These really are the days, aren't they? They are going by so quickly. I can't believe how much Ainsleigh has grown up, even in the time since Paige has been born. Yesterday I held Paige as she slept and thought about our day. Tim had to come home early from work with stomach flu, or something like it. I ran errands with Paige while Ainsleigh stayed home to be "daddy's helper." I checked on the girls as I got ready to leave and walked into Ainsleigh's room to see the two of them laying in Ainsleigh's bed next to each other. Ainsleigh was holding her big girl book above her head, quietly reading to Paige as Paige looked back and forth at the book and at Ainsleigh. It was a really sweet, peaceful moment. (I took photos that I will have to add later!)

It is finally starting to feel real. I have two little girls growing up together. Ainsleigh is adjusting to the routine we have and helping so much to take care of her baby sister. She helps me bathe her, dances for her as a distraction when I need to get supper made, and has frequently been saying, "I can't believe it! Baby sister is really here!"

Now I have two sets of little girl clothes to wash, fold and put away. Two little girls to entertain in different ways. Yesterday I explained fingers and toes to one of them and electrical currents and the function of fuses to the other. Two little girls who like to read books in bed together, with Mommy and without. Two little girls who need to be bathed, dressed, and fed, not to mention the potty/diaper situation. And in return I get baby smiles and proud big sister smiles, lots of sweet baby cuddles (which include getting my cheeks sucked on these days), and hugs, kind words, and some serious artistic inspiration from my grown up four year old. Sometimes, I even get to just sit and look on and experience the joy of watching them grow up together.

Just the passing of one ordinary day and another realization of how blessed I am.

first sounds, matching outfits and a dancing Ainsleigh

Paige is changing and growing everyday. She's just starting to do her little baby talk. It seems to have started when she began sitting in the bouncy seat. She does the most talking there! It seems like she likes the feeling of her voice changing as she bounces. We think that most of the time, especially if it is while we are holding her, her talking must be complaints since it usually turns into crying. Still, it's pretty cute and makes her seem like more of a little person to us now that she can communicate a little more. Her voice is kind of low and raspy like Ainsleigh's. Here's a video of her talking to the television and a little to Mommy and Daddy too.

We also think she is working on teeth since lately, she never stops sucking on her hands and opens her mouth as wide as she can anytime it gets close to our faces. It is so funny! Apparently there must be something there that would be nice to suck on, like noses and cheeks.

She's definitely establishing her place in our family.

She and Ainsleigh had fun wearing matching outfits the other day. Ainsleigh thinks that's so cool!

She is such a good big sister and a good helper to me. There are days that she just draws all day long while I take care of a fussy Paige and she hasn't complained. She was excited to get away Saturday morning and do her dance lessons though. She told me the night before that she was a little nervous. She said, "Mommy I'm a little nervous about going to dance lessons. But just this nervous (holding her hands out a few inches apart). But I'm this excited (holding her hands a few feet apart)." So I guess that in the end, the excitement won out. She wasn't nervous when we got there. She went right in, introduced herself to the teacher, and sat down with the other girls. I didn't even get a goodbye. It is a class for ages 4-6 so she's one of the youngest. She's doing really well though. I thought it was funny when, in the middle of the class, the teacher brings them all out, holding hands, because apparently they all had to go to the bathroom.

I love the way she posed for me in her tap shoes before she we left home. She told me, "I love that these shoes have high heels Mommy."


She bounced right over to the other kids when we got there.


I had to sneak peeks through the window of the door! I only looked a few times though. The other parents were MUCH worse than I was at watching! Okay, I admit that I would have looked more, but I had Paige to look after! Here she is doing some stretches.


She is really looking forward to next week when she gets to do tap!

This video doesn't show her best moves, but I thought it was so funny to watch her jumping! She did some perfect plies afterward.