Long overdue

update on the girls....

Eliana is changing every day! Having siblings has been so good for her! She is much more physically active and can now climb onto the couch alone. Her imagination is getting more creative as she plays with her sisters more and more each day - plays with them, not just as a prop that they move around. Her language skills have really jumped in the past month or so. She now says El-nana (for Eldana) about 100 times each day. She still can't say Abigia and calls her 'Hi Baby' when prompted to name her. She is now in the hey Mom look at me stage in which she yells for me ALL DAY LONG to witness whatever her latest trick is. Oftentimes she loudly proclaims 'Ta-da!" with arms in the air to show the magnificence of herself. It truly is magnificent. She's at a point right now where everything is fun for her. She has a great time everywhere we go, whatever we do. It's a real pleasure just to be near her.


Abigia has been doing great. About a month ago we had hit a rough patch where I was short on patience and she was doing her best to test my limits. Although she's still very, very 2, she's been getting along much more easily the past week or 2. I thought for sure our camping excursion would throw her off track for a bit after returning home, but it didn't at all. She's not tantrum-ing much, her fits are of the regular old toddler variety and are fairly easily calmed by either Matt or me. She really is a funny little person. She jokes and teases us and has the most ornery smile. She sings to herself a lot, loves to dance and is always going 100 miles/minute.

Eldana is a great kid. She loves to help and is very into being a big sister. Her newest interest is learning what foods are good for her and make her grow. Sometimes when she eats vegetables she can actually feel herself growing right there at the dinner table. It's pretty amazing. She is excited for school to begin and we have been working on 'school books' (little skill workbooks) to prepare her for 1st grade. She lost another tooth a week ago. She loves to dance and do any kind of 'sport' (as she calls exercise).

I took the kids to the doctor this past week and they all got good reports. The little girls each had to get one shot and Eldana had to get 4! They were all tough and did not cry a tear. Since their appts in April, Eldana and Abigia have each gained 3 pounds and around 2 inches. Eliana is (slowly) growing, too, finally passing the 20 lb mark!

We are planning the older girls' baptisms for next month.

I cannot believe I am going to have a kid in school. This seems so crazy to me. Very adult. Very responsibility intensive. I'm a little nervous. I don't even know when the first day of school is! I'll find out the details tomorrow.


I feel like there were many more things I had banked to share with you all that have now left my mind (like so many other things....). Go ahead and point out how if I updated more often I wouldn't have to struggle to remember what happened a month ago.... I know, already.

Today I am thankful for ......
Katie and Pat's safety... both totaled their cars last week yet both are unharmed
Earlier bed times
Chocolate chip cookie dough